3.

1 FIRST TRAVEL ABROAD (1882-1887)

DEPARTURE

After four years in medicine, Jose Rizal left the country to continue his
studies in Europe. He boarded SS Salvadora bound to Singapore on May 3,
1882. His departure was known by his brother Paciano, his two sisters, some
close relatives and friend. Because he knew that if he will inform his parents,
they will not permit him.

Before his departure, his brother Paciano told Jose do use his cousins named
Jose Mercado so he may not be interrogated by the Spanish authorities. In
fact, his friends in Ateneo de Municipal handed him a letter of
recommendation which Jose has they may present it to some members of
the Jesuits in Barcelona.

Apart from the discontentment of the antiquities teaching methods of

instruction and the racial prejudice of Dominican professors, Jose Rizal
wanted to observe the culture, government, laws, the industries and
businesses in the European nations. Because he knew that he’ll be playing a
big role in liberating the Filipino people from the cruelty and oppression of
the Spanish authorities.

While on board, Jose Rizal finds his way enjoy by observing the different
people, their behavior, race and culture. He noticed that most of the
passengers in the ship were Spaniards, British and Indians. He thought of
himself that he was the only Filipino in the ship.

His life in the ship was a bit boring, Despite of his conversation with Donato
Lecha, The Austrian ship captain. He did sketching as the ship passed by the
beautiful views along the shores. At times, he played chess with his fellow
passengers whom he defeated many times. After five days, they reached
Singapore where he spent two days sightseeing the sights of the beautiful
city.

After sightseeing in the Singapore, Jose Rizal decided to transfer to a French

steamer ship Djemah to transport him to Europe. The ship reached Point
Galle, where they stayed for a day, before heading for Colombo, the capital
of Ceylon (Srilanka).

From Colombo they crossed the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Africa, then
Aden and the City of Suez where he remembered of his parents and siblings
back in his hornetown in Calamba. The ship docked at the Port Said the
Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Cannal.

On June 11, the ship docked in an Italian City called Naples. He has seen
differ or historical landmarks like the Mt. Vesivius, the Castle St. Telmo and
among others. His stay in Naples did not take long because they boarded
again to the French harbor of Marseilles where he stayed there for two and
half days remembering the beautiful place of Chateau d’If, the place where
Edmond Dantes of “The Count of Monte Cristo” was imprisoned.

After Marseilles, he crossed the Pyrenees by means of train where he

stopped for day it the frontier town of Port Bou. On June 16, 1882, Jose Rizal
reached Barcelona after the short inspection from the immigration officer.

ARRIVAL IN SPAIN

His first impression of Barcelona. Spain was unattractive, hideous and filthy
most people are unfriendly. He stayed for a while in a decrepit public house
where other guests and the staffs were indifferent. But all his impressions
changed when he saw the strong determination of people towards freedom
and liberalism. Away from the dark side of the city, there were generous,
kind and loving people. This gave him the idea to roam around the city
visiting the famous street in central Barcelona called Las Ramblas.
To his surprise, his friends treated him in the Plaza de Cataluna. They shared
to him the beauty of the place, its tourist attractions as well as the different
culture and traditions the people practiced. He also met some of his Filipino
classmates. As a sign of gratitude, Jose Rizal told everyone about the
situation in the Philippines.

His stay In Barcelona allowed him to write various essays, the first_was
“Amor Patrio” (Love of Country) and “Los Viajes” (Travels) and the “Revisited
de Madrid” which were written in Spanish and were published in Diariong
Tagalog, the first bilingual newspaper owned by Basilio Teodoro Moran of
Manila. His last essay was not published because of the closure of the
newspaper due to lack of funds.

However; while he was in Barcelona, he was informed that the cholera

outbreak reached Manila and other neighboring provinces in the Philippines.
This outbreak caused deaths and suffering to many Filipinos. Yet, the Spanish
authorities did not do anything to curb this epidemic. Aside from this, there
was also a bad news he received from Chengoy, he found out that Leonor
Rivera became unwell and slender because of her sadness of not seeing Jose
Rizal.

STUDIES IN MADRID

After his stay in Barcelona, Jose Rizal decided to move in Madrid in the fall of
1882 to follow his plan to study at the Unibersidad Central de Madrid (Central
University of Madrid).

In September 1882, he continued his Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.

While busy studying, he also took time to study the following:

1. Painting and Sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando;

 2. French, German and English languages through a private tutor and,

3. Fencing and shooting at the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell.

Apart from these, he made sure to visit museums and libraries where he’s
fond of reading Bible, Hebrew grammar biographies of the United States
presidents, nine volumes of Voltaire’s work, three volumes of Horace, the
Ancient Poetry Works of Thucydides, the Byzantine Empire, the Characters by
La Bruyere and the Renaissance including books on medicine, philosophy,
history, geography, arts, and sciences.

Amongst the books he has read, the “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher
Stowe, and “The Wandering Jew” by Eugene Sue had affected him so much
because these books discussed the cruelty and misery of the people that he
can associated with prevailing situation of the Filipinos.

