PARIS TO

BERLIN
(1885-1887)
After completing his
studies in Madrid, Rizal
went to Paris and Germany
to specialize in
ophthalmology.
He particularly chose this
branch of medicine
because he wanted to cure
his mother’s ailment.
He served as an assistant
to the famous oculist of
Europe.
In Berlin, capital of
then unified Germany,
he met and befriended
several top German
scientist, Dr. Feodor
Jagor, Dr. Adolph B.
Meyer, Dr. Hans Meyer,
and Rudolf Virchow.
His merits as a scientist
were recognized by
eminent scientists of
Europe.
In Gay Paris (1885-86)
Maximo Viola
A medical student from San Miguel, Bulacan.
Señor Eusebio Corominas
The editor in chief of the newspaper La Publicidad.
Don Miguel Morayta
The owner of La Publicidad.
November 1885
Rizal was living in Paris, where hw sojourned for about
four months.
Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906)
Leading French ophthalmologist where Rizal worked as an
assistant.
Outside of his working hours, Rizal relaxed by visiting his
friends, such as the family of the Pardo de Taveras
(Trinidad, Felix and Paz), Juan Luna and Felix
Resureccion Hidalgo.
 Juan Luna
The great master of brush; Rizal helped him by
posing as model in several paintings.
1. “The Death of Cleopatra”
Rizal posed as an
Egyptian priest.

2. “The Blood Compact”

He posed as Sikatuna.
 Rizal as Musician
Rizal has no natural aptitude for music, and this he admitted.
He only studied music because many of his schoolmates at
Ateneo were taking music lessons.
In a letter dated November 27, 1878, he told Enrique Lete that
he “learned the solfeggio, piano and voice culture in one month
and a half”.
He was flutist in various impromptu reunions of Filipinos in
Paris.
Some of his compositions are:
1. “Aling mang Lahi” (Any Race)
2. “La Deportacion” (Deportation)
In Historic Heidelberg
February 1, 1886 - Rizal left gay Paris for
Germany.
February 3, 1886 - He arrived in Heidelberg.
Rizal was a good chess player, so the students in
University of Heidelberg made him a member of the
Chess Player’s Club.
Dr. Otto Becker - a distinguished German
ophthalmologist.
He worked at the University of Eye Hospital.
“To the Flowers of Heidelberg”
In the spring of 1886, Rizal was
fascinated by the blooming flowers
along the cool banks of the Neckar
River.
His favorite flower – the light blue
“forget-me-not”.
On April 22, 1886, he wrote a fine
poem. “A Las Flores de
Heidelberg”
With Pastor Ulmer at Wilhelmsfeld
Rizal spent three-months in Wilhelmsfeld, a
mountainous village near Heidelberg.
Dr. Karl Ulmer – a kind Protestant pastor.

First Letter to Blumentritt

July 31, 1886
Rizal wrote his first letter in German to
Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, Director of
the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.
Rizal sent the book entitled Aritmetica.
Blumentritt, the Austrian, became the best
friend of Rizal, the Filipino.
In Leipzig and Dresden
August 9, 1886 - he boarded a train, visited various
cities of Germany.
August 14, 1886 - he arrived in Leipzig.
He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig
on History and Psychology.
Professor Friedrich Ratzel - a famous German
historian.
Dr. Hans Meyer - German anthropologist.
In Leipzig
He stayed two months and a half in this German city.
Rizal translated Schiller’s William Tell from German
into Filipino. He also translated Hans Christian
Andersen’s Fairy Tales.
He worked as proof-reader in a publisher’s firm.

October 29
He left Leipzig for Dresden.
He met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific Circles
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific
atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice.
Dr. Feodor Jagor – German scientist traveller and
author of Travels in the Philippines.
Dr. Rudolf Virchow - famous German anthropologist.
Dr. W. Joest – German geographer.
Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – famous
ophthalmologist.
Rizal became a member of the Anthropological
Society, the Ethnological Society and the Geographical
Society in Berlin.
Rizal’s Life in Berlin
He live in the famous capital of unified Germany for five
reasons:
1. To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology.
2. To further his studies of sciences and languages.
3. To observe the economic had political conditions od
the German nations.
4. To associate with famous German scientist and
scholars.
5. To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.

He took private lessons under Madame Lucie Cerdole,

professor of French.
Rizal on German Women

Rizal wrote a letter addressed to her sister, Trinidad,

expressing his high regard and admiration for German
womanhood.

✣ The German ✣ The Spanish ✣ The Filipino

Women Women Women
1. Serious 1. Gossipy 1. More interested in
2. Frivolous how the dressed
2. Diligent than how much
3. Educated 3. Quarrelsome they know.
4. Friendly 2. Fine manners
3. Devotion
4. Hospitality
German Customs
He was delighted of the Germans’ Yuletide custom.
- people take pine trees from the bushes and adorned it
with lanterns, paper, lights, dolls, candies and fruits.
Self-introduction to strangers in a social gatherings.
- according to German code of etiquette, it is bad
manners for a guest to remain aloof, and wait for his
host to make the proper introduction.
Rizal’s Darkest Winter

The winter of 1886 was his

darkest winter.
He lived in poverty.
Rizal starved in Berlin and
shivered with wintry cold.