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Module 5: Romantic Interlude in Japan, Rizal’s Visit the United States, Rizal in London Lesson 1: Romantic Interlude in Japan One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the land of the Cherry Blossoms for one month and a half (February 28 – April 13, 1888 He fell in lo...

Module 5: Romantic Interlude in Japan, Rizal’s Visit the United States, Rizal in London Lesson 1: Romantic Interlude in Japan One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the land of the Cherry Blossoms for one month and a half (February 28 – April 13, 1888 He fell in love with a Japanese girl, whose loveliness infused joy and romance in his sorrowing heart. Her real name was Seiko Usui Rizal affectionately called her O-Sei-San. Fate, however, cut short his happy days in Japan. He had to sacrifice his own happiness to carry on his work for the redemption of his oppressed people. RIZAL ARRIVES IN YOKOHAMA February 28, 1888 - Rizal arrived in Yokohama, Japan and registered at the Grand Hotel. February 29, 1888 - He proceeded to Tokyo and took a room at Tokyo Hotel where he stayed for six (6) days. Japan was to him the "Land of the Cherry Blossoms" because of its natural beauty and the charming manners of the Japanese people. RIZAL IN TOKYO Shortly after Rizal’s arrival in Tokyo, he was visited at his hotel by Juan Perez Caballero, secretary of the Spanish Legation. The latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation. He accepted the invitations for two reasons: 1.He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation. 2.He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities He did not know the Japanese language although he looked like a Japanese To avoid further embarrassment, he decided to study the Japanese language. In a few days, he was able to speak the language. RIZAL AND THE TOKYO MUSICIANS The musicians were equally surprised and delighted to meet him. They told him they were Filipinos and that the principal instruments in the band were Japanese, but they were playing only the secondary instruments. RIZAL’S IMPRESSION OF JAPAN 1. The beauty of the country – its flowers, mountains, streams, and scenic panoramas. 2. The cleanliness, politeness, and industry of the Japanese people. 3. The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women. 4. There were very few thieves in Japan so that the houses remained open day and night, and in the hotel room one could safely leave money on the table. 5. Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets, unlike in Manila and other cities. ROMANCE WITH O-SEI-SAN Rizal met Seiko-San, a pretty Japanese girl and the only daughter of a Japanese samurai. Her real name was Seiko Usui but Rizal called her O-SeiSan. They almost met daily as they visited interesting spots of the city, like the Imperial Art Gallery, the Imperial Library, the city parks and picturesque shrines. O-Sei-San served as Rizal’s guide, interpreter, and tutor. Rizal saw in lovely O-Sei-San the qualities of his ideal womanhood – beauty, charm, modesty, and intelligence. No wonder, he fell deeply in love with her. O-Sei-San reciprocated his affection, for it was the first time her heart palpitated with joys to see a man of gallantry, dignity, courtesy, and versatile talents. O-Sei-San’s beauty and affection almost tempted Rizal to settle down in Japan. At the same time, he was offered a good job at the Spanish Legation. If he were a man of lesser heroic mould, of lesser will power, he would have lived permanently in Japan – and happily at that with O-Sei-San; but then the world, in general, and the Philippines, in particular, would have lost a Rizal. SAYONARA, JAPAN On April 13, 1888, Rizal boarded the Belgic, an English steamer, at Yokohama, bound for the United States. He left Japan with a heavy heart, for he knew that he would never again see this beautiful ‘’Land of the Cherry Blossoms’’ and his beloved O-Sei-San. Truly, his sojourn in Japan for 45 days was one of the happiest interludes in his life. Lesson 2: Rizal’s Visit to the United States (1888) Techo Suehiro- A fighting japanese journalist, novelist, and champion of human rights. Was forced by the japanese government to leave the country. Just as Rizal was compelled to leave the philippines by the spanish authorities. Rizal first saw America on April 28, 1888. His arrival in this great country was marred by racial prejudice, for he saw the discriminatory treatment of the Chinese and the Negroes by the white Americans. He kept notes of what he observed during his trip from San Francisco to New York, where he took a ship for England. From his note and his letters to his friends, we get a wealth of first-hand impressions of America, some of which were rather unfavorable but true. Rizal was a man of truth, and he wrote what he had seen and experienced. ARRIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO April 28, 1888 – Rizal and Techo arrived in San Francisco Port on Saturday morning of April 28. All passengers were not allowed to land because the ship was placed on a quarantine on the ground that it came from the Far East where cholera epidemic was alleged to be raging. Rizal soon discovered that placing the ship under quarantine was prompted by politics. The ship was carrying many Chinese workers. After a week of quarantine, all first class passengers, including Rizal were permitted to land but the Chinese and Japanese passengers of the second- and third-class accommodations were forced to remain