Life and Works of Jose Rizal

PRELIM Midterm AND

Summary
Submitted to:
Ferissa B. Dizon
Professor

Submitted by:
Shermagne A. Cabrera
Student
 HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK
PRELIM

RA 1425- Rizal Laws

RA 1425
An act to include in the curricula of all public and private Schools, Colleges and Universities courses
on the Life Works and Writings of JOSE RIZAL, particularly his novels NOLI ME TANGERE and EL
FILIBUSTERISMO, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes.
RA 229
An act to prohibit cockfighting, horse racing and jai-alai on the thirtieth day of December of each year
and to create a committee to take charge of the proper celebration of rizal day in every municipality
and chartered city, and for other purposes
Memorandum Order No. 247
Directing the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and the Chairman of the Commission on
Higher Education to fully implement Republic Act No. 1425
CHED Memorandum No. 3, s. 1995
Enforcing strict compliance to Memorandum Order No. 247

RIZAL AND HIS TIME, THE CHALLENGES AND

RESPONSES OF THE 19TH CENTURY
DR. JOSE P. RIZAL
To understand the life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, it is important to know the historical background of the
Philippines during his times.
19th CENTURY
 Era of Challenges and responses
 A period of major changes which affected men and society
 June 19, 1861 the birth of Rizal, the American Civil war was raging furiously in the United
States on the Negro Slavery.
 Rizal was born and lived with a restless of events caused by variants tides of leadership,
changes in government, liberation, violence, and war which affecting the lives of mankind.

In the Philippines
 The Filipino people suffered of the Spanish misrule, for they were victims of the evils of an
unjust, bigoted and deteriorating colonial power and Rizal could attest on the evil events that
made Filipino felt
 Marginalized, discriminated and poorly administered.
Evils during the Spanish rule in the Philippines
 Instability of colonial administration
 The political turmoil that Spain experiencing during that time was a great effect to administer its
colonized countries.
 It brought frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies of colonial officials.
 For example, from 1834-1897, the Philippines was ruled by 50 governors general, that at one
time a period of less than a year, there were four Governor Generals.
 Corrupt officialdom
 The colonial official sent by Spain in the 19 th century were a far cry from their able and
dedicated predecessors of the 16th, 17th, 18th centuries.
 The “Siglo de Oro” of the Spaniards which produced Miguel Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and
other glories of the Hispanic nation
 General Rafael Isquierdoq, a ruthless governor general, aroused the anger to the Filipinos by
executing the innocent GOMBURZA.
 General Valeriano Weyler, a cruel and corrupt governor general, arrived in Manila a poor man
and returned to Spain millionaire. He was called ‘tyrant” because of his brutal persecution of
the Calamba tenants.
 For some, accepting brides and gifts to favor to someone
 No Philippine representation in Spanish Cortes
 The first Philippine representation was with Ventura Delos Reyes, took active part to represent
concerns and issues to the Cortes.
 In his representation he achieved to speak on the issue of the galleon trade that later on he
managed to abolish it.
 Human rights denied to Filipinos
 No freedom of expression
 No equality before the Law
 Filipinos were abused, brutalized, persecuted and slandered.
 Spanish missionaries thought that ALL MEN irrespective of color and race are children of God
and as such they are brothers, equal before God and not before the law… not in practice.
 Filipino were fascinated by this noble concept of human relations that is why they chose to
become Christians. But in practice, Spaniards arrogantly – regarded the brown-skinned
Filipinos as inferior beings.
 Maladministration of Justice
 To the Imperialist way of thinking, brown Filipinos and white Spaniards may be equal before
God, but not before law certainly not in practice.
 The Spanish Penal Code, imposed heavier penalties on native Filipinos or mestizos and lighter
penalties on white Spaniards.
 Wealth, social prestige, and color of the skin were preponderant factors in winning a case in
court. Irrespective of the weight evidence, skin white can easily achieved victory in any
litigation.
 Racial Discrimination
 Racial prejudice was prevalent everywhere- in government offices, in the courts of justice, in
the armed forces and even in the educational institutions and in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
 Frailocracy
 “government of the friars”
 The friars practically ruled the Philippines through a façade of civil government. The colonial
authorities, from the government general down to the Alcaldes Mayores, were under the
control of the friars.
 Forced Labor
 Known as the “polo”, it was the compulsory labor imposed by the Spanish colonial authorities
on adult Filipino males.
 The well-to-do Filipinos were able to escape this manual labor by paying the “falla” which was
a sum of money paid to the government to be exempted from rendering services
 Hacienda owned by the Friars
 Spanish Friars belonging to different religious orders were the richest landlords, for they owned
the best haciendas.
  The rural folks, who had been living in these haciendas and cultivating them generation after
generation become tenants.
 Guardia Civil
 The Guardia Civil had rendered meritorious services in suppressing the bandits in the
provinces, they later become infamous for their rampant abuses.
 Rizal actually witnessed the atrocities committed by the Guardia Civil on the Calamba folks. He
and her mother had been victims of the brutalities of the Guardia Civil.
 Important changes in the 19th century
 Struggle of nationalism
 Gradual spread of democracy
 Modernization of living through the Industrial Revolution
 Advance of Science
 March of Imperialism
 New current in the movement of thought and growing confidence on progress.

