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P.I. 100- LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL
MODULE 1: REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 (RIZAL LAW)
I. INTRODUCTION
History is commonly defined as a story about the past that is significant and true.
Admittedly, Dr. Jose Rizal is an item of the “past.” Arguably, the known information about his
life, works and writings which can be proved “true” based on preserved “relics” and artifacts are
significant even to present generation. As per Gregorio Zaide, “Rizal is acknowledged to be the
Greatest Malayan” because we enjoy more freedoms and material advantages because of him.
History subjects like Rizal can be meaningful and practicable though it largely depends on the
teacher presenting the subject and the instructional materials used. Pertinently, one of the humble
aims of this Module 1 is to introduce the course in such a way that the teacher and students alike
would find it interesting and meaningful. Definitely, it is delightful to know and understand
Rizal’s life because of two reasons in accordance to the written book of Zaide, “He was an
exceptional man unsurpassed by other Filipino heroes in talent, nobility and character and
patriotism, and his life is highly documented, the most documented in fact.” Withal, a certified
educator, Tim Mbiti mentioned that it is important to study the life of Jose Rizal because of his
contributions towards the independence of Philippines. He quoted, “Rizal chose to fight for his
country through knowledge and the power of letters. He noticed the continued suffering of his
countrymen at the hands of the Spaniards and sought to put an end to this situation.” At the end
of Module 1, you are expected to answer the key question below: “What is the essence of having
Rizal Course in tertiary education?”
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
In this module, you should able to:
1. Explain the Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law)
2. Appreciate the significance of the Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law)
3. Compare and contrast the views of those in favor and against the law
DISCUSSION
Definition and history of Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law)
“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 Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution thereof, and for
Other Purposes.”
It was proposed by former senator Claro M. Recto and former president Jose P. Laurel
(co-writer) in 1956 in order to mandate schools to offer a course on Rizal’s life, works and
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writings; Rizal course in tertiary education and Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in
secondary level. But this law encountered several issues and questions in regards to the intense
opposition from the Catholic Church because of heretic, masonic and anti-friar views of Rizal’s
writings. Catholic schools were threatened because of this “communist and anti-Catholic”
proposal of Recto. Further, the opponents of this law as headed by Archbishop of Manila,
Rufino Santos, requested Recto to propose only the use the “expurgated” (summarized) version
of Rizal’s two novels, but the senator refused and wanted to use the “unexpurgated” (complete)
one. Before that, the Archbishop protested in a pastoral letter that Catholic students would be
affected if compulsory reading of the unexpurgated version were pushed through. However, the
priests who opposed the passage of the bill threatened the persons behind the bill and might to be
considered as “heretic.” In the same way the opposition threatened them by mentioning that the
schools handled by the Catholic Church might be closed if the bill will be converted into law.
Even so, Recto and Laurel countered the statement by saying that if that were to happen, schools
would be “nationalized” and the government would convert these schools into Government-ruled
institutions.
Three senators opposed the bill:
 Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo
 Mariano Cuenco
 Decoroso Rosales
Also, some of the groups who opposed the bill were:
 Catholic Action of the Philippines
 Congregation of the Mission
 Knights of Columbus
 Catholic Teachers Guild.
Rather, the groups who supported the passage of the bill were:
 Veteranos de la Revolucion
 Alagad ni Rizal
 Freemasons
 Knights of Rizal.
Without any further agreement, the law was enacted on June 12, 1956 due to the
signature of former president Ramon DF. Magsaysay.
Specifically, the law aims:
1. To rededicate the ideals of freedom and nationalism,
2. To pay tribute to Rizal’s efforts; and
3. To gain inspiring source of patriotism from his works.
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After few decades, in 1994, former president Fidel V. Ramos directed the Commission
on Higher Education (CHEd) and Department of Education, Culture and Sports to fully
implement the law through CHEd Memorandum Order No. 247. Besides, after a year, the
president also passed the CHEd Memorandum Order No. 3 that enforce this law to be
implemented in a strictly manners in the educational system in the country.
IMPORTANT POINTS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 (RIZAL LAW)
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a rededication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and
died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and
patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and
works that have shaped the national character;
WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism
with which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in
school, should be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to
regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character,
personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship;
SECTIONS FROM REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 (RIZAL LAW)
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and
universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation
shall be used as basic texts.
SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their
libraries an adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in
English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of approved books for
required reading in all public or private schools, colleges and universities.
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SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and
the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause
them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok
organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country.
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine
hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious
doctrines by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school.
SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated
out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of
this Act.
SIGNIFICANCE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 (RIZAL LAW)
1. It provides insights on how to deal with current problems. Rizal course is full historical
information from which one could base his decisions in life. It also teaches that being
educated is a vital ingredient for a person or country to be really free and successful.
2. It helps to understand better ourselves as Filipinos. The past helps us understand who we are.
The life story of Rizal contributes much to shedding light on our collective experience and
identity as Filipino.
3. It teaches nationalism. The subject involves the teaching of being desire to attain freedom
and political independence, especially by a country under foreign power. Rizal’s writings
help us to understand our country better.
4. It provides various essential life lessons. Students can learn much from the way Rizal faced
various challenges in life in fact that he encountered serious dilemmas and predicaments but
responded decently and high-mindedly.
5. It serves as a worthwhile inspiration to every Filipino. Rizal’s ideas, aspirations,
philosophies, principles and convictions are good influence to anyone.
Glossary of Terms
Anti-friar- opposes the Catholic faith and teachings of the friars (Spanish priests)
Bill- proposed law to be submitted to Senate for reading
Expurgated- summarized, condensed, shortened version of a literary piece
Heretic- non-believer of God, Atheist point-of-views
Masonic- views based from the doctrines of Masonry/Freemasonry
Nationalism- feeling of being loyal and proud of their country
Patriotism- devotion to one’s country Unexpurgated- original version of a literary piece
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MODULE 2: RIZAL’S EARLY LIFE
I. INTRODUCTION
Education played a very important part in the family of Jose Rizal as his parents were
remarkably educated. Rizal family was big, yet the children had very harmonious relationship.
Family ties were strong and the affections among the children were great. Their parents loved
them very much, but as children they were never spoiled. The family is considered to be one of
the affluent families in Calamba, Laguna. Their house was the first massive stone house or
“bahay na bato” on their town; characterized as a rectangular two-storey building, built of adobe
stones and solid woods with sliding capiz windows. Their backyard contained tropical fruit trees,
poultry yard and stable for ponies. Yet, pursuant to the studies of Gregorio Zaide, “the happiest
period of Rizal’s life was spent in his lakeshore town, a worthy prelude to his Hamlet-like tragic
manhood.” Like other Filipinos, Jose Rizal was a descendant of the Malayan race. The mother
of Rizal was a descendant of native king in Tondo, Manila and has a lineage from Chinese
mestizos and Spanish mestizos. While on his father side, Rizal has a Chinese ancestry from
Manila. This Module 2 will describe Rizal’s profile and how he experienced his beautiful
childhood memories in his native town, including his moments with their happy home, ruled by
good parents, bubbling with joy and showered with God’s blessings. At the end of Module 2,
you are expected to answer the key question below: “How can you describe the family
background of Dr. Jose Rizal?”
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
In this module, you should able to:
1. Ascertain the significance of family and home to Rizal’s early achievement.
2. Identify Rizal’s ancestry.
3. Determine the influences in Rizal’s young life that shaped his aspirations and values.
DISCUSSION
Moonlit night of June 19, 1861, a Wednesday, a man from a lakeshore town of Calamba,
province of Laguna was born. Based on the stories of his sisters, their mother was almost died
during the delivery because of this boy who had a big head. But it seems a miracle when the
mother successfully released the newborn baby, thanks to her devotion and faith to the virgin of
Antipolo that made her a devotee of that Virgin Mary. Later, the newborn baby was baptized on
the parish church of Calamba with the efforts of Batangas-native priest, Father Rufino
Collantes. The boy was named, “Jose” by his mother who was also a devotee of the Christian
saint, San Jose (Saint Joseph).
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On Jose’s baptismal certificate read as follows: “I, the undersigned parish priest of
Calamba, certify that from the investigation made with proper authority, for replacing the parish
books which were burned September 28, 1862, to be found in Docket No. 1 of Baptisms, p. 49, it
appears by the sworn testimony of competent witnesses that JOSE RIZAL MERCADO is the
legitimate son, and of lawful wedlock, of Don Francisco Rizal Mercado and Doña Teodora
Realonda, having been baptized in this parish on the 22nd day of June in 1861, by the parish
priest Rev. Rufino Collantes, Rev. Pedro Casañas being his godfather.” Signed: Leoncio Lopez.
Rizal’s Parents Francisco Mercado, Rizal’s father was born on May 11, 1818 in Biñan,
Laguna. He studied Latin and Philosophy at Colegio de San Jose. At the age of eight, he lost his
father and grew up manhood under the care of his mother. He married on June 28, 1848 and
settle in Calamba, Laguna (Dominican-owned hacienda) where he became a “Tiniente
Gobernadorcillo” of the town. Personally, he chose Don Leon Monroy to be Rizal’s tutor in
Spanish and Latin. After several months, he bought Rizal a set of “Universal History” by Cesar
Cantu during his son’s studies in Ateneo de Manila. During Rizal’s vacation in 1881, he made a
life-size wood sculpture of Francisco. He died on January 5, 1898 in Manila.
Rizal’s mother Teodora Alonso was born on November 8, 1826 in Sta. Cruz, Manila
(other records says November 9, 1827 in Calamba, Laguna). She studied in Colegio de Santa
Rosa in Intramuros. She was a diligent and business-minded woman who taught Rizal Spanish,
poem composition, and Catholic prayers (at the age of 3). She allowed Rizal to read “Vulgate
Bible” at the age of 5. She usually read stories of “Amigo de los Niño” including the story of the
moth to Rizal. On the other hand, she was against on Rizal’s education in Manila (1872) and
abroad (1882). She was imprisoned two times but regularly visited by Rizal during that time
with high grades in Ateneo de Manila. Rizal cured her eye problem two times (1887 and 1895).
When Rizal was sentenced to death, she pleaded to the Governor General but to no avail. After
such decades after his son’s death she refused the lifetime pension offered by Americans (1906).
Died in Manila on August 16, 1911.
The Rizal Children
The eldest among the siblings, Saturnina (1850-1913), known as “Neneng” helped to
educate Rizal at the age of 3. She studied in La Concordia College and regularly visited by her
father and Rizal using “casco” boat. She married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas
who offered a ring to Rizal to have sufficient money on his study aboard (1882) and financed
Rizal’s expenses through 100 peso allowance (1885). After Rizal’s death in 1896, she published
Tagalog translation of Pascual Poblete’s Noli Me Tangere in 1909.
The “sidekick” of Rizal, Paciano (1851-1930) was known as “Uto” in the family. He
was a student from Colegio de San Jose and became friends with Jose Burgos. He was
responsible for Jose’s use of surname “Rizal” (surname advised by the Alcalde Mayor of
Laguna who was a friend of their family) as he accompanied Rizal on his enrollment in Laguna
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and Manila. He was exiled in Mindoro (1890-1891) because of Calamba Agrarian Trouble. He
also financed Rizal’s studies from 365 pesos to 50 pesos, down to 35 pesos before he became a
general of Philippine Revolution in 1896 and Finance secretary of Department Government of
Central Luzon (1897). He had a mistress named “Severina Decena” with their two children, a
boy and a girl. He continued to struggle during Philippine-American War that caused him to be
captured in 1900 and later retired to his farm in Los Baños where he lived a gentleman farmer.
He also declined Governor William Taft’s offer to have a government position in Laguna and a
life pension of 200 pesos a month from Philippine Assembly (1907). Paciano died in April 13,
1930 in Los Baños because of Tuberculosis.
Narcisa (1852-1939), the third among the children was known for her pawning of
jewels to finance Rizal’s studies abroad after marrying Antonio Lopez, teacher and musician
from Morong (nephew of Fray Leoncio Lopez). She accompanied Rizal and Josephine Bracken
to Manila after the Dapitan exile that was why some historians consider her as the “Hospitable
Sister of Rizal.” She had eight children, one of them was Angelica Lopez, a Katipunera.
Immediately after Rizal’s execution, she was the one who searched the place where Rizal was
buried.
“Ypia” or Olympia (1855-1887) was a schoolmate of Segunda Katigbak in La
Concordia College and the sister whom Rizal “loved to tease.” She married Silvestre Ubaldo, a
Manila Telegraph operator. Ypia and Silvestre mentioned the Cholera outbreak in Bulacan
(1882) to Rizal. Because of Rizal’s request to Padre Faura (1885), the couple was transferred to
Manila before she died because of hemorrhage in September 1887.
The fifth children of the Rizal family was Lucia (1857-1919) who married Mariano
Herbosa (nephew of Father Pedro Casañas) who died of Cholera (1889) and denied for Christian
burial because of being a brother-in-law of Rizal. Likewise, they had eight children. She joined
their family reunion in Hong Kong (1891) before she accompanied Rizal on his second homecoming but her luggage was caught by Spaniards with anti-friar leaflets (July, 1892). She was the
mother of Teodosio and Estanislao (who became students of Rizal in Dapitan) and Delfina
Herbosa who married Salvador Natividad, a revolutionary leader.
The known as “Biang” in the family, Maria (1859-1945) was whom Rizal talked about
his plan to marry Josephine and his plan to establish a colony in Sabah. She married Daniel
Faustino Cruz of Biñan, the parents of Mauricio (Rizal’s favorite nephew and became his
student). She also considered as the “Most beautiful sister of Rizal.”
Concepcion or Concha (1862-1865) the eight among the siblings whom Rizal played
games and shared children stories, died only when three years of age. Rizal’s first taste of sorrow
in life was because of her.
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Josefa (1865-1945), also known as “Panggoy” was praised by Rizal for being interested
in learning English grammar. After several years, became one of the first 29 female members of
Katipunan. She died as an old maid.
Trinidad (1868-1951), also known as “Trining” was scolded by Rizal for being lazy on
her studies. She visited Rizal with their mother in Dapitan (1895) and visited Rizal a day before
the execution and gave her an alcohol cooking stove from the Tavera Family in France. She
became a Katipunan member after Rizal was executed. She died as an old maid and the last of
the family to die.
The last child of Teodora and Francisco was Soledad (1870-1929), also known as
“Choleng.” A controversial sister of Rizal because of an issue that she was a child of Saturnina,
the eldest children of the family. She married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba that was why she
was scolded by Rizal of getting married without parental consent. According to Rizal’s
descendants, she was the most educated sister of Rizal (being a teacher). She had five children
with Pantaleon and one of them was Amelia who married Bernabe, son of Gen. Miguel Malvar.
Rizal’s Ancestry
In terms of his paternal ancestry, he was traced as a great-great grandson of a Chinese
merchant from Fukien City of Changchow, Domingo Lameo (Lamco) who married Ines Dela
Rosa, a Chinese-Filipina. They lived in Manila about 1690 and had a son, Francisco Mercado Sr.
(resided in Biñan and was elected Gobernadorcillo of the town) who married a Chinese-Filipina,
Cirila Bernacha who had multiple children. On the other hand, around 1731, after becoming
baptized into Christianity, the surname “Lameo/Lameo” was changed into “Mercado,” a Spanish
term for market because Domingo was a merchant. Juan Mercado who became also a
Gobernadorcillo of Biñan, was one of the children of Francisco Sr. and Cirila Bernacha who
married Cirila Alejandro, a Chinese-Filipina Mestiza. Their love perceived thirteen children, one
of them was Francisco Mercado Jr., the father of Rizal.
When it comes to maternal ancestry, Eugenio Ursua, a Japanese immigrant married a
Filipina named “Benigna.” After their marriage, they had a daughter named “Regina” who
became the wife of Manuel de Quintos, a Chinese-Filipino lawyer from Pangasinan. Their
daughter Brigida de Quintos fell in love with Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a prominent SpanishFilipino Mestizo from Biñan who became the parents of five children; Narcisa, Teodora, (Rizal’s
mother), Gregorio, Manuel and Jose.
The Rizal Home
A famous Rizal biographer, Dr. Rafael Palma researched the two-storey building,
rectangular shape house of the Rizal family in Calamba as follows:
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“The house was high and even sumptuous, a solid and massive earthquakes-proof
structure with sliding shell windows. Thick walls of lime and stone bounded the first floor; the
second floor was made entirely of wood except for the roof, which was of red tile, in the style of
the buildings in Manila at that time… At the back there was an azotea and a wide, deep cistern
to hold rain water for home use.”
This house was the birthplace of Rizal that was surrounded by poultry yard full of turkeys
and chickens with big garden of tropical fruit trees like atis, balimbing, chico, macopa, papaya,
santol, tampoy, etc. In accordance to the words of Gregorio Zaide, the home was a “happy
house” where parental affection and children’s laugher reigned. Definitely, it was a wholesome
home, naturally bred a wholesome family.
