DR.

JOSE PROTACIO MERCADO RIZAL ALONZO Y

REALONDA
MEANINGS OF NAME
Doctor- completed his medical course in Spain and was conferred the degree of
Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid
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 a Christian calendar
Mercado- adopted in 1731 by Domigo Lamco (the paternal great-great-
grandfather of Jose Rizal) which the Spanish term mercado means ‘market’ in English
Rizal- from the word ‘Ricial’ in Spanish means a field where wheat, cut while still
green, sprouts again
Alonzo- old surname of his mother
Y- and
Realonda- it was used by Doña Teodora from the surname of her godmother
based on the culture by that time

June 19, 1861- moonlit of Wednesday between eleven and midnight Jose Rizal was born in the lakeshore town of
Calamba, Laguna
June 22, 1861- aged three days old, Rizal was baptized in the Catholic church
Father Rufino Collantes- a Batangueño, the 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- the governor general of the Philippines when Rizal was born

RIZAL’S PARENTS
 Don Francisco Mercado (1818-1898)
-born in Biñan, Laguna on May 11, 1818
-studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila
-became a tenant-farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda
-a hardy and independent-minded man, who talked less and worked more, and was strong in body and valiant in spirit
-died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80
-Rizal affectionately called him “a model of fathers”

 Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda (1826-1911)

-born in Manila on November 8, 1826
-educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well-known college for girls in the city
-a remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent, business ability, and the fortitude of Spartan women
-is a woman of more than ordinary culture: she knows literature and speaks Spanish (according to Rizal)
-died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85

THE RIZAL CHILDREN

-Eleven children—two boys and nine girls

1. Saturnina (1850-1913)
-oldest of the Rizal children
-nicknamed Neneng
-married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas
2. Paciano (1851-1930)
-older brother and confident of Jose Rizal
-was a second father to Rizal
-immortalized him in Rizal’s first novel Noli Me Tangere as the wise Pilosopo Tasio
-Rizal regarded him as the “most noble of Filipinos”
-became a combat general in the Philippine Revolution
-died on April 13, 1930, an old bachelor aged 79
-had two children by his mistress (Severina Decena)—a boy and a girl
3. Narcisa (1852-1939)
-her pet name was Sisa
-married to Antonio Lopez (nephew of Father Leoncio Lopez), a school teacher of Morong
4. Olimpia (1855-1887)
-Ypia was her pet name
-married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila
5. Lucia (1857-1919)
-married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who was a nephew of Father Casanas
-Herbosa died of cholera in 1889 and was denied Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Rizal
6. Maria (1859-1945)
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 -Biang was her nickname
-married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna

7. Jose (1861-1896)
-the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius
-nickname was Pepe
-lived with Josephine Bracken, Irish girl from Hong Kong
-had a son but this baby-boy died a few hours after birth; Rizal named him “Francisco” after his father and buried him
in Dapitan
8. Concepcion (1862-1865)
-her pet name was Concha
-died of sickness at the age of 3
-her death was Rizal’s first sorrow in life
9. Josefa (1865-1945)
-her pet name was Panggoy
-died an old maid at the age of 80
10. Trinidad (1868-1951)
-Trining was her pet name
-she died also an old maid in 1951 aged 83
11. Soledad (1870-1929)
-youngest of the Rizal children
-her pet name was Choleng
-married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba

Rizal always called her sisters Doña or Señora (if married) and Señorita (if single)
Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso Realonda married on June 28, 1848, after which they settled down in
Calamba
The real surname of the Rizal family was Mercado, which was adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal
great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal), who was a full blooded Chinese)
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’S ANCESTRY

FATHER’S SIDE
Domingo Lamco
(a Chinese immigrant from Ines de la Rosa
(Well-to-do Chinese
the Fukien city arrived in
Christian girl of Changchow
Manila about 1690)

Francisco Mercado Cirila Bernacha

Juan Mercado
(Rizal’s grandfather) Cirila Alejandro

Had thirteen children, the youngest being Francisco

Mercado (Rizal’s father)
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 MOTHER’S SIDE

Lakandula
(The last native king of Tondo)

Eugenio Ursua
(Rizal’s maternal Benigma
Great-great Grandfather of (a Filipina)
Japanese Ancestry)

Manuel de Quintos
Regina (a Filipino from Pangasinan)

Lorenzo Alberto Alonso

Brigida (a prominent Spanish Filipino
mestizo of Biñan)

Narcisa, Teodora (Rizal’s mother), Gregorio, Manuel at Jose

THE RIZAL HOME

-was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during the Spanish times
-it was a two-storey building, rectangular in shape, built of adobe stones and hard-woods and roofed with red tiles
-by day, it hummed with the noises of children at play and the songs of the birds in the garden; by night, it echoed with
the dulcet notes of family prayers

The Rizal family belonged to the principalia, a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines
The Rizal family had a simple, contented and happy life

CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA

-Calamba was named after a big native jar
-Calamba was a hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican Order, which also owned all the lands around it
Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)- a poem about Rizal’s beloved town written by
Rizal in 1876 when he was 15 years old and was student in the Ateneo de Manila
The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the family garden when he was three
years old
Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By nightfall, Rizal related, his mother gathered
all the children at the house to pray the Angelus
Another memory of Rizal’s infancy was the nocturnal walk in the town, especially when there was a moon
The death of little Concha brought Rizal his first sorrow
At the age of three, Rizal began to take a part in the family prayers
When Rizal was five years old, he was able to read haltingly the Spanish family bible
The Story of the Moth- made the profoundest impression on Rizal
-“died a martyr to its illusions”
At the age of five, Rizal began to make sketches with his pencil and to mould in clay and wax objects
which attracted his fancy
Sa Aking Mga Kabata (To My Fellow Children)- Rizal’s first poem in native language at the age of eight
-reveals Rizal’s earliest nationalist sentiment
At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog comedy

INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD

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 (1) hereditary influence
(2) environmental influence
(3) aid of Divine Providence

Tio Jose Alberto- studied for eleven years in British school in Calcutta, India and had traveled in Europe
inspired Rizal to develop his artistic ability
Tio Manuel- a husky and athletic man, encouraged Rizal to develop his frail body by means of physical
exercises
Tio Gregorio- a book lover, intensified Rizal’s voracious reading of good book
Father Leoncio Lopez- the old and learned parish priest of Calamba, fostered Rizal’s love for
scholarship and intellectual honesty

EARLY EDUCATION IN CALAMBA AND BIÑAN

The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was remarkable woman of good character and fine culture
—her mother
Maestro Celestino- Rizal’s first private tutor
Maestro Lucas Padua- Rizal’s second tutor
Leon Monroy- a former classmate of Rizal’s father became Rizal’s tutor that instructed Jose in Spanish
and Latin. He died five months later
Sunday afternoon in June, 1869- Rizal left Calamba for Biñan accompanied by Paciano
Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz- Rizal’s teacher in a private school in Biñan
-Rizal described his teacher as follows: He was thin, long-necked, with a sharp nose and a body slightly bent
forward
Pedro- the teacher’s son which Rizal challenged to a fight
Andres Salandanan- challenged Rizal to an arm-wrestling match
Juancho-an old painter who was the father-in-law of the school teacher; freely give Rizal lessons in
drawing and painting
Jose Guevara- Rizal’s classmate who also loved painting, became apprentices of the old painter
“the favorite painters of the class”- because of his artistic talent
Christmas in 1870-Rizal received a letter from his sister Saturnina, informing him of the arrival of the
steamer Talim which would take him from Biñan to Calamba
Saturday afternoon, December 17, 1870- Rizal left Biñan after one year and a half of schooling
Arturo Camps- a Frenchman friend of Rizal’s father who took care of him on board

DAILY LIFE IN BIÑAN

-Heard the four o’ clock mass then at ten o’ clock went home at once and went at school at two and came out at five
-The day was unusual when Rizal was not laid out on a bench and given five or six blows because of fighting

