RIZAL'S SECOND TRIP ABROAD
Introduction
After a short stay for six months in Calamba, Rizal was forced to leave the Philippines
by boarding the steamer Zafiro leaving Manila for Hong Kong on February 3, 1888. He
felt sick and sad to leave Calamba. Steamer made a brief stopover at Amoy on
February 7, 1888, but he did not get out of the ship for the reason that he was not
feeling well and besides the city was dirty.
February 8,1888-The steamer arrived in Hongkong, a British Colony, which according to
Rizal, although the city was small but very clean. He stayed at the Victoria Hotel,
Hongkong. Filipino residents who welcomed him were, Jose Maria Basa, Balbino
Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte. Some Filipinos in Hongkong were generally poor, gentle,
and timid. Celebration of Chinese New Year in Hongkong was too noisy due to the
continuous explosions of firecrackers, noisy audience and music in a Chinese theater,
the marathon Lauriat party where guests were served many dishes. The richest
religious order in Hongkong was the Dominican Order.
Rizal and Basa visited Mac, and few [Link], a Portuguese colony by boarding a
ferry steamer "KU-KIANG". The city is small and gloomy, with many junks, sampans,
and a few steamers. They stayed at the residence of Don Juan Francisco Licaros, a
Filipino married to a Portuguese lady. They also visited the theater, casino, cathedral,
churches, pagodas, botanical gardens, bazaars, and the. Grotto of Camoens, Portugal's
national park.
They returned to Hongkong after a two-day sojourn in Macao. Rizal stayed in Hongkong
for two weeks alone. On February 22, 1888, Rizal boarded the OCEANIC, an American
steamer for Japan his next destination, and arrived in Yokohama on February 28, 1888.
He proceeded to Tokyo, stayed at Tokyo Hotel for six days. Japan, because of its
natural beauty and charming manners of the Japanese people, Rizal brand it as the
"Land of Cherry Blossoms".
Tokyo was more expensive than Paris. He was visited by Juan Perez Caballero,
secretary of the Spanish Legation. Although he looks like a Japanese, he did not know
the Japanese language and he felt embarrassed for he did not know how to converse
with the Japanese people. He decided to study the Japanese language and within a few
days he can already speak the language. He even studies the Japanese drama
(Kabuki), visited the museum, libraries, art galleries, shrines, and Japanese villages. He
was impressed by the superb performance of the band playing Western music that he
heard while he was promenading Tokyo Park. However, he did not appreciate the mode
of transportation because the rickshaw was drawn by men which made him disgusted
because according to him, human beings were working like horses.
Seiko-San, a Japanese girl and the only daughter of a Japanese Samurai. Her real
name is Seiko Usui, but Rizal called her O-Sei-San. Rizal and O-Sei-San almost meet
daily as they visited interesting spots in the city", like the Imperial Art Gallery, the
Imperial Library, the city parks and the picturesque shrine. O-Sei-San served as Rizal's
guide, interpreter, and tutor.
On April 13, 1888, Rizal boarded the "BELGIC", an English steamer bound for the
United States. He was so lonely and depressed because he will be missing the beautiful
land and his beloved O-Sei-San. On the other hand, O-Sei_San mourned for a long
time for the loss of her lover, Jose Rizal. His sojourn in Japan for forty-five (45) days
was one of the happiest interludes in Rizal's life.
Rizal befriended Techo Sochero, a passenger on board the BELGIC whom he met
during Saturday morning his trip to the United States. Techo was a Japanese
newspaperman who was jailed in his country for his articles and principles and was
exiled. They exchanged pleasantries until they arrive in San Francisco Port, Saturday
morning on April 28, 1888. All passengers were not allowed to disembark because the
ship was placed on a quarantine on the ground that a cholera epidemic was alleged to
be raging that it came from the Far East. Rizal soon found out that that placing the ship
under quarantine was prompted by politics.
After a week of quarantine, all first-class passengers, including Rizal were permitted to
disembark but the Chinese and Japanese passengers on the second-and third-class
accommodations were forced to remain on board.