Childhood years in Calamba
During the younger years of Rizal, the town of Calamba was a hacienda town that
belonged to the Dominican friars. The young Rizal as called “Pepe” by his family and town
mates had memories in Mt. Makiling, Laguna de Bay, storied island of Talim and in Antipolo
which are the near sceneries on their hometown.
In terms of childhood memories, he had memorable instances with his father who once
built a little nipa cottage on their garden for him to play at the age of three, his daily listening to
the birds culiauan, maya, maria capra, martin and pipit that he remarked as “with wonder and
joy,” and their daily Angelus prayer. At the age of 3 three, he already knew the alphabet and read
the bible at the age of five. Besides, he became more curious in different magical and fantasy
stories because of his “Aya” who told him different stories alike. He enjoyed also watching their
garden with different fruits and birds.
When his mother had given birth to his sister Trinidad, on June 6, 1868, Rizal
accompanied his father to fulfill his mother’s vow to Virgin of Antipolo by traveling from
Laguna de Bay to Antipolo by means of casco. Then, on the same day, after hearing mass in
Antipolo Cathedral, he and his father visited his ate “Neneng” in Manila with his father by
passing through Pasig River.
But, lugubriously, he experienced the first taste of sorrow at the age of 4 when his sister
Concepcion/Concha died.
On this moment also, Rizal heard the story of the moth from the book El Amigo de los
Niños that was told by his mother. Likewise, the tragic fate of the young moth which “died a
martyr to its illusions left a deep impress on Rizal’s mind. Based on the analysis of Gregorio
Zaide, Rizal justified such noble death, asserting that “to sacrifice one’s life for it,” meaning for
an ideal, is “worthwhile.”
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Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood
Rizal has artistic talents even on his young years, at the age of five, he began to make
sketches with his pencil and to mold in clay and wax and he was requested by the town mayor to
paint a banner from oil colors. Indeed, since early childhood, he revealed his “God-given” talent
for art.
He became interested in literature at the age of eight he allegedly wrote his first poem,
“Sa Aking mga Kabata.” After that, he wrote a Tagalog drama or play that presented in Calamba
Fiesta. That was why, a Gobernadorcillo of Paete, Laguna purchased the manuscript for two
pesos and brought to his home town to be staged. Rizal also gained skills in manipulating
marionettes (puppets) and magic tricks such as making a coin appear or disappear in his fingers
and making a handkerchief vanish in thin air.
Likewise, Gregorio Zaide pondered that there were three influences that affects the hero’s
boyhood; hereditary influence, environmental influence and aid of Divine Providence. Rizal also
became interested in different fields. In speaking of hereditary influence, Rizal inherited his love
for freedom, desire to travel and indomitable courage from his Malay ancestors. His serious
nature, frugality, patience and love for children were from his Chinese ancestry. Lastly, his
Spanish ancestry might influenced his being elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult and
gallantry to ladies. Moreover, when it comes to environmental influences, he was influenced by
his uncles Jose Alberto in sketching, sculpture and painting; Gregorio in the aspect of reading;
and Manuel in the field of martial arts. Other than, his brother Paciano instilled his mind the love
for freedom and justice and the concept of scholarship and intellectual honesty was taught by
Father Leoncio Lopez. After all, the aid of Divine Providence gave Rizal a chance to be the pride
and glory of his nation-- DESTINY.
Glossary of Terms
Alcalde Mayor- Provincial Governor during the Spanish Colonial era.
Bahay na Bato- Spanish-influenced style of stone houses in Colonial-Philippines.
Capiz- Spanish-inspired style of windows that made from Capiz shells.
Casco- Philippine flat-bottomed square-ended barges.
Katipunan- anti-Colonial and anti-Spanish group that led the 1896 Philippine revolution
Mestizos- persons who have blood combination of being Spaniards and foreign Tiniente
Gobernadorcillo- leader of a town, Municipal Mayor at present
Vulgate Bible- Catholic church’s officially promulgated bible
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MODULE 3: RIZAL’S EARLY EDUCATION
I. INTRODUCTION
“When early childhood’s happy days, in memory I see once more. Along the lovely
verdant shore, that meets a gently murmuring sea. Of zephrys dancing on my brow, with cooling
sweetness, even now. New luscious life is born in me.” As said by Rizal on the first part of his
poem, “Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo” (In Memory of My Town).
As mentioned on the previous module, Rizal had beautiful memories on his hometown in
Calamba with its scenic beauties and the majestic Mt. Makiling a few kilometers away from their
home, he spent his childhood with his loving parents, thoughtful and caring brother and sisters.
In addition, the bulk of his childhood was allotted for his early education in Calamba and the
near town of Biñan. His first teachers, daily life in Biñan, being the best student in school until
the end of his schooling there, the influence of GOMBURZA’S martyrdom and his mother’s
injustice experience are the main points of this module to be pondered to you.
For many historians who deciphered Rizal’s life as a student in Laguna, it was a typical
schooling that a child of an Ilustrado family received during that time. The four R’s (reading,
writing, arithmetic and religion) were present as the instruction can be characterized as rigid and
strict. At that time, the educational system focused on the strategy that “knowledge was forced
into the minds of the pupils by means of the tedius memory method aided by the teacher’s whip.”
As Rizal was born with a physical weakling, rose to become an intellectual giant not because of,
but rather in spite of, the outmoded and backward system of education here in the Philippines
during the last decades of Spanish regime.
At the end of Module 3, you are expected to answer the key question below:
“What can you say about Rizal’s early education in Calamba?”
LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
In this module, you should able to:
 Analyze Rizal’s early experiences and education in Laguna and Manila
 Explain the imprisonment of Rizal’s mother and GOMBURZA’s execution
DISCUSSION
Early education in Calamba and Biñan
Rizal’s mother, Teodora became his first non-formal teacher. The young Rizal sat on his
mother’s lap and taught him to read and to say haltingly prayers. His mother discovered his skills
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in writing as he memorized quickly the ABCs. He also had private tutors as historically, his first
formal teachers like Maestro Celestino, Maestro Lucas Padua and Leon Monroy (his father’s
classmate) as his father requested. Later, Monroy unfortunately died, five months later. These
teachers went to Rizal’s home every day.
At age of eight, Rizal was sent to Justiniano Aquino Cruz’ school in Biñan as
accompanied by Paciano on June 1869. Rizal proceeded to their aunt’s house where he was to
lodge with his cousin Leandro. On the first day of class with Maestro Cruz, he was asked by the
teacher, “Do you know Spanish?” Rizal replied, “A little, Sir!” The teacher asked again, “Do
you know Latin?” Rizal answered, “A little, Sir!” Immediately, his classmates laughed
especially Pedro, the teacher’s son but the teacher sharply stopped the noise and began the
lessons of that day.
On his first day on Maestro Cruz’s institution, Rizal experienced brawls with his
classmates Pedro (wrestling) and Andres Salandanan (arm wrestling). Throughout his brawl with
Pedro, it was happened on the afternoon of their first day of classes when Pedro bullied Rizal,
then, the two wrestled furiously in their classroom. Because of his skills learned from his Tiyo
Manuel, he defeated Pedro who was bigger than him. Anyhow, his brawl with Andres happened
few days after, when the guy challenged him to an arm wrestling match. The two went to
sidewalk of a house and wrestled their arms. On this scene, Rizal lost because of his weaker
arms. Apart from, as claimed by Rizal on his diaries, in succeeding days, he had other fights with
boys of Biñan, but he was not “quarrelsome” by nature, but he never ran away from a fight.
In regards of his daily life in Biñan, he wrote on his diary that:
“I heard the four o’ clock mass, if there was any, or I studied my lesson at that hour and I
went to mass afterwards. I returned home and I went to the orchard to look for a Mabolo to eat.
Then, I took breakfast, which consisted generally of a dish of rice and two dried small fish, and I
went home to class from I which I came out at ten o’ clock. I went home at once. If there was
some special dish, Leandro and I took some of it to the house of his children, and I returned
without saying a word. I ate with them and afterwards studied. I went to school at two and came
out at five. I prayed a short while with some nice cousins and I returned home. I studied my
lesson. I drew a little, and afterwards I took my supper consisting of one or two dishes of rice
with an Ayungin. We prayed and if there was a moon, my nieces invited me to play in the street
together with others. Thank God that I never got sick away from my parents.”
In academic side at Maestro Cruz’s school, Rizal also penned a Spanish play that played
on the school because of being a good teacher of Maestro Cruz. He mentioned that Maestro Cruz
“knew by heart the grammars by Nebrija and Gainza.” He surpassed all his classmates in
Spanish, Latin and other subjects.
The end of Rizal’s schooling in Biñan was started before the yuletide season of 1870
when he received a letter from Saturnina that informed him of the arrival of the steamer Talim
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that would take him to Calamba. He was sent back to Calamba in December 17, 1870 with the
aid of his father’s friend, Arturo Camps. Then, Rizal knew that he will be enrolled in Manila for
his higher education.
Immediately after being in Laguna, he heard some disgusting events in the year 1872; the
execution of GOMBURZA for being the allegedly led and started the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 and
his mother’s imprisonment because of issue on his sister-in-law.
Martyrdom of GOMBURZA
About 200 Filipino soldiers led by Sergeant Jose Lamadrid and workmen of the Cavite
arsenal rose in violent mutiny on the night of January 20, 1872 because of the abolition of their
usual privileged because of the new mandatory policies of Governor General Rafael de
Izquierdo. That so called “Cavite Mutiny” was blamed to the secular priest leaders (a movement
o Filipinize the Philippine parishes) Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora.
Spanish authorities ordered to liquidate these priests and despite the archbishop’s plea for
clemency because of their innocence from the mutiny happened, they were executed in
Bagumbayan on February 17, 1872.
Paciano Rizal enraged by the execution, especially of Burgos who was his beloved
friend, housemate and teacher at the Colegio de San Jose. At that time, Paciano returned to
Calamba where he told the heroic tragedy of Burgos to his younger brother Jose. Then, because
of the execution of GOMBURZA, Rizal became inspired to fight evils of Spanish tyranny.
Furthermore, after seventeen years, during his stay in Paris on April 1889, he wrote to Mariano
Ponce:
“Without 1872, there would not be now either Plaridel or Jaena, or Sanciangco, nor
would there exist brave and generous Filipino colonies in Europe; without 1872 Rizal would be
a Jesuit now and instead of writing Noli Me Tangere, would have written the opposite. At the
sight of those injustices and cruelties while still a child my imagination was awakened and I
swore to devote myself to avenge one day so many victims and with this idea in mind I have been
studying, and this can be read in all my works and writings. God will someday give me an
opportunity to carry out my promise.”
Later, in 1892, he dedicated his El Filibusterismo novel to the GOMBURZA.
Imprisonment of Rizal’s mother
When Rizal was studying in Ateneo de Manila, before June 1872, he heard the news that
his mother was thrown into prison because of family issue. This sad news affected his studies in
Manila, so he became more miserable.
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This scenario in Rizal family happened when Jose (brother of Teodora) after his duty in
Europe as an engineer, found his wife, Teodora Formoso, left their home in Biñan and their
children for another man. He planned to divorce her but his Ate Teodora said that it would be a
family scandal, so he must avoid it and try to reconcile their relationship. Consequently, to watch
his wife, Jose locked his wife in a room and asked one of his siblings to watch over his wife,
probably his sister Ate Teodora.
The following story was from Barbara Cruz-Gonzales, a great granddaughter of Rizal
from his sister Maria: One day, when Teodora (Formoso) was sick in her bed (on his locked
room), Teodora (Alonso) brought a soup on her room. But when the sick Teodora refused to eat
the soup, her dog named “Ronquillo” ate the soup and later died. She sued her husband for that
alleged poisoning through his sister as a co-conspirator. Thereupon, aided by the Spanish
lieutenant of the Guardia Civiles in their town, the case was brought to Calamba’s
Gobernadorcillo Antonio Vivencio del Rosario who believed the charge. Some historians said
that the Gobernadorcillo and the Spanish lieutenant were frequent guests of the Rizals on their
home but both had been nursing grudges to the family secretly because of an instance when Don
Francisco could not accommodate to give fodder to the lieutenant’s horse.
Teodora (Alonso) was imprisoned in Santa Cruz, Laguna. To have an immediate
discharge, the Rizal family appealed in the court but the judge said that their appeal was
contempt of his court. In addition to her charges, some other fabricated accusations were filed
against her. She released in prison after two and a half years. Yet, in 1880s, Teodora imprisoned
again because of the nonsense charge that she did not call herself a “Realonda de Rizal” but
simply “Teodora Alonso.”
Both of her imprisonment punishments forced her to walk in rough roads before being
jailed in Santa Cruz. Otherwise, there were some discrepancies in terms of the exact length of her
first walk whether it is 50 kilometers or 16 kilometers. According to Gregorio Zaide, she was
forced to walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz which is more plausible in 50 kilometers. While
Jacoba Faustina-Cruz, a relative of the Alonsos mentioned that the walk was only from Biñan to
Calamba which is also a reasonable for 16 kilometers. Moreover, the second walk of half-blinded
Teodora (that time started to lose her sight), according to Rizal relatives today was forced to
walk 85 kilometers from Manila to Santa Cruz. Although, contrary to this, Gregorio Zaide wrote
that the second walk was only from Calamba to Santa Cruz.
Glossary of Terms
Aya- Filipino term for a babysitter
Gobernadorcillo- head of a municipality/town
Mutiny- an open rebellion against the proper authorities
Nebrija and Gainza- grammarians who led the development of Castillan language
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MODULE 4: RIZAL’S HIGHER EDUCATION
I. INTRODUCTION
After the lugubrious scenarios of GOMBURZA’s execution and his mother’s
imprisonment (still in prison at this time), Rizal was sent to Intramuros, Manila and took
entrance examination in Colegio de San Juan de Letran but his father decided to enroll him in
Ateneo Municipal de Manila instead. In line with the studies made by Gregorio Zaide and his
daughter Sonia on the history of schools in Manila, Letran was once became a bitter rival of
Ateneo. Their rivalry was from the roots of having Dominican and Jesuit rivalry in the
Philippines at that time. Dominican order owned Letran, while Ateneo was owned by Jesuits.
Ateneo Municipal de Manila was a former “Escuela Pia” or “Escuela Municipal de
Manila,” an elementary charity school for poor boys in the city that was established by the
Ayuntamiento de Manila in 1817. Zaide added that, “When Jesuits who had been expelled from
the Philippines in 1768, returned to Manila in 1859, they were given the management of the
Escuela Pia.” Then, in 1865, when the school started to offer high school courses (Bachelor of
Arts) preparatory to college, the name was changed to Ateneo Municipal de Manila. When the
Americans came to the Philippines, the government ended its subsidy to the school and later,
became Ateneo de Manila that offers college courses in 1909. Further, the school housed several
splendid educators, so that the school acquired prestige and reputation when it comes to excellent
educational institution for men.
On the other hand, the time when Rizal was sent to Manila, he was guided by his brother
Paciano on June 10, 1872. As mentioned, Rizal took entrance examinations particularly in
Christian doctrine, arithmetic, and reading. They returned to Calamba after the examinations to
attend their town fiesta and stayed for few days.
At the end of Module 4, you are expected to answer the key question below: “What can
you say about Rizal’s education in Manila by means of comparing his experiences in Ateneo
Municipal de Manila and University of Santo Tomas?”
LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES In this module, you should able to:
1. Appreciate how Rizal’s education shaped him as a person
2. Compare the phases of Rizal’s life as a student
DISCUSSION
Scholastic triumphs in Ateneo Municipal de Manila
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In Ateneo at first, he was refused by the university registrar, Fr. Magin Ferrando because
of his size and being late in registration. He finally enrolled with the degree “Bachelor of Arts”
(High school) through the intercession of Fr. Manuel Xerez Burgos that was why he started to
use the surname “Rizal” as his brother’s advice. In fact, their original family name “Mercado”
had come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities because of Paciano’s linkage to Father Jose
Burgos. But in consonance with the UST Archivist Dr. Regalado T. Jose, there were times Rizal
used the surname “Mercado” on his studies in UST and also in sometimes in Manila.
During his studies in Ateneo that was located inside the Intramuros that time, he lived in a
boarding house inside the vicinity of the Walled City, then, transferred to a house of their family
friend Titay (who had a 300 peso debt to them) in Calle Caraballo in Sta. Cruz, 25 minute walk
to their school.
