Chapter 1: Advent of a National Hero

The Birth of a Hero

June 19, 1861
 birth date of Jose Rizal, born in Calamba, Laguna Province.
June 22, 1862
 he was baptized in the Catholic church of his town at the age of 3.
 Father RufinoCollantes– baptized Rizal.
 Father Pedro Casañas– Rizal’s godfather.
 Mariano Herbosa– nephew of Casanas who will marry Lucia (Rizal’s sister).
Lieutenant-General Jose Lemary– governor general of the Philippines when Rizal was born.
Meanings of Rizal’s Names
Jose – chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose (St. Joseph).
Protacio– from Gervacio P. which came from a Christian calendar.
Mercado – adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great grandfather of Jose
Rizal). The Spanish term “Mercado” means “market” in English.
Rizal – in Spanish means a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again.
Y – and
Alonzo – old surname of his mother.
Realonda– used by Dona Teodora from the surname of her godmother.
Rizal’s Parents
 Francisco Mercado Rizal
- Born on May 11, 1818.
- Born in Biñan, Laguna.
- Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
- June 28, 1848 – he married Teodora.
- The youngest of the 13 children of Cirila Alejandro and Juan Mercado.
 Teodora Alonzo Realonda
- Born on November 09, 1827.
- Educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well-known college for girls.
- Died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85.
The Rizal Children
1. Saturnina (1850-1913) – oldest of the Rizal children; nicknamed Neneng.
2. Paciano (1851-1930) – older brother and confident of Jose Rizal; second father of Rizal;
Pilosopo, Tasio in Noli Me Tangere.
3. Narcisa (1852-1939) – pet name: Sisa.
4. Olimpia (185501887) – pet name: Ypia.
5. Lucia (1857-1919) – married Mariano Herbosa, who died of cholera in 1889 and was
deniedChristian burial because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Rizal.
6. Maria (1859-1945) – nickname: Biang.
7. JOSE (1861-1896) – the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius; nickname: Pepe.
8. Concepcion (1862-1865) – pet name: Concha; she died of sickness at the age of 3; her death
wasRizal’s first sorrow in life.
9. Josefa (1865-1945) – pet name: Panggoy; died an old maid at the age of 80.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951) – pet name: Trining; also died an old maid at the age of 83.
11. Soledad (1870-1929) – youngest of the Rizal children; pet name: Choleng.
Rizal’s Ancestry
  Paternal Side
 -Domingo Lamco– great-great grandfather of Rizal; a Chinese immigrant from
Changchow; he was married to a Chinese Christian girl of Manila named Ines de la Rosa
- 1731 – he adopt the name Mercado meaning Market
- Francisco Mercado – Domingo Lamco’s son; married CirilaBernacha.
- Juan Mercado – Francisco’s son married to Cirila Alejandro.
- Francisco Mercado – youngest son of Juan Mercado; Rizal’s father.
 Maternal Side
- LakanDula– descendant; last native king of Tondo.
- Eugenio Ursua– great-great grandfather of Rizal; Japanese married to a Filipina namedBenigna.
- Regina – daughter of Eugenio, married Manuel de Quintos (Filipino-Chinese lawyer).
- Brigida– daughter of Regina who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso (Spanish-Filipino mestizo).

Chapter 2: Childhood Years in Calamba

Earliest Childhood Memories

 The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the family garden when
he was 3years old. He was given the tenderest care by his parents because he was frail,
sickly, and
undersized.
 His father built a little nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in the daytime.
 An aya(nurse maid), a kind old woman, was employed to look after him.
 He watched from the cottage, the culiauan, maya, mariacapra, & martin pitpitand other
birds andlistened with “wonder and joy” to the twilight songs.
 The daily Angelus prayer.
The happy moonlit nights at the azoteaafter the nightly Rosary.
The imaginary tales told by the aya aroused Rizal’s interest in legends and folklore.
The aya would threaten Rizal with asuang, nuno, tigbalang, or a terrible bearded and
turbanedBombay would come to take him away if he would not eat his supper.
 The nocturnal walk in the town esp. when there was a moon with his aya by the river.
The Hero’s First Sorrow
 Death of Little Concha (Concepcion)“When I was four years old,” he said, “I lost my
little sister Concha, and then for the first timeI shed tears caused by love and grief…”
Devoted Son of the Church
 Young Rizal is a religious boy. He grew up a good Catholic. At the age of 3, he began
to take part in the family prayer. His mother taught him the CatholicPrayers.
 5 years old, he was able to read the Spanish family bible.
 He was so seriously devout that he was laughingly called Manong Jose by the
Hermanos&Hermanas Terceras.
 Father Leoncio Lopez, town priest, one of the men he esteemed & respected in Calamba
during hisboyhood.
Pilgrimage to Antipolo
June 06, 1868.
 Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo.
  First trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay and his first pilgrimage to Antipolo. They rode in
a Casco(barge). He was awed by “The magnificence of the water expanse and the silence
of the night”. After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father
went to Manila and visitedSaturnina, who was then a boarding student at La Concordia
College in Santa Ana.
Artistic Talents
 Age 5, started making sketches with his pencil and to mould in clay and wax objects
whichattracted his fancy.
 Age 6, his sisters laughed at him for spending so much time making those images rather
thanparticipating in their games. He told them “All right laugh at me now! Someday
when I die, peoplewill make monuments and images of me!”
First Poem by Rizal
 Age 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled “Sa AkingMgaKabata”
(To MyFellow Children). He wrote it in an appeal to our people to love our national
language.
First Drama by Rizal
 Age 8, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog Comedy. It was staged
in aCalamba festival.A gobernadorcillo from Paete purchased the manuscript for 2 pesos.
Chapter 3: Early Education in Calamba and Biñan
The Hero’s First Teacher
 Dona Teodora, his mother, was his first teacher.
 Private tutors: Maestro Celestino (first tutor) and Maestro Lucas Padua (second tutor).
LeonMonroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the hero’s tutor in Spanish
and Latin.
Jose Goes to Biñan
 After Monroy’s death, Rizal’s parents decided to send him to a private school in Binan.
June 1869
 Jose left Calamba for Binan with Paciano.
 Carromata – their mode of transportation.
 Aunt’s House – where Jose lodge.
First Day in Biñan School
 Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz – owner and teacher of the school.
 Rizal described Maestro Justiniano as “tall, thin, long-necked, and sharp-nosed with a
body slightlybent forward.”
End of Biñan Schooling
December 17, 1870
 Jose left Binan using the steamer Talim for Calamba.
 Arturo Camps Frenchman and friend of his father who took care of him during his trip.

Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za
January 20, 1872
 Cavite Mutiny.
February 17, 1872
 Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora were implicatedand executed.
 The GOMBURZA were leaders of the secularization movement.
  The martyrdom of the 3 priests inspired Rizal to fight the evils of Spanish tyranny.
 Paciano quit his studies at the College of San Jose and returned to Calamba, where he
told theheroic story of Burgos to Rizal.
In 1891
 Rizal dedicated his second novel El Filibusterismo to GOMBURZA.
Injustice to the Hero’s Mother
In 1872,
 Dona Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that she aided his brother Jose
Albertoin trying to poison his wife. Jose Alberto planned to divorce his wife because of
her infidelity. His wife connived with the Spanish lieutenant of the Guardia Civil and
filed a case against Rizal’s mother.
Antonio Vivenciodel Rosario –
 gobernadorcillo of Calamba, helped the lieutenant arrest DonaTeodora.

50 kilometers
 Dona Teodora was made to walk from Calamba to the provincial prison in SantaCruz.
Don Francisco de Mercaida and Don Manuel Marzan
 most famous lawyers of Manila, defendedDona Teodora in court.
 After 2 .years the Royal Audencia acquitted Dona Teodora.
Chapter 4: Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872-1877)
Ateneo Municipal
Bitter rival of the Dominican
 owned College of San Juan de Letran.
Formerly the EscuelaPia (Charity School)
 for poor boys in Manila established in 1817.
In 1859,
 name was changed to Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits and later became the Ateneo
deManila.
Rizal Enters the Ateneo
June 10, 1872
 Jose, accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila to take the entrance examinationson
Christian Doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at College of San Juan de Letran, and passed
them.His father was the first one who wished him to study at Letran but he changed his
mind anddecided to send Jose at Ateneo instead.
Father Magin Fernando
 college registrar of Ateneo Municipal, refused to admit Jose because: (1)he was late for
registration and (2) he was sickly and undersized for his age (11 years old).
Manuel Xerez Burgos
 nephew of Father Burgos; upon his intercession, Jose Rizal was admitted atAteneo.
Jose used Rizal instead of Mercado because the name “Mercado” had come under suspicion of
theSpanish authorities. Boarded in a house on Caraballo Street, owned by Titay who owed Rizal
family 300 pesos.
Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-73)
June 1872
 first day of class in Ateneo.
Fr. Jose Bech
  first professor of Rizal. Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class since he was a
newcomer and knows little Spanish. Hewas an externo and was assigned to
Carthaginians. At the end of the month, he became emperorof his Empire. He was the
brightest pupil in the whole class.Took private lessons in Santa Isabel College and paid 3
pesos for extra Spanish lessons.
 Placed 2nd at the end of the year, although all his grades were still marked Excellent.
Summer Vacation (1873)
March 1873
 Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation.
 His sister Neneng (Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan to cheer him up. Visited his
mother in prison at Santa Cruz without telling his father. After vacation, he returned to
Manila for his 2nd year term in Ateneo. Boarded inside Intramuros at No. 8 Magallanes
Street.
 Dona Pepay – landlady and old widow with a widowed daughter and four sons
Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74)
 Rizal lost the leadership but he repented and even studied harder, once more he became
emperor.He received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal. He had 3
classmates from Binan who had also been his classmates in the school of
MaestroJustiniano.
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75)
 Shortly after the opening of classes, his mother was released from prison.
 Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies.He failed to win the medal in
Spanish because his spoken was not fluently sonorous.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76)
June 16, 1875
 he became an inferno in Ateneo.
Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez
 inspired him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal describedhim as “model of
uprightness, earnestness, and love for the advancement of his pupils”.He returned to
Calamba with 5 medals and excellent ratings.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
June 1876
 last year of Rizal in Ateneo. The most brilliant Atenean of his time, “the pride of the
Jesuits”.Obtained highest grades in all subjects.
Graduation with Highest Honors
 Excellent scholastic records from 1872-1877.
March 23, 1877
 Commencement Day. 16 year old Rizal received from his Alma Mater the degreeof
Bachelor of Arts with highest honors.
Poems Written in Ateneo
MiPrimeraInspiracion (My First Inspiration)
 first poem he wrote for his mother’s birthday.
In 1875
 inspired by Father Sanchez, he wrote more poems such as: Filicitacion (Felicitation),
ElEmbarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure Hymn to Magellan’s fleet),
 Y EsEspanol: Elcano, the first to circumnavigate the world), and El Combate: Urbiztondo
Terror de Jolo(The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo).
In 1876
 Rizal wrote poems on various topics: Un Recuerdo a MiPueblu (In Memory of My
Town),Alianza Intima Entre la Region Y La Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance
Between Religion andGood Education), Por la EducacionRecibeLustre La Patria
(Through Education the Country ReceiveLight), E Cultivero Y El Triunfo (The Captivity
and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and theImprisonment of Boabdil), and La
EntradaTriuntal de Los Reyes Catolices en Granada (TheTriumphal Entry of The
Catholic Monarches into Granada).
A year later, in 1877
 he wrote more poems: El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Colombus),Colon y Juan
II (Colombus and John II ), Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace inGreat
Misfortune), and Un DiarogoAlusivo a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell
Dialogue ofthe Students.