THE SPANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT

 Remember, sovereignty over the New World was granted through Papal decree (and the
Treaty of Tordesillas) so therefore, the church would become a central element in Spanish
colonial government.
 The Spanish system became a great bureaucracy, with layers, church members and the other
judicial officers at its central authority.
 The crown ruled through the Council of Indies (est. 1954)…the council created 2 main
viceroyalties (territories) known as New Spain and Peru (with several more to come later in
Caribbean and northern and southern South America) which were divided into audiencias
(judicial territories).
 Viceroys were the appointed governors and could ONLY come directly from Spain… most
were members of the Spanish nobility.
 The clergy took the lead in conversion and education in the new system, making sure the
natives understood the layout of Spanish law, learned to speak the language, and learned to
pay their taxes.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FILIPINO

CONCIOUSNESS
(Spanish Colonization)
More than three hundred years of Spanish Colonization.
The opening of Suez Canal (1869) gave more opportunities to the illustrados and elites to
travel and gain education in different places in Europe. During this time the Philippine economy
progressed because of short time of travelling and it opens the gateway of trading to other
neighboring countries. Spanish government officials became lenient and relaxed on their
responsibilities and duties. Filipinos observed this attitude and they know the Spanish would never
achieve development in the country.

Also during this time, revolts against monarchy in Europe had arisen. Illustrados like Rizal, Del
Pilar and Jaena who had their education in Europe obtained liberal ideas on these significant events
in the history of the world. They were the first individuals realized that they need to voice out their
opinion and thoughts about the exploitation of Spanish officials and friars to the Filipinos. Though,
before Rizal time revolts against Spaniards occurred. On 1832, Apolinario de la Cruz, a religious and
rebel leader, founded the brotherhood of Confradia de San Jose, in Lukban, Quezon that fought for
religious freedom. As founder, he was given the title of hermano mayor, and thus was also known as
Hermano Pule. It simply proved that Filipinos did not like the ruling of Spaniards. Yet these revolts did
not succeed because of geographical condition of the country. We could not easily unite. The death
of the three priests or also known as GOMBURZA raised the consciousness of Filipinos to revolt. The
three priests were killed because they wanted reform in the secularization. Also the invention of
printing press helped the propagandist express and show their thoughts and ideas through
newspaper. Because of this, Filipino masses became more aware on the events happening around
them. They recognize the importance of expressing their self, their own nationality, and their freedom.

The death of Jose Rizal awakens the mind and touched the heart of many Filipinos. They
realized that they should fight for not for their own sake but for the next generations that would come.
Andres Bonifacio who became inspired by Rizal, led the revolution and succeeded.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RIZAL TO THE

GENERATION OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM
Today, 19 June is the 151st birthday of the national hero of our country, José Rizal. The date of birth
was significant to us as a Filipino who fought for independence from the excesses of friar-led Spanish
colonial rule even though Rizal personally was not in favor for outright independence from Spain.
His emergence as a patriot, novelist, ophthalmologist, polymath, and a linguist inspired many Filipinos
not just during his time but also to later generations to fight for freedom from the excesses of colonial
rule of Spain, the United States and also the excesses of post-colonial economic, political, and social
policies. His ideas like equality among Filipinos and the Spaniards that time caught him a significant
followers regardless of personal ideas like Andrés Bonifacio and many others.
His entire life was practically spent to fight the excesses of friar-led Spanish colonial rule as he was
the apparent heir to continue the legacies of his family. His exceptional talents gave him a
comparative advantage over his colleagues that time to fight the excesses of the colonial rule like the
obvious preferences by the religious orders to Spanish individuals over a Philippine-born individuals
of appointing priests to the various parishes in all over the archipelago.
His exceptional talents enabled him to raise the concerns of the Filipino people to the Spanish people
when he went to Spain and the entire Europe in order to awaken not just the Spaniards but the entire
world on what the grievances of the Filipino people then. It was in Europe when José Rizal wrote his
ideals and grievances like Noli me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and La Solidaridad.
His goals for a better Philippines incurred the ire from the people who enjoys the status quo
especially from the friars who got threatened by Rizal’s writings like the exploitation of native Filipino
women for personal benefit of some friars in their respective parishes. His writings was the cause of
his unjustified death in the hands of the friars on 30 December 1896.
After then, later generations took Rizal’s life as an inspiration to fight the excesses not just against
foreign occupiers but also against some local interests who controlled the political, social, and
economic lives of the vast majority for their personal benefit. In spite of several interpretations on how
should Rizal be remembered to the eyes of the people, José Rizal was still the symbol and the
inspiration for the Filipinos that need to be emulated for the next generation of people to come.
RELEVANCE OF THE LIFE OF RIZAL TO THE
PRESENT POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Rizal defines political culture as a set of ideas, values and attitudes about government and the
political process held by a community or nation. In general political culture combines deeply-shared
beliefs and values and the result is a flourishing nationalism. One of the key elements of political
culture is the justification and operation of a country’s government.
In his essay “The Indolence of the Filipinos” Rizal observed that “without education and liberty…no
reform is possible.” Rizal’s wit and wisdom are demonstrated in this article when he analyzed the
Philippine’s past and suggested that everything that is wrong in the archipelago was blamed on
indolence. Surprisingly, Rizal argued that the indolence does not exist and the reason is that the
Spanish has destroyed personal initiative. Once again, Rizal exclaimed that, political culture could not
thrive in the Philippines because of the inability of the Spanish to recognize local political values. Only
with education could Filipinos overcome this deficiency.
2. Rizal considers political socialization as one of the main elements of political science. The term can
be defined as the process by which people, at various stages in their lives, acquire views and
orientations about politics.
The key elements of political socialization include the influence of the family, the church, the local
community, and any other element that inculcates beliefs and values.
Rizal’s life was a lesson in political socialization. By emphasizing the importance of being a Filipino,
Rizal accelerated the process of local nationalism. His criticism of the friars and the church helped to
change attitudes toward local nationalism. Rizal urged dissident Filipinos residing in Europe to return
home to continue the political struggle. When Rizal was elected honorary president of the Association
La Solidaridad, he became the focal point for political socialization. When Rizal announced that it was
his goal to promote the political aspirations of the Filipino people for life, democracy and happiness,
he created an identifiable brand of political socialization.
3. Rizal defines political ideology as a comprehensive and logically ordered set of beliefs about the
nature of people and about the institutions and role of government. The significance of ideology is
that it allows issues to be raised in the political spectrum. Ideology allows for a wide range of opinions
on these issues. Ideology also brings passion to politics.

