Rizal's Travels (1882-1887) PDF

3 JOSE RIZAL’S TRAVELS “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide...

3 JOSE RIZAL’S TRAVELS “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide In this Module First Travel Abroad (1882 – 1887) Second Travel Abroad (1888 – 1892) There is nothing quite like traveling, like seeing a new place for the first time or returning to a favorite one. People of all ages, from all around the world, go to foreign places for different reasons – mainly, for work, family, and leisure. Whether by plane, train, ship or by automobile, traveling is generally a pleasurable experience, at least for the people who can financially afford comfortable and safe methods of travel. In this module, we will discuss the travels of Rizal the countries he visited and the people he met during his travel and even his experiences including his challenges and problems he faced. After the completion of this module you should be able to; Enumerate the countries that Jose Rizal had visited Discuss the activities and purposes of Jose Rizal in staying in different countries Explaining the real mission of Rizal on his second travel abroad. Are you excited to begin the lesson? So, let’s get started!  LESSON First Travel Abroad 1 (1882 -1887) TIME FRAME: One (3) Hours OBJECTIVES: Express some reasons to travel. Discuss the challenges of Rizal in writing his first Novel. List down the countries that Rizal visited in his first travel abroad. Excellent! You have reached Module 3 of this course and you are now on the first lesson of this module! In this lesson the journey of Rizal in a foreign land will be discuss, and his experiences. Further, some writings and the first novel of Rizal will be presented as well. As a college student who studies the life and works of Rizal this lesson is the most important life events of Rizal, it is in here that Rizal expressed his nationalism for our country Philippines. My Reasons to Travel! Direction: In this activity, list down your reasons why you would like to travel, especially if you are given a chance to travel abroad. You can specify what countries you would like to travel and explain it why? Present your reasons in a sentence form together with representational pictures of your reasons. Picture: Reasons:  ANSWER IT! Direction: Please read the questions below and write your answer in the spaces provided. Your answers must be in a minimum of 3 sentences. 1. Based on the activity above, what inspires you to travel and why? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 2. In this time of pandemic, travels are controlled others are suspended. What are the effects of these situations to the world in general? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 3. How do traveling around the globe gives benefits to every traveler? What do you think are the good things we can get out from traveling or visiting other countries? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________  LET’S SHAPE IT! DEPARTURE After four years in Medicine, Jose Rizal left the country to continue his studies in Europe. He boarded SS Salvadora bound to Singapore on May 3, 1882. His departure was known by his brother Paciano, his two sisters, some close relatives and friends. Because he knew that if he will inform his parents, they will not permit him. Before his departure, his brother Paciano told Jose to use his cousin's named Jose Mercado so he may not be interrogated by the Spanish authorities. In fact, his friends in Ateneo de Municipal handed him a letter of recommendation which Jose may present it to some members of the Jesuits in Barcelona. Apart from the discontentment of the antiquities teaching methods of instruction and the racial prejudice of the Dominican professors, Jose Rizal wanted to observe the culture, government, laws, the industries and businesses in the European nations. Because he knew that he'll be playing a big role in liberating the Filipino people from the cruelty and oppression of the Spanish authorities. While on board, Jose Rizal finds his way to enjoy by observing the different people, their behavior, race and culture. He noticed that most of the passengers in the ship were Spaniards, British and Indians. He thought of himself that he was the only Filipino in the ship. His life in the ship was a bit boring, despite of his conversation with Donato Lecha, the Austrian ship captain. He did sketch as the ship passed by the beautiful views along the shores. At times, he played chess with his fellow passengers whom he defeated many times. After five days, they reached Singapore where he spent two days sightseeing the sights of the beautiful city. After sightseeing in Singapore, Jose Rizal decided to transfer to a French steamer ship Djemah to transport him to Europe. The ship reached Point Galle, where they stayed for a day, before heading for Colombo, the capital