Module 2 (Topic 1) - Travels in Asia
It talks about Jose Rizal’s experiences and activities in Asian
countries including his’ interaction with several people.It
exhibited Rizal’s social skills with fellow Asian. It also
discusses those particular courses of action related to his
objectives of travel
Philippines to Singapore (May 3-11, 1882)
● He boarded the ship Salvadora bound for Singapore.
● Donato Lecha, captain of the ship defined Jose as a
refined man.
● He arrived in Singapore on May 9, 1882.
● He stayed in Hotel de la Paz.
● He then left Singapore on May 11, 1882 boarded the
ship Djemnah.
Singapore to Ceylon (May 11 – 17, 1882)
● Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seaport town in
southern Ceylon.
● He defined Point Galle as a picturesque but lonely
town.
● He then went to Colombo to get references in learning
the French Language.
● He defined Colombo as an elegant town compared to
Manila.
Jose in Hongkong ( February 3, 1888 – February 22, 1888)
● With Jose Maria Basa, Jose Sainz de Veranda and
some Portuguese, they boarded the ship Kui Kiang.
● Jose stayed in the house of Juan Lecaroz, where he
went to observed botanical garden.
● After staying for almost two weeks, Jose left Hongkong
for Japan on board of Oceanic.
Jose in Japan (February 28, 1888 – April 13, 1888)
● Upon arrival, he stayed in Hotel Grande and visited
places like Yokohama and Tokyo.
● Then he met Juan Perez Caballero, a Spanish
ambassador in Japan.
● Then he met, O Sei-san, Jose’s tour guide, translator
and lover.
● He also learned judo and kabuki.
February 22, 1888.
Dr. Rizal left Hong Kong on board of the steamer Oceanic, an
American steamer. His destination was Japan.
February 28, 1888.
Dr. Rizal arrived in Yokohama. He registerd in the Grand Hotel.
February 29, 1888.
He left Yokohama for Tokyo. He registered in the Tokyo Hotel.
He wrote to Prof. Blumentritt "Tokyo is more expensive than
Paris". Shortly after his arrival in Tokyo he was contacted by
the secretary of the Spanish Legation. The latter invited him to
stay at the Spanish Legation instead of the Hotel. Dr. Rizal
was well aware that the diplomatic authorities were instructed
from Manila to follow his every move. He accepted the
invitation.
March 7, 1888.
Dr. Rizal checked out of the Tokyo Hotel and lived at the
Spanish Legation. He was embarrassed not to speak the
Japanese language. He looked like a Japanese but could not
speak Japanese. In Tokyo very few people spoke English, so
Rizal had a very difficult time. People looked at him as being
ill-educated, Children laughed with him.
To avoid further embarrassment Rizal decided to start studying
Japanese. While staying in Tokyo Dr. Rizal met O-Sei-San, a
lovely girl (See His Love Life) who helped him with
understanding and learning Nippongo (Japanese language).
April 13, 1888.
Sayonara Japan. He boarded the Belgic, an English steamer
bound for the United States.
Rizal in Singapore
Jose Rizal (1861-1896), fondly remembered as the founding
father of the modern Philippines, was one luminary who
formed favourable impressions of Singapore. In May 1882,
Rizal left the then Spanish colony of the Philippines on his way
to Spains for further studies in medicine. As a keen 21 year old
leaving home for the first time, he meticulously recorded his
observations of life and events in a journal that offers a
picturesque snap-shot of
Singapore in the late 19th century, which are historically
important for the breath of details captured.
An eagle-eyed visitor Rizal was also highly sensitive to the
cultural nuance of the first foreign land he visited commenting
on the rich mix of ethnicities in the street-scapes he observed.
His entry conveyed gus surprise at the finding a city more
modern than he imagined. Writing in his diary, he was
“surprised to find the streets bordered with trees and many…
on both sides. The town is rather pretty.” Travel as the cliche
goes, does indeed broaden the mind.