With reference to the Jesuit System of education in Ateneo in the midst of Rizal’s
schooling there, the education handled by Jesuits was more advanced in line with their rigid and
religious discipline to learners. It offers academic courses leading to Bachelor of Arts degree,
Agriculture, Commerce, Mechanics and Land Surveying. In fact, the school promoted the
concept of physical culture, humanities and scientific studies. As part of Jesuit educational
system, Ateneans were divided in two groups: “Romans/Roman Empire” (boarders also known
as Internos) that represented by their red banners and “Carthaginians/Carthaginian Empire”
(non-boarders also known as Externos) distinguished by blue banners. Rizal became a
“Carthaginian” and an Emperor (leader) of the group a week after his first day at the school. At
that time, Ateneans wore a uniform which consisted of “hemp-fabric trousers” and “striped
cotton coat” from rayadillo (later became the uniform for Filipino troops during the First
Philippine Republic).
Rizal’s first year in Ateneo (1872-1873) was very memorable one. He met his first
professor, Fr. Jose Bech whom he described as “tall, thin man, with a body slightly bent
forward, a harried walk, an ascetic face, severe and inspired, small deep-sunken eyes, a sharp
nose that was almost Greek,” and others like Jose Villaclara, Augustin Saez in drawing and
painting, and Romualdo de Jesus in sculpture. He became the brightest pupil in the whole class
and was awarded with prize. Along with, in order to improve his Spanish speaking skills, he took
private lessons in Colegio de Santa Isabel, also in Intramuros during the noon recesses with the
amount of three pesos. At the end of his first year in Ateneo, with all his grades marked as
“Sobresaliente,” he placed second among his colleagues (because of he resented some remarks
from his professors during the second half of the school year).
After the summer vacation of 1873 when he visited his sister Saturnina in Tanauan
Batangas and his mother who was then in prison at Santa Cruz, Laguna, he returned back to
Manila. From the start of June in the same year until his graduation in Ateneo, he boarded inside
Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes Street with his old widow landlady named “Doña Pepay.” To
regain his lost class leadership, he studied harder and once more became the “Emperor.”
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At the same time, Rizal visited his mother in Santa Cruz prison, to cheer up his mother
with his scholastic triumphs in Ateneo with funny tales about his classmates and professors.
Once, Teodora told her son about her dream the previous night, then, Rizal interpreted the dream
that she would be released from jail. What a providence it was, after three months, Rizal’s
prophecy happened when his mother was set free and happily back in Calamba.
Nothing usual happened during his second year in Ateneo (1873-1874) except for his
regaining of lost leadership in class. Then, some of his new classmates were his classmates in
Biñan. Besides, in the summer vacation of 1874 his “teenage interest in reading” started as
Gregorio and Sonia Zaide identified. He mastered 22 languages like Arabic, German, French,
Latin, Russian etc. On that note, he became interested in the novel “Count of Monte Cristo” of
Alexander Dumas about the spectacular escape of Edmond Dantes from the dungeon of Chateau
d’If and his finding a buried treasure of Monte Cristo and the history book “Travel in the
Philippines” of Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist and traveler about the defects of Spanish
colonization about the Philippines and his prophecy that someday, Spain would lose the
Philippines and America would come to succeed. Later, he also persuaded his father to buy him a
costly set of Cesar Cantu’s Universal History. Moreover, as per his diaries, he always visited his
mother in prison cell in Calamba during vacation.
Rizal’s third year in Ateneo (1874-1875) was in the same track like the previous year, but
at the end of this school year, he only won one medal in Latin but all his grades were in
excellent. Pursuant to his diary, he failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken
Spanish was not fluently sonorous. Variously, on his fourth year at the same university (18751876), he became a Roman (Interno) because of the help of Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez
on June 16, 1875. He inspired the young Rizal to study harder and to write poetry. In the end of
the academic year, he won five medals and excellent ratings.
Towards his graduation, his last year in Ateneo (1876-1877) was truly remarkable as he
touted as “the pride of the Jesuits.” On his graduation, he received highest grades in in all
subjects (Philosophy, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Languages, Minerology, etc.) with an award
of being the head of his class with eight other students.
As part of extra-curricular activities in Ateneo, Rizal as the Emperor of the class, became
an active member of the organizations like the religious society of Marian Congregation, and
exclusive Ateneo societies like Academy for Spanish Literature and Natural Sciences in Ateneo.
He also made two memorable sculptures in the university, the first was the image of Virgin Mary
on a Batikuling wood and the Sacred Heart of Jesus requested by Fray Lleonart.
Gregorio Zaide on his book mentioned some anecdotes on Rizal’s life as Atenean, first
the anecdote when two Ateneans, Manzano and Lesaca quarreled and violently hurled books at
each other. The busy Rizal was hit in the face by one of the thrown books, he remained silent
instead and his classmates brought him to the clinic to undergo medical treatment. After the
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incident, Rizal continued to attend his classes. Another remembered anecdote of Rizal that Zaide
mentioned was the time when Rizal helped Julio Meliza, an Ilonggo to recover his kite that was
caught by the vines of Manila Cathedral belfry despite the laughter of bigger boys around the
area. This was happened during Rizal’s short stay on Manuel Xerxes Burgos’s house before he
became an Interno in Ateneo.
Rizal wrote many poems during his five-year schooling as Atenean, here are some, “Mi
Primera Inspiracion” for his mother’s birthday in 1874, the poems he write as inspired by Father
Francisco de Paula Sanchez, “Felicitacion,” “El Embarque; Himno a la Flota de Magallanes,”
“Y Es Español; Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo,”and “El Combate; Urbiztondo,
Terror de Jolo.” Therewithal, 1876 poems of Rizal depicts various topics like religion,
education, childhood memories and war like “Un Recuardo a Mi Pueblo” about his natal town,
“Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion” about education, “Por la Educacion
Recibe Lustre la Patria” also about education, “El Cautiverio y el Triunfo; Batalla de Lucena y
Prision de Boabdil” about war and “La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes Catolices en Granada”
about war also. Later, in 1877, during his last year in Ateneo, he wrote some remarkable poems
like “El Heorismo de Colon” about the discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus, “Colon y
Juan II” about relation of Columbus and John II on expedition to the New World, “Gran
Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha” about the tragic life of Columbus and “Un Dialogo Alusivo a
la Despedida de los Colegiales,” the last poem he wrote in the school.
Immediately after his graduation from Ateneo, the sixteen year old Rizal experienced his
first love with Segunda Katibak of Lipa, Batangas who was fourteen year old at that time and
sister of his friend Mariano Katibak. As he claimed, Segunda was “rather short, with eyes that
were eloquent and ardent at times, rosy-cheeked with enchanting and provocative smile.” He
met Segunda during his visitation to his maternal grandmother who lived in Trozo, Manila who
also a guest on his grandmother’s house. Rizal came to know Segunda more intimately during
his weekly visits to La Concordia College, where his sister Olympia was a boarding student. But
it was hopeless since the very beginning in fact that Segunda was already engaged to her town
mate, Manuel Luz. The two last talked on December 1877 he visited Segunda in La Concordia
College to bid his goodbye because he was going to Calamba on the next day. Three years later,
Rizal recorded his first romance; “Ended, at early hour, my first love! My virgin heart will
always mourn the reckless step it look on the flower-decked abyss.
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University of Santo Tomas
On the same year when he graduated in Ateneo, he went to University of Santo Tomas
where he enrolled Philosophy and Letters in April 1877 because his father liked it and he was
“still uncertain as to what career to pursue.” Simultaneously, he enrolled also in Ateneo with
the course “Perito Agrimensor”at the same school year (1877-1878). Nevertheless, upon the
advice of Ateneo’s rector Father Pablo Ramon, he decided to shift in medicine to took up
medical course in the same school (UST).
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Rizal excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo, obtaining gold medals in
agriculture and topography. He passed the licensing exam in Land Surveying in 1878 (but
granted his license in 1881 because of the age of legality).
In the matter of his romances, Rizal paid court to a young woman in Calamba whom he
called as “Miss L,” a woman with fair with seductive and attractive eyes. Nobody today knows
who this woman was, in fact, he suddenly stopped his wooing and the romance died. Similarly,
during his second year in UST, he met also two “Leonors” who became also his love through the
help of his friend Jose M. Cecilio (Chenggoy). The first Leonor, Leonor Valenzuela (Orang) was
met by Rizal when he started to board I the house of Doña Concha Leyva in Intramuros where
the mentioned Leonor who was from Pagsanjan, Laguna lived also near there. He courted her
through invisible ink (1877) and usually visited her during parties sponsored by Valenzuela
family but their love did not last because he still in love with Segunda. Leonor Rivera, the
second Leonor was his third cousin from Camiling, Tarlac who became his true love during his
third year in UST. They met because Rizal transferred to “Casa Tomasina” in No. 6 Calle Santo
Tomas in Intramuros which was owned by his land-lord uncle, Antonio Rivera. Leonor Rivera
was described by Rizal as a pretty girl with tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes.
Rizal called her “Taimis” but he left her in May 1882 to study abroad. Consequently, Rivera as
convinced by her family to marry Charles H. Kipping, a Steam Engineer in Dagupan (June
1890).
Gregorio and Sonia Zaide insisted that Rizal became also a victim of Spanish officer’s
brutality when he was a student in UST; “when Rizal was a freshman medical student at UST, he
experiences his first taste of Spanish brutality. One dark night in Calamba, during the summer
vacation in 1878, he was walking in the street. He dimly perceived the figure of a man while
passing him. Not knowing the person but to darkness, he did not salute nor say a courteous
“Good evening.” The vague figure turned out to be lieutenant of the Guardia Civil. With a snarl,
he turned upon Rizal, whipped out his sword and brutally slashed the latter on the back.” By the
same token, Rizal remembered it on his letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt on March 21, 1887: “I
went to the Captain-General but I could not obtain justice; my wound lasted two weeks.”
He wrote the first Spanish poem written by Filipino “La Juventud Filipina” also during
his time in UST (1879). This was because of the literary contest held by Liceo Artistico-Literario
of Manila for Indios and Mestizos. The eighteen year old Rizal wrote the mentioned poem and
won the said contest with the prize of silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold
ribbon. On the following year, the same contest by Liceo Artistico-Literario of Manila (in
commemoration of Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra’s 400th death anniversary) was held for
Filipinos and Spaniards. He participated and won the literary contest with his entry “El Consejo
delos Dioses.” But before he get the gold ring (engraved the face of Saavedra) prize, he
experienced several objections because he was an Indio.
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Apart from, Rizal became a “Champion of Filipino Students” during his studies in UST
as they experienced frequent fights against arrogant Spanish students. In 1880, Rizal founded a
group of Filipino UST students called “Compañerismo” with his cousin, Galicano Apacible as
his secretary. This group was founded to combat the Spanish students in various street fights.
One time, in a brawl happened in Escolta, Rizal wounded on the head. Then, he was brought to
his boarding house in Casa Tomasina and his girlfriend Leonor Rivera washed and dressed his
wound.
In summer vacation of 1881, Rizal and his sisters Saturnina, Maria and Trinidad (with
other friends) went to a pilgrimage for Birhen Maria de los Dolores at Pakil, Laguna through a
casco. They stayed on the house of Mr. and Mrs. Regalado. Through those days in Pakil, Rizal
was fascinated by the famous Turumba festival in honor to their patron saint. Rizal on his diaries
mentioned that he was infatuated with a lady named Vicenta Ybardolaza at the Regalado
family’s house. After several days, Rizal and his sisters went to Pagsanjan to see the famous
Pagsanjan Falls.
Rizal once referred on his diary, “unhappy days at UST” that can be pondered through his
experiences. As being an Ateneo’s boy wonder, he experienced suffocating atmosphere in UST
that was led by Dominican order. Gregorio Zaide enumerated three reasons why Rizal mentioned
this “unhappy days” in UST; (1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him, (2) the Filipino
students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards, and (3) the method of instruction
was obsolete and repressive. This experienced was reflected on the Chapter 13 of his El
Filibusterismo (The Class in Physics).
Rizal decided to leave the university in 1882 with his fourth year (with 19 finished
subjects) of his medical course because he could no longer endure the rampant bigotry,
discrimination, and hostility of Dominican professors in the university. Paciano readily approved
his studying in Spain as well as his sisters Saturnina and Lucia and his Uncle Antonio Rivera
Glossary of Terms
Arithmetic- study of numbers
Ateneans- students of Ateneo Municipal de Manila
El Consejo delos Dioses- a written play of Rizal that introduced the Humanistic education
in the country
Fixed marriage- arranged marriage between two parties
La Juventud Filipina- poem written by Rizal that discusses Filipino youth at that time Perito
Agrimensor- course aligned to land surveying
Snarl- make an aggressive growl with bared teeth Sobresaliente- outstanding award; highest
honors
Taimis- code name given by Rizal to Leonor Rivera that means “sweet”
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MODULE 5: RIZAL’S FIRST TRIP ABROAD
I. INTRODUCTION
Four years had passed, Rizal finished his 4th year of the medical course in UST. As
being discontented with the obsolete method of instruction and the racial prejudice that Rizal
experienced under the Dominican professors, he decided to complete his studies in Europe. On
a letter made by Rizal to his brother Paciano, he mentioned that had another important reason
for deciding to study in Europe as he called as his “secret mission.” He revealed that this secret
was to observe carefully the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and business,
and the government and laws of the European nations. By means of that, he could “prepare
himself for the mighty task of liberating his people from the brutality and tyranny of Spain” as
he claimed on his letter. To be anxious about something, in agreement with the book written by
Gregorio Zaide, at that time, the government of Spain was a Constitutional Monarchy under a
written constitution which granted human rights to people especially, freedom of speech, press
and assembly.
In harmony with Zaide’s works, he called Rizal’s first journey to Spain as “In Sunny
Spain from 1882-1885.” From Rizal’s first entry to Spain until his first homecoming will be
covered by this module in order for you to have a gist on his life in Madrid, first visit to Paris, his
journey from Paris to Berlin, his grand escapade with a Filipino in Europe toward his trip in Italy
before he made his first homecoming in the Philippines in 1887.
At the end of Module 5, you are expected to answer the key question below:
“What became the major impact of Rizal’s first journey outside the country?”
JJ.
LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES In
this module, you should able to:
1. Emulate Rizal’s admirable traits while studying and touring in Europe
2. Describe the traits of Filipino expatriates in Europe
3. Explain how Rizal’s friendship with Blumentritt influence his writings
DISCUSSION
Without his maternal consent, Rizal decided to study in Europe with Paciano’s 35 peso
monthly allowance on May 3, 1882 as accompanied by almost ten persons (Paciano Rizal,
Antonio Rivera, Saturina Rizal, Lucia Rizal, Capt. Juan Valenzeuala, Sanday Valenzuela, Pedro
Paterno, Mateo Evangelista, Ateneo Jesuit Fathers and Jose M. Cecilio). He wrote a letter to his
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parents that begged his parents’ forgiveness for leaving the Philippines without their permission
and to Leonor Rivera.
With the steamer SS Salvadora, he left the country and had a stop-over in Singapore.
During the voyage to Singapore, the ship captain, Donato Lecha from Spain befriended him. In
order to fight the boredom, Rizal played chess with his fellow passengers who defeated by him.
He landed in Singapore and registered at Hotel de la Paz and spent two days on sightseeing the
country’s Botanical Garden, Buddhist temples and statue of Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles
(Singapore’s founding father. Then, Rizal was transferred in French steamer SS Djemnah with
French speaking passengers to leave on May 11 and reached Ceylon (Sri Lanka) particularly in
Point Galle on May 17 and further, Colombo, its capital. On his diary, he wrote that he was
unimpressed by the Point Galle because of being lonely while impressed with the beauty of
Colombo. Upon his journey, he crossed Indian Ocean, Cape of Guardafui in Africa
(“inhospitable but famous”) and had a stopover in the hot city of Aden, Yemen and saw camels.
After several weeks, he docked at Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez
Canal where he went sightseeing. On June 11, Rizal reached Naples, Italy and saw Mt. Vesuvius
and Castle of St. Elmo. He went to Marseilles, France and visited the Chateau d’ If , the location
of the famous story of “Count of Monte Cristo,” before he traveled a train to reach Barcelona,
Spain in June 1882.
Triumphs and experiences
Spain
After crossing Pyrenees, staying a day in Port Bou and passport inspection by Spanish
immigration, Rizal arrived at Barcelona on June 16, 1882. He viewed Barcelona as an ugly city
but a “City of Freedom and Liberalism.” He was welcomed by his former classmates in Ateneo
and gave him a party at Plaza de Cataluña. Through the progressive state of Barcelona, Rizal
wrote the poem “Amor Patria,” his first essay written in Spain under the pen-name Laong Laan.
He sent this article to his friend in Manila, Basilio Teodoro Moran, a publisher of “Diariong
Tagalog.” It was appeared on the said newspaper on August 20, 1882; translated by Marcelo H.
Del Pilar in Tagalog. Conversely, Moran congratulated Rizal and requested for more articles that
was why he became an essay writer in “Diariong Tagalog” then he wrote his second and third
article, “Los Viajes” and “Revista de Maadrid.”