THE BIOGRAPHY OF RIZAL

Jose Rizal (1861–1896) was a man of incredible INTELLECTUAL POWER/ DEVELOPMENT, with
amazing artistic talent as well. He excelled at anything that he put his mind to—medicine, poetry,
sketching, architecture, sociology... the list seems nearly endless.

Thus, Rizal's martyrdom by the Spanish colonial authorities, while he was still quite young, was a
huge loss to the Philippines, and to the world at large.

Today, the people of the Philippines honor him as their national hero.
LIFE AND BACKGROUND
On June 19, 1861, Francisco Rizal Mercado and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos welcomed their seventh
child into the world at Calamba, Laguna. They named the boy Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso
Realonda.

The Mercado family were wealthy farmers who rented land from the Dominican religious order.
Descendants of a Chinese immigrant named Domingo Lam-co, they changed their name to Mercado
("market") under the pressure of anti-Chinese feeling amongst the Spanish colonizers.

From an early age, Jose Rizal Mercado showed a precocious intellect. He learned the alphabet from
his mother at the age of three and could read and write at age five.

THE BIRTH OF A HERO

Our national hero was born on Wednesday of June 19, 1861 in the Lakeshore Town of Calamba,
Laguna, Philippines. According to the accounts, the mother of Rizal almost died during the delivery
because of the big forehead. His name “Jose” was chosen by his mother who was devotee of the
Christian saint San Jose. The christening ceremony was officiated by Fr. Rufino Collantes, three days
after his birth, the priest was impressed with the big head of Rizal, and commented that the child was
destined to become great.
It should be noted that the Governor General when Rizal was born was Lieutenant-General Jose
Lemery, former senator of Spain. Incidentally, on the same date of Rizal’s birth, he sent an official
dispatched to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Ultramar in Madrid denouncing Sultan Pulalun of
Sulu and several powerful Moro Datus for conniving with the British Condul.

The Parents of Jose Rizal

Father: Francisco Mercado Rizal
Born: May 11, 1818, Biñan Laguna
He studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose, Manila. When his parents died he went
back to Calamba, Laguna and became a tenant farmer of the Dominican-owned Haciendas. He was
referred to as an independent-minded man with few words and worked more. He was strong in body
and valiant in spirit. He died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80. Jose Rizal considered him
as model of fathers.
Jose Rizal’s great-grandfather on his father’s side was Domingo Lameo, a Chinese immigrant from
the Fukien City of Changchow. He became a Christian, married a well-to-do Christian girl of Manila
named Ines de la Rosa, and assumed in 1731 the surname Mercado that means market. Rosa had a
son, Francisco Mercado, who resided in Biñan and married a Chinese-Filipino mestiza, Cirila
Bernacha, and was elected gobernadorcillo (municipal mayor) of the town. One of their sons, Juan
Mercado (Jose Rizal’s grandfather) married Cirila Alejandro, a Chinese-Filipino mestiza. Like his
father, he was elected gobernadorcillo of Binan, Laguna. Capitan Juan and Capitana Cirila had
thirteen children and the youngest was Francisco, the father of Jose Rizal.
Mother: Dona Teodora Alonza Realonda
Born: November 8, 1826 in Manila
She was educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a prestigious school for girls in Manila. She was a
remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talents, business ability, and the fortitude of a
Spartan Woman.