MARTYRDOM OF GOM-BUR-ZA
Night of January 20, 1872- about 200 Filipino soldiers and workmen of the Cavite arsenal under the
leadership of Lamadrid, Filipino sergeant, rose in violent mutiny because of the abolition of their usual
privileges
Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora- were executed at sunrise of February 17,
1872, by order of Governor General Izquierdo
The martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za in 1872 truly inspired Rizal to fight the evils of Spanish tyranny and
redeem his oppressed people
Rizal dedicated his second novel, El Filibusterismo, to Gom-Bur-Za

INJUSTICE TO HERO’S MOTHER

Before June, 1872- Doña Teodora was suddenly arrested on a malicious charge that she and her
brother, Jose Alberto, tried to poison the latter’s perfidious wife
Antonio Vivencio del Rosario- Calamba’s gobernadorcillo, help arrest Doña Teodora
After arresting Doña Teodora, the sadistic Spanish lieutenant forced her to walk from Calamba to Santa
Cruz (capital of Laguna province), a distance of 50 kilometers
Doña Teodora was incarcerated at the provincial prison, where she languished for two years and a half
Messrs. Francisco de Marcaida and Manuel Marzan- the most famous lawyers of Manila that defend
Doña Teodora

SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPHS AT ATENEO DE MANILA (1872-1877)

Ateneo Municipal- a college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits
Escuela Pia (Charity School)- formerly name of Ateneo, a school for poor boys in Manila which was
established by the city government in 1817
Escuela Pia---- Ateneo Municipal--- Ateneo de Manila
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 June 10, 1872- Rizal accompanied by Paciano went to Manila
Father Magin Ferrando- was the college registrar, refused to admit Rizal in Ateneo for two reasons: (1)
he was late for registration (2) he was sickly and undersized for his age
Manuel Xerez Burgos-because of his intercession, nephew of Father Burgos, Rizal was reluctantly
admitted at the Ateneo
Jose was the first of his family to adopt the surname “Rizal”. He registered under this name at Ateneo
because their family name “Mercado” had come under the suspicion of the Spanish authorities
Rizal was first boarded in a house outside Intramuros, on Caraballo Street. This was owned by a spinster
named Titay who owed the Rizal family the amount of 300 pesos

JESUIT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

-it trained the character of the student by rigid discipline and religious instructions
-Students were divided into two groups:
Roman Empire- consisting of internos (boarders); red banner
Carthaginian Empire- composed of the externos (non-boarders); blue banner
Emperor- the best student in each “empire”
Tribune- the second best
Decurion- the third best
Centurion-the fourth best
Stand-bearer- the fifth best
The Ateneo students in Rizal’s time wore a uniform which consisted of “hemp-fabric trousers” and “striped
cotton coat” The coat material was called rayadillo

FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-1873)

Father Jose Bech- Rizal’s first professor in Ateneo whom he described as a “tall thin man, with a body
slightly bent forward, a harried walk, an ascetic face, severe and inspired, small deep-sunken eyes, a
sharp nose that was almost Greek, and thin lips forming an arc whose ends fell toward the chin
A Religious picture- Rizal’s first prize for being the brightest pupil in the whole class
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
At the end of the school year in March, 1873, Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation
When the summer vacation ended, Rizal returned to Manila for his second year term in Ateneo. This time
he boarded inside Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes Street. His landlady was an old widow named Doña
Pepay

SECOND YEAR IN ATENEO (1873-1874)

-At the end of the school year, Rizal received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas- the first favorite novel of Rizal which made a deep
impression on him
Universal History by Cesar Cantu- Rizal persuaded his father to buy him this set of historical work that
was a great aid in his studies
Dr. Feodor Jagor- a German scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860 who wrote
Travels in the Philippines
-Rizal was impressed in this book because of (1) Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization (2)
his prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would come to succeed her as colonizer

THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1874-1875)

-Rizal grades remained excellent in all subjects but he won only one medal—in Latin
-At the end of the school year (March 1875), Rizal returned to Calamba for the summer vacation. He himself was not
impressed by his scholastic work

FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO

June 16, 1875- Rizal became an interno in the Ateneo
Padre Francisco de Paula Sanchez- a great educator and scholar, one of Rizal’s professors who
inspired him to study harder and to write poetry
-Rizal described this Jesuiot professor as “model of uprightness, earnestness, and love for the advancement
of his pupils”
Rizal topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term

LAST YEAR IN ATENEO (1876-1877)

-Rizal’s studies continued to fare well. As a matter-of-fact, he excelled in all subjects. The most brilliant Atenean of his
time, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits”
March 23, 1877- Commencement Day, Rizal, who was 16 years old, received from his Alma Mater,
Ateneo Municipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors
Marian Congregation- a religious society wherein Rizal was an active member and later became the
secretary
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 Rizal cultivated his literary talent under the guidance of Father Sanchez
Father Jose Vilaclara- advised Rizal to stop communing with the Muse and pay more attention to more
practical studies
Rizal studied painting under the famous Spanish painter, Agustin Saez, and sculpture under Romualdo
de Jesus, noted Filipino sculptor
Rizal carved an image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with his pocket-
knife
Father Lleonart- impressed by Rizal’s sculptural talent, requested him to carve for him an image of
Sacred Heart of Jesus

ANECDOTES ON RIZAL, THE ATENEAN

Felix M. Roxas- one of Rizal’s contemporaries in the Ateneo, related an incident of Rizal’s schooldays
in Ateneo which reveals hero’s resignation to pain and forgiveness. “Neither bitterness nor rancor
towards the guilty party”
Manuel Xerez Burgos- This anecdotes illustrates Rizal’s predilection to help the helpless at the risk of
his own life

POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO

-It was Doña Teodora who was first discovered the poetic genius of her son, and it was also she who first encouraged him
to write poems. However it was Father Sanchez who inspired Rizal to make full use of his God-given gift in poetry
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration), 1874- the first poem Rizal probably wrote during his days
in Ateneo which was dedicated to his mother on her birthday; Rizal wrote it before he was 14 years old

-In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez, Rizal wrote more poems, as such:
1. Felicitacion (Felicitationi)
2. El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure: Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet)
3. Y Es Espanol; Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish: Elcano, the First to
Circumnavigate the World)
4. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo)
-In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics-religion, education, childhood memories and war. They were as follows:
1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)- a tender poem in honor of Calamba, the hero’s natal town
2. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education)-
Rizal showed the importance of religion in education
3. Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education the Country Receives Light)- Rizal believed in the
significant role which education plays in the progress and welfare of a nation
4. El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y Prision de Boabdil (The Captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena
and the Imprisonment of Boabdil)- this martial poem describes the defeat and capture of Boabdil, last Moorish sultan of
Granada
5. La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes Catolices en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of the Catholic Monarchs into
Granada)- this poem relates the victorious entry of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel into Granada, last Moorish
stronghold in Spain

-A year later, in 1877, Rizal wrote more poems. It was his last years in Ateneo. Among the poems written that year were:
1. El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus)- this poem praises Columbus, the discoverer of America
2. Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II)- this poem relates how King Kohn II of Portugal missed fame and riches
by his failure to finance the projected expedition of Columbus to the New World
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune)- this is a legend in verse of the tragic life
of Columbus
4. Un Dialogo Aluviso a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students)- this was the last
poem written by Rizal in Ateneo; it is a poignant poem of farewell to his classmate

Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus)- this poem was written in 1875 when Rizal was 14 years old; it was
a brief ode
A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary)- another religious poem which doesn’t have exact date when it
was written
San Eustacio, Martir (St. Eustace, the Martyr)- a drama based on the prose story of St. Eustace which
he wrote in poetic verses during the summer vacation of 1876 and finished it on June 2, 1876

