Chapter 4: Rizal’s life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

TOPIC 1 -IN SPAIN 1882-1885

After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal
decided to complete his studies in Spain.
 SECRET MISSION IN SPAIN
To observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and
commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations. In order to prepare
himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.

RIZAL IN BARCELONA
• May 3, 1882- Rizal departed on
board the Spanish Steamer Salvadora
bound for Singapore. Rizal’s departure
for Spain was kept secret to avoid
detection by the Spanish authorities and
the friars
• June 16, 1882- Rizal finally
reached his destination—Barcelona.

RIZAL IN MADRID
• November 3, 1882- Rizal enrolled
in Universidad Central de Madrid in two
courses- Medicine and Philosophy and
Letters. Rizal led a Spartan life in Madrid.
• He also studied in Painting and Sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts and took
lessons in French, German and English.
CIRCULO HISPANO-FILIPINO (HISPANO-PHILIPPINE CIRCLE)
• Shortly after his arrival, Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-
Philippine Circle), a society of Spaniards and Filipinos.
• “They Ask Me For Verses” (Me Piden Versos) - a poem written by Rizal in response
to the request of the members of the society. It is a sad poem in which Rizal poured out
the cry of his agonizing heart.
RIZAL AS LOVER OF BOOKS
• Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The Wandering Jew -
aroused the sympathy of Rizal to his oppressed and unfortunate people.
RIZAL AS A MASON
• March 1883- Rizal joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia in Madrid under his Masonic
name Dimasalang. Rizal‘s reasons of becoming a mason: 1. the bad friars in the
Philippines, by their abuses unworthy of their priestly habit or calling, drove Rizal to
desperation and Masonry; 2. he needed the help of the Masons to fight the bad friars in
the Philippines, for Masonry, to Rizal, was a shield to use in his fight against the evil forces
of tyranny.
RIZAL IN PARIS, CAPITAL CITY OF FRANCE
• June 17 1883, Rizal sojourn in Paris. He stayed at a cheaper hotel on 124 Rue de
Rennes in the Latin Quarter.
• Like all tourist, Rizal was attracted by the beautiful sights of Paris. He visited
important landmarks like the Place de la Concorde, Arch of Triumph, the Cathedral of
Notre Dame and others. Rizal improved his mind by observing closely the French way of
life. He spent his hours in museums, botanical garden and art galleries. According to
Rizal “Paris is the costliest capital in Europe.” Prices of food, drinks, theatre, laundry,
hotels and transportation were too high.
• Two hospitals where Rizal made some observations:
Laennec Hospital- where Rizal observed Dr. Nicaise treating his patients
Lariboisiere Hospital- where Rizal observed the examination of different diseases of
women.
• August 20, 1883 he returned to Madrid and continues with his studies.
RIZAL’S SALUTE TO LUNA AND HIDALGO.
• In the evening of June 25, 1884, a banquet was sponsored by the Filipino
community to celebrate the double victory of the Filipino artist in the National Exposition
of Fine Arts in Madrid - Luna’s Spoliarium winning the first prize and Hidalgo’s Christian
Virgins Exposed to the Populace second prize. Rizal was the guest speaker. It was a
magnificent speech of Rizal, he saluted Luna and Hidalgo being the two glories of Spain
and the Philippines. He also assailed with refined sarcasm the bigotry and blindness of
certain unworthy Spaniards who could not comprehend the universality of Genius.
STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN
• June 21, 1884- conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine. He was not
awarded his Doctor‘s diploma due to the fact that he did not present the thesis required
for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees.
June 19, 1885- Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters with the rating of
“Excellent”(Sobresaliente).

TOPIC 2- CONTINUED STAY IN EUROPE 1885-1887

• Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in Ophthalmology. He
travelled and observed European life and customs in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig, and
Berlin.