He met and welcomed by several Filipino expatriate in the city. During his stay in
Barcelona, he heard the news about Cholera outbreak in Manila and other provinces through a
letter from Paciano (September 15, 1882) and he received a letter from his friend Chenggoy that
told him Leonor Rivera became thin and sick because of his secret leaving.
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Rizal left for Madrid to pursue his studies in Universidad Central de Madrid where he
enrolled two courses: Medicine and Philosophy and Letters on November 3, 1882. Based on
Rizal’s correspondences in Madrid, his favorite past times in Madrid were painting and sculpture
(as he attended some classes in Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando), studying French and
German language to private tutors; and fencing and shooting at the Hall of Arms of Sanz. He
visited museums and galleries and even buying expensive books as part of his fair-sized private
library such as “Lives of Presidents of the United States from Washington to Johnson,” “History
of French Revolution,” “The Wandering Jew,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” of Harriet Beecher Stowe
and others. Likewise, Gregorio Zaide said “He rigidly budgeted his money and time. He lived
frugally spending his money on food, clothing, lodging and books. He never wasted a peseta for
gambling, wine and women. His only extravagance was investing few pesetas for lottery ticket.”
More than that, as he exercised his poem writing skills, he joined the Circulo Hispano Filipino
and wrote the poem “Me Piden Los Versos” in December 1882.
On time in Madrid, he attended a reunion with Filipino compatriots like the Paterno
brothers on February 13, 1883 that they called as “Tuesday of the Carnival.” As part also of his
social life in Madrid, during Saturday evenings, he visited the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey,
a former Spanish city mayor of Manila (1869-1871) and former vice president of Ministerio de
Ultramar in the Philippines. He met the daughter of Don Pablo, Consuelo Ortega y Rey and
courted her through a lovely poem on August 22, 1883, A La Señorita C. O. y P. But their love
did not last because his friend Eduardo de Lete was courting Consuelo and he was engaged to
Leonor Rivera.
Rizal joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia in March 1883 and became a member of Gran
Oriente Espanyol under the name “Dimasalang.” Further, he also handled the position of being
a Master Mason of Logia Solidaridad 53 on November 15, 1890. In 1892, he was granted as a
Master Mason by Le Gran Orient de France. Later, he became a Worshipful Master of Lodge
Nilad No. 42 in the same year where he delivered a lecture, “La Masoneria.” Notwithstanding,
He did not engage in any Masonic activities except his Masonic writing entitled “Science, Virtue
and Labor” in Madrid (1889).
Immediately after the vacation from Paris in 1883, Rizal went back to Madrid and heard
the news about their financial and land problems in Laguna. On the report of Gregorio Zaide’s
research; “After Rizal’s departure for Spain, things turned from bad to worse in Calamba as the
harvests of rice and sugarcane failed on account of drought and locusts. On top of this economic
disaster, the manager of the Dominican-owned hacienda increased the rentals of the lands
cultivated by the Rizal family.” Aside from this crisis, Zaide added that Rizal experienced to
have his monthly allowances from the Philippines in a late basis. He was unable to take breakfast
on June 24, 1884, then, with an empty stomach, he attended his class at the university and
participated in the contest in Greek language and won the gold medal.
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On the night of June 24, Rizal gave a controversial speech (“Brindis”) in a sonorous
Castilian manner on banquet/party held at Restaurant Ingles to celebrate the triumph of Juan
Luna and Felix Resureccion Hidalgo who won on the “Exposicion de Bellas Artes de Madrid”
because of their “Spoliarium” and “Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho” in the
same year. The most famous line on the speech spoken was “Genius knows no country, genius
sprouts cosmopolitan like space, like life, like God.”
On his education, Rizal received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine on June 21, 1884
but after five months. Besides, on the following school year (1884-1885), he enrolled and passed
all subjects leading to Doctor of Medicine but did not present his thesis at the same year nor paid
the corresponding fees. At this moment also, Rizal finished his degree in Philosophy and Letters.
Rizal as now a qualified to be a professor of Humanities in any Spanish university, he knew that
with his brown color and Asian racial ancestry, no friar-owned university or college in the
Philippines would accept him as a faculty member.
He participated a three-day demonstration of students (from November 20-22, 1884) in
Madrid because of “excommunication” of Prof. Miguel Morayta to be alongside with some
Peruvian, Cuban, Mexican and Spanish students. Prof. Morayta formerly proclaimed a liberal
view on his speech in the opening ceremonies of school year; “the freedom of Science and the
teacher.” In violent demonstrations, the students were shouting, “Viva Morayta! Down with
Bishops!” Bloody fights raged in the university that was supported by professors and the rector
who resigned during the demonstration.
France
From June 17- August 20, 1883, Rizal visited Paris on his first summer vacation and
described as “Costliest Capital of Europe.” This was his first time to be in this city. He stayed
first at Hotel de Paris then later to the cheaper 124 Rue de Rennes.
Part of his fist sojourn in Paris, Rizal visited Champs Elysses Boulevard, Opera House,
Arch of Triumph, Place de la Concorde, Cathedral of Notre Damme, Invalides etc.
Further, after graduating Medicine at Madrid, in order to have a formal training when it
comes to the field of Ophthalmology, Rizal went to Paris, France from November 1885 to
February 1886 to work as a trainee with Dr. Louis de Weckert. Throughout his leisure times in
Paris, he relaxed by visiting his friends like the Pardo de Tavera Family (including Trinidad,
Felix and Paz) Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. This moment gave him a chance to be
a model on Luna’s paintings, “The Death of Cleopatra” (he posed as an Egyptian priest) and
“The Blood Compact” (he posed as Sikatuna).
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Being on the house of Pardo de Taveras, despite being no natural aptitude in music, Rizal
came to play the flute well. He composed the song “Alin Mang Lahi” and played in flute during
impromptu reunions of Filipinos. Formerly in 1870’s, Rizal studied music in Ateneo as part of
the curriculum.
Germany
After in Paris, Rizal went to Heidelberg, Germany in February 3, 1886 and resided to a
boarding house with some German Law students who were amazed by Rizal’s talent in playing
chess. He transferred to a boarding house near University of Heidelberg have formal studies and
worked under Dr. Otto Becker in the University Eye Hospital and attended lectures from Prof.
Wilhelm Kuehme about Ophthalmology. Through this, he visited Heidelberg Castle, Neckar
River, old churches and observed the ecumenism of German Catholics and Protestants. Rizal
became fascinated with the gardens in the town then, he wrote a poem, “A Las Flores de
Heidelberg” because of the beauty of flowers especially “Forget-me-not” in April 1886.
Subsequently, he transferred to the house of Dr. Karl Ullmer in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany
for three months where he finished his first novel (June, 1886). On July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his
fist letter in German to Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt, an Austrian Ethnologist and Filipinologist
who was the Dircetor of the Ateneo de Leitmeritz. With the mentioned letter, Rizal sent the book,
Aritmetica which was published by UST Press in 1868 and authored by Sta. Cruz, Laguna native,
Rufino Heernandez. Then, after receiving the letter and the book, Blumentritt sent Rizal two
books and started their friendship.
In August 14, 1886, Rizal moved to Leipzig, Germany and attended some lectures in
Leipzig University with Prof. Friedrich Ratzel and Dr. Hans Meyer. On his free moments, he
translated the book “William Tell” of Schiller from German to Filipino and the book “Fairy
Tales” of Hans Christian Andersen to Filipino. But after two months, he left to Dresden to meet
Dr. Adolph Meyer, a Filipinologist and Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological
Museum to show him things from tombs in the Philippines. In the morning of November 1, Rizal
left Dresden by train to reach Berlin.
Rizal also went to Berlin in order to meet Dr. Feodor Jagor, the author of the famous
book, “Travels in the Philippines” for his requested Letter of Introduction to Blumentritt. In the
same place, Rizal was invited by Dr. Rudolf Virchow to give a lecture in Ethnographic Society
of Berlin. In response to invitation, he wrote a scholarly paper in German, “Tagalische
Verkunst” and read on the society in April 1887. He worked as an assistant to the clinic of Dr.
Schweigger in Berlin to have his last training for Ophthalmology.
Rizal spent his darkest winter during the Yuletide season of 1886 in Berlin when he lived
in poverty; he even pawned a diamond ring gave him by his sister Saturnina. He just ate bread
and water with some cheap vegetable soup. He began to cough and feared to have Tuberculosis.
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Withal, there were five reasons why Rizal lived in the said German city; (1) to gain
further knowledge of ophthalmology, (2) to further his studies of sciences and languages, (3) to
observe the economic had political conditions of the German nation, (4) to associate with famous
German scientists and scholars and (5) to publish his first written novel.
Because of Rizal’s reading of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” that depicts the brutalities of
American slave-owners to Negro slaves, he was inspired to write his first novel that would tell
the miseries of his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants. Then, in a reunion of Filipinos in the
house of Paternos in Madrid in January 2, 1884, Rizal proposed the writing of the novel to those
Filipinos who were present. Then, it was unanimously approved by Filipinos like Graciano
Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente, Melecio Figueroa and Valentin
Ventura. Unfortunately, the project did not materialize because those compatriots who were
expected to collaborate on the novel did not write anything. Consequently, undaunted by his
friends’ indifferences, he determined to write the novel.
Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about half of it. Then, he wrote the
last few chapters of the novel in Wilhelmsfeld in April-June, 1886. Revisions were made but he
was sick and penniless. In the midst of despondency, he received a telegram from Bulakenyo Dr.
Maximo Viola who was coming to Berlin. Anyhow, the most productive moment of Rizal in the
city was when his first novel with the help of Dr. Viola in February 21, 1887 published at
Berliner Buchdrukerei actien-Gesselschaft.
Rizal’s Grand Tour of Europe with Viola
To give himself a reward for the success of his Novel, together with the “Savior of Noli
Me Tangere,” Maximo Viola, they toured almost the entire Europe. The tour begins on May 11,
1887 when they left Berlin via train to visit the floral exposition in Dresden and to visit Dr.
Adolph Meyer and Dr. Feodor Jagor. They toured also to Potsdam and visited some museums.
Afternoon of May 13, via train, the two arrived at Leitmeritz, Bohemia (Czech Republic)
and met Ferdinand Blumentritt. The two Filipinos were introduced to Blumentritt’s family and
stayed at their house for three days. Rizal experienced to speak in a meeting of Tourists’ Club of
Leitmeritz and the audience fascinated because of his German speaking skills. In this visit also,
he met the eminent naturalist, Prof. Robert Klutschak and Dr. Carlos Czepelak.
After homing for three days, Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz to visit Prague that led to
them to meet Dr. Willkomm, a Natural History Professor, to see the tomb of Nicolas Copernicus,
to visit the museum of natural history, cave where San Juan Nepomuceno was imprisoned. Then,
the two went to Brunn City.
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Towards the end of the month, Rizal and Viola explored Austria where they saw the
churches, theaters, art galleries and museums in Vienna. They stayed at Hotel Metropole and met
the novelist Norfenfals and scholars Masner and Nordmann.
The two left Vienna for Lintz through a river boat to Danube River in May 24. During the
journey, Rizal observed the barges loaded with products in the boat, flowers and plants growing
in the river banks, villages in the riverbanks, and he noticed the passengers who used paper
napkins during meals. They landed to Lintz and traveled to Salzburg in order to go back to
Munich, Germany.
The two went back to Germany and traveled from Munich to Nuremberg, the oldest city
in the country. They observed the torture machines used during the Catholic Inquisition in
Europe and the huge manufacturing of dolls. They transferred to Ulm where they saw and
walked to the tallest cathedral in Germany, the Ulm Cathedral. Then, they boarded to Stuttgart
and Baden to reach Rheinfall.
After having a cruise in Germany, they swing to Switzerland where they witnessed the
largest water fall in Europe, the Rheinfall. They stayed for two days in Schaffhausen and
continued to tour in Basel, Bern and Lausanne. In Geneva, Rizal celebrated his 26th birthday
with Viola in a lake tour and heard sad news about the Igorots who were exhibited in the Madrid
Exposition. Later, he expressed his anger to Blumentritt.
Rizal and Viola parted ways in Switzerland but Rizal toured in Italy to look the cities of
Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence. On the June 27, 1887, he reached the “Eternal City” of
Rome and visited the St. Peter’s Church and St. Peter’s Square in Vatican (“City of Popes”) after
two days. On the same day, he wrote to his father; “On the 15th of July, I shall embark for our
country so that from the 15th to the 30th of August we shall see each other.”
From Italy, Rizal left Rome via train to Marseilles. He sailed and landed to Saigon,
Vietnam through the steamer “Djemnah” on July 3, 1887. He reached Manila on August 5
through steamer, “Haiphong” from Vietnam.
First Homecoming
Basically, Rizal decided to go back to the Philippines because of four reasons; (1) to
operate mother’s eyes, (2) to find out the effects of his first novel, (3) to know about the current
state of Leonor Rivera’s life and (4) to serve Calamba’s town men.
Rizal returned to Calamba on August 8 and his family welcomed him with plentiful tears
of joy and worry. He established a medical clinic in Calamba and he was called as “Doctor
Uliman” (Doctor German). His first patient was his mother, who was almost blind. Aside from
eye problems, Rizal also treated other ailments as he acquired lucrative medical practice. As
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Gregorio Zaide mentioned, his professional fees were reasonable as he was able to earn P900 as
a Physician. He also opened a gymnasium for young folks where he introduced European sports
like gymnastics, fencing, and shooting.
For the time being on his hometown, Rizal was summoned by Governor General Emilio
Terrero because of the reactions of some friars and Spanish officials on his “Noli Me Tangere.”
But the Governor General saw no problem on the book, instead, he hired Lt. Jose Taviel de
Andrade to become Rizal’s Calamba bodyguard. Conversely, Archbishop of Manila, Msgr.
Pedro Mayo, a Dominican, sent a copy of Noli, to Fray Rector Gregorio Echavarria of the UST
for examination committee of the faculty. After the UST’s examination, the novel declared as
“heretical, impious, and scandalous in the religious order, and anti-patriotic.” In addition Fr.
Salvador Font, Augustinian curate of Tondo also submitted a report to Governor General on
December 29 that the novel contained subversive ideas against the Church and Spain.
Immediately after he was summoned, as the Calamba men solicited Rizal’s help in
gathering the facts and listing their grievances against the hacienda management. So, Rizal
investigated the issue and enumerated some findings. Then, those findings were reported by
Rizal to the Spanish government. On that note, Calamba people noted him as their town’s
champion.
At this moment, friars pressured Governor General Terrero to advise Rizal to leave the
country because of his actions since May of the same year.
Glossary of Terms
Aritmetica- a scientific book written in Filipino-Spanish by Rufino Baltazar-Hernandez
Chateau d’ If- a fortress in Marseille, France
Circulo Hispano Filipino- a civic organization in Spain whose members were Filipinos and
Spaniards
Diariong Tagalog- a Spanish-Filipino newspaper founded by Marcelo H. Del Pilar in 1882
Filipinologist- an expert academician in Philippine studies; culture, society and politics
Me Piden Versos- (They asked me for verses) Rizal’s poem that reflects how sad it was for him
to be able to stir emotions through his poems but have them stifled by the Spaniards.
Ministerio de Ultramar- ministerial department in charge of the direction of Spanish colonies
between 1863 and 1899
William Tell- story of a folk hero and marksman from Switzerland by Friedrich Schiller
----------------------MODULE 6: RIZAL’S SECOND TRAVEL ABROAD------------------------I. INTRODUCTION
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What Jose Rizal failed to accomplish in his six-month stay in the Philippine during his
first home-coming was to visit Leonor Rivera in Dagupan, Pangasinan. It was the advice of his
father, Francisco that his visit may put Rivera family in to trouble because of his writings. It was
supported by Gregorio Zaide who mentioned that because of hounding movements of his
powerful enemies, he was force to leave the country for the second time in February 1888 even
he was exercising his profession as a “municipal physician” in Calamba.
The second travel abroad of Rizal may be upsetting, but it provided him with another
opportunity to have new set of adventurous journeys. Besides, as an analysis and comparison of
between his first and second journey abroad, his first outside trip in 1882 at the age of 21 could
be exciting because of his eagerness to search for wisdom in the Old World, a romantic idealist
with beautiful dreams of emancipating his people from bondage by the magic power of his pen
as said by Zaide. While his second way to Europe was quietly different in such that this time, he
was in embittered victim of human inequities, disillusioned dreamer and a frustrated reformer.
Your Module 4 contains the story of Rizal’s sad escapade from being in Hong Kong and
Macau in 1888, being with a romantic interlude in Japan, to his visit to the United States of
America, to the time when he met the Filipino reformists in Barcelona and Madrid but had a bad
experience and misfortunes, until his momentous visits in London, Belgium and Paris (for the
Universal Exposition in 1889). Likewise, towards the end of the module, it will mention Rizal’s
decision to return to Manila.