There was a time while he visited the house of Don Pablo Ortega Y Rey, the
former city mayor of Manila during Governor General Carlos Maria dela
Torre’s administration and Vice President of the Council of the Philippines in
the Ministry of Colonies (Ultramar), Jose Rizal met Don Pablo’s daughter
Consuelo whom he found happiness and console. But his relationship with
her did not blossom because he was still thinking of Leonor Rivera and also
he doesn’t want his friendship with Eduardo de Lete be wasted just because
of her.

Another activity where he was involved was his membership with the Circulo
Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle), an association of Spaniards and
Filipinos. One night, he was requested by the members to write a poem
entitled “Me Piden Versos” (They Ask Me for Verses), which he delivered on
December 31, 1882. This poem was full of pain and sadness because of his
loneliness for his family including Leonor Rivera as well as the suffering of
the Filipino people from the hands of the colonizers.
During the vacation, Jose Rizal decided to visit Paris, France where he stayed
at the Hotel de Paris. While in Paris, he was able to see Champs Elyssees, the
Opera House, the

Place de la Concorde, the Arch of Triumph, the Bois de Boulogne, the

Madelaine Church, the

Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Column of Vendor, the lnvalides containing the
tomb of Napoleon the Great, the Versailles (former royal palace) and other
beautiful places like the museums, botanical gardens, and hospitals.

He stayed In Paris for two months; in fact, he was mistakenly identified by

the Parisians as Japanese maybe because of his race and physique. He
described Paris as the costliest city in Europe because of the expensive foods
and other necessities.

MASONIC SOCIETY

In March 1883, Jose Rizal joined the Masonic lodge in Madrid called Acacia.
His membership with the Masonic society was triggered because of his
intention to use it as a shield against the friars in the Philippines. As a sign of
his interest in the organization, he was able to write an essay entitled
“Science, Virtue and Labor” which he delivered on 1889 at the La
Solidaridad. On November 15, 1890, he was awarded the diploma in Master
Mason by the Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.

FINANCIAL PROBLEM

His two years in Spain was full of memories, however things went bad in the
Philippines. This caused him financial problem because of the minimal
harvest due to drought and locusts.
 Apart from these, his family in the Philippines experienced strict control
from the Dominicans because of high rentals of the lands his family
cultivated. One time, his father was unable to give a turkey to a hacienda
manager because his father thought it might also be affected by the locust.
This resulted to the overcharging of the rentals, thus, Jose Rizal’s allowance
sometimes came late. He often time experienced missing meals during the
day.

But despite of this, Jose Rizal still finds a way to earn money by joining
competition where he most of the time won.

LUNA AND VICTORY

Jose Rizal was invited to talk to a banquet in behalf of the Filipino community
in Spain after the victory of Filipino painters named Juan Luna and Felix
Resureccion Hidalgo in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid. Luna
won first place for his “Spolarium” while Hidalgo took home the second place
for his “Christian Virgin Exposed to the Populace”.

In his talk, he stated the importance of their achievements in the Philippines

as artists. Their contribution to the humanities are truly worth emulating, he
said that “genius knows no country, genius is everywhere, and genius is like
light, in the patrimony of everybody, cosmopolitan like space, like fire, like
God”.

His talk made a remark to his comrades including some Spaniards who were
also present the banquet. In fact, he deliberately gave a mordant message to
the Dominican priests in the Philippines but some Spaniards did not mind it
as they saw relevance of his thoughts where it is full of nobility, sincerity and
eloquence. A part of his speech is as follows:

Speaking before you, I am not scared by the fear that you may listen to me
with Luke warmness. I came to join your enthusiasm, ours, the stimulus
youth, and you cannot help but be indulgent. Sympathetic effluvia saturate
the atmosphere, fraternal currents run in all directions, generous souls listen;
and consequently I do not fear for my humble person, no do l doubt your
benevolence. Men of goodwill, you seek only goodwill and from that height
where noble sentiments reside, you do not perceive petty in your hand to
one who likes me, desires to join you in one single thought, in one single
aspiration – the glory of genius, the splendor of the Motherland.

