Rizal in Paris and Germany: Ophthalmology

• Went to Paris and Germany to specialize in ophthalmology to cure his mother’s eye ailment.

In Gay Paris

• Maximo Viola, a medical student from a rich family in San Miguel, Bulacan, became Rizal’s friend.
• Señor Eusebio Corominas, editor of La Publicidad, created a crayon sketch of Don Miguel Morayta, the newspaper's owner and a statesman.
• Rizal provided Editor Corominas with an article on the Carolines Question for publication.
• November 1885, Rizal resided in Paris for about four months.
• Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906), a leading French ophthalmologist, employed Rizal as an assistant from November 1885 to February 1886.
• Paz Pardo de Tavera was engaged to Juan Luna.
• Rizal spent many hours at Luna’s studio, posing as a model for several paintings, including "The Death of Cleopatra" as an Egyptian priest and "The Blood Compact" as Sikatuna, with Trinidad Pardo de Tavera as Legazpi.

Rizal as Musician

• November 27, 1878, Rizal told Enrique Lete he learned solfeggio, piano, and voice culture in one and a half months.
• Rizal became a proficient flute player through determination and practice; he played at Filipino gatherings in Paris.
• Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) is a patriotic song by Rizal, asserting the desire for freedom in any race.
• La Deportacion (Deportation) is a sad danza composed by Rizal in Dapitan during his exile.

In Historic Heidelberg

• February 1, 1886, Rizal left Paris for Germany.
• February 3, 1886, Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a German city known for its old university and surroundings.
• Rizal was made a member of the Chess Player’s Club due to his chess skills.
• Dr. Otto Becker, a German ophthalmologist, employed Rizal at the University Eye Hospital.

To the Flowers of Heidelberg

• April 22, 1886, Rizal wrote the poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg).
• In the spring of 1886, Rizal admired the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, especially the "forget-me-not."

With Pastor Ullmer at Willhemsfeld

• Wilhelmsfeld is a mountainous village near Heidelberg where Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation.
• Dr. Karl Ullmer, a Protestant pastor, hosted Rizal and became a close friend and admirer.
• June 25, 1886, Rizal concluded his stay at Pastor Ullmer’s home.
• May 29, 1887, Rizal wrote to Friedrich (Fritz), Pastor Ullmer’s son, from Munich (Muchen).

First Letter to Bluementritt

• July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria, improving his German after staying with the Ullmers.
• Rizal sent Aritmetica, published in Spanish and Tagalog in 1868 by the University of Santo Tomas Press, authored by Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.
• Blumentritt became Rizal’s best friend.

Fifth Centenary of Heidelberg University

• August 6, 1886, the University of Heidelberg celebrated its fifth centenary.

In Leipzig and Dresden

• August 9, 1886, Rizal departed Heidelberg.
• August 14, 1886, Rizal arrived in Leipzig by train.
• Rizal befriended Professor Friedrich Ratzel, a German historian.
• Rizal also befriended Dr. Hans Meyer, a German anthropologist.
• In Leipzig, Rizal translated Schiller’s William Tell into Tagalog.
• Rizal translated Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales into Tagalog for his nephews and nieces.
• Rizal found Leipzig to have the lowest cost of living in Europe, and stayed there for two and a half months.
• Rizal worked as a proofreader in a publisher’s firm because of his language skills.
• October 29, 1886, Rizal left Leipzig for Dresden, meeting Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
• Rizal was impressed by a Catholic Mass, noting its sublimity and intonation in his diary.
• Morning of November 1, 1886, Rizal left Dresden and arrived in Berlin in the evening.

Berlin

• Rizal admired Berlin for its scientific environment and lack of racial prejudice.
• Rizal met Dr. Feodor Jagor, author of Travels in the Philippines.
• Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a German anthropologist, was introduced to Rizal by Dr. Jagor.
• Dr. Hans Virchow, son of Rudolf Virchow, was a professor of Descriptive Anatomy.
• Dr. W. Joest was a German geographer.
• Dr. Ernest Schweigger (1830-1905) was a German ophthalmologist where Rizal worked.
• Rizal joined the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society, and the Geographical Society of Berlin.
• Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art) was a paper Rizal presented in German in April 1887, receiving positive feedback and published by the society.

Rizal’s Life in Berlin

• Rizal lived in Berlin to: gain knowledge of ophthalmology, further his studies of sciences and languages, observe German economic and political conditions, associate with German scientists and scholars, and publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
• Madame Lucie Cerdole was Rizal’s French professor.
• Rizal enjoyed promenading along Unter den Linden.

Rizal on German Women

• March 11, 1886, Rizal wrote a letter to his sister, Trinidad, expressing admiration for German women, describing them as serious, diligent, educated, and friendly, and not gossipy or quarrelsome.

German Customs

• Rizal admired German customs, particularly the Christmas traditions.
• Introduction to strangers in social gatherings was another custom he observed.

Rizal’s Darkest Winter

• Rizal experienced poverty due to lack of funds from Calamba.