Ma. Antonette R.

Orsal BS Psychology II

- Describe Rizal’s trip to America and Europe

After visiting United States, Rizal lived in London from May to March 1888 for 3
reasons. First is he want to improve his knowledge of the English language. Second, to
study and annotate Moraga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, a rare copy of which he
heard to be available in the British Museum, and lastly, London was a safe place for him
to carry on his fight against Spanish tyranny.

The trans-Atlantic voyage of Rizal from New York to Liverpool was a pleasant
one. He was on board “City of Rome”. Rizal entertained the American and European
passengers with his marvelous skills with the yo-yo. Yoyo was a small wooden disc
attached to a string from the finger. At May 24, 1888, Rizal arrived at Liverppol, England
were he stayed for one day at Adelphi Hotel. According to Rizal “Liverpool is a big and
beautiful city and its celebrated port is worthy of its grand fame. The entrance is
magnificent and the customhouse is quite good”.

Rizal went to London on May 25, 1888. He stayed for a short time at the home of
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, an exile of 1872 and a practicing lawyer in London. He found a
permanent boarding place at No. 37 Chalcot Crescent, Primerose Hill, owned by
Becketts Family. The Becketts’ home was conveniently near the public place and the
British Museum where he would do his extensive research. He met Dr. Reinhold Rozt,
the librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the authority of Malayan languages
and customs. He called Rizal “a pearl of a man” (una perla de hombre) as he was
impressed by his learning and character. He religiously studied several material on
Philippine History especially on Antonio De Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas
(Historical Events of the Philippine Island) which he annotated and which was published
in Mexico 1609. During his stayed in London, he received Bad and good news from
home.

On September 1888, Rizal visited Paris for a week in order to search for more
historical materials in the Bibliotheque Nationale. His experience in the place
accompanied by Juan Luna and his (Luna) family. On December 11, 1888, Rizal went
to Spain, visiting Madrid and Barcelona to meet with Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Mariano
Ponce. Rizal returned to London on December 24, 1888 and spent Christmas and New
Year’s Eve with the Becketts. He was extremely delighted to experience holiday
season. Rizal sent to Blumentritt as a Christmas gift a bust of Emperador Augustus
which he had made. As another present, he sent to Dr. Carlos Czepelak a bust of Julius
Caesar. Mrs. Beckett, knowing of Rizal interest in magic, she gave Rizal a book entitled
“The life and Adventures Vox, the Ventriloquist”.

Rizal becomes leader of Filipinos in Europe. The “Asociacion La Solidaridad” or

Solidaridad Association is a patriotic society, which cooperate in the cursad fro reforms,
was inaugurated on Decembrt 31, 1888 with the following officer: Gelicano Apacible as
president, Graciano Lopez Jaena as vice president, Manuel Santa Maria as secretary,
Mariano Ponce as treasurer and Jose Ma. Panaganiban as accountant. By unanimous
vote of all members, Rizal ws chosen honorary president. At January 28, 1889, Rizal
wrote a letter addressed to the members of Asociacion La Solidaridad.

At February 15, 1889, Gracaino Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newpaper
called La Solidaridad in Barcelona. La Solidaridad was a fortnightly periodical which
served as the organ of Propaganda Movement. The aim of this is to work peacefully for
political and social reforms, to portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so
that the Spain may remedy them, to oppose the evil forces of reaction and medievalism,
also to advocate liberal ideas and progress, and to champion the ;egitimate aspiration of
the Filipinos people to life, democracy and happiness. The first article appeared in La
Solidaridad entitled “Los Agricultores Filipinos” or The Filipino Farmers. It published on
March 25, 1889, 6 days before he left London for Paris.

Rizal had a romantic interlude with the oldest sisters of Beckett, Gertrude
Beckett. Rizal called Gertrude as “Grettie” and she was called Rizal as “Pettie”. She
was attracted to Rizal and had always loved to be with him. And our hero, being away
from home, found a little aspiration with the English girl. Although he did not pursue his
love for Gertrude because he was still in a relationship with Leonor Rivera at that time
and would not want so he forget about her.
 Before leaving London, Rizal finished 4 sculptural works: 1. Prometheus Bound
2. The Triumph Death over Life 3. The Triumph of Science over Death and 4. A
composite carving of heads of the three Beckett sisters.

On March 19, 1889, Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett Family and left
London for Paris. He was sad as he crossed the English Channel for he had many
beautiful memories of London. Because of too much many tourist in the city, he stayed
with Valentin Ventura. He transferred from different hotels and boarding houses. But he
finally lived together with other Filipinos, Justo Trinidad and Jose Albert. He also visited
the home of Pardo de Tavera. He even composed the story of “The Monkey and the
Tortoise”. He was fascinated by the Universal Exposition, especially the Eiffel Tower,
held in Paris, France from May 06, to October 31, 1889. In the exposition, there was this
International Art Competition where Felix Hidalgo won the 3 rd prize, then Pedro de
Tavera and Juan Luna won the 2nd prize, and unfortunately Rizal got nothing.

