CHAPTER 8

Noli Me Tangere Published

in Berlin (1887)

The bleak winter of 1886 was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons: first, it was a
painful episode for he was hungry, sick, and despondent in a strange city and, second, it brought
him great joy, after enduring so much sufferings, because his first novel Noli Me Tangere came off
the press in March, 1887. Like the legendary Santa Claus, Dr. Maximo Viola, his friend from Bulacan,
arrived in Berlin at the height of his despondency and loaned him the needed funds to publish the
novel.

Idea of Writing a Novel on the Philippines. His reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle
Tom’s Cabin, which portrays the brutalities of American slave-owners and the pathetic conditions of
the unfortunate Negro slaves, inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict the miseries of
his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants. He was then a student in the Central University of
Madrid.

In a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid on January 2, 1884, Rizal

proposed the writing of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos. His proposal was
unanimously approved by those present, among whom were the Paternos (Pedro, Maximino, and
Antonio), Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente, Melecio Figueroa,
and Valentin Ventura.

Unfortunately, Rizal’s Project did not materialize. Those compatriots who were expected to
collaborate on the novel did not write anything. The novel was designed to cover all phases of
Philippine life. However, almost everybody wanted to write on women. Rizal was disgusted at such
flippancy. He was more disgusted to see that his companions, instead of working seriously on the
novel, wasted their time gambling or flirting with Spanish senoritas.

Undaunted by his friends indifference, he determined to write the novel – alone.

The Writing of the Noli. Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid
and finished about one-half of it.

When he 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. He 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. Sick and penniless, he saw no hope of having it published, so that in a
momentary fit of desperation, he almost hurled it into the flames. Years later he told his good friend
and former classmate, Fernando Canon: “I did not believe that the Noli Me Tangere would ever be
published when I was in Berlin, broken-hearted, weakened, and discouraged from hunger and
deprivation. I was on the point of throwing my work into the fire as a thing accursed and fit only to
die.”

Viola, Savior of the Noli. In the midst of his despondency and misery, Rizal received a
telegram from Dr. Maximo Viola who was coming to Berlin. This friend of Rizal was scion of a rich
family of San Miguel, Bulacan. When he arrived in Berlin shortly before Christmas Day of 1887, he
was shocked to find Rizal living in poverty and deplorably sickly due to lack of proper nourishment.

Upon seeing his talented friend’s predicament, Viola, being loaded with ample funds, gladly
agreed to finance the printing cost of the Noli. He also loaned Rizal some cash money for living
expenses. Thus it came to pass that Rizal and Viola happily celebrated the Christmas of 1886 in
Berlin with a sumptuous feast.

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.”

On February 21, 1887, the Nolii was finally finished and ready for printing. With Viola, the
savior of the Noli, Rizal went to different printing shops in Berlin to survey the cost of printing. After
a few days oof inquiries, they finally found a printing shop – Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-
Gesselschaft – which charged the lowest rate, that is, 300 pesos for 2,000 copies of the novel.

Rizal Suspected as Frenchy Spy. During the printing of the Noli, a rare incident happened to
Rizal. One morning the chief of police Berlin paid a sudden visit to Rizal's boarding house and
requested to see the latter's passport. Unfortunately, Rizal could not produce a passport, for he had
none – in those days it was possible to travel without a passport. The police chief then told him to
secure a passport within four days, otherwise he would be deported.

Immediately, Rizal, accompanied by Viola went to the Spanish embassy to seek the help of
the Spanish ambassador, the Count of Benomar, who promised to attend to the matter. But the
ambassador failed to keep his promise, for it turned out that he had no power to issue the required
passport.

At the expiration of the four-day ultimatum, Rizal presented himself at the office of the
German police chief, apologizing for his failure to obtain a passport and politely asked the latter w
he was to be deported when he had not committed any crime The police chief informed him that he
had received intelligence reports that he (Rizal) had made frequent visits to the villages and little
towns in the rural areas, thereby arousing the German government's suspicion that he was a French
spy, inasmuch as he entered Germany from Paris, where he resided for some years and was
apparently a lover of France, whose language and culture he knew so much. At that time the
relations between France and Germany were strained on account of Alsace-Lorraine.

Rizal, in fluuent German language, explained to the police chief he was not a French spy, but
was a Filipino physician and Scientist, particularly an ethnologist. As an ethnologist, he visited the
rural areas of the countries he visited to observe the customs and life-styles of their simple
inhabitants. Favorably impressed with Rizal's explanation and fascinated by his mastery of the
German language and personal charisma, the police chief was satisfied and allowed him to stay
freely in Germany.

