Name: _________________________________________ Program/Yr.

/Section: ___________

Rizal’s Life & Works

RIZAL LAW OR REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

An act to include in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges and universities courses on
the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.

Approved: June 12, 1956

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CHAPTER 1: ADVENT OF A NATIONAL HERO

“Not only is Rizal the most famous man of his own people, but the greatest man the Malayan race has
produced.”

- Ferdinand Blumentritt

Dr. Jose Rizal is a unique example of a many-splendored genius who became a greatest hero of a
nation. Endowed by God with versatile gifts, he truly ranked with the world’s geniuses. He was a:
 Physician  Musician  Folklorist
(Ophthalmic  Naturalist  Philosopher
Surgeon)  Ethnologist  Translator
 Poet  Surveyor  Inventor
 Dramatist  Engineer  Magician
 Essayist  Farmer  Humorist
 Novelist businessman  Satirist
 Historian  Economist  Polemicist
 Architect  Geographer  Sportsman
 Painter  Cartographer  Traveler
 Sculptor  Bibliophile  Prophet
 Educator  Philologist
 Linguist  Grammarian

Above and beyond all of these, he was a HERO and a POLITICAL MARTYR who consecrated his life
for the redemption of his oppressed people. No wonder, he is now acclaimed as the national hero of the
Philippines.

THE BIRTH OF A HERO

Jose Rizal was born on the moonlit night of Wednesday, June 19, 1861, in the lakeshore town of
Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda – his full name. wherein:
• Jose – was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose (St. Joseph).
• Protacio – from Gervacio P. which come from the Christian calendar
• Rizal – from the word “Ricial”
• Mercado – adopted in 1731 by his great-great grandfather Domingo Lameo
• Y – and
• Alonso – old surname of his mother
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 • Realonda – it was used by Doña Teodora from her Godmother

June 22, 1861 - He was baptized in the Catholic Church of his town.

Fr. Rufino Collantes – the Batangueño Parish Priest who baptized Rizal.

Father Pedro Casanas – Rizal’s Godfather, native of Calamba and close friend of the Rizal Family

Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery - He was a former senator of Spain (member of the upper chamber
of the Spanish cortes) and the Philippines’ Governor General when Rizal was born. He governed
the Philippines from February 2, 1861 to July 7, 1862.

 His achievements as governor general were: (1) fostering the cultivation of cotton in the provinces
and (2) establishing the politico-military governments in the Visayas and in Mindanao.

RIZAL’S PARENT

Francisco Mercado Rizal (1818-1898)

 Full name: Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandra II
 Birthdate: May 11, 1818
 Birthplace: Biñan, Laguna
 He studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
 January 5, 1898 – he died at the age of 80.
 “A model of Fathers”

Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda (1826-1911)

 Full name: Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos
 Birthdate: November 8, 1826
 Birthplace: Manila
 She was educated at the College of Santa Rosa.
 August 16, 1911 – she died in Manila at the age of 85.

THE RIZAL CHILDREN

God blessed the marriage of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realondo with eleven (11)
children – two (2) boys and nine (9) girls.

1. Saturnina (1850-1913)
 Oldest of the Rizal children
 Nickname: Neneng
 She married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas

2. Paciano (1851-1930)
 Older brother and confidant of Jose Rizal
 He died on April 13, 1930 at the age of 79.
 He had two children by his mistress, Severina Decena.

3. Narcisa (1852-1939)
 Her pet name was Sisa

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  She married Antonio Lopez (nephew of Father Leoncio Lopez), a school teacher in
Morong.
4. Olimpia (1855-1887)
 Her pet name was Ypia
 She married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila.

5. Lucia (1857-1919)
 She married Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who was a nephew of Father Casanas.
 Herbosa died of cholera in 1889 and was denied of Christian burial because he was a
brother-in-law of Dr. Jose Rizal.

6. Maria (1859-1945)
 Biang was her nickname
 She married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.

7. Jose (1861-1898)
 The greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius
 Pepe was his nickname
 Josephine Bracken – an Irish girl from Hong Kong. She lived with Rizal during his exile in
Dapitan. She had a son with Rizal.

8. Concepcion (1862-1865)
 Her nickname was Concha
 She died of sickness at the age of 3.
 Her death was Jose Rizal’s first sorrow in life.

9. Josefa (1865-1945)
 Her pet name was Panggoy
 She died an old maid at the age of 80.

10. Trinidad (1868-1951)

 Trining was her pet name
 She also died an old maid at the age of 83.

11. Soledad (1870-1929)

 Youngest of the Rizal children
 Her pet name was Choleng.
 She married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba.

RIZAL’S ANCESTRY

 As a typical Filipino, Rizal was a product of the mixture of races.

 In his veins flowed the blood of both East and West – Negrito, Indonesian, Malay, Chinese,
Japanese, and Spanish.
 Predominantly, he was a Malayan and was a magnificent specimen of Asian manhood.

PATERNAL SIDE

Domingo Lameo
 Rizal’s great-great grandfather on his father’s side
 A Chinese immigrant from the Fukien City of Changchow, who arrived in Manila about 1690.
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  He became a Christian, married a well-to-do Chinese Christian girl of Manila named Ines de la
Rosa.
 1731 – he assumed the surname Mercado. It is a Spanish term which means “market” in English.
 Domingo Mercado and Ines de la Rosa had a son named Francisco Mercado.

Francisco Mercado
 He married a Chinese-Filipino mestiza, Cirila Bernacha.
 He was elected gobernadorcillo (municipal mayor) of the town.
 One of their sons was Juan Mercado (Rizal’s grandfather).