PARIS (1885-1886)
• He was 24 years old and already a physician, he went to Paris to obtain knowledge
in Ophthalmology. In November 1885, he worked for four months as an assistant to Dr.
Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.
• Outside of his working hours, he also found time to relax and be with his good
friends like the Pardo de Taveras, Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. At the
studio of Juan Luna, he improved his painting technique. He became a model to Juan
Luna’s several paintings. In the home of the Pardo de Tavera, Rizal played the flute, he
admitted that he had no natural aptitude for music.
GERMANY
IN HEIDELBERG
• In February 1886, Rizal left Paris and went to Germany. He arrived in Heidelberg,
a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and romantic surroundings.
• He lived near the University of Heidelberg and worked as an assistant to Dr. Otto
Becker at the University Eye Hospital. Outside his apprenticing hours, he also listened to
lectures delivered by Dr. Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuchne.
• Rizal devoted his free time visiting Heidelberg Castle, Neckar River, the theatre
and some old churches found in the city. The Neckar River and the beautiful spring
flowers blooling along its banks reminded him of how dearly he missed Calamba.
• April 22, 1886, Rizal wrote a touching poem entitled To the Flowers of Heidelberg.
IN WILHELMSFELD
• A mountainous village near Heidelberg where Rizal spent his summer vacation.
• Rizal lived with the family of Pastor Karl Ullmer, a Protestant pastor who became
his good friend and admirer. The pleasant personality and talents in languages and
sketching endeared him to the Ullmer’s family.
• For three months he enjoyed the hospitality and kindness of the family.
• June 25, 1886, he returned to Heidelberg.
FIRST LETTER TO BLUMENTRITT
• July 31, 1886 Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria. Rizal wrote to him after learning
that this ethnologist was interested in the Tagalog language. He sent him a book entitled
Arithmetica. Published in 2 languages- Spanish and Tagalog. By UST Press of 1868.
Author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna. Ferdinand
reciprocated the thoughtful gesture of Rizal by sending him two books. The exchanged
marked the beginning of their long and beautiful friendship.
IN LEIPZIG
• In August 1886, Rizal arrived in Leipzig. He stayed here for two months doing a lot
of writing and translating.
• He very much liked what he saw, the magnificent buildings, wide and clean streets
and amiable people.
• William Tell- written by Schiller, Rizal translated it from German into Tagalog so
that Filipino might know the story of the champion of Swiss independence.
• Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales - Rizal also translated this in Tagalog for his nephews
and nieces.
• Because of his knowledge of German, Spanish, and other European languages,
Rizal worked as proof-reader in a publishing firm.
• He attended some lectures on history and psychology at the University of Leipzig
and met Professor Friedrich Ratzel- a famous German historian and Dr. Hans Meyer-
German anthropologist. They had become his friends.
IN BERLIN
• In November 1886, Rizal arrived in Berlin. He was enchanted by this city because
of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of racial prejudice.
• Dr. Feodor Jagor - Rizal met for the first time this celebrated German scientist-
traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired
during his student days in Manila.
• Dr. Rudolf Virchow- a famous German anthropologist. (Dr. Jagor, introduced Rizal
to Dr. Virchow)
• Dr. Ernest Schweigger (1830-1905)- famous German ophthalmologist where Rizal
worked
• Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society,
and the Geographical Society of Berlin, upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr.
Meyer
• Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art)- Rizal wrote this scholarly paper in
German which he read before the society in April 1887. This paper was published by the
society in the same year, and elicited favorable comments from all scientific quarters
GERMAN WOMEN AND THEIR CUSTOMS
• Rizal wrote a letters addressed to his sister, Trinidad. He said that German woman
is serious, diligent, educated, and friendly. She is not gossipy, frivolous and quarrelsome.
• Aside from women, Rizal admired the German customs. The Christmas custom of
the German delighted him most of his yuletide custom he wrote on Christmas eve.
Another interesting German custom observed by Rizal is self-introduction to strangers in
a social gathering.

NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN (1887)

• March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere

came off the press. The title Noli Me Tangere
is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me
Not”. “Noli Me Tangere, are words taken
from the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20
Verses 13 to 17).
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the
Philippines—“To My Fatherland”. It contains
63 chapters and an epilogue. Maximo Viola-
The savior of Noli, he gave him the needed
funds to publish the novel.

