Learning Objective:

Chapter 17

Misfortunes in Madrid

(1890-91)

B. Discuss the reasons behind Rizal's abdication of leadership

Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid. He tried all legal means to seek justice for bis family and
the Calamba tenants, but to no avail. Disappointment after disappointment piled on him, until the cross
he bore seemed insuperable to carry. He almost fought two duels - one with Antonio Luna and the other
with Wenceslao E. Retana. On top of his misfortunes, Leonor Rivera married a British engineer. The
infidelity of the girl, with whom he was engaged for eleven years, broke his heart. With resilient strength
of character, he survived the bitter pangs of love's disillusionment and continued his mission to redeem
his oppressed people.

Failure to Get Justice for Family.

Upon arrival in Madrid. Rizal immediately sought the help of the Filipino colony, the Asociacion Hispano
Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspapers (La Justicia, El Globo, La Republica, El Resumen, etc) in
securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants, including his family." Together with M.il del Piar
(who acted as his lawyer) and Dr. Dominador Gomez (secretary of the Asociacion Hispano-Filipina), he
called on the Minister of Colonies (Sedor Fabie) in order to protest the injustices committed by Governor
General Valeriano Weyler and the Dominicans against the Calamba folks.

Nothing came out of Rizal's interview with Minister Fabie. As El Resumen, a Madrid

newspaper which sympathized with the Filipino cause, said "To cover the ears, open the purse, and
fold the arms - this as the Spanish colonial policy More terrible news reached Rizal in Madrid as he was
waging a futile fight for justice. From his brother-in-law, Silvestre Ubaldo, he received a copy of the
ejectment order by the Dominicans against Francisco Rizal and other Calamba tenants. From his sister,
Saturnina, he learned of the deportation of Paciano (Rizal), Antonino (Lopez). Silvestre (Ubaldo), Teong
(Mateo Elejorde), and Dandoy (Dr. Rizal's relative) to Mindoro; these unfortunate deportees were
arrested in Calamba and were shipped out of Manila on September 6, 1890. He further learned from
Saturnina's letter that their parents had been forcibly ejected from their home and were then living in
the house of Narcisa (Antonino's wife).In his desperation, Rizal sought the aid of the liberal Spanish
statesmen, who were former members merely gave him honeyed words of sympathy, and nothing else.

Blumentrit in Leitmeritz hearing of his friend's plight, urged him to see Queen Regent Maria Cristina"
(then ruler of Spain during the minority af Alfonso XIII. But how could he see Her majesty? He had
neither powerful friends to bring him to the queen's presence nor gold to grease the pales of influential
courtiers

Rizal's Eulogy to Panganiban

Barely had Rizal settled down in Madrid, when he experienced another disappointment. This was the
doleful news that his friend. Jose Ma, Panganiban, his talented co-worker in the Propaganda Movement,
died in Ba celona on August 19, 1890, after a lingering illness. He deeply mourned the passing of this
Bicol hero With a sorrowing heart, Rizal took up his pen and wrote a

great eulogy to Panganiban as follows:6 Panganiban, that excellent companion of labor and difficulty,
that amiable friend and countryman beloved, has just described to the tomb at the early age of 27 years.
We just caught his last whisper, saw him expire in our arms, as it were, and it seems as if we are
listening to his phrases saturated with energetic patriotism, inspired by the purest love of his native
land...

His was a desperation to die far, very far from the native soil, separated from his family, from his
deepest affections, and in the flower of his youth, in his rosiest illusions and hopes, when a rosy future
was in sight.
That is why his last words were of loving remembrance of his idolized Fatherland, were a heartfelt
farewell to the Philippines. And if we still take into account certain events of his life consecrated to a
most vehement love of his native land. we understand the sorrow his beart must have felt to see buried
with him legitimate hopes, ardent desires, and just aspirations

August 19, (1890), was: a day of mourning to numerous Filipinos in Europe. And what a fatal coincidence
on the same month and day of the year just passed we had to deplore the death of another fend and
countryman Feliciano Gonzales Timbang

A sad fate! Panganiban, endowed wah uncommon talent, with privileged intelligence, and with
indefatigable industry, was one of the sacred, legitimate hopes of bi unfortunate country That bead has
been buried in the dust thar vigorous intelligence has been prematurely ended Filipinas, how
unfortunate thou art!