Juan Mercado
 Rizal’s grandfather
 He married Cirila Alejandro – a Chinese-Filipino mestiza.
 Capitan Juan and Capitana Cirila had thirteen (13) children, the youngest being Francisco
Mercado, Rizal’s father.

Francisco Mercado Rizal

 Rizal’s father
 He studied Latin and Philosophy in the College of San Jose in Manila.
 He met and fell in love with Teodora Alonso Realonda, a student in College of Santa Rosa.

June 28, 1848

 Don Francisco and Doña Teodora got married and settled down in Calamba.
 They were engaged in farming and business and reared a big family.

MATERNAL SIDE

 It is said that Doña Teodora’s family descended from Lakandula, the last native king of Tondo.

Eugenio Ursula
 Rizal’s great-great grandfather (maternal side)
 He was a Japanese ancestry
 He married a Filipina named Benigna
 Their daughter, Regina, married Manuel de Quintos, a Filipino-Chinese lawyer from
Pangasinan.
 Brigida – one of Atty. de Quintos and Regina daughters, married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso.

Brigida & Manuel de Quintos

 Their daughter were Narcisa, Teodora (Rizal’s mother), Gregorio, Manuel and Jose.

THE SURNAME RIZAL

Rizal’s family acquired a second surname – Rizal – which was given by a Spanish Alcalde-mayor
(Provincial Governor) of Laguna, who was a family friend.
Rizal in Spanish means “a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again”
“new pasture” or “green pasture”

THE RIZAL HOME

It was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during Spanish times.

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 It was a two-storey building, rectangular in shape, built of adobe stones and hard-woods, and roofed
with red tiles.

A GOOD AND MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY

Rizal family belonged to the Principalia – a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines.

They owned a carriage which was a status symbol of the Ilustrados in Spanish Philippines and a
Private Library which consisted of more than 1,000 volumes.

HOME LIFE OF THE RIZALS

Rizal family had a simple, contented, and happy life.

They believed in the maxim: “Spare the rod and spoil the child”

“I have always loved my poor country, and I am sure that I shall love her until death, if by chance men are
unjust to me; and I shall enjoy the happy life, contented in the thought that all that I have sacrificed all of
these for love of her. Happen what may, I shall die blessing her and desiring the dawn of her redemption.”

- Jose Rizal

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CHAPTER 2: CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA

Jose Rizal had many beautiful memories of childhood in his native town. He grew up in a happy
home, ruled by good parents, bubbling with joy, and sanctified with God’s blessing. The happiest period of
Rizal’s life was spent in this lakeshore town, a worthy prelude to his Hamlet-like tragic manhood.

CALAMBA, THE HERO’S TOWN

Situated on a verdant plain by the rippling Laguna de bay.

a few kilometres to the south looms the legendary Mt. Makiling, and beyond this mountain lies the
coffee producing Batangas
north of the town spreads the Laguna de Bay, "a lake of poems and songs”, with many sailboats gliding
by the somnolent Talim island and numerous birds flying in the azure skies
Beyond the lake, the far distance in the north is Antipolo, the famous mountain shrine of the miraculous
Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
Calamba became the "Cradle of a Genius” because of its:
 fertile fields of rice and sugarcane;
 its evermore green meadows of innumerable fruit trees and bananas;
 its singing birds abounding in lake, river and fields;
 its starry nights "filled with poetry of sadness";
 its lovely sunrises over lake and mountains; and
 Its charming panoramic views, is a fit place to nurture a growing child.

EARLY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Because he was frail, sickly and undersized child, he was given the tenderest care by his parents.
His father built a nippa cottage in the garden for him to play in the daytime.
An old woman was employed as an aya (maid) to look after his comfort.
Daily Angelus prayer together with the children gathered by his mother.
With nostalgic feeling, he also remembered many stories about the fairies, tales of buried treasure and
trees blooming with diamonds and other fabulous stories told by the aya.
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 The aswang, the nuno and the tigbalang and the terrible bearded and turbaned Bombay would take him
if he would not eat his supper.
Nocturnal walk in the town, especially when there was a moon (the aya took him for a walk in the
moonlight by the river, where the trees cast grotesque shadows on the bank).

Therefore, Rizal wrote:

"Thus my heart fed in sombre and melancholy thoughts so that even while still a child, I already wandered
on wings of fantasy in the high regions of the unknown."

THE HERO’S FIRST SORROW

When he was four years old, his sister Concepcion, the 8th child in the Rizal family, died at the age of
three. It was on occasion that Rizal remembered having good real tears for the first time.

Hence, Rizal wrote:

"When I was four years old, I lost my little sister Concha, and then for the first time I wept tears of love and
grief... "

DEVOTED SON OF CHURCH

Rizal loved to go to church, to pray, to take part in novenas, to join the religious processions.
At the age of three (3), he began to take part in the family prayers.
His mother, a devout Catholic, taught him the Catholic prayer.
At age of five (5), he was able to read haltingly the Spanish family Bible.
Father Leoncio Lopez - he is the town priest. Jose Rizal used to visit him and listen to his stimulating
opinions on current events and sound philosophy of life.
Poems written by Rizal:
 Al Niño Jesus (1876)
 La Alianza Intima Entre La Religion y La Buena Educacion (1876)
 A La Virgen Maria (no date)

PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO

June 6, 1868 - with his father, Rizal made a pilgrimage to Antipolo to fulfill the vow made by his mother
to take him to the Shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo but because his mother was just given birth to
Trinidad, she wasn't able to accompany him.
From there, they proceeded to Manila and visited his sister Saturnina who was at that time studying in
the La Concordia College in Sta. Ana.
Rizal wrote:

"With that pleasure I saw the sunrise! It was the first time I had seen the bright rays strike, with dazzling
effect, the rough surface of the vast lake."

