Rizal's Life and Travels Abroad

Rizal's Life Abroad

• 1882 marks the year Rizal departed the Philippines for studies in Spain.
• Rizal's primary aim was to observe life abroad and advocate for Filipino nationalism through writing.
• Paciano, Rizal's brother, financially supported Rizal's studies.
• Rizal received a ring from his sister Saturnina, which she gave to him before leaving.
• Delayed allowances and unpaid rent resulted from an agrarian crisis.
• Singapore was Rizal's first foreign destination, where he experienced a carefree environment.
• Authorities in Singapore did not treat Rizal abusively.
• Before reaching Spain, Rizal visited Singapore, Ceylon, Italy, Egypt, and France.
• "El amor patrio" (Love of Country) was Rizal's first published essay.
• "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe was one of two books that profoundly inspired Rizal.
• "The Wandering Jew" by Eugene Sue also served as an inspiration for Rizal.
• Rizal joined the Freemasons in 1883.
• In 1880, he established LOS INDIOS BRAVOS, aiming to address the hardships faced by Filipinos.
• Rizal believed that Indios possessed intelligence and bravery.
• Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist, asserted that education could improve his country's social condition.
• "Noli Me Tangere" was published in 1887, financed by Dr. Maximo Viola.
• Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt served as Rizal's adviser.
• Rizal returned to the Philippines to witness the impact of "Noli Me Tangere".

Higher Education of Rizal

• Paciano was angered by Rizal's decision to pursue higher education.
• The execution of three priests significantly influenced Rizal's views.
• "El Filibusterismo" is dedicated to the memory of the three executed priests.
• Francisco Mercado wanted Rizal to study at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
• Paciano convinced Rizal to enroll at the Ateneo de Municipal.
• Manuel Xeres Burgos played a key role in helping Rizal enter the Ateneo.
• Two groups existed within the Ateneo, the Roman Empire (boarders/internos) and the Carthaginian Empire (non-boarders/externos).
• Rizal earned the degree of Bachiller in Artes, sobresaliente (outstanding) on March 23, 1877.
• Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (Sacred Heart of Jesus) was created for his professor.
• Teodora Alonso y Realonda, his mother, opposed Rizal's pursuit of further studies.
• Rizal experienced unhappy days due to the hostility from Dominican professors, racial discrimination against Filipinos and the repressive and outdated teaching methods.
• In 1882, Rizal concluded his fourth year at UST and continued his medical studies at Universidad Central de Madrid.
• Rizal obtained a degree in philosophy, letters, and medicine in 1884.
• The "4 Rs" represent reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion.