She played an important role in the life of Jose Rizal. She was the first teacher of the hero, the one
who taught him Spanish language, made necessary corrections in poem composition and gave good
advice in rhetoric. She was a mathematician and a lover of books. She died on August 16, 1911 in
Manila at the age of 80. Shortly before her death, the government offered her a monthly pension but
she did not accept. Such gesture befitted her more as a mother of our great national hero.

It is said that Dona Teodora’s family descended from Lakandula, the last native king of Tondo. Her
great-grandfather was Eugenio Ursua (Japanese ancestry), who married a Filipina named Benigna.
Their daughter, Regina married Manuel de Quintos, a Filipino-Chinese lawyer form Pangasinán. One
of the daughters of Attorney Quintos and Regina was Brigada, who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo,
a prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo form Biñan. Their children were Narcisa, Teodora (Jose Rizal’s
mother), Gregorio, Manuel and Jose.

Obviously Jose Rizal was a product of a mixture of races. In his veins flowed the blood of the east
and the west. He was a Malayan and was a great magnificent specimen of Asian manhood.

EDUCATION
Jose Rizal Mercado attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, graduating at the age of 16 with
highest honors. He took a post-graduate course there in land surveying.

Rizal Mercado completed his surveyor's training in 1877, and passed the licensing exam in May
1878, but could not receive a license to practice because he was only 17 years old. (He was granted
a license in 1881 when he reached the age of majority.)

In 1878, the young man also enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas as a medical student. He later
quit the school, alleging discrimination against Filipino students by the Dominican professors

MIDTERM
Dr. Rizal’s Travels and Homecomings
After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in UST, Jose Rizal decided to complete his   studies
in Spain. He decided to study in Spain for the following reasons: a) He was disgusted with the method
of instruction of the Dominican-owned University and the racial prejudice of the Dominican Professors
against Filipino students, and b) Rizal’s secret mission was 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’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities and
the friars.

He used the name Jose Mercado, a cousin from Biñan.

May 3, 1882: Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore

SINGAPORE

 During the voyage to Singapore, he carefully observed the people and things on board the steamer.
There were sixteen passengers including himself.

 May 9, 1882: The Salvador docked at Singapore. In Singapore, Rizal transferred to another
ship Djemnah.
 May 17, 1882: Djemnah reached Point Galle, and he found this place lonely and Quiet.
The following day, the Djemnah reached Colombo, and he found this place “Beautiful, Smart,
and Elegant” From Colombo, it continued the voyage crossing the Indian Ocean to the cape of
Guardafui, Africa. Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa and called it “inhospitable land but
famous”.
Rizal had a stopover at Aden wherein he found the city hotter than Manila.
From Aden, the Djemnah proceeded to the city of Suez, the red sea terminal of the Suez Canal.

NAPLES AND MARSEILLES

    From the port, the Djemnah proceeded on its way to Europe.

 On June 11, 1882: Rizal reached Naples which really pleased him because of its business
activity, its lively people, and its panoramic beauty.
 June 12, 1882: The steamer docked at the French Harbor of Marseilles.
SPAIN

BARCELONA

 Rizal reached Barcelona on June 16, 1882.

 He thought of the city as ugly, with dirty little inns and inhospitable residents, because he
happened to stay upon his arrival at the “town’s most ugly side”.
 Later on, he changed his bad impression and found the city a great city, with an atmosphere of
freedom and liberalism, its people were open-hearted, hospitable, and courageous.
 In here, Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled “Amor Patrio” (Love of Country), his first
article written on Spain’s soil.
 He sent this article to his friend in Manila, BasilioTeodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong
Tagalog, the first Manila bilingual newspaper.
 Rizal’s “Amor Patrio” under his pen-name Laong Laan, appeared in print in Diariong Tagalog.
 Aside from “Amor Patrio”, Rizal wrote his second article for Diariong Tagalog entitled “Los
Viajes” (Travels) and his third article was entitled “Revista de Madrid” (Review of Madrid) which
he wrote in Madrid on November 29, 1882.
 While he was at Barcelona, Rizal received a sad news about the cholera that was ravaging
Manila and the provinces which caused a lot of people’s death. And so, Paciano advised Rizal
to finish his medical course in Madrid.

MADRID

 Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid in two courses- Medicine and Philosophy
and Letters.
 He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando and took
lessons in French, German, and English under private instructors.
 His thirst for knowledge of music, he visited the art galleries and museums and read books on
all subjects in order to broaden his cultural background.
 He spent his leisure time reading and writing at his boarding house, practicing fencing,
shooting at the gymnasium.
 Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle) and wrote a poem entitled
“Me Piden Versos” (They ask me for Verses)
FRANCE

PARIS

 During Rizal’s first summer vacation in Madrid, he went to Paris from June 17 to August 20,
1883.
 Like all tourists, he enjoyed the attractive sights, the historical places, etc. but unlike ordinary
tourists, Rizal spent many hours in Museums, Botanical gardens, Libraries, Art galleries, and
Hospitals.
 In Spain, Rizal came in close contact with Spanish liberal and republican Spaniards who were
mostly masons.
 March 1883, Rizal joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid. He became a mason so
that he could secure Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines.
 Later on, he transferred to Lodge Solidaridad where he became a Master Mason.
 He was awarded the diploma as a Master Mason by Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.