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

-After finishing the first year of a course in Philosophy and Letters (1877-1878), Rizal transferred to the medical course
-“Don’t send him to Manila again; he knows enough. If he gets to know more, the Spaniards will cut off his
head.”- Doña Teodora, vigorously opposed the idea that Rizal pursue higher learning in the university
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 April 1877- Rizal who was then nearly 16 years old, matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas, taking
the course on Philosophy and Letters because (1) his father like it (2) he was “still uncertain as to what
career to pursue”
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 a career but unfortunately he was in Mindanao
It was during the following term (1878-1879) that Rizal, having received the Ateneo Rector’s advice to
study medicine
During Rizal’s first school term in the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1878), Rizal also studied in
Ateneo. He took the vocational course leading to the title of perito agrimensor (expert surveyor)
Rizal excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo, obtaining gold medals in agriculture and
topography
November 25, 1881- the title was issued to Rizal for passing the final examination in the surveying
course
Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila- a society of literary men and artists,
held a literary contest in the year 1879
A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)- Rizal, who was then 18 years old, submitted this poem
-is an inspiring poem of flawless form. Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy, to let genius fly
swifter than the wind and descend with art and science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of the people
-this winning poem of Rizal is a classic in Philippine literature for two reasons: (1) it was the great poem in
Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary authorities (2) it expressed for the first time
the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos, and not the foreigners, were the “fair hope of the Fatherland”
The Board of Judges, composed of Spaniards, was impressed by Rizal’s poem and gave it the first prize
which consisted of a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon
El Consejo de los Dioses (The Councils of the Gods)- an allegorical drama written by Rizal which he
entered in the literary contest of Artistic-Literary Lyceum in 1880 to commemorate the fourth centennial of
the death of Cervantes
-was a literary masterpiece based on the Greek classics
The prize was awarded to Rizal, a gold ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes
D.N. del Puzo- a Spanish writer, who won the second prize
Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)- a zarzuela which was staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880,
on the occasion of the annual celebration of the Feats Day of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of
the Ateneo
- Rizal wrote it as President of the Academy of Spanish Literature in Ateneo
A Filipinas- a sonnet written by Rizal for the album of the Society of Sculptors; in this sonnet, he urged all
Filipino artists to glorify the Philippines
Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma- Rizal composed a poem in 1879 which was declaimed by an Atenean, Manuel
Fernandez, on the night of December 8, 1879, in honor of the Ateneo’s Patroness
Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon- Rizal composed a poem in 1881, as an expression of affection to Father Pablo
Ramon, the Ateneo rector, who had been so kind and helpful to him
Vicenta Ybardolaza- a pretty girl colegiala who skillfully played the harp at the Regalado home, whom
Rizal was infatuated in Pakil
Rizal mentioned Turumba (wherein the people dancing in the streets during the procession in honor of the
miraculous Birhen Maria de los Dolores) in Chapter VI of Noli Me Tangere and Pagsanjan Falls in his
travel diary (united States—Saturday, May 12, 1888), where he said that Niagara Falls was the “greatest
cascades I ever saw” but “not so beautiful nor fine as the falls at Los Baños, Pagsanjan”
Compañerismo (Comradeship)- Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in University of
Santo Tomas in 1880
Companions of Jehu- members of the society whose after the valiant Hebrew general
Galicano Apacible-Rizal’s cousin from Batangas who is the secretary of the society

UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST

-Rizal found the atmosphere at the University of Santo Tomas suffocating to his sensitive spirit. He was unhappy at this
Dominican institution of higher learning because (1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him (2) the Filipino students
were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards (3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive
-In Rizal’s novel, El Filibusterismo, he described how the Filipino students were humiliated and insulted by their
Dominican professors and how backward the method of instruction was, especially in the teaching of the natural sciences.
He related in Chapter XIII, “The Class in Physics”

SHATTERING THE MYTH ABOUT RIZAL AND THE PONTIFICAL UST

This can be very exhaustive as I deal with historical facts apropos of the relationship of Jose Rizal with the University of
Santo Tomas. I am indebted to Fr. Fidel Villaroel, OP, the eminent historian and former archivist of the UST Archives for
giving me the distinct privilege (without going through the norms and policies) of touring the archives and letting me
examined some important documents pertaining but not principally to the history of the Philippines. As a pioneering
institution of learning – from the martyrdom of Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, to the propaganda movement, to the
revolution of 1896, to the birth of the Republic in 1898, to the commonwealth period and finally to the restoration of
7
independence in 1946 – it is therefore presumptuous to assume the UST has had a hand in the making of the history of
the Philippines.

Sadly, in spite of some efforts of few academicians and historians to present a more truthful history of the UST during the
Spanish era, many still were caught off guard and instead decided to rely on meager source materials. Worse, some
merely copied what pre-war and post-war authors written in the past 100 years. New generation writers, historians and
biographers of Jose Rizal are no exception to such historians like Retana, Craig, Russel, Laudback, Coates, Hernandez
and Zaide who had pictured a villain character of the university.

As what Fr. Villaroel said, none of the biographers and historians took the time of looking into the original academic
records of Rizal. Neither there were efforts on their part to make a study on UST based on the archival records of the
Pontifical University. “It has been treated inadequately, at times, with a good deal of misunderstanding, exaggeration or
prejudice.”

The second confusion was their failure to understand the underlying principles behind the anti-friars and anti-UST writings
of Rizal particularly the El Fili.

After seeing the documents at the UST Archives and reading Fr. Villaroel’s well-written study on Rizal and the University
of Santo Tomas, I can only scoff at those who bask at their ignorance and use many of the myths to advance their cause.
Such is the case of some pexers here who undoubtedly use these myths for their own good. In the words of Dr. Serafin
Quiason, former chairman of the National Historical Institue, “it is a great virtue of his (Fr. Villaroel) study that he sweeps
away many of the myths which have passed for facts for almost three quarters of a century. He has solved many difficult
questions and the readers can be grateful for a valuable and devoted piece of work.”

This thread intends to rectify some issues pertaining to the negative pictures projected about Rizal’s relationship with his
alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas based on the study by Fr. Villaroel who had diligently dug through the archival
materials of UST and Archivo de la Provincia del Sto. Rosario. Was Rizal discriminated and treated shabbily by the
Dominicans? Why did he leave UST? Why did he criticize the University years later? How are the stories of El
Filibusterismo to be understood?

Here are some excerpts from Fr. Fidel Villaroel’s study:

MYTH:
Rizal complained about his grades in UST and was discriminated and treated shabbily by the Dominicans.

FACTS:
(1) Rizal entered the UST in 1877, enrolling in the Pre-Law Course, which was made up of philosophical subjects. The
course was commonly called metaphysics. He passed the course brilliantly with the highest grades in spite of his initial
indifference to philosophy and his youthful distractions through the year. Then he opted for the career of medicine. And in
1878-1879 he took simultaneously the Pre-Medical Course and the First Year of Medicine; this was against the rules, but
Rizal was favored with a dispensation. The Pre-Medicine Course was also called Ampliacion, because the student, having
taken already Physics, Chemistry and Natural History in the high school, now took an advanced course on the same
subjects (Rizal did not take in Santo Tomas the “class of physics” described in El Fili but rather in Ateneo).

In his courses of medicine, Rizal was a good student, above-average, though not excellent; but none of his classmates
were excellent either. Summing up, in the 21 subjects taken in UST, Rizal obtained one aprobado (passing grade), eight
bueno (good), six notable (very good) and six sobresaliente (excellent). Majority of students in Rizal’s time, or in any time,
would have been satisfied with the above grades. It is possible that Rizal was not, but it is a fact that he never complained
about his grades, there is not a single word in his works showing displeasure at the unfairness of UST.

Yet many of his biographers are angry, unreasonably angry (including anti-ust pexers?) at the treatment given to the
national hero by his alma mater. How could Rizal, after a perfect record of “Excellent” in the high school (Ateneo) now
receive such “low” grades at UST? The critics had to look for an explanation, and since they did not find fault in Rizal, then
they had to blame the Dominicans and UST. And from Retana to Austin Craig, from Frank Lauback to Austin Coates and
to quite a long line of Filipino biographers (with some exceptions), we only hear the same repeated lamentation that every
school child must now learn in the textbooks: that Rizal was “below his usual standards”, and for the extremely serious
charge that the “Dominican professors were hostile to him” and “the Filipino students were racially discriminated” (Zaide),
and that there was “excessive harping on the alleged intellectual superiority of the Spanish (because he was white) to the
Filipino, a brown man, and Indio (JM Hernandez), and so on. An objective historian must squarely face and honestly
answer these grave statements, which sound like accusations.

