MODULE 4:

Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

Overview
The wisdom and sacrifices of Jose P. Rizal for the country earned him the title of the
greatest Malayan who ever lived. It was an honor he rightfully deserves. Up to this day, no
Asian has surpassed Rizal's ingenuity and extreme intelligence. The fact that he is the
national hero of the Philippines is just one side of him. The life and times of Rizal, though
short, is an endeavor that scholars and scientists alike find worthy to study and analyze.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, the students should be able:

 Explain the life of Jose Rizal in Ateneo and in University of Santo Tomas (UST)
 Differentiate the system of education during Rizal's time and the present educational
system in the Philippines
 Trace the relevance of Dr. Jose P. Rizal's higher education and accomplishments to his
desire for freedom

Content/Topics:
 Lesson 1: Education at Biñan, Laguna
 Lesson 2: Education at Ateneo
 Lesson 3: Rizal’s Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (UST)
 Lesson 4: Jose Rizal’s Travels and Life Abroad
 Lesson 5: Rizal Education in Spain

Introduction
Lesson 1: Education at Biñan, Laguna

In June of 1869, Paciano, Rizal's brother accompanied him to Biñan to continue his
studies. They proceeded to their aunt's home where Jose will stay. The next day (Monday)
Paciano brought Rizal to the School of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz, his older brother's
(Paciano) former teacher.
The school, which was made of Nipa, doubled as the house of the Maestro. At once,
Jose Rizal assigned a seat and was asked and replied at once: "Do you know Spanish?” “A
little Sir” “Do you know Latin?” "A little Sir". The boys in the class, especially Pedro, the
teacher's son laughed at Jose's answers.

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 The teacher sharply stopped all noises and begun the lessons or the day. Maestro
Justiniano Aquino Cruz was a disciplinarian. He was a tall man, lean and long-necked, with a
sharp nose and a body slightly bent forward. He used to wear a Sinamay shirt woven by the
deft hands of Batangas women.
In the afternoon of his day in school, when the teacher was having his Siesta, Jose
met the bully, Pedro. He was angry for making fun of him during his conversation with the
teacher in the morning. Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The latter readily accepted, thinking
that he could easily beat the Calamba boy who was smaller and younger. The two boys
wrestled furiously in the classroom, much to the glee of their classmates. Jose, having
learned the art of wrestling from his athletic Tio Manuel, defeated the bigger boy. Because of
this, he became popular among his classmates. After the class in the afternoon, a classmate
named Andres Salandanan challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. They went to a
sidewalk of a house and wrestled with their arms. Jose, having the weaker arm, lost and
nearly cracked his head on the sidewalk.
In succeeding days, he had other fights with the boys of Biñan. He was not
quarrelsome by nature, but he never ran away from a fight.
Jose spent his leisure hours with teacher Justiniano's father-in-law, a master painter
named Juancho. He took the opportunity to become an apprentice together with his
classmate Jose Guevarra. Sooner they became the class's best painters.

Jose Rizal led a frugal and methodical life in Biñan. His time was well budgeted from 4
o'clock in the morning such as hearing mass, eating time, studies and leisure time at times
he played in the street with friends and other boys when there was the moon. He
concentrated on his studies diligently and he excelled Spanish, Latin and all subjects.

Having finished his studies in Biñan, Rizal returned to Calamba on board the
motorboat “Talim”. His parents planned to transfer him to Manila to continue his studies.

Lesson 2: Education at Ateneo

On June 10, 1872, Paciano accompanied Rizal to take the entrance examination at
College of San Juan de Letran and passed it. They returned to Calamba to stay for few days
with the family and to attend the town fiesta. Don Francisco changed his mind and decided to
send Rizal to Ateneo Municipal (later on became the Ateneo de Manila).
Paciano accompanied Rizal to Manila to enroll at the Ateneo Municipal. Father Magin
Fernando, the school registrar, refused to admit him for these reasons:
1. He was late tor registration and;
2. He was sickly and small for his age.
With the intercession of Perez Burgos, a nephew of Father Burgos, he was admitted
to the Ateneo that was located in Intramuros within the walls of Manila.
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 Rizal was just quiet and observant of the different activities in class.