GRAND TOUR FROM GERMANY TO ITALY

• May 11, 1887- Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train going to Dresden, one of the best
cities in Germany
• May 13- 16, 1887- Rizal and Viola went to Leitmeritz, Bohemia to visit Professor
Blumentritt. A kind-hearted, old Austrian professor who became a dear friend of Rizal.
• With Prof. Blumentritt as their guide, Rizal and Viola visited the churches, the
residence of the Bishop and other important buildings of the city.
• From May 20-30, 1887 -They visited other cities in Europe like, Prague, Vienna-
the "Queen of Danube", Lintz, Rheinfall, Munich and Nuremberg. They visited museums,
magnificent buildings, cathedrals and beautiful sights.

• June 2 to 3, 1887- stayed at

Schaffhausen, Switzerland. GENEVA- This
Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities
in Europe, visited by world tourists every
year.
• June 19, 1887- Rizal treated Viola to a
blow-out. It was his 26th birthday. Rizal and
Viola spent fifteen delightful days in
Geneva.
• June 23, 1887- Viola and Rizal parted ways—Viola returned to Barcelona while
Rizal continued the tour to Italy
• June 27, 1887- Rizal reached Rome, the “Eternal City” and also called the “City of
the Caesars. After a week of wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal prepared to return to the
Philippines.

TOPIC 3- FIRST RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES 1887-1888

TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES
The stunning beauty of the European lands did not stop Rizal from continuously adoring
his native land. After the Noli Me Tangere was published, he decided to return to Calamba
despite the many warning he received from friends and relatives alike.
• He had four reasons for returning to the Philippines:
a) To perform an operation on Dona Teodora’s eyes;
b) To defend his oppressed countrymen more effectively than doing so in a foreign
land;
c) To find out how his Noli was received by the Filipinos and Spaniards; and
d) To know the reason for Leonor Rivera’s long silence.