Was Rizal “far below his usual standards”? What standards, in the first place? If by usual standards we mean the grades
of his Ateneo high school studies, the comparison is unfair. Nobody places elementary or high school standards against
college or University standards. They belong to different levels. At Ateneo municipal, Rizal was excellent, though not the
only excellent student. At the UST, none of his classmates ever got near to keeping a straight record of Excellent. And this
was because Medicine was a different kind of stuff altogether.

Therefore, if we are to arrive at a just appreciation of Rizal’s performance at the UST, we should compare, not his grades
in the high school with those in the university, but Rizal’s grades in Medicine against those of his classmates. In the first
year of medicine, Rizal’s class was made up of 24 students, but due to academic failures, seventeen of them were left by
the roadside before they reached the fourth year, when only seven took the final examinations. And in this fourth (and for
Rizal last) year, he landed in second place behind Cornelio Mapa. A persecuted Rizal would have probably ended by the
8
same roadside as the seventeen “debarred” classmates, or would have never boasted of being second when he left for
Spain in 1882.

(2) It can hardy be said that Rizal was discriminated and treated shabbily by the Dominicans since he was granted the
rare privilege of studying simultaneously in the Preparatory Course of Medicine and the First Year of Medicine.

Records likewise show that six Spaniards were enrolled with Rizal in the first year of Medicine, of whom three were
Peninsular and three Philippine-born. If the criticism of some biographers were true, these six students would have been
favored by the friars. Yet at the end of the fourth year there remained only one Philippine-born Spaniard, Jose
Resurreccion y Padilla, who managed to get only a poor passing grade (aprobado), last among successful students, and
who in the following year received a crushing suspenso. It would be unkind to rejoice over failures, whether of Spanish or
of Filipinos, but the biographers of Rizal will not be convincing unless they prove with valid documents the existence of
“racial discrimination” in UST in the 19th century when it came to academic grades.

(3) Rizal’s inclinations and abilities must be taken into account. While he was undoubtedly inclined to, and remarkably
fitted for, the arts and letters, he was not much attracted to Medicine. “Perhaps – says Leon Ma. Guerrero – Medicine was
not his real vocation”. Medicine was a convenient career taken up in consideration of the poor health of Rizal’s mother,
whom he wanted to help, and eventually helped as a physician.

(4) When Rizal transferred to Spain and continued his studies at the University of Madrid, he showed there similar
characteristics. He was sobresaliente in the humanistic studies (literature, languages, history), while in Medicine he fared
worse than at the University of Santo Tomas. Ye no historian or biographer has ever complained about his poor
performance in Madrid or hinted that Rizal was discriminated against in that Central University.

(5) Rizal had Dominican friends in the persons of Fr. Evaristo Arias and Fr. Joaquin Fonseca. It was while studying at
UST that Rizal obtained public recognition as a poet. It was the Dominican; Fr. Arias who helped him cultivate his craft in
poetry. During his Thomasian years, Rizal composed the best poems of his pre-European period, one of them being A la
Juventud Filipina, winner of the first prize in the contest organized by the Liceo Artistico-Literario in 1879.

MYTH:
Rizal is said to have left UST for the following reasons:
a. because a certain professor of UST caused him displeasure (P. Pastells, SJ, 1897)
b. because the atmosphere in UST (meaning Thomistic atmosphere) suffocated him, and “it is presumed that
because of it he left” (E. Retana, 1907)
c. because in his class of medicine the lay professor made a statement contrary to the textbook and then he refused
to permit discussion or to give explanations; “so Rizal decided he was wasting his time to remain in the University”
(Craig, 1909)
d. because he found unfriendliness in the University, (Lauback, 1936)
e. because UST could not give “fuller learning” to the youth, and its “usefulness was almost, if not altogether nil.” (D.
Abella, 1965)

FACT:
Twenty authors quoting from the same erroneous source commit the same error twenty times over. Therefore, what the
quoted authors have said must be submitted to scrutiny. More significantly, all the authors quoted above have one thing in
common: none of them quote any historical source, like words from Rizal’s correspondence, his articles, etc. If any source
is ever mentioned it is infallibly the novel El Fili.

But is there not, we ask, a better source to support historical facts than a novel? In the present case, there seems to be no
other, and for one fundamental reason: because Rizal never revealed in clear terms why he left the Philippines in 1882.
Neither he nor his brother Paciano, nor his uncle Antonio Rivera, nor his most intimate friends. Not a clear word from
them, who were the only persons who could have known. This fact leads us to conclude that the writers who put the
blame for Rizal’s departure on the University of Santo Tomas are only guessing, honestly guessing of course, but
mistakenly.
It is almost needless to enter into discussion with those writers who lay the responsibility for Rizal’s departure at the door
of UST. But let us face the question squarely.

(1) It has been stated that a certain professor, more concretely a lay professor of medicine, disagreed with the textbook
and refused to entertain discussion on the topics of his subject (so Pastells and Craig). This professor is identified by
Craig as one who, some years later, was classmate of Rizal at the University of Madrid. He was Dr. Jose Franco who, as
professor of Rizal in Santo Tomas, had threatened to fail the whole medical class (P. Pastells). But granting that Professor
Franco was speaking seriously, it is quite improbable that Rizal decided to leave the Philippines for an incident with one
professor, who besides did not fail him in the final examinations. Rizal’s companions and friends did not seem to have
noticed any misunderstanding between Rizal and any professor, as shown in a letter of Jose M. Cecilio: “Your departure
without notice has caused surprise among many friends to the point of stirring their curiosity. They ask whether there were
serious matters going on which prompted you to leave.”

(2) To attribute Rizal’s departure to what oneauthor calls “rampant bigotry, discrimination and persecution” existing in
UST, whether said in general or whether specifically referring to Rizal, is a gratuitous accusation expressed in ready-
made phrases loaded with feeling. I presume that an educational policy like the one implied in such words has never
existed in any school or university anywhere in any period. As for Rizal, we have already explained with academic records
on hand, that there was in fact a discrimination in his favor when he was allowed to take simultaneously the Preparatory
course of Medicine and the First Course of Medicine Proper. And finally, he was one of the seven, out of 26, who reached
9
the beginning of the fifth year course, which he started in Madrid. All this has been shown here without rhetoric, without
feeling and only with the aid of laconic, diplomatic record as basis.

(3) That the UST did not provide “fuller learning” to its students, and that this prompted some of them like Rizal to go
abroad, as suggested by some authors, might be as true then as it can be true at any other period of her history. This can
also be said of any Philippine university today. The temptation to try better institutions abroad is always better, and those
who can afford it, occasionally fall for it. There is no denying that, in the last quarter of the 19th century, Europe offered to
the students of science, philosophy, literature and every aspect of material progress, horizons of learning that no colonial
land in other continents could possibly give in such measure. But if many student like Rizal went abroad is search of “fuller
learning” and profited from that experience, it would be wrong to conclude that a university like UST was therefore
worthless. Whether by choice or by the force of circumstances many more students stayed behind than left for Europe,
and those who remained received a tertiary education of such quality that enabled them to become builders of the
Philippine Republic. Thomasians trained here and only here were Pedro Pelaez and Jose Burgos, Apolinario Mabini and
Cayetano Arellano, Manuel Araullo and the Mapa brothers, Sergio Osmena and Manuel L. Quezon, Leon Maria Guererro
and Anacleto del Rosario, Felipe Calderon and Epifanio de los Santos, etc. and most of the men of the Malolos Congress,
all belonging to the generation of Rizal.