Printing of the Noli Finished. After the incident of his aborted deportation as a suspected
French spy, Rizal, with the help of Viola, supervised the printing of the Noli. Day by day, they were at
the printing shop proof-reading the printed pages.

On March 21, 1887, the Noli Me Tangere came of the press. Rizal immediately sent the first
copics of the printed novel to his intimate friends, including Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, G.
Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce, and Felix R. Hidalgo. In his letter to Blumentritt, dated March 21, 1887.
he said: "I am sending you a book. It is my first book, though I have already written much before it
and received some prizes in literary competitions. It is the first impartial and bold book on the life of
the Tagalogs. The Filipinos will find it the history of the last ten years. I hope you will notice how
different are my descriptions from those of other writers. The government and the friars will
probably attack the work, refuting my arguments; but I trust in the God of Truth and in the persons
who have actually seen the sufferings at close range. I hope I can answer all the concepts which have
been fabricated to malign us.

On 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 of the Novel. 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 R. Hidaldo in French on March 5, 1887, said: "Noli Me Tangere, words taken from the Gospel of
Saint Luke, signify "do not touch me. In citing the Biblical source, Rizal made a mistake. It should be
the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20, Verses 13 to 17). According to St. John, on the First Easter
Sunday, St. Mary Magdalene visited the Holy Sepulcher, and to her Our Lord Jesus, just arisen from
the dead, said:

“Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren,

and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and
your God.”

The "Noli" Based on Truth. The Noli Me Tangere, unlike many works of fictional literature,
was a true story of Philippine conditions during the last decades of Spanish -- rule. The places, the
characters, and the situations really existed the facts I narrate there, said Rizal, "are all true and
have happened, I can prove them.”

The characters – Ibarra, Maria Clara, Elias, Tasio, Capitan Tiago, Padre Damaso, Padre Salvi,
etc. – were drawn by Rizal from persons who actually existed during his times. Maria Clara Was
Leonor Rivera. Although in real life she became unfaithful, unlike the heroine of the novel, and
married an Englishman. lbarra and Elias represented Rzal himself. Tasio the philosopher was his
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 Revolu tion. Capitan Tago was
Capitan Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas. Dona Victorina was Doña Agustina Medel. The two brothers
Basilio and Crispin were the Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy. Padre Damaso was typical of a
domineering fniar during the days ol Rizal, who was arrogant, immoral, and anti-Filipino.

Rizal's Friends Praise the Noli. The friends of Rizal hailed the novel, praising it in glowing
colors. As to be expected, Rizal's enemies condemned it. Rizal anticipated the vitriolic attacks of his
enemies, who were sore to be told the truth of their evil ways. As he told Blumentritt: "The
government and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting my statements, but trust in the
God of Truth and in the persons who have actually seen our sufferings.

Of the numerous congratulatory letters received by Rizal from his friends about the Noli,
that from Blumentritt was significant. "First of all," wrote Blumentritt," accept my cordial
congratulations for your beautiful novel about customs which interests me extraordinarily. Your
work, as we Germans say, has been written with the blood of the heart, and so the heart also
speaks. I continue reading it with much interest, and I shall beg to ask you now and then for an
explanation when I find Words unknown to me; for instance, the word filibustero must have certain
meaning in the Philippines that I do not find in the Spanish of the Peninsulars nor in that of the
Spanish peoples of America.

"I knew already," continued Blumentritt, "that you were a man of extraordinary talent (I had
said it to Pardo de Tavera, and this could also be seen from them marvelous short time in which you
have acquired my difficult and rough mother tongue); but in spite of this, your work has exceeded
my hopes and I hopes consider myself happy to have been honored with your friendship. Not only I
but also your people can also be called lucky for having in you a son and a loyal patriot. If you will
continue thus, you can become one of those great men who will exert a definite influence on the
spiritual development of your people”.

In London, 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, On May 3, 1887, he felicitated Rizal, saying: "If the Quixote immortalizes its author because
it exposes to the world the ailments of Spain, your Noli Me 1angere will bring you an equal glory.
With our modesty and your voracious and able appraisal, you have dealt a mortal blow to that old
tree full of blemishes and decay Every Filipino patriot will read your book with avity and upon
discovering in every line a veracious idea and in every word a fitting advice, he will be inspired and
he will regard your book as the masterpiece of a Filipino and the proof that those who thought us
incapable of producing great intellects are mistaken or lying”.

