GE 6: LIFE AND WORKS OF DR. JOSE P.
RIZAL
CHAPTER 5: RIZAL IN EUROPE AND THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
I. First Journey to Europe
A. Secret mission to Spain was the agreement between Jose and his brother Paciano for
the following reasons:
1. Pursue medicine
2. Observe political situation in Madrid
B. Travel of Rizal:
1. Cruise “Salvadora”: Manila → Singapore
2. Cruise “Djemnah”: Singapore → Ceylon (Sri Lanka) → North Africa → Suez Canal →
Port Said (Egypt) → Naples, Italy → Marseilles
3. Train to Barcelona: Marseilles → Barcelona
4. Barcelona → Madrid → Paris → Heidelberg → Leipzig → Dresden → Berlin
II. Life in Spain (Barcelona and Madrid)
A. Activities of Rizal in Spain
1. He wrote his first nationalistic essay in Barcelona entitled El Amor Patrio-published in
Diariong Tagalog on August 20, 1882 and was translated in Tagalog by Marcelo H.
del Pilar
2. He enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid under the course of Medicine and
Philosophy and Letters on November 3, 1882
3. While waiting for the start of classes in Madrid, he enrolled in Academy of Fine Arts of
San Fernando for painting
4. He travelled to different historical places and museums
5. He experienced financial difficulties
6. Meeting Miss C.O. y R.
III. Life in France
In the fall of 1885, Rizal went to Paris to gain more knowledge in ophthalmology and
practiced in the clinic of Dr. Louis de Weckert. In his spare time, he spent his time in Juan
Luna’s art studio to improve his painting techniques and served as model together with
their other compatriots in Luna’s paintings.
IV. Life in Germany
A. Heidelberg
▪ Arrived here on February 3, 1886
▪ Worked at the University Eye Hospital of the University of Heidelberg under the
directorship of Dr. Otto Becker
▪ Wrote his poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the flowers of Heidelberg)
▪ Befriended Dr. Karl Ullmer, a protestant pastor who taught him the German
language
▪ Began writing Ferdinand Blumentritt, an ethnologist who later became his best
friend
B. Leipzig
▪ Arrived here on August 9, 1886
▪ Attended lectures in History and Psychology at the University of Leipzig
▪ Translated Schiller’s William Tell for the Filipinos to learn from the story of Swiss
independence
▪ Translated Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tale for his nephews and nieces
C. Dresden
▪ He met Dr. Adolf B. Meyer who recommended him to different scientific societies
in Germany
D. Berlin
▪ He worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger
▪ He became member of Anthropological society, ethnological society, and the
geographical society of Berlin
▪ He took private lessons in French
▪ Attended various lectures in University of Berlin
▪ He suffered malnourishment due to the late arrival of his allowance from the
Philippines
▪ Maximo Viola became his savior in terms of finances
V. Rizal and Masonry
A. Rizal joined the Masonry
Rizal joined the Masonry (Masonic Lodge) hoping that he could utilize the Free
Masonry as his shield against the friars who according to him were hindrance for the
development and reform if the society in the Philippines. On February 15, 1884, he
received his diploma as the Master Mason
B. Rizal’s claims regarding Masonry:
1. He did not introduce Masonry in the Philippines.
2. He gave up taking part in the Masonry.
3. He founded associations in which its common objectives were to moralize the
Filipinos and the political side was never under his direction.
VI. The Brindis Speech
A. The Toast for Luna and Hidalgo
On June 25, 1884, the Filipinos in Madrid had a gathering to celebrate Juan Luna’s
success because his painting Spoliarium gained gold medal and Felix Resurrecion
Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins Exposed to Populance received a silver medal on a
prestigious painting competition in Madrid. And Jose Rizal, who was not able to take his
meal for the whole day was requested to deliver an impromptu speech that would be
a salute for the two Filipino painters.
B. The concepts of Brindis
1. The independence of the Philippines in the future because the Filipinos already had
education from Spain and their achievements were recognized abroad.
2. The genius could come from any nations so the people in a particular race should
not treat themselves as superior.
3. The talents and intelligence of the Filipinos are innate and Spain gave them
education which polished their capabilities.
4. The Filipinos are ready for reforms that the Spanish government will give.
5. The Union of Spain and the Philippines is not impossible and he recognized the
contributions of Spain for our country.
6. The credit should be given to Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, to students who choose to be
apart from their families to continue their education and to the parents who worked
hard and bore the longing for their children for the sake of their education.
VII. Rizal and the Propaganda Movement
A. Ilustrado: the Filipino Ilustrado in Madrid (1880-1885) had a secret mission to inform the
Spanish government in Madrid about the true condition of the Philippines under their
colonial government.
B. La Solidaridad: a publication which aimed to enlighten the minds of the Spaniards and
other Filipinos about the real condition of the country.
C. Triumvirates of La Solidaridad:
A. Marcelo H. del Pilar
B. Graciano Lopez-Jaena
C. Dr. Jose P. Rizal
VIII. Rizal’s Conflicts
A. Conflict between Jose Rizal and Antonio Luna
▪ Cause of conflict: Nelly Boustead
▪ Rizal challenged Luna to a duel
B. Conflict between Jose Rizal and Wenceslao Retana
▪ Cause of conflict: article written by Wenceslao against the family of Rizal
▪ Rizal challenged Wenceslao to a battle
C. Conflict between Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar
▪ Cause of conflict: leadership (Pilarist vs. Rizalist)
▪ Three elections were conducted