Until further historical research can project more light on the life of Rizal, little more remains to be said on this point. This
little more is reduced to the following: If neither the UST records nor the correspondence of Rizal with Paciano and his
family nor his letters to or from his intimate friends can support the alleged misunderstanding between Rizal and the
University; if those documents do not explain the reasons for Rizal’s departure for Spain, then i believe that the only valid
recourse left to the historian is the recourse to the oral tradition. And two traditions come handily on our way, one
preserved in Rizal’s own family and another in the University of Santo Tomas.

MYTH:
The “Class of Physics” (Chapter 13) in El Filibusterismo is autobiographical of Rizal’s stay in UST and that Rizal’s anti-
friars and anti-UST writings are reflective of how the national hero loathed the University.

FACT:
(1) While in Europe (1882-1892), Rizal changed considerably in at least one aspect, in his attitude towards religion. He
gave up some basic and essential tenets of his faith and ceased to be a practicing Catholic. This was due mainly to his
continuous association with many rationalist thinkers and liberal politicians of Spain and other countries of Europe. A new
rationalistic approach to life and his affiliation to freemasonry accentuated his anti-clerical sentiments and his antipathy for
the Catholic Church, for her belief and external manifestations (dogmas, rites and rituals and devotional life). These
changes in Rizal must be taken into account when assessing his ironic criticism of the Church, the religious Orders and
the University of Santo Tomas. History showed that the attacks thrown by propagandists at Santo Tomas, particularly the
Church, were just part and parcel of the clash between liberalism and Thomism. And that the attack thrown at Santo
Tomas , which was under the Royal patronage of Spain, was not unique since every university in Europe like Oxford
received the same fate for upholding Thomism. The Vatican in an encyclical endorsed Thomism as an instrument to
counteract rationalism, which at that time began to penetrate all spheres of society.

(2) Crucially affecting this new attitude of criticism were the events that occurred in Calamba from 1887 onwards as a
result of the famous agrarian litigation between his family and the Dominican Hacienda. Whatever reasons for dissension
might have existed in previous years due to worsening economic conditions affecting the country at large, Rizal’s personal
intervention in the affair in 1887 precipitated the legal suit. The case ended in the courts with an adverse sentence against
the family and other tenants and the tragic deportation of some of Rizal’s immediate relatives. That social question and
lawsuit had nothing to do with the UST, but it surely soured Rizal’s pen when writing about an educational institution that
was run by the owners of Calamba Hacienda. We have here another factor for his critical attitude; again he had not in
mind any past academic experience.

(3) The novel El Fili was written precisely during the years of the Calamba agrarian crisis (any student of literature or a
practicing writer would agree that if there are things that affect the consciousness of a writer, it would be the moment, the
milieu, and the race).

The “Class of Physics” is the subject of chapter 13 of the Fili, a subject that some historians and biographers have used
and abused lavishly. They have a reason, because the story comes in very handily to illustrate the student years of Rizal
at the UST, regardless of the novelistic character of the source.

The practical question here is whether the story of the “Class of Physics” really happened on even one day, whether it
reflects educational methods practiced in UST in the 19th century, or whether Rizal was just creating a scene suitable to
the aims of the novel, that is, to attack and discredit the religious institutes. Some biographers easily believe Retana’s
remark that “this chapter is an accurate picture of what happened in the Pontifical University of Manila when Rizal studied
there.” a remark written of course, when Retana had turned into a bitter enemy of the religious orders.

But even taking for granted that Rizal based his story on some incident that happened during his university years, this is
no reason to conclude that the general life of the University was similar. And as for the bleak picture of the physical
classroom itself, the UST still possess the schedules of classes in those years, and the Class of Physics is invariably
assigned to the Physics Laboratories, not to an ordinary classroom.

Finally, Austin Coates’ statement that this chapter of the Fili is “clearly autobiographical” is totally unacceptable, if by
autobiographical he meant that the experience of Placido was actually felt by Rizal personally or by some of his
classmates. And the reason is very simple: Rizal did not take Physics at the UST. He had taken that course at the Ateneo
10
Municipal in 1876-1877. Rafael Palma who took up Physics and Chemistry in 1890 at Ateneo Municipal, a little over ten
years after Rizal, recalled later that the laboratory materials in use at the Ateneo for teaching Natural History and Physics
were “very poor” (Rafael Palma, My Autobiography, Manila 1953).
The whole chapter is a caricature, very useful for the aims of the novel; it is not Rizal’s biography.

IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)

-After finishing the 4 th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal decided to complete his studies
in Spain
-Aside from completing his studies in Spain, Rizal has his “secret mission”—was to observe keenly the life and culture,
languages and customs, industries and commerce, and government and laws of the European nations in order to prepare
himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny
-This Rizalian secret mission was likewise disclosed by Paciano in his letter to his younger brother dated Manila, May 20,
1892
-Rizal’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities and the friars
Jose Mercado- Rizal used this name; a cousin from Biñan
May 3, 1882- Rizal departed on board the Spanish streamer Salvadora bound for Singapore

SINGAPORE
Donato Lecha- the ship captain from Asturias, Spain befriended Rizal
-Rizal described him as an affable man, “much more refined than his other countrymen and colleagues that I
have met.”
Rizal played chess with his fellow passengers who were much older than he
May 8, 1882- while the steamer was approaching Singapore, Rizal saw a beautiful island, fascinated by
its scenic beauty, he remembered “Talim Island with the Susong Dalaga”
May 9, 1882- the Salvadora docked at Singapore
Hotel de la Paz- Rizal registered here and spent two days on a sightseeing soiree of the city, which was
a colony of England

FROM SINGAPORE TO COLOMBO

In Singapore, Rizal transferred to another ship Djemnah, a French steamer, which left Singapore for
Europe on May 11, 1882
May 17, 1882- Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Rizal wrote on his travel diary: “The general appearance of Point Galle is picturesque but lonely and
quiet and at the same time sad”
Colombo- capital of Ceylon
-Rizal was enamoured by Colombo because of its scenic beauty and elegant buildings
-“Colombo is more beautiful, smart and elegant than Singapore, Point Galle and Manila”
For the first time, Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa, which he called an “inhospitable land but
famous”
Aden- city hotter than Manila
-Rizal was amused to see the camels, for the first time
City of Suez- the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal
-Rizal was impressed in the beautiful moonlight which reminded him of Calamba and his family
Suez Canal- canal which built by Ferdinand de Lesseps (French diplomat-engineer) which was
inaugurated on November 17, 1869
Port Said- the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal

NAPLES AND MARSEILLES

June 11, 1882- Rizal reached Naples
-Rizal was pleased on this Italian city because of its business activity, its lively people, and its panoramic beauty
Night of June 12, 1882- the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles
Rizal visited the famous Chateau d’If, where Dantes, hero of the Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned
Rizal stayed two and a half days in Marseilles