The Jesuits System of Education was more advanced. Its discipline was rigid and the
methods are varied. It promoted physical culture, humanities and scientific studies. It also
establishes vocational courses in agriculture, commerce and mechanics as a religious
institute, its principal purpose was to mold the character and the will of the boys, to comply
more easily with the precepts of the church. The students hear mass before the beginning of
the class, which was opened and closed with prayers.

Rizal's first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Being a newcomer and with
little knowledge of Spanish, and an ‘Externo’ (non-boarders), he was placed in the
‘Carthaginian Empire’. The other group was the ‘Roman Empire’ consisting of the ‘Internos’
(boarders). Each group had its ranks, the best in rank is the "Emperor", the 2nd Best-tribune;
the 3rd is the Decurion, 4th the Centurion; the 5th is the standard-bearer. Within the empire, the
students aspired for the position by answering the questions for the day's lesson. If a student
made three (3) mistakes he could lose his position. Any student might be at the end of the
line, but if he studies hard and was brilliant, he could become an ‘Emperor’. The two groups
‘Roman Empire’ and ‘Carthaginian Empire’ were in constant competition for supremacy in the
class.

Jose Rizal progressed well in his studies that after a month he became the
‘Emperor’ and was considered the brightest pupil of the class. He was awarded a prize
namely, "a religious picture” which he was so proud of because it was the 1 st prize he ever
received at Ateneo.
He spent his leisure hours by taking private lessons to improve his Spanish at Sta.
Isabel College. He paid three pesos for the Spanish lessons.

At the end of the school year in March 1873, he returned to Calamba for the summer
vacation. He did not enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison at Sta. Cruz. Doña
Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that she her brother, Jose Alberto tried to
poison the latter’s wife. After her arrest, Doña Teodora was forced to walk from Calamba all
the way to Sta. Cruz, a distance 50 Kilometers. She was imprisoned for two and a half years.

In his second year in Ateneo (1873-1874), nothing unusual happened to Rizal. Once
again, he received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal as a diligent student and
voracious reader. Rizal kept reading fiction, non-fiction and novel like the Count of Monte
Cristo by Alexander Dumas. His imagination was stirred by the sufferings of Edmond
Dantes (the hero), his escape from the dungeon of Chateau d ‘If, and his finding of a buried
treasure on the rocky island of Monte Cristo and his revenge on his enemies who had
offended him.

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 Rizal also read Travels in the Philippines written by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German
scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860. The book consisted of the keen
observations of the defects of Spanish colonization and the prophecy that someday Spain
would losses the Philippines and that America would come to succeed her as a colonizer.
Through his readings, he discovered the wisdom of books and its influences on his search
for knowledge.

Another book that his father bought was the Universal History by Cesar Cantus
which was a rich source of historical facts about the world. He used to read this while
studying in Ateneo. On his fourth year in Ateneo, Jose Rizal was inspired to study hard
and to write poetry by one of his professors, Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, a
great educator and scholar. Rizal had the highest affection and respect for Father
Sanchez, whom he considered his best professor in Ateneo.

Rizal's formal lessons at the Ateneo gradually gained him proficiency both in the art of
rhetoric and in the art of independent thinking. He expressed his ideas on the value of
education in his poem "Through Education the Motherland Receives Light" (Por la
Education Recibe Lustre la Patria). He stressed that responsible education instills in the
youth, noble ideas and sublime virtues. Learning infuses truth, and discipline brings peace,
glory and tranquility to the nation. This poem shows Rizal's high regard for education. He
strongly believed in the important role which education plays in the development and
progress of a nation.
There were other poems written by Jose Rizal while in Ateneo as inspired by Father
Sanchez: "to make full use of his God-given talents in poetry and to open his mind to the rich
influence of the world's literature".