FIRST EDUCATION FROM MOTHER

Jose's first teacher was his mother (a woman of good character and fine education, a splendid
teacher, patient loving but strict as a tutor)
at the age three(3), he learned the alphabet and the prayers
Rizal said: "My mother taught me how to read and to say haltingly the humble prayers which I raised
fervently to God."

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 Because Jose loved his mother and was appreciative of many things he learned from her, he then
wrote: "Surely, a man owes everything to his mother, next to God."

THE STORY OF THE MOTH

of all his mother's stories, this story made the profoundest impression on Rizal
On "The Story of the Moth”, Rizal thought that the creature's death was justified because he believed
that to sacrifice one's life for one's ideals is worthwhile.

RIZAL’S THREE UNCLES

Uncle Gregorio
 He was a lover of books
 He taught him to work hard, to think for himself, and to observe life keenly.

Uncle Jose
 Who had been educated at Calcutta, India
 was the youngest brother of Doña Teodora
 He encouraged his nephew to paint, sketch, and sculpture

Uncle Manuel
 He was a big, strong, and husky man
 He looked after the physical training of his sickly and weak nephew
 He encouraged Rizal to learn swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other sports, so that in later years
Rizal’s frail body acquired agility, endurance, and strength

ARTISTIC TALENTS

Since early childhood Rizal revealed his God-given talent for art. At the age of five, he began to make
sketches with his pencil and to mold in clay and wax objects.
He drew sketches and pictures on his books of his sisters for which reason he scolded by his mother.
He carved figures of animals and persons out of wood
He had a gift for magic
Jose had a soul of a genuine artist.
He said: “All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of
me!”

PRODIGY OF THE PEN

He was a born poet

At an early age when children usually begin to learn ABC, he was already writing poems
At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled “Sa Aking mga
Kababata” (To My Fellow Children).
He wrote it an appeal to our people to love our national language.
Before he was eight years old, he wrote a Tagalog drama. This drama was stages in Calamba in
connection with the town fiesta

TO MY FELLOW CHILDREN

Whenever people of a country truly love

The language which by heav’n they were taught to use
That country also surely liberty pursue
As does the bird which soars to freer space above.

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 For language is the final judge and referee
Upon the people in the land where it holds sway;
To make our human race resembles in this way
The other living beings born in liberty.

Whoever knows not how to love his native tongue

Is worse than any beast or evil smelling fish.
To make our language richer ought to be our wish
The same as any mother loves to feed her young.

Tagalog and the Latin language are the same

And English and Castilian and the angels’ tongue;
And God, whose watchful care o’er all is flung,
Has given us His blessing in the speech we claim,

Our mother tongue, like all the highest that we know

Had alphabet and letters of its very own;
But these were lost --- by furious waves were overthrown
Like bancas in the stormy sea, long years ago.

LAKESHORE REVERIES

During the twilight hours of summertime, Rizal, accompanied by his dog, used to meditate at the shore
of Laguna de Bay on the sad conditions of his oppressed people
He grieved deeply over the unhappy situation of his beloved fatherland
The Spanish misdeeds awakened in his boyish heart a great determination to fight tyranny
When he became a man, many years later, he wrote to his friend Professor Blumentritt: “In view of
these injustices and cruelties; although yet a child, my imagination was awakened and I made a vow
dedicating myself someday to avenge the many victims with this idea in my mind, I studied, and this is
seen in all my writings. Someday, God will give me the opportunity to fulfil my promise"

INFLUENCES ON HERO’S BOYHOOD

In the lives of all men there are influences which cause some to be great and others not. In the case of
Rizal, he had all favourable influences, which no other child in our country enjoyed.

1. Hereditary Influence

2. Environmental Influence

3. Aid of the Divine Providence

1. Hereditary Influence
From his Malayan ancestors, Rizal, evidently inherited passionate love for freedom and his serenity
of life's outlook.
From his Chinese ancestors, he derived his serious nature, frugality, patience and love for children
From his Spanish ancestors, he got his elegance of bearing, sincerity to insult, and gallantry to
ladies
From his father, he inherited the profound sense of self-respect, the love for work, and the habit of
independent thinking
From his mother, he inherited his religious nature, the spirit of self-sacrifice, and passion for arts
and literature

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2. Environmental Influences
Includes places, associates and events
The scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the Rizal family stimulated the inborn
artistic and literary talents of Jose Rizal
The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his religious nature
His brother Paciano, instilled in his mind the value of brother of love
From his sisters, he learned to be courteous and kind to women
From fairy tales told by his aya during his early childhood awakened his interest in folklore and
legends
His uncle Gregorio taught to love books
Uncle Jose inspired him to develop his artistic ability
From his uncle Manuel, he learned the importance of good health and sports
From Father Leoncio Lopez, parish priest of Calamba, he acquired the value of intellectual
honesty and the love for scholarship

3. Aid of Divine Providence

Rizal was providentially destined to be the pride and glory of our people
God had endowed him with the versatile talents of a rare genius, the unsurpassed spirit of
nationalism, and the valiant heart to sacrifice himself for a noble cause

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CHAPTER 3: EARLY CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA AND BIÑAN

First formal schooling of Rizal was in Biñan, the natal town of his father near in Calamba from 1870-
1871.
He attended a private school under Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.

EARLY SCHOOLING
First teacher of Rizal was her mother where he learned the Latin alphabet and Catholic prayers.
Maestro Celestino - Jose's first private tutor.
Lucas Padua – Jose’s second private tutor.
Leon Monroy - Don Francisco's classmate, he hired him to give Rizal's first lesson in Latin.