BARCELONA
Afternoon of May 15, 1882- Rizal left Marseilles by train for the last lap of his trip to Spain
Rizal crossed the Pyrenees and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port Bou
June 16, 1882- Rizal finally reached his destination—Barcelona
Rizal’s first impression of Barcelona, the greatest city of Cataluña and Spain’s second largest city, was
unfavorable
Las Ramblas- the most famous street in Barcelona
Amor Patrio (Love of Country)- nationalistic essay, Rizal’s first article written on Spain’s soil
-under his pen-name Laong Laan, appeared in print in Diariong Tagalog on August 20, 1882
11
 -it was published in two texts—Spanish and Tagalog—the Spanish text was the one originally written by Rizal in
Barcelona, the tagalog text was a Tagalog translation made by M.H. del Pilar
Basilio Teodoro Moran- a friend of Rizal in Manila and the publisher of Diariong Tagalog where Rizal
sent this article
Diariong Tagalog- the first Manila bilingual newspaper (Spanish and Tagalog)
Los Viajes (Travels)- Rizal’s second article for Diariong Tagalog
Revista de Madrid (Review of Madrid)- Rizal’s third article written in Madrid on November 29, 1882 but
returned to him because the Diariong Tagalog had ceased publication for lack of funds
Rizal received sad news about the cholera that was ravaging Manila and the provinces according to
Paciano’s letter, dated September 15, 1882
Another sad news from the Philippines was the chatty letter of Chengoy recounting the unhappiness of
Leonor Rivera
In one of his letters (dated May 26, 1882), Paciano advised his younger brother to finish the medical
course in Madrid
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
Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando- Rizal studied painting and sculpture
Rizal’s only extravagance was investing a few pesetas for a lottery ticket in every draw of the Madrid
Lottery
Rizal spent his leisure time reading and writing at his boarding house, attending the reunions of Filipino
students at the house of the Paterno brothers (Antonio, Maximo and Pedro) and practicing fencing and
shooting at the gymnasium
Antigua Café de Levante-during the summer twilights, this is where Rizal sipped coffee and fraternized
with the students from Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, etc
On Saturday evenings, Rizal visited the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey who lived with his son (Rafael)
and daughter (Consuelo)
Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle)- a society of Spaniards and Filipinos which Rizal
joined shortly after his arrival in Madrid in 1882
Me Piden Versos (They Ask Me For Verses)- upon the request of the members of this society, Rizal’s
wrote this poem which he personally declaimed during the New Year’s Eve reception of the Madrid
Filipinos held in the evening of December 31, 1882
-in this sad poem, Rizal poured out the cry of his agonizing heart
Rizal economized on his living expenses, and with the money he saved, he purchased books from a
second-hand book store owned by a certain Señor Roses
Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The Wandering Jew- these two books
aroused Rizal’s sympathy for the oppressed and unfortunate people

FIRST VISIT TO PARIS (1883)

-During his first summer vacation in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris, gay capital of France
-The prices of food, drinks, theatre, tickets, laundry, hotel accommodations, and transportation were too high for Rizal’s
slender purse so that he commented in a letter to his family: “Paris is the costliest capital in Europe.”
June 17 to August 20, 1883- Rizal sojourn in Paris
Hotel de Paris- located on 37 Rue de Maubange wherein Rizal billeted but later, he moved to a cheaper
hotel on 124 Rue de Rennes in the Latin Quarter
Laennec Hospital- where Rizal observed Dr. Nicaise treating his patients
Lariboisiere Hospital- where Rizal observed the examination of different diseases of women
Rizal was impressed by the way the Spanish Mason openly and freely c riticized the government policies
and lambasted the friars, which could not be done in Philippines
March 1883- Rizal joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid
Rizal’s reason for becoming a mason was to secure Freemansory’s aid in his fight against the friars in the
Philippines
Lodge Solidaridad (Madrid) – Rizal transferred where he became a Master Mason on November 15,
1890
February 15, 1892- Rizal was awarded the diploma as Master Mason by Le Grand Orient de France in
Paris
Science, Virtue and Labor- Rizal’s only Masonic writing; a lecture which he delivered in 1889 at Lodge
Solidaridad, Madrid
After Rizal’s departure for Spain, things turned from bad to worse in Calamba: (1) harvests of rice and
sugarcane failed on account of drought and locusts (2) the manager of the Dominican-owned hacienda
increased the rentals of the lands (3) a dreadful pest killed most of the turkeys. Due to hard times in
12
 Calamba, the monthly allowances of Rizal in Madrid were late in arrival and there were times when they
never arrived
June 24, 1884- a touching incident in Rizal’s life in Madrid wherein he was broke and was unable to take
breakfast
-Rizal attended his class at the university, participated in the contest in Greek language and won the gold medal
Evening of June 25, 1884- a banquet was sponsored by the Filipino community to celebrate the double
victory of the Filipino artist in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid—Luna’s Spoliarium winning
the first prize and Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace (Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al
Populacho), second prize
November 20, 21, and 22, 1884- the serene city of Madrid exploded in bloody riots by the students of the
Central University
These student demonstrations were caused by the address of Dr. Miguel Morayta, professor of history,
at the opening ceremonies of the academic year on November 20, in which he proclaimed “the freedom
of science and the teacher”
The Rector, who also took the side of the students, was forced to resign and was replaced by Doctor
Creus, “a very unpopular man, disliked by everybody”
November 26, 1884- Rizal wrote the recounting tumultuous riots to his family
June 21, 1884- Rizal completed his medical course in Spain; he was conferred the degree of Licentiate in
Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid
The next academic year (1884-1885), Rizal studied and passed all subjects leading to the degree of
Doctor of Medicine but he did not present the thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding
fees, he was not awarded his Doctor’s diploma
June 19, 1885- on his 24th birthday, Rizal was awarded the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters
by the Universidad Central de Madrid with the rating of “Excellent”: (Sobresaliente)
November 26, 1884- a letter to Rizal’s family written in Madrid wherein he said “My doctorate is not of
very much value to me… because although it is useful to a university professor, yet, I believe they
(Dominican friars—Z) will never appoint me as such in the College of Santo Tomas. I say the same thing
of philosophy and letters which may serve also for a professorship, but I doubt if the Dominican fathers
will grant it to me.”

PARIS TO BERLIN (1885-1887)

-Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology—Rizal chose this branch of medicine because
he wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment

IN GAY PARIS (1885-1886)

Maximo Viola- a medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan, Rizal’s friend
Señor Eusebio Corominas- editor of the newspaper La Publicidad and made a crayon sketch of Don
Miguel Morayta, owner of La Publicidad and a stasman
Rizal gave Editor Corominas an article on the Carolines Question, then a controversial issue, for
publication
November 1885, Rizal was living in Paris where he sojourned for about four months
Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906)- leading French ophthalmologist wherein Rizal worked as an
assistant from November 1885 to February 1886
Paz Pardo de Tavera- was a pretty girl, who was engaged to Juan Luna
At the studio of Luna, Rizal spent many happy hours. Rizal helped Luna by posing as model in several
paintings
In Luna’s canvas “The Death of Cleopatra,“ Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest. In another of Luna’s
great paintings, “The Blood Compact,” he posed as Sikatuna, with Trinidad Pardo de Tavera taking the
role of Legazpi
November 27, 1878- Rizal told Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, the piano, the voice
culture in one month and a half”
By sheer determination and constant practice, Rizal came to play the flute fairly well. He was a flutist in
various impromptu reunions of Filipinos in Paris
Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race)-a patriotic song written by Rizal which asserts that any race aspires for
freedom
La Deportacion (Deportation)- a sad danza which Rizal composed in Dapitan during his exile

IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
February 1, 1886- Rizal reluctantly left gay Paris fro Germany
February 3, 1886- Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and
romantic surroundings
Chess Player’s Club- a club wherein the students made Rizal as a member because of being a good
chess player
Dr. Otto Becker- distinguished German ophthalmologist where Rizal worked—University Eye Hospital
13
 April 22, 1886- Rizal wrote a fine poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg)
In the spring of 1886, Rizal was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the cool banks of the Neckar
River. Among them was his favorite flower—the light blue “forget-me-not”
Wilhelmsfeld- a mountainous village near Heidelberg where Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation
Dr. Karl Ullmer- a kind Protestant pastor where Rizal stayed, who became his good friend and admirer
June 25, 1886- Rizal ended his sojourn at Pastor Ullmer’s home
May 29, 1887- Rizal wrote from Munich (Muchen) to Friedrich (Fritz), son of Pastor Ullmer
July 31, 1886- Rizal wrote his first letter in German (which he had improved after his stay with the
Ullmers) to Professor Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria
Aritmetica (Arithmetic)-Rizal sent this book he mentioned and was published in two languages—
Spanish and Tagalog—by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. the author was Rufino Baltazar
Hernandez, a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna
August 6, 1886- the famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary celebration

IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN

August 9, 1886- Rizal left Heidelberg
August 14, 1886- boarded by a train. Rizal arrived in Leipzig
Professor Friedrich Ratzel- a famous German historian, Rizal befriend with him
Dr. Hans Meyer- German anthropologist, a friend of Rizal
In Leipzig, Rizal translated Schiller’s William Tell from German into Tagalog so that Filipino might know
the story of that champion of Swiss independence
Rizal also translated into Tagalog for his nephews and niece Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales
Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was cheapest in Europe so that he stayed two months and
a half
Because of his knowledge of German, Spanish, and other European languages, Rizal worked as proof-
reader in a publisher’s firm
October 29, 1886- Rizal left Leipzig for Dresden where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum
Rizal heard Mass in a Catholic church; evidently, this Mass impressed him very much, for he wrote on his
diary: “Truly I have never in my life heard a Mass whose music had greater sublimity and
intonation.”
Morning of November 1, 1886- Rizal left Dresden by train reaching Berlin in the evening

BERLIN
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice
Rizal met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor, celebrated German scientist-traveler and author of Travels
in the Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired during his student days in Manila
Dr. Rudolf Virchow- introduced to Rizal by Dr. Jagor; famous German anthropologist
Dr. Hans Virchow- son of Dr. Rudolf Virchow, professor of Descriptive Anatomy
Dr. W. Joest- noted German geographer
Dr. Ernest Schweigger (1830-1905)- famous German ophthalmologist where Rizal worked
Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society, and the Geographical
Society of Berlin, upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr. Meyer
Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art)- Rizal wrote this scholarly paper in German which he read
before the society in April 1887
-this paper was published by the society in the same year, and elicited favorable comments from all scientific
quarters
Rizal lived in Berlin, famous capital of unified Germany for five reasons: (1) to gain further knowledge of
ophthalmology (2) to further his studies of sciences and languages (3) to observe the economic and
political conditions of the German nation (4) to associate with famous German scientists and scholars (5)
to publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere
Madame Lucie Cerdole-Rizal’s professor of French in order to master the idiomatic intricacies of the
French language
Unter den Linden- the most popular boulevard of Berlin wherein Rizal enjoyed promenading, sipping
beer in the city’s inns and talking with the friendly Berliners
March 11, 1886- one of Rizal’s important letters written while he was in Germany that addressed to his
sister, Trinidad
-in this letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and admiration for German womanhood
-The German woman, said Rizal to his sister, is serious, diligent, educated, and friendly. She is not gossipy,
frivolous and quarrelsome
Aside from the German women, Rizal admired the German customs which he observed well

NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN (1887)

14
-The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest winter because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat
broke. The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was in the pawnshop. It was memorable in the life of Rizal
for two reasons (1) it was a painful episode for he was hungry, sick and despondent in a strange city (2) it brought him
great joy after enduring so much sufferings, because his first novel, Noli Me Tangere came off the press in March, 1887

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin- inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict the
miseries of his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants
January 2, 1884- in a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid, Rizal proposed the writings
of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos
Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half of it
When Rizal went to Paris, in 1885, after completing his studies in the Central University of Madrid, he
continued writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half
Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He wrote the last few chapters of the Noli in
Wilhelmsfeld in April-June, 1886
In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the manuscript of the
Noli
Maximo Viola- Rizal’s friend from Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of Rizal despondency and
loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel; savior of Noli
After the Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on his novel. To save printing expenses, he
deleted certain passages in his manuscript, including a whole chapter—“Elias and Salome”
February 21, 1887- the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing
Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft- a printing shop which charged the lowest rate, that is,
300 pesos for 2,00 copies of the novel
March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere came off the press
March 29, 1887- Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs of the Noli
carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a complimentary copy, with the following
inscription: “To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my work—Jose Rizal”
The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means
“Touch Me Not”. It is not originally conceived by Rizal, for he
admitted taking it from the Bible
Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887, said:
“Noli Me Tangere, words taken from the Gospel of St. Luke,
signify “do not touch me” but Rizal made a mistake, it should be
the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20 Verses 13 to 17)
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines—“To
My Fatherland”
The cover of Noli Me Tangere was designed by Rizal. It is a
ketch of explicit symbols. A woman’s head atop a Maria Clara
bodice represents the nation and the women, victims of the
social cancer. One of the causes of the cancer is symbolized in
the friar’s feet, outsized in relation to the woman’s head. The
other aggravating causes of oppression and discrimination are
shown in the guard’s helmet and the iron chains, the teacher’s
whip and the alferez’s scourge. A slight cluster of bamboo stands at
the backdrop; these are the people, forever in the background of
their own country’s history. There are a cross, a maze, flowers and thorny plants, a flame; these are
indicative of the religious policy, the misdirected ardor, the people strangled as a result of these all
The novel Noli Me Tangere contains 63 chapters and an epilogue
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor- Filipino patriot and lawyer who had been exiled due to his complicity in the
Cavite Mutiny of 1872, read avidly the Noli and was very much impressed by its author

CHARACTERS OF NOLI
The Noli Me Tangere was a true story of the Philippine conditions during the last decades of Spanish rule
Maria Clara-was Leonor Rivera, although in real life she became unfaithful and married an Englishman
Ibarra and Elias- represented Rizal himself
Tasio-the philosopher was Rizal’s elder brother Paciano
Padre Salvi-was identified by Rizalists as Padre Antonio Piernavieja, the hated Augustinian friar in Cavite
who was killed by the patriots during the Revolution
Capitan Tiago-was Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas
Doña Victorina- was Doña Agustina Medel
Basilio and Crispin- were the Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy
Padre Damaso- typical of a domineering friar during the days of Rizal, who was arrogant, immoral and
anti-Filipino
15
RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA (1887)
May 11, 1887- Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train
Dresden- one of the best cities in Germany
Prometheus Bound-painting wherein Rizal was deeply impressed
Teschen (now Decin, Czechoslovakia)- next stopover after leaving Dresedn

LEITMERITZ
At 1:30pm of May 13, 1887- the train, with Rizal and Viola on board, arrived at the railroad station of
Leitmeritz, Bohemia
-for the first time, the two great scholars—Rizal and Blumentritt—met in person
Professor Blumentritt- a kind-hearted, old Austrian professor
May 13 to May 16, 1887- Rizal and Viola stayed in Leitmeritz
Burgomaster- town mayor
Tourist’s Club of Leitmeritz-which Blumentritt was the secretary; Rizal spoke extemporaneously in
fluent Germany to the officers and members
Dr. Carlos Czepelak- renowned scientist of Europe
Professor Robert Klutschak- an eminent naturalist
May 16, 1887 at 9:45 AM- Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz by train

PRAGUE
Dr. Willkomm- professor of natural history in the University of Prague
According to Viola, “nothing of importance happened” in this city

VIENNA
May 20, 1887- Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, capital of Austria-Hungary
Vienna was truly the “Queen of Danube” because of its beautiful buildings, religious images, haunting
waltzes and majestic charm
Norfentals- one of the greatest Austrian novelists was favorably impressed by Rizal, and years later he
spoke highly of Rizal, “whose genius he so much admired.”
Hotel Metropole- where Rizal and Viola stayed
In Vienna, Rizal received his lost diamond stickpin

DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ

May 24, 1887- Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the beautiful sights of the Danube River
Rizal particularly noticed that the passengers on the river boat were using paper napkins during the
meals, which was a novelty to him. Viola, commented that the paper napkins were “more hygienic and
economical than cloth napkins”

FROM LINTZ TO RHEINFALL

Munich- where Rizal and Viola sojourned for a short time to savor the famous Munich beer, reputed to be
the best in Germany
Nuremberg- one of the oldest cities of Germany
The Cathedral of Ulm- the largest and tallest cathedral in all Germany
From Ulm, they went to Stuttgart, Baden and then Rheinfall (Cascade of the Rhine). At Rheinfall, they
saw the waterfall, “the most beautiful waterfall of Europe”

CROSSING THE FRONTIER TO SWITZERLAND

June 2 to 3, 1887- stayed at Schaffhausen, Switzerland

GENEVA
This Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, visited by world tourists every year
June 19, 1887- Rizal treated Viola to a blow-out. It was his 26th birthday
Rizal and Viola spent fifteen delightful days in Geneva
June 23, 1887- Viola and Rizal parted ways—Viola returned to Barcelona while Rizal continued the tour
to Italy
Exposition of the Philippines in Madrid, Spain- Rizal was outraged by this degradation of his fellow
countrymen the Igorots of Northern Luzon