Dramatic Work in Ateneo

 Father Sanchez, his favorite teacher, ask him to write a drama based on the prose story of
St.Eustace the Martyr.
Summer 1876 in Calamba
 he wrote the religious drama in poetic verses.
June 02, 1876
 finished the manuscript. He submitted the finished manuscript entitled “San Eustacio,
Martir” (St. Eustace, the Martyr) toFather Sanchez in his last academic year in Ateneo.
First Romance of Rizal
16 years old
 Rizal experienced his first romance.
SegundaKatigba - a pretty 14 years old Batanguena from Lipa; sister of his friend Mariano
Katigbak.His sister Olimpia was a close friend of Segunda in La Concordia College. Segunda
was already engaged to Manuel Luz. His first romance was ruined by his own shyness
and reserve. Segunda returned to Lipa and later married Manuel Luz. Rizal remained in
Calamba, a frustrated lover, cherishing nostalgic memories of lost love.

Chapter 5: Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

Mother’s Opposition to Higher Education
 Dona Teodoraopposed the idea of sending Rizal to UST to pursue higher
educationbecause she knew what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and the Spaniards might
cutoff his head if he gets to know more. Rizal was surprised by his mother’sopposition,
who was a woman of education and culture. Despite his mother’stears, Don Francisco
told Paciano to accompany Rizal to Manila.

Rizal Enters the University

April 1877
 Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas.
  He enrolled in UST taking up Philosophy and Letter for two reasons: (1) his father liked
it and (2)he was “still uncertain as to what career to pursue”He asked the advice of Father
Pablo Ramon (Rector of the Ateneo) on what career to choose butFather Recto was in
Mindanao so he was unable to advice Rizal.
First-year Term (1877-78)
 Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History ofPhilosophy.Ateneo
Rector’s advice study medicine; reason: to be able to cure his mother’s
growingblindness.
Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
 While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the vocational
course leading to the title of “peritoagrimensor” (expert surveyor). Colleges for boys in Manila
offered vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and surveying.
 He excelled in all subjects in the surveying course obtaining gold medals in agriculture
and topography.
 At the age of 17, he passed the final examination in the surveying course.
November 25, 1881
 he was granted the title as surveyor. Because of his loyalty to Ateneo, he continued to
participate actively in the Ateneo’sextra-curricular activities. He was president of the
Academy of Spanish Literature and secretary of the Academy ofNatural Sciences.
Romances with Other Girls
Miss L
 Fair with seductive and attractive eyes.
 Romance died a natural death.
 2 Reasons for his change of heart: (1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in
hisheart and (2) his father did not like the family of “Miss L”.
Leonor Valenzuela
 Daughter of the next-door neighbors of Dona Concha Leyva (her house is where Rizal
boarded). Tall girl with a regal bearing.
 Pet name: Orang.
 Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible ink. This ink consisted of common tablesalt
and water. He taught Orang the secret of reading any note written in the invisibleink by
heating it over a candle or lamp so that the words may appear.
Leonor Rivera
 Rizal’s cousin from Camiling.
Born in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11, 1867.
 A student of La Concordia College where Rizal’s youngest sister, Soledad was then
studying. Frail, pretty girl “tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes”. They
became engaged.
 In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as “Taimis”, in order to camouflage
their intimate relationship from their parents and friends.
 Rizal lived in: Casa Tomasina No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros Antonio Rivero –
Rizal’slandlord-uncle is the father of Leonor Rivera.
“To the Filipino Youth” (1879)
 LiceoArtisco-Literano (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila society of literary men and
artists;held a literary contest.
  At the age of 18, Rizal submitted his poem entitled A La Juventud Filipina (To the
Filipino Youth).
The Board of Judges
 composed of Spaniards; gave the first prize to Rizal which consisted of asilver pen,
feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon.Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to
rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than the windand descend with art and
science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of people.
 Reasons why Rizal’s poem was a classic in Philippine Literature: (1) it was the first great
poem inSpanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary
authorities and (2) itexpressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos
were the “fair hope of theFatherland”.
“The Council of the Gods” (1880)
Artistic-Literary Lyceum
 opened another literary contest for both Filipino and Spaniards tocommemorate the
fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters andfamous
author of Don Quixote.Rizal submitted an allegorical drama entitled El Consejo de los
Dioses (The Council of the Gods)and he received the first prize, a gold ring on which
was engraved the bust of Cervantes.
Other Literary Works
Junto al Pasic (Beside the Pasig) (1880)
 a zarzuela which was staged by the Ateneans on

December 08, 1880

 on the annual celebration of the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception
(Patrones of the Ateneo).
A Filipinas (1880)
 a sonnet he wrote for the album of the Society of Sculptors.
Abd-el-Azis (1879)
 a poem declaimed by Manuel Fernandez on the night of December 08, 1879in honor of
the Ateneo’s Patroness.
Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon (1881)
 a poem he wrote as an expression of affection to Father PabloRamon.
Rizal’s Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan
Summer of May 1881
 Rizal went to a pilgrimage to the town of pakil, famous shrine of the BirhenMaria de los
Dolores. He was accompanied by his sisters—Saturnina , Maria, and Trinidad and their
female friends. They took a casco (flat-bottom sailing vessel) from Calamba to Pakil,
Laguna, and stayed at thehome of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Regalado, whose son Nicolas
was Rizal’s friend in Manila. Rizal and his companions were fascinated by the famous
turumba (people dancing in the streetsduring the procession in honor of the miraculous
Birhen Maria de los Dolores) Rizal was infatuated by a pretty girl colegiala,
VicentaYbardolaza, who skillfully played the harp atthe Regalado home.Reasons why
Rizal and his company made side trip to the neighboring town of Pagsanjan: (1) itwas
the native town of Leonor Valenzuela and (2) to see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls.
Champion of Filipino Students
In 1880
  Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of Santo Tomas
called “Compaderismo” (Comradeship), whose members were called “Companions of
Jehu,” after thevaliant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans.
Chapter 6: In Sunny Spain 1882-1885
 After finishing the 4th year of the Medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Jose
Rizal, being disgusted with the antiquated method of instruction in this Dominican-
owned university and the racial prejudice of Dominican professors against Filipino
students, decided to complete his studies in Spain.
 Rizal’s departure for spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities
and the friars. Even his parents did not know because he knew they, especially his
mother, would not allow him to go.
On May 3, 1882
 Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore. With tears
in his eyes and gloom in his heart, he gazed at the receding skyline of Manila. He hastily
took a paper and pencil and sketched it as it vanished in view.
 During the voyage to Singapore he carefuly observed the people and things on board the
steamer.
On May 8, 1882
 while the steamer was approaching Singapore, Rizal saw a beautiful island. Fascinated
by it’s scenic beauty, he remembered “Talim Island with the SusongDalaga”.
 Tha following day May 9 – the Salvadora docked at Singapore. Rizal landed, registered
at Hotel de la Paz, and spent two days on sightseeing soiree of the city, which was a
colony of England.
 In Singapore, Rizal transferred to another ship Djemnah, a French steamer, which left
Singapore for Europe on May 11. It was a larger and cleaner vessel which carried more
passengers.
On the afternoon of May 15
 Rizal left Marseilles by train for the last lap of his trip to Spain. He crossed the Pyrenees
and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port Bou. Here he noticed the indifference
accorded by the Spanish immigration officers to tourist, in direct contrast with the
courtesy of the French immigration officers.
On May 17
 theDjemnah reached point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Rizal was unimpressed by this town.
On June 11
 From Port Said, the Djemnah proceeded on it’s way to Europe. Rizal reached Naples.
This Italian city pleased him because of its business activity, its lively people, and its
panoramic beauty. He was fascinated nby Mount Vesuvius, the Castle of St. Telmo, and
other historic sights of the city.
On the night on June 12
 the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles. Rizal, after bidding farewell to
his fellow passengers, disembarked. He visited the famous Chateau d’If, where Dantes,
hero of The Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned. He had enjoyed reading this novel
of Alexander Dumas when he was a student at the Ateneo. He stayed two and ahlf days
in Marseilles, enjoying every day of his sojourn.
 Barcelona on June 16, 1882.
 After the passport inspection at Port Bou, Rizal continued his trip by rail, finally
reaching his destination
On November 3,1882
 Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid in two courses – Medicine and
Philosophy and Letters.
December 31,1882
 he wrote a poem entitled “Me Piden Versos”(They Ask Me For Verses) which he
personally declaimed during the New Year’s Eve reception held in the evening.
Rizal’s first visit to Paris (1883)
 During his first summer vacation in Madrid Rizal went to Paris, sojourning in this gay
capital of France from June 17 to August 20, 1883.
On November 20,21 and 22, 1884
 The serene city of Madrid exploded in bloody riots by the students of the Central
University. Rizal and other Filipino students participated, together with Cuban, Mexican,
Peruvian, and Spanish students in the tumult.
June 21, 1884
 Rizal completed his Medical studies in Spain. He was conferred the degree of Licentiate
in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid
June 19, 1885 (his 24th birthday)
 Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters, with higher grades. He was
awarded the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters.
Chapter 7: Paris to Berlin 1885-87
In Gay Paris (1885-1886)
 shortly after terminating his studies at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who was
then 24 years old and already a physician, went to paris in order to acquire more
knowledge in ophthalmology.
In November 1885
 Rizal was living in Paris, where he sojourned for about four months. He worked as an
assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert(1852-1906), leading French ophthalmologist, from
November 1885 to February 1886.
On February 3, 1886
 he arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and
romantic surroundings. The beautiful spring flowers reminded him of the blooming
flowers at the garden of his home Calamba. In his mood of homesickness, he wrote on
April 22,1886, a fine poem “ A Las Flores de Heidelberg”( To The Flowers of
Heidelberg).
July 31, 1886
 Rizal wrote his first letter in German (which he had improved after his stay with the
Ullmers).
On August 9, 1886
 three days after the fifth centenary celebration of the University of Heidelberg, Rizal left
the city. He boarded a train, visited various cities of Germany and arrived in Leipzig on
August 14,1886.
On October 29
  he left Leipzig for Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum. In the morning of November 1, Rizal left
Dresden by train reaching Berlin in the evening.
Chapter 8: Noli Me Tangere Published in Berlin(1887)
 Rizal spent winters in many temperate countries. The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his
darkest winter. During this bleak winter, he lived in poverty because no money arrived
from Calamba and he was flat broke.
On February 21, 1887
 theNoli was finally finished and ready for printing. With Viola, the savior of the Noli,
Rizal went to different printing shops in Berlin to survey the cost of printing.
On March 21, 1887
 theNoli Me Tangere came off the press. Rizal immediately sent the first copies of the
printed novel to his intimate friends.
On March 29, 1887
 Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs of the Noli
carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a complimentary copy, with
the following inscription: “to my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read my work –
Jose Rizal.
 In London, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, Filipino patriot and lawyer who had been exiled
due to his complicity in the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, read avidly the Noli and was very
much impressed by its author.
On May 3, 1887
 he felicitated Rizal, saying: “if the Quixote immortalizes its author because it exposes to
the world the ailments of Spain, your Noli Me Tangere will bring you an equal glory.
With your modesty and your voracious and able appraisal, you have dealt a mortal blow
to that old tree full of blemishes and decay. Every Filipino patriot will read your book
with avity and upon discovering in every line a veracious idea and in every word a fitting
advice, he will be inspired and he will regard your book as the masterpiece of a Filipino
and the proof that those who thought as incapable of producing great intellects are
mistaken or lying”.
CHAPTER 9:RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH TOUR
(1887)
THE TOURS BEGIN
May 11, 1887
 Rizal and viola two brown skinned doctors on a roaming spree,left Berlin by
train. It was an ideal season for travel. Their destination was Dresden, “one of the
best cities in Germany.”
DRESDEN
 Their visit coincided with the regional floral exposition rizal impressed by a
paiting of “prometheus bound and recalled seeing a representation of the same
idea in an art gallery in paris.
FIRST MEETING WITH BLUMENTRITT
May 13, 1887
 The train with rizal and viola ao board, arrived at the railroad of leitmeritz,
bohemia. For the first tim, the two great scholars- Rizal and Blumentritt- who
 came to each other by correspondence, met in person. They German. Blumentritt
Austrian professor.
BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF LEITMERITZ
 Rizal had beautiful memories of his visit toleitmeritz. He enjoyed the warm
hopitalityof the blumentritt family. Professors wife Rosa was a goodlook
PRAGUE
 Rizal and Viola visited the historic city ofprague. They carried letters of
recommendation from Blumentritt to Dr. Willkomm, professor of natural history
in the university of Prague.
VIENNA
May 20
 Rizal and viola arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, capital of Austria
Hungary. Famous in song and story, this city is fascinated to Rizal because of its
beautiful buildings, religious images, hunting waltzes, and majestic charm.

DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ

May 24
 Rizal and viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the beautiful sights of the
Danube river.
LINTZ TO RHEINFALL
 Voyage ended in lintz. They travelled overland to Salzburg, and from there to
Munich where they sojourn for a short time.
CROSSING THE FRONTIER TO SWITZERLAND
They crossed to frontier to Schaffhausen, Switzerland. They stayed in that city from June
2- 3 1887, they continue their bale, bern, laussane.
RIZALL RESENTS EXHIBITION OF IGOROTS IN 1887 MADRID
EXPOSITION
 Accompanied by Dr. Viola, was happily touring Europe an exposition of the
phillippines was held in Madrid..
RIZAL IN MADRID
o From geneva, rizal went to Italy. He visited turin, Milan, venice and Florence.
June 27 1887, he reached rome the eternal city and also called the city of the
caesars.
CHAPTER 10: FIRST HOMECOMING1887-88
 All the alluring beauties of foreign countries and all the beautiful memories of his
sojourn in alienlands could neither make Rizal for his fatherland nor turn his back
to his own nationality. True that hestudied abroad, acquired the love and
languages of foreign nations, and enjoyed the friendship ofmany great men of the
Western world; but he remained at heart a true Filipino with an
unquenchablelove for the Philippines and an unshakable determination to die in
the land of his birth.
August 1887
 Thus, after fiveyears of memorable sojourn in Europe, he returned to the
Philippines and practicedmedicine in Calamba. He lived the quite life of a
 country doctor. But his enemies, who resented hisNoli, persecuted him, even
threatening to kill him.
Decision to Return Home
 Because of the publication of the Noli Me Tangere
and the uproar it caused among the friars, Rizal was warned by Paciano (his brother), Silvestre
Ubaldo (his brother-in-law), Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio),and other friends to return home. But he
did not heed their warnings. He was determined to return tothe Philippines for the following
reasons:
(1) to operates on his mother’s eye’s;
(2) to serve his people who had long been oppressed by the Spanish tyrants;
(3) to find out for himself how theNoli and his other writings were affecting the Filipinos and
Spaniards in the Philippines: and
(4) to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent.
 In a letter to Blumentritt, written in Geneva on June 19, 1887, Rizal said: “Your
advice that I livein Madrid and continue to write from there is very benevolent
but I cannot accept it . I cannote endurethe life in Madrid where everything is a
voice in a wilderness.
 My parents wants to see me, and I wantto see them also. All my life I desire to
live in my country by the side of my family. Until now I am notEuropeanized
like the Filipinos of Madrid;
 I always like to return to the country of my birth”.In Rome, on June 29, 1887,
 Rizal wrote to his father, announcing his homecoming. “On the 15th ofJuly, at the
latest”, he wrote, “I shall embark for our country, so that from 15th to the 30th of
August,we shall see each other”.
Delightful Trip to Manila
July 3, 1887
 Rizal left Rome by the train for Marseilles, a French port, which he researched without
mishap.he boarded the streamer Djemnah, the same streamer which brought him to
Europe fiveyears ago. There were about 50 passengers, including 4 Englishmen, 2
Germans, 3 Chinese, 2Japanese, many Frenchmen, and 1 Filipino (Rizal).
 Rizal was the only one among the passengers who could speak many languages, so that
he actedas interpreter for his companions.
 The Streamer was enroute to the Orient via the Suez Canal. Rizal thus saw this historic
canal forthe second time, the first time was when he sailed to Europe from Manila in
1882. On board, heplayed chess with fellow passengers and engage in lively conversation
in many languages. ,
On July 30
 Somepassengers sang: others played on the piano and accordion. After leaving Aden, the
weather becamerough and some of Rizal’s books got wet. At Saigon,

On August 2
 he transferred to another streamerHaiphong which was Manila-bound., this streamer left
Saigon to Manila.
Arrival in Manila
On August 3rd
 Rizal”s voyage from Saigon to Manila wa pleasant. the moon was full, and he slept
soundly the whole night. The calm see, illumined by the silvery moonlight, was a magnificent
sight to him.
Near midnight of August 5
 the Haiphong arrived in Manila. Rizal went ashore with a happy heartfor he once more
trod his beloved native soil. He stayed in the city for a short time to visit his friends.He
found Manila the same as when he left it five years ago. There were the same old
churches andbuildings, the same holes in the road, the same boats on the Pasig River, and
the same heary wallssurrounding the city.
Happy Homecoming
On August 8th
 he returned to Calamba, His family welcomed him affectionately, with plentiful tearsof
joy. Writing to Blumentritt of his homecoming, he said: “I had a pleasant voyage. I found
my familyenjoying good health and our happiness was great in seeing each other again.
They shed tears of joyand I had to answer ten thousand questions at the same time”.The
rejoicings of Rizal’s return over, his family became worried for his safety. Paciano did
not leavehim the first day of his arrival to protect him from any enemy assault. His own
father would not lethim go out alone, lest something might happen to him.In Calamba,
February, 1888
 he earned a total of P5,000 as medical fees.Unlike many successful medical practitioners,
Rizal did not selfishly devoted all his time toenriching himself. He opened a gymnasium
for young folks, where he introduced European sports. mother did not like him for a son-
in-law. With a heavy heart, Rizal bowed to his parent’s wish.
Calamba’s Agrarian Trouble
 Governor General Terrero, influenced by certain facts in Noli Me Tangere,
ordered a government investigation of the friar estates to remedy whatever iniquities
might have been present in connectionwith land taxes and with tenant relations.the
Dominican Order owned since 1883. In compliance with the governor general’s orders,

December 30, 1887

 the Civil Governor of Laguna Province directed the municipal authorities ofCalamba to
investigate the agrarian conditions of their locality.Upon hearing of the investigation, the
Calamba folks solicited Rizal’s help in gathering the factsand listing their grievances
against the hacienda management, so that the central government mightinstitute certain
agrarian reforms.
January 8, 1888
 Rizal wrote down his findings the tenants and three of officials of the hacienda.
CHAPTER 11: IN HONKONG AND MACAO
February 1888
 Rizal forced to leave his country for a second time. He was then 27 years of age,
practicing physician and a recognized man of letters.
JUNE 1882,
 Rizal go to abroad for the first time and mere lad of 21.
RIZAL’S TRIP IN HONGKONG
February 3,1888
 Rizal left manila for Hongkong on board the Zafiro. He was so sad during of the choppy
china sea.
  Rizal two reasons why he did not get off his ship when it made brief stopover at amoy on
February 7;
A .He has not feeling well
b.It was raining hard
c. He heard that the city was dirty
February 16, 1888
 Duing his day in Hong Kong, a British colony, Rizal wrote toBlumentritt that dated
expressing his bitterness.
February 16, 1888
 Rizal stayed in Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino residents including
josemariaBasa, Balbino Mauricio and Manuel Yriarte (son of Francisco yriarte, alcalde
mayor of laguna)A Spaniards, Jose sainz de Varanda ,who was former secretary of
Governor general Terrero, shadowed rizal movement in Hongkong. “hongkong” wrote
rizal to blumenttrit is a small very clean city. There are some Filipinos the majority of
whom being those who had been exiled to the Marianas Islands in 1872.