At the end of Module 6, you are expected to answer the key question below:
“What became the essence of Rizal’s required second travel abroad?”
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
In this module, you should able to:
1. Emulate Rizal’s admirable traits while studying and touring Europe
2. Describe the traits of Filipino expatriates in Europe
3. Reflect on the achievements of Rizal during his return to the Philippines
DISCUSSION
Experiences in:
HONG KONG AND MACAU (1888)
Rizal continued his “required outside trip” after being advised to leave the country. With
the help of his relatives, he sailed to Hong Kong through the steamer “Zafiro” but had an
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emergency stopover in Amoy on February 7 because he was not feeling well, it was raining hard
and heard that the city was dirty. On the next day, he landed in mainland Hong Kong and stayed
at Victoria Hotel where he was welcomed by his Filipino friends like Jose Maria Basa, Balbino
Mauricio and Manuel Yriarte. On his letters to Blumentritt, Rizal mentioned that Hong Kong is a
small but very clean city that consisted of may Portuguese, Hindus, English, Chinese and Jews.
To fight boredom, Rizal once visited Macau with Jose Ma. Basa (February 18) through
the ferry steamer “Kiu-Kiang.” Rizal wrote on his diary that Macau was small, low and gloomy
where many junks, smapans but few steamers. In the said place, the two chose to stay at the
home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros. After visiting casinos, churches, botanical garden and
witnessing a Catholic processions for two days, they rertuned to Hong Kong.
Gregorio and Sonia Zaide mentioned that in terms of Rizal’s Hong Kong journey, he
experienced to see noisy celebration of Chinese New Year, to watch boisterous Chinese theatre
with noisy audience, to be with the Marathon Lauriat party, to observe the Dominicans in Hong
Kong and to go to Hong Kong cemeteries for different religions.
Rizal left Hong Kong on board the Oceanic, an American steamer on February 22, 1888
to his destination, Japan.
JAPAN (1888)
On February 28, 1888, he reached Yokohama, Japan and registered at the Grand Hotel.
From March 2-7, Rizal stayed in Tokyo Hotel. Then, as he met Juan Perez Caballero, the
secretary of Spanish legation, he decided to live in a Spanish legation in Tokyo with Caballero.
He knew that Spanish diplomatic authorities from Manila were monitoring his movements in
Japan. That was why he accepted the offer to be in the Spanish legislation house.
Rizal was embarrassed during his first walks in Tokyo because he did not know the
Japanese language. Few days after, one afternoon, he experienced to hear a Tokyo band that
plays European music, and he discovered that some of its members were Filipinos.
Rizal’s impression in Japan on his first time there were: the beauty of the country, the
cleanliness, politeness and industry of the Japanese, the picturesque dress and simple charm of
the Japanese women, there were very few thieves in Japan and beggars were merely seen in the
city streets.
One morning, Rizal met a young Japanese lady, O-Sei-San (Usui Seiko). This lady taught
him different Japanese words, acted as the hero’s tour guide in different shrines and villages,
interpreter and tutor. Later, became lovers but Rizal left her to fulfill his required travel to Spain
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in April 1888. Rizal quoted on his diary; “Japan has enchanted me. The beautiful scenery, the
flowers, the trees, and the inhabitants, so peaceful, so courteous, and so pleasant. O-Sei-San,
Sayonara, Sayonara!”
UNITED STATES (1888)
Rizal decided to go to West through the vessel “Belgic” and met and befriended Tetcho
Suehiro, a human rights fighter who, requested by the Japanese Government to flew. During the
trip to United States until the end of his tour in the US, Rizal acted as an interpreter to Tetcho.
On December 1, 1888 the two parted their ways and Rizal remained in London to conduct his
historical researches at British Museum while Tetcho returned back to Japan.
Rizal first saw the soil of United States on April 28, 1888 at San Francisco, California
through the ship Belgic but quarantined for a week because of Cholera outbreak in Asia. In San
Francisco on May 4-6, 1888, Rizal registered at the Palace Hotel, a first class hotel in the city.
On May 6, Rizal visited the famous states of Oakland and ate supper in Sacramento. Next
day, he took breakfast at Reno, Nevada, the “Biggest Little City in the World.” From May 7-11,
Rizal visited the states of Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois (Chicago) and New York where he
saw the famous Niagara Falls. He stayed in New York from May 13-16 and visited historical
places like the memorial of George Washington and the Statue of Liberty.
In terms of impression, Rizal said that the (1) material progress of the country as shown
in the great cities and huge farms, (2) the drive and energy of the American people, (3) the
natural beauty of the land, (4) high-standard of living and (5) the opportunities for better life
offered to poor immigrants. But he had bad impression, especially in the aspect of racial equality.
UNITED KINGDOM (1888-1889)
After several weeks, Rizal explored United Kingdom through the ship “City of Rome” on
May 16, 1888 because he wanted to improve his English language, to study and annotate the
“Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas,” and London was a safe place for his to carry on his fight
against Spanish tyranny. On May 25, a day after docking at Liverpool, England and staying at
Adelphi Hotel, Rizal went to London to stay at Antonio Ma. Regidor’s house. But days passed,
he transferred to Beckett Family’s boarding residence at No. 37 Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill.
The eldest of the four daughters of the owner, Gertrude (Gettie or Tottie to his friends) became
his girlfriend afterwards.
In order to have wide experiences in Europe, he befriended Dr. Reinhold Rost, a Malayan
language expert. The linguist’s personal Filipiniana library was visited by Rizal. Dr. Rost called
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Rizal as “Una Perla de Hombre” (A Pearl of Man) because of his perseverance in studying. At
the same time, Rizal received several bad news such as; persecution of the Filipino patriots who
signed the “Anti-friar Petition of 1888,” persecution of Calamba tenants, furious attacks on Rizal
by Senators Salamanca and Vida in Spanish Cortes and by Wenceslao Retana and Pablo Feced,
the exile of his brother-inlaw, Manuel Hidalgo to Bohol as per Governor General Valeriano
Weyler and the arrest of his friend Laureano Viado because of possession of Noli. Only one
good thing he received from Mariano Ponce; the defense of Father Vicente Garcia on his novel
against the attacks of the friars.
Towards the end of May 1888, Rizal started to annotate the work of Antonio de Morga in
1609, “Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas” at British Library Museum. It contained also the old
stories of the Philippines written by Fray Chirino, Fray Collin, Fray Argensola and Fray
Plasencia. On March 1889, he finished annotating this book.
On his stay in London, he had frequently visits to Paris and Spain. Early in September
1888, Rizal visited Paris to search for historical materials in Bibliotheque Nationale. At this
moment also, he met Juan Luna, his wife and they little son, Andres at French Metropolis.
Besides, in December 11, 1888, he visited Barcelona and Madrid to meet Bulakenyo
Propagandists, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Mariano Ponce for the first time.
Rizal’s Christmas in London (1888) was a memorable one together with the Beckett
family. He gave a Christmas gift, bust of Emperor Augustus to Ferdinand Blumentritt and a bust
of Julis Caesar to Dr. Carlos Czepelak. Then, Mrs. Beckett gave Rizal about a British magician.
While busy in London, he became the “honorary president” of the patriotic society,
“Asociacion La Solidaridad” in Spain on December 31, 1888 together with his fellow Filipinos
like Galicano Apacible (president), Graciano Lopez Jaena (vice president), Manuel Santa Maria
(secretary), Mariano Ponce (treasurer) and Jose Ma. Panganiban (accountant).
After founding the newspaper, La Solidaridad on February 15, 1889, Rizal congratulated
its founder, Graciano Lopez Jaena and he advised the founder; “be careful not to publish
exaggerations or lies or imitate other, who avail themselves of dishonest means and of vulgar
and ignoble language to attain their ends.” Rizal also contributed to the newspaper by means of
writing his first article to the publication, “Los Agricultores Filipinos.” This newspaper acted as
the “organ” of the Propaganda Movement in Spain that aims to work peacefully for political and
social reforms, to portray the conditions of the Philippines, to advocate liberal ideas and to
champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino people.
Aside from being a writer in La Solidaridad, Rizal also wrote many poems in London
such as “La Revision del Fray Rodriguez” using his pen name “Dimasalang” in order to
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counter attack the remarks of Fray Rodriguez to his Noli and “Letter to the Young Women of
Malolos” (Liham sa mga Kababaihan ng Malolos) in February 22, 1889. Also, some proverbial
sayings and puzzles were made by Rizal on the city.
As mentioned, Rizal and Gertrude Beckett became lovers. The lady helped Pettie (Rizal’s
nickname for Gertrude) in mixing colors for painting and assisted him in preparing the clay for
sculpturing. But on March 19, 1889 Rizal bade goodbye to the lady and left London for Paris
(because he finished annotating the book of Morga) in order to be more experienced man. Rizal
suddenly realized that he could not marry Gettie for he had a mission to fulfill in life.
Because of the Universal Exposition of 1889 in Paris to be held on March of the said
year, Rizal went to Paris but experienced some difficulty of finding quarters because a lot of
tourists were there to see the event. In short time, Rizal lived in the house of Valentin Ventura at
No. 45 Rue Maubeuge where he polished the annotation of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
Further he transferred to the house of Filipinos Captain Justo Trinidad (former Gobernadorcillo
of Santa Ana, Manila) and Jose Albert (student from Manila).
On his spare hours, Rizal visited his friends like Trinidad, Felix, Paz and Joaquin Pardo
de Tavera, Valentin Ventura, Juan Luna, and the Boustead family. On June 24, 1889, Rizal
became the baptismal godfather of Juan and Paz’s second baby which he gave the name “Maria
de la Paz Blanca Laureana Hermenegilda Juana Luna y Pardo de Tavera.”
Rizal was fascinated on the Paris Exposition which was opened on May 6 of the same
year because he saw the Alexandre Gustave Eiffel’s work, Eiffel Tower. Together with his
friends, Rizal attended the opening ceremonies of the event which was also seen by almost
200,000 persons. Besides, the exposition also held an international art competition were Felix
Hidalgo won second, Juan Luna and Felix Pardo de Tavera both settled for third, but Rizal did
not won.
According to some primary sources, he formed some organization, on March 19, 1889 he
organized the group Kidlat Club as a social society aimed to bring together the young Filipinos
in the French capital so that they could enjoy their sojourn in the city. This was membered by
Antonio and Juan Luna, Gregorio Aguilera, Julio Llorente, Pedro Roxas, Fernando Canon and
Lauro Dimayuga.
Indios Bravos replaced Kidlat Club that aimed to excel the intellectual and physical
prowess in Judo, sword and pistol to win the admiration of the foreigners. This was inspired form
the American Indians who were featured in a Buffalo Bull show.
Then, Redencion de los Malayos was a mysterious group established by Rizal also
during the Universal Exposition. It is considered as mysterious by historians in fact that this
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secret society was mentioned only in two letters; “Rizal’s letter to Marcelo H. Del Pilar in
Paris, dated November 4, 1889” and “Rizal’s letter to Jose Ma. Basa in Paris, dated September
21, 1889.” It aimed the propagation of all useful knowledge in the Philippines in order to gain
freedom not in the Philippines but possibly in Borneo. Likewise, it was pattern after
Freemasonry. Rizal’s trusted friends became its members like Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Mariano
Ponce, Gregorio Aguilera, Father Jose Maria Changco, Julio Llorente and Jose M. Basa.
Rizal allegedly published the annotated Morga’s book in 1889 based on his letters to
Blumentritt, Roxas, and Ponce. Other than, he became a “historian” during his stay in Paris as
he wrote several books, essays and other write-ups that depicts Philippine history; “Mayi”
(December 6, 1888), “Tawalisi of Ibn Batuta” (January 7, 1889), “Filipinas dentro de Cien
Años” (December 1889), “Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos” (September 1890), “La
Politica Colonial on Filipinas,” “Manila en el mes Diciembre, 1872” “Historia de la Familia
Rizal de Calamba” and “Los Pueblos del Archipelago Indico.”
In the same year also, Rizal proposed to establish an “International Association of
Filipinologists” to Bumentritt to be inaugurated in Paris on August 1889. As Blumentritt
approved, Rizal wrote the prospectus of the association that aims to study the Philippines from
the scientific and historical point of view. Unfortunately, the inaugural convention did not
materialize because Parish Government discouraged the holding of conferences during the Paris
Exposition.
Apart from, Rizal also planned to establish a Filipino college in Hong Kong that aims to
train and educate men of good family and financial means in accordance with the demands of
modern times. Kapampangan Mariano Cunanan promised to help him raise P40,000 as initial
capital but the plan faded and did not materialize.
BELGIUM
January 28, 1890, Rizal left Paris for Brussels, Belgium for two reasons; the cost of living
in Paris was very high because of the Universal Exposition and the social life in the city
hampered his literary works, especially the writing of his second novel El Filibusterismo.
Rizal probed Belgium as accompanied by Jose Albert when he moved to Brussels. The
two lived in a modest boarding house on 38 Rue Philippe Champagne which was run by Jacoby
sisters (Suzanne and Marie). Later, Albert left the city and was replaced by Jose Alejandrino, an
engineering student in Ghent.
Rizal was busy writing his second novel, articles in La Solidaridad, and also he
established a medical clinic for his Physician duties and a gymnasium for his fencing hobbies. In
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some ways, Rizal also busied himself in advocating the Filipinization of its orthography as he
wrote the article “Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala” in La Solidaridad (April 15,
1890). Rizal mentioned that the Tagalog letters “k” and “w” should be used instead of Spanish
“c” and “o.” (e.g. salakot- salacot/ araw-arao)
On the time also, the Calamba Agrarian trouble became worse as the management of
Dominican hacienda continually raised the land rents until such time that Rizal’s father refused
to pay his rent. Further, the Rizal Family was persecuted; his brother and his brothers-in-law
Antonio Lopez and Silvestre Ubaldo were deported to Mindoro. Besides, Manuel Hidalgo was
exiled to Bohol. Then, Rizal planned to go home.
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. Accordingly, Rizal wrote to Marcelo H. Del Pilar on June 20, 1890 retaining
the latter’s services as lawyer. He further informed Del Pilar that he was going to Madrid, in
order to supervise the handling of the case. After several moments, he went back to Madrid to
seek help for Marcelo H. Del Pilar about their family problem in July 1890. Rizal also heard the
news about Leonor Rivera’s marriage to Henry Charles Kipping.
On the other hand, during his summer time in 1890 at Brussels, Rizal fell in love with the
niece of Jacoby sisters, Petite Susanne despite being engaged to Leonor Rivera. Then, Rizal
chose to go with faraway in Madrid in July 1890, Suzanne could not forget him.
SPAIN
On biographical studies made by Gregorio Zaide on Rizal’s life in Madrid during 1890’s,
he mentioned several misfortunes happened. First, the failure to get justice for his family even he
immediately sought help from his fellow Filipinos and even as he called on the Ministerio de
Ultramar but his pleas were not heard.
Second misfortune happened was the death of Jose Ma. Panganiban when Rizal wrote a
great eulogy expressing how great was Jose Ma. Panganiban and how unfortunate Philippines
because of his death.
Then, the third disaster happened was his aborted duel with Antonio Luna. It was
happened during a social gathering, Luna became drunk and uttered bad remarks against Nellie
Boustead for he was bitter that time. The reason was he failed in winning the heart of the latter
and he blamed Rizal. Rizal heard it and because he does not want women to be disgraced, he
challenged Luna to a fight. Rizal was better pistol shooter while Luna was superior swordsman.
Yet, when Luna became sober, he realized how foolish he did. Immediately, he apologized to
Rizal and the latter forgave making them good friend again.
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The fourth misfortune was when Wenceslao Retana, wrote an article in La Epoca, an
anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid that declares Rizal’s family was ejected from Calamba
because they did not pay their rents. Rizal, after hearing the insult was enraged and challenged
Retana to a duel for only Retana’s blood can be accepted as an apology. Retana who know that
he had no chance of winning, published a retraction and an apology in the same newspaper.
Eventually, he developed a great admiration for Rizal and made the first book-length biography
of the greatest Filipino hero.
The last misfortune happened was the unwanted rivalry between Rizal and Del Pilar
because of the editorial policy of La Solidaridad under Del Pilar’s management. When the year
1890 is about to end, Rizal and his colleagues objected to the periodical’s editorial policy that
contradicted Rizal’s views in political aspect. In order to fix the unity among them, the almost
ninety Filipinos met on January 1, 1891 and it was agreed to have an election to elect the
“Responable” (leader of La Solidaridad) in order to determine the editorial policy that will be
guide the entire publication. To win, they would need two-thirds of the participants vote, then,
Rizal won the first two elections but did not reach two-thirds of the participants vote. With the
exception of, Rizal declined the leadership because he knew there were Pilaristas who didn't like
his views and personalities.
In another vacation in February 1891, Rizal visited Biarritz, France and welcomed by the
Boustead family. He also visited different beaches from Atlantic Ocean.