Rizal noted in his diary of his first day in Singapore that
although there were “..crowds of Indians of Herculean figures;
Chinese a few Europeans, and very, very few Chinese
women.” He went on to ask about the presence of women in
Singapore, writing in his diary that he had seen a Chinese
woman with the smallest feet; but I didn’t see either Indian
women or Malayan. I asked about them and I was told they
stayed home.” Rizal also found the thriving British colony
abuzz with people and economic activity, with English spoken
everywhere. He described in detail, building within the city
such as St. Andrew’s Cathedral, along today’s St. Andrew’s
road, interestingly described as a “Protestant church in Gothic
style, the Catholic Cathedral of Good Shepherd (along today’s
Victoria Road) as well as the Church of St. Joseph
He was mistaken, though, in identifying the former Parliament
Houses (now the Art House) as the “…palace of the Rajah
Siam…” He described it as “…notable and has a small iron
elephant and what not on the pedestal placed in front of the
building.” Rizal was travelling in and around the north bank of
Singapore River, He was to cross the Cavenagh Bridge to the
south bank and reached the more “lively” part of town,
described in his diary as having “… Beautiful European
Buildings shops show-windows etc. It is the Escolta of the
town.” The keen botanist, Rizal visited the Singapore Botanical
Gardens on his 2nd day of visit. He was bowled over by the
park, observing that “its cleanliness and orderliness are
admirable; numerous plants with their labels beside them.” He
was to revisit the gardens on his second visit in 1887,
commenting that he saw “a beautiful Royal Victoria. The
leaves can be one meted in diameter.”
Module 2 (Topic 2) - Travels US and Europe
This section relates to Rizal’s travel to Europe and United
States.
It deals with his experiences and interaction with other people
or friends during the travel in the different ports of countries on
the way to final country of destination. It shows the different
countries in Europe Rizal had visited and the
persons he met with.
Travels in Europe
● After completing his studies in Madrid, Rizal left for
Paris and Germany to specialize in ophthalmology.
● Later, he traveled to various places in Europe,
continuing his “secret mission .”
In Paris, France
● Rizal stayed for four months (November 1885
February 1886) and worked as an assistant to Dr.
Louis de Weckert , a leading French ophthalmologist.
● Rizal also socialized with friends such as the Pardo de
Taveras and served as model to paintings of Juan
Luna.
In Heidelberg, Germany
● In February 1886, Rizal left for Heidelberg.
● Rizal worked at the University Eye Hospital as an
assistant to Dr. Otto Becker, a distinguished German
ophthalmologist.
● He also attended lectures in University of Heidelberg.
● He also went around the city observing their customs
and culture and noticed that in spite of the religious
differences of Catholics and Protestants, they lived
harmoniously.
In Leipzig, Germany
● Rizal felt sad leaving Heidelberg as he had learned to
love the city and its people.
● In Leipzig, Rizal met the famous German
anthropologist Dr. Hans Beyer.
● Here, he did a lot of writing including the translation of
Hans Christian Anderson’s Fairy Tales in Tagalog for
his nephews and nieces.
● He also worked as a proofreader in a publisher’s firm
In Berlin, Germany
● Rizal left for Berlin as he felt more comfortable in its
peaceful environment and its absence of racial
prejudice.
● Here, he met Dr. Feodor Jagor , a famous German
scientist, who introduced him to other scientists such
as Dr. Rudolf Virchow.
Rizal in Italy
● From Geneva, Rizal went to Italy and visited Turin,
Milan, Venice and Florence.
● On June 27, he reached Rome, the <Eternal City=.
● On June 29, Rizal visited the Vatican, the <City of the
Popes= where he was deeply impressed by the
majestic and magnificent buildings and its religious
atmosphere.
● After a week of wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal
prepared to return to the Philippines.
Rizal Resents Exhibition of Igorots in Madrid Exposition
● Rizal’s happy tour in Europe was marred by news from
friends in Madrid that in an Exposition of the
Philippines held in Spain, there were Igorots exhibited.
● With scanty clothings on, they were ridiculed and were
objects of mockery of the people and the press.
● This angered Rizal very much and his indignation was
revealed in his letter to Blumentritt on June 6, 1887.
Rizal’s positive observation about America;
● material progress of the country
● drive and energy of the people
● natural beauty of the land
● high standard of living
● opportunities for better life to those poor immigrants
Negative Impressions;
● Non existence of true civil society
● Racial prejudice
● Money valuing over human life
Rizal’s Notable Stops
As anyone who studies Rizal knows, the man recorded his life
meticulously through his journals a habit he’d nurtured since
childhood. And through his journals, one may piece together
Rizal’s sojourn across the continental US. San Francisco and
the Palace Hotel Once permitted ashore, Rizal checked in at
the Palace Hotel for two days. The price for lodging was $4,
and this included a bath and meals. The hotel was considered
quite prestigious and expensive in those days. In his diary, he
mentioned that he saw the Golden Gate bridge, and that the
stores were closed on Sundays. His diaries also noted a
preference for Market Street, a major thoroughfare in the city,
and Dupont Street, in Chinatown which is Gant Avenue today.
On May 6, a Sunday, Rizal checked out of the Palace Hotel
and rode a ferry across the bay for Oakland. There he boarded
the first train that would take him east. The entire fare cost him
$65.