of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). From Colombo, they crossed the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Africa, then Aden and the City of Suez where he remembered of his parents and siblings back in his hometown in Calamba. The ship docked at the Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal. On June 11, the ship docked in an Italian city called Naples. He has seen different historical landmarks like the Mt. Vesivius, the Castle of St. Telmo and among others. His stay in Naples did not take long because they boarded again to the French harbor of Marseilles where he stayed there for two and half days remembering the beautiful place of Chateau d'If, the place where Edmond Dantes of "The Count of Monte Cristo" was imprisoned. After Marseilles, he crossed the Pyrenees by means of train where he stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port Bou. On June 16, 1882, Jose Rizal reached Barcelona after the short inspection from the immigration officer. ARRIVAL IN SPAIN His first impression of Barcelona, Spain was unattractive, hideous and filthy where most people are unfriendly. He stayed for a while in a decrepit public house where other guests and the staffs were indifferent. But all his impressions changed when he saw the strong determination of people towards freedom and liberalism. Away from the dark side of the city, there were generous, kind and loving people. This gave him the idea to roam around the city visiting the famous street in central Barcelona called Las Ramblas. To his surprise, his friends treated him in the Plaza de Cataluna, they shared to him the beauty of the place, its tourist attractions as well as the different culture and traditions the people practiced. He also met some of his Filipino classmates. As a sign of gratitude, Jose Rizal told everyone about the situation in the Philippines. His stay in Barcelona allowed him to write various essays, the first was "Amor Patrio" (Love of Country) and the other was "Los Viajes" (Travels) and the "Revisited de Madrid" which were written in Spanish and were published in Diariong Tagałog, the first bilingual newspaper owned by Basilio Teodoro Moran of Manila. His last essay was not pubished because of the closure of the newspaper due to lack of funds. However, while he was in Barcelona, he was informed that the cholera outbreak reached and other neighboring provinces in the Philippines. This outbreak caused deaths and suffering to many Filipinos. Yet, the Spanish authorities did not do anything to curb this epidemic. Aside from this, there was also a bad news he received from Chengoy, he found out that Leonor Rivera became unwell and slender because of her sadness of not seeing Jose Rizal. STUDIES IN MADRID After his stay in Barcelona, Jose Rizal decided to move in Madrid in the fall of 1882 to follow his plan to study at the Unibersidad Central de Madrid (Central University of Madrid). In September 1882, he continued his Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. While busy studying, he also took time to study the following: 1. Painting and Sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando; 2. French, German and English languages through a private tutor 3. Fencing and shooting at the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell. Apart from these, he made sure to visit museums and libraries where he's fond of reading Bible, Hebrew grammar, biographies of the United States presidents, nine volumes of Voltaire's work, three volumes of Horace, the Ancient Poetry Works of Thucydides, the Byzantine Empire, the Characters by La Bruyere and the Renaissance including books on medicine, philosophy, history, geography arts, and sciences. Amongst the books he has read, the "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and "The Wandering Jew" by Eugene Sue had affected him so much because these books discussed the cruelty and misery of the people that he can associated with prevailing situation of the Filipinos. There was a time while he visited the house of Don Pablo Ortega Y Rey, the former city mayor of Manila during Governor General Carlos Maria dela Torre's administration and Vice President of the Council of the Philippines in the Ministry of Colonies (Ultramar), Jose Rizal met Don Pablo's daughter Consuelo whom he found happiness and console. But his relationship with her did not blossom because he was still thinking of Leonor Rivera and also, he doesn't want his friendship with Eduardo de Lete be wasted just because of her. Another activity where he was involved was his membership with the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle), an association of Spaniards and Filipinos. One night, he was requested by the members to write a poem entitled "Me Piden Versos" (They Ask Me for Verses), which he delivered on December 31, 1882. This poem was full of pain and sadness