Rizal fell in love with Nellie, one of the daughters of Mr. Boustead as he saw this girl like
a real Filipina, intelligent and vivacious. Unfortunately, the seems to be a love story of the two
ended because Rizal’s marriage proposal did not materialize for two reasons; (1) he refused to
give up his Catholic faith and be converted to Protestantism and (2) Nellie’s mother disapproved
of Rizal as his son-in-law.
Further, his second novel was finished in the same place on March 29, 1891. Then, after a
day, he bade farewell to the Boustead family and proceeded to Paris via train. By middle of April
1891, he went back to Brussels, Belgium to visit Jacoby sisters.
In January 1891, Rizal retired from the Propaganda Movement because of the intrigues
that he may encounter if he continued his presence in the reform movement. Simultaneously,
Rizal also stopped his writing in La Solidaridad. On the other hand, Del Pilar wrote Rizal on
August 7, 1891 begging forgiveness for any resentment and requesting him (Rizal) to resume his
writings in the publication. However, Rizal refused and explained that he wants to focus on his
writing of the second novel as a continuation of Noli.
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May 30, 1891, the final revisions for the second novel entitled El Filibusterismo was
done in Brussels but he wrote to his friend Jose Ma. Basa that the novel was ready to go to press
but encountered financial problems in terms of very costly printing presses in the city. Moreover,
on July 5, Rizal left Brussels to live in Ghent by means of two reasons: the cost of printing in
Ghent was cheaper than in the Brussels and another reason was to escape from the attraction of
Suzanne Jacoby. In Ghent, he met Jose Alejandrino and Edilberto Evangelista who were students
in the University of Ghent. The Rizal and Alejandrino shared in a room with a box of biscuits as
part of their “merienda.” In Ghent, Rizal found a printing press that offered an installment basis
but only half of the El Filibusterismo was printed, the F. Meyer Van Loo Press located at No.
66 Viaanderen Street. Rizal wrote a letter to Jose Basa in Hong Kong about his frustration of
lacking of funds. Basa offered some money and his friend Rodriguez (amount of P200). On
August 6, the printing had to be suspended because of the required necessary funds to further.
Based on the studies of Gregorio Zaide; “when everything seemed lost, help came from
an unexpected source. Valentin Ventura in Paris learned of Rizal’s predicament and
immediately sent him the necessary funds. With this financial aid, the printing of the Fili was
resumed.” Finally, the novel came off the press on September 18, 1891. Rizal generously sent
the original manuscript to Ventura and other two copies to Hong Kong, one for Basa and other
was for Sixto Lopez.
Other than, Rizal decided to go back to the Philippines because of agrarian issues in
Calamba. Rizal bounded to Hong Kong through the steamer SS Melbourne in November 20,
1891 and welcomed by Jose Ma. Basa. Likewise, he established his residence on No. 2
Rednaxela Terrace, Hong Kong where he opened also his medical clinic.
Rizal wrote to his parents, asking permission to go home, but his brother-in-law Manuel
Hidalgo wrote him and revealed the despair and sorrow of Rizal family because of the
deportation of twenty-five persons from Calamba including his family.
Subsequently, even being deported to other place, Rizal family including Silvestre
Ubaldo (Rizal’s brother-in-law) had a family reunion on Christmas of 1891. This was the
happiest Yuletide celebration in Rizal’s life.
As he practiced Ophthalmology on his clinic in Hong Kong to live with his family, he
befriended Dr. Lorenzo P. Marques who helped him to build up a wide clientele. He operated his
mother again and he had foreign clients like British, Chinese, Portuguese and Americans.
Through his Ophthalmic excellence, he was commended by Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin, Don
Antonio Vergel de Dios and Dr. Geminiano de Ocampo.
On a leisure time at the start of January, Rizal visited Sandakan, Malaysia through the
ship “Menon.” This journey was for his plan to establish a Filipino colony in North Borneo
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(Sabah) after Governor Valeriano Weyler persecuted Calamba men. He negotiated to British
people about the plan in March 7, 1892. This mission was successful
as the British authorities were willing to give the Filipino colonist 100,000 acres of land, a
beautiful harbor and good government for 999 years, free for all charges. On April 20, he went
back to Hong Kong.
The project was supported by his friends in Europe like Luna brothers, Lopez Jaena,
Blumentritt and Bautista Lin. But his brother-in-law Hidalgo did not agree because he believed
that they must not leave a beautiful country like the Philippines and because of other people that
might say.
Through a letter dated December 23, 1891, Rizal asked the new Governor General of the
Philippines, Eulogio Despujol about the proposal in Borneo Colonization project. But the
governor did not recognize his letter.
Anyhow, after three months, Rizal wrote a second letter dated March 21, 1892 requesting
the governor general to permit the landless Filipinos to establish themselves in Borneo. Again,
the official did not recognize the letter, instead, he notified the Spanish consul general in Hong
Kong to tell Rizal that he could not approve his request because he said that “Philippines lacked
laborers.”
Despite being busy as a doctor and advocate for Borneo project, Rizal wrote several
write-ups such as “Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao” (translation of French “The Rights of
Man”), “A La Nacion Española” (depicts wrong doings of Spaniards in Calamba) and “Sa Mga
Kababayan” (explained the Calamba agrarian situation).
For the third time, Rizal wrote a letter to the Governor General Despujol on June 21,
1892 informing the official that he will go to the Philippines and requesting the Spanish
government to place him under protection. Yet, after Rizal’s departure to Hong Kong in June 21,
1892, the Spanish consul in Hong Kong sent a secret telegram to Governor General Despujol
saying that the “Rat is on trap.” Moreover, a secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and
his followers for “anti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation."
Rizal went to the Philippines with his sister Lucia carried a special passport or “safeconduct” issued by the Spanish Consul general in Hong Kong.
Glossary of Terms
Asociacion Hispano-Filipino- Spanish-Filipino organization in Madrid that seek reforms
Asociacion La Solidaridad- patriotic society who wrote articles for the La Solidaridad
Kidlat Club- temporary social club which brought together Filipinos in Madrid
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Indios Bravos- Filipino organization envisioned Filipinos being recognized for their skills
La Solidaridad- newspaper of the Propaganda movement
Pilaristas- supporters of Marcelo H. Del Pilar in Spain
Redencion de los Malayos- organization that aimed to propagate useful knowledge
----------------------------------MODULE 7: RIZAL’S TWO NOVELS-------------------------------I. INTRODUCTION
Comprising of 63 chapters and an epilogue, Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere exposes the abuses
and inequities of many Spanish Catholic friars and government officials during his time. Besides,
Rizal fittingly dedicated the novel to the country of his people whose miseries and sorrows he
brought to light in an attempt to awaken them to the truths concerning the ills of their society.
Paradoxically though, the novel was originally written in Spanish, the language of the colonizers
and the educated at that time.
Many historians mentioned that the 1886 bleak winter was memorable to Rizal because
first, he had a painful experience for being hungry, sick and despondent in the city of Berlin,
Germany and he had sufferings in printing this novel. Besides, as a gist, Rizal had an idea on
writing this novel because of the book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” written by Harriet Beecher Stowe
that portrays the brutal acts of American slave-owners to Negro slaves.
Likewise, El Filibusterismo was written as the sequel of Noli. It was written also in
Spanish but in English, it was known for its alternative title, “The Reign of Greed.” Rizal started
writing the novel in October 1887 in Calamba during his first homecoming. The novel was
written against the background of threats and oppressions he and his family suffered because of
the first novel and the so-called Calamba agrarian trouble.
Moreover, his second novel was dedicated to GOMBURZA because Rizal cannot forget
the execution of these priests during his first year in Ateneo. Rizal dedicated the novel by stating:
“The church, by refusing to degrade you, has placed in doubt the crime that has been imputed
to you; the Government, by surrounding your trials with mystery and shadows, causes the
belief that there was some error.”
At the end of Module 7, you are expected to answer the key question below:
“How can you compare the two novels written by Jose Rizal?”
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
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In this module, you should able to:
1. Recognize the novel that Rizal produced while in Europe
2. Narrate the events that led to the writing of Rizal’s novels
DISCUSSION
Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere was inspired by “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” of Harriet Beecher Stowe
and “The Wandering Jew” of Eugene Sue. Its title was based from the Latin phrase that means
“Touch Me Not.” Its term was coined after from a conversation happened in John 20:17 (Rizal
made a mistake that he said it was from Luke). He started to write the novel from 1884 during
his festivities with Filipinos in Spain until 1886 during his specialization studies in Germany.
Rizal was helped by Dr. Maximo Viola to publish 2,000 copies of the novel through
P300. The novel came-off the press on March 21, 1887 at Berliner Buchdruckerei-Action
Gesselschaft in Berlin, Germany. Definitely, the his first novel was dedicated to the Filipino
nation.
Meanwhile, his second novel (sequel of Noli Me Tangere) was “El Filibusterismo.” The
title was a Spanish phrase that means “The Filibuster” (The Reign of Greed). It came-off the
press on September 18, 1891 at F. Meyer-Van Loo Press in Ghent, Belgium. He started to write
this novel immediately after he wrote the first novel in 1887 and finished its final revisions in
1891 at Belgium.
Likewise, Rizal was helped by Jose M. Basa and Valentin Ventura to publish the novel.
In terms of dedication, Rizal dedicated this to the GOMBURZA priests:
“To the memory of the priests Mariano Gomez (85), Jose Burgos (30) and Jacinto
Zamora (35). Executed at Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of February, 1872.”
Although Rizal made some mistakes on his dedication: February 17, 1872 was the real
date of GOMBURZA’s execution and the correct age of each priest: Padre Gomez was 73, Padre
Burgos was 35 and Padre Zamora was 37.
NOLI ME TANGERE SUMMARY
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra is a young Filipino who, after studying for seven years in Europe,
returns to his native land to find that his father, a wealthy landowner, has died in prison as the
result of a quarrel with the parish curate, a Franciscan friar named Padre Damaso. Ibarra is
engaged to a beautiful and accomplished girl, Maria Clara, the supposed daughter and only child
of the rich Don Santiago de los Santos, commonly known as “Capitan Tiago.” Ibarra resolves to
forego all quarrels and to work for the betterment of his people. To show his good intentions, he
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seeks to establish, at his own expense, a public school in his native town. He meets with
ostensible support from all, especially Padre Damaso’s successor, a young and gloomy
Franciscan named Padre Salvi, for whom Maria Clara confesses to an instinctive dread.
At the laying of the cornerstone for the new schoolhouse, a suspicious accident,
apparently aimed at Ibarra’s life, occurs, but the festivities proceed until the dinner, where Ibarra
is grossly and wantonly insulted over the memory of his father by Fray Damaso. The young man
loses control of himself and is about to kill the friar, who is saved by the intervention of Maria
Clara.
Ibarra is excommunicated, and Capitan Tiago, through his fear of the friars, is forced to
break the engagement and agree to the marriage of Maria Clara with a young and inoffensive
Spaniard provided by Padre Damaso. Obedient to her reputed father’s command and influenced
by her mysterious dread of Padre Salvi, Maria Clara consents to this arrangement, but becomes
seriously ill, only to be saved by medicines sent secretly by Ibarra and clandestinely
administered by a girlfriend.
Ibarra succeeds in having the excommunication removed, but before he can explain
matters, an uprising against the Civil Guard is secretly brought about through agents of Padre
Salvi, and the leadership is ascribed to Ibarra to ruin him. He is warned by a mysterious friend,
an outlaw called Elias, whose life he had accidentally saved; but desiring first to see Maria Clara,
he refuses to make his escape, and when the outbreak page occurs, he is arrested as the instigator
of it and thrown into prison in Manila.
On the evening when Capitan Tiago gives a ball in his Manila house to celebrate his
supposed daughter’s engagement, Ibarra makes his escape from prison and succeeds in seeing
Maria Clara alone. He begins to reproach her because it is a letter written to her before he went
to Europe which forms the basis of the charge against him, but she clears herself of treachery to
him. The letter had been secured from her by false representations and in exchange for two
others written by her mother just before her birth, which prove that Padre Damaso is her real
father. These letters had been accidentally discovered in the convento by Padre Salvi, who made
use of them to intimidate the girl and get possession of Ibarra’s letter, from which he forged
others to incriminate the young man. She tells him that she will marry the young Spaniard,
sacrificing herself thus to save her mother’s name and Capitan Tiago’s honor and to prevent a
public scandal, but that she will always remain true to him. Ibarra’s escape had been effected by
Elias, who conveys him in a banka up the Pasig to the Lake, where they are so closely beset by
the Civil Guard that Elias leaps into the water and draws the pursuers away from the boat, in
which Ibarra lies concealed.
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On Christmas Eve, at the tomb of the Ibarras in a gloomy wood, Elias appears, wounded
and dying, to find there a boy named Basilio beside the corpse of his mother, a poor woman who
had been driven to insanity by her husband’s neglect and abuses on the part of the Civil Guard,
her younger son having page disappeared some time before in the convento, where he was a
sacristan. Basilio, who is ignorant of Elias’s identity, helps him to build a funeral pyre, on which
his corpse and the madwoman’s are to be burned. Upon learning of the reported death of Ibarra
in the chase on the Lake, Maria Clara becomes disconsolate and begs her supposed godfather,
Fray Damaso, to put her in a nunnery. Unconscious of her knowledge of their true relationship,
the friar breaks down and confesses that all the trouble he has stirred up with the Ibarras has been
to prevent her from marrying a native, which would condemn her and her children to the
oppressed and enslaved class. He finally yields to her entreaties and she enters the nunnery of St.
Clara, to which Padre Salvi is soon assigned in a ministerial capacity.
EL FILIBUSTERISMO SUMMARY
The protagonist of El Filibusterismo is a jeweler named Simoun. He is the new identity of
Crisostomo Ibarra who, in the prequel Noli, escaped from pursuing soldiers. It is revealed that
Crisostomo dug up his buried treasure and fled to Cuba, becoming richer and befriending
Spanish officials.
After many years, the newly fashioned Simoun returns to the Philippines, where he is
able to freely move around. He is a powerful figure not only because of his wealth but also
because he is a good friend and adviser of the governor general. Outwardly, Simoun is a friend
of Spain; however, in secret, he is plotting a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities. His
two obsessions are to rescue his paramour Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara and to
foment a Philippine revolution against Spain.
The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board a steamer ship sailing up the Pasig river
from Manila to Laguna de Bay. Among the passengers are Simoun; Doña Victorina, a proSpanish native woman who is going to Laguna in search of her henpecked husband, Tiburcio de
Espadaña, who has deserted her; Paulita Gomez, her beautiful niece; BenZayb (anagram of
Ibañez), a Spanish journalist who writes silly articles about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vicerector of the University of Santo Tomas; Padre Camorra, the parish priest of the town of Tiani;
Don Custodio, a pro-Spanish Filipino holding a position in the government; Padre Salvi, thin
Franciscan friar and former cura of San Diego; Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the
Filipino students; Padre Florentino, a retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino priest; Isagani, a
poet-nephew of Padre Florentino and a lover of Paulita; and Basilio, son of Sisa and promising
medical student, whose medical education is financed by his patron, Capitan Tiago.
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A man of wealth and mystery, Simoun is a very close friend and confidante of the
Spanish governor general. Because of his great influence in Malacañang, he was called the
“Brown Cardinal” or the “Black Eminence”. By using his wealth and political influence, he
encourages corruption in the government, promotes the oppression of the masses, and hastens the
moral degradation of the country so that the people may become desperate and fight. He
smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich Chinese merchant, Quiroga, who aspires
to be Chinese consul of Manila. His first attempt to begin the armed uprising did not materialize
because at the last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in the nunnery. In his
agonizing moment of bereavement, he did not give the signal for the outbreak of hostilities.
After a long time of illness brought about by the bitter loss of Maria Clara, Simoun
perfects his plan to overthrow the government. On the occasion of the wedding of Paulita Gomez
and Juanito Pelaez, he gives a wedding gift to them a beautiful lamp. Only he and his
confidential associates, Basilio (Sisa’s son who joined his revolutionary cause), know that when
the wick of his lamp burns lower the nitroglycerine, hidden in its secret compartment, will
explode, destroying the house where the wedding feast is going to be held killing all the guests,
including the governor general, the friars, and the government officials. Simultaneously, all the
government buildings in Manila will be blown by Simoun’s followers.
As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has been rejected by Paulita because
of his liberal ideas, is standing outside the house, sorrowfully watching the merriment inside.
Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away because the lightened lamp will soon explode. A visitor
saw a piece of paper and read the words inside, “You will die tonight – Juan Crisostomo Ibarra.”
Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani realizes that his beloved Paulita is in grave
danger. To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the lightened lamp, and hurls it into the
river, where it explodes. The revolutionary plot is thus discovered. Simoun is cornered by the
soldiers, but he escapes. Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure chest, he seeks refuge in
the home of Padre Florentino by the sea.