JOSE GOES TO BIÑAN

One Sunday afternoon in June 1870 Jose left Calamba for Biñan.
Carromata – the mode of transportation at Biñan, Rizal lodged to his Aunt’s house together with his
cousin Leandro.

FIRST DAY IN BIÑAN SCHOOL

Paciano brought his younger brother to the school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz (formal
teacher)
The school was in the house of the teacher which was a small nipa hut about 30 meters from the home
of Jose's aunt.

FIRST SCHOOL BRAWL

In the afternoon Jose met the bully Pedro. Jose challenged Pedro to fight. The two boys wrestled
furiously in the classroom, much to the glee of their classmates. Jose, having learned the arts of
wrestling from his athletic Uncle Manuel, defeated the bigger boy.
Andres Salandanan – challenged Rizal for arm wrestling

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PAINTING LESSONS IN BIÑAN
Juancho - old painter, father in law of Jose's school teacher.
Jose Guevara - Jose's classmate who also loves painting.

DAILY LIFE IN BIÑAN

Jose led a methodical life in Biñan, almost Spartan in simplicity.
Mabolo – Rizal’s favourite fruit

BEST STUDENT IN SCHOOL

In intellectual studies, Jose beat all Biñan boys. Some of his older classmates were jealous of his
intellectual superiority.

END OF BIÑAN SCHOOLING

December, 1871 when Jose received a letter from his sister Saturnina, informing him of the arrival of
Steamer Talim which would take him from Biñan to Calamba.
He left Biñan on Saturday afternoon, December 17, 1871 with Frenchman Arturo Camps who took
care of him.
Christmas 1871 was a joyous and memorable one for him.

INJUSTICE TO HERO'S MOTHER

After the happy Christmas holiday in 1871, Don Francisco thought of sending Jose to Manila to study.
Before June came, Doña Teodora was arrested on malicious charge that she aided her brother Jose
Alberto, in trying to poison Alberto's wife.

THE MARTYRDOM OF GOM-BUR-ZA

On January 20, 1872 – Cavite Mutiny
February 17, 1872 - execution of Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora.
Jose's older brother Paciano, then a student in the College of San Jose, was boarding with Father
Burgos, his beloved professor and friend. He was a trusted assistant of Burgos in the fight for the
Filipinization of the parishes.
Jose Rizal was nearly eleven years old when the tragic martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za too place.
It was another Spanish injustice, like that done to his own mother.

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CHAPTER 4: SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPHS AT ATENEO DE MANILA (1872-1877)

Ateneo Municipal – a college under supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. This college is a bitter rival of
Dominican – owned College of San Juan de Letran.
Escuela Pia – (charity school) a school for poor boys in Manila which established by the city
government in 1817. It was the old name of Ateneo de Manila.

RIZAL ENTERS THE ATENEO

June 10, 1872 – He was accompanied by Paciano and took the entrance examinations on Christian
doctrine, arithmetic and reading at the college of San Juan de Letran and passed them all.

Father Magin Ferrando – college registrar refused to admit him for two reasons :

1. He was late for registration.

2. He was sickly and undersized for his age.

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 However, upon the intercession of Manuel Xerez Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was
reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo.
Jose first boarded in a house outside Intramuros on Caraballo Street, 25 minutes’ walk from
college.
This boarding house was owned by a spinster named Titay who owed the Rizal family the amount
of 300 pesos. Jose boarded in her boarding house in order to collect part of the debt.

JESUIT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

The system of Education given by the Jesuits in Ateneo

1. Advanced from other colleges.
2. Trained the character of the students by rigid discipline and religious instruction.
3. It promoted physical culture, fine arts and scientific studies.
4. Aside from academic courses leading to the degree of A.B. it offered vocational courses in
agriculture, commerce and mechanics.
5. Class in every subject was opened and close with prayers.

Students in Ateneo were divided into two groups:

Roman Empire – consisting of the Internos (boarders)

Carthaginian Empire – composed of the Externos (non-boarders)
Ranking of students were as follows:
 Emperor – the best student in each empire.
 Tribune – the second best in each empire.
 Decurion – the third best in each empire.
 Centurion – the fourth best in each empire.
 Standard Bearer – the fifth best in each empire.

Roman Empire & Carthaginian Empire had their distinctive banners.

 Red for Romans
 Blue for Carthaginians

The Ateneo Students wore a uniform which consisted of Hemp – fabric trousers.
Rayadillo – Striped cotton coat which later became famous for it was adopted as uniform for the
Filipino troops during the days of the first Philippine Republic.

RIZAL’S FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-1873)

Fr. Jose Bech – Rizal’s first professor in Ateneo.

Being a new comer and knowing little Spanish, Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class.
He was an externo, hence he was assigned to the Carthaginians occupying the end of the line.
To improve his Spanish, Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel College during the noon recesses.
He paid three pesos for those extra Spanish lessons but it was money well spent.

SECOND YEAR IN ATENEO (1873-1874)

In his second year term in Ateneo, he boarded inside Intramuros at no. 6 Magallanes Street.
Dona Pepay – old widow landlady who had a widowed daughter and four sons.
At the end of the School Year, Rizal received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal.

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PROPHECY OF MOTHER’S RELEASE

In the course of their conversation, Doña Teodora told her son of her dream the previous night. Rizal
interpreting such dream said to her that she would be released from prison in three months’ time.