• July 3, 1887, Rizal left Marseilles (France), it was his first return to the Philippines
after leaving it to study in Spain five years ago.
• August 6, 1887, he arrived in Manila and visited some friends.
AT HIS HOMETOWN
• August 8, 1887, he reached Calamba. He opened a medical clinic and restored his
mother’s vision. Such “miraculous” news spread throughout the community like wild fire,
thus, his clinic was flocked by people aspiring for a better eyesight. Newly arrived from
Germany, he began to be known as “ Doctor Uliman” (from the word Aleman) and soon
he acquired a lucrative medical practice. He earned $900 from his services as physician.
• Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced European sports
to discourage his town mates from idleness and gambling.
• He also took part in Calamba’s civic affairs and on his spare time made paintings
of the towns landscapes and translated the German poems of Von Wildernath into
Tagalog.
• His happy days at Calamba was marred with the death of his older sister, Olimpia,
and to see Leonor Rivera. His family begged him not to see her at her hometown in
Camiling because of increasing concerns about his safety. Also Leonor’s mother objected
to their relationship.
THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE NOLI
• Copies of the Noli Me Tangere had arrived at the Philippines weeks before Rizal’s
return to the Philippines. Some of copies of his book fell into the hands of the Spaniards
especially the friars. They found the novel “heretical, impious, and scandalous in the
religious order and anti-patriotic, subversive of public order, injurious to the government
of Spain and its function in the Philippine Islands in the political order”.
• The controversy over the novel had reached the office of Governor General Emilio
Terrero. He requested Rizal to come to Malacańang Palace. Rizal met Governor General
Emilio Terrero who informed him of the charges against him. As a defense, Rizal told
Terrero that Noli only expose reality. Not having read the book yet and out of curiosity,
the governor general asked for a copy of the controversial novel, which he later confessed
that he enjoyed reading. He saw no problem on the book, yet to protect Rizal’s life which
was then in danger, he assigned Jose Taviel de Andrade, a young Spanish lieutenant, as
Rizal’s personal bodyguard. The friars asked Governor General Terrero to deport him,
but the latter refused because there was no valid charge against Rizal in court.
• While still in Calamba, Rizal was seen as a troublemaker. There are groundless
tales circulated by his enemies that he was “a German spy, an agent of Bismarck, a
Protestant, a Mason, a witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.” Realizing that his family’s and
friend’s safety were risked; and that his fight against the Spaniards have better chance of
winning if he’d stay abroad, Rizal, six months after, finally decided to sail back to Europe.
His plan was to return to Europe via Hong Kong, Macao, Japan and the United States
TOPIC 4- TRAVELS IN ASIA ( HONG KONG, MACAU AND JAPAN) AND THE U.S.
FIRST TRIP TO HONG KONG AND MACAU
• On February 3, 1888, with a heavy heart, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong. His
powerful enemies refused to give him peace and quiet. Anonymous letters with threats
on his life were sent to his parents’ house in Calamba.
• On February 8, 1888- Rizal arrived in Hong Kong and he was welcomed by Filipino
residents.
• Jose Sainz de Varranda, Terrero’s former secretary, followed Rizal in the said
British colony, and was believed to be commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy
on the hero.
• While in Hong Kong, Rizal engaged in cultural activities. Among the experiences
while he observed were:
a) The Chinese way of celebrating their New Year, which included making noise and
exploding firecrackers to drive away evil spirits;
b) Chinese lauriat parties, where they served many different types of dishes;
c) Chinese theatres which used symbolisms and noisy music to entertain an equally
noise audience;
d) He also managed to visit different churches and cemeteries that were owned by
Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims.
• On February 18-21, 1888, Rizal also visited Macau, a Portuguese colony near
Hong Kong. He was invited to stay at the residence of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros, who
was a former Filipino delegate to the Spanish Cortes. For two days, Rizal enjoyed being
a tourist and visited different cultural places which included churches, botanical gardens,
theaters and the Macao Casino.
• February 22, 1888- Rizal left Hong Kong, his destination was Japan.
IN JAPAN
• February 28, 1888- Rizal arrived in Yokohama, the next day he went to Tokyo and
stayed at Tokyo Hotel for six days.
• Shortly after his arrival, Juan Perez Caballero-secretary of the Spanish Legation,
visited Rizal at his hotel who latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation. Rizal being
an intelligent man, realized that the Spanish diplomatic authorities were instructed from
Manila to keep track of his activities. Since it was economical to stay at the legation and
he believed that he had nothing to hide, he accepted it.
• March 7, 1888- Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation
• Rizal was impressed by the scenic Japan and had keenly observed the life,
customs, and culture of the people. The things which favourably impressed Rizal in Japan
were: the beauty of the country; the cleanliness, politeness, and industry of the Japanese
people; the picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women; there were very
few thieves in Japan; beggars were rarely seen in the city, streets, unlike in Manila and
other cities.
• April 13, 1888, Rizal left Japan and boarded the Belgic, bound for the United
States.

RIZAL’S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES (April- May 1888)

• April 28, 1888, Rizal arrived in San Francisco, California. The ship was held under
quarantine by the American health authorities, reasoning that there was a cholera
epidemic in the Far East where their ship come from. Rizal and other first class passenger
of the ship were released from quarantine and allowed to land after seven days.
• On May 4, 1888, Rizal arrived in San Francisco and registered at the Palace Hotel
and stayed for two days. May 6, 1888, he was in Oakland, he boarded the train for his
grand transcontinental trip to the American continent. He was able to see places such as
Sacramento, Reno, (Nevada), Colorado, Nebraska, Chicago, Albany and on May 13 he
reached New York. He stayed in this city for three days, he visited the scenic and historic
places.
RIZAL’S IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA
• Good impressions
a) the material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms,
flourishing industries and busy factories;
b) the drive and energy of the American People
c) the natural beauty of the land
d) the high standard of living;
e) the opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants.
• Bad impression
a) the lack of racial equality: “America is the land par excellence of freedom but only
for the whites”
• May 16, 1888- Rizal left New York for Liverpool, England.