Jose Rizal excelled in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term.
He proudly offered all his excellent ratings and medals to his parents, a way to repay them
for their sacrifices and love. He was considered, the most brilliant Atenean of his time, he
was truly the "Pride of the Jesuits".
During his stay at the Ateneo, Rizal's grades were all Excellent (Sobresaliente). On
March 23, 1877, he received his degree of Bachelor of Art with honors. His Scholastic
records at the Ateneo from 1872 to 1877 were as follows:
The academic excellence of Rizal and his literary skills qualified him for membership
in two exclusive organizations at the Ateneo, namely, "The Academy of Spanish Literature
and the Academy of Natural Science where he became the “perfect”.
He also joined the Marian Congregations; (Sodality of our Lady and Apostleship of
Prayer) where he became the secretary of the Marian Congregation

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Lesson 3: Rizal’s Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (UST)
For higher studies, after Rizal’s graduation from Ateneo, he pursued his studies at the
University of Sto. Tomas. The Bachelor of Arts course during the Spanish times was
equivalent only to the high school and junior college courses today.
His mother Doña Teodora was opposed to his son's pursuing education in Manila
because she was reminded of the fate of intelligent Filipinos like the priests GomBurZa. Don
Francisco believed of the great future that awaited his son whose intelligence was among the
"best” during that time.
During his first year at UST he studied simultaneously at Ateneo taking vocational
course leading to the title of "Perito Agrimensor” (Expert Surveyor) with grades of excellent
but was not given the title because he was still 17 years old.
He finally decided to take up medicine with the advice of Fr. Pablo Ramon, the
Director of Ateneo de Manila with the intention and desire to cure Doña Teodora’s failing
eyesight.

 Experience of Spanish Brutality

Rizal experienced his first taste of Spanish brutality when he was in Calamba
spending summer vacation after a long tedious study as medical student of UST.
One night while he was walking alone a dark street, Rizal failed to recognize the
Spanish civil guard, passing by his side, thus, he did not bow, salute or greet the man. At a
striking distance, the civil guard (Guardia Civil) whipped Rizal mercilessly at the back with a
stingray tail (buntot pagi). He suffered from the wounds inflicted on his back that lasted for
two weeks before it was completely healed. He could not accept such brutal treatment. When
the incident was reported to the Captain General Primo de Rivera, he was even
reprimanded and even told Rizal that he should be thankful for being still alive and spared by
the civil guard.

Lesson 4: Jose Rizal’s Travel and Life Abroad

 First Travel

Jose Rizal continued his four years of the medical course at the University of Santo
Tomas (UST) The academic freedom that he had enjoyed while at the Ateneo was
weakened by the racial prejudice and limitations at the UST. Nevertheless, he finished his
course for he wanted to treat the failing eyesight of his mother. His general average was
creditable, but he found the classroom inadequate for his academic curiosity. He then
decided to continue his studies in Spain.
Aside from continuing his studies abroad, he intended to observe the life, culture,
industries, government and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself in his
obsession to liberate the Filipino people from Spanish tyranny.

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 The plan was not known to his parents because they would surely disapprove of his
leaving for Spain. His older brother Paciano, his two sisters, Saturnina and Lucia, his uncle
Antonio Rivera and other friends supported him.

 Travel to Spain

On May 1, 1882, he began writing farewell letters to his friends and family. Using the
name Jose Mercado, Jose Rizal's departure for Spain was made possible. His brother
Paciano gave him some money, while Saturnina gave him a diamond ring and a Jesuit priest
gave him letter of recommendation from the Ateneo authorities to the Jesuit fathers in
Barcelona, Spain.
On May 3, 1882, Rizal left on board the Spanish steamer ship SALVADORA bound
for Singapore. He was the only Filipino and the rest were Spaniards, British and Indian
Negroes. He got along famously with his fellow passengers, some of them older than him,
whom he defeated in chess. Even the ship Captain, Donato Lecha, from Asturias Spain had
made friend with Rizal.
After five days of sailing, the Salvadora reached the English Colony of SINGAPORE.
He registered at Hotel dela Psaz. His two days stop-over were spent most of the time in
visiting the historic places, temples, botanical garden, art galleries and the statue of Sir
Thomas Stanford Raffles (Founder of Singapore in 1819).

 From Singapore to Ceylon (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

From Singapore he boarded the Djemnah, a French Streamer bound for Europe on
May 11, 1882. French was mostly spoken on board. To his surprise, the French he learned
at the Ateneo could not be understood. He gradually improved his facility of the language by
conversing daily with the passengers.
On May 1, 1882, Djemnah made its stop-over at the POINT GALLE. He noted, “Point
Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) which is picturesque but lonely,
quiet and at the same time sad. The ship then headed north and on May 18 docked at
COLOMBO, capital of Ceylon. Rizal wrote, “Colombo is more beautiful, smart and elegant
than Singapore, Piont Galle and Manila.