CHAPTER 12: ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)

 One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the land of cherry
blossom for one month and the natural beauty of Japan.
 He also fell in love in one Japanese girl ,whose loveliness infused joy and romance of his
sorrowing heart named O-sei-san. She’s real name was Seiko Usui. But he had sacrificed
his own happiness to carry on his work for the redemption of his oppressed people.

RIZALS IN TOKYO
February 28, 1888
 Rizal arrived in yokohama and he registered in Grand hotel. The next day he proceeded
to Tokyo and took a room. He wrote to prof. Blumentritt “Tokyo is more expensive than
Paris”. The wall are built in cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide.
 After Rizals arrival in Tokyo he was visited by Juan perez Caballero, secretary of
Spanish legation and latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation
He accepted it for two reasons:
. a. He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation
. b. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
March 7
 Rizal checked out in the Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation. He and Perez
Caballero became good friend. In a letter to blumentritt, he described a Spanish diplomat
as a “young, fine, and excellent writer and an able diplomat who had traveled much.
 During his first time in Tokyo he was embarrassed because he did not know the Japanese
language. He had a hard time shopping for he could understand. He looks like Japanese
but he could not talk Japanese. He also wrote this to Blumentritt.
 To avoid further embarrassment, Rizal decided to study him Japanese language and him
able to speak it in a few days. He also studied the Japanese drama (kabuki), arts, music
and judo (Japanese art of self-defense)
 RIZAL AND THE TOKYO MUSICIANS
March 1888
  Rizal was promenading in a street of Tokyo band playing a classical work of Strauss. He
impressed and stop to listened in rapt attention and e though “how admirable was the
rendition. I wonder how these Japanese people have assimilated the modern European
music to the extent of playing beautiful musical masterpieces of the great European
composers so well!
 Rizal on O-SEI-SAN
 Rizal great love for o sei san is attested by the hero diary.

RIZALS IMPRESSION OF JAPAN

 He was favorably impressed by japan. He was so silly, lightheaded tourist who merely
enjoys attractive sigths thee appealed only to the senses. The things that he favorably
impressed rizal in japan:
 The beauty of the country- flowers, mountains, streams, and scenic panoramas
 The cleanliness, politeness, and the industry of the Japanese people.
 The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese people
 There were very few thieves in japan so that the houses remained open day and
night, and in the hotel room could safely leave money on the table.
 Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets, unlike in manila and other cities.
ROMANCE WITH OSEI-SAN
 Rizal saw a beautiful Japanese girl walking past in Spanish Legation that he moved .he
was attracted by her legal loveliness and charm. O-sei-san was a lonely samurai’s
daughter of 23 years old and never had experienced the ecstasy of true love.
April 13, 1888
 Rizal boarded the Belgic an English steamer at Yokohama bound for the United States.
He left japan with a heavy heart , for he knew that he never see again the land of cherry
blossoms and his beloved loved o- sei san. Years after rizal execution o-sei-san married
to Mr. Alfred Charlton , a british teacher of chemistry in peers school and got a daughter
named yuriko.

CHAPTER 13: RIZAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 28, 1888
 When he saw the America for the first time.
May 4, 1888
 he registered at the Palace Hotel which was considered a first class hotel in the city. Rizal
mentioned in his diary the Leland Stanford, who was millionaire senator representing
California in the u.s senate at that time.

RIZAL IN NEWYORK
May 13
 Rizal reached the newyork, ending his trip in America; he stayed 3 days in that city.
May16 1888, Rizal left the newyork for Liverpool on board the city of room. It is second
largest ship in the world according to Rizal.

CHAPTER 14: RIZAL IN LONDON

  Rizal lived in London from may, 1888 to march, 1889. He choose this English city to be
his new home for three reason:
 Improve his knowledge of the English languageStudy and annotate Morga’ssucesos de
lasislas Filipinas , a rare copy of which he heard to be available in the British museum.
London was safe for him to carry on his fight against the Spanish tyranny.
LIFE IN LONDON
MAY 15 1888
 Rizal went to London, he stayed as guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor.He
found a modest boarding place at no. 37 chalcot crescent promrose hill. He was boarder
of the Beckett family. Mr Beckett was a organist in St. Paul’s church.He meet Dr.
reinholdrost, the librarian of the ministry of foreign affairs and an authority of Malayan
languages and customs.He called rizal a pearl of a man
ROMANCE GERTRUDE BECKETT
 Rizal had a romantic interlude with the oldest of the three beckett sisters.-Gertrude, she
was buxom English girl with a brown hair ,blue eyes, an rosy cheeks. She fell inlove with
rizal..their friendship drifted towards romance. Rizal affectionately called her Ghettie in
reciprocation, she called him pettie
NEWS FROM HOME GOOD AND BAD
 One good news cheered rizal, and that was Rev. Vicente Garcias defense of the noli
against the attacks of the friars. The bad news was the injustice committed by the Spanish
authorities on the Filipino people and rizals Family.
ANNONATING MORGAS BOOK
 biggest achievement of rzal in London was the annonating the Morga’s Book. Sucessos
de lasislas Filipinas( Historical events of the phillippine island) was published in Mexico
in 1609

SHORT VISIT TO PARIS AND SPAIN

September 1888
 Rizal visisted for a week in order to search more historical materials in
BibliothequeNationale.
December 11 1888
 he went to spain visiting Madrid and Barcelona
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON
December 24
 rizal returned in London and spent Christmas newyears in Beckett Family.
FIRST ARTICLE IN LA SOLIDARIDAD
 The first article in la Solidaridad was entitled Los Agricultores Filipinos that published
on March 25, 1889 six days after he left London for paris.
WRITINGS IN LONDON
 Rizal busy in research studies at theBritish Museum, he received a news on Fray
Rodriquez unabated attack on his Noli. He wrote THE VISION OF FRAY
RODRIQUEZ( LA VISION DEL FRAY RODRIQUEZ that published in Barcelona
under his nom-plume Dimas Alang.
 Demonstrated two things
 o His profound knowledge of religion
o His biting satire
LETTER TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS
 THE MAIN POINTS OF THIS LETTER
o A filipino should teach her children love of god, fatherland, and mankin
o A Filipino should know how to preserve her dignity and honor
o A Filipino women should educate herself , aside from retaining her good racial
virtues
o Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious pictures, but rather
it is living the real Christian way, good morals and good manners.
RIZAL BECOMES LEADER OF FILIPINOS IN EUROPE
Rizal learned tat the Filipinos in Barcelona were planning to establish a patriotic society which
would cooperate in the the crusade for reforms. This society , called association La solidaridad(
solidariad association) that inaugurated on December 31, 1888 with the following officers
• GalicanoApacible-President
• Graciano Lopez Jeana- vice president
• Manuel santa Maria- secretary
• Mariano ponce- treasurer
• Jose ma. Panganiban- accountant
RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD NEWSPAPER
February 15, 1889
 Graciano Lopez Jeana founded the patriotic newspaper called La solidaridad.
AIMS:
To work peacefully for politicalltand social reforms;
The portray the deplorable condtions of the phillippines so that spain may remedy them;
To force the evil forces of the reaction and medievalism;
To advocate liberal ideas and progress;To champion the legitimate aspirations of the
Filipino people to life democracy and happiness
ADIOS, LONDON
May 19, 1889
 Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett family (particularly Gertrude) and left London
for Paris.
CHAPTER 15: RIZALS SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS AND
UNIVERSAL EXPOSITIONOF 1889
DIFFICULTY OF FINDING QUARTERS
March 1889
 it was extremely difficult for a visitor to find living quarters in Paris. Universal
Exposition of 1889 which was scheduled to open on May 6 1889 attracted thousands of
tourist so that all hotel accommodation were taken.
For a short time ,rizal lived in the house of his friends Valentin Ventura, at no.45 Rue
Maubeuge, where he polished his annonated edition of morgas book..
INDIOS BRAVOS
 Rizal and the members of the kidlat club were amazed to see buffalo bull show which
featured the American Indians. Thus twas born a new society of Filipino patriots in
paris.theindios bravos(brave Indians)
R.D.L.M. SOCIETY
  Mysteriossociedad R.D.L.M. Many biographers of rizal do not mention it.the letters
R.D.L.M. are believed to be the initials of the society’s secret name redention de los
Malayos(Redemption of the Malays) Of the numerous letters written by rizal and his
fellow propagandist, only two mentioned these secret society.
 Rizals letter to Jose ma. Basa, paris, September 21,1889.
 Rizals letter to marcelo h. del pilar, November 4, 1889
ANNOTATED EDITION OF MORGA PUBLISHED
 Rizals outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication in 1890 of his annotated
edition of Morga’Sucesos which he wrote in British Museum.
RIZAL’S ERROR
 Rizal commits the error of many historians in appraising the events of the past in the light
of present standards
 Rizal attack on the church were unfair and unjustified because the abuses of the friars
should not be construed tp mean that Catholicism is bad.
RIZAL AS HISTORIAN
 Research studies in the British Museum (London) and in the
BibliothequeNationale. His knowledge of foreign languages enabled rizal to read
historical documents and books in the languages in which were originally written.
aside from his excellent annotation on morgas book rizal wrote other works which
qualify him to be real historian.
THE PHILLIPPINES WITHIN THE CENTURY
 IN this article rizal expressed his views on the Spanish colonization in the
phillippines and predicted with amazing accuracy the tragic end of Spain’s
sovereignty in Asia.
PROJECT FOR FILIPINO COLLEGE IN HONGKONG
 Another magnificent project of Rizal in Paris which also fizzled out was his plan
to establish a modern college in hongkong.
POR TELEPONO
 Published in booklet form in Barcelona 1889. Rizal received the printed copies
from Mariano ponce, as revealed by his letter to the latter, dated paris, August 13,
1889. This pamphlet is under the authorship of dimasAlang(one of Rizals pen-
names.)
CHRISTMAS IN PARIS
December 25, 1889
 was a wintry day in paris Rizal and Jose Albert who were living frugally in a
small room occupied by capitan Justo Trinidad, planned to have a sumptuous
Christmas dinner.