TOPIC 5- REFORMIST WORKS IN EUROPE (1889-1981)

IN LONDON
• May 25, 1888 to mid-March 1889- Rizal decided to stay in London because he
could improve his English, study and do an annotation of Antonio Morga’s Sucecos de
las Islas Filipinas and perceived it was a place for him to carry on the reforms he wanted
for the Philippines.
ANNOTATING MORGA’S BOOK
• May 1888-March 1889- He spent ten months (10) in the reading room of the British
Museum deeply immersed in his historical studies in London. This was the greatest
achievement of Rizal in London, the annotating of Morga’s book, Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands), which was published in Mexico,
1609.

RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD

• December 31, 1888- inauguration of Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad
Association), a patriotic society. They crusade for reforms in the Philippine Government.
By unanimous vote of all members, Rizal was chosen honorary president. This was a
recognition of his leadership among all Filipino patriots in Europe.
• February 15, 1889- Graciano Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newspaper called
La Solidaridad in Barcelona. A fortnightly periodical which served as the organ of the
Propaganda Movement.
• Its aims were as follows: to
work peacefully for political
and social reforms; to portray
the deplorable conditions of
the Philippines so that Spain
may remedy them; to oppose
the evil forces of reaction and
medievalism; to advocate
liberal ideas and progress; to
champion the legitimate
aspirations of the Filipino
people to life, democracy and
happiness. During his stay in
London, Rizal also made used
of his time in writing essays
and articles for La Solidaridad.
He also wrote La Vision del
Fray Rodriguez (The Vision of
Fray Rodriguez)-pamphlet which published in Barcelona under his nom-de-plume
Dimas Alang in order to defense his novel.
• In London, Rizal received both good news and bad news from news. The good
news that Rev. Vicente Garcia was defending his Noli from the attacks of the friars. On
the other hand, the bad news were that the Filipino signatories of the “ Petition of 1888”
and the tenants of the Calamba agrarian trouble were facing persecution; that his
brothers-in-law Manuel T. HIdalgo and Mariano Herbosa, were exiled to Bohol and was
denied Christian burial, respectively; and his friend, Laureno Viadoa, a UST medical
student, was imprisoned for possessing some copies of his Noli.
IN PARIS
• It was mid-March 1899, Rizal decided to move to Paris. He noticed that Parisian
life was different from the life he experienced in London. It was a city bursting with
merriment, exciting events, and unending social gathering. The cost of living was also
very high.
• Rizal never lost his focus although life in Paris was gay, he continued to spend
long hours at the National library in Paris. There, he went on reviewing and rewriting his
historical annotations on De Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. It was published on
January 1890. He also wrote a satirical booklet entitled Por Telefono, in answer to Fr.
Salvation Fort, a Spanish friar who hurled attacks on the Noli Me Tangere and caused its
banning.
• He continued his study on various languages especially the French language,
which he was able to perfect during his 10 months stay at the French capital city.
• He organized a social club called Kidlat Club , a social club which brought together
young Filipinos residing in Paris. Soon, the members of the said club founded a new
Filipino society - the Indios Bravos, an organization which envisioned Filipinos being
recognized by Spain for being excellent in various fields of knowledge.
• In between his more serious activities, Rizal also had leisurely activities like
socializing with friends in their homes. Among those he frequently visited were the homes
of the Pardo de Taveras, the Venturas, the Lunas, the Bousteads and others.
• Although Rizal lived a frugal life, he prepared a sumptuous Christmas dinner for
some of his friends. Shortly after New Year, he visited London for the last time
IN BRUSSELS
• January 28, 1890, left Paris for Brussels. He left the extravagant and gay social
life in Paris and stayed in a boarding house owned by the Jacoby sisters in Brussels.
• From 1889- 1890, Rizal continued contributing for La Solidaridad under the
pseudonyms Dimas Alang and Laong Laan. Among the 10 articles he had contributed
below were some of the most famous and important articles:
a) The Philippines Within a Century-article written by Rizal which he expressed his
views on the Spanish colonization in the Philippines.
b) The Indolence of the Filipinos- It is an able defence of the alleged indolence of the
Filipinos.
 c) the Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala (The New Orthography of the
Tagalog Language) In this article, he laid down the rules of the new Tagalog
orthography
• From Calamba, Rizal received letters telling that the agrarian trouble in the
province was getting worse, and as such, he decided to go home. But instead of going
home, a letter from Paciano told him that they already lost the case against the
Dominicans and they were in need of a lawyer who would defend their family and the
families in Calamba from Madrid.
• Rizal wrote a letter to Ponce, he announced that he was leaving Brussels and
decided to go to Madrid because this case must be presented to the Supreme Court and
he needs to pay close attention to the developments of the case.