Here is the fact, the reason why we are gathered. In the history of nations,
there are names by themselves signify an achievement, that recall the
passion and greatness names that, like magic formula, evoke pleasant and
smiling thoughts, names that became a pact, a symbol of peace, a bond love
between the nations. The names of Luna and Hidalgo belong to these; their
glories became Extremes of the globe-the east and the west Spain and the
Philippines. In uttering from both regions, are going entwine there above,
impelled by the feeling of common origin, two people in which the seeds of
disunion the men and their despotism blindly sow do not germinate. Luna
and Hidalgo are Spanish as well as Philippines glories….. Luna and Hidalgo
belong as much as to you as to us, you love them and we see in them
generous hopes, precious examples. The Filipino youth in Europe, ever
enthusiastic, and others whose hearts always remain young for the
disinterestedness and enthusiasm that characterize their actions, offer to
Luna as crown, a modest small indeed for our enthusiasm, but the most
spontaneous and the most voluntary of all the gifts hitherto presented to
him…..l drink to the health of our artists Luna and Hidalgo legitimate and
pure glories of two people! I drink to the health of our artist Luna and Hidalgo
legitimate the pure glories of two people! I drink to the health of the persons
who have lent them a helping hand on the dolorous path of art. l drink to the
health of the Filipino youth, sacred hope of my Native land; solicitous and
heedful of the welfare of her provinces implement soon the reforms she has
contemplated for a long time. The furrow is ready and the ground is not
sterile! I drink finally from the happiness of those parents who, deprived of
the tenderness of their children, from those distant regions follow them with
moist eyes and palpitating hearts across seas and space, sacrificing on the
altar of the common welfare the sweet consolations that are so scarce In the
twilight of life, precious and lonely winter flowers that sprout along the snow
white borders of the grave.
This talk received an standing ovation, truly making the Filipinos proud
showing strong sense of pride, nationalism and patriotism.

COMPLETION OF STUDIES

Jose Rizal’s stay in the University was not at all considered to be joyful, in
fact, he once participated in students’ demonstration in support to Miguel
Morayta, a history professor whose speech focused on freedom of science
and teacher

On November 20-22, 1884, some students and other students in other

colleges joined the demonstration where most of them were hurt and injured.
This demonstration was believed to be supported by the Rector who was
replaced by Dr. Creus. As a result, Jose Rizal was almost detained by the
police authorities if not because he was able to run away with his friend
Valentin Ventura.

On June 21, 1884, Jose Rizal completed his studies with excellent ratings
but was unable to receive the diploma for the degree of Licentiate in
Medicine and diploma for the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters
at the Universidad Central de Madrid because he did not present his thesis or
paid the corresponding fees.

OPHTHALMIC EXPERIENCE

Upon completion of his studies, Jose Rizal went to Paris and Germany to
specialize in ophthalmology because he knew that his mother was suffering
from eye problem and he wanted to treat it.

While in travel, he befriended to some famous scientists, they were Dr.

Feodor 1hagor, Adolph Meyer; and Dr. Hans Meyer, and Virchow.
In November 1885 until February 1886, Jose Rizal served as an assistant of
Dr. Louis de Wecker, a leading French ophthalmologist. This experience
helped him a lot in developing his expertise in ophthalmology.

After Paris, he went to Germaby where he worked at the University Eye

Hospital as an assistant of Dr. Otto Becker, a German ophthalmologist.

Rizal was also introduced to another famous scientist Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a
professor in “Descriptive Anatomy.” Virchow recognized Rizal as genius and
invited him to give a lecture before the Ethnographic Society of Berlin.

In Berlin, he worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Schweigger, a

German Ophthalmologist. According to him, his stay in Germany will help
him improved his knowledge on ophthalmology, to study further about
science and languages observes their economic and political conditions, to
be with the great German scientists and finally publish his first novel, the
“Noli Tangere”.

While in Germany he noticed how the German women differ from other
women he met, as they were “serious, diligent, educated, and friendly.” They
were not “gossipy, frivolous, and quarrelsome like the Spanish women.” They
were simple, and not very particular with beautiful dresses and expensive
jewellery. This observation was resonated with the Filipino women who were
well-mannered, devoted, and hospitable but unsophisticated. He said that
they will gain respect equal to men, if only they could develop and educate
themselves.

THE NOLI ME TANGERE

In March 21 1887, the Noli Me Tangere which means “touch me not” was
taken from holy bible was published despite his physical condition, this was
the time when Jose Rizal had no money and his health was failing. The
publication of his first novel was realized because of his friend Maximo Viola
who arrived in Berlin just in time of his desperation and loaned him a certain
amount of money for the publication of his novel.

After the publication, Jose Rizal sent copies to his comrades, they were
Ferdinand Blumentritt, Antonio Maria Regidor, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano
Ponce, and Felix Hidalgo. He also gave a copy to Maximo Viola on March 29
as a sign of gratitude during the time he needed money for the publication of
his novel.

The novel was Inspired by his reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle
Tom’s Cabin”. The novel was supposed to be written by some of his friends
who were present during the proposal, they were the Paternos (Pedro,
Maximo, and Antonio) Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de
Lete, Julio Llorente, Melecio Figueroa, and Valentin Ventura. However, during
the writing, these people did not do anything.

Despite of that, Jose Rizal continued writing the novel and finished few
chapters more in Germany and the remaining chapters in Wilhelmsfeld on
April to Lune 1886.

After Christmas season with Viola, he made some finishing touches deleting
some passages in the manuscript, including the chapter on “Elias and
Salome”. After a thorough canvassing for the printing of the novel, they
found Berliner Buchcdrukrei Action Gesselchaft printing house where they
were charged the lowest rate of 300 for 2,000 copies.