because of his loneliness for his family including Leonor Rivera as well as the suffering of the Filipino people from the hands of the colonizers. During the vacation, Jose Rizal decided to visit Paris, France where he stayed at the Hotel de Paris. While in Paris, he was able to see Champs Elyssees, the Opera House, the Place de la Concorde, the Arch of Triumph, the Bois de Boulogne, the Madelaine Church, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Column of Vendome, the Invalides containing the tomb of Napoleon the Great, the Versailles (former royal palace) and other beautiful places like the museums, botanical gardens, and hospitals. He stayed in Paris for two months; in fact, he was mistakenly identified by the Paristans as Japanese maybe because of his race and physique. He described Paris as the costliest city in Europe because of the expensive foods and other necessities. MASONIC SOCIETY In March 1883, Jose Rizal joined the Masonic lodge in Madrid called Acacia. His membership with the Masonic society was triggered because of his intention to use it as a shield against the friars in the Philippines. As a sign of his interest in the organization, he was able to write an essay entitled "Science, Virtue and Labor" which he delivered on 1889 at the La Solidaridad. On November 15, 1890, he was awarded the diploma in Master Mason by the Le Grand Orient de France in Paris. FINANCIAL PROBLEM His two years in Spain was full of memories, however, things went bad in the Philippines. This caused him financial problem because of the minimal harvest due to drought and locusts. Apart from these, his family in the Philippines experienced strict control from the Dominicans because of high rentals of the lands his family cultivated. One time, his father was unable to give a turkey to a hacienda manager because his father thought it might also be affected by the locust. This resulted to the overcharging of the rentals; thus, Jose Rizal's allowance sometimes came late. He oftentimes experience missing his meals during the day. But despite of this, Jose Rizal still finds a way to earn money by joining competition where he most of the time won. LUNA AND HIDALGO' S VICTORY Jose Rizal was invited to talk in a banquet in behalf of the Filipino community in Spain after the victory of Filipino painters named Juan Luna and Felix Resureccion Hidalgo in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid. Luna won first place for his "Spolarium" while Hidalgo took home the second place for his "Christian Virgin Exposed to the Populace". In his talk, he stated the importance of their achievements in the Philippines as artists. Their contribution to the humanities is truly worth emulating, he said that "genius knows no country, genius is everywhere, and genius is like light, air, the patrimony of everybody, cosmopolitan like space, like fire, like God". His talk made a remark to his comrades including some Spaniards who were also present in the banquet. In fact, he deliberately gave a mordant message to the Dominican priests in the Philippines but some Spaniards did not mind it as they saw relevance of his thoughts where it is full of nobility, sincerity and eloquence. A part of his speech is as follows: Speaking before you, I am not scared by the fear that you may listen to me with lukewarmness. I come to Join your enthusiasm; ours, the stimulus youth, and you cannot help but be indulgent. Sympathetic effluvia saturate the atmosphere; fraternal currents run in all directions, generous souls listen; and consequently, I do not fear for my humble person, no do I doubt your benevolence. Men of goodwill, you seek only goodwill, and from that height where noble sentiments reside, you do not perceive petty in your hand to one who likes me, desires to join you in one single thought, in one single aspiration-the glory of genius, the splendor of the Motherland. Here is, in fact, the reason why we are gathered. In the history of nations there are names that by themselves signify an achievement, that recall passion and greatness, names that, like magic formula, evoke pleasant and smiling thoughts, names that became a pact, a symbol of peace, a bond of love between the nations. The names of Luna and Hidalgo belong to these; their glories illumine the two extremes of the globe-the east and the west, Spain and the Philippines. In uttering from both regions, are going entwined there above, impelled by the feeling of common origin, two people that sea and space separate in vain, two people in which the seeds of disunion that men and their despotism blindly sow do not germinate. Luna and Hidalgo are Spanish as well as Philippines glories..... Luna and Hidalgo belong as much as to you as to us; you love them and we see in them generous hopes, precious examples. The Filipino youth in Europe, ever enthusiastic, and others whose hearts always remain young