When Rizal and other passengers were permitted to disembark, he registered at the
Palace Hotel, a first-class hotel in the city of San Francisco and stayed there for two
days. The President of the United States at that time was George Cleveland.
From May 7 to May 13, 1888, Rizal visited the different countries such as Reno May 7,
Nevada, May 8, Utah, Ogden, Denver, May 9, Colorado, May 10, Nebraska, May 11,
Chicago, May 12, Canada, an English", May 13. He reached New York on May 13,1888,
Sunday morning and stayed there for three days in the city which he called "The Big
Town". He also visited the memorial of George Washington, and other scenic and
historical places. Rizal left New York for Liverpool on board the "City of Rome", the
largest ship of the world during this time on May 16, 1888. He visited the colossal
Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island.
RIZAL'S IMPRESSION OF AMERICA
America is a progressive continent with great cities, huge farms, flourishing industry,
and busy factories. American people were energetic and hardworking, the cities were
beautiful, standard of living was high, and there were better opportunities for a better life
especially for the poor immigrants. These were the good impressions of Rizal about
America.
Unfortunately, Rizal have bad impressions regarding America's practice of racial
prejudice, democracy and freedom were only in words not practiced, and there was no
true civil liberty. Rizal observed that America is the land par excellence of freedom but
only for the whites.
On May 25, 1888, Rizal went to London and stayed at the house of Dr. Antonio Ma.
Regidor, a practicing lawyer in London who was exiled in 1872. Later he boarded with
the Becket family. Mrs Becket was the organist of the St. Paul church. Gertrude Becket,
"Gettie" or "Totie" was the oldest of the Becket sisters whom Rizal played with
"Crickets", an English game, and boxed with Dr. Rost's son. Dr. Reinhold Rost, the
librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authority of Malayan languages. Rizal
spent much of his time at the Museum annotating Morga's book "Successos de los Islas
Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands)), which was published in Mexico in
1609.
Rizal received bad and good news while he was in London. The bad news were: (1)
persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed the petition addressed to the Queen
Regent of Spain requesting the expulsion of the friars in the Philippines.
The petition was signed by M. H. del Pilar abd 800 patriots. (2) attacks on Rizal by
Senator Salamanca and Vida in the Spanish Cortes and Wenceslao E. Retana or
"Desenganos" and Pablo Feced or "Quioquiap" in the Spanish newspapers; (3)
Persecution of Rizal's family and other Calamba farmers for their courage to petition the
government for agrarian reforms, (4) exile of Manuel T. Hidalgo, (husband of Rizal's
oldest sister, Saturnina) by Governor-General Weyler to Bohol without due process, (5)
arrest and jailing of Rizal's friend Lauriano Viado in Bilibid prison because of the copies
of "Noli" found in his house.
Rizal visited Paris in September 1888, to search for more historical materials in the
Bibiliotheque Nationale. He was entertained by Juan Luna and his wife Paz Pardo de
Tavera. Christmas and New Year's Eve were spent by Rizal on December 24, 1888 with
the Becket's family in London. He sent Christmas gifts to his friends and with
Blumentritt, he sent a bust of Emperor Augustus which he made, and another gift to Dr.
Carlos Czepilak a Polish scholar.
A patriotic society was established on December 31,1888, called Association La
Solidaridad. With Rizal chosen as the honorary president. The officers were: Galicano
Apacible, president; Graciano, Lopez Jaena, vice-president; Manuel Santa Maria,
secretary; Mariano Ponce, treasurer, and Jose Maria Panganiban, accountant. Graciano
Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newspaper La Solidaridad in Barcelona, the organ of
the Propaganda Movement on February 15, 1889.
The aims of the La Solidaridad were:
1. To work for a peaceful political and social reforms in the Philippines.
2. To portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so that Spain may Remedy.
3. To oppose the evil purpose of reaction.
4. To advocate liberal ideas and progress.
5. To champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino people to life, democracy, and
happiness.
He organized his compatriots into a society called "Kidlat Club" in March 19, 1889, that
would bring together the young Filipinos in the French capital so that they could enjoy
their sojourn in the city during the duration of the Paris Universal Exposition.