REASONS WHY RIZAL MADE A BRIEF VISIT IN LONDON;

•To check annotated edition of MorgasSucesos with the original copy in the British Museum
•To see Gertrude Beckett for the last time.
January 1890
 he was back in paris and complained in a terrible headache.
Chapter 16: In Belgian Brussels
January 28, 1890
  Rizal left Paris for Brussel, capital of Belgium.
 Two reason impelled Rizal to leave Paris, namely:
1. The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal explosion and
2. The gay social life of the city hampered his literary his literary works, especially the
writing of his 2nd novel EL FILIBUSTERISMO.
Articles published in La Solidaridad
April 30, 1889
 A La Defensa( To La Defensa) this was a reply to an anti-Filipino writing of a Spanish
author Patricio de la Escosura which was published by La Defensa on March 30, 1889.
May 31 1889
 La Verdad Para Todos (the truth for all)Rizals defense against the Spanish charge that the
native local officials were ignorant and depraved.
June 15, 1889
 Vicente BarrantesTeatroTagalo, in this article, Rizal exposes Barrantes ignorance on the
tagalog theatrical art.
July 31, 1889
 A bitter attack against the friars for denying Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa in
Calamba because he was the brother in-law of Rizal. Herbosa , husband of Lucia died of
Cholera on May 23, 1889.
July 31, 1889
 ‘VerdadesNuevas’ (new truths) a reply to Vicente Belloc Sanchez letter published in La
Patria , Madrid newspaper.
July 4, 1889
 Asserted the granting of reforms in the Philippines would ruin the ‘peaceful and maternal
rule’ of the friars.

August 15, 1889

 ‘CRUELDAD’ (cruelty) a brilliant defense of Blumentritt from the scurrilous attacks of
his enemies.
September 15, 1889
 ‘differencias’(differences) a reply to a biased article entitled ‘old truths’ published in La
Patria on August 14, 1889, which ridiculed those Filipinos who asked for reforms.
November 30, 1889
 “‘Inconsequencias”(Inconsequences) A defense of Antonio Luna against the attack of
Pablo Mir Dias in the Barcelona newspaper El Pueblo Soberano.
 “Liantos y Risas”(Tears and Laughter) a denunciation of Spanish racial prejudice against
the brown Filipinos.
January 15, 1890
 “Ingratitudes”(ingratitudes) a reply to Governador General ValerianoWeyler who, while
visiting in Calamba, told the People that they “should not allow themselves to be
deceived by the vain promises of their ungrateful son.
New Orthography of Tagalog Language
September 1886
  When Rizal was in Leipzig, he adopted the Filipinizedtagalog orthography in his Tagalog
translation of SchillersWillhelm Tell and Andersen’s Fairy Tales and again he used it in
his first novel Noli Me Tangere(Berlin 1889)
April 15, 1890
 He was sojourning in Brussels, his article entitled “Sobre La Nueva Ortografia de la
Lenguatagala”(the new Orthography in his Tagalog Language) was published in La
solidaridad.
 He gave the credit for the adoption of his new orthography to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de
Tavera, author of the celebrated work El Sancrito en la LenguaTagala(Sanskrit in the
Tagalog language)which was published in Paris,1884.
Rizal Criticizes Madrid Filipinos for Gambling
May 28, 1890
 Rizal wrote to M.H. delPilar to remind the Filipinos in Madrid that they did not come to
Europe to ganble, but to work for their fathersland freedom.
 The gambling Filipinos in Madrid were angry when they learned of Rizal’s moralizing.
They derisively called him “PAPA”(Pope)instead of “pepe”.

Bad news from home

July 6, 1890
 The sad news from home depressed Rizal, his heart bled to know the sorrowful plight of
his parents, brother, and brothers in-law. from Brussels he wrote a letter to his sister.
Presentiment of Death
June 11, 1890
 This morbid presentiment of early death was divulge by him to M.H del Pilar

Preparation to go home
July 9 1890
 Opposing of Graciano’s plan action, he said that Graciano should not go to Cuba to die of
yellow fever, instead he “ought to go to the Philippines to allow himself to be killed in
defense of his ideals.
July 18, 1890
 He wrote another letter addressed to Ponce expresses his determination to go home.All
his friends including Blumentritt, Jose Ma. Basa, and ponce were horrified by Rizal’s
plan to return to the Philippines.
June 20, 1890
 Rizal decided to go Madrid, he ignored the dire warning of his friend. No threat of danger
that awaited him at home.
 He further informed Del Pilar on his letter’s services as lawyer that he was going to
Madrid, in order to supervise the handling the of the case.
July 29, 1890
 Rizal announced that he was leaving Brussels at the beginning of the Month and would
arrived in Manila about 3rd or 4th of august.
1890
 It was against a background of mental anguish in Brussels, during those sad days when he
was worried by his family disaster then he wrote a poem titled “to My Muse” this poem
 lacks of the exquisiteness of ”to the flowers of Heidelberg” and is less polished than “to
the Filipino youth”, but it is passionate in feeling.
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 was the summertime festival of Belgium which was
celebrated in carnival style with colorful costumes, fantastic float and many days of
merriment. Second was his romance with Petite Jacoby the pretty niece his landladies.
CHAPTER 17: MISFORTUNE IN MADRID
AUGUST 1890
 RIZAL arrived in MADRID
 He tried all legal means to seek justice for his family and Calamba tenants but to no avail.
ANTONIO LUNA and WENCESLAO E. RATANA
 the two duels that Rizal almost because of his disappointment.
LEONOR RIVERA
 the infidelity girl who was engaged to Rizal for Eleven years but she married into a
British Engineer. She was the reason why RIZAL broken hearted.
FAILURE TO GET JUSTICE FOR FAMILY
 Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal sought the help of the COLONY , the associacion
Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspaper.
AUGUST 19 1890
 JOSE MA. PANGANIBAN died in BARCELONA because of illness Talented co-
worker in propaganda movement the Bicol Hero, When his co-worker died he took his
pen and wrote a great eulogy to expressed his sorrow, he says that it was too hurt to let a
close friend, a hero goes to dead.
INFEDILITY OF LEONOR RIVERA
1890
 Rizal was feeling bitter at so many disappointment he encountered in Madrid. December
30 the day when Rizal lost his locket proved the bad omen, with a cold winds of winter
sweeping across the shivering city, he received a letter from Leonor announcing her
coming marriage to an Englishman(which is the choice of her mother) and asking his
forgiveness.The letter had the great blow to Rizal because he was stunned, his eyes
dimmed with tears and his heart broke.
February 15 1891
 Blumentritt consoled him saying ‘your last letter filled us with sadness’ after all the
misfortunes that have befallen you and now your beloved has abandoned you.
 Rizal was the heroes who conquer pain from a wound inflicted by a woman, he has a
courageous heart and he will in love with a Nobler Woman the mother land, because
Filipinas is like one of those enchanted princess in the German legends who is captive of
a horrid dragon.
 3 months later Blumentritt sent another letter saying I am grieved with all my heart that
you lost the girl to whom you were engage, but if she was able to renounce a Rizal she
didn’t passes the nobility of your spirit.
January 1,1891
 newyears day, Rizal and M.H Del Pilar met the Filipinos in Madrid numbering of 90
persons.
  The affairs of the filipino community and to determine the editorial policy of La
Solidaridad.
 Del Pilar opposed proposition that the periodical be placed under the control of
responsable on the ground that it was a private interprice but it was abandoned.
 The meeting proceeded to the business of electing the responsable.it was agreed that
should be elected by a two-thirds vote of the Filipino community.
February 1891
 during the election took place the Filipinos were devided into two hostile comps(the
Rizalistas and the Pilaristas).1st day of voting Rizal won on the voting but he could not
obtained the required two-thirds vote to be proclaimed responsable. The 2nd day the
result was again indecisive because he didn’t reach the required two-third. On the 3rd day
the situation became explosive and critical Mariano Ponce appealed to his countrymen
with stirring eloquence to vote Rizal, some Pilaristas evidently, heeded his plea. and the
voting resulted to Rizal’s victory and he become the responsable.
Adios Madrid:
 Rizal wrote a brief note thinking his compatriots for electing him as responsable. He
packed up his bags, paid his bills, and boarded a train leaving for Biarritz.
(1882 to 1885)
 he was happy during his first sojourn
(1890 to 1891)
 he was unhappy to second visit. It was the last he saw Madrid, his agonizing heart bade
goodbye to the metropolis of which he had written years ago.

CHAPTER 18: BIARRITZ VACATION AND ROMANCE WITH

NELLY BOUSTEAD (1891)
February 1891
 Rizal arrived in Biarritz, he was warmly welcomed by the Boustead’s family, particularly
Mr. Boustead who had taken a great liking for him because of his remarkable talents.
 The one month vacation in Biarritz worked wonders for Rizal, because it made him
forget his memories in Madrid
February 11, 1891
 His sorrowing began to to sing once more with joy and his health improved with
remarkable swiftness.
 He wrote to Mariano Ponce saying that he was now feeling well.
Romance with Nellie Boustead
 On an emotional rebounce, Rizal having lost his beloved Leonor, come to entertain
considerable affection for Nellie, the prettier and younger daughter of his host.
February 4 1891
 As early on that date M.H del Pilar teased him about changing the”o” to “e”, which
means Noli to Nelly
  Antonio Luna who had previously love and lost Nelly encourage Rizal to woo and marry
her.With the encouragement of his friends, Rizal courted Nelly who in turn reciprocated
his affection. But his proposal for marriage is failed for two reason;
1. he refused to give up his catholic faith and be converted to Protestanism , as Nelly
demanded.
2.Nelly’s mother didn’t like Rizal as his son in law.
EL FILIBUSTERISMO FINISHED IN BIARRITZ
 Frustrated in romance, Rizal found his life consolation in writing. Evidently, while
wooing Nellie and enjoying so “many magnificent moonlight nights” with her, he kept on
working his 2nd novel which he began to write at Calamba in 1887,
March 29, 1891
 The eve of his departure from Biarritz, to Paris, he finished the manuscript of El
Filiburisterismo,

