RIZAL - LESSON 6

Secret Mission in Spain (1882–1885)

Rizal’s secret mission was to observe European life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and governments and laws to prepare himself for liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny

Reasons for Rizal’s Travels

To pursue journalism

Reasons for Rizal’s Travels

To observe and study European society

Reasons for Rizal’s Travels

To prepare himself for liberating the Filipinos from Spanish tyranny

Secret Departure in Spain

Rizal kept his departure secret to avoid detection by Spanish authorities and the friars

Secret Departure in Spain

Even his parents were unaware of his mission because he knew they would not allow him to go

May 3, 1882

Rizal boarded the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore

May 8, 1882

Rizal saw the beautiful Talim Island with the Susong Dalaga while traveling to Singapore

May 9, 1882

Rizal arrived in Singapore, registered at Hotel de la Paz, and spent two days sightseeing

Rizal in Singapore

He visited the Botanical Garden, a Buddhist temple, the busy shopping district, and the statue of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore

Madrid, Spain

Rizal enrolled in a course in medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid

El Amor Patrio (Love of Country)

Rizal’s first nationalistic essay, written in Barcelona about his love for and longing for his homeland

El Amor Patrio (Love of Country)

It was published in the first Manila bilingual newspaper, Diariong Tagalog, which used Spanish and Tagalog

Laong Laan

The pen name Rizal used when writing El Amor Patrio at the age of 21

August 20, 1882

The date El Amor Patrio was published in Diariong Tagalog and translated into Tagalog by Marcelo H. del Pilar

Universidad Central de Madrid

Rizal studied Medicine and Philosophy and Letters at this university

Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando

Rizal enrolled here for painting while waiting for classes to begin in Madrid

Circulo Hispano-Filipino

A group of Filipinos and Spaniards who wanted government reform

Mi Piden Versos (They Ask Me for Verses)

A poem Rizal wrote on October 7, 1882, about the sadness of an artist’s son living far from his origins

Consuelo Ortiga y Perez

The daughter of Don Pablo, the mayor of Manila, whom Rizal admired

Consuelo Ortiga y Perez

Rizal did not pursue his feelings for her because Eduardo de Lete was courting her, so he wrote a poem expressing his admiration instead

Rizal as Mason

Rizal admired the freedom with which Spanish Masons criticized government policies and condemned the friars, something that could not be done in the Philippines

March 1883

Rizal became a member of the Masonic lodge called Acacia

Rizal as Mason

His motivation for joining Freemasonry was to enlist its aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines

Paris, France

Rizal visited Paris during his first summer vacation in Madrid

Paris, France

Rizal found the prices of food, drinks, theater tickets, laundry, hotel accommodations, and transportation very high and described Paris as the costliest capital in Europe

Máximo Viola y Sison

A propagandist, writer, revolutionary leader, and doctor from Bulacan

Máximo Viola y Sison

Rizal’s best friend in Europe, with whom he visited museums, art galleries, and restaurants and stayed in hotels while working in Europe

Ferdinand Blumentritt

One of Rizal’s closest confidants, although they met only once

Ferdinand Blumentritt

He translated a chapter of Noli Me Tangere into German and wrote the preface to El Filibusterismo, although he opposed its publication because he feared it would lead to Rizal’s death

Heidelberg, Germany

An ancient university town that Rizal visited in the spring of 1886 to update his knowledge of ophthalmology

Augenklinik

The eye clinic where Rizal studied ophthalmology under Dr. Otto Becker

Heidelberg University

Rizal was allowed to attend lectures and observe medical procedures because he was a medical graduate licensed to practice in Spain, even though he was not officially enrolled

Leipzig, Germany

Rizal stayed for two and a half months because he found the cost of living there to be the cheapest in Europe

Leipzig, Germany

Rizal offered his knowledge of Tagalog to Professor Blumentritt for the latter’s study of the language

Wilhelmsfeld, Germany

Rizal finished Noli Me Tangere away from the distractions of busy German towns

Rizal’s First Homecoming

Rizal left Rome for Marseilles on July 3, 1887, boarded the Djemnah to Saigon, transferred to the Haiphong, and reached Manila on August 5, 1887