The inaugural convention of the "International Association of Filipinologists" in Paris was
scheduled by Rizal in August 1889. The aim of the association was to study the
Philippines from the scientific and historical point of view. The officers were Dr.
Ferdinand Blumentritt (Austrian) as President; Mr. Edmund Plauchut (French) as Vice
President; Dr. Reinhold Rost (Anglo German) as counselor; and Dr. Jose Rizal (Filipino)
as the secretary. The inaugural convention did not materialize because the French
government discouraged the holding of conferences by private organizations during the
period of the international exposition.
Another society which was founded by Rizal during the Universal Exposition in Paris
was called the Redencion de los Malayos (Remption of the Malays) or with the initials
R.D.L.M. Society. Rizal rigidly guarded its secret existence. Some of its members were
Gregorio Aguilera, Jose Maria Basa, Julio Durente, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Mariano
Ponce, Baldomero Roxas, and Father Jose Maria Chongco (Filipino priest).
On June 20, 1890, Rizal wrote a request letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar to serve as a
lawyer in a land case that was appealed by the Rizal family to the Supreme Court in
Spain. The Rizal family lost the case against the Dominican in Manila.
On July 18, 1890, Rizal informed Ponce of his determination to go home because of the
sufferings of his family. His family, relatives and friends in the Philippines were being
persecuted. While Rizal was in Brussels, he had an amorous relationship with Suzanne
Jacoby, a petite Belgian girl. Who cried when Rizal left towards the end of JULY 1890.
Upon arrival of Rizal in Madrid on the early part of August 1890, he immediately sought
the help of the Filipino colony, the Association-Hispano Filipina, and the liberal Spanish
newspapers to protest the injustices committed by Governor General Valeriano Weyler
and the Dominican friars against the Calamba people. The protest did not have any
good result for the oppressed Calamba tenants.
The sad news of the untimely death of his friend Jose Ma. Panganiban made Rizal
lonely because he was one of his co-workers in the Propaganda Movement. And his
death was due to a lingering illness.
A social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid attended by Rizal on August 30, 1890, where
he encountered with Antonio Luna, who was no longer sober, and was jealous of Rizal
because he was frustrated in his romance with Nellie Boustead. Antonio Luna made
unsavory remarks against Nellie. Upon hearing these unsavory remarks, Rizal, having a
high sense of chivalry, challenged Luna to a duel. The Filipinos who were present
during the occasion pacified the two pointing out that such a duel will jeopardize their
cause in Spain. However, when Luna became sober, he realized his bad remarks
against Nellie and thereafter apologized to Rizal and the apology was accepted by
Rizal.
Wenceslao Retana, his bitter enemy used to attack the Filipinos including Rizal in
various newspapers in Madrid and other cities in Spain, it was even published in the
newspapers that Rizal's family have not paid their rents to the Dominican Orders so
they were ejected from their lands in Calamba. This angered Rizal of the insults done by
Retana, he challenged him to a duel. Retana, to save face he immediately published a
retraction and an apology in the newspapers.
Rizal received a letter from Leonor Rivera in December 1890, announcing her incoming
marriage to an Englishman (the choice of her mother) and asking for Rizal's
forgiveness. He was stunned by the sad news of Leonor. He was engaged to Leonor
Rivera and now he was left with a broken heart.
M.H. del Pilar, a fearless lawyer, journalist, and Rizal were rivals for leadership
supremacy. Some of his former admirers supported M. H. del Pilar's supremacy. These
were the Filipinos who loved women, wine and cards who resented Rizal's interference
of Their private lives. Rizal retired from the Propaganda Movement, and he focused
himself in the publication of his second novel, practiced his medical profession and
made a vigorous campaign for his country.
Rizal stayed with the Boustead family while he was in Biarritz in February 1, 1891.
Antonio Luna, who previously loved and lost Nelly, encouraged Rizal to love and marry
her. With the encouragement of Antonio Luna, Rizal courted Nelly, but the romance did
not have a happy ending because Rizal refused to give up his Catholic faith and be
converted to Protestantism and Nelly's mother did not like him to become his son-in-law.