 Trip to Suez Canal

The Djemnah continued to voyage crossing the Indian ocean to the CAPE OF
GUARDAFUI, the barren coast of Africa which for Rizal was an inhospitable land but famous.
The next stopover was in ADEN. This was the first time Rizal stepped in African soil and saw
real camels. From Aden, the Djemnah arrived at the PORT SAID in the CITY OF SUEZ, The
Red Sea terminal of Suez Canal. Rizal was fascinated to hear the multi-racial inhabitants
speaking “A babel of tongues Arabic, Egyptian, Greek, French, Italian, Spanish etc.

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 From PORT SAID, the ship traversed the Suez Canal and on June 11, arrived at
NAPOLI (now NAPLES, Italy). Passengers were allowed to move around the place and Rizal
never wasted time to explore the first European territory in his sight. He was pleased
because of its activities, its lively people, its panoramic beauty like Mt. Vesuvius, the Castle
of Saint Telmo, and other historic sights.

After the brief stop at Napoli, the ship proceeded to MARSEILLES and arrived at the
French harbor on June 12, 1882. He visited the famous chateau d’ If where DANTES, the
hero of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO was imprisoned. He enjoyed reading this novel of
Alexander Dumas when he was at the Ateneo. In the afternoon of June 15, Rizal left
Marseilles by train bound for BARCELONA. The train crossed PYRENEES and stopped for
a day at PORT BOU for passport inspection and they finally reached BARCELONA on June
16, 1882, the second largest city of Spain and the greatest city of Cataluña.

Jose Rizal's first impression of the city was not favorable for he happened to stay
upon his arrival at a dirty inn wherein the staff and guests were indifferent to him. however,
as he had stayed in the city this impression had changed and found Barcelona to be a really
great city. The people were courageous, open-hearted and hospitable, and most of all the
atmosphere of freedom and liberalism was felt. Filipinos in Barcelona, some of whom were
his schoolmates in Ateneo welcomed him. He was given a party at their favorite cafe in
PLAZA DE CATALUÑA, with customary exchange of toast. The acquaintances, the
attractions of the city and the good customs of the Spanish people were the opposite of
those in the Philippines.

While in Barcelona, Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled, LOVE OF COUNTRY

(AMOR PATRIO) which was his first article written in Spain's soil under the penname
LAONG LAAN. He sent this to his friend BASILIO TEODORO MORAN, publisher of
DIARIONG TAGALOG. The first Manila newspaper that published both Spanish and
Tagalog.

This AMOR PATRIO was published on August 20, 1882 in two texts. The Tagalog text
was the translation made by MARCELO H. DEL PILAR. In this essay, he urged the Filipinos
to love the Philippines, their fatherland. He wanted them to be free, to be people with
dignity and honor according to God’s plan and not slaves. He was requested by his
friend to write more articles because it had caused a sensation to the readers because of its
nationalistic fervor. In response to the request, he wrote the second article for Diariong
Tagalog LOS VIAJES (TRAVELS). His third article entitled REVISTA DE MADRID (REVIEW
OF MADRID) was returned to him for Diariong Tagalog had stopped publication because of
lack of funds.

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 In Madrid, Spain
With unwavering determination, prodigious energy and talent, he left Barcelona on
November 3, 1882. He enrolled at the Central University of Madrid (Universidad Central de
Madrid) for the Licentiate in Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. He followed
systematic and well-organized schedule of study because he wanted to learn so much within
a short time. To enhance his artistic talents, he also took up lessons in painting and sculpture
at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando)
as well as lessons in French, German and English under private instructors.

During his free hours, he practiced fencing and shooting or he attended lectures on
art galleries and museums and read books on all subjects including engineering. He rigidly
budgets his money and time. He lived frugally with immense capacity for work. He was a
voracious reader who could stay until midnight reading fiction and non-fiction novels, which a
habit he acquired early in at home. With the many books he had read, two books left a deep
impression that heightened his sympathy for the oppressed and unfortunate people. These
were Uncle Tom's Cabin by Hariet Beecher Stowe and The Wandering Jew by Eugene
Sue.