on board. May 4, 1888 – It was the day when Rizal and the other passengers were permitted to land. Rizal registered at the Palace Hotel, a first-class hotel of the city of San Francisco. He stayed in this city for two days. The President of the United States at this time was George Cleveland. May 6, 1888 – Rizal left San Francisco to Oakland (a distance of nine miles) on a Sunday at 4:30 p.m. by ferry boat. In Oakland, he took his supper at Sacramento for 75 cents and slept in his coach. May 7, 1888 – Rizal boarded a train for trip across the continent (May 7 at Reno, Nevada May 8, Utah, Ogden, Denver May 9, Colorado May 10, Nebraska May 11, Chicago May 12, Canada (an English Territory) May 13, Albany). His transcontinental trip ended on Sunday, May 13 at 11:10am May 13, 1888 – Rizal reached New York on a Sunday morning. He stayed three days in the city which Rizal called “The Big Town”. He visited the memorial of George Washington, and other scenic and historic places. May 18, 1888 – He left New York for Liverpool on board the City of Rome, the second largest ship in the world during his time. Rizal visited the colossal Statue of Liberty on Bedloe RIZAL’S IMPRESSION OF AMERICA The good impressions were: 1.The material progress of the country, as shown in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing industries, and busy factories. 2.The drive and energy of the American people. 3.The natural beauty of the land. 4. The high standard of living. 5. The opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants. However, the bad impressions of Rizal were: racial prejudice existed, democracy and freedom were only in words, not practiced; and have no true civil liberty. As a whole, Rizal said that America is the land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites. Lesson 3: Rizal in London In London, he engaged in Filipiniana studies, completed annotating Morga’s book, wrote many articles for La Solidaridad in defense of his people against Spanish critics, penned a famous letter to the young women of Malolos, carried on his voluminous correspondence with Blumentritt. He chose this English city to be his new home for three reasons: 1. To improve his knowledge of the English language. 2. To study and annotate Morga’s Sucessos de las Islas Filipinas, a rare copy of which he heard to be available in the British Museum. 3. London was a safe place for him to carry on his fight against Spanish tyranny. Rizal entertained the American and European passengers with his marvelous skill with yo- yo as an offensive weapon. LIFE IN LONDON May 25, 1888 – Rizal went to London and stayed there for a short time as guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, a practicing lawyer in London and exile of 1872. Later, he lodged at 37 Chalcot, Crescent, Primrose Hill. He boarded at Beckett family. Mr. Beckett was the organist of St. Paul’s church. Gertrude called “Gettie” or “Tottie” was the oldest of the Beckett sisters. He spent Sundays in the house of Dr. Reinhold Rost, the librarian of the ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Authority of Malayan languages. Rizal played cricket (English game) and boxed with Dr. Rost son. Rizal also spent most of his time in the British Museums annotating Morga’s book, Successos de los Islas Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands), which was published in Mexico in 1609. For about ten (10) months, Rizal was deeply immersed in his historical studies in London. NEWS FROM HOME, GOOD AND BAD Both good and bad news from home reached Rizal in London. Of the bad news, were the injustices committed by the Spanish authorities on the Filipino people and the Rizal family. Among which were as follows: 1. Persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed the ‘’Anti-Friar Petition of 1888’’ which was presented by Doroteo Cortes, prominent Mason and lawyer, to Jose Centeno, Civil Governor of the Province of Manila, on March 1, 1888. This petition was signed by about 800 patriots and was actually written by M.H. del Pilar. It was addressed to the Queen Regent of Spain requesting the expulsion of the friars, including Archbishop Pedro Payo (Dominican) of Manila. 2. Persecution of the Calamba tenants, including Rizal’s family and relatives, for their courage to petition the government for agrarian reforms. 3. Furious attacks on Rizal by Senators Salamanca and Vida in the Spanish Cortes and by Desengaños (Wenceslao E. Retana) and Quioquiap (Pablo Feced) in Spanish 4. Rizal’s brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, husband of Saturnina, was exiled by Governor General Weyler to Bohol without due process of law. 5. A friend of Rizal, Laureano Viado, a medical student at the University of Santo Tomas, was arrested and jailed in Bilibid Prison because copies of the Noli were found in his house. One good news cheered Rizal, and that was Rev. Vicente Garcia’s defense of the Noli against the attacks of the friars. He heard this good news from Mariano Ponce. He was deeply gratified by the courageous action of Father Garcia, a venerable Filipino canon of the Manila Cathedral. Later, On January 7, 1891, he addressed Father Garcia, expressing his personal thanks. ANNOTATING MORGA’S BOOK The greatest achievement of Rizal in London was the annotating Morga’s Book, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (Historical events of the Philippines Islands) which was published in Mexico, 1609. September 17, 1888-in a letter to Blumentritt, Rizal said: “Morga’s work is an