There was an instance when M.H. del Pilar teased Rizal to change the "O" in Noli to an
"E" which means NOLI to NELLY or NRLLIE
Responsible was put up by Filipinos as a leader to direct the affairs of Filipino
Community and to determine the editorial policy of La Solidaridad. Del Pilar objected to
the placing of the newspaper under the Responsible but was willing to publish articles
that would express the aspirations and demands of the Filipino people. Rizal was
elected as Responsible but he declined graciously the coveted position because he
believed that some of his compatriots who supported disliked him.
He finished writing his manuscript of El Filibusterismo on March 29, 1891, the eve of his
departure from Biarritz to Paris.
The authorities of the Propaganda Movement in Manila received Rizal's notification to
cancel his monthly allowance on May 1, 1891. He suggested that instead of sending
him allowance they must use the money to the education of young Filipino students in
Europe. Simultaneously with his retirement from the Propaganda Movement, he also
ceased writing articles for La Solidaridad.
The revision of El Filibusterismo was almost complete and ready for printing on May 30,
1891. Rizal left Brussels for Ghent because the cost of printing in Ghent is cheaper than
in Brussels and he wanted to avoid the attraction of petite Suzanne.
In August 1891, M. H. del Pilar wrote a letter to Rizal requesting him to resume writing
for the La Solidaridad. In response to del Pilar's letter, he explained why he stopped
writing for La Solidaridad and said that he wanted other Filipinos to work for the La
Solidaridad and to leave del Pilar alone to implement the policy in the newspaper and
Rizal did not want to intervene anymore.
Rizal boarded the steamer MELBOURNE bound for Hongkong on October 1891. He
brought with him 600 copies of El Filibusterismo and a recommendation letter from Juan
Luna for Manuel Camus, a compatriot living in Singapore. Rizal was the only Asian
passenger and most of the passing were Europeans.
He arrived in Hongkong on November 20, 1891, and met his friends like Jose Maria
Basa who is residing at No. 5 D Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxela Terrace. During his
stay here he opened his medical clinic here he treated many patients-Americans,
British, Chinese, and Portuguese.
In his letter on December1,1891, Rizal was asking permission to come home Manuel L.
Hidalgo sent a letter to Rizal revealing the despair and sorrow of the Rizal's family. Rizal
who was in Hongkong was so desperately sad for he could not help his persecuted
family and friends.
Rizal was so amazed by the arrival of his father, brother and Silvestre Ubaldo in Hong
Kong on December 24, 1891. Soon after a while his mother, who was almost blind,
sisters Lucia, Josefa and Trinidad also arrived. This was the happiest yuletide
celebration In Rizal's life for having a happy family reunion.
On board the ship MENON, on March 7, 1892, he went to Sadakan to negotiate with the
British authorities for the establishment of a Filipino colony. Rizal successfully
accomplished his mission because the Borneo authorities were willing to give the
Filipino colonists 100,000 acres of land, a beautiful harbor and a good government.
Friends of Rizal in Europe, including Lopez Jaena expressed his desire to join the
colony. Hidalgo, brother-in-law of Rizal, however objected to the colonization project for
it was anti-nationalistic or disloyal act to have a colony.
One of the reasons why Rizal wanted to go home in Manila was to confer with Governor
Despujol regarding the Borneo colonization project and to establish the LA LIGA
FILIPINA IN Manila and to prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in
Madrid that he (Rizal) being comfortable and safe in Hongkong had abandoned his
country's cause.
Rizal and his sister Lucia left Hongkong for Manila on June 21, 1892. A Spanish
consul-general who issued him a government guarantee for his safety but on that same
date he also informed Manila that the victim is on trap, hence a secret. case was filed in
Manila against Rizal. On June 26, 1892 Rizal and his sister Lucia arrived in Manila.
THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
Propaganda means the spreading of ideas, information, or rumors for the purpose of
helping, injuring ab institution, a cause or person.