Aside from his studies, Rizal had the chance to meet Consuelo Ortiga y Perez. He
fell in love with Consuelo but because of Eduardo de Lete was courting Consuelo, Rizal did
not pursue his feelings instead he made a poem for Consuelo. The poem Miss Consuelo
Ortiga y Rey (Miss C.O.Y R.) was written in August 22,1883.
Rizal joined the Hispano-Philippine Circle (Circulo Hispano-Filipino), Society of
Spaniards and Filipinos shortly after his arrival in Madrid. Upon the request of the members
of this society, he wrote a poem entitled, THEY ASK ME FOR VERSES (ME PIDEN
VERSES) which he personally declaimed during the New Year's Eve reception in Madrid last
December 31, 1882. In this sad poem, he poured out the cry of his agonizing heart, his
loneliness and sadness of being alone in a foreign land.

He wrote this poem in 1882 while he was enrolled in the Universidad de Madrid.
Addressed to his mother, he bared is loneliness and sadness of being alone in a foreign
shore. He showed also the physical and emotional strains of his crusade for freedom.

Among the significant developments in Rizal’s life in Madrid was his becoming a
mason. He came in close contact with the Spanish liberals and republicans who were mostly
mason. He was impressed by the way the Spanish masons openly and freely criticized and
attacked the government and the church which could not be done in the Philippines for they
will be jailed or executed if they do so. He discovered the political possibilities of becoming a
Mason, so he joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid with the Masonic name
DIMASALANG. Two reasons impelled him to join masonry: first, to secure freemasonry’s aid

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in his fight against the friars in the Philippines for they use the Catholic Religion as a shield to
entrench themselves in power and wealth and persecute the Filipino patriots; second, to
utilize freemasonry as his shield to combat these problems in the Philippines and for more
mature contacts and enlightenment as he was writing Noli Me Tangere. He had been
awarded the diploma as Master Mason Feb. 15, 1892. After joining the masons, Rizal
naturally ceased going to mass and wandered far from the faith. He continued to have faith in
Divine Providence, a testimony to the deep imprint of Catholicism in his soul.

While in Madrid, the Filipinos including Rizal were having financial problems.
However, they were inspired by the victory of Juan Luna and Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo.
Luna's painting Spolarium won first prize gold medal while Hidalgo’s painting ‘Christian
Virgins Exposed to the Populace’ was awarded second prize silver medal in the National
Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid. It was an exalting moment for the Filipinos colony in Madrid
and Rizal was invited to give the principal’s speech held in the evening of June 25, 1884. It
was attended by prominent Spanish artists, newspapermen, statesmen and Filipinos. He
saluted Luna and Hidalgo as the two glories of Spain and Philippines. Speaking in sonorous
Castilian, he held his audience spellbound. He concluded with refined sarcasm the abuses
and blindness of some Spaniards who could not comprehend a university genius. He
significantly conducted his memorable speech by offering a toast to Luna and Hidalgo to the
Youth of the Philippines to Mother Spain and to the Filipino parents whose sons are in
Europe. The magnificent speech of Rizal was greeted with wild ovations, for they have not
heard such speech from the lips of a brown Filipino which was almost peerless in nobility of
thoughts, in Spanish rhetoric eloquence and sincerity of feelings.

Lesson 5: Rizal Education in Spain

Rizal followed a systematic and well-organized schedule of study. He completed

his medical course and was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the
Universidad Central de Madrid on June 21, 1884 that made him a full-pledged
physician, qualified to practice medicine. The next academic year (1884-1885), he
studied and passed all subjects leading to the Doctor of Medicine but was not awarded his
Doctor’s Diploma for he did not submit the thesis as a requirement for graduation nor paid
the corresponding fees. At the same time, he was also awarded the degree of Licentiate in
Philosophy and Letters on June 19, 1885 with the rating of "Sobresaliente” (Excellent). The
degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred on him post humously in 1961 during the
centenary of his birth.