Chapter 9
Rizal’s Grand Tour of
Europe with Viola (1887)
 After the publication of the Noli, Rizal planned to visit the important places in Europe. Dr.
Maximo Viola agreed to be his traveling companion. Rizal had received Paciano's remittance of
P1,000 which was forwarded by Juan Luna from Paris. He immediately paid Viola the sum of P300
which the latter kindly loaned so that the Noli could be printed. Having paid his debt, and with
adequate funds in his pocket, he was ready to sec Europe before returning to Calamba. First, he and
Viola visited Potsdam, a city near Berlin, which Frederick the great made famous.

The Tour Begins. At dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola, two brown-skinned doctors on a
roaming spree, left Berlin by train. It was an ideal season for travel. Spring was in the l over Europe
the flowers were blooming, the meadows were turning green, and the villages were humming with
activity. According to Viola, the luggage of Rizal included all the letters he had received from his
(Rizal's) family and friends. Their destination was Dresden, "one of the best cities in Germany".

First Meeting with Blumentritt. At 1:30 p.m. of May 13, 1887, the train, with Rizal and Viola
on board, arived at the railroad station of Leitmeritz, Bohemia. Professor Blumentritt, who had
received their wire, was at the station. He was carrying a pencil sketch of Rizal which the latter had
previously sent him, so that he could identify his Filipino friend. He warmly received Rizal and Viola.

For the first time, the two great scholars Rizal and Blumentritt who came to know each
other by correspondence, met in person. They greeted each other in fluent German. Blumentritt
was a kind-hearted, old Austrian professor, upon seeing the talented Rizal for the first time, he
immediately took him into heart, loving him as a son.

Professor Blumentritt, the genial host, helped Rizal and Viola get a room at Hotel Krebs,
after which he brought them to his home and introduced them to his wife and family. The two
Filipino tourists spent many pleasant hours at the home of their kind host. They stayed in Leitmeritz
from May 13 to May 16, 1887.

Beautiful Memories of Leltmeritz. Rizal had beautiful memories of his visit to Leitmeritz. He
enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Blumentritt family. The professor's wife Rosa, was a good cook,
and she prepared special Austrian dishes which Rizal liked very much. His children were Dolores
(called Dora or Dorita by Rizal), Conrad, and Fritz.

Blumentritt proved to be a great tourist guide as well as a hospitable host. He showed the
scenic and historical spots of Leitmeritz to his visitors. One afternoon he invited them to a beer
garden where the best beer of Bohemia was served. At a near table there was a lively discussion
among the drinkers about the advisability of having the railroad pass through a neighboring town.
One of the men in the group was the burgomaster (town mayor) of that town, Blumentritt knew the
burgomaster, so that he approached the party and delightfully introduced his two Filipino friends.
Rizal talked in fluent German, for which reason the burgomaster and his friends were amazed. The
burgomaster asked Rizal how long it took him to learn German. And Rizal replied: "Eleven months,
sir". The burgomaster was further amazed, and in great admiration, he lauded the "privileged
talent" of Rizal. Blumentritt embraced Rizal, telling him that few Germans could speak well their
own language as Rizal could.

On another afternoon Rizal and Viola were invited to a meeting of the Tourists Club of
Leitmeritz, of which Blumentritt Was the secretary. Rizal spoke extemporaneously in fluent German
to the officers and members, praising Austria's idyllic scenes and its hospitable, nature-loving, and
noble people. The audience wildly applauded him, for they were enchanted by his eloquence and
fluency in German.

Rizal, desiring to commemorate his happy hours at the Blumentritt home, painted a portrait
of lhe kind professor and gave it to him. Blumentritt was pleased with the gift.

It was during his visit to Leitmeritz when Rizal met another renowned scientist of Europe,
Dr. Carlos Czepelak. Blumentritt brought him to Czepelak's home, and Rizal had a nice conversation
with this Polish scholar. Blumentritt also introduced Rizal to Professor Robert Klutschak, an eminent
naturalist.

On their last night in Leitmeritz, Rizal and Viola, to reciprocate Blumentritt's hospitality,
tendered a banquet a farewell dinner in his honor at their hotel.

On May 16, at 9:45 A.M., Rizal and Viola left leitmeritz by train. Blumentritt, his wife, and
children were at the railroad station to see them off, and they all shed tears in parting as the train
slowly departed.