TEENAGE INTEREST IN READING

Summer vacation 1874 – Rizal began to take interest in reading romantic novels.
Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas – first favorite novel of Rizal.
 His boyish imagination was stirred by the sufferings of Edmond Dantes (the hero) in prison, his
spectacular escape from the dungeon, his finding a buried treasure on the rocky island of Monte
Cristo.
 His dramatic revenge on his enemies who had wronged him.
Later Rizal read ‘Travels in the Philippines’ by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist-traveller who
visited the Philippines. Rizal was impressed on this book because of:
 Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization
 His prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines
 America would come to succeed her as colonizer.

THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1874-1875)

Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in the previous year.
His grades remained excellent in all subjects but he only won one medal in Latin.
He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.

FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO (1875-1876)

June 14, 1875 – he became an internee in the Ateneo.

Fr. Francisco Sanchez – a great educator and scholar, he inspired Rizal to study harder & write
poetry.

LAST YEAR IN ATENEO (1876-1877)

June 1876 – Rizal turned to Manila for his last year in Ateneo.
His studies continued to fare well. He excelled in all subjects. He was the most brilliant Atenean of his
time; he was truly the pride of the Jesuits.
Rizal finished his last year in the Ateneo in a blaze of glory. He obtained the highest grades in all
subjects.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO

He was an emperor inside the classroom.

He was a campus leader outside.
He was an active member, later secretary of a religious society, the Marian Cogregation.
He was also a member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the academy of Natural
Sciences.
Aside from writing poetry, he devoted his spare time in fine arts. He studied painting under the famous
Spanish painter Agustin Saez and Sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, noted Filipino sculptor.

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SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO

He carved an image of our Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with his pocket –
knife. The Jesuit Fathers were amazed at the beauty and grace of the image.
Father Lleonart impressed by Rizal’s sculptural talent, he requested him to carve an image of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus.
It was placed on the door of their dormitory and there it remained for nearly 20 years reminding all
Ateneans of Dr. Rizal, the greatest alumnus of their Alma Mater.

ANECDOTES ON RIZAL, THE ATENEAN

Felix M. Roxas - He related an incident of Rizal’s schooldays in the Ateneo which reveals the hero’s
resignation to pain and forgiveness
Manuel Xeres Burgos - his anecdote on Rizal illustrates his predilection to help the helpless at the risk
of his own life.

POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO

Doña Teodora- first to discover Rizal’s poetical talent

Fr. Sanchez – helped Rizal develop his talent in writing poems
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration)
 First poem written by Rizal during his days in Ateneo
 It was dedicated to his mother on her birthday.
 He wrote it when he was 14 years old

POEMS HE WROTE IN 1875

1. Felicitation

2. The Departure: Hymn to Magellan's fleet

3. And he Spanish; Elcano, the first to circumnavigate the World

4. The Battle: Urbiztondo, terror of Jolo

POEMS HE WROTE IN 1876

1. The tragedy of St. Eustace - This poem recounts the tragic story of St. Eustace

2. In memory of my town - A tender poem in honor of Calamba, the hero's natal town

3. Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good education

4. Through Education, the country receives light

5. The captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the Imprisonment of Boabdil, last Moorish Sultan of
Granada

POEMS HE WROTE IN 1877

1. The Heroism of Columbus - This poem praises Columbus, the discoverer of America

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2. Columbus and John II - This poem relates how King John II of Portugal missed fame and riches by his
failure to finance the projected expedition of Columbus to the New World

3. Great comfort in Great misfortune - This is a legend in verse of the Voyage of Columbus

4. A farewell dialogue of the students - This was the last poem written by Rizal in Ateneo; it is a poem of
farewell to his classmates.

RIZAL’S POEM ON EDUCATION

Through Education Our Motherland receives Light - education plays in the progress and welfare of
a nation
The Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good Education - showed that Education without God
is not true education.

RIZAL’S RELIGIOUS POEM

Al Nino Jesus (To the Child Jesus) - written when he was 14 years old, expressing his Catholic faith
devotion.
A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary) – Rizal wrote it after his ode to the Child Jesus

FIRST ROMANCE OF RIZAL

He experienced his first romance at the age of 16

Segunda Katigbak, a pretty 14 year old Batanguena from Lipa.
Mariano Katigbak, friend of Rizal and brother of Segunda
Olimpia sister of Rizal who was a close friend of Segunda in La Concordia College
Their love was hopeless because Segunda was already engaged to be married to her townmate,
Manuel Luz.
Rizal, for his entire artistic and intellectual prowess, was a shy and timid lover. Segunda had
manifested, by insinuation and deeds, her affection for him, but timidly failed to propose.
Her mother is developing eye blindness and barely recognized him when he returned home.
His first romance was ruined by his own shyness and reserve: he was tongue-tied twice when he met
Segunda
He visited La Concordia to say goodbye
She waved and smiled at him while her carriage passed by him when her steamer docked in Biñan.

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CHAPTER 5: MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)

Fortunately, Rizal’s tragic first romance, with its bitter disillusionment, did not adversely affect his
studies in the University of Santo Tomas. His love for higher education proved to be greater than his
love for a pretty girl.

In April, 1877, Rizal, who was then nearly 16 years old, matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas,
taking Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in this course for two reasons:1. His father liked it and 2. He
was still “Uncertain as to what career to follow.”

He had written to the Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo, who had been good to him during his
student days in that college, asking for advice on the choice of career. Unfortunately, the Father Rector
was in the Mindanao and during those days it took several months foe a letter to travel between Manila
and Mindanao. Consequently, during his first year term (1877-79) in the UST, he studied Cosmology,
Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.

It was during the following school term (1878-1879) that Rizal took up medicine, enrolling
simultaneously in the preparatory medical course and the regular first year medical course. The
reasons why he studied medicine were: (1) he wanted to be a physician so that he might cure his
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 mother’s failing eyesight and (2) the Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo, whom he consulted for a
choice of career, finally answered his letter, recommending medicine.