MISFORTUNES IN MADRID (1890-1891)

• August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid. Upon arrival in Madrid. Rizal immediately
sought help of the Filipino colony, The Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal
Spanish newspaper in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants. Nothing came
out of this, several newspapers were sympathetic to the plight of the Calamba tenants but
this did not translate to any form of action. By this time, Francisco Rizal and other tenants
were already forcibly evicted from Calamba by Governor General Valeriano Weyler. Their
houses were burned and more people were exiled regardless of their gender.
• August 1890, Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid. After
drinking so many glasses the guests became more talkative. One of them, Antonio Luna
became drunk. Rizal challenged Antonio Luna, it was about the latter’s frustration with his
unsuccessful “love affair” with Nellie Boustead, and so gave negative remarks on the lady
which Rizal did not tolerated. The Filipinos tried to pacify them, pointing out that such a
duel would damage their cause in Spain. Fortunately, Luna, realized his mistakes he
apologized and Rizal immediately accepted his apology and became good friends again.
• Rizal challenged Wenceslao Retana in a duel. Retana had insulted Rizal and his
family by writing in La Epoca, an anti-Filipino newspaper, that the Rizal family in Calamba
was ejected from their lands because they did not pay their rents. Rizal was, by nature
neither hot-tempered but when the honor of his people, family, women or friends was
besmirched, he never hesitated to fight even if he were risking his own life. Retana at
once published a retraction and an apology, he knew that Rizal was superior in both pistol
and sword.
• December 1890, Rizal received a letter from Leonor Rivera announcing her
coming marriage to Henry Kipping, an Englishman (the choice of her mother).This was a
big blow for him and his heart broke.
• Another marked event in Madrid was the Marcelo H. del Pilar-Jose Rizal rivalry for
leadership in the Asociacion Hispano Filipino. A fraction emerged from the Filipinos in
Madrid, the Rizalistas and Pilaristas. The group decided that the leader must be elected
by two-thirds vote. Rizal won the election, he was offered the appointment but he did not
want to see the Filipinos in Madrid divided so he thought it best to leave the city.
• Rizal took a vacation in the resort city of Biarritz on the fabulous French Riviera.
He was a guest of the rich Boustead family at its winter residence—Villa Eliada. The one
month vacation in this city worked wonders for Rizal. This is where he was able to finish
his second novel El Filibusterismo.
• March 30, 1891, Rizal bade farewell to the hospitable and friendly Bousteads and
proceeded to Paris by Train. He stayed at the home of his friend Valentin Ventura.