While the novel was being printed, the Chief of Police in Berlin visited him in
his boarding house and requested him to his passport. Jose Rizal was unable
to present his passport, he was told to secure within four days or else he
would be deported. Jose Rizal who has no passport at all, presented to the
German Police authorities to explain that he was a

Filipino physician and scientist but instead, he was suspected as French spy
because of his frequent visit to the village and towns in rural areas. But he
reiterated to them that aside from a physician, he was an ethnologist whose
interest is to observe the customs and lifestyles of the people. His apologetic
gesture made the police authorities believed and allowed him to stay freely
in Germany.

JOURNEY WITH DR. MAXIMO VIOLA

After the novel was published, just in time when his brother Paciano sent him
his allowance amounting to one thousand pesos, he then paid Maximo Viola
the amount he loaned for his novel's publication.

With his remaining money, Jose told Maximo about his plans to visit again
some places in Europe to continue his socio-political observations. On May
11, 1887, they left Berlin by train going to their first destination, the Dresden
where they visited Dr. Adolph

Meyer, the Museum of Arts, witnessed the Floral Exposition where they also
met Dr. Feodor Jagor who advised him to write Ferdinand Blumentritt before
going to him so that the latter may not be surprised of his Visit.

Afterwards, they proceeded in Leitmeritz, Czechoslovakia by a train where

they met Blumentritt who was very hospitable to them. Before going to his
house, Ferdinand Blumentritt accompanied them at Hotel Krebs where they
rested momentarily.

After they visited Prague where they saw the tomb of Copernicus. Then their
next destination was Vienna where they saw the grandeur churches,
museums, art galleries, theaters, and the public parks.

On May 24, they left Vienna by a boat to see the beautiful sights of the
Danube River. The river voyage ended in Lintz where they travelled overland
to Salizburg going to Munich, then to Nuremberg, then proceeded to Ulm
going straight to Stuttgart, Baden, then to Rheinhall (Cascade of the Rhine)
where they crossed the frontier to Schffhaussen and continued their journey
in Basel, Bern, and Lausanne, then heading towards Leman to Geneva.

Lt was in Geneva where Jose Rizal celebrated his 26 th birthday treating Dr.
Viola to a sumptuous meal. After Geneva, they both decided to part way
where Maximo Viola returned back in Barcelona while Jose Rizal continued his
travel around Italy he visited Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome. It was
in these places where he enjoyed observing the different structures and
edifices of the churches, the St. Peter and St. Paul. After a long week of
sightseeing in Rome, he prepared for his trip back home.

ARRIVAL IN MANILA (FIRST HOMECOMING)

Prior to his plan of returning in the Philippines, his brother Paciano informed
him to take care because his novel caused so much forceful reactions from
the friars believing that it was the source of problem in the Catholic Church.
Upon his return on August 1887, his family kept secretly his arrival for they
knew the friars will seize after him.

His determination to return in the Philippines was triggered by his plan to

practice medicine in his hometown. But more than that was his intention to
operate his mother’s eye, to help the people by serving them as a doctor, to
observe the effect of his novel, to find out what happened to Leonor Rivera
and finally to see his family.

Jose Rizal who was also interested in other activities saw the relevance of
sports for the welfare of the youth. As a sport enthusiast, he taught the
young people fencing, shooting, and gymnastics. However, during his six-
month stay in Calamba, Jose Rizal failed to see Leonor Rivera.

MEETING WITH GOVERNOR GENERAL EMILIO TERRERO

Jose Rizal was invited by Governor General Emilio Terrero in Malacañang to
explain to him about his novel. But he (Jose) explained to him (Terrero) that
the content of his novel was just exposing the truth and has no intention to
promote dissident ideas. He also told him to read his novel for him to
personally know what the novel was saying.

But despite the support of Governador General Emilio Terreo, the Archbishop
of Manila, Msgr. Pedro Payo, sent a copy of the novel to Father Rector
Gregorio Echevarria of the University of Santo Tomas to undergo further
examination through the committee of a faculty. The committee found out
that the novel was indeed against the catholic teachings because of its
heretical, impious, and scandalous contents. They also reported that its
antipatriotic, seditious public order, harmful to the government of Spain and
detrimental to the to function of mother Spain in the Philippine Islands as
order

As a result, the Governor General submitted the novel to the Permanent

Commission of Censorship composed of priests and laymen for further
investigation and verification. Findings showed the same and recommended
the banning for the importation, reproduction, and circulation of the novel in
the Philippines. With this recommendation, the people became interested of
the novel by reading it behind closed doors. But the friars urged the
authorities to punish those people who were found to have the novel as a
sign of support to their call of imposing harsh measures against violators.