ROMANCES WITH OTHER GIRLS

Notwithstanding his academic studies in the University of Santo Tomas and extracurricular activities in
the Ateneo, Rizal had ample time for love. He was a romantic dreamer who liked to sip the “nectar of
love.” His sad experience with his first love had made him wiser in the ways of romance.
Shortly after losing Segunda Katigbak, he paid court to a young woman in Calamba. In his memoirs,
he called her simply Miss L, describing her as “fair with seductive and attractive eyes.” After visiting her
in her house several times, he suddenly stopped his wooing, and the romance died a natural death.

Several months later, during his sophomore year at the University of Santo Tomas, he boarded in the
house of Doña Concha Leyva in Intramuros. The next door neighbors of Doña Concha were Capitan
Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela, parents of a charming girl named Leonor.

Rizal, the medical student from Calamba, was a welcomed visitor in the Valenzuela home, where he
was the life of the social parties because of his clever sleight-of-hand tricks. He courted Leonor
Valenzuela, who was a tall girl, “almost as tall as Jose himself,” and had a regal bearing.

He sent her over love notes written in invisible ink. This ink consisted of common table salt and water. It
left no trace on the paper. Rizal, who knew his chemistry, taught Orang (pet name of Leonor
Valenzuela) the secret of reading any note written in the invisible ink by heating it over a candle or lamp
so that the lettering may appear. But as with Segunda, he stopped short of proposing marriage to
Orang.

Rizal’s next romance was with another Leonor- Leonor Rivera- his cousin from Camiling. In 1879, the
start of his junior year at the University, he lived in “Casa Tomasina,” a boarding house managed by his
Uncle, Antonio Rivera, at No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros.

His landlord-uncle had a pretty daughter, Leonor, a student at La Concordia College, where
Soledad(Rizal’s younger sister) was then studying. Leonor, born in Camiling, Tarlac, on April 11, 1876,
was a frail, beautiful, “tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes.”

Between Jose and Leonor sprang a tenderly beautiful romance. They became engaged. In her letters
to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as “Taimis,” in order to hide their intimate relationship from their
parents and friends.

VICTIM OF SPANISH OFFICER’S BRUTALITY

When Rizal was a freshman medical student at the University of Santo Tomas, he got his first taste of
Spanish brutality. One dark night in Calamba, during his summer vacation in 1880, he was walking in
the street. He dimly perceived the figure of a man while passing him. Not knowing the person due to
darkness, he did not salute or say a courteous “Good Evening.” The vague figure was a lieutenant of
the Guardia Civil. With a snarl, he turned upon Rizal, whipped out a sword and brutally slashed the later
on the back.

The wound was not serious, but it was painful. When he recovered, Rizal reported the incident to
General Primo de Rivera, the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines at that time. But nothing
came out of his complaint, because he was an indio, and the abusive lieutenant was a Spaniard. In a
letter to Blumentritt, dated March 21, 1887, he related: “I went to the Captain-General but I could not
obtain any Justice; my wound lasted two weeks.

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TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH (1879)
Literary contest by Artistico-Literario (Artisitic- Literary Lyceum)
Rizal, 18 years old, submitted his poem entitled A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)
The first prize, a feather shaped, gold ribbon decorated silver pen was given to Rizal
In the poem, Rizal beseeched the Filipino to rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than the
wind and descend with art science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of the people.
The poem is a classic. Two reasons:
 It was the first great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino whose merit was recognized by Spanish
literary authorities
 It expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos and not the foreigners
were the “fair hope of the Fatherland.”
THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS (1880)
Another literary contest by the Artistic-Literary Lyceum to commemorate the fourth centennial of the
death of Cervantes, Spanish and author of Don Quixote.
Manuel De Cervantes – Spain’s glorified man of letter
Rizal submitted an allegorical drama, El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods)
The allegory was based on Greek classics
Rizal was aided by Father Rector of the Ateneo in securing the needed reference materials
The contest was participated by priest, laymen, professors of UST, newspapermen and scholars.
Rizal won the first price; he received a gold ring engraved with bust of Cervantes.
D.N. Del Puzo – a Spanish writer won the 2nd price

OTHER LITERARY WORKS

 1879: Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma

o A poem, declaimed by an Atenean, manuel Fernandez on December 8, 1879 in honor of the
Ateneo’s Patroness
 1880: Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)
o A zarzuela, staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880 on the Feast Day of the
Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the Ateneo. Rizal wrote it as President of the
Academy of Spanish Literature
 1880: A Filipinas
o A sonnet, for the album of the Society of Sculptors .Rizal urged all Filipino artist to glorify the
Philippines
 1881: Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon
A poem, an expression of affection to Father Pablo Ramon, the Ateneo rector
RIZAL’S VISIT TO PAKIL AND PAGSANJAN
May 1881 - Jose, along with his sisters Saturnina, Maria, and Trinidad and female friends went on a
pilgrimate to Pakil, famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de los Dolores.
They boarded a casco (a flat-bottom sailing vessel) from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna
They stayed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Regalado, parents of Nicolas, Rizal’s friend in Manila
The company witnessed the famous turumba, the people dancing in honor of the miraculous Birhen
Maria de los Dolores
Rizal was infatuated by Vicenta Ybardolaza. She was skillful in playing the harp at the Regalado home
Rizal and his party then went to Pagsanjan for two reasons
 It was the native town of Leonor Valenzuela
 To see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls
CHAMPION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
There were frequent student brawls between the Filipinos and the Spaniards
1880: Rizal founded Companerismo (Comradeship), a secret society of Filipino UST students. The
members were called “Companions of Jehu”.
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 He was the chief of the society.
His cousin, Galicano Apacible was the secretary.
In one of the skirmishes, Rizal was wounded on the head. His friends brought him to Casa Tomasina
where Leonor Rivera took care of him.
UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST
Rizal was unhappy in the Dominican institution because:
 The Dominican professors were hostile to him
 The Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards
 The method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.
He failed to win high scholastic honours due to the attitude of his professors.
DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD
Rizal decided to study in Spain after finishing the fourth year of his medical course.
The people who approved this are the following:
 His older brother Paciano
 His sisters Saturnina (Neneng) and Lucia
 Uncle Antonio Rivera
 The Valenzuela family
 Some friends
The people who did not know of his decision are the following:
 Rizal’s parents
 Leonor Rivera
 Spanish authorities
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CHAPTER 6: IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)