GERMANY
POSTDAM

 Companion: Dr. Maximo Viola

 May 11, 1887: spring season
 Rizal’s luggage includes letters from his family and friends.

DRESDEN

 Regional Floral Exposition

 Visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer (Museum of Art)
 Met Dr. Jagor who advised them to wire Blumentritt

LEITMERITZ, BOHEMIA

 Arrived on May 13, 1887 (1:30 p.m.)

 Meeting with Blumentritt– kind-hearted, old Austrian professor who helped Rizal &Viola during
their stay in Leitmeritz, greeted each other in fluent German. They stayed from May 13 to May
16.
 Enjoyed the hospitality of Blumentritt’s family: Rosa (wife), Children (Dora, Conrad and Fritz)
 He painted a portrait of Blumentritt and gave it to him.
 Met a renowned scientist named Dr. Carlos Czelopak.
 May 16 (9:45 A.M) they left Leitmeritz by train.

PRAGUE

 Carried letters of recommendation from Dr. Willkomm

 Visited the tomb of Copernicus, museum of Natural History and the famous cave of San Juan
Nepomuceno.

VIENNA
  Rizal was fascinated by its beautiful buildings, religious images, haunting waltzes and majestic
charm.

GENEVA

 June 19, 1887: Rizal treated Viola to a blowout on his 26th birthday

 June 23, Viola and Rizal parted ways
*Viola-Barcelona
*Rizal-Italy

ITALY

 he went to Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence

 June 27, 1887: Rome
 June 29- Feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul (visited the Vatican City)

HONGKONG

 February 3,1888 (left Manila for Hongkong)

 February 1888
*full-grown man of 27 years of age
*practicing physician
*recognized man-of-letters
*embittered victim of human iniquities
*disillusioned dreamer
*frustrated reformer
 February 7(stopover at Amony)
He heard that the city was dirty.
 February 8, 1888 (arrival at Hongkong)
He was welcomed by Filipino residents, including Jose Basa, Balbino Mauricio and Manuel
Yriarte.
 Jose Sainz de Varanda – former secretary of Governor General Terrero; believed to be a spy
to Rizal
MACAO

 Rizal was accompanied by Basa

 Visited the theatre, casino, cathedral and churches, pagodas, botanical garden and bazaars.
 Feb.19 – he witnesses a procession
 Feb.20 – returned to Hongkong
 Feb.22, 1888 – left for Japan

JAPAN

 Feb.28-Apr.13: arrival in Japan

YOKOHAMA

 visited by Juan Perez Caballero

 invited Rizal to live at the Spanish Legation

Rizal accepted it for two reasons:

1. He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation.
2. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
On March 7, he checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation.
Rizal’s observation in Japan:

 →Beauty of the country-flowers, mountains, and scenic panoramas.

→The cleanliness, politeness and industry of the Japanese people.
→Few thieves in Japan.
→Beggars were rarely seen.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 April 28, 1888: Rizal’s first time in America

 First went to San Francisco riding the steamer “Blegic”
All passengers of this ship was under quarantine since there was a cholera epidemic but
 Rizal knew that there was no cholera epidemic at the Far East during that time; he then found
out that the reason why the ship he rode was placed under quarantine was because of political
motivation.
 This is where he witnessed discrimination of Chinese and Japanese by the Americans
 May 4, 1888: Rizal was allowed to go ashore
 Rizal’s Good impression:
*Material progress. All the cities he went to were flourishing.
*The drive and energy of the Americans
*The natural beauty of the land
*The high standard of living and the opportunities of a better life
 The only bad impression of Rizal was that there was no racial equality in America
ENGLAND/UNITED KINGDOM

LONDON

Reasons why he chose this English city:

*To improve his knowledge of English language
*To study Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (only available at the British Museum)

 London was a safe place to continue his fight against Spanish tyranny
 Continued to write for La Solidaridad in defense of his people against Spain

Good and Bad news reached Rizal from home:

→Persecution of Filipinos who signed the Anti-Friar petition
→Persecution of the Calamba tenants including Rizal’s family and relatives
→Furious attacks on Rizal by Spanish senators
→Rizal’s brother in law was exiled to Bohol

   →A friend of Rizal was arrested and jailed in Bilibid prison for keeping a copy of Noli.

   →The good news that reached Rizal was the defense of Noli by Rev. Vicente Garcia against the
friars.