March 30 1891
 He left Biarritz and traveled to Paris through train after he bade goodbye to the
Boustead’s family. He stayed at the home of his friend, Valentine Ventura, on 4 Rue de
Chateaudum
April 4 1891
 Rizal wrote to his friend Jose Ma. Basa in hongkong expressing his desire to go to
British colony and practice ophthalmology in order to earn his leaving.Moreover his
letter requested Basa to advance him the amount for his first class steamer ticket to
Europe to Hongkong.
April 1891
 Rizal was back to in Brussels where he was happily received by Marie and Suzane
Jacoby.
Retirement from the propaganda movement
January, 1891
 Since abdicating to his leadership in Madrid, owing the intrigues of his jealous
campatriots, Rizal retired from the propaganda movement, or reform crusade
 He desired to published his 2nd novel, to practice his medical profession, and later he
became financially independent, he expected to make a more vigorous for his country’s
redemption.
May 1 1891
 From Brussels, he notified the propaganda authorities in Manila to cancel his monthly
allowance and devote the money to some better cause, such as the education of the young
Filipino student in Europe.
Rizal Stopped Writing for La Solidaridad
August 7 1891
 M.H. delPilar wrote to Rizal begging foregiveness for any resentment and and requesting
him to resume writing for the La Solidaridad.
 M.H. delPilar himself realized the need for Rizal’s collaboration in both the propaganda
movement and in the La Solidaridad newspaper because of the enthusiasm for the reform
crusade in Spain was declining.
Revising the Fili for Publication
May 30, 1981
 In Brussels Rizal worked day after day revising the finished manuscript of El
filibusterismo.
 when El Filibusterismo was readied in printing.
June 13
 Rizal informed Basa that he is negotiating with a printing firm to be printed in Belguim
or in Spain.
CHAPTER 19: EL FILIBUSTERISMO PUBLISHED IN GHENT
October 1887
 when Rizal begun writing El Filibusterismo while he was practicing medicine in
Calamba.
March 29, 1891
 1st:The following year(1888), in London, he made some changes in the Plot and
corrected some chapter already written. 2nd he wrote more in Paris and Madrid, and
finished the manuscript in Biarritz.
Privations in Ghent
July 5, 1891
 Rizal left Brussels from Ghent, a famous University in Belgium.
 His reasons for moving to Ghent were; 1. The cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than
in Brussels and, 2. To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzane.
 In Ghent he met two compatriots, Jose Alejandro (from Pampanga), and
EdilbertoEvangelista(from Manila) both engineering in the world-famed University of
Ghent.
The Printing of El Filibusterismo
 Shortly after his arrival in Ghent, Rizal searched for a printing shop that could give him
the lowest quotation for the publication of his novel.
 F. Meyer-Van Loo Press no. 66 Viaanderen Street who was willing to print his book on
installment basis. He pawned his jewels in order to pay his down payment for the
printing.
July 1891
 Rizal wrote to Basa saying that he pawned his jewelry, he lived in small room, he eats a
economize order into a cheapest restaurant to be able to published his novel.
August 6 1891
 The printing of El Fili had been suspended, as Rizal feared, because he could no longer
give the necessary funds to the printer.
“El Filibusterismo” Comes Off the press
 On his morbid moments of despair, Rizal almost burned the manuscript of Filibusterismo.
When everything seemed lost, help came from unexpected source, Valentin Ventura
friend of Rizal.

September 18, 1891

 El Fili comes to press.
 Rizal immediately sent on this date two printed copies to HongKong, one for Basa and
the other is for Sixto Lopez.
October 1891
  The liberal Madrid newspaper, El Nuevo Regimen, serialized the novel in its issues.
 Practically all the copies of the first edition(Ghent) of El Filibusterismo were placed in
wooden boxes and shipped to Hongkong, but almost all the boxes were confiscated and
the books are lost. So it came to pass that the book immediately became rare, and the few
available Ghent copies were sold at very high price, reaching as high as 400 pesetas per
copy.
Dedicated to GOM-BUR-ZA
 Evidently, Rizal all the years of his studies, travels, and labors in foreign lands, had not
forgotten the martyrdom of father Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, which Paciano related to
him when he was a mere lad in Calamba. He dedicated the El Filibusterismo to them.
February 17, 1872
 The three priest martyrdom in Bagumbayan
The Manuscript and the Book
 The original manuscript of El fili in rizal’s own handwriting is now presented at the
Filipiana Division of the Bureau of public libraries,Manila.
 Acquired from Valentin Ventura for 10.0, it consist of 279 pages of long sheet of paper.
 The two features in the manuscript do not appear in the printed book, namely: the
Foreword and the Warning. These were not put into print, evidently, to save printing cost.
Chapter 20: Opthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong
 Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong, where he lived November 1891 to June 1892
 His two reason for leaving Europe were;
1.Life was unbearable in Europe because of his political differences with M.H. del Pilarand other
Pilipinos in Spain, and
2. To be near his idolized Philippine And Family.
 Before sailing for Hong Kong, he notified Del Pilar that he was retiring from the political
arena in Spain in order to preserved unity among the compatriots and that despite their
parting of ways, he had the highest regard to him.

Farewell to Europe
October 3 1891
 Rizal left Ghent for Pariz
October 18
 He proceed by a train to Marseilles, he boarded the steamer Melbourne bound for Hong
Kong.
 He brought with him a letter of recommendation by Juan Luna for Manuel Camus, a
compatriot living in Singapore and 600 copies of the Fili.
October 22, 1891
 Rizal writing to Blumentritt for his opinion about his trip that it was heavenly delightful.

November 20, 1891

 Rizal arrived in Hong Kong, he established his residence at no. 5 D’ Aguilar Street no. 2
Rednaxola Terrace, were also opened his clinic
December 1, 1891
 Rizal wrote his parents asking their permission to retun home
  On the same date, his brother in-law Manuel T. Hidalgo, sent him a letter relating a sad
news of the ”deportation of twenty-five persons from Caleamba, including father,
Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, paciano, and the rest of us,
Family Reunion In Hong Kong
1891
 Before Christmas Rizal was gladdened by the arrival of his father, brother, and Silvestre
Ubaldo(his brother in-law), not long afterwards his mother and sisters Lucia, Josefa, and
Trinidad also arrived. His was then 65 years old and was almost blind.
 The Christmas In Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide celebrations in Rizal life,
for he had a family reunion.
January 31, 1892
 He wrote to Blumentritt, recounting pleasant life in Hong Kong
 To earn a living for himself and for his family, Rizal practiced Medicine
 Dr. Lorenzo Marquez- a Portuguese physician, who became Rizal’s friend and admirer,
who helped him to build up a wide clientele
 In recognition on Rizal’s skills as an ophthalmic Surgeon, he returned over to him many
of his eye cases.
 Rizal successfully operated on his mother’s left eye so that she was able to bread and
write again.
March 21 1892
 After vainly waiting for three months for a reply to his 1st letter(dated December 23,
1891) Rizal wrote again and gave it to a ship captain to be sure it would reach Governor
Despujol’s hand
Writings In Hong Kong
 Notwithstanding the pressure of his medical practice and his Borneo colonization
projects, Rizal continued his writing.
March 2, 1892
 Rizal wrote “UnaVisita a la Victoria Gaol”
June 1892
 He wrote “La Mano Roja” (The Red Hand) printed in sheet form in Hong Kong.
 The Constitution of the Liga Filipina was the most important made by Rizal during his
Sojourn in Hong Kong.
May 1892
 Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila.
 Decision was spurred by the following:
1. To confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project;
2. To establish the Liga Filipina in Manila;
3. To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid that he
(Rizal), being comfortable and safe in Hong Kong, had abandoned the country’s
cause.
June 19, 1892
 He spent his 31st birthday in Hong Kong.
 He had a premonition of his death.
June 20
 He wrote two letters which he sealed.
  Inscribed on each envelop “to be opened after my death,” and gave them to his friend Dr.
Marques for safekeeping.
 The first letter, addressed TO MY PARENTS, BRETHREN, AND FRIENDS. The
second letter, addressed TO THE FILIPINOS.
June 21, 1892
 Rizal penned another letter in Hong Kong for Governor Despujol, incidentally his third
letter to that discourteous Spanish chief executive.
 On the dame day Rizal and his sister Lucia widow of Herbosa left Hong kong to Manila.
Rizal False into Spanish Trap
 Immediately after Rizal’s departure from Hong Kong, the Spanish consul-general, who
issued government guarantee of safety, sent a cablegram to Governor Despujol that
victim “is in the trap” on the same day June 21, 1892 a secret case was filed in Manila
against Rizal and his followers “for anti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation.