IN DEFENSE OF THE NOVEL

When the novel was prohibited to the Filipino people, many of his comrades
showed support by defending his novel from the enemies of Jose Rizal. But
amongst the people who helped him, it was Rev. Vicente Garcia who was the
best defense. According to him as based on the appendix in the pamphlet
published on July 18, 1888, he denied Fr. Jose Rodriguez’s allegation, to wit:

1. Jose Rizal cannot be an ignorant man because he was a graduate of

Spanish Universities and was a recipient of scholastic honors;
 2. Jose Rizal does not attack the Church and Spain instead what he
attacked in the novel was the had Spanish officials and not Spain, and
the bad corrupt friars not the church; and

3. Lastly, according to the friars, those people who have read the novel
committed a mortal sin, therefore, he (Fr. Rodriguez) also committed a
mortal sin.

This in effect made Jose Rizal’s life in danger, thus, the Governor General
Terrero assigned him a body guard named, Jose Taviel de Andrade who
eventually became his good friend because of their common interest in
hunting, fencing, shooting, and painting.

Although Jose Rizal was quite peaceful for a while, Rizal’s happy days was
marred by the death of his older sister Olimpia, and the baseless rumor
circulated by his enemies that he was “German spy, an agent of Bismarck, a
Protestant, a Mason, a Witch and a soul beyond salvation.”

Because Governor General Terrero was influenced by some facts in Noli Me

Tangere, he ordered the investigation of the tenant’s relatives in connection
with the friar estates. The findings reported in the government for action
were the following:

1. The hacienda of the Dominican Order comprised not only the lands
around Calamba, but also the town of Calamba;

2. The profits of the Dominican Order continually increased because of

arbitrary increased of the rentals paid by the tenants;
 3. The hacienda owner never contributed a single centavo for the
celebration of the town fiesta, for the education of the children, and for
the improvement of agriculture;

4. Tenants who had spent much labor in tilling their lands were
dispossessed of said lands for flimsy reason; and

5. High rates of interests were charged to the tenants for delayed

payment of rentals, and when the tenants could not pay, the hacienda
management will confiscate their carabaos, tools, and even their
homes.

The friars asked the Governor General to eliminate Jose Rizal but instead
advised him to leave the country for his life was in danger.

3.2 SECOND TRAVEL ABROAD (1888-1892)

3.3

JAPAN EXPERIENCE

After the advised from Governor General, his family and some of his close
friends, Jose Rizal decided to leave the country where he sailed from
Hongkong to Yokohama on February 22, 1888 aboard the ship “Oceanic.”

After a short stay at the Grand Hotel in Yokohama, Rizal visited Tokyo
where he met the Spanish Attaché in Japan, Juan Perez y Caballero. He
extended his invitation to stay at the office of the Spanish Legation. Jose
Rizal accepted the offer because he knew that he will be closely watched by
the Spanish authorities. His acceptance was prompted by two reasons (1) to
show that he is not afraid of being watched as he had nothing to hide and (2)
to save more expenses for the hotel accommodations.
 In his brief visit in Tokyo, he met Seiko Usui (O-Sei-San) who oftentimes
passed by the gate of the Legation in Tokyo. He introduced himself and
eventually became good friends, in his diary, he mentioned how intense his
love and affection towards her:

“Your image lives in my memory, and undoubtedly, l am always thinking of

you. Your name lives in the sight of my lips your image accompanies and
animates all my thoughts”

After his journey in Japan, Jose Rizal decided to visit United States of
America. He boarded the steamer “Belgic” on April 13, 1888 where he met
Tetcho Suehiro, a Japanese writer. Momentarily, this person served as his
companion throughout their voyage to San Francisco until their arrival in
London on December 1, 1888.

UNITED STATES EXPERIENCE

After a long journey, Jose Rizal arrived in San Francisco on April 28, 1888 but
they were not allowed to disembark because the health authorities placed
the entire ship under quarantine because of an alleged cholera outbreak in
the Far East; until they were allowed to land on May 4, 1888. His impression
of United States was not good because of the prevailing racial discrimination,
the inequality and prejudice of the white Americans towards the black African
Americans.

He stayed at Palace Hotel in San Francisco until May 6, 1888, and then
decided to trip in New York by an overland train. The train passed through
the states of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, and Illinois. On May 12,
1888, they stopped over to see the famous Niagara Falls and described it as
the most splendid falls he had ever seen.

After a week’s journey, he arrived in New York City on May 13, 1888. He
described New York as a great city where everything is new. He was able to
visit the relics of George Washington and saw the majestic Brooklyn Bridge
as well as the huge Statue of Liberty. After his visit in New York, he boarded
the “City of Rome” going to London.

LONDON EXPERIENCE

Aboard the “City of Rome”, he reached Queenstown in Ireland on May 24,

1888. From there, he embarked on a ferry boat going to Liverpool and then
travelled again by a train to London, England. He arrived in London the next
day.

His visit In London was prompted because of his intentions to learn the
English language and to annotate the book of Antonio de Morga, the
“Succecos de Las Islas Filipinas”, History of the Philippine Island.

On May 25, 1888, he first stopped at the Grand Hotel Midland and then
stayed for week at a house in Beresford Road and eventually transferred to a
private home in No. 37 Chalcoat Cresent, Primrose Hill, Northwest owned by
the Becket family.