The Spanish authorities, however, learns of his presence in the house of Padre Florentino.
Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest by letter that he will come at eight
o’clock that night to arrest Simoun. He eludes arrest by taking poison. As he is dying, he
confesses to Padre Florentino, revealing his true identity, his dastardly plan to use his wealth to
avenge himself, and his sinister aim to destroy his friends and enemies. The confession of the
dying Simoun is long and painful. It is already night when Padre Florentino, wiping the sweat
from his wrinkled brow, rises and begins to meditate. He consoles the dying man saying: “God
will forgive you Señor Simoun. He knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you have
suffered, and in ordaining that the chastisement for your faults should come as death from the
very ones you have instigated to crime, we can see His infinite mercy. He has frustrated your
plans one by one, the best conceived, first by the death of Maria Clara, then by a lack of
preparation, then in some mysterious way. Let us bow to His will and render Him thanks!”
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Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and at peace with God, Padre
Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for the dead jeweler. The priest then takes the treasure
chest and throws it into the sea.
-------------------------------------MODULE 8: RIZAL’S EXILE---------------------------------------I. INTRODUCTION
Jose Rizal is, in the annals of heroism, an anomaly. He was a man of science, a scholar
and writer, and to many young Filipinos is idealized as a model son and something of a ladies’
man. Unlike other national heroes, he did not bear arms or lead an army. Indeed, he preached
against an armed rebellion, believing his country folk were yet unprepared for battle and so
concluded that a revolution was bound to fail.
Likewise, his journey to heroism maybe traced from his writing of Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo until his execution in Bagumbayan. But many historians mentioned that Rizal’s
execution will not be happened if he did not write those two controversial novels. Moreover, this
module may discuss the journey of Rizal from his affiliation with some patriotic organizations
until his exile in Dapitan.
On the other hand, Rizal’s second homecoming can be considered as his re-entry into the
hazardous campaign for reforms. Based on writings of Gregorio Zaide, Rizal firmly believed that
the fight for Filipino liberties had assumed a new phase; and it must be fought in the Philippines
not in Spain. This passage supported the remark of Rizal on his comrades in Europe that “the
battlefield is in the Philippines,” that was why he also insisted that Filipinos must help one
another, there together Filipinos will suffer or triumph perhaps. Immediately two months after
stating the mentioned phrase, Rizal told Blumentritt; “I believe that La Solidaridad is no longer
our battlefield; now it is a new struggle… the fight is no longer in Madrid.” Nonetheless, we can
surmise that Rizal now wants to involve the entire country to seek reform.
At the end of Module 8, you are expected to answer the key question below:
“How can you describe the burden on Rizal’s life before he was sentenced to death?”
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
In this module, you should able to:
1. Appreciate Rizal’s use of history to arouse Filipino nationalism
2. Describe the Filipino’s reaction to Rizal’s Noli and El Fili
3. Discuss the achievements of Rizal in Dapitan
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DISCUSSION
Reactions about “Noli” When his “first homecoming” was held, he immediately turned
back abroad after several months because of the “opponents” of Noli:
1. Fr. Bernardino Nozaleda- requested Gov. Emilio Terrero to check the novel in 1887
2. Fr. Pedro Payo- formed a committee of faculty members in UST to investigate
3. Fr. Salvador Font- leader of Permanent Commission of Censorship who found Noli as
subversive
4. Fr. Jose Rodriguez - wrote eight anti-Noli pamphlets including “Caiigat Cayo”
5. Vicente Barrantes- Madrid academician who criticized Noli in an article
6. Gen. Jose Salamanca
7. Gen. Luis de Pando
8. Senior Fernando Vida
BUT NOLI WAS DEFENDED BY THE FOLLOWING:
1. Fr. Vicente Garcia- said that the writer of Noli was not an “ignorant” and used the name
“Justo Desiderio Magalang” to write some defends to Noli
2. Francisco Sanchez- defended Noli in public
3. Ferdinand Blumentritt- “Liker of Noli”
4. Segismundo Moret- Spanish Minister of Crown who also supported the novel
5. Propaganda members
Nonetheless, a secret case against Rizal was filed for anti-catholic public campaign when
he had his “second homecoming.”
When Rizal arrived on the noon of June 26, 1892 in Manila with Lucia, they met many
soldiers before he checked-in to Hotel de Oriente because of the allegations to him. At 4:00 in
the afternoon, Rizal went to Malacañang Palace to confer with Governor General Despujol but
he was told to come back at night. 7:00 pm of the same day, Rizal finally talked with the
Governor General about his plan for colony but the official agreed only to pardon his father but
not the rest of his family and advised him to return on June 29.
BEING INVOLVED IN LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
On the next day (June 27, 1892), he boarded a train to Tutuban station in order to visit his
friend, Antonio Bautista in Malolos, Everisto Puno in Tarlac and some colleagues in San
Fernando and Bacolor, Pampanga. Rizal took this pooprtunity to get the support of these friends
for his reform crusade.
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He had several meetings with Governor General Despujol on June 29, 30 and July 3 but
his Sabah proposal was rejected, instead, the official only granted pardon to his relatives who
had been exiled in different areas in the country.
Evening of July 3, Rizal held a meeting at the house of Doroteo Ongjunco in Ilaya Street,
Tondo, Manila and founded “La Liga Filipina.” The meeting was joined by Andres Bonifacio,
Apolinario Mabini, Pedro Serrano Laktaw (Panday Pira), Domingo Franco (Felipe Real), Jose A.
Ramos (Scorro), Ambrosio Salvador, Bonifacio Arevalo (Harem), Luis Villareal, Faustino
Villaruel (Ilaw), Mariano Crisostomo, Numeriano Adriano (Ipil), Estanislao Legaspi, Teodoro
Plata and Juan Zulueta. An election of officers for the Supreme Council was held also at the
meeting that resulted to Ambrosio Salvador being the President, Agustin dela Rosa as the Fiscal,
Bonifacio Arevalo hailed as the treasurer and Deodato Arellano placed as the secretary. Other
than, Rizal also proclaimed that there will be also a Provincial Council in every province and
Popular Council in very town.
On the meeting, Rizal explained the objectives of the La Liga Filipina as a civic league of
Filipinos that aimed to unite the whole archipelago into a homogenous body, to have a mutual
protection in every want and need, to defense against all violence and injustice, to encourage
education, agriculture and commerce, and to study and applied the reforms. Rizal also explained
that the motto of the organization will be “Unus Instar Omnium” (One Like All).
Rizal attended a meeting on July 6 with Governor General Despujol after several talks, he
was arrested when authorities discovered on Lucia’s pillows in the hotel some “Pobres Frailes”
leaflets written as a satire against the rich Dominicans by Fr. Jacinto. This moment caused him to
be imprisoned in Fort Santiago in ten days but the Spanish officials decided to exile him in
Dapitan starting July 3 of the year.
The gubernatorial decree gave the reasons for Rizal’s deportation as such as he had
published books and articles abroad that showed disloyalty to Spain, his sister possessed bundle
of handbills entitled Pobres Frailes and he had written a novel (El Filibusterismo) which was
dedicated to traitors; GOMBURZA.
Besides, the La Liga Filipina dissolved and split into two; “Cuerpo de los
Compromisarios” headed by Aplonario Mabini and “Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang na
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” directed by Andres Bonifacio.
DEPORTATION AS EXILE TO DAPITAN
Through steamer “Cebu,” Rizal landed in Dapitan on July 14, 1892 carried a letter from
Fr. Pablo Pastells (Superior of the Jesuit Society in the Philippines) to Fr. Antonio Obach. He
was accompanied by Captain Ricardo Carnicero on his first day and decided to live in the house
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of the captain instead of Jesuit Mission House of Fr. Obach in July 17. Carnicero reported to
officials that Rizal only wanted the reform in religion and press. As evidence of his esteem, Rizal
wrote a poem, “A Don Ricardo Carnicero” on August 26, 1892 on the captain’s birthday.
After several days, Rizal, Carnicero and a Filipino native from Dapitan, Francisco
Equilior won a government-owned lottery through mail boat “Butuan” with P20,000 on
September 21, 1892. Through his P6,200 part from the prize money from the Ticket No. 9736,
Rizal gave P2,000 to his father, P200 to Jose M. Basa in Hong Kong and the latter amount was
allotted for his 16-hectare land on Talisay in January 1893.
Rizal developed a community in Talisay where he established three houses; square,
hexagon at octagon in shape. Likewise, he became a teacher of three students until it became 21
in 1893 until his exile in 1896 with lessons in geography, history, mathematics and industrial
works. Further, in honor of Talisay, he wrote a poem entitled “Himno A Talisay” for his pupils
to sing. In Dapitan and Talisay, he continued his profession as a doctor in through sailing with
his “baroto” boat.
Rizal worked also as a scientist on the area where he discovered the new species of
animals; Draco Rizali (Flying lizard), Rhacophorus Rizali (Tree frog) and Apogonia Rizali
(Beetle). Some of his specimen discoveries were sent to his friends in Europe. In comparison
with, Rizal also used his knowledge as a land surveyor when he constructed a water system of
waterworks in order to furnish clean water to the townpeople.
Rizal cultivated his land in Talisay with Lanzones, Mangoes, Macopa, Langka, Coffee
etc. He introduced modern methods of agriculture based on Europe and America to his pupils
who helped him in the daily farm labor.
Rizal also engaged in artistic works as exile. He contributed his painting skills to the
Sisters of Charity who were preparing the sanctuary of the Holy Virgin in their private chapel.
One day in 1894, he modeled the “Mother’s Revenge” after the puppy of his dog, Syria was
devoured by a crocodile. Aside from these, he also made sculptures like the bust of Fr. Guerrico
(his former professor), “The Dapitan Girl” and the bust of Saint Paul that he gave to Fr. Pastells.
In the field of business, Rizal had a partnership with Ramon Carreon that led them to
have profitable business ventures in fishing, copra, and hemp industries.
Alongside, Rizal became also an inventor during his Dapitan exile. He invented a
machine that could manufacture about 6,000 bricks daily. Aside from, Rizal also remembered as
an inventor during his 1887 stay in Calamba when he invented a cigarette lighter called
“Sulpukan” that he gave to Blumentritt.
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Fr. Pastells ordered two Jesuits from Mindanao; Fr. Obach (cura of Dapitan) and Fr. Jose
Villaclara (cura of Dipolog) to bring back Rizal within the Catholic fold. Further, Fr. Pastells
assigned also Rizal’s favorite teacher in Ateneo, and the only Spanish priest to defend Noli Me
Tangere, Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez. For once, Rizal could not be convinced by his former
beloved teacher. But despite his failure to persuade Rizal, Fr. Sanchez assisted Rizal in
beautifying the town plaza and putting a relief map of Mindanao on the said plaza.
Notwithstanding, Rizal also had a scholarly and religious debate with Fr. Pastells started
when the priest sent him a book in 1892 with advice that Rizal should desist from his foolishness
in viewing religion from the prism of individual judgment. The debate also may be read in four
letters written by Rizal from September 1, 1892 until April 1893. Despite their religious
differences, Fr. Pastells gave Rizal a copy of the book, “Imitacion de Cristo” written by Fr.
Thomas a Kempis.
While Rizal was still debating with Fr. Pastells through letters, Rizal involved in a quarrel
with Juan Lardet, a French businessman who purchased logs from Rizal but so happened that
some of the logs were poor quality. Lardet expressed his disgust to Antonio Miranda, another
merchant in Dapitan, a friend of Rizal. Then, Miranda forwarded Lardet’s letter to Rizal and the
hero get angry and challenged the Frenchman in a duel. As well, Capt. Carnicero told the Lardet
to apologize rather accept the challenge. Then, Lardet wrote an apology letter to Rizal in French,
dated on March 30, 1893.
In the same year, Rizal was visited by her mother to cure her eye problem for the second
time together with his sisters Trinidad, Maria, Narcisa and some of his nephews. Through that
visit, he learned that Leonor Rivera died because of her birth delivery on her second child. Some
of his sisters like Maria and Narcisa, niece and nephews Angelica, Mauricio, Estanislao and
Teodocio followed to visit him in the place. Therewithal, during his busy days in Dapitan, his
mother saw his efforts as a person and regretted that he had neglected the Muses. Then, his
mother requested him to write a poem, so, he complied by writing a beautiful poem, “Mi
Retiro.”
Governor General Ramon Blanco replaced Governor General Despujol as Governor
General of the Philippines and replaced Capt. Carnicero as Dapitan’s captain to Juan Sitges. This
governor general wanted to investigate the profile of Rizal that was why he sent spy named
Matias Arrieta to Rizal’s house but later, Rizal discovered his mission.
Another spy named Pablo Mercado was sent in November 3, 1893 as this man
introduced himself as a relative of Rizal showing a pair of buttons with initials “P.M.” This
strange visitor offered his services as a confidential courier of Rizal’s letters and writings for the
patriots in Manila. Yet, Rizal, irked by the impostor’s lies, he wanted to throw him out of the
house but he decided to let this man stay on the house for the night because it was raining.
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During his duty days as a doctor, he met an Irish lady named Josephine Bracken in
Dapitan when her adopted father George Tauffer together with the Filipina Manuela Orlac,
consulted Rizal for an eye treatment. The two fell in love with each other after the death of
Leonor Rivera on August 28, 1893. They were refused to be married by Fr. Obach because they
did not have any permission from Cebu’s bishop.
When Tauffer heard the projected marriage, he flared up and tried to commit suicide
through cutting his throat with a razor. Yet, Rizal aborted this attempt and Josephine
accompanied Tauffer to back in Manila. Then, Tauffer returned alone to Hong Kong but
Josephine stayed in Manila with Rizal’s family and later went back to Dapitan. They decided to
live their own and their love gave them a child named “Francisco” who died immediately after
giving birth because of being pre-mature in 1895.
The Katipunan in Manila wanted to consult Rizal I terms of the revolution. Dr. Pio
Valenzuela became an emissary of Bonifacio to Rizal in Dapitan to seek advice in June 1896.
Yet, Rizal refused the idea of revolution because the planned revolution is premature and not yet
ready. Rizal advised the revolutionaries to convince influential people from Manila and other
countries to support the revolution.
Rizal received a news from Blumentritt that a revolution was happening in Cuba and was
raged by Yellow Fever in 1895. That happening caused Rizal to write a letter to Governor
volunteering as a doctor in Cuba in December 17, 1895 because of the shortage of Physicians
there. Months had passed, he received a reply from Malacañang and allowed him to go (July 30,
1896).
On July 31, Rizal left Dapitan with Josephine, Narcisa, three nephews and three students
to the ship “España.” They had stopovers in Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz and Romblon.
They docked in Manila and refused to be rescued by the Katipunan members led by Bonifacio
and Jacinto (August 6, 1896). Unfortunately, Rizal was not able to catch the mail ship Isla de
Luzon for Spain because it had departed the previous day at 5:00 pm. Further, Rizal transferred
to steamer “Castilla” in Cavite by order of Govenor General Blanco. On his stay in Castilla, he
heard the news that an uprising led by Katipunan was happening in Manila and he worried for
two reasons; the revolution he believed would be premature and it would arouse Spanish
vengeance against all Filipinos. Rizal stayed on the cruiser from August 6 to September 2 before
transferring to “Isla de Panay” which was sailing for Barcelona, Spain. Governor Blanco
cleared Rizal’s name in the revolution in Manila by giving him a clearance letter as a gate pass to
Cuba.
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Immediately after Rizal’s departure in Manila, the revolution led by Katipunan
continuously broke-out when they attacked the El Polverin in San Juan del Monte in August 30.
At the same time, the eight provinces who believed to be involved in the said uprising like
Bulacan, Manila, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas were declared
under Martial Law by Governor General Blanco.
-----------------------------MODULE 9: RIZAL’S TRIAL AND EXECUTION--------------------I. INTRODUCTION
Dr. Ambeth R. Ocampo, a famous Rizal expert, pondered Rizal’s situation during his trial
on his article written in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“Jose Rizal knew he was a marked man when he disembarked from the steamer that
brought him from Hong Kong to Manila in 1892. He chose to stay in a hotel and told relatives
and friends who had offered their hospitality that this was not a snub but for their own good.
Agents from Cuerpo de Vigilancia had trailed him, noting every place he visited, whom he met,
and what he did. I have not seen the actual documents, but I presume these would be so detailed
to contain: the color of his hat or the food he had for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and merienda in
between. The surveillance reports can be deduced from the questions Rizal was asked at the
beginning of his trial for treason four years.”
Gregorio and Sonia Zaide insist that being a no longer an exile, Rizal had a pleasant trip
from his exile in Dapitan to his journey to Manila in order to go to Cuba as a military doctor.
