CHAPTER 16 10. "Ingratitudes" (Ingratitude), January 15, 1890.

A reply to
IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS (1890) Governor General Valeriano Weyler who, while visiting
Calamba, told the people that they "should not allow
*January 28, 1890, Rizal left Paris for Brussels for two themselves to be deceived by the vain promises of their
reasons: ungrateful sons,"
1.The cost of living in Paris was very expensive.
2. The gay social in life of the city of hampered his literary
works, especially the writing of his second novel El
Filibusterismo. NEW ORTHOGRAPHY OF TAGALOG LANGUAGE
*Life in Brussels Advocacy for Filipinized Orthography
*He was accompanied by Jose Albert when he moved to •Despite his European education, Rizal was devoted to his
Brussels. native language, Tagalog.
*They live in a modest boarding house run by two •He advocated for changing the spelling of Tagalog words to
*Jacoby sisters, Suzanne and Marie. reflect Filipino sounds rather than Spanish influences.
*Albert left the city, replaced by Jose Alejandro. •Example: Using "k" and "w" instead of Spanish "c" and "o" in
*He was busy writing his second novel which was a words like "salakot" (instead of "salacot") and "araw" (instead
continuation of the NOLI. of "arao").
*Wrote articles for La Solidaridad and Letters to his family and Early Adoption in Works
friends. •In 1886, while in Leipzig, Rizal used the Filipinized Tagalog
*He spent part of his time in the medical clinic. orthography in translations of Schiller’s Wilhelm Tell and
*He had gymnastics, target practice and fencing. Andersen’s Fairy Tales.
*Jose Alejandro narrated, “in Brussels, we took our meals in a •He also used it in his novel Noli Me Tangere (Berlin, 1887).
*house and rizal on one occasion suggested that we eat Publication of Orthographic Rules
pancit..” •Rizal published an article titled Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de
la Lengua Tagala (The New Orthography of the Tagalog
*Brussels, Rizal wrote articles for La Solidaridad in defense Language) in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1890.
of his oppressed people and to point out the evils of Spanish •This article outlined the new rules for Tagalog orthography.
rue in the Philippines. Among these articles which appeared Acknowledgment of Influence
in the patriotic periodical were: •Rizal credited Dr. Pardo de Tavera's 1884 work, El Sanscrito
1. "A La Defensa" (To La Defensa), April 30, 1889. This was a en la Lengua Tagala, for influencing this orthographic reform.
reply to an anti-Filipino writing of a Spanish author Patricio de •Rizal acknowledged Tavera as the originator of the concept,
la Escosura which was published by La Defensa on March 30, while he himself promoted it actively.
1889,
2. "La Verdad Para Todos" (The Truth For All), May 31, 1889. RIZAL CRITICIZES MADRID FILIPINO FOR GAMBLING
Rizal's defense against the Spanish charges that the native Concern Over Gambling Among Filipinos in Spain
local officials were ignorant and depraved. •Juan Luna and Valentin Ventura informed Rizal from Paris
3. "Vicente Barrantes Teatro Tagalo," June 15, 1889. In this that Filipinos in Spain were harming their nation's reputation
article, Rizal exposes Barrantes' ignorance on the tagalog through excessive gambling.
theatrical art. •They urged Rizal to take action to address this behavior.
4. "Una Profanacion" (A Profanation), July 31, 1889. A bitter Rizal’s Response to M.H. del Pilar
attack against the friars for denying Christian burial to •On May 28, 1890, Rizal wrote to M.H. del Pilar, urging him to
Mariano Herbosa in Calamba because he was a brother-in- remind Filipinos in Madrid of their true purpose in Europe.
law of Rizal. Herbosa, husband of Lucia, died of cholera on •Rizal stressed that they were there to fight for their
May 23, 1889. country’s freedom, not to gamble or waste time.
5. "Verdades Nuevas" (New Truths), July 31, 1889. A reply to Key Messages in Rizal’s Letter
Vicente Belloc Sanchez letter published in La Patria, Madrid •Rizal warned that gambling aligned with the schemes of the
newspaper, on July 4, 1889, which asserted that the granting friars and could dishearten Filipinos back home.
of reforms in the Philippines would ruin the "peaceful and •He argued that young Filipinos should dedicate their youth
maternal rule" of the friars. to noble causes, not distractions, or risk proving themselves
6. "Crucidad" (Cruelty), August 15, 1889. A brilliant defense of "worthy of slavery, not liberty."
Blumentritt from the scurrillous attacks of his enemies. •Rizal called for Filipinos to show the Spanish people that
7. "Diferencias" (Differences), September 15, 1889. A reply to they were honorable, strong, and above corruption.
a biased artile entitled "Old Truths" published in La Patria on Reactions to Rizal’s Letter
August 14, 1889, which ridiculed those Filipinos who asked •Some gambling Filipinos in Madrid reacted negatively,
for reforms. mockingly referring to Rizal as "Paps" (Pope) instead of
8. "Inconsequencias" (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889. "Pepe."
A defense of Antonio Luna against the attack of Pablo Mir
Deas in the Barcelona newspaper El Pueblo Soberano. BAD NEWS FROM HOME
9. "Llanto y Risas" (Tears and Laughter), November 30, 1889. Agrarian Conflict in Calamba
A denunciation of Spanish racial prejudice against the brown •Rizal received troubling letters in Brussels about escalating
Filipinos. land disputes in Calamba.