Rizal carried unto his grave the beautiful memories of his visit to Leitmeritz. In a letter to
Blumentritt, written in Vienna on May 24, 1887, Rizal expressed his and Viola's concern for the
illness of Dora, the professor's little daughter, "Viola and I," thus wrote Rizal, "are very sad because
our little friend Dora is sick. We still remember her little blue eyes; we hear her merry laughter, and
we see her little teeth. Poor Dorita! I saw her run after us when the train was leaving! With all my
heart I wish her prompt recovery"

In another letter, written in Brunn, Austria, on May 19, 1887, three days after leaving
Leitmeritz, Rizal wrote to Blumentritt: "I shall make my good friends of Leitmeritz the objects of my
thoughts and I shall say of myself: You are not alone, Rizal; in a small corner of Bohemia there are
good, noble, and friendly souls who like you; think of them; consider them as if they were with you,
as if they saw you; they will rejoice over your joys, and will sweep over your suffering.. . Please kiss
the children for me, express my greetings to your wife, and to your good father and the friends in
Leitmeritz. I am at heart an inhabitant of Leitmeritz just as you yourself area Filipino in sentiments. I
believe Austria will always live in my heart". In the same letter, Rizal told Blumentritt that he forgot
his diamond stickpin at his room in Hotel Krebs.

Prague. After Leitmeritz, Rizal and Viola visited the historic city of Prague. They carried
letters of recommendation from Blumentritt to Dr. Willkomm, professor of natural history in the
University of Prague. The good professor and his charming wife and daughters welcomed them and
showed them the city's historic spots.

Rizal and Viola visited the tomb of Copernicus, the famous astronomer; the museum of
natural history; the bacteriological laboratories; the famous cave where San Juan Nepomuceno, the
Catholic saint, was imprisoned; and the bridge from which this saint was hurled into the river.

After saying good-bye to Professor Willkomm and his family, the two tourists went to Brunn.
According to Viola, "nothing of importance happened" in this city.
 Vienna. On May 20, Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, capital of Austria-
Hungary. Famous in song and story, this city fascinated Rizal because of its beautiful building
religious images, haunting waltzes, and majestic charm. Vienna was truly the "Queen of the Danube"

Rizal and Viola, armed with a letter of recommendation from Blumentritt, met Norfenfals,
one of the greatest novelists Europe during that time. This great Austrian novelist was favorably
impressed by Rizal, and years later he spoke highly of Rizal, "whose genius he so much admired".

In Vienna, Rizal received his lost diamond stickpin. It was found by a maid in Hotel Krebs and
was given to Blumentritt, who, in turn, forwarded it to Rizal in Vienna.

Rizal and Viola stayed at Hotel Metropole. They visited the city's interesting places, such as
churches, museums, art galleries, theaters, and public parks. They met two good friends of
Blumentritt Masner and Nordmann, Austrian scholars.

Danubian Voyage to Lintz. On May 24, Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the
beautiful sight of the Danube River. As they traveled along the famous river, Rizal observed keenly
the river sights the barges loaded with products, the flowers and plants growing along the river
banks, the boats with families living on them, and the quaint villages on the niversides. We
particularly noticed that the passengers on thc niver boat were using paper napkins during the meal,
which Was a novelty to him. His fellow passenger, Viola, commented that the paper napkins were
"more hygienic and economical than cloth napkins"

From Lintz to Rheinfall. The river voyage ended in Lintz. They traveled overland to Salzburg,
and from there to Munich where they sojourned for a short time to savor the famous Munich beer,
reputed to be the best in Germany.

From Munich, they went to Nuremberg, one of the oldest cities of Germany. Among the
sights which they saw in this city were the horrible torture machines used by the Inquisition. Rizal
examined carefully these torture machines. He and Viola were impressecd by the manufacture of
dolls which was the biggest industry of the city.

After Munich, they visited Ulm. The cathedral of this city was "the largest and tallest in all
Germany". Viola rclated that he and Rizal climbed its many hundred steps. He rested twice on the
way to the tower and fclt dizzy from the strain upon reaching the top. Rizal, on the other hand,
ascended without resting and was not tircd when he reached the top.

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”.

Rizal in Italy. From Geneva, Rizal went to Italy. He visited Turin, Milan, Venice, and Florence.
On June 27, 1887, he reached Rome, the “Eternal City” and also called the “City of the Caesars”

He 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.

I am in Rome! Everything I step on is the dust of heroes. Here I breathe the

same air which the Roman heroes have breathed. I salute every statue with
reverence, and to me, a humble native of a small island, it seems that I am in a
 sanctuary. I have already seen the Capitolium, the Tarpeian Rock, the Palatinum, the
Forum Romanum, the Amphitheatre, etcg. Everything here is glorious except the
cafes and the café singers. I do not enter these (cafes) because I loathe to hear their
French songs or see modern industries. My favourite places are the Amphitheatre
and the Roman Forum; there I remain seated for hours, contemplating everything
and restoring life to the ruins. . . I have also visited some churches and museums,
like the Capitoline Museum and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which is also
grandiose.