These two historians mentioned that this was the “Last Trip Abroad” of Rizal. The fate of Rizal
started to end at this moment. The time when he was arrested in Barcelona that led to his last
homecoming in 1896 was his saddest return to his beloved native land as he faced the supreme
test which might mean the sacrifice of his life. Many Rizal scholars mentioned that despite
having a tried with a so called “Kangaroo court,” one thing was for sure. The Spaniards were
ready to shoot a rat inside a cage no matter what the trial may give.
At the end of Module 9, you are expected to answer the key question below:
“How the death of Rizal became the inspiration of Filipinos’ sparkplug for the an armed
revolution against Spain?”
II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES/OBJECTIVES
In this module, you should able to:
1. Discuss the trial and execution of Rizal in the context of Philippine revolution
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2. Signify how the Katipunan value Rizal as leading nationalist and an idol to the
revolutionary movement
DISCUSSION
JOURNEY TO KANGAROO COURT
Rizal left Manila on September 3, 1896 to Barcelona as Governor Blanco issued two
letters of recommendation to Ministerio de Ultramar in Spain saying that Rizal is cleared of any
connection to revolution in Manila. The two letters of introduction were identical. The one
addressed personally to Rizal and another one was for General Marcelo de Azcarraga of
Ministerio de Ultramar. Rizal met Pedro Camus and Don Pedro Roxas, a rich creole from Manila
and his son Periquin as a fellow passenger. When the boat Isla de Panay arrived in Singapore
(September 7), Rizal was urged by his two met passengers to escape in Singapore to save his life
but he refused. Rizal believed that Governor General Blanco was a man of honor.
However, Rizal was unaware that the Governor General and the head of Ministerio de
Ultramar had exchanged letters to plan Rizal’s arrest in Barcelona because he was considered
now as a “dangerous Filipino” who was responsible for the raging Philippine revolution.
Afternoon of September 8, Rizal and Isla de Panay left Singapore to Barcelona unaware of the
negotiations made by the Spanish officials for him. A stopover in Port Said in Egypt near Suez
Canal happened on September 28 wherein a passenger told him that he would be arrested by
order of Governor General Blanco and he would be sent to prison in Ceuta opposite Gibraltar.
The other passengers in the steamer started to avoid him to talk.
Before reaching Malta on September 30, the Captain Alemany informed Rizal that he
will be arrested and detained because of a file charged against him and he was advised to stay on
his cabin. He reached Barcelona as a prisoner on October 3 and placed under the custody of
General Eulogio Despujol, the former governor general of the Philippines.
Rizal detained temporarily on October 6 at Montjuich Castle under the control of
Governor General Despujol. Rizal was interrogated on Despujol’s headquarters which lasted
quarter of an hour. Besides, he was brought back to the Philippines on the same day with the ship
“Colon.”
During the journey to Manila, a friendly officer told Rizal that Madrid newspapers were
full of stories about the bloody revolution in the Philippines and were blaming him for it. On
October 11, before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary was confiscated and was critically examined
(but returned on November 2) and his cabin was search thoroughly by the authorities.
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Rizal’s friends Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez attempted to rescue Rizal in
Singapore by means of a writ of habeas corpus as they dispatched telegrams to English lawyer in
Singapore, Hugh Fort. When Rizal and the steamer Colon reached Singapore, Atty. Fort
instituted proceedings at the Singapore Court for removal of Rizal from the steamer because he
was illegally detained there. But Chief Justice Lionel Cox of Singapore denied the writ saying
that the steamer was carrying Spanish troops in the Philippines and it was beyond the jurisdiction
of Singapore law.
After landing in Manila on November 3, he was imprisoned to the Fort Santiago as
“incommunicado.” Besides, Spanish authorities grabbed several evidences against Rizal as they
arrested and tortured some of his relatives and friends like Paciano, Deodato Arellano, Dr. Pio
Valenzuela, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Timoteo Paez and Pedro Serrano
Laktaw.
On the preliminary investigation happened on November 20, Col. Francisco Olive
interrogated accused Rizal of being the responsible and master-mind for the uprising in Manila
on August 1896. But Rizal was not permitted to confront those who testified against him. The
official showed a bundle of evidences that Rizal was heretic and proIndio who supported the
happened revolt. Two sets of evidences were presented against him: first, the documentary
evidences like; Letter to Antonio Luna and Marcelo H. Del Pilar (October 16, 1888), Letter to
his family (August 20, 1890), Letter to Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Deodato Arellano (January 7,
1889), Kundiman (September 12, 1891), Letter to Carlos Oliver (September 18, 1891), Masonic
Document (February 9, 1892), Letter to Juan Zulueta “Tenluz” (May 24, 1892), Letter to an
unidentified committee (June 1, 1892), Undated Letter to the editor of Hong Kong Telegraph,
Letter from Ildefonso Laurel (September 3, 1892), Letter from Ildefonso Laurel (1893) Letter of
Marcelo H. Del Pilar to Juan Zulueta (June 1, 1893), Speech of Emilio Jacinto in Katipunan
(July 23, 1893), Speech of Jose T. Santiaggo in Katipunan (July 23, 1893) and A Talisay.
Anyhow, the second cluster of evidences presented were the oral testimonies of Martin
Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco,
Deodato Arellano, Ambrosio Salvador, Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Antonio
Salazar, Francisco Quison and Timoteo Paez.
The Spanish official submitted the interrogation reports to Governor Blanco on
November 26. Then, Capt. Rafael Dominguez was assigned to be a special judge advocate. They
made a summary of the case and submitted to judge advocate general Nicolas Dela Peña. Other
than, Dela Peña recommended three major scenes; (1) Rizal must be brought to a trial, (2) Rizal
must be kept in jail during the time of trial and (3) Rizal must have a Spanish army officer for as
a lawyer not a civilian lawyer. Among the 100 choices offered by the Spanish authorities, Rizal
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chose Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade to be his lawyer, the brother of his former bodyguard in
Calamba on December 8.
Charges were formally read to Rizal on December 11. Yet, the primary accusation was
being the main organizer of revolution and forming of illegal organization. He pleaded not guilty
to the crime by explaining his side.
In the midst of Rizal’s trial, Governor General Camilo Polavieja replaces Governor
General Blanco as Governor General of the Philippines on December 13.
Rizal wrote a manifesto to Filipinos to stop the revolution but Governor Polavieja
through the advice of Judge Advocate Dela Peña, disallowed to issue it because it may cause a
severe influence to continue the massive struggle against them. The trial was decided to be
happened at Cuartel de España (military court) to be led by Jose Togores Arjona and
subordinated by Capt. Ricardo Muñoz Arias, Capt. Manuel Reguera, Capt. Santiago Izquierdo
Osorio, Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nuñez, Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano, and Capt. Fermin Perez
Rodriguez.
HAPPENINGS ON RIZAL’S TRIAL
Among the spectators were Josephine Bracken, some newspapermen and many
Spaniards. Capt. Dominguez presented Rizal’s case on the day of the formal trial under a
Military court (December 26). Enrique de Alcocer, prosecuting attorney, mentioned a dramatic
speech about the lives of Spaniards who died in the revolution because of Rizal’s cause and later,
he petitioned for a death sentence to the accused. Withal, Lt. Andrade defended the side of the
Filipinos for being thirsty for their freedom that caused the revolt. Rizal had his defense speech
explaining that La Liga Filipina was a civic organization that seeks reform not a revolutionary
group. Rizal added that he even advised Valenzuela to not pursue the planned revolution and he
logically explained that if he was a true traitor, he could escaped in Dapitan or in Singapore
during the time that he was there.
Despite all that Rizal was said, Alcocer petitioned for a death sentence to Rizal. That
move was followed by Col. Arjona’s declaration that the trial was over and the jury voted for the
death sentence. Formally, Rizal was found guilty and sentenced to death by firing squad.
Governor General Polavieja signed the decision on December 28 with the date of execution on
the morning of December 30 and its place at Bagumbayan. Notwithstanding, Archbishop
Nozaleda of Manila convinced Jesuit members to give spiritual consolation for Rizal in order to
retract his Masonry linkage, a chance for him to save his life for the last minute.
RIZAL’S LAST MOMENTS
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December 29, 1896
6:00 AM, Capt. Dominguez read the death sentence to Rizal on his prison cell. 7:00 AM,
Rizal went to prison chapel and was visited by Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata, Fr. Luis Viza, Balaguer,
Jose Villaclara, Estanislao March and Federico Faura. 7:15 AM, Fr. Saderra left and Fr. Viza
gave Rizal a medal of Ateneo’s Marian Congregation and his former wood sculpture in Ateneo,
the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He accepted the statue but he refused the medal by saying, “I’m little
of a Marian, Father!” This first step of Jesuit convincing was rejected by Rizal.
8:00 AM, the two priests left and another priest visited, Fray Antonio Rosell. They had
shared breakfast but the priest’s intention to talk about a “retraction” was interrupted when Lt.
Luis Taviel de Andrade came to inform him that he will be interviewed by Santiago Mataix of
Spanish newspaper “El Heraldo de Madrid.” 9:00 AM, Fray Federico Faura visited and advised
him to forget about his resentment in order to marry his wife Josephine Bracken canonically.
Spaniards maybe didn’t allow Rizal to marry with Catholic rites because they believe that Rizal
was a filibuster, unless if he will retract his anti-Catholic works. Their conversation had heated
when it became deeper and touch the topics on religion. Their conversation was witnessed by Fr.
Rosell.
10:00 AM, Fr. Jose Villaclara and Fr. Vicente Balaguer visited Rizal. Then, the interview
from El Heraldo de Madrid was held. From 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Rizal left alone; took his
lunch, wrote his farewell poem and hid inside his alcohol cooking stove (gift from Paz Pardo de
Tavera in 1890) and wrote his last letter to Blumentritt indicating “my best, my dearest friend!”
4:00 PM, Rizal was visited by his mother, Trinidad, other sisters and some nephews.
Rizal knelt down to his mother, kissed her hands and begging her to forgive him, while his
mother was crying as the guards separated them. At this moment, he gave an alcohol cooking
stove to Trinidad inside his poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios.” He met also his wife, Josephine with his
sister Josefa. 8:00 PM, Rizal had his last supper and informed Capt. Dominguez he already
forgave his enemies including the military judges.
CONTROVERSIAL RETRACTION PAPERS
Pursuant to many historians, the last 25 hours of Dr. Jose Rizal became the most
controversial part of his life. In fact, many allegations, rumors and stories from other people who
had a closed-contact with Rizal during that time mentioned differently. But one of the most
controversial parts of his last 25 hours was his “rumored” retraction papers.
On the evening of December 28, 1896 two days after Rizal was executed, the current
Archbishop of Manila, Fr. Bernardino Nozaleda requested the Jesuit Professors of Rizal in
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Ateneo Municipal to give him some spiritual consolation. Part of this was to convince him to
“retract” his Freemasonry linkages.
Based on the statements of Fr. Vicente Balaguer in Murcia, Spain on August 8, 1917,
during December 29, 1896 he went to Rizal on 11:00 AM together with Fray Jose Villaclara
tried to convince him to write a retraction paper. But still believing in the Holy Scriptures, he
supposedly refused to retract his anti-Catholic views by exclaiming, “Look, Fathers, if I should
assent to all you say and sign all you want me to, just to please you, neither believing nor
feeling, I would be a hypocrite and would then be offending God!” But there are some
historians believed that Rizal had a deal with the friars that he will make a retraction paper in
return, they will allow him to marry with Josephine Bracken and produce a marriage certificate.
Allegedly, friars agreed with this deal. After their conversation, Fr. Balaguer reported to the
Archbishop that the only hope to save the life of Rizal was to retract. At 2:00 PM, Rizal had talks
with Fr. Estanislao March and Fr. Jose Villaclara then, Fr. Balaguer returned to his cell at 3:30
PM to discuss (again) the retraction. History did not know about the result of their second
discussion.
5:30 PM, Don Silvino Lopez Tuñon, the Dean of the Manila Cathedral, accompanied by
Frs. Balaguer, March and Villaclara, talk to Rizal and exchange some views with him. Historians
did not find any papers about their conversations. History hide the bulk of their meetings but one
thing is for sure, this was about the retraction paper of Rizal.
Before he took his last supper, he had confessed to Fray Faura. Afterwards, an amiable
talk happened to Rizal and Manila’s Royal Audiencia Fiscal Don Gaspar Cestaño at 9:30 PM.
Based on historians Gregorio and Sonia Zaide, the most controversial part of Rizal’s
alleged retraction happened on the night of December 29. At 10:00 PM, Rizal and some Catholic
friars worked on his retraction papers. Fr. Balaguer allegedly brought a retraction draft to Rizal
made by Archbishop Nozaleda but our hero did not like it because it was too long. Fray Pio Pi,
the Superior of Jesuit Mission in the Philippine, made a shorter retraction paper that was liked by
Rizal and signed it. This retraction paper was about Rizal’s renouncing of Freemasonry linkage
and his anti-Catholic ideas (including his works Noli and El Fili). Conforming to the statements
of Fr. Balaguer, the retraction paper was also signed by two witnesses; Juan Del Presno, chief of
the Civil Guards who watched Rizal in Fort Santiago and Eloy Maure, adjutant of plaza in
Intramuros. Rizal mentioned after his “retraction:” “I retract with all my heart anything in my
words, writings, publications and conduct that has been contrary to my character as a child of
church. I declare this spontaneously, in order to repair any scandal which my acts may have
caused and so that God and man may pardon me.”
As stated by Father Balaguer, he was the one who married Rizal and Bracken before his
execution (6:00 AM of December 30, 1896). Yet, aligned with Gregorio Zaide, for many
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reasons, Rizal’s assumed retraction and his supposed church marriage with Josephine Bracken
have been considered as a highly dubious by many Rizal scholars until the present time.
Nevertheless, the alleged retraction paper “signed” by Rizal did not do anything. Spanish
military court became firm on its decision to sentence him to death by means of firing squad as
duly allowed by Governor General Camilo G. Polavieja.
Apart from, the retraction paper was found in 1935 and the issue on Rizal’s retraction
was proven because of a document that could be an “independent eye witness account,” the spy
records of Federico Moreno from the members of Cuerpo de Vigilancia Manila. This Cuerpo
were the Spanish spies stationed in Manila, particularly in the prison cell of Rizal during his stay
in Intramuros. Some of its members who were assigned in Rizal’s prison cell mentioned to
Moreno three things: Rizal wrote a paper that he called “La Retractacion,” Fr. Villaclara, Fr.
March, Del Presno and Maure were on Rizal’s prison cell during that time (match with the
persons who signed the “retraction paper” aside from Rizal), and Rizal was married to Bracken
before his execution.
December 30, 1896
Rizal woke up at 3:00 AM to heard mass and confessed his sins. At 4:00 AM, he read the
book “Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis. He done his personal stuffs at 5:00 am, and ate
his last breakfast (3 soft boiled eggs based on Asuncion Lopez-Bantug or 3 hard-boiled eggs
based on Ambeth Ocampo).
After his last breakfast, he wrote several letters to his sisters and brother. At 5:30
Josephine came with Josefa, with tears on their eyes, bade him farewell. Rizal gave the copy of
“Imitation of Christ” to Josephine with a dedication, “To my dear and unhappy wife.” At the
last moment on his prison cell, 6:00 AM, he wrote last letters to his parents but he did not finish.
Trumpet sounded in Fort Santiago as a signal for the start of death march, Rizal as tied
behind from elbow to elbow, began his walk to Bagumbayan at 6:30 AM, with Lt. Andrade and
priests Frs. March and Villaclara. Rizal dressed in black suit, black derby hat, black shoes, white
shirt and black tie. During the walk Rizal was talking to priests when passed by the Ateneo,
“What a beautiful morning! On days like this, I used to talk a walk here with my sweetheart.”
At Bagumbayan, as a final move, he shook hand with his lawyer and bade farewell to the
two friars. Rizal requested the commander that he be shot facing the firing squad but it was
denied. He just requested to be shot not in head but in back near on his heart, not in kneeling
position and without the traditional blindfold. A military physician checked his pulse and saw it
normal. Priests offered him to kiss a crucifix but he refused.
TALATURU KU
The death ruffles of the drums filled the surroundings. With the command, the eight
Filipino executioners with another row of Spanish Guardia civil aimed to his back
(Preparado!...Apunten!), Rizal shouted, “Consummatum Est!” (It is done!) With the words
“Fuego!,” the executioners shot Rizal (twisted his body to face the sun) and declared dead at
7:03 AM. Then, after the execution, the Spanish spectators shouted, “Viva España! Muerte de
los traidores!” Further, Spanish Military band played the sounds of “Marcha de Cadiz.”
Glossary of Terms
Kangaroo Court- an unofficial court in order to try someone without good evidence
Ministerio de Ultramar- ministerial department in charge of the direction of Spanish colonies
Mi Ultimo Adios- (My Last Farewell) the last poem of Rizal written for the country
Retraction papers- controversial withdrawal statement of Rizal before his execution