for the disinterestedness and enthusiasm that characterize their actions, offer to Luna as crown, a modest gift, small indeed for our enthusiasm, but the most spontaneous and the most voluntary of all the gifts hitherto presented to him..... I drink to the health of our artists Luna and Hidalgo legitimate and pure glories of two people! I drink to the heath of the persons who have lent them a helping hand on the dolorous path of art. I drink to the health of the Filipino youth, sacred hope of my Native land; solicitous and heedful of the welfare of her provinces implement soon the reforms she has contemplated for a long time. The furrow is ready and the ground is not sterile! I drink finally from the happiness of those parents who, deprived of the tenderness of their children, from those distant regions follow them with moist eyes and palpitating hearts across seas and space, sacrificing on the altar of the common welfare the sweet consolations that are so scarce in the twilight of  life, precious and lonely winter flowers that sprout along the snow white borders of the grave. This talk received a standing ovation, truly making the Filipinos proud showing strong sense of pride, nationalism and patriotism. COMPLETION OF STUDIES Jose Rizal's stay in the University was not at all considered to be joyful, in fact, he once participated in student's demonstration in support to Dr. Miguel Morayta, a history professor whose speech focused on freedom of science and teacher. On November 20-22, 1884, some students and other students in other colleges joined the demonstration where most of them were hurt and injured. This demonstration was believed to be supported by the Rector who was replaced by Dr. Creus. As a result, Jose Rizal was almost detained by the police authorities if not because he was able to run away with his friend Valentin Ventura. On June 21, 1884, Jose Rizal completed his studies with excellent ratings but was unable to receive the diploma for the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and diploma for the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters at the Universidad Central de Madrid because he did not present his thesis or paid the corresponding fees. OPHTHALMIC EXPERIENCE Upon completion of his studies, Jose Rizal went to Paris and Germany to specialize in ophthalmology because he knew that his mother was suffering from eye problem and he wanted to treat it. While in travel, he befriended to some famous scientists, they were Dr. Feodor Jagor, Dr. Adolph Meyer, Dr. Hans Meyer, and Dr. Rudolf Virchow. In November 1885 until February 1886, Jose Rizal served as an assistant of Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist. This experience helped him a lot in developing his expertise in ophthalmology.  After Paris, he went to Germany where he worked at the University Eye Hospital as an assistant of Dr. Otto Becker, a German ophthalmologist. Rizal was also introduced to another famous scientist Dr. Rudolf Virchow a professor in "Descriptive Anatomy" Dr. Virchow recognized Rizal as genius and invited him to give a lecture before the Ethnographic Society of Berlin. In Berlin, he worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Schweigger, a German Ophthalmologist. According to him, his stay in Germany will help him improved his knowledge on ophthalmology, to study further about science and languages, observes their economic and political conditions, to be with the great German scientists and finally publish his first novel, the "Noli Me Tangere". While in Germany, he noticed how the German women differ from other women he met, as they were "serious, diligent, educated, and friendly." They were not "gossipy, frivolous, and quarrelsome like the Spanish women." They were simple, and not very particular with beautiful dresses and expensive jewelry. This observation was resonated with the Filipino women who were well- mannered, devoted, and hospitable but unsophisticated. He said that they will gain respect equal to men, if only they could develop and educate themselves. THE NOLI ME TANGERE In March 21 1887, the Noli Me Tangere which means "touch me not" was taken from holy bible, was published despite his physical condition, this was the time when Jose Rizal had no money and his health was failing. The publication of his first novel was realized because of his friend Maximo Viola who arrived in Berlin just in time of his desperation and loaned him a certain amount of money for the publication of his novel. After the publication, Jose Rizal sent copies to his comrades, they were Ferdinand Blumentritt, Antonio Maria Regidor, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce, and Felix Hidalgo. He also gave a copy to Maximo Viola on March 29 as a sign of gratitude during the time he needed money for the publication of his novel.  