In Paris 1889, he spent his time in Bibliotheque Nationale, reading and checking
up historical annotations of Morgan’s book. He also finalized his copy of Morgan’s book
which showed evidence that the Filipinos were already civilized before Spaniards came.
He also organized societies with his fellow Filipinos, like the Kidlat Club, with Filipinos
who wanted to join expo. Kidlat Club was founded on March 19, 1889. The purpose of
this is to enjoy their journey in the exposition and this was only temporary. The
members are Antonio and Juan Luna, Gregorio Aguilerra, Fernando Canon, Lauro
Dimayuga, Julio Llorente, Guillermo Pautu and Baldomero Roxas. Indios Bravos was
another organized society and the formation of the group was inspired by American
Indians dressed in their traditional cloths and riding proudly on their horses. The
purpose of this is to stand and not to be ashamed of being called Indios and the
members are Antonio and Juan Luna, Gregorio Aguilerra, Fernando Canon, Lauro
Dimayuga, Julio Llorente, Guillermo Pautu and Baldomero Roxas. R.D.L.M. or
Redencion de Los Malayos was another organized society. The purpose of this is to
propagate useful knowledge, in any forms, in the Philippines and the redemption of
Malayan race and the members, they don’t know each other, as well as we don’t know
them. It’s still a mystery. (Mentioned in the letters of Rizal to Jose Maria Basa on
September 21, 1889 and to Marcelo H. del Pilar on November 04, 1889.)

Rizal planned to establish a college in Hong Kong with the help of Mr. Mariano
Cunanan who promised to help him raise 40,000 pesos, but unfortunately it did not
secceed. (But when he was exile in Dapitan, he was able to establish a Boys School).
He wrote another satire entitled Por Telefono, as a reply to Fr. Salvador Font, who was
against to his novel Noli Me Tangere and made it banned. Still he used the name
Dimas-Alang.

Rizal had been coming back and forth from Paris to London, then Paris last, with
his aim to check up or compare on his annotation of Morgan’s books to its original copy
found in British Museum (January 1890).

- Rizal writing in London

Other than annotating Morgan’s work, Rizal wrote a lot in London including
asticles in la Solidaridad. While busy in research studies at the British Museum, Rizal
received news on Fray Rodriguez’ unabated attack on his Noli.

The “La Vision del Fray Rodriguez” (The Vision of Fray Rodriguez) is a pamphlet
wrote by Rizal which published in Barcelona under his nom-de-plume Dimas Alang in
order to defense his novel. Under the pseudonym “Dimas Alang”, Rizal satirically attack
Fray Rodriguez through presenting a spirited conversation between the friar and St.
Augustine. It expose how senseless was Fray Rodriguez’s writing and that it deserves
punishment and people find him ridiculous.

The “Letter to the Young Women of Malolos”, is a famous letter wrote by Rizal on
February 22, 1889 in Tagalog. This letter is to praise the young ladies of Malolos for
their courage to establish a school where they could learn Spanish, despite the
opposition of Fr. Felipe Garcia, a Spanish parish priest of Malolos. The main points of
this letter were: (1) a Filipino mother should teach her children love of God, fatherland,
and mankind (2) the Filipino mother should be glad, like the Spartan mother, to offer her
sons in the defense of the fatherland (3) a Filipino woman should know how to preserve
her dignity and honor (4) a Filipino woman should educate herself, aside from retaining
her good racial virtues (5) Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious
pictures, but rather it is living the real Christian way, with good morals and good
manners.

His articles “Specimens of Tagalog Folklore” and “Two Eastern Fables” as

requested contribution from Rizal in Dr. Rost’s Trubner’s Record. The “Specimen of
Tagalog Folklore” consist of Filipino proverbs and puzzle, while the “Two Eastern
Fables” was a comparative study of Philippine and Japanese Folklore.

- Rizal the Romantic, the women in Rizal’s life

Rizal is famous for many things, including being skilled ophthalmologist, author
and Philippine revolutionist that’s why Rizal is one of our national heroes. Rizal travels
around the world and with that he met different kind of people, like scientist, authors,
artist, and even fellow revolutionist. Because of this he also met and fell in love with
numerous women, who would become the inspiration for his disposition and art. There
were at least women linked with Rizal, and these women might have been captivated by
his intelligence, charm and being wit.

Julia Celeste Smith and Rizal accidentally met at the river named Dapitan in
Los Baños. Rizal help Julia to catch butterfly. Rizal instantly attracted to her but for lack
of subsequent contact, Rizal eventually forgot Julia.