•The Dominican friars continually raised land rents, leading
Rizal mentioned in this article how the audience, com posed Rizal’s father, Don Francisco, to refuse payment.
mostly of Spaniards and mestizos, stopped applauding when •Inspired by Don Francisco’s stand, other tenants also refused
he received first prize in the literary contest in 1880 because to pay the high rents.
of his brown color. Legal and Persecutory Actions
•The Dominican Order filed a lawsuit to dispossess the Rizal And youth its inspiration now imbues
family of their lands. With other form and state.
•Rizal's family and tenants faced persecution: If today our fancies aught
•Paciano Rizal and brothers-in-law Antonio Lopez and Of verse would still require,
Silvestre Ubaldo were deported to Mindoro. Helicon's hill remains unsought;
•Manuel T. Hidalgo, another brother-in-law, was exiled to And without heed we but inquire,
Bohol for a second time. Why the coffee is not brought.
Rizal’s Emotional Response In the place of thought sincere
•The distressing news deeply saddened Rizal, knowing the That our hearts may feel,
hardships his family faced. We must seize a pen of steel,
•On June 6, 1890, he wrote to his sister Soledad, expressing And with verse and line severe
regret for the harm his actions had caused their family, but Fling abroad a jest and jeer.
took solace in the fact that their cause was honorable. Muse, that in the past inspired me,
•Rizal emphasized that facing adversity with dignity was a And with songs of love hast fired me;
form of triumph and hoped never to bring shame or dishonor Go thou now to dull repose,
upon his family. For today in sordid prose
I must earn the gold that hired me.
PRESENTIMENT OF DEATH Now must I ponder deep,
Rizal’s Restlessness and Bad Dreams Meditate, and struggle on;
•While in Brussels, Rizal had disturbing dreams, feeling E'en sometimes I must weep;
anxious and preoccupied with his family’s troubles in For he who love would keep
Calamba. Great pain has undergone.
•Though not superstitious, he began fearing an early death. Fled are the days of ease,
Desire to Complete His Work The days of love's delight;
•Rizal wanted to complete his second novel before dying, When flowers still would please
feeling strongly that no one else could finish it if he passed And give to suffering souls surcease
away. From pain and sorrow's blight.
Letter to M.H. del Pilar: One by one they have passed on,
•In a letter on June 11, 1890, Rizal shared his sense of All I loved and moved among;
impending death: Dead or married—from me gone,
•He mentioned a childhood belief that he would not live past For all I place my heart upon
30. By fate adverse are stung.
•He described recurring dreams of death, including visions of Go thou, too, O Muse, depart,
friends and family in white and a path descending to a silent Other regions fairer find;
group of people dressed in white light. For my land but offers art
•Despite his presentiment, Rizal stated he was physically For the laurel, chains that bind,
strong and continued with daily activities like going to the For a temple, prison blind.
gym and practicing fencing and shooting. But before thou leavest me, speak:
Preparedness for Any Fate Tell me with thy voice sublime,
•Rizal adopted “Laong Laan” (Ever Ready) as his pseudonym, Thou couldst ever me seek
emphasizing his readiness for any outcome, including death. A song of sorrow for the weak,
Defiance to the tyrant's crime.
PREPARATION TO GO HOME
•Sufferings of his family, Rizal planned to go home ROMANCE WITH PETITE JACOBY
•Graciano Lopez Jaena was planning to go to Cuba, he wrote Where are you now ? Do you think of me once in a while? I
to Ponce on July 9,1890, opposing Graciano’s plan of action am reminded of our tender conversations, reading your letter,
•All of Rizal’s friends, including Blumentritt, Jose Ma. Basa, although it is cold and indifferent. Here in your letter I have
and Ponce something which makes up for your absence. How pleased I
-They were horrified by Rizal’s plan to return to the would be to follow you, to travel with you who are always in
Philippines my thoughts.
-They warned him of the danger that awaited him at home You wish me all kinds of luck, but forget that in the absence of
a beloved one a tender heart cannot feel happy.
DECISION TO GO TO MADRID A thousand things serve to distract your mind, my friend; but
•No threat of danger could change his plan in my case, I am sad, lonely, always alone with my thoughts -
•Change of mind, a letter from Paciano nothing, absolutely nothing relieves my sorrow. Are you
-They lost the case against Dominicans in Manila coming back? That's what I want and desire most ardently -
-Appealed to Supreme Court in Spain you cannot refuse me.
-A lawyer was needed to handle in Madrid I do not despair and I limit myself to murmuring against time
-Rizal wrote to M. H.del Pilar (lawyer) June 20, 1890 which runs so fast when it's bringing us together again.
•Rizal announced that he was leaving Brussels at the I feel very unhappy thinking that perhaps I might never see
beginning of the following month and would arrive in Madrid you again.
about the 3rd or 4th (August). Goodbye! You know with one word you can make me very
happy. Aren't you going to write to me?
TO MY MUSE
Invoked no longer is the Muse,
The lyre is out of date;
The poets it no longer use,