The novel was inspired by his reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The novel was supposed to be written by some of his friends who were present during the proposal, they were the Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio) Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Jullo Llorente, Melecio Figueroa, and Valentin Ventura. However, during the writing, these people did not do anything. Despite of that, Jose Rizal continued writing the novel and finished few chapters more in Germany and the remaining chapters in Wilhelmsfeld on April to June 1886. After Christmas season with Viola, he made some finishing touches deleting some passages in the manuscript, incuding the chapter on "Elias and Salome". After a thorough canvassing for the printing of the novel, they found Berliner Buchcdrukrei Action Gesselchaft printing house where they were charged the lowest rate of 300 for 2,000 copies. While the novel was being printed, the Chief of Police in Berlin visited him in his boarding house and requested him to present his passport. Jose Rizal was unable to present his passport; he was told to secure within four days or else he would be deported. Jose Rizal who has no passport at all, presented to the German Police authorities to explain that he was a Filipino physician and scientist but instead, he was suspected as French spy because of his frequent visit to the village and towns in rural areas. But he reiterated to them that aside from a physician, he was an ethnologist whose interest is to observe the customs and lifestyles of the people. His apologetic gesture made the police authorities believed and allowed him to stay freely in Germany. JOURNEY WITH DR. MAXIMO VIOLA After the novel was published, just in time when his brother Paciano sent him his allowance amounting to one thousand pesos, he then paid Maximo Viola the amount he loaned for his novel's publication. With his remaining money, Jose told Maximo about his plans to visit again some places in Europe to continue his socio-political observations. On May 11, 1887, they left Berlin by train going to their first destination, the Dresden where they visited Dr. Adolph Meyer, the Museum of Arts, witnessed the Floral Exposition where they also met Dr. Feodor Jagor who advised him to write Ferdinand Blumentritt before going to him so that the later may not be surprised of his visit. Afterwards, they proceeded in Leitmeritz, Czechoslovakia by a train where they met Blumentritt who was very hospitable to them. Before going to his house, Ferdinand Blumentritt accompanied them at Hotel Krebs where they rested momentarily. After Czechoslovakia, they visited Prague where they saw the tomb of Copernicus. Then their next destination was Vienna where they saw the grandeur churches, museums, art galleries, theaters, and the public parks. On May 24, they left Vienna by a boat to see the beautiful sights of the Danube River. The river voyage ended in Lintz where they travelled overland to Salizburg going to Munich, then to Nuremberg, then proceeded to Ulm going straight to Stuttgart, Baden, and then to Rheinhall (Cascade of the Rhine) where they crossed the frontier to Schffhaussen and continued their journey in Basel, Bern, and Lausanne, then heading towards Leman to Geneva. It was in Geneva where Jose Rizal celebrated his 26-birthday treating Dr. Viola to a sumptuous meal. After Geneva, they both decided to part ways where Maximo Viola returned back in Barcelona while Jose Rizal continued his travel around Italy. In Italy, he visited Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome. It was in these places where he enjoyed observing the different structures and edifices of the churches, the St. Peter and St. Paul. After a long week of sightseeing in Rome, he prepared for his trip back home. ARRIVAL IN MANILA (FIRST HOMECOMING) Prior to his plan of returning in the Philippines, his brother Paciano informed him to take care because his novel caused so much forceful reactions from the friars believing that it was the source of problem in the Catholic Church. Upon his return on August 1887, his family kept secretly his arrival for they knew the friars will seize after him.  His determination to return in the Philippines was triggered by his plan to practice medicine in his hometown. But more than that was his intention to operate his mother's eye, to help the people by serving them as a doctor, to observe the effect of his novel, to find out what happened to Leonor Rivera and finally to see his family. Jose Rizal who was also interested in other activities saw the relevance of sports for the welfare of the youth. As a sport enthusiast, he introduced and taught the young people fencing, shooting, and gymnastics. However, during his six-month stay in Calamba, Jose Rizal failed to see Leonor Rivera. MEETING WITH GOVERNOR GENERAL EMILIO TERRERO Jose Rizal was invited by Governor General Emilio Terrero in