In London, he came to know of a Filipino resident, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, a

wealthy man and a practicing lawyer who was exiled on 1872 because of the
Cavite mutiny, where they became good friends. He, likewise, met Dr.
Reinhold Rost, who was introduced to him through a letter by Ferdinand
Blumentritt. Rost was the Director of the Library of the India Office and the
best authority of Malayan customs and languages.

Jose Rizal devoted his time by annotating the book of Dr. Morga. He rectified
some important points so that the Filipino people will know and understand
the history of their country. Rizal wrote in the prologue of his work that;

“If the book succeeded in awakening the consciousness of our past, which
have been erased from our memories and if it is able to rectify the falsehood
and calumny that had been committed, then I shall feel that I have not
labored in vain.”

The annotation of Jose Rizal on Dr. Morga’s book was later published in Paris
on 1890.

Still in London, Jose Rizal heard the sad news that his brother-in-law, Manuel
R.

Hidalgo was deported. He was deported by order of the Superior Government

in the town of

Tagbilaran, Bohol in the Visayas because allegedly, he was representative of

Jose Rizal and was spreading anti-religious and impious ideas. Though, he
(Manuel) believed that the accusations against him were baseless and
illogical.

On March 1889, Jose Rizal decided to go in Paris, France after his short stay
in London. His arrival was in time for the opening of the International
Exposition in Paris which was intended to commemorate the French
Independence.

After eleven months of stay in Paris, he moved again in Brussels, Belgium on

January 28, 1890 with his uncle Jose Alberto where they stayed in a rented
house in #38 Rue Phillipe Champagne owned by the Jacoby sisters.

His Intentions to visit Brussels were to write his second novel entitled El
Filibusterismo, a sequel to his Noli Me Tangere; to assist in a local clinic to
make a living; to attend to his correspondence with his family and fellow
propagandists and to write articles for La Solidaridad.
While in Brussels he also experienced the persecution of his family and town
mates back in Calamba because of conflict in the Calamba estates. In a letter
of his brother Paciano, he was informed of the petition to evict the tenants
filed before the justice of the Peace. His brother told him that at first, they
were hoping for a favorable judgment but the case can only be done in the
Supreme Court in Spain. He was a bit hesitant to attain justice.

In a letter from his sister Lucia, he was given an account of how his family
and town mates suffered. The letter reads:

“Concerning our town, perhaps your heart would ache because of the
blindness of our compatriot. You can then imagine what would happen. When
the lay brothers go out riding, the Lieutenant of the Civil Guard sits on the
little bench of the carriage and the Acting Lieutenant goes over the curate.
When the lay brothers have some orders for the Hacienda, they sent out the
Captain”

Unfortunate news came from his sister Saturnina on June 2, 1890.

Saturnina’s husband Manuel was deported again, and worse, was arrested
while he was eating with his family on the very day of Christmas. The last
letter received by Jose Rizal before moving in Madrid came from his brother-
in-law Silvestre Ubaldo. The latter sent papers on the eviction issued by the
manager of the Calamba Estate against his family.

BACKTO SPAIN

After Paris, Jose Rizal travelled to Spain and visited Madrid and Barcelona. His
trip in Spain was prompted by his desire to contact his comrades; they were
Marcelo H. del Pilar and Mariano Ponce. These two were forerunners of the
propaganda movement in Spain. It was also his intention in visiting Spain to
study the present political climate in relation to the campaign for reforms in
the Philippines. After his brief visit, he returned to London to celebrate
Christmas.
Days after he returned from London, his Filipino comrades in Spain met him
on the eve of New Year’s Day in Barcelona. The purpose of the gathering was
the formation of an association which they named as Asociacion La
Solidaridod (Solidaridad Association). This association was established to
unite the Filipinos in Europe in their quest for reforms in the

Philippines. Galicano Apacible was elected as the president of the association

while Graciano Lopez Jaena became the vice-president; Manuel Sta. Maria as
secretary; Mariano Ponce, as the treasurer; and Jose Maria Panganiban as an
accountant. But despite that he was not elected, he was chosen as the
honorary president.

To realize theobjectives of the La Solidaridad, the members decided to put up

a publication of the same name. As a result, many propagandists including
Jose Baron Fernandez described this fortnightly as the “most important paper
of the Filipino abroad and their most signmcant work in connection with the
movement.”

However, the La Solidaridad publication was not realized immediately. On

February 15, 1889, the first issue came out. The publication was led by
Graciano Lopez Jaena the vicepresident of the asociacion, who was also the
editor of the paper.

As the honorary president of the asociacion, Jose Rizal wrote several articles
that came out in the different editions of the propaganda paper. Among this
were the “Letters the Women of Malolos”, The Truth for Everyone”, “Barantes
and the Tagalog Theater” and “The Indolence of the Filipinos”.

