Chapter 17: Misfortunes in Madrid (Early In desperation, he sought the aid of
August 1890-1891) liberal Spanish statement but all they
could give were words of sympathy
Failure to get Justice for His Family
Blumentritt in Leitmeritz urged that
Rizal immediately sought the help of Rizal see the Queen Regent Maria
the Filipino Colony, the Asociacion Cristina, but he had no powerful friends
Hispano-Filipina, and liberal Spanish nor the money to be able to meet her.
newspapers. Panganiban (Rizal’s friend and
- La Justicia coworker) died in Barcelona on August
- El Globo 19, 1890. Rizal wrote a eulogy for him
- La Republica and mourned his passing.
- El Resumen
Aborted Duels with Antonio Luna and Renata
Together with M.H. Del Pilar (his
lawyer), and Dominador Gomez (AHF In late August 1890 during a social
Secretary), Rizal called upon Señor reunion of Filipinos in Madrid, Antonio
Fabie (Minister of Colonies) in order to Luna got drunk and made rude remarks
bring the injustices done by Governor about Nellie Boustead, who both he,
General Valeriano Weyler and the and Rizal, had been courting. Rizal
Dominicans against the Calamba folks overheard what Luna said and
to light. challenged him to a duel in order to
His meeting with Fabie ultimately protect Nellie’s honor. After Luna
amounted to nothing. sobered up, he apologized to Rizal. The
two aborted the duel and remained
friends.
More Terrible Things That Followed Renata, a Spanish Scholar and press
agent for the Spanish Friars, published
He received a copy of the ejectment
an article in La Epoca (anti Filipino
order sent by Dominicans against newspaper) claiming that Rizal’s family
Francisco Rizal and the Calamba tenants had been ejected from their home
from his brother-in-law Silvestre Ubaldo
because they failed to pay rent. Rizal
He learned from his sister Saturnina challenged Renata to a duel. Renata,
that the following people have been knowing that Rizal was skilled in the art
arrested and deported out of Manila to of dueling, backed down and recanted
Dapitan on September 6, 1890: his statement in another article.
- Paciano (brother)
- Antonio Lopez
- Silvestre Ubaldo
- Teong (Mateo Elejorde)
- Dandoy (Rizal’s relative)
He also learned from Saturnina that his
parents have been forced out of their
home.
Infidelity of Leonor Rivera They decided to vote a
“Responsible” who would
During the autumn of 1890, Rizal and
ultimately decide the editorial
his friends attended a play at Teatro
policy. Del Pilar went against this
Apolo. It is at this time that Rizal lost his
idea, but the vote continued
golden watch chain and locket that had
nonetheless. Rizal later won the
Leonor’s picture in it.
vote, becoming the Responsible.
Early in December of 1890, Rizal
received a letter from Leonor
announcing her marriage to another Rizal Abdicates Leadership of La Solidaridad
man, an Englishman named Charles
Rizal knew that despite winning the
Henry Kipping (her mother’s choice).
vote, he was still hated by some of his
Rizal was saddened by his loss. His
rivals.
friend Blumentritt consoled him
In order to appease them, he abdicated
through letters, saying “She is like a
leadership to Del Pilar. To him, a united
child who cast away a diamond to seize
Filipino movement was more important
a pebble…she is not the woman for
than struggling for power amongst
Rizal”
themselves.
Rizal’s Rivalry With Del Pilar
In the last days of 1890, the rivalry
between Rizal and Del Pilar flared
up. Despite Rizal being the leader of
the Filipinos in Spain, Del Pilar had
purchased La Solidaridad from
Pablo Rianzares and replaced
Graciano Lopez Jaena as its editor.
Rizal wanted to win respect and
prestige in Spain for the
Propaganda Movement through
high standards of morality and
honor (Showing the Spanish that
the Filipinos are good people).
Some Filipinos disagreed with this
approach. The opposition flocked to
Del Pilar’s support.
The two sides met on January 1,
1891 to discuss the editorial policy
of La Solidaridad and to settle their
differences.