Travels of Rizal

• From May 3-11, 1882, Rizal was in Singapore.
• There were 16 passengers onboard the vessel, including Spaniards, British, and Indian nationals.
• The ship's captain was Donato Lecha.
• Rizal played chess during the voyage.
• He lodged at Hotel de la Paz for two days.
• He visited the Botanical Garden, Buddhist temples, as well as the statue of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore.
• From May 11-17, Rizal was in Colombo.
• He traveled on the ship Djemnah.
• He possessed a French book that he struggled to understand, so he used Spanish-Latin alongside sketching.
• He was unimpressed by Point Galle in southern Ceylon.
• He was amazed by Colombo's scenic beauty and elegant buildings.
• The Suez Canal features a barren coast of Africa.
• Aden was described as hotter than Manila.
• The Red Sea terminal had "pretty moonlight."
• It took five days to traverse the Suez Canal, facilitated by Ferdinand de Lasseps.
• Rizal was in Naples from June 11-12.
• Noteworthy sights in Naples include Mount Vesuvius, the Castle of St. Elmo, and various historic locations.
• Rizal was in Marseilles from June 12 to May 15.
• He stayed for 2 1/2 days, and visited Chateau d'If where dantes was imprisoned
• Rizal was in Barcelona from May 15 to the fall of 1882.
• He spent one day in Port Bou.
• Rizal reached Barcelona on June 16.
• His first impression of Barcelona was unfavorable, finding it ugly, dirty, and inhospitable.
• He enjoyed Las Ramblas Street.
• His Ateneo classmates hosted a party for him at Cafe Plaza de Catalonia.
• He shared the latest news and gossip with them.
• Rizal penned "Amor Patrio," his first written article in Spain.
• He sent "Amor Patrio" to Basilio Teodoro Moran, the publisher of Diariong Tagalog.
• Cholera broke out in Manila.
• Leonor Rivera grew thin because of Rizal's absence.
• From November 3, 1882, to June 1883, Rizal resided in Madrid.
• He enrolled in medicine, philosophy, and letters at the Universidad Central de Madrid.
• He engaged in painting and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando.
• He took language lessons in French, German, and English.
• Rizal practiced fencing and shooting at the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell.
• He prepared himself for service to his homeland.
• Rizal visited Don Pablo y Ortiga y Rey, who was the Mayor of Manila.
• He had a love affair with Consuelo Ortiga y Perez.
• On his first visit to Paris from June 1883 to June 21, 1884, he observed the French way of life.
• Rizal became close with prominent Spanish liberal and republican Spaniards in Paris.
• In March 1883, Rizal joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia.
• On November 15, 1890, he transferred to Lodge Solidaridad and became a Master Mason.
• He received his diploma as a Master Mason from Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.
• Harvests in Calamba failed due to drought and locusts.
• The Dominican-owned hacienda increased land rentals for the Rizal family.
• On June 21, 1884, Rizal completed his medical course in Spain.
• In Berlin, Rizal chose to specialize in ophthalmology to address his mother's eye condition.
• His "secret mission" involved observing the customs and lifestyle of Europeans so he could serve his homeland.
• He worked as an apprentice of Dr. Louis de Weckert.
• In Heidelberg, he worked at the University Eye Hospital under Dr. Otto Becker and attended lectures by Dr. Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuehne.
• His favorite flower was the forget-me-not.
• Rizal stayed at the vicarage of Dr. Karl Ullmer
• On July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt.
• In Leipzig and Dresden, he attended lectures at the University of Leipzig and befriended Professor Friedrich Ratzel, a German historian and Dr. Hans Meyer, a German anthropologist.
• Leipzig was the cheapest location in Europe.
• Rizal worked as a proofreader in a publishing firm to earn money.
• "Noli Me Tangere" was published in Berlin due to financial support from Maximo Viola.
• March 21, 1887, marked the publication of "Noli Me Tangere".
• Paciano gave Rizal 1,000 pesos, used to pay Viola.
• In Dresden, Rizal was impressed by the painting "Prometheus Bound," a Greek mythological tragedy during his grand tour of Europe.
• Rizal and Viola visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer in Dresden.
• In Switzerland, it was Rizal's 26th birthday, celebrated with Viola on June 19, 1887.
• Rizal and Viola parted ways on June 23.
• After a week in Rome, Rizal prepared to return to the Philippines, having informed his father of his impending arrival.
• From 1882 to 1887, Rizal was studying in Europe.
• He returned to the Philippines in August 1887 and practiced medicine in Calamba.
• Rizal wanted to know his novel's effect on the Filipino people.
• On August 5, the Haiphong arrived in Manila, and Rizal disembarked with a happy heart.
• On August 8, Rizal returned to Calamba, where his family welcomed him with affection.