RIZAL IN ITALY
June 27, 1887- Rizal reached Rome, the “Eternal City” and also called the “City of the Caesars”
Rizal was thrilled by the sights and memories of the Eternal City. Describing to Blumentritt, the “grandeur
that was Rome”, he wrote on June 27, 1887
16
 June 29, 1887- the Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul, Rizal visited for the first time the Vatican, the
“City of the Popes” and the capital of Christendom
Every night, after sightseeing the whole day, Rizal returned to his hotel, very tired. “I am tired as a dog,”
he wrote to Blumentritt, “but I will sleep as a God”
After a week of wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal prepared to return to the Philippines. He had already
written to his father that he was coming home

FIRST HOMECOMING (1887-1888)

-Because of the publication of the Noli Me Tangere and the uproar it caused among the friars, Rizal was warned by
Paciano (his brother), Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law), Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio) and other friends not to return
home.
-Rizal was determined to return to the Philippines for the following reasons: (1) to operate on his mother’s eyes (2) to
serve his people who had long been oppressed by Spanish tyrants (3) to find out for himself how Noli and his other
writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards in the Philippines and (4) to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent
July 29, 1887- Rizal wrote to his father, announcing his homecoming, “on the 15th of July, I shall
embark for our country, so that from the 15th to the 30th of August, we shall see each other”

DELIGHTFUL TRIP TO MANILA

-Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French port, which he reached without mishap.
July 3, 1887-Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah, the same streamer which brought him to Europe 5
years ago
July 30, 1887-at Saigon, Rizal transferred to another steamer, Haiphong, which was Manila-bounded
August 2, 1887- the steamer left Saigon for Manila

ARRIVAL IN MANILA
August 3, 1887- the moon was full and Rizal slept soundly the whole night. The calm sea, illuminated by
the silvery moonlight, was a magnificent sight to him
Near midnight of August 5, 1887, the Haiphong arrived in Manila

HAPPY HOMECOMING
August 8, 1887- Rizal returned to Calamba
In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic. His first patient was his mother, who was almost blind.
Rizal, who came to be called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany, treated their ailments
and soon he acquired a lucrative medical practice
Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced European sports
Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba—his failure to see Leonor Rivera

STORM OVER THE NOLI

Governor General Emilio Terrero (1885-1888)-requesting Rizal to come to Malacańang Palace
Don Jose Taviel de Andrade-a young Spanish lieutenant assigned by Governor General Terrero to
posed as bodyguard of Rizal
Msgr. Pedro Payo (a Dominican)- sent a copy of Noli to Father Rector Gregorio Echavarria of the
University of Sto. Tomas for examination by a committee of the faculty
The report of the faculty members of University of Santo Tomas stated that the Noli was “heretical,
impious, and scandalous in the religious order and anti-patriotic, subversive of public order,
injurious to the government of Spain and its function in the Philippine Islands in the political
order”
Permanent Commission of Censorship-a committee composed of priest and laymen
Fr. Salvador Font- Augustinian cura of Tondo, head of the committee
-found the novel to contain subversive ideas against the Church and Spain, and recommended “that the
importation, reproduction, and circulation of this pernicious book in the islands be absolutely prohibited.”
Fr. Jose Rodriguez- Augustinian priest, published a series of eight pamphlets under the general heading
Cuestiones de Sumo Interes (Questions of Supreme Interest) to blast the Noli and other anti-Spanish
writings
Vicente Barrantes- Spanish academician of Madrid, who formerly criticized the Noli in an article
published in La Espańa Moderna (a newspaper of Madrid) in January, 1890
What marred Rizal’s happy days in Calamba with Lt. Andrade were (1) the death of his older sister,
Olimpia, and (2) the groundless tales circulated by his enemies that he was “a German spy, an agent of
Bismarck, a Protestant, a Mason, a witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.”
Rev. Vicente Garcia-a Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a theologian of the Manila Cathedral and a
Tagalog translator of the famous Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis
-writing under the penname Justo Desiderio Magalang, wrote a defense of the Noli which was published in
Singapore as an appendix to a pamphlet dated July 18, 1888, he blasted the arguments of Fr. Rodriguez
Rizal, himself defended his novel against Barrantes’ attack, in a letter written in Brussels, Belgium in
February 1880.
17
FAREWELL TO CALAMBA
The friars asked Governor General Terrero to deport him, but latter refused because there was no valid
charge against Rizal in court.
Rizal was compelled to leave Calamba for two reasons: (1) his presence in Calamba was jeopardizing
the safety and happiness of his family and friends (2) he could fight better his enemies and serve his
country’s cause with greater efficacy by writing in foreign countries
Shortly before Rizal left Calamba in 1888, his friend from Lipa requested him to write a poem in
commemoration of the town’s elevation to a villa (city) by virtue of the Becerra Law of 1888
Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor)- a poem written by Rizal dedicated to the industrious folks of Lipa

IN HONGKONG AND MACAO (1888)

-Hounded by powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to leave his country for a second time in February 1888. He was then a
full-grown man of 27 years of age, a practicing physician, and a recognized man-of-letters

THE TRIP TO HONGKONG

February 3, 1888-Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro
February 7, 1888- Zafiro made a brief stopover at Amoy
Rizal did not get off his ship at Amoy for three reasons: (1) he was not feeling well (2) it was raining hard
(3) he heard that the city was dirty
February 8, 1888- Rizal arrived in Hong Kong
Victoria Hotel- Rizal stayed while in Hong Kong. He was welcomed by Filipino residents, including Jose
Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte (son of Francisco Yriarte (son of Francisco Yriarte,
alcalde mayor of Laguna)
Jose Sainz de Varanda- a Spaniard, who was a former secretary of Governor General Terrero,
shadowed Rizal’s movement in Hong Kong
-it is believed that he was commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy on Rizal
“Hong Kong”, wrote Rizal to Blumentritt on February 16, 1888, “is a small, but very clean city.”

VISIT TO MACAO
-Macao is a Portuguese colony near Hong Kong.
-According to Rizal, the city of Macao is small, low, and gloomy. There are many junks, sampans, but few steamers. It
looks sad and is almost dead.
February 18, 1888- Rizal, accompanied by Basa, boarded the ferry steamer, Kiu-Kiang for Macao
Don Juan Francisco Lecaros- A filipino gentleman married to a Portuguese lady
-Rizal and Basa stayed at his home while in Macao
February 18, 1888- Rizal witnessed a Catholic possession, in which the devotees were dressed in blue
and purple dresses and were carrying unlighted candles
February 20, 1888- Rizal and Basa returned to Hong Kong, again on board the ferry steamer Kiu Kiang

DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG

February 22, 1888- Rizal left Hong Kong on board the Oceanic, an American steamer, his destination was Japan
Rizal’s cabin mate was a British Protestant missionary who called Rizal “a good man”

ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)

-One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the Land of the Cherry Blossoms for one month and a
half (February 28-April 13, 1888)

February 28, 1888- early in the morning of Tuesday, Rizal arrived in Yokohama. He registered at the
Grand Hotel
Tokyo Hotel- Rizal stayed here from March 2 to March 7
Rizal wrote to Professor Blumentritt: “Tokyo is more expensive then Paris. The walls are built in
cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide.”
Juan Perez Caballero-secretary of the Spanish Legation, who visited Rizal at his hotel who latter invited
him to live at the Spanish Legation
Rizal accepted the invitation for two reasons: (1) he could economize his living expenses by staying at
the legation (2) he had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities
March 7, 1888- Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation
Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. The things which favorably impressed Rizal in Japan were: (1)
the beauty of the country—its flowers, mountains, streams and scenic panoramas, (2) the cleanliness,
politeness, and industry of the Japanese people (3)the picturesque dress and simple charm of the
Japanese women (4) there were very few thieves in Japan so that the houses remained open day and
night, and in hotel room one could safely leave money on the table (5) beggars were rarely seen in the
city, streets, unlike in Manila and other cities