SECRET DEPARTURE FOR SPAIN

May 3, 1882- Rizal left Philippines for the first-time Spain. He boarded the Salvadora using a passport
of Jose Mercado, which was procured for him by his uncle Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor Rivera. He
was accompanied to the quay where the Salvadora was moored by his uncle Antonio, Vicente Gella,
and Mateo Evangelista and some close friends including Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio).

SINGAPORE

Rizal stayed at Hotel de Paz during the two days of his stop-over in Singapore and visited the historic
places, botanical garden, temples, and art galleries and writing his diary and letters.

FIRST TRIP THROUGH SUEZ CANAL

In Singapore, Rizal boarded the Djemnah, a French steamer which was sailing to Europe. On May 18,
the steamer docked at Colombo, Ceylon. During the brief step-over, Rizal visited the interesting places
in the town.
Due to stormy weather, Rizal was seasick. On May 28, he saw for the first time the coast of Africa,
which he called “inhospitable but famous land”.
It took the Djemnah five days to traverse to Suez Canal. He was thrilled for it was his first sight of the
historic waterway constructed by the famous Frenchman named Ferdinand de Lesseps.

NAPLES AND MERSEILLES

June 11- Rizal reached Naples. On the night of June 12, the steamer docked at the French harbor of
Marseilles where he stayed for three days, enjoying every day of his sojourn.

He visited Chateau d’If where Dantes, Hero of The Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned.

BARCELONA
Rizal took his trip to Barcelona by rail. It was the beginning of the summer of 1882. Rizal’s first
impression of Barcelona, greatest city of Cataluña and Spain’s second largest city, was unfavorable for
17
 he happened to stay upon his arrival at the “town’s most ugly side”. Later, he came to like the city. He
found it to be a great city with an atmosphere of freedom and liberalism, and its people were open-
hearted, hospitable, and courageous.

He enjoyed promenading along Las Ramblas, famous street in Barcelona.The Filipinos in Barcelona,
some of whom were his schoolmates in the Ateneo, welcomed Rizal and gave them a party at their
favorite café in Plaza de Cataluña.

“AMOR PATRIO”
Amor Patrio (Love of Country), a nationalistic essay was the first written article of Rizal in Spain’s soil.
He sent this article to his friend in Manila, Basilio Teodoro who was a member of the editorial staff of the
Diariong Tagalog, the first Manila daily to have a tagalog section. It appeared in print in two texts-
Spanish and Tagalog on August 20, 1882 with Rizal’s pen-name, Laong Laan.

The Spanish text was the one originally written by Rizal and the Tagalog version was translated by M.H.
del Pilar. The article caused quite a sensation among the readers because of its Filipinistic flavor.

Francisco Calvo, The editor of Diariong Tagalog congratulated Rizal for the article and requested him
for some more articles. In response to his request, Rizal wrote the second article entitled Los Viajes
(Travels). His third article, entitled Revista de Madrid ( Review of Madrid) which he wrote on November
29, 1882, was returned to him because the Diariong Tagalog has ceased publication.

RIZAL MOVES TO MADRID

While Sojourning in Barcelona, Rizal received sad news about the cholera that was ravaging Manila
and the provinces. Another sad news was the chatty letter of Chingoy recounting the unhappiness of
Leonor Rivera, who was getting thinner because of the absence of a loved one.

In one of his letters (dated May 26, 1882), Paciano advised his younger brother to finish the medical
course in Madrid. Heeding his advice, Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and established himself in
Madrid, the capital of Spain.

LIFE IN MADRID
November 3, 1882- Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid (Central University of Madrid)
in two courses - Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. Aside from his heavy studies in the university,
he studied painting and sculpture in the Academy of San Carlos, took lessons in French, German, and
English under private instructor and assiduously practiced fencing and shooting in the Hall of Arms of
Sanz y Carbonell. His thirst for knowledge was unlimited. He attended operas and concerts to improve
his knowledge of music; he visited the art galleries and museums and read books on all subjects under
the sun including military engineering, in order to broaden his cultural background.

Rizal led a spartan life in Madrid. He lived frugally like an Ilokano, spending his money on food, clothing,
and books- never a peseta for wine or women.

He never wasted time. His spare hours were devoted to attending lectures, operas, and religious
fiestas; reading at home or at the libraries; conversing with friends at the Paterno living quarters on
Calle Sauco and at Café de Pelayo, favorite rendezvous of the Filipino students.

ROMANCE WITH CONSUELO ORTEGA y REY

Rizal used to visit the home of Don Pablo Ortega y Rey every Saturday evening with other Filipino
students and his two daughters, Pilar and Consuelo and play parlor games. It was Consuelo who
awakened the sparks of love in Rizal’s heart.