 Annotating Morga’s book was considered his greatest achievement during his stay in London
 Rizal was entertained by Juan Luna and his wife during his stay in London
 December 1888: Rizal visited Barcelona and Madrid
This was where Rizal first met Marcelo H Del Pilar and Mariano Ponce(two titans of the
propaganda movement)
 December 31, 1888: Asociacion La Solidaridad was inaugurated. Rizal was chosen honorary
president
 February 15, 1889: La Solidaridad in Barcelona was founded by Graciano Lopez Jaena
 March 25, 1889: Rizal’s first article in the La Solidaridad was entitles Los Agricultores Filipinos
was published.
 Wrote the Tagalog version of The Women of Malolos on Feb 22 1889. This letter was about
the Filipino woman and their rights
 Before he left London Rizal finished four sculptural works:
*Prometheus bound
*The triumph of death over life
*The triumph of science over death
*A carving of the heads of the Beckett sisters
 March 19, 1889: left London for Paris

PUBLICATION OF THE NOLI ME TANGERE

 The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest winter because no money arrived from
Calamba and he was flat broke. The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was in
the pawnshop. It was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons (1) it was a painful episode
for he was hungry, sick and despondent in a strange city (2) it brought him great joy after
enduring so much sufferings, because his first novel, Noli Me Tangere came off the press in
March, 1887
 · Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin- inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that would
depict the miseries of his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants
 · January 2, 1884- in a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid, Rizal proposed
the writings of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos
 · Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half
of it
 · When Rizal went to Paris, in 1885, after completing his studies in the Central University of
Madrid, he continued writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half
  Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He wrote the last few chapters of the
Noli in Wilhemsfeld in April-June, 1886
 · In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the
manuscript of the Noli.
  Maximo Viola- Rizal’s friend from Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of Rizal despondency
and loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel; savior of Noli
 After the Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on his novel. To save printing
expenses, he deleted certain passages in his manuscript, including a whole chapter—“Elias
and Salome”
 · February 21, 1887- the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing
 · Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action- Gesselschaft- a printing shop which charged the lowest rate,
that is, 300 pesos for 2,00 copies of the novel
 · March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere came off the press
 · March 29, 1887- Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs
of the Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a complimentary copy,
with the following inscription: “To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate
my work—Jose Rizal”
 · The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”. It is not originally
conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible
 · Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887, said: “Noli Me Tangere, words
taken from the Gospel of St. Luke, signify “do not touch me” but Rizal made a mistake, it
should Bethe Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20 Verses 13 to 17)
 · Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines—“To My Fatherland”
 · The cover of Noli Me Tangere was designed by Rizal. It is a ketch of explicit symbols. A
woman’s head atop a Maria Clara bodice represents the nation and the women, victims of the
 social cancer. One of the causes of the cancer is symbolized in the friar’s feet, outsized in
relation to the woman’s head. The other aggravating causes of oppression and discrimination
are shown in the guard’s helmet and the iron chains, the teacher’s whip and the alferez’s
scourge. A slight cluster of bamboo stands at the backdrop; these are the people, forever in
the background of their own country’s history. There are a cross, a maze, flowers and thorny
plants, a flame; these are indicative of the religious policy, the misdirected ardor, the people
strangled as a result of these all
 · The novel Noli Me Tangere contains 63 chapters and an epilogue
 · Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor- Filipino patriot and lawyer who had been exiled due to his
complicity in the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, read avidly the Noli and was very much impressed by
its author

CHARACTERS OF NOLI

 · The Noli Me Tangere was a true story of the Philippine conditions during the last decades of
Spanish rule
 · Maria Clara-was Leonor Rivera, although in real life she became unfaithful and married an
Englishman
 · Ibarra and Elias- represented Rizal himself
 · Tasio-the philosopher was Rizal’s elder brother Paciano
 · Padre Salvi-was identified by Rizalists as Padre Antonio Piernavieja, the hated Augustinian
friar in Cavite who was killed by the patriots during the Revolution
 · Capitan Tiago-was Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas
 · Doña Victorina- was Doña Agustina Medel
 · Basilio and Crispin- were the Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy
 · Padre Damaso- typical of a domineering friar during the days of Rizal, who was arrogant,
immoral and anti-Filipino

FIRST HOMECOMING OF RIZAL

May 1892: Rizal made up his mind to return in Manila. This decision surprised the ff.:

1. To confer with Governador Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project.

2. To establish Liga Filipina in manila
3. To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid

August 1887 was his first homecoming. He arrived in manila in June 26 1892 arrival in manila with
his sister, Lucia going to the Hotel de Oriente with a major

Visiting friends in Central Luzon- Malolos (Bulacan), San Fernando (Pampanga), Tarlac, Bacolor
(Pampanga). On the next day he returned to Manila, the houses he visited were raid by the Guardia
Civil who took some copies of Noli and El Fili and some subversive pamphlets.
 RIZAL’S SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS AND
THE UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION OF 1889
For a short time Rizal lived in the house of his friend Valentin Ventura. This was where he polished
the annotated edition of Morga’s book. He was able to find a room and lived with two other Filipinos,
Captain Justo Trinidad and Jose Albert. In spite of a joyous lifestyle in Paris, Rizal kept himself busy.
Continue researching. Spent most of his time at the National Library. May 6, 1889: Rizal was
fascinated in opening of Exposition of Paris. March 19, 1889: Kidlat club was formed by Rizal. The
kidlat club was then replaced by Indios Bravos. Another secret society the Rizal formed was the
R.D.L.M. Paris 1890: annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos was published. Rizal wrote the
“Philippines within a colony” and the essay “Indolence of the Filipinos”

On January 28, 1890, Rizal left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium.