Sacramento
His diary entries hold that by evening fall of May 6, the train
had reached Sacramento. There Rizal had supper and later
slept in his coach. By morning, the train had reached Reno,
Nevada where Rizal had breakfast. Both meals, hearty by his
approximation, cost him only $0.75 cents each.
Denver
Colorado was the 5th state Rizal visited. By then, it was the
9th of May. There henoted that of the three previous states,
Colorado had more trees and horses. The train also moved at
an upward incline, where snow and icicles adorned the train’s
Path.
Reno
He noted that Reno had already been glamorized by
propaganda as “The Biggest Little City in the World.” Of
Nevada in general, he noted that it was a lonely place; lacking
plant life, with sand everywhere and bare mountains. For a
man who spent his childhood in the tropics of Southern Luzon,
and then most of his adulthood in Europe, the desert must
have shocked him.
Omaha and the Missouri River
Rizal described the state of Nebraska as plain. But as for the
city of Omaha, he did admit that it was the largest city he’d
seen since San Francisco. He marveled at the Missouri River,
which he estimated as being twice as wide as the Pasig River
at its widest part. He described the area as marshy; and that
the train went slowly as it passed over the Missouri bridge
before they entered Illinois.
Ogden
Of Ogden, Rizal noted that perhaps, with better irrigation, the
area might be cultivated. Most of what he saw were fields and
cattle. He did note, however that from Ogden to Denver, the
clocks on the train and in the stations were set an hour Ahead.
He also showed an appreciation for the banks of the Salt Lake,
and the mountains in the distance where snow still covered the
peaks. Perhaps in a bout of homesickness, he likened the
mountains in the middle of the lake with Talim , the island in
Laguna de Bay near his hometown. Rizal changed trains at
Ogden, which proceeded to pass through two mountains
through a narrow channel. Outside the cities and bustling
transportation hubs, Rizal noted that most of the countryside
was densely populated, even to the point of being lifeless.
Chicago
By May 11, they had reached Chicago. He did not stay the
night, but he likely walked around the city as the train allowed
a short layover. From his brief exploration he noted that every
tobacco store had an Indian figure. That is to say, he had
noted that tobacco stores advertised their wares with images
of Native American tribesmen; though, he did not note any
consistency as to which the tribe or nation they belonged.
Niagara Falls
The train stopped along the border of Canada on the afternoon
of May 12, allowing Rizal to disembark and view Niagara Falls.
While amazed at its sheer size, he compared it to the falls of
Los Banos . He wrote that the latter was finer and more
beautiful, while Niagara Falls was bigger and more imposing.
In his letter to
Mariano Ponce, he called the falls ‘the majestic cascade’ The
train departed at night, and the ‘mysterious sound and
persistent echo’ of the Niagara Falls followed him.
Albany and New York City
Once in Albany, Rizal once again noted the sheer size of the
city and the Hudson River which the train crossed. He noted
the beauty of the place, and of the ships ferrying along the
Hudson. It was in New York, on Sunday May 13, 1888, that
Jose Rizal’s transcontinental trip ended. He rented a room at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, which he used until he left the country
three days later. There are not many details of what he
observed and saw in New York. In a letter to Ponce, he made
an errant comment of visiting George Washington’s memorial.
In another letter, he described the city to a friend as a place
where ‘everything is new’. This is likely in comparison to
Europe and even the Philippines, where the buildings were
aged and antique, and made of other materials. Rizal left the
United States on May 16, 1888. He boarded a large steamer
ship called the City of Rome, bound for Liverpool, England. As
the steamer left the New York Harbor, he stood in the shadow
of the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island.
Module 2 (Topic 3) - Life at Dapitan
This portion enumerates those accomplishment Rizal made
during his exile in Dapitan from 1892 to 1896.
This includes the different people he met and interacted with.
It also discusses the challenges he experienced in
Dapitan
Some Legal Grounds for Rizal’s exile at Dapitan
● Disloyalty to Spain and anti Catholic due to published
books & articles
● Leaflets found in his baggage entitled Pobres frailes
● Publication of El Filibusterismo
Life at Dapitan
● Rizal boarded steamer Cebu bound for Dapitan to
commence his sentence of deportation decreed by
Governor General Despujol on July 15, 1892.
● He was received by Captain Ricardo Canicero , the
politico military commander of the town, as a prisoner
Life at Dapitan
1. Rizal in the span of two months was able to build his
own house. He also built additional four houses for his
pupils and patients.