Malacanang to explain to him about his novel. But he (Jose) explained to him (Terrero) that the content of his novel was just exposing the truth and has no intention to promote dissident ideas. He also told him to read his novel for him to personally know what the novel was saying. But despite the support of Governor General Emilio Terrero, the Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Pedro Payo, sent a copy of the novel to Father Rector Gregorio Echevarria of the University of Santo Tomas to undergo further examination through the committee of a faculty. The committee found out that the novel was indeed against the catholic teachings because of its heretical, impious, and scandalous contents. They also reported that its anti-patriotic, seditious to public order, harmful to the government of Spain and detrimental to the function of mother Spain in the Philippine Islands as regards to the political order. As a result, the Governor General submitted the novel to the Permanent Commission of Censorship composed of priests and laymen for further investigation and verification. Findings showed the same and recommended the banning for the importation, reproduction, and circulation of the novel in the Philippines. With this recommendation, the people became interested of the novel by reading it behind closed doors. But the friars urged the authorities to punish those people who were found to have the novel as a sign of support to their call of imposing harsh measures against violators. IN DEFENSE OF THE NOVEL When the novel was prohibited to the Filipino people, many of his comrades showed support by defending his novel from the enemies of Jose Rizal. But amongst the people who helped him, it was Reverend Vicente Garcia who had the best defense. According to him as based on the appendix in the pamphlet published on July 18, 1888, he denied Fr. Jose Rodriguez's allegation, to wit: 1. Jose Rizal cannot be an ignorant man because he was a graduate of Spanish Universities and was a recipient of scholastic honors; 2. Jose Rizal does not attack the Church and Spain instead what he attacked in the novel was the bad Spanish officials and not Spain, and the bad corrupt Friars and not the church; and 3. Lastly, according to the friars, those people who have read the novel committed a mortal sin, therefore; he (Fr. Rodriguez) also committed a mortal Sin. This in effect made Jose Rizal's life in danger, thus, the Governor General Terrero assigned him a body guard named, Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade who eventually became his good friend because of their common interest in hunting. fencing, shooting, and painting. Although Jose Rizal was quite peaceful for a while, Rizal's happy days was marred by the death of his older sister Olimpia, and the baseless rumor circulated by his enemies that he was "a German spy, an agent of Bismarck, a Protestant, a Mason, a Witch and a soul beyond salvation." Because Governor General Terrero was influenced by some facts in Noli Me Tangere, he ordered the investigation of the tenant's relatives in connection with the friar estates. The findings reported in the government for action were the following: 1. The hacienda of the Dominican Order comprised not only the lands around Calamba, but also the town of Calamba; 2. The profits of the Dominican Order continually increased because of arbitrary increased of the rentals paid by the tenants;  3. The hacienda owner never contributed a single centavo for the celebration of the town fiesta, for the education of the children, and for the improvement of agriculture; 4. Tenants who had spent much labor in tilling their lands were dispossessed of said lands for flimsy reason; and 5. High rates of interests were charged to the tenants for delayed payment of rentals, and when the tenants could not pay, the hacienda management will confiscate their carabaos, tools, and even their homes. The friars asked the Governor General to eliminate Jose Rizal but instead advised him to leave the country for his life was in danger. Map Tracing Direction: List down the countries that Jose Rizal visited in his first travel abroad and present a map that will illustrate the travel of Rizal from one country to another. Connect these countries using arrows and present a symbolism of how Rizal manage to travel in a specific country (transportation). Be creative in your illustration. Great! You have completed the task and activities of Lesson 1. More likely you have gained knowledge and meaningful experience, and you are now ready to turn pages for Lesson 2 of this module. Keep reading for wonderful learning! Reminder: Please have a review on the modules and lessons we have covered for this Midterm, for we will be having our examination on the following week. Schedule will be set and will be announce to you soon via post on our Facebook group. God bless students!