Two reasons why Rizal left Paris:

→The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal Exposition.
→The gay social life of the city hampered his literary works.

BELGIUM
BRUSSELS

 Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert when he moved to Brussels. They lived in a modest
boarding house on 38 Rue Philippe Champagne. Later Albert left the city, and was replaced by
Jose Alejandro, an engineering student.
 Rizal was busy writing his second novel, El Filibusterismo which is a continuation of the Noli.
 Aside from writing its chapters, he wrote articles for La Solidaridad which were:
“A La Defensa” (To La Defensa), April 90, 1889
“La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth For All), May 31, 1889
“Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo” June 15 ,1889
“Una Profanacion” (A Profanation), July 31,1889
“Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths), July 31, 1889
“Crueldad” (Cruelty), August 15, 1889
“Diferencias” (Differences), September 15, 1889
“Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889
“Llanto y Risas” (Tears and laughter), November 30, 1889
“Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude), January 15, 1890
 In here, Rizal received news from Juan Luna and Valentin Ventura that the Filipinos in Spain
were destroying the good name of their nation by gambling too much. This urged Rizal to do
something about it. Rizal wrote to M.H. Del Pilar on May 28, 1890 to remind the Filipinos in
Madrid that they did not come to Europe to gamble, but to work for their Fatherland’s freedom.

Bad news from home and preparation to go home:

Letters from home which Rizal received in Brussels worried him.

         The Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse. The management of Dominican hacienda
continually raised the land rents until such time that Rizal’s father refused to pay his rent.
        The Domincan Order filed a suit in court to dispossess the Rizal family of their lands in Calamba.
In the face of sufferings which afflicted his family, Rizal planned to go home. He could not stay in
Brussels writing a book while his parents, relatives, and friends in the Philippines were persecuted

July 18, 1890: Rizal wrote a letter to Ponce where he expressed his determination to go home.

All his friends were horrified by Rizal’s plan to return to the Philippines. They warned him of the
danger that awaited him at home. But Rizal ignored the dire warning of his friends. Something,
however, happened that suddenly made him change his mind. It was a letter from Paciano which
related that they lost the case against the Dominicans in Manila, but they appealed it to the Supreme
Court in Spain, hence a lawyer was needed to handle it in Madrid. Rizal wrote to M.H. Del Pilar on
June 20, 1890 retaining the latter’s services as lawyer. He further informed M.H. Del Pilar that he was
going to Madrid, in order to supervise the handling of the case. In another letter to Ponce, written at
Brussels, July 29, 1890, Rizal announced that he was leaving Brussels at the beginning of the
following month and would arrived in Madrid about the 3rd or 4th August.

RIZAL MISFORTUNES IN MADRID

 On August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid, Spain.

 Rizal failed to seek justice for his family and the Calamba tenants.
 Disappointment piled on Rizal from the two fought duels with Antonio Luna and Wenceslao
Retana.
 Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspapers help fight securing justice for
the Calamba tenants and Rizal’s family.
 Terrible news reached Rizal in Madrid as he was fighting for justice. Rizal’s brother in law,
Silvestre Ubaldo received a copy of ejectment order by the Dominicans against Francisco Rizal
and other Calamba tenants. In desperation, Rizal sought the aid of the liberal Spanish
statesmen, who were former members of the ministry. Unfortunately they just gave honeyed
words of sympathy, and nothing else.
 August 19, 1890: death Jose Ma. Panganiban — a friend of Rizal who died because of a
lingering illness.
 After the death of Jose Ma. Panganiban, Rizal wrote a great Eulogy to Panganiban
August, 1890, Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid and had with a fight with
Antonio Luna and also challenged Retana, a talented Spanish scholar and Rizal’s bitter enemy
of the pen,
to a duel.
 Late 1890 there arose an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and M.H. Del Pilar for supremacy.
 An election took place Rizal won but declined the coveted position and left Madrid.

WITH THE BOUSTEADS IN BIARRITZ

 Rizal arrived in Biarritz at the beginning of February, 1891 and was welcomed by the
Boustead’s family. -The one month vacation made Rizal forget the bitter memories in Madrid
and had an affection for Nelly Boustead
 March 29, 1891: his departure from Blumentritt he finished the manuscript of El Filibusterismo
TO PARIS AND BACK TO BRUSSELS

     On March 30, 1891 Rizal went back to Paris and stayed at the home of his friend, Valentin
Ventura. By mid of April, 1891 Rizal went back to Brussels and was welcomed by the Jacoby
sisters. From Brussels on May 1, 1891, he notified the Propaganda authorities of his retirement. Rizal
also immediately stopped writing for the La Solidaridad after his retirement.

     May 30, 1891: the revision of the El Fili was completed and was ready for Published. 