RETIREMENT FROM THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT

• April 1891, Rizal was back to Brussels where he became busy revising and
polishing the manuscript of El Filibusterismo.
• Rizal retired from the Propaganda Movement. 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 a young Filipino student in Europe. He desired to
publish his second novel, to practice his medical profession, and later when he became
financially independent, he expected to make a more vigorous campaign for his country’s
redemption.
• Simultaneously with his retirement from the Propaganda Movement, Rizal ceased
writing articles for La Solidaridad. Many of his friends in Spain urged him to continue
writing because his articles always attracted considerable attention in European
countries.
• M.H. Del Pilar himself realized the need for Rizal’s collaboration in both the
Propaganda Movement and in the La Solidaridad newspaper because the enthusiasm for
the reform crusade was declining. He wrote to Rizal begging for forgiveness for any
resentment and requesting him to resume writing for the La Solidaridad.
• Rizal replied to Del Pilar’s letter, he wrote denying any resentment and explaining
why he stopped writing. Below are reasons why Rizal stopped writing for La Solidaridad:
a) Rizal need to work on his book ;
b) He wanted other Filipinos to work also;
c) Rizal considered it very important to the party that there be unity in the work ;
d) Marcelo H. Del Pilar is already at the top and Rizal also have his own ideas it is
better to leave del Pilar alone to direct the policy.
THE PRINTING OF THE EL FILIBUSTERISMO
• July 5, 1891- Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a famous university city in Belgium
because the cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels. F. Meyer-Van Loo
Press-a printing shop that give Rizal the lowest quotation for the publication of his novel.
• August 6, 1891-the printing of his book had to be suspended because Rizal could
no longer give the necessary funds to the printer. Valentin Ventura- the savior of the Fili,
when he learned of Rizal’s predicament he sent him the necessary funds.
• September 18, 1891- El Filibusterismo came off the press. Rizal gratefully donated
the original manuscript and an autographed printed copy to Valentin Ventura

TOPIC 6- BACK IN HONGKONG

• On October 18, 1891, after the Fili’ was published, Rizal left Europe. Aboard the
S.S Melbourne, he sailed to Hongkong where he lived for seven months. His reasons for
venturing to Hongkong were the following:
a) To leave his rivalry with del PIlar
b) To facilitate a Propaganda Movement in Hongkong; and
c) To be proximate to his family in the Philippines
• On November 20, 1891, Rizal arrived in Hongkong and was cordially welcomed by
the Filipino residents in the city, particularly, his friend Jose Ma. Basa.

• December 1, 1891- Rizal wrote his parents asking their permission to return home.
Rizal had a continued correspondence with his family in Calamba and had been aware
of the unsettled agrarian problem. On the same date, his brother-in-law, Manuel T.
Hidalgo, sent him a letter relating the sad news of the “deportation of twenty-five persons
from Calamba, including father, Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano and the rest of us.”
FAMILY REUNION IN HONG KONG
• The Christmas of 1891 in Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide celebrations
in Rizal’s life, he had a happy family reunion.
• While in Hongkong, Rizal practiced his medical career. With the help of his friend,
Dr Lorenzo P. Marquez, they built a large clientele and opened a medical clinic where he
was recognized as an excellent eye surgeon. He was equally supported and aided both
morally and financially by his family and friends with his chosen career.
• Another marked event during Rizal’s stay in Hongkong was his plan to move the
landless Filipino to Borneo and transform the said wilderness into a “New Calamba”
through the so-called Borneo Colonization Project.
• In April 1802, he visited Borneo and negotiated with the British authorities who are
willing to provide 100,000 acres of land for the Filipinos. Many Filipino patriots found this
project amusing, thus, promoted the said project. However, there were a number who
objected it, one of which was Rizal’s brother-in-law, Hidalgo.
• Twice did Rizal wrote a letter addressed to Governor General Eulogio Despujol
informing his Borneo colonization project, with whom he received no response. Instead,
Despujol commanded the Spanish consul-general in Hongkong to notify Rizal that such
project was very unpatriotic, and by immigrating Filipinos to Borneo, the Philippines will
surely be lacking of laborers.
• Despite the many oppositions from friends and relatives, he decided to return to
Manila on the following reasons:

a) To discuss with Governor General Despujol his Borneo colonization project;

b) To form the La Liga Filipina in the Philippines; and
c) To prove that Eduardo de Lete’s allegations on him and his family in
Calamba were wrong.
• Before his departure, he wrote three more letters- the first addressed to his parents
and friends; the second one, to Filipinos; and the last Governor General Eulogio Despujol.
• Instead of having the protection he desired, Rizal and his sister, Lucia fell into the
Spanish trap - a case was secretly filed against Rizal, and Despujol ordered his secretary,
Luis de la Torre, to verify whether the patriot had neutralized himself as German citizen
or not. And so, the siblings sailed across the China Sea without prior knowledge of what
awaits then in the Philippines.