excellent book; it can be said that Morga is a modern scholarly explorer. May 1888-March 1889-Rizal was deeply immersed in his historical studies in London. SHORT VISIT TO PARIS AND SPAIN September, 1888 – Rizal visited Paris for a week to search for more historical materials in the Biblioteque Nationale. In this place, he was entertained by Juan Luna and wife Paz Pardo de Tavera and showed their son Andres (Luling). December 11,1888 – He went again to Spain and visited Madrid and Barcelona. He went to visit his compatriots Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Mariano Ponce, two great leaders of the Propaganda Movement. He exchanged ideas with them and promised to cooperate in the fight for reforms. CHRISTMAS IN LONDON (1888) December 24, 1888 – He returned to London and spent Christmas and New Year’s with the Beckett family. During the Christmas eve (Noche Buena), Rizal wrote and sent Blumentritt a Christmas gift – a bust of Emperor Augustus which he made. He also sent to another friend Dr. Carlos Czepelak (a Polish scholar) a bust of Julius Ceasar as a Christmas gift. Knowing that Rizal had a great admiration in magic, Mrs. Beckett gave him a Christmas gift, a book entitled “The Life and Adventures of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist”. RIZAL BECOMES LEADER OF FILIPINOS IN EUROPE December 31, 1888 – A patriotic society was established and inaugurated called Association La Solidaridad with Rizal chosen as honorary president. The officers were Galicano Apacible, President; Graciano Lopez Jaena, vice-President; Manuel Santa Maria, secretary: Mariano Ponce, Treasurer, Jose Ma. Panganiban, accountant. January 28, 1889 – Rizal wrote a letter addressed to the members of the Association La Solidaridad. He expressed his thanks of making him honorary president. In his letter, he stressed, among others, that the individual should give way to the welfare of society and he should not expect rewards or honors for what he does. RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD NEWSPAPER February 15, 1889 – Graciano Lopez Jaena founded the fortnightly patriotic newspaper, La Solidaridad in Barcelona – the organ of the Propaganda Movement. The aims of La Solidaridad were: 1. to work for a peaceful political and social reforms in the Philippines 2. to portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so that Spain may remedy them. 3. To oppose the evil forces of reaction; to advocate liberal ideas and progress 4. To champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino people to life, democracy and happiness. On the founding of La Solidaridad, Rizal congratulated Lopes and his associates in founding La Solidaridad. However, he advised Lopez Jaena that great care should be taken in publishing only the truth. FIRST ARTICLE IN LA SOLIDARIDAD Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino Farmers). It was published on March 25, 1889. In this initial article, he depicted the deplorable conditions in the Philippines which cause the backwardness of the country WRITINGS IN LONDON He wrote a pamphlet entitled La Vision del Fray Rodriguez (The vision of Fray Rodriguez) which was published in Barcelona under his pseudonym Dimas Alang. In La Vision del Fray Rodriguez, Rizal demonstrated two things: 1. His profound knowledge of religion. 2. His biting satire. February 22, 1889- Rizal wrote the famous “Letter to the Young Women of Malolos”. He penned it, upon the request of M.H. Del Pilar, to praise the young ladies of Malolos for their courage to establish a school where they could learn Spanish, despite the opposition of Fr. Felipe Garcia, Spanish parish priest of Malolos. The main points of this letter were: 1. a Filipino mother should teach her children love of God, fatherland, and mankind 2. the Filipino mother should be glad, like the Spartan mother, to offer her sons in the defense of the fatherland 3. a Filipino woman should know how to preserve her dignity and honor 4. a Filipino woman should educate herself, aside from retaining her good racial virtues 5. Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious pictures, but rather it is living the real Christian way, with good morals and good manners. ROMANCE WITH GERTRUDE BECKETT Gertude, Gettie, as she was affectionately called, was a buxom English girl with brown hair, blue eyes, and rosy cheeks. Rizal being a man of normal emotions, found exhilirating joy in Gertrude’s company. Their friendship drifted towards romance. Rizal affectionately called her “Gettie,” in reciprocation, she fondly called him “Pettie.” As their flirtation was fast approaching the point of no return, Rizal suddenly realized that he could not marry Gettie for he had a mission to fulfil in life. With iron will, he suppressed the passionate yearning of his heart, and decided to go away so that ‘’Gettie’’ may forget him. Before leaving London, he finished four sculpture works: 1.Prometheus Bound 2. ‘’The Triumph of Death over Life,’’ 3.‘’The Triumph of Science over Death,’’ 4. a composite carving of the heads of the Beckett sisters. The last-named carving he gave as a farewell gift to the Beckett sisters. He packed ‘’The Triumph of Death our Life’’ and ‘’The Triumph of Science over Death’’ and sent them to his friend, Professor Blumentritt, ADIOS, LONDON March 19, 1889- Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett family (particularly Gertrude) and left London for Paris. He was sad as he crossed the English Channel, for he cherished so many beautiful memories of London.