  EL FILIBUSTERISMO PUBLISHED IN GHENT

 October, 1887: Jose Rizal begun writing El Fili while practicing medicine in Calamba
 1888: in London he made changes in the plot and add more characters in Paris and Madrid.
 March 19, 1891: He finished his manuscript in Biarritz
 July 5, 1891: Rizal left Brussels for Ghent because, 1) The cost of printing there was cheaper
than Brussels, and 2) to escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne.
 Jose Alejandro (form Pamp.) and Edilberto Evangelista (from Manila) – his competitors
 On August 6 – he suspended the publish of the novel because of the lack of funds
 Ventura, savior of the Fili, same as the novel in Noli Rizal became broke and he wants to burn
his work but whenever he realize there still more people who love their country
 Valentin Ventura in Paris gave Rizal funds to resume the novel.
 September 18, 1891: came off the press.

OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG

 Rizal went to Hong Kong after the novel published from Europe.
 He left Europe because of the ff.: a) Life was unbearable in Europe because of his political diff.
with MH del and other Filipino in Spain and b) To be near his idolized Philippines and family.
 November 20 1891: he arrived in Hongkong welcoming him with Filipino relatives.
 December 1, 1891: Rizal is asking a permission to go back to Philippines. 25 persons from
Calamba with Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano, and his father were caught.
 Ophthalmic Surgeon: he studied in Hongkong and had a friend Dr. named Lorenzo P. Marques
who helped him build a wide clientele and the Dr. always turned over of eye cases.
 Finally the vision of the mother of Rizal was able to see because of him
writing in Hongkong: Ang Karapatan ng Tao. La Nacion Espanola. SA mga Kababayan.

SECOND HOMECOMING AND THE LIGA

FILIPINA
Other interview with Despujol – after the arrival Rizal has been interviewed by Governor General
Despujol. Founding of the Liga Filipina- a civic league of Filipinos, which he desired to establish and
its role on the socio-economic life of the people. Liga Filipina officers were Ambrosio Salvador
(President); Deodato Arellano (Secretary); Bonifacio Arevola Agustin de la Rosa (Treasurer)
Fiscal Conditions of Liga Filipina

1. To unite the archipelago into one compact and homogenous body

2. Mutual Protection in every want and Necessity
3. Defense against all violence and injustice.
4. Encourage of Education, agriculture and commerce.
5. Study of application and reforms.

Motto of Liga Filipina: ONE LIKE THEM (unus instar omnium)

Rizal Arrested and Jailed in fort Santiago – July 6 he resume his interview with the governor general
but suddenly showed him a printed leaflets were entitled Pobres Frailles (Poor Friars) under the
authorship of Fr. Jacinto from Paris

LAST TRIP ABROAD

 Rizal travelled from Dapitan to Manila-He missed the regular steamer to Spain “Isla de Luzon”
 Stayed on board Spanish cruiser “Castilla”-August 26, 1896, Andres Bonifacio and Katipunan
start revolution in Balintawak
 Rizal leaves for Spain aboard “Isla de Panay”, upon leaving for Spain, Rizal receives 2 letters
of introduction for the Minister of War and the Minister of Colonies
 Upon arriving in Singapore, Rizal was urged by fellow Filipinos to stay. He refused as he had
given his word to Gov. Gen. Blanco
 Upon arriving in Barcelona, Rizal was arrested and taken to the fortress Monjuich
 General Despujol sends Rizal back to Manila to be tried by court

EXILE IN DAPITAN
1892-1896

Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary  
jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896.  This four-year inter regnum in his life was tediously
unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied achievements. He practiced medicine, pursued
scientific studies, continued his artistic and literary works, widened his knowledge of languages,
established a school for boys, promoted community development projects, invented a wooden
machine for making bricks, and engaged in farming and commerce. Despite his multifurious activities,
he  kept an  extensive  correspondence  with his family,  relatives,  fellow  reformists, and eminent  
scientists  and  scholars  of  Europe,  including Blumentritt,  Reinhold  Rost,  A. B.  Meyer, W. Joest of
Berlin, S. Knuttle of Stuttgart, and N.M. Keihl of Prague.

Beginning of Exile in Dapitan

The streamer Cebu which brought Rizal to Dapitan carried a letter from Father Pablo Pastells,
Superior of the Jesuits parish priest of Dapitan. In this letter, Father Superior Pastells informed Father
Obach that Rizal could live at the parish convent on the following conditions:
1.”That Rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion, and make statements that were
clearly pro-Spanish and against revolution”.
2.”That he perform the church rites and make a general confession of his past life”.
3. “That henceforth he conduct himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject and
a man of religion.”

Rizal did not agree with these conditions.

Consequently, he lived in the house of the commandant, Captain Carnicero. The relations between

Carnicero (the warden) and Rizal (the prisoner) were warm and friendly. Carnicero came to know
that Rizal was not a common felon, much less a filibustero. He gave good reports on his prisoner to
Governor Despujol. He gave him complete freedom to go anywhere, reporting only once a week at
his office, and permitted Rizal, who was a good equestrian, to ride his chestnut horse. Rizal on
his part, admired the kind, generous Spanish captain.  He then wrote a poem,
A Don Ricardo Carnicero, on August 26, 1892 on the occasion of the captain’s birthday.