Prior to his visit in Madrid, he wrote a letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar, requesting
him to stand as a lawyer for his family. He even sought helped from the
Asociacion HispanoFilipino and even went to the Minister of Colonies to
present their grievances against the injustices committed by the friars and
Governor General Valeriano Weyler. All his effort remained futile because
they lost in the case in court.
In April of 1891, Jose Rizal returned to Brussels, Belgium where he stayed at
the Jacoby’s house, same house he used to stay. His returned was because of
his desire to finish his second novel, E1 Filibusterismo since he started
writing it four years ago.

THE EL FILIBUSTERISMO

Before the printing of the second novel, Jose Rizal faced the same problem
during his first novel. He ran out of money, that is why, he wrote Jose Maria
informing him of his situation and eventually sent him money and another
helped came from Rodriguez Arias as royalty for the book sale of Dr. Morga.

However, the amount of money he received wasn’t enough to print because

of the high cost of printing. But with full determination to print his novel, he
moved in Ghent from Brussels for cheaper printing. In Ghent, he met Jose
Alejandrino, a Filipino engineering student at the University of Ghent.
Alejandrino agreed to share a room with Jose Rizal.

But when everything seemed to fall apart, good news came from Valentin
Ventura where he agreed to loan him money for the completion of the 39
printing. Thus, the printing of the second part pushed through and finally the
El Filibusterismo was published in Ghent on September 18, 1891.

Jose Rizal immediately sent two copies to Basa and Lopez in Hong Kong while
to Valentin Ventura, who was very instrumental to him, the copy of the
original manuscript of the novel.

The EI Filibusterismo was sequel of the Noli Me Tangere where Jose Rival
dedicated it to the martyrs of the Cavite Mutiny, they were Marciano Gomez,
Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora. The execution of the three priests was
significant to the title of the novel. According to Jose Rizal, in his letter to
Blumentritt, explained the meaning of the title of the novel:
“The word filibusterismo is little known in the Philippines. The masses do not
know it yet. I heard it for the first time in 1872 when the tragic execution
took place [execution of the GOMBURZA]. L still remember the panic that this
word has created. Our father forbade us to utter it, as well as the words
Cavite, Burgos etc. The Manila newspaper and the Spaniards applied this
word to the one whom they wanted to make revolutionary suspect. The
Filipinos belonging to the educated class heard the meaning of the word. Lt
does not have the meaning of free brothers but rather means a dangerous
patriot who will soon be hanged as well as presumptuous man.”

It was his good friend Ferdinand Blumentritt who wrote the introduction of
the novel. From the message written by Blumentritt, one can discern that El
Filibusterisrno is more intense than the Noli Me Tangere in terms of the
political ideas. The introduction reads:

“The policy of the pro-friars and retrogrades to the growth of filibusterism

and convinced the Filipinos that there was no other salvation but separation
from mother Spain.”

He even admitted that the El Filibusterismo was inferior to that of the Noli
Me Tangere. In his letter to Marcelo del Pilar, he wrote:

“For me, the El Filibusterismo as a novel is inferior as compare to the Noli Me

Tangere, so that received com gravo salis (with a grain of salt) the opinion of
those who me that the El Filibusterismo is superior to the Noli Me Tongere.
Blumentritt and all those in Paris and Barcelona, for their benevolence
towards me, said it is superior I attributed it only to their benevolence. You
are the first one to tell me the truth and you coincide with the manner of my
thinking. This flatters me as it proves that I still know how to judge myself”

BOUND FOR HONG KONG

A month after his second novel was published; Jose Rizal decided to go in
Hong Kong. However prior to his departure, there was confusion in his mind
as to whether he would go home to be with his family or to proceed to the
British colony He wrote to Blumentritt:

“I still don’t know exactly whether I would go to the Philippines or establish

myself in Hong Kong. My country draws me near, I want to embrace my
parents and brothers, but friends and countrymen are against it.”

On October18, 1891, Jose Rizal made up his mind and left Europe via the S.S.
Melbourne. After a month long trip, he arrived in Hong Kong where Jose Maria
Basa welcomed him. While in Hong Kong, he practiced his profession as
ophthalmic surgeon through his colleague Dr. Lorenzo Marques, a Portuguese
doctor. He rented a house at No. 2 Rednaxela Terrace which served as his
clinic and his home.

It was in Hong Kong also which gave him the opportunity to reunite with his
family. On December 6, 1891, his father, Paciano, and brother-in-law Silvestre
Ubaldo arrived in Hong Kong.

In his letter to his sister Maria, Rizal expressed his profound joy on seeing
some of his family and talked about his father’s improvement and at the
same time revealed how he missed his mother The letter reads:

“Father, Paciano, and Bestre [Silvestre Ubaldo] were already here, thanks
God. Father has put on weight and his cheeks have become pinkish; he is
cheerful, he always walks around, and he is very much pleased in Hong
Kong.”

“Tell mother that I have very great desire to see her and to operate her eyes,
if this letter should find her there still.”
 Finally, his mother together with sisters Lucia, Josefa, and Trinidad arrived
also in Hong Kong. Their family was reunited just in time for Christmas and
New Year.