Aborted Duel With Antonio Luna.

Towards the end of August, 1890, Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid. As was
customary in these weekly reunions of the paisanos, wine was served. After drinking so many glasses,
the guests became more loquacious and the conversations flowed freely. One of them, Antonio Luna,
became drunk

At that time, Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead. Deep in his heart. I
was blaming Rizal for his failure to win her, although Rizal hid previously explainedto him that he had
nothing to do about it. In a fit of jealousy, which his alcohol-befogged mind could not control, Luna
uttered certain unsavory remarks about Nellie Rizal heard him. His high sense of chivalry could not
tolerate any slur against the honor of any woman. Angered by the slanderous remarks, he challenged
Luna, his friend, to a duel

Rizal was a better pistol shot than Luna. But the latter was his superior as a swordsman. Luna, as the
challenged party, had the choice of weapons, Logically, he would have to choose the sword; in which
case, Rizal's life would be in jeopardy
The Filipinos were shocked by the incident. They tried to pacify Rizal and Luna, pointing out to both that
such a duel would damage their cause in Spain Fortunately, Luna, when he became sober, realized that
he had made a fool of himself

during his drunken state. He apologized for is bad remarks about the girl. Rizal immediately accepted his
appology, and the two became good friends again

Rizal Challenges Retana to Duel.

Rizal was, by nature neither hot-tempered nor pugnacious. But when the honor of his people, family,
women or friends was besmirched he never hesitated to fight even if he were risking his own lie. On
another occasion, he challenged another man to a duct Wenceslao E. Retana, his bitter enemy of the
pen

Retana, a talented Spanish scholar, was then a press agent of the friars in Spain. He used to attack the
Filipinos, including Rizal, in various newspapers in Madrid and other cities in Spain. One day he
imprudently wrote an article in La Epoca, an anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid, asserting that the family
and friends of Rizal had not paid their rents so that they were ejected from their lands in Calamba by the
Dominicans.

Such an insult stirred Rizal to action. immediately, he sent his seconds to Retana with his

challenge to a duel. Only Retana's blood or his apology could vindicate the good name of Rizal's

family and friends.

Because he believed that discretion is the better part of valor, and, more so to save his own skin, Retana
at once published a retraction and an apology in the newspapers. His seconds had warned him that he
had no chance whatsoever against Rizal on a field of honor, for Rizal was his superior in both pistol and
sword.
The incident silenced Retana's pen against Rial. He developed a great admiration for the latter, and
years afterward he wrote the first book-leigh biography of the greatest Filipino hero, whose talents he
came to recognize and whose martyrdom he glorified.

Infidelity of Leonor Rivera.

In the autumn of 1890 Rizal was feeling bitter at so many disappointments he encountered in Madrid.
One night he and some friends attended a play at Teatro Apolo, and there he lost his gold watch chain
with a locket containing the picture of Leonor Rivera, his beloved sweetheart.

The loss of the locket proved to be a bad omen. Early in W December, 1890, with the cold winds of
winter sweeping across the shivering city, Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming
marriage to an Englishman (the choice of her mother) and asking his forgiveness. This letter was a great
blow to him. He was stunned, his eyes dimmed with tears, and his heart broke

Several agonizing weeks passed before he could confide to his best friend, Blumentritt. In his reply to
Rizal, dated February 15, 1891, Blumentritt consoled him, saying "Your last letter filled us with sadness:
after all the misfortunes that have befallen you, now your beloved has abandoned you. My wife cannot
understand how a woman whom a Rizal has honored with his love would be able to abandon him, she is
disgusted with this girl. I myself feel it deeply, but only on your account, for I know how your heart is
pained, but you are one of the heroes know how your heart is pained, but you are one of the heroes
who conquer pain from a wound inflicted by a woman, because they follow higher ends. You have a
courageous heart, and you are in love with a nobler woman, the Motherland. Filipinas is like one of
those enchanted princesses in the German legends, who is a captive of a horrid dragon, until she is freed
by valiant knight".

