Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
1888 - 1889 Rizal in London He chose the english city to be his new home for 3 reasons:
1. To improve his knowledge of the English language.
2. To study and annotate Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
3. London was safe place for him to carry on his fight against Spanish tyrrany –
- While on board, Rizal entertained the American and European passengers with his marvelous skill of
the yoyo as a defensive weapon.
- He stayed as a guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma Regidor, an exile of 1872 and a practising
lawyer in London.
- Rizal came to know Dr. Reihold Rost, the librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an
authority on Malayan languages and customs
- Of the bad news were injustices committed by Spanish authorities on the Filipino people and the
Rizal family.
> Among which were as follows:
* Persecution of Filipino patriots who signed the "Anti-Friar Petition of 1888"
* Persecution of calmaba tenants, including Rizal's family and relatives
* Furious attack on Rizal by Senators Salamanca and Vida * Rizal's brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, was
exiled to Bohol without due process of law
* A friend of Rizal, Laureno Viado, was jailed in Bilibid prison because copies of Noli were found in his house
- The greatest achievement of Rizal was annotating of Morga's Book, Sucecos De Los Islas Filipinas
(Historical Events of the Philippine Islands), which was published in Mexico, 1609.
- Rizal labroriously read the old histories of the Philippines written by Fr. Chirino, Fr. Colin, Fr.
Argensola, Fr. Plasencia, etc.
One good news cheered Rizal. * And that was Rev. Vicente Garcia's defence of the Noli against the
attacks of the friars. Short visit to Paris and Spain
- He was entertained in this gay French metropolis by Juan Luna and his wife (Paz Prado de Tavera)
- Rizal returned to London on December 24 and spent Christmas and New Year with the Becketts
The Ventriliquist" Rizal Became a Leader of Filipinos in Europe - Rizal learned that Filipinos in
Barcelona are were planning to establish a patriotic society, this society was called,
- Dr. Host, editor of Trubner's Record, requested Rizal to contribute some articles
* In response, he prepared 2 articles:
1. Specimens of Tagalog Folklore, published in the journal in May 1889
2. Two Eastern People, published in June 1889
Romance with Gertrude Beckett - Rizal had a romantic interlude with the oldest of the three Beckett sisters,
Gertrude, Gettie as she was affectionally called, was a buxom English girl with brown hair, blue eyes, and rosy
cheeks
- Rizal eventually called her "Pettie"
- Before leaving London he finished 4 scupltural works:
1. Prometheus Bound
2. The Triumph of Death over Life
3. Triumph of Science over Death
4. A composite carving of the Beckett sisters
(the last named carving was a farewell gift to the Beckett sisters) Adios! London –
Suddenly on March 19, 1889, Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett family (particularly Gertrude) and left
London for Paris
- He was sad as he crossed the English channel for he cherished so many beautiful memories of London