Chapter 21: Second Homecoming andTheLiga Filipina

December 31,1891
 he reiterated this belief in a letter to Blumentritt, “I believe that La Solidaridad is no
longer our battlefield; now it is a new struggle. . .the fight is no longer in Madrid”.
I’m going home to lead anew the reform movement; he was like the biblical Daniel
bearding the Spanish lion in its own den:
June 26,1892
 Rizal and his widowed sister Lucia (wife of the late Mariano Herbosa) arrived in
Manila
 At 4:00 o’clock, he went to Malacanan Palace to seek audience with the Spanish
governor general, General EulogioDespujol, Conde de Caspe.
June 27 at 6:00 P.M
 Rizal boarded a train in Tutuban Station and visited his friends in Malolos( Bulacan),
San Fernando (Pampanga), Tarlac ( Tarlac), and Bacolor ( Pampanga).
June 28, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon,
 Rizal returned by train to Manila. Whether he knew it or not, he was shadowed by
government spies who watched carefully his every movement. The homes he had visited
were seided by the Guardia Civil which seized some copies of the Noli and Fili and
some “subversive” pamphlets.
July 3, 1892
 Rizal attended a meeting of the pariots at the home of the Chinese-Filipino mestizo,
DoroteoOngjunco, on Ylaya Street, Tondo.Manila.
July 6
 Rizal went to Malacanan Palace to resume his series of interviews with the governor
general. During this interview Governor General Despujol suddenly showed him some
printed leaflets which were allegedly found in Lucia’s pillow cases. These incriminatory
leaflets were entitled PobresFriales( Poor Friars) under the authorship of Fr. Jacinto and
printed by the Imprenta de los Amigos del Pais, Manila.
July 7
 theGaceta de Manila published the story of Rizal’s arrest which produced indignant
commotion among the Filipino people, particularly the members of the newly organized
 Liga Filipina. Governor General Despujol’s decree deporting Rizal to “one of the
islands in the South”.
July 15 at 12:30 A.M
 Rizal was brought under heavy guard to the steamer Cebu which was sailing for Dapitan.
 This steamer under Captain Delgras departed at 1:00 A.M, sailing south, passing
Mindoro and Panay, and reaching Dapitan on Sunday, the 17th of July, at 7:00 in the
evening.
July 17,1892
 Rizal began his exile in lonely Dapitan which would last until July 31,1896 a period of
four years.
Chapter 22: Exile in Dapitan, 1892-96
 Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the
missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four-year interregnum in
his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied achievements.
He practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic and literary
works, widened his knowledge of languages, established a school for boys, promoted
community development projects, invented a wooden machine for making bricks, and
engaged in farming and commerce.
August 26, 1892
 Rizal on his part, admired the kind, generous Spanish captain. As evidence of his esteem,
he wrote a poem, a Don Ricardo Carnicero, on the occasion of the captain’s birthday.
September 21, 1892
 the sleepy town of Dapitan burst in hectic excitement. The mail boat Butuan was
approaching the town, with colored pennants flying in the sea breezes. Captain Carnicero,
thinking that a high Spaish official was coming, hastily dressed in gala uniform, ordered
the town folks to gather at the shore, and himself rushed there, bringing a brass band.The
mail boat, Butuan, brought no Spanish officials but the happy tidings that the Lottery
Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain Carnicero, Dr.Rizal, and Francisco Equilior(
Spanish resident of Dipolog, a neighboring town of Dapitan) won the second prize of
20,000 in the government-owned Manila Lottery.
 Rizal’s share of the winning lottery ticket was 6,200. Upon receiving this sum, he gave
2,000 to his father and 200 to his friend Basa in Hong Kong, and the rest he invested well
by purchasing agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay, about one kilometer away
from Dapitan.
May 14,1893
 Rizal formed a business partnership with Ramon Carreon( dapitan businessman) in lime
manufacturing. Their Limeburner had a monthly capacity of more than 400 bags of lime.
August 1893
 Rizal had exemplary life, idyllic in serenity, members of his family took turns in visiting
him in order to assuage his loneliness in the isolated outpost of Spanish power in the
Moroland. Among them were his mother, sisters Trinidad, Maria, Narcisa; and nephews
Teodosio, Estanislao, Mauricio, and Prudencio. He built his house by the seashore of
Talisay, surrounded by fruit trees. He had also another house for his school boys and a
hospital for his patients.
During the early days of November 1893
  Rizal was living peacefully and happily at his house in Talisay, a kilometer away from
Dapitan. His mother, sisters and nephews were living with him.
November 3, 1893
 this spy with the assumed name of “Pablo Mercado” and posing as a relative, secretly
visited Rizal at his house on the night of the said day. He introduced himself as a friend
and relative showing a photo of Rizal and a pair of buttons with the initials “P.M” as
evidence of his kinship with the Rizal family.
In February 1895
 Dona Teodora, with her eyesight fully restored, returned to Manila. During her long stay
in Dapitan, she saw her talented son was regetted that he had neglected the Muses. She
requested him to write poetry again.
On October 22, 1895
 in response to her request, Rizal wrote a beautiful poem about his serene life as an exile
in Dapitan and sent it to her. This poem was “MiRetiro” (My Retreat), which is
acclaimed by literary criticsaas one of the best ever penned by Rizal.
August 28, 1893
 Rizal and Josephine Bracken in the silent hours of the night after the day’s hard work,
Rizal was often sad. He missed his family and relatives, his good friends in foreign
lands, the exhilarating life in the cities of Europe, and his happy days in Calamba. The
death of Leonora Rivera left a poignant void in his heart. He needed somebody to cheer
him up in his lonely exile.
October 3, 1876
 In God’s own time this “somebody” came to Dapitan, like a sunbeam to dispel his
melancholy mood. She was Josephine Bracken, an Irish girl of sweet eighteen “slender, a
chestnut blond, with blue eyes, dressed with elegant simplicity, with an atmosphere of
light gayety”. She was born in Hong Kong of Irish parents – James Bracken, a corporal
in the British garrison , and Elizabeth Jane MacBride. Her mothr died in child birth, and
she was adopted by Mr. George Taufer, who later became blind.
 Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at first sight. After whirlwind romance
of one month, they agreed to marry. But father Obach, the priest of Dapitan, refused to
marry them without the permission of the Bishop of Cebu.
On April 5, 1896
 his last year exile in Dapitan, he wrote to Blumentritt “I know already Bisayan and I
speak it quite well; it is necessary, however to know other dialects of the Philippines. By
this time, Rizal could rank with the world’s great linguists. He knew 22 languages, as
follows: Tagalog, Ilokano, Bisayan, Subanun, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French,
German, Arabic, Malay, Hebrew, Sanskirt, Dutch, Catalan, Italian, Chinese, Japanese,
Portuguese, Swedish, and Russian.
May 2, 1896
 in a secret meeting of the Katipunan at a little river called BitukangManok, near the town
of Pasig. Dr. Pio Valenzuela was named emissary to Dapitan, in order to inform Rizal of
the plan of the Katipunan to launch a revolution for freedom’s sake.
On June 15, 1896
 Dr. Valenzuela left Manila on board the steamer Venus. To camouflage his real mission,
he brought with him a blind man named Raymundo Mata and a guide, ostensibly going
to Dapitan to solicit Rizal’s expert medical advice.
On June 21, 1896
 Dr. Valenzuela arrived in Dapitan in the evening. Rizal, ever a hospitable host,
welcomed him. After supper, the two had a heart-to-heart talk in the garden. Valenzuela
told him of the Katipunan plan and of the necessity of his support.
July 14,1896
 when he least expected it, a letter from Governor Blanco arrived in Dapitan, notifying
him of the acceptance of his offer, also stated that the politico-military commander of
Dapitan would give him a pass so that he could come to Manila, where he would be
given a safe conduct to Spain, “ and there the Minister of War will assign you to the
Army of Operations in Cuba, detailed to the Medical Corps”.

On July 31, 1896

 Rizal’s four-year exile in Dapitan came to an end. At midnight of that date, he embarked
on board the steamer Espana.
Chapter 23 Last Trip Abroad, (1896)
On August 26, 1896
 Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan raised the cry of Revolution in the hills of
Balintawak, a few miles north of Manila. Rizal, worried about the raging hostilities, left
for Spain on the steamer Isla de Panay on September 3, 1896. It was his last trip abroad.
On the fateful evening of August 19, 1896
 theKatipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule by means of revolution was discovered by
Fray Mariano Gil, Augustinian cura of Tondo.
 The tumult produced by the discovery of the Katipunan plot was aggravated by the “ Cry
of Balintawak” which was raised by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros on August
26,1896. At the sunrise of August 30, the revolutionists led by Bonifacio and Jacinto
attacked San Juan, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first eight
provinces for rising in arms against Spain – Manila ( as a province ), Bulacan, Cavite,
Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga,, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.
On August 30,1896
 the day when the state of war was proclaimed in the eight provinces, Rizal received from
Governor General Blanco two letters of introduction for the minister of War and the
Minister of Colonies, with a covering letter which absolved him from all blame for the
raging revolution.
On September 2, 1896
 the day before his departure for Spain, Rizal on board the Castilla. At 6 p.m. Rizal was
transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay which was sailing for Barcelona, Spain. The Isla
de Panay arrived at Singapore in the evening of September 7.
 The Isla de Panay, with Rizal on board, left Singapore at 1:00 p.m. September 8.
Unaware of the Spanish duplicity, particularly of Governor General Blanco’s infernal
deceit, he happily continued the voyage towards Barcelona.

On September 25
 he saw the steamer Isla de Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish troops.
Two days later ( Sunday, September 27) he heard from the passengers that a telegram
arrived from Manila reporting the execution of Francisco Roxas, Genato, and Osorio.
On September 28
 A day after the steamer had left Port said ( Mediterranean terminus of the Suez Canal), a
passenger told Rizal the bad news that he would be arrested by order of Governor
General Blanco and would be sent to prison in Ceuta ( Spanish Morocco), opposite
Gibraltar.
On September 29
 Rizal wrote in his travel diary: “there are people on board who do nothing but slander me
and invent fanciful stories about me. I’m going to become a legendary personage.
September 30, at 4:00 p.m
 he was officially notified by Captain Alemany that he should stay in his cabin until
further orders from Manila. He graciously complied with the captain’s directive. About
6:25 p.m. the steamer anchored at Malta. Being confined to his cabin, Rizal was not able
to visit the famous island-fortress of the Christian crusaders.
On October 3, at 10:00 in the morning
 the Isla de Panay arrived in Barcelona, with Rizal a prisoner on board. The trip from
Manila to Barcelona lasted exactly 30 days. He was kept under heavy guard in his cabin
for three days. His jailor was no longer the ship captain but the Military Commander of
Barcelona, who happened to be General EulogioDespujol, the same one who ordered his
banishment to Dapitan in July, 1892. It was one of those coincidences in the lives of men
that make “ history stranger than fiction”.
At 3:00 a.m. on October 6
 Rizal was awakened by the guards and escorted to grim and infamous prison-fortress
named Monjuich. He spent the whole morning in cell. About 2:00 in the afternoon, he
was taken out of prison by the guards and brought to the headquarters of General
Despujol. In the interview, which lasted a quarter of an hour, the brusque general told
Rizal that he would be shipped back to Manila on board the transport ship Colon which
was leaving that evening. After the interview, Rizal was taken aboard the Colon, which
was “ full of soldiers and officers and their families.” At 8:00 p.m. the ship left
Barcelona, with Rizal on board.

Chapter 24 Last Homecoming and Trial

Rizal’s homecoming in 1896
 the last in his life, was the saddest return to his beloved native land. He knew he was
facing the supreme test, which might mean the sacrifice of his life, but he was unafraid.
As a matter of fact, he welcomed it. Gladly, he desired to meet his enemies and to offer
himself as a sacrificial victim to their sadistic lust and unholy designs for he knew that
his blood would water seeds of Filipino freedom. The trial that was held shortly after his
homecoming was one of history’s mockeries of justice. His enemies howled like mad
dogs for his blood, and they got it, without benefit of genuine justice.
On October 8
 A friendly officer told Rizal that the Madrid newspapers were full of stories about the
bloody revolution in the Philippines and were blaming him for it. Realizing the adverse
and unjust public opinion, he thanked God for giving him the chance to return in order to
confront his slanderers and to vindicate his name.
On October 11
  before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary taken away and was critically scrutinized by the
authorities. Nothing dangerous was found in it’s contents. The cabin was search
thoroughly but nothing incriminating was found.
On November 2
 the diary was returned to him. Owing to the interruption, Rizal was not able to record the
events from Monday, October 12 to Sunday, November 1.
On November 3
 the Colon reach Manila, where it was greeted with wild rejoicing with Spaniards and
friars because it brought more reinforcement and military supplies. While the Spanish
community was exalting with joy, Rizal was quietly transferred under heavy guard from
the ship to Fort Santiago. Meanwhile, Spanish authorities fished for an evidence against
Rizal. Many Filipino patriots, including Deodato Arellano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Moises
Salvador, joseDizon, Domingo Franco, TimoteoPaes, and Pedro SeranoLactaw, were
brutally tortured to implicate Rizal. Rizal’s own brother, Paciano, was arrested and
cruelly tortured. He suffered all pains inflected by Spains diabolical torturers, but he
never signed any damaging statement incriminating his younger brother. Although his
body was shattered on the torture rack and his left hand crashed by the screw, his valiant
Asian spirit remained unbroken.