Segunda Katigbak is his first love, it was attraction at first sight. He met her
when he and his grandmother visited his friend Mariano Katigbak, Segunda’s brother.
But unfortunately she was engaged to married to a town-mate named Manuel Luz.

Jacinto Ibardo Laza and Rizal met at Pakil, Laguna. The reason of separation is
natural death of his feelings because he was still in love with Segunda Katigbak, and his
father objected his romance with Miss. L. because she was a professor.

Leonor Valenzuela is a tall girl from Pangsasinan. They met when Rizal was a
sophomore medical student at University of Santo Tomas, he was her neighbor during
the time when Rizal’s lives at Doña Concha Leyva’s boarding house in Intramuros,
Manila. Rizal wrote a love notes written in invisible ink, that could only deciphered over
the warmth of the lamp or a candle. He visited her on the eve of his departure to Spain
and bade her a last goodbye.

Leonor Rivera is his sweetheart for 11 years. She was Rizal’s second cousin
and they met when Rizal was 18 and Leonor was 13, at the boarding house of Rizal’s
uncle in Intramuros Manila. Leonor’s mother was disapproved of her daugther’s
relationship with Rizal, who was then a known filibustero. In his letters, Rizal called
Leonor “Taimis” to hide her identity. Little did she know, her mother hid all the letters
from Leonor. Leonor believed Rizal had already forgotten her and later on she married
English man, a British Engineer named Henry Kipping.

Consuelo Ortiga y Reyes is a daughter of Don Pablo Ortigas. Rizal fell in love
with Consuelo and dedicated a poem entitled “A La Señorita C.O.y.P.” which became
one of his best poems. He suddenly backed out before the relationship turned into a
serious romance, because he wanted to remain loyal to Leonor Rivera and he did not
want to destroy his friendship with Eduardo De Lete who was madly in love with
Consuelo.

Seiko Usui affectionately called O-Sei-San. She is a daughter of Japanese

Samurai that taught Rizal the Japanese art of painting known as su-mie. She also help
Rizal to improve his knowledge about Japanese language. If Rizal was a man without a
patriotic mission, he would have married O Sei San and lived a stable and happy life
with her in Japan.

Gertrude Beckett is the eldest daughter of his landlord. Rizal went to London
and he met Gertrude. Gertrude showered Rizal with all the love and attention of a girl
who is hopelessly in love. She even assisted Rizal as he finished some of his popular
sculptures, “Prometheus Bound,” “The Triumph of Death over Life,” and “The Triumph
of Science over Death.” He called her Gettie, she called him Pettie. But all documents
lead to say one thing: the feelings weren’t mutually shared. When Rizal left London, and
left Gettie a composite carving of the heads of the Beckett sisters. Marcelo del Pilar,
Rizal’s friend, said Rizal left London to move away from Gertrude, whose idea of their
relationship was more than what it really was—the most tormenting kind: an unrequited
love.
 Nellie Boustead and Rizal met when he visited their residence as a guest,
having a shared interest in fencing. And through over time they had fall in love with each
other, but Rizal refuse to convert to Protestantism and Nellie’s mother did not want have
paying clientele. They had parted as good friend before Rizal left France to move to
Belgium.

Suzanne Jacoby and Rizal met when he had lived in the boarding house of the
Jacoby sister in Brussels, Belgium. In time, they fell deeply in love with each other, but
Rizal wanted to finish his patriotic mission and left Suzanne crying for Madrid.

Josephine Bracken is the most famous and most controversial of Rizal’s lovers.
Rizal was physically attracted to her. His loneliness and boredom must have taken the
measure of him and what could be a better diversion that to fall in love again. But the
Rizal sisters suspected her as an agent of the friars and they considered her as a threat
to Rizal’s security. Rizal met her during his exile in Dapitan. In his final days, he asked
for her hand in marriage but no priest would marry the two. Without a legal paper, Rizal
and Josephine lived together as husband and wife. They had ason who died a few
hours after giving birth. Rizal named his son after his father, Francisco.

- Poem entitled “the song of the travelers”

Tulala at tila malayo ang tingin,

Inaalala ang nakaraan ng parang panaginip.

Naisin man itong balikan,

Ngunuit paano? Ano ang paraan.

Masaya pa at tila walang problema,

Kompletong pamilya at wala nang hihigit pa.

Ngunit parang kailan lamang,

Pamilya’y dating buo, ngayon ay tila’y ala-ala na lang.

 Ako ngayon ay naguguluhan,

Nalilito sa aking daang tinatahak.

Ang sagot tila’y hindi maapuhap,

Gabay ng magulang, aking hinahanap.

Inaasam na maging kompleto, ngunit malabo.

Tila ako’y nangungulila at sumasamyos,

Dalangin ko’y ang kanilang kaligayahan,

Tanggapin ang katotohanan at masanay na lamang.