Rizal wrote to Blumentritt on December 30, 1891 telling him of his profound
happiness that his family was with him in Hong Kong. The letter reads:

“They are now here and thanks to God thaf they find themselves in a free
country. Life in the Philippines has become impossible: without courtesy,
without virtue, without justice!”

While in Hong Kong, there were ideas of his plan to go home, in fact, before
his mother and some of his sisters joined him Hong Kong, He Wrote a letter
to them on December 1, 1891 of his desire to return back home but instead
to his surprise went in Hong Kong to see him.

Another opposition came from his brother-in-law, Antonio Lopez who

informed him that everyone doesn’t want him to go home because of their
fear that he (Jose) will be persecuted. He wrote:

“I’m glad that you have abandoned your plan to come here, well, almost
everybody is opposing to your coming and l am also of the same opinion, as l
have already told Tatay and Senior Paciano in my letter last month not to let
you come home to avoid greater evils and displeasures, which you already
know. L believe that from there, without coming here, you can do all you
want for the welfare of the Philippines.”

Aside from his family, his friends and contemporaries likewise do not want
him to go home because they feared that with the novels he wrote, his
attackers (friars and authorities) will surely looked after him.

ARRIVAL IN MANILA (SECOND HOMECOMING)

Despite the opposition of his family and friends, Jose Rizal firmly decided to
go home in the Philippines from Hong Kong. In his letter to Blumentritt dated
September 22, 1891.

“I have to return to the Philippines. Life here is a burden to me, I have to give
an example to show that we do not fear death, terrible though it may be.
Besides, there has been many complaints about me. I have secret enemies. I
want to leave so as not to hear anything anymore. With my political enemies,
l have my destiny. I die, you shall remain. It is better to die than to live
miserably.”

Before his scheduled departure, Jose Rizal wrote two letters, one was for his
family and the other was to his fellow Filipinos. Both letters were dated June
20, 1892. He entrusted the letters to his good friend Lorenzo Marques and
told him to open the letter only after his death.

Jose Rizal left Hongkong with his sister Lucia back home to the Philippines at
the same time informed the Governor General of his return.

On June 26, 1892, Jose and Lucia arrived to Manila at 12:00nn where they
were meet by soldiers; one of the was a major , a captain and, a sergeant of
the constabulary who were in disguise.

After going through customs inspection at the port, he went straight to Hotel
de Oriente to check-in. in the letter of Rizal to his Excellency, he mentioned
Hotel de Oriente. It was probably his intention to inform where he would stay
so that the Governor General might realize that he had nothing to hide with
his arrival. At the same time, just in case the Governor General will summon
him for a meeting, then he can easily be located.

MEETING WITH GOVERNOR DESPOJOL

At 4 o’clock in the afternoon on the day of his arrival, Rizal went immediately
in Malacañang Palace to seek courtesy with Governor General Eulogio
Despujol but he was advised to return at 7:00 in the evening.

The first meeting was short and lasted for only three minutes. Though his
contact with the Governor General produced a positive result. The Governor
General lifted the deportation of his father. However he received no
pronouncement yet as to the fate of his brother Paciano and the rest of his
family. The Governor General set another meeting with him on June 29.

While waiting for the second meeting with the Governor General, Rizal
visited some of his sisters. The next day after his arrival, he went to Bulacan,
Pampanga, Tarlac, and later to Cavite to visit some of his companion.

Afterwards, he returned to the Palace for his scheduled meeting with

Governor General Despujol on Wednesday but he met him at half-past seven,
almost the same time during their first meeting. Although his interview with
his Excellency lasted for more than two hours, he did not obtain a pardon for
the deportation of his brother. After the meeting, the Governor General
requested Jose Rizal to come back the next day.

As instructed, he returned in see Governor General Despujol on Thursday.

This time, the Governor General granted the pardon for his brother. Again, he
was instructed to come back for another meeting.

On Sunday, he returned again to Malacañang Palace and extended his

gratitude for the lifting of the deportation of his father and brother. In this
meeting, Governor General Despujol asked whether Rizal wanted to go back
in Hong Kong and he answered affirmatively. After the meeting, he was asked
to return on July 6.

THE LA LIGA FILIPINA

On the night of Sunday, Jose Rizal called a meeting at the house of Doroteo
Ongjunco in Tondo to create an organization where he called La Liga Filipino.
Some of his companions attended, they were Pedro Serrano Laktaw, and
Timoteo Perez, Apolinario Mabini, Teodora Plata, Deodato Arellano, and
Andres Bonifacio, and some of his mason friends.

The La Liga Filipina was part of his plan back in Hong Kong because he knew
this would help unite the Filipino people and eventually would pave way their
problems on agricultural, educational and financial conditions. In fact, the by-
laws of this organization were written in Hong Kong. But this meeting brought
suspicion from the authorities, the Governor General on July 5 or two days
after the meeting, ordered Constabulary to search all houses that Jose Rizal
visited. The suspicion was further aggravated because most of the houses he
(Jose) visited were owned by the masons.