Consuelo loved Rizal. He almost lost his heart to the pretty Madrileña. On August 22, 1883, he wrote
a lovely poem entitled A la Senorita C.O. y R.

He did not allow the romance to go on for two reasons: (1) He is still engaged to Leonor Rivera and
would not want to be unfaithful to her; (2) Eduardo de Lete, his friend was deeply in love with Consuelo

18
 and he did not want to break his friendship just for a wisp of a girl. Thus in summer of 1883, he made a
quick trip to Paris in order to forget Consuelo.

THEY ASKED ME FOR VERSES

In 1882, shortly after his arrival in Madrid, Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine
Circle), a society of Spaniards and Filipinos.

Upon the request of the members of the society, He wrote a poem entitled Me Piden Versos (They
asked me for Verses). In this sad poem, he poured out the cry of his agonizing heart.

RIZAL AS LOVER OF BOOKS

Favorite pastime of Rizal in Madrid was reading. Instead of gambling and flirting with women, he stayed
at home and read voraciously until midnight.

Rizal economized on his living expenses and with the money he saved, he purchased books from a
second-hand book store and was able to build a fair-sized private library.

Rizal was deeply affected by Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The Wandering
Jew. These two books aroused his sympathy for the oppressed and unfortunate people.

RIZAL BECAMES A MASON

In 1883, Rizal joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia in Madrid with the name Dimasalang. Two reasons
may be presented why he became a Mason; (1) te bad friars in the Philippines; (2) He needed the help
of the mason to fight these bad friars.

Rizal became a Master Mason in Lodge Solidaridad on November 15, 1890. Later, on February 15,
1892, he became a Master Mason of Le Grand Orient France in Paris.

FINANCIAL WORRIES
During Rizal’s Absence, things turned from bad to worse in Calamba. The rice and sugarcane harvest
failed. The price of sugar went down. The rent on the lands cultivated by Rizal family was raised to
exorbitant rate by the manager of the Dominican Estate.

June 25, 1884 - a touching incident in Rizal’s life in that morning he won a prize in Greek on an empty
stomach because he had not eaten since the night before due to lack of funds. And in the evening of
the same date he delivered a splendid speech at the banquet honoring two Filipino titans of the brush-
Juan Luna and Felix R. Hidalgo

RIZAL’S SALUTE TO LUNA AND HIDALGO

Luna and Hidalgo won signal honor for their country at the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid in
1884. Luna’s canvas “Spolarium” won first prize (gold medal), while Hidalgo’s “Christian Virgins
Exposed to the Populace” won second prize (silver medal).

Rizal saluted Luna and Hidalgo as the two glories of Spain and the Philippines, whose splendor united
both peoples. Somewhere in his speech, he assailed with refined sarcasm the bigotry and blindness of
certain unworthy Spaniards who could not comprehend the universality of genius.

STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN

Rizal completed his medical course in Spain. He was awarded the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by
the on June 21, 1884. The next academic year (1884-1885), he studied and passed all subjects leading
to the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Due to the fact, however that he did not present the thesis required
for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees, he was not awarded his doctor’s diploma.

His scholastic records in Medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid are as follows:
 Fifth Year (1882-1883): Continuation of Medical Course in the University of Santo Tomas.
 Sixth Year (1883-1884): Licentiate in Medicine awarded on June 21, 1884 with the rating “Fair”
 Doctorate (1884-1885): Doctor of Medicine (Not Awarded).
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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER 7: PARIS TO BERLIN (1885-1887)

Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology.

He went to Berlin to further study ophthalmology and other languages, to get familiar with the scenic
Germany, to be part of the scientific community, and to finish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
Rizal visited European countries to study the people’s way of life and adopt ideas and programs that
would benefit his countrymen.

IN GAY PARIS (1885-1886)

After studying at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 yrs old, went to Paris to
acquire more knowledge in ophthalmology.
Maximo Viola – a medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan
Señor Eusebio Corominas – editor of La Publicidad
Don Miguel Morayta – owner of La Publicidad and a statesman
Rizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the Carolines Question)
November 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris
He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.
Juan Luna – great master of the brush; Rizal helped him by posing as model in Luna’s paintings.
 “The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest
 “The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed as Sikatuna

IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
February 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university
and romantics surroundings.
He became popular among the Germans because they found out that he was a good chess player.
He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished German
ophthalmologist

“TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG”

April 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of
Heidelberg) because he was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, which is the
light blue flower called “forget-me-not”.

WITH PASTOR ULLMER AT WILHELMSFELD

Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed at the place of a
Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. The pastor has a wife and two children named Etta and Fritz.

FIRST LETTER TO BLUMENTRITT

July 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt who is the Director of the
Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.
Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist and he has an interest in the Philippine language.
Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which was published in 2 languages – Spanish
and Tagalog – by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The author was Rufino Baltazar
Hernandez.
Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal.

FIFTH CENTENARY OF HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY

The famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary celebration on August 6, 1886 where Rizal
had witnessed the said celebration.

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IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
August 14, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Leipzig
He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and psychology.
He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, a famous historian, and Dr. Hans Meyer, German
anthropologist.
Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months
and a half.
On October 29, he went to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.

RIZAL’S LIFE IN BERLIN

Five reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin:
 To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
 To further his studies of science and languages
 To observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation
 To associate with famous German scientists and scholars
 To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere

RIZAL ON GERMAN WOMEN

Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on March 11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal expressed his high
regard and admiration for German womanhood. Rizal said that German woman is serious, diligent,
educated and friendly.

RIZAL’S DARKEST WINTER

The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.
He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke.
He could not pay his landlord and he was eating only one meal a day.
His clothes were old and threadbare.
His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment.
This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.

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