The Propaganda Movement, was a period when native Filipinos were calling for
reforms, lasting approximately from 1880-1898, a reform and national consciousness,
which the most critical period of activity was between 1850 and 1895, a year before the
execution of Rizal. The movement that arose among young expatriates in the late 19th
century. Although its adherents expressed loyalty to the Spanish colonial government,
Spanish authorities harshly repressed the movement and executed its most prominent
member, Jose Rizal.
THE AIMS OF THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
1. Representation of the Philippines in the Cortes Denerales, the Spanish parliament.
2. Secularization of the clergy
3. Legalization of Spanish and Filipino equality
4. Creation of public school system independent of Catholic friars.
5. Abolition of polo y servicios (labor service) and the bandala (forced sale of local
products to the government)
6. Guarantee of basic freedom
7. Equal opportunity for Filipinos and Spanish to enter government service
MEMBERS OF THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
1. Jose Rizal author of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
2. Graciano Lopez Jaena - publisher of La Solidaridad, the movement principal organ
3. Mariano Ponce - the movement secretary
4. Marcelo H. del Pilar
RIZAL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PROPAGANDISTS
a. Rizal's relationship with Graciano Lopez Jaena - Jaena became known in Spain as a
great orator in socio-political clubs and became a member of the Progressive
Republican Party, deputized by the party to go on speaking engagements. Jaena was
known for his fiery and eloquent speeches espousing liberal ideas.
b. Rizal's relationship with Mariano Ponce - It was Ponce who introduced M. H. del Pilar
to Rizal when he sent a letter enclosed with an article written by a certain "Plaridel".
Rizal was impressed by the articles "Who is this Plaridel "("The Love-and-Hate
Relationship", 2013). Upon knowing Plaridel's identity through Ponce Rizal befriended
del Pilar though correspondence. Ponce have been so proud to become Rizal's friend
especially that the author of the Noli had become so popular among Filipinos after the
novel's publication.
FAILURE OF THE REFORM MOVEMENT
The ascendancy of the of the liberals in Spain that encouraged liberal reforms in the
colony was short-lived. The compromise between the Spanish Liberals and the
Conservatives to rotate between themselves the control of the government did not in
any help the Filipino liberals in their campaign for reforms.
The Propagandists also had problems: foremost of those was the perennial inadequacy
of finances. This was further aggravated when funds coming from the Philippines were
stopped. The La Solidaridad ceased its publication and the funds generated from
subscription also stopped. Personal and health problems; their homesickness and their
differences and conflicts created a rift among the reformists. This disillusionment
compelled del Pilar and Jaena to change their political platform from assimilation to
separation of revolution.
The Propaganda Movement did not achieve any of its basic aims, but it succeeded in
influencing profound political awakening of the people during the last years of Spanish
rule.
CHAPTER 7 LEARNING ACTIVITIES
I. Define the following words/terms in your own words according to your own
understanding.
1. Anthropologist
2. Banquet
3. Bigotry
4. Expulsion
5. Fraternity
6. Frugal
7. Sumptuous
II. Identification: Write the word or term that is being described in the following
statement.
1. It is called "the land of the Cherry Blossom".
2. A Japanese girl who served as guide, tutor, and interpreter.
3. Rizal's bad impression of America.
4. It was the steamer for USA which Rizal boarded on April 3, 1888.
5. An English game played by Rizal with the Becket sisters when he was in London.
6. The book that was annotated by Rizal at the Islas Filipinas British museum.
7. 7. A patriotic society with whom Rizal was chosen as the honorary president.
8. The petite Belgian girl who fell in love with Rizal when he was in Belgium.
9. The lady whom Rizal fell in love with when he was in Biarritz.
10. The religion which Rizal refused to be converted with.
11. The novel that Rizal finished writing when he departed from Biarritz.
12. The secretary of Spanish Legation who visited Rizal while he was in Tokyo.
13. A Spaniard who was commissioned to spy Rizal.
14. It refers to a Japanese drama.
15. A Japanese newspaper man whom Rizal met.
III. Graphic Organizer or Table Mapping
Using a graphic organizer or table mapping list down the different countries
indicating the date of his arrival during his (Riza's) second journey abroad.
IV. Reflect: What learning have you gained after reading Rizal's second trip
abroad.