CHAPTER 16: |IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS

January 28, 1890

 Rizal left Paris for Brussels.

 Two reasons impelled Rizal to leave Paris:

◦ The cost of living in Paris was very high because of
the Universal Exposition.
◦ The gay social life of the city hampered his literary
works.
I. LIFE IN BRUSSELS
 Jose Albert – accompanied Jose Rizal when he
moved to Brussels
 38 Rue Philippine Champagne – where Jose

Rizal and Jose Albert live (boarding house).

Managed by the JACOBY SISTERS.
 Jose Alejandrino – replaced Jose Albert (he

left the city) in the boarding house. An

engineering student.
I. LIFE IN BRUSSELS
 Rizal was busy writing his second novel which was a
continuation of Noli.
 Rizal was never idle even for an hour. He is busy
doing:
◦ Chapters of his new novel “El Filibusterismo” which was the
continuation of “Noli Me Tangere”.
◦ He wrote articles for “LA SOLIDARIDAD”.
◦ Wrote letters for his family and friends.
◦ Spent part-time in the medical clinic.
◦ For recreation, he spent time for gymnastics and the
gymnasium.
◦ Target practice and;
◦ Fencing in the armory.
RIZAL’S ARTICLES IN LA SOLIRARIDAD
(1889-1890) (Rizal, M.H Del Pilar, Lopez-Jaena)
 Garciano Lopez-Jaena – favored by Rizal in
founding La Solidaridad in order to have an
organ for the Propaganda.

 Rizal pen names:

◦ Dimasalang
◦ Laong Laan
RIZAL’S ARTICLES IN LA SOLIRARIDAD
 May 31,1889 - “La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth For All).
Rizal first article issue.
 July 31, 1889 - “Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths).
 July 31, 1889 - “Una Profinacion” (A Profination). A biting
attack for the friars for refusing to bury Mariano Herbosa
in the Catholic cemetery because he was a brother-in-laws
of Rizal.
 Sept. 15, 1889 - “Diferencia”(Differnce).
 Publish serially on Sept. 30, Oct 31, and Dec. 15, 1889 -
“Filipinas dentro de Cien Años” (The Philippines A
Century Hence). A prophecy that someday Filipino will
rise against Spain and win for Independence. But later
shall come under the rule of U.S.
RIZAL’S ARTICLES IN LA SOLIRARIDAD
 January 15, 1890 - “Ingratitude” (Ingratitude). A reply
to Gov. General Weyler who says to the people of
Laguna province “ should not themselves be deceived
by the vain promises of the ungrateful sons”.

 Feb. 28, 1890 - “Sin Nombre” (Without Name).

 April 15, 1890 - “Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la

lingua Tagala” (On the New Orthography of the
Tagalog Language). Advocating the use of new
spelling in Tagalog.
II. NEW ORTOGRAPHY OF TAGALOG
LANGUAGE
 The tagalong letters k and w should be used
instead of the Spanish c and o.
Example:
◦ Salacot = salakot
◦ / arao = araw
 September of 1886
◦ adopted the Filipinized Tagalog Orthography in his:
1. Schiller’s Wilhelm Tell
2. Andresen’s Fairy Tales
3. Noli Me Tangere
III. RIZAL CRITICIZES MADRID FILIPINOS
FOR GAMBLING
 Juan Luna and Valentin Ventura – informed Rizal about
the Filipino in Spain who were destroying the good name
of their nation (Philippines) by gambling too much.

◦ They are the two compatriots in Paris who urged Rizal to do something
about the gambling issue.

 May 28, 1890 - Rizal wrote to M.H Del Pilar reminding

the Filipinos in Madrid that they did not come to Europe
to gamble, but to work for their fatherland’s freedom.

◦ The gambling Filipino in Madrid were angry when they learned f Rizal’s
moralizing. Thereafter, they called Rizal “Papa” (Pope) instead of Pepe.
IV. BAD NEWS FROM HOME: LETTERS
 Calamba Agrarian trouble was getting worse
 The Dominican order filed a suit in court to

disposes the Rizal family of their lands in

Calamba
 Tenants was ejected and persecuted from

their lands.
 Paciano and his brother-in-laws are being

deported anywhere.
V. PRESENTIMENT OF DEATH
 He feared that we would not live long
 He was not afraid to die, but he wanted to

finish his second novel before he went to his

grave
 Letter to del Pilar:

◦ In my childhood I had a strange belief that I would

not reach 30 years of age.
◦ I am preparing myself for death and for any
eventuality. Laong Laan (Ever Ready) is my true
name.
VI. PREPARATION TO GO HOME
 In the face of the sufferings which afflicted his
family, Rizal planned to go home.
 He could not stay in Brussels writing a book
while his family are persecuted
 Letter to Ponce:
◦ Graciano Lopez Jaena shold not got to Cuba but to our
country to allow himself to be killed in defense of his
ideals
 We have only once to die, and if we do not die well, we lose
an opportunity which will not again be presented to us.
◦ I want to go back to the Philippines
 We are not making any progress by following prudence
VII. DECISION TO GO TO MADRID
 Rizal ignored the dire warning of his friends to return
to the Philippines. No threat of danger could change
his plan.
 Something happened that suddenly made him change

his plan.
◦ It was a letter from Paciano which related that they lost the
case against the Dominicans in Manila, but they appealed it to
the Supreme Court in Spain.
◦ A lawyer was needed to handle it in Madrid.
 Rizal wrote to del Pilar retaining the latter’s services as
lawyer.
◦ Jose informed del Pilar that he was going to Madrid to
supervise the handling of the case
VIII. TO MY MUSE (1890)
 A poem that represents Jose’s worries on the
disasters experienced by his family
IX. ROMANCE WITH PETITE JACOBY
 Two things brought some measure of cheer
to the despondent Rizal, as he was preparing
for his trip to Madrid

◦ FIRST: summertime festival in Belgium, which was

celebrated in carnival style
◦ SECOND: romance with Petite Jacoby, niece of his
landladies