• Paciano ensured Rizal's protection from potential enemies during his initial days back.
• In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic, with his mother as his first patient.
• Within a month, he earned about 900 pesos.
• Rizal established a gymnasium to introduce European sports to locals and encourage fencing, shooting while discouraging cockfights.
• Governor-General Emilio Terrero requested Rizal to visit Malacañang Palace.
• Governor-General Terrero advised Rizal to leave the Philippines for his safety.
• Rizal departed Manila for Hong Kong on the Zafiro.
• Jose Varanda spied on Rizal.
• In Macao, he studied the Chinese way of life, language, drama, and customs.
• Rizal recognized Sainz de Varanda among the passengers.
• They stayed at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros, married to a Portuguese lady.
• In Japan, Rizal spent from February 28 to April 13, 1888.
• Rizal admired Japan's natural beauty, people, and shrines.
• He fell in love with a Japanese girl, experiencing joy and romance.
• Rizal was impressed by Tokyo.
• After arriving in Tokyo, Juan Perez Caballero, Secretary of the Spanish Legation, visited Rizal.
• Rizal disliked rickshaws drawn by men.
• Rizal fell in love with Seiko Usui, who he affectionaltely called O-Sei-San.
• Rizal was tempted to settle in Japan, but he did not due to his love ofcountry.
• Tetcho Suehiro was a Japanese journalist forced by his government to leave the country for championing human rights.
• The Belgic docked at San Francisco on April 28, 1888.
• Passengers could not land due to quarantine, allegedly due to a cholera epidemic.
• He discovered political motivations to the quarantine, with 653 Chinese coolies on board.
• He chose London to improve his English, study and annotate "Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas", and for safety from Spanish attacks.
• Rizal stayed with Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor.
• Rizal referred to him as "A pearl of a man." and met Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Mariano Ponce.
• Rizal spent Christmas and New Year's Day with the Becketts
• He became president of Asociacion La Solidaridad.
• He wrote his first article in La Solidaridad March 25 1889, titled "Los Agricultores Filipinos".
• Writings included "La Vision del Fray Rodriguez" and "Letter to the Young Women of Malolos".
• He contributed to Dr. Rost's journal.
• He also fell in love with one of the Beckett sisters, Gertrude.
• Universal Exposition of 1889 was also known as a world fair.
• He also wrote "The Indolence of the Filipinos."
• Rizal became a member of the “International Association of Filipinologists” lead by Dr. Blumentritt.
• In the fall of 1889, he wrote "Por Telefono," a satirical work in response to Fr. Salvador Font.
• Rizal was in Paris in January 1890, during which time an influenza was epidemic.
• In Brussels, Rizal wrote “El Filibusterismo.”
• The agrarian problems in Calamba led to Rizal going home.
• Rizal’s life in Madrid was full of misfortunes, and Leonor Rivera married a British engineer.
• His brother-in-law, Silvestre, received an eviction order by the Dominicans.
• He learned that Paciano, Antonio, Silvestre, Teong, and Dandoy were deported to Mindoro and his parents were forcibly ejected.
• Jose Panganiban, his co-worker, died.
• In Biarritz, Rizal was in love with Nellie Boustead.
• On March 30, 1891, he retired the Propaganda Movement and La Solidaridad.
• In Ghent, Rizal stayed for lower printing costs; F. Meyer-Van Loo Press printed on installment basis.
• He pawned his jewels and left Europe after "El Filibusterismo's" publication.
• He reunited with family before Christmas and practiced ophthalmology.
• He was welcomed by Jose Basa in Hong Kong and opened his medical clinic.

Second Homecoming and Dapitan Exile

• Rizal gave two sealed letters to Dr. Marques.
• On June 27, Rizal revisited friends from Tutuban Station.
• Rizal went to Malacañang Palace leading to arrest and being escorted to Fort Santiago for printed leaflets.
• On July 15, 1892, Rizal was brought to Cebu and handed over to Captain Ricardo Carnicero.
• His exile in Dapitan lasted four years.
• He lived in Captain Carnicero's residence.
• Rizal won 6,200 pesos in the Manila Lottery
• There were debates with Father Pastells about religion.
• Father Sanchez corrected errors about religion.
• Rizal made a water system, had a son with Josephine Bracken who lived for 3 hours and relationship with Josephine bracken.
• Don Pedro advised Rizal to stay in Singapore.
• Rizal was arrested under the command of Governor-General Blanco, and was escorted to jail and transferred to colon ship.
• On November 3, the Colon reached Manila, he was transferred to Fort Santiago and chose Don Luis Taviel de Andrade as his defense counsel, his only right.
• On Dec. 15, Rizal wrote a manifesto to stop bloodshed and achieve liberties through education and industry but was recalled.