2. He took the role as a community leader in Talisay thru
the following courses of action:
a. conceptualizing and implementing plans for
beautifying the locality
b. drawing sketch of the public plaza with
improvements
c. constructing a relief map of Mindanao out of stone
d. facilitating the introduction lamppost on the towns’
corners
e. constructing of water system both for irrigation and
drinking
f. Opening of school for young boys
g. teaching students with boxing, swimming,
arnis and other sports
Peaceful Life in Dapitan
During the early part of his exile in Dapitan , Rizal lived at the
commandant’s residence. With his prize from the Manila
Lottery and his earnings as a farmer and a merchant, he
bought a piece of land near the shore of Talisay near Dapitan .
On this land, he built three houses all made of bamboo, wood,
and nipa. The first house which was square in shape was his
home. The second house was the living quarters of his pupils.
And the third house was the barn where he kept his chickens.
The second house had eight sides, while the third had six
sides.
In a letter to his friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt , on December
19, 1893, Rizal described his peaceful life in Dapitan "I shall
tell you how we lived here. I have three houses one square,
another hexagonal, and the third octagonal. All these houses
are made of bamboo, wood, and nipa. I live in the square
house, together with my mother, my sister, Trinidad, and my
nephew. In the octagonal house live some young boys who
are my pupils. The hexagonal house is my barn where I keep
my chickens. "From my house, I hear the murmur of a clear
brook which comes from the high rocks. I see the seashore
where I keep two boats, which are called barotos here. "I have
many fruit trees, such as mangoes, lanzones , guayabanos ,
baluno , nangka , etc. I have rabbits, dogs, cats, and other
animals.
"I rise early in the morning at five visit my plants, feed the
chickens, awaken my people, and prepare our breakfast. At
half past seven, we eat our breakfast, which consists of tea,
bread, cheese, sweets, and other things. "After breakfast, I
treat the poor patients who come to my house. Then I dress
and go to Dapitan in my baroto . I am busy the whole morning,
attending to my patients in "At noon, I return home to Talisay
for lunch. Then, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., I am busy as a
teacher. I teach the young boys "I spend the rest of the
afternoon in farming. My pupils help me in watering the plants,
pruning the fruits, and planting many kinds of trees. We stop at
6:00 p.m. for the Angelus "I spend the night reading and
writing
Module 2 (Topic 4) - Trials and Execution
This briefly presents the preliminary investigation of the
complaint filedagainst Rizal, the formal charges, the verdict
and sentence imposed against him and the day of his
execution. Included here are those people who visited him
including his parents, sister, wife, defense counsel, priests and
others.
Based on documentary and testimonial evidence, the formal
charges endorsed by Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la
Pena to Governor Blanco against Jose Rizal is Complex crime
of rebellion and formation of illegal organization on December
9, 1896 and recommended the following:
1. That accused Rizal be kept under custody of the law
2. That Rizal be brought to trial
3. That attachment order issued against Rizal’s property
4. That an army office be assigned as Rizal’s lawyer
On December 11, 1896 during arraignment, Rizal pleaded no
guilty on the charges via his lawyer Luis Taviel de Andrade.
The Special Judge Advocate Rafael Dominguez submitted the
transcript of arraignment proceeding to Malacanang Palace at
the time General Camilo de Polavieja replaced General Blanco
as Governor General on December 13,1896. It is the belief of
Archbishop Nozaleda and the Dominicans that Rizal will be
acquitted from the crime if General Blanco will remain in the
gubernatorial post. With Polavieva in the gubernatorial office,
Rizal’s chance for acquittal from charges is impossible.
Rizal’s court martial trial started on December 19, 1896 with
the reading of charges and eventual presentation of evidence
by the prosecutor Enrique de Alcocer with a prayer of death
sentenced against the accused.
Thereafter, Luis Taviel de Andrade presented the argument for
Rizal . Rizal personally presented his own argument upon the
advice of the judge advocate. Rizal alleged, among others
that:
a. He advised Dr Pio Valenzuela not to rise in revolution,
b. The revolutionists used his name without his
knowledge
c. He could have escaped in Dapitan if he were a
member of the Katipunan
d. He was not a founder of La Solidaridad and the
association Hispano Filipiino
e. He had nothing to do with introduction of masonry in
the Philippines
f. The La Liga Filipina did not last long
The verdict of conviction beyond reasonable doubt with
penalty of firing squad of the military court was rendered on
that day and endorsed to Governor Polavieja on December 28,
1896. Polavieja promulgated a decree approving the court
decision sentencing Rizal a penalty firing squad on December
30, 1896 at Bagumbayan at seven o’clock in the morning. This
verdict was read to Rizal a day before his execution,
December 29, 1896.