On November 20
 The preliminary investigation began. Rizal, the accused, appeared before the judge
advocate, colonel Francisco Olive. He was subjected to a grueling five day investigation.
He was informed of the charges against him. He answered the questions ask by the judge
advocate, but he was not permitted to confront those who testified against him.
On December 8
 Feast day of the immaculate concepcion, a list of one hundred first and second lieutenant
in the Spanish army was presented to Rizal. He look over the list. One name struck his
fancy. It was Don LuizTaviel de Andrade, first lieutenant of the artillery, the name was
familiar to him so that he choose the lieutenant to be his defender in court.
On December 11
 The information of charges was formally read to Rizal in his prison cell, with his counsel
present. He was accused of being “ the principal organizer and the living soul of the
Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to
fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion.” As the accused, Rizal raised no objection
on the jurisdiction of the court, but pleaded not guilty to the crime of rebellion. He
admitted that he wrote the constitution of the Liga Filipina which was merely a civic
association. He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made,
except that he had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan.
 Dominguez forwarded the papers of Rizal case to Malacanan Palace on December 13,
the same day when General Camillo G. De Polavieja, with the help of the powerful
Dominican friars became Governor General of the Philippines succeeding General
Blanco. The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernatorial office sealed Rizal’s fate, for
he was more humane in character than the rootless Polavieja and, moreover, he firmly
believed that Rizal was not a traitor to Spain. Had he remained longer in office, Rizal
would not have been executed. But this was one of those intriguing “ifs” in history, of
 which man has no control because the destiny of man and nations is in accordance with
God’s divine plan.
On December 15
 Rizal wrote a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop the necessary shedding
of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry.
On December 25, 1896
 was Christmas. On that day all Christendom joyously celebrated the birthday of Christ
who was born to redeem mankind and to bring peace and brotherhood to all men on
earth.
On December 26, 1896 at 8:00 a.m.
 the court martial of Rizal started in the military building called Cuartel de Espanya.
Seated behind a long table on the elevated dais were the seven members of the military
court, dressed in their respective army uniforms as follow: Lt. Col Jose TagoresArjona
(president) Capt. Ricardo Monuz Arias, Capt. Manuel Reguera, Capt. Santiago Izquierdo
Osorio, Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nunez, Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano, Capt. Fermin
Perez Rodriguez. On the same day, the court decision was submitted to Governor
General Polavieja, sought the opinion of the judge advocate General Nicolas De la Pena,
the latter affirmed the death verdict.
On December 28th
 Polavieja proved the decision of the court martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00 in
the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan field ( Luneta).
Chapter 25: Martyrdom at Bagumbayan
 After the court martial, Rizal returned to his cell in Fort Santiago to prepare his
rendezvous with destiny.
 During his last 24 hours on earth- from 6:00 a.m. December 29 to 6 a.m.,
December 30 1896
 he was busy meeting visitors including Jesuits priest, Josephine Bracken, and members of
his family, a Spanish newspaper correspondent (Santiago Mataix), some friends, and
secretly finishing his farewell poem. As a Christian and a hero martyr, he was serenely
resigned to die for his beloved country, which he called “Pearl of the orient Seas” in his
last poem and “Pearl of the Orient” in the article entitled “unfortunate Philippines”
published in the Hong Kong telegraph on September 24 1892.
December 29, 1896
 Capt. Rafael Domingues, who was designated by governor general CamilloPolavieja to
take charge of all arrangements for the execution of the condemned prisoner, read the
death sentenced to Rizal- to be shot at the back by a firing squad at 7 a.m. at Bagumbayan
(Luneta).
 At 7:00 A.M. an hour after the reading of the death sentence, Rizal was moved to the
prison chapel, where he spent his last moment. His first visitors were Father Miguel
SaderraMata(rector of Ateneo Municipal), and Father Luiz Visa, Jesuit teacher.
 At 7:15 A.M. Rector Saderra left. Rizal, in a jovial mood, reminded father Visa of the
statuette of the sacred heart of Jesus which he had curved with his pen knife as an Ateneo
student. Father Visa, anticipating such reminiscence, got the statuette from his pocket and
gave it to Rizal. The hero happily received it and placed it on his writing table.
  At 8:00 A.M. father Antonio Rosell arrived to relieved father Visa. Rizal invited to him
to join him at breakfast, which he did. After breakfast, Lt. LuizTaviel de Andrade
(Rizal’s defense counsel) came, and Rizal thanked him for his gallant services.
 At 9:00 A.M. Father Federico Faura arrived. Rizal reminded him that he said (Rizal
would someday lose his head for writing the Noli.” Father, “Rizal remarked, “You are
indeed a prophet”.
 At 10:00 A.M. Father Jose Villa Clara ( Rizal’s teachers at the Ateneo) and Vicente
Balaguer( Jesuits missionary in Dapitan who had befriended Rizal during the latter’s
exile) visited the hero. After then came the Spanish journalist, Santiago Mataix, who
interviewed Rizal for his newspaper El Herardo de Madrid.
 From 12:00 noon, to 3:30 p.m. Rizal was left alone in his cell. He took his lunch; after
which he was busy writing. It was probably during this time when he finish his a farewell
poem and hid it inside his alcohol cooking stove (not lamp as some biographers
erroneously assert) which was given to him as a gift by Paz Pardo de Tavera( wife of
Juan Luna) during his visit to Paris in 1890. At the same time he wrote his last letter to
professor Blumentritt( his best friend) in German.
 At 4:00 P.M. Rizal’s mother arrived. Rizal knelt down before her and kiss her hand,
begging her to forgive him. Both mother and son were crying as the guards separate
them. Shortly afterwards Trinidad entered the cell to fetch her mother. As they were
leaving, Rizal gave to Trinidad the alcohol cooking stove ,whispering to her in English:
“there is something inside”.
 This “something” was Rizal’s farewell poemAt 6:00 p.m. Rizal received a new visitor,
Don Silvino Lopez Tunon, the DEAN of the Manila Cathedral.
 At 8:00 p.m. Rizal had his last suffer. He informed Capt. Domingues who was with him
that he forgave his enemies, including the military judges who condemned him to death.
 At 9:30 p.m. Rizal was visited by Don Gaspar Cestano, the fiscal of the royal Audiencia
of Manila. As a gracious host, Rizal offered him the best care in the cell. After a pleasant
conversation, the fiscal left with the impression of Rizal’s intelligence and noble
character.
 At 10:00 of the night of December29th, the draft of the retraction sent by the anti-
Filipino archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda (1890-1903) was submitted by father Balaguer
to Rizal for signature, but the hero rejected it because it was too long and he did not like
it. According to father Balaguer’s testimony, he showed Rizal a shorter retraction which
was prepared by father Pio Pi, superior of the Jesuit society in the Phil., which was
acceptable to Rizal.
At 3:00 in the morning of December 30 1896
 Rizal heard mass, confess his sin and took Holy Communion.
 At 5:30 a.m. he took his last breakfast on earth. After this, he wrote two letters, the first
addressed to his family and the second to older bro. Paciano.
 At 6:00 a.m. as soldiers were getting ready for the death marched to Bagumbayan, Rizal
wrote his last letter to his beloved parents.
 About 6:30 a.m. a trumpet sounded at Fort Santiago, a signal to begin the death march to
Bagumbayan the designated place for the execution. The advance guard of four soldiers
with bayoneted ripples moved. A few meters behind, Rizal walk calmly with his defense
counsel (lt. Luis Taviel De Andrade) on one side and two Jesuit priests (fathers march
and Dila Clara on the other). More well-armed soldiers marched behind him.
 Rizal was dressed elegantly in a black suit, black derby hat, black shoes, white shirt and
black tie. His arms were tied behind from elbow to elbow, but the rope was quite loose to
give his arms freedom of movement.
 To the muffled sounds of drums, the cavalcade somnolently marched slowly. There was a
handful of spectators lining the street from Fort Santiago to the Plaza del Palacio in front
of the Manila Cathedral. Everybody seemed to be out at Bagumbayan, where a vast
crowd gathered to see how a martyr dies.
 Going through the narrow Postigo Gate, one of the gates of the city wall, the cavalcade
reached the Malecon (now Bonifacio Drive), which was deserted. Rizal looked at the sky,
and said to one of the priests: “how beautiful it is today, Father. What morning could be
more serene! How clear is Corregidor and the mountains of Cavite! On morning like this,
I used to take a walk with my sweetheart”.
 Reluctantly, Rizal turned his back to the firing squad and faced the sea. A Spanish
military physician, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, asked his permission to feel his pulse, which
request was graciously granted. Dr. Castillo was amazed to find it normal, showing that
Rizal was not afraid to die.
 The death ruffles of the drums filled the air. Above the drum-beats, the sharp command
“Fire” was heard, and the guns of the firing squad barked. Rizal, with supreme effort,
turned his bullet-riddled body to the right, and fell on the ground dead – with face upward
facing the morning sun. it was exactly 7:03 in the morning when died in the bloom of
manhood – aged 35 years, five months, and 11 days.
 At the time when the bullets of Spain’s firing squad killed Dr. Jose Rizal, the Spaniards –
residents, friars,( Jesuits not included), corrupt officials ( including Governor Polavieja)
exulted with sadistic joy, for Rizal, formidable champion of Filipino freedom, was gone.
In fact, immediately after the hero’s execution the Spanish spectators shouted “
VivaEspana!” “Muerte a los Traidores”, ( Long Live Spain! “ Death to the Traitors!”)
and the Spanish military band, joining the jubilance over Rizal’s death, played the gay
Marcha de Cadiz.
TIMELINE