Rizal’s First Homecoming

He stayed in Manila for three days and tried twice to visit and call Isabelo de los Reyes but was unable to reach him

Governor General Emilio Terrero

He summoned Rizal after receiving reports that Noli Me Tangere contained subversive and anti-clerical ideas

Noli Me Tangere

Rizal defended his novel by explaining that he intended to expose the truth about Philippine conditions under friar rule

Governor General Emilio Terrero

Impressed by Rizal’s composure, he requested a copy of Noli Me Tangere to read himself;

Taviel de Andrade

A young Spanish officer assigned by Governor

Taviel de Andrade

He became Rizal’s friend, and they spent time hiking, fencing, and discussing European culture

Doctor Uliman

The nickname given to Rizal by locals because he had recently arrived from Germany

Rizal’s Medical Practice in Calamba

Rizal opened a clinic after returning to Calamba

Teodora Alonso

Rizal’s mother and his first and most important patient, whose eyes he successfully treated through one of the country’s first ophthalmic surgeries

Hacienda de Calamba

An estate owned by the Dominican friars that Rizal investigated at the government’s request

Hacienda de Calamba Investigation

Rizal documented arbitrary rent increases, land confiscations, and the lack of agricultural improvements despite large profits

Hacienda de Calamba Investigation

The report angered the friars, and Rizal was advised by the Governor

Tokyo, Japan

Rizal arrived in Yokohama and registered at the Grand Hotel on February 28, 1888, then stayed at Tokyo Hotel the following day

Tokyo, Japan

Rizal stayed in Japan from February 28 to April 13, 1888, and was enchanted by its flowers, trees, and inhabitants

Rizal’s Impression of Japan

He described the place and its people as peaceful, courteous, and pleasant

Rizal in Tokyo

Rizal initially felt embarrassed because he did not know Japanese, but he studied the language and was able to speak it within a few days

Juan Perez Caballero

Secretary of the Spanish Legation who visited Rizal at his hotel and invited him to stay at the legation

Rizal’s Reasons for Staying at the Spanish Legation

He could economize on his living expenses

Rizal’s Reasons for Staying at the Spanish Legation

He had nothing to hide from the Spanish authorities who were monitoring his movements

O-Sei-San

A Japanese woman with whom Rizal had a romantic relationship during his stay in Japan

O-Sei-San

Rizal’s romance with her made him sad to leave Japan, but he remained committed to pursuing the liberty and freedom of his fatherland

London, England

Rizal arrived in Liverpool on May 24, 1888, and then proceeded to London the following day

Rizal in London

He worked to improve his English while pursuing his interest in Philippine studies

Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas

A work by Antonio de Morga that Rizal annotated while in London

News from Home

Bad news included the persecution of Filipino patriots who signed the Anti-Friar Petition of 1888

News from Home

Calamba tenants, including Rizal’s family and relatives, were persecuted

News from Home

Senators Salamanca and Vida launched a furious attack on Rizal

News from Home

Rizal’s brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, was exiled to Bohol without due process of law

News from Home

Laureno Viado, a friend of Rizal, was jailed in Bilibid Prison because copies of Noli Me Tangere were found in his house

Rev. Vicente Garcia

He defended Noli Me Tangere against attacks by the friars, giving Rizal good news from home

El Filibusterismo

Rizal began writing the manuscript in October 1887 while practicing medicine in Calamba

July 5, 1891

Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a famous university city in Belgium

Rizal’s Reasons for Moving to Ghent

Printing was cheaper in Ghent than in Brussels

Rizal’s Reasons for Moving to Ghent

He wanted to escape the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne

Valentin Ventura

Known as the savior of El Filibusterismo because he sent Rizal the necessary funds when he learned of Rizal’s financial difficulties

Valentin Ventura

His financial assistance allowed the printing of El Filibusterismo to resume

September 18, 1891

El Filibusterismo was published

El Filibusterismo

Rizal sent two printed copies to Hong Kong on the publication date, one for Basa and another for Sixto Lopez

Valentin Ventura

Rizal gratefully donated the original manuscript and an autographed printed copy of El Filibusterismo to him