 Rizal in Paris and Berlin (1885 - 1887)

With Rizal’s relentless search for relevant education and advance studies, he went to
Paris, France and Berlin (now Germany) to specialize in Ophthalmology because he
wanted to cure mother's ailment. On his way to Paris, he stopped at Barcelona to visit his
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friend, Maximo Viola, a medical student who belonged to a rich family in San Miguel,
Bulacan and Don Miguel Morayta, the owner of La Publicidad. He arrived in Paris in
October of 1885 and stayed there for four months as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert,
a leading French Ophthalmologist. After four months and concentrated study, he learned
the medical techniques of an eye operation.
During his stay in Paris, he visited the studio of Juan Luna, the home of Pardo de
Tavera and Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo. They had long hours of discussions on the many
problems of art and learned techniques of his own. He helped Luna by posing as a model in
several paintings like "The Death of Cleopatra” where he posed as the Egyptian priest. ln
another of Luna's great paintings, “The Blood Compact” he posed as Sikatuna with Dr.
Trinidad Pardo de Tavera taking the role of Legazpi.

 Rizal in Historic Heidelberg, Germany

His limited allowance and his desire to learn more about eye ailments prompted him
to go to Germany, where the cost of living was cheaper than in Paris. On February 3, 1886,
he reached Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university. He worked at
the University Eye Hospital under the direction and supervision of Dr. Otto Becker, a
distinguished renowned German ophthalmologist. He attended the lectures of Doctor Becker
and Prof. Wilhelm Kuehne at the University. During weekends, Rizal visited scene spots
around Heidelberg, the famous Heidelberg Castle, the romantic Neckar River, the old
churches. He noticed that the German Catholics and Protestants practiced ecumenism for
they lived together m harmony and cordiality. Half of the town churches was used by
Catholics and the other by the Protestants.
During his stay in Heidelberg, he lived with a Protestant pastor Dr. Karl Ullmen, who
became his good friend. The two had friendly conversations on the merits of Catholicism and
Protestantism. Rizal, a Mason by this time, ably defended Catholicism. In the Spring of 1880,
a was fascinated by the blooming of flowers along the banks of the Neckar River. Among
them was his favorite flower, the light blue "forget me not”.
“A Las Flores de Heidelberg. “Sa mga Bulaklak ng Heidelberg” (22 April 1886) was
written during his stay in the city of Heidelberg, Germany. He was inspired by the pretty
flowers strewn along the banks of the Neckar River. In this poem, he revealed his longings
for his native land. Rizal sent his message of love and faith in the Philippines.

 First Letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt

Rizal's pride in his linguistic talents was heightened when he wrote in German letter to
Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, Director of Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria on July 31,
1886. He knew that this Austrian Ethnologist was interested in Philippine languages. In his
letter, Rizal said:
I have heard that you are studying our language and that you had already published
some work about it; permit me to send you a valuable book written by my countryman in our
language.
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 The Spanish version is mediocre because the author is only a modest writer, but the
Tagalog part is good, and it is previously the language spoken in our province.

With the letter, he sent the book which he mentioned and was titled ARITHMETICA
(Arithmetic) in our language Spanish and Tagalog by University of Santo Tomas press in
1868 authored by Rufino Baltazar Hernandez, a native of Sta. Cruz Laguna. Blumentritt was
impressed of Rizal's letter and he reciprocated by sending Rizal two books as a gift. This
marked the beginning of correspondence, also their friendships that lasted all their lives.
Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal. Rizal was fortunate to see the fifth century
celebration of the University of Heidelberg on August 6, 1886. It was three days before his
departure, and he was sad because he had come to love the beautiful city and its hospitable
people, which he lamented; if he will be able to return to this place again.

 From Geneva, Switzerland to Italy

On June19, 1887, in Geneva, Switzerland, Rizal celebrated his 26th birthday. After
two weeks, then he toured the Italy. He visited the famous cities of Venice, Turin, Milan,
Florence, and Rome. In Rome, it was regarded as an "Eternal City” and the "City of
Caesars". The Vatican is the "Seat of Authority of the Roman Catholic Church" and regarded
as "City of Popes". Rizal stayed in Rome almost one week and heads back home.

References:

Life and works of Rizal. A modular approach 2018 Michael Panganiban, Modesta Franco-Igloria,edena Pasague.

The Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal. A Course Module 2019
Eugene Raymond P. Crudo, Herald Ian C. Guiwa. Reidan M. Pawilen.

http:/joserizal.ph/in01.html

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