Three months later, Blumentritt sent another comforting letter saying: "I am grieved with all my heart
that you have lost the girl to whom you were engaged, but if she was able to renounce a Rizal, she did
not possess the nobility of your spirit. She is like a child who cast away a diamond to seize a pebble in
other words, she is not the woman for Rizal"

Rizal-Del Pilar Rivalry.

Toward the closing days of 1890 there arose an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and M.H. del Pilar for
supremacy Rizal, the most talented Filipino of his time, was until then the undisputed leader of the
Filipinos in Europe. On the other hand, Del Pilar, the fearless lawyer-journalist, was gaining prestige in
Madrid for his vigorous editorials in La Solidaridad, which he came to own He had purchased this
fortnightly periodical from Pablo Rianzares, its first proprietor, and had replaced Graciano Lopez Jana as
its editor.

As leader, Rizal tried to imbue his compatriots with his own idealism for he believed that to gain prestige
for the Propaganda Movement and to win the respect of the Spanish people they must possess high
standards of morality, dignity, and spirit of sacrifice. Unfortunately, his idealism was not shared by
certain frivolous countrymen, who loved wine, women, and cards. Consequently, Rizal's leadership
declined. Some of his former admirers, who supported his leadership turned against him because they
resented his interference in their private lives. They became supporters of Del Pilar

The editorial policy of La Solidaridad under Del Pilar's management enhanced the cleavage between
Rizal and Del Pilar

Rizal and his close friends objected to the periodical's editorial policy which was occasionally contrary to
Rizal's political views. To avert the break-up between Rizal and M.H. del Pilar, the Filipinos in Madrid,
numbering about ninety met on January 1, 1891, New Year's Day, to patch up their differences and to
intensify the campaign for reform. It was decided in this meeting that a leader called Responsable, be
chosen to direct the affairs of the Filipino community and to determine the editorial policy of La
Solidaridad. Del Pilar opposed the proposition that the periodical be placed under the control of the
Responsable on the ground that it was a private enterprise; however, he was willing to publish articles
that would express the aspirations and demands of the Filipino people.

Owing to Del Pilar's opposition, the proposition to place La Solidaridad under the control of the
Responsable was aban-doned. The meeting proceeded to the business of electing the Responsable. It
was agreed that the Responsable should be elected by a two-thirds vote of the Filipino community.

Rizal Abdicates His Leadership.

The election took place during the first week of February, 1891. The Filipinos were divided into two
hostile camps the Rizalistas and the Pilaristas. Passion ran high, inflaming animosity and disunity in the
ranks of the compatriots. From the very beginning, on the first day of the voting. Rizal was winning, but
he could not obtain the required two-thirds vote to be proclaimed Responsable. On the second day of
balloting, the result was again indecisive - Rizal won but the votes cast for him did not reach the
required two-thirds.

The situation was becoming explosive and critical. On the third day. Mariano Ponce appealed to his
countrymen with stirring eloquence to vote for Rizal. Some Pilaristas, evidently, heeded his plea. For the
voting that day resulted in Rizal's victory. Having obtained the necessary two-thirds vote, he became the
Responsable

But Rizal graciously declined the coveted position. He was a man of honor and dignity, with a high sense
of delicadeza, which many politicians in all countries and in all ages, seldom possess, so that he did not
relish being a leader of a divided poople. He knew that some of his compatriots who supported Del Pilar
despised or disliked him. So he preferred to abdicate his

leadership rather than be the cause of disunity and bitterness among his countrymen.

Adios, Madrid.

Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing him as Responsable. Sadly, he packed up
his bags, paid his bills, and boarded a train leaving for Biarritz

As his train pulled out of the railway station, he gazed through its window at the city of Madrid, where
he was happy during his first sojourn (1882-85) but unhappy on his second visit (1890-91) It was the last
time he saw Madrid, His agonizing heart bade goodbye to the metropolis, of which he had written years
ago:" Madrid is one of the gayest cities of the world which combines the spirit of Europe and the

East, which has adopted the orderliness, the convenience, the bon ton of civilized Europe without
disdaining, without repelling, the brilliant colors, the ardent passions, the primitive customs of the
African tribes, of the chivalrous Arabs whose traces are still recognizable everywhere, in the look,
feelings, and prejudices of the people, and even in their laws