On June 29th, 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. He was deeply impressed by the
magnificent edifices, particularly of St. Peter’s Church, the rare works of art, the vast St. Peter’s
Square, the colourful Papal Guards and the atmosphere of religious devotion that pervaded the
Vatican.

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, he prepared to return to the Philippines. He had
already written to his father that he was coming home.

Chapter 10
Back to Calamba, (1887-1888)

All the alluring beauties of foreign countries and all the beautiful memories of his sojourn in
alien lands could neither make Rizal forget his fatherland nor turn his back to his own nationality.
True that he studied abroad, acquired the lore and languages of foreign nations, and enjoyed the
friendship of many great men of the Western world, but he remained at heart a true Filipino with an
unquenchable love for the Philippines and an unshakable determination to die in the land of his
birth. Thus, after five years of memorable sojourn in Europe, he returned to the Philippines in
August 1887 and practised medicine in Calamba. He lived the quiet life of a country doctor. But his
enemies, who resented his Noli, persecuted him, even threatening to kill him.

Decision to Return Home. 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. But he did not heed their
warning, He 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 the Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards in the
Philippines, and (4) to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent.
 In a letter to Blumentritt, written in Geneva on June 19, 1887, Rizal said Your advice that I
live in Madrid and continue to write from there is very benevolent but I cannot accept it. I cannot
endure the life in Madrid where everything is a voice in wilderness. My parents want to see me, and
I want to see them also. All my life I desire to live in my country by the side of my family. Until now I
am not Europeanized like the Filipinos of Madrid;I always like to return to the country of my birth".

In Rome, on June 29, 1887, Rizal wrote to his father, announcing his homecoming. "On the
15th of July, at the latest", be wrote, "I shall embark for our country, so that from the 15th to the
30th of August, we shall see each other"

Delighthul Trip to Manila. Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French port, which he,
reached without mishap. On July 3, 1887, he boarded the steamer Djemnah, the same steamer
which brought him to Europe five years ago. There were about S0 passengers, including 4
Englishmen, 2 Germans, 3 Chinese, 2Japanese, many Frenchmen, and 1 Filipino (Rizal).

Rizal was the only one among the passengers who could speak many languages, so that he
acted as interpreter for his Companions.

The steamer was enroute to the Orient via the Suez Canal. Rizal thus saw this historic canal
for the second time, the first time was when he sailed to Europe from Manila in 1882. On board, he
played chess with fellow passengers and engaged in lively conversation in many languages. Some
passengers sang: others played on the piano and accordion. After leaving Aden, the weather
became rough and some of Rizal's books got wet.

At Saigon, on July 30, he transferred to another steamer Haiphong which was Manila-bound.
Om August 2, this steamer left Saigon for Manila.

Arrival in Manila. Rizal's voyage from Saigon to Manila was pleasant. On August 3rd the
moon was full, and he slept soundly the whole night. The calm sea, illumined by the silvery
moonlight, was a magnificent sight to him.

Near midnight of August 5, the Haiphong arrived in Manila. Rizal went ashore with a happy
heart for he once more trod his beloved native soil. He stayed in the city for a short time to visit his
friends. He found Manila the same as when he left it five years ago. There were the same old
churches and buildings, the same holes in the roads, the same boats on the Pasig River, and the
same heary walls surrounding the city.

Happy Homecoming. On August 8th, he returned to Calamba. His family welcomed him
affectionately, with plentiful tears of joy. Writing to Blumentritt of his homecoming, he said I had a
pleasant voyage. I found my family enjoying good health and our happiness was great in seeing each
other again. They shed tears of joy and I had to answer ten thousand questions at the same time"

The rejoicings of Rizal's return over, his family became worried for his safety. Paciano did
not leave him during the first days after arrival to protect him from any enemy assault. His own
father would not let him go out alone, lest something might happen to him.

In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic. His first patient was his mother, who was
almost blind. He treated her eyes, but could not perform any surgical operation because her eye
cataracts were not yet ripe. News of the arrival of a great doctor from Germany spread far and wide.
Patients from Manila and the provinces flocked to Calamba. Rizal, who came to be called “Doctor
Uliman" because he came from Germany, treated their ailments and soon he acquired a lucrative
medical practice. His professional lees were reasonable, even gratis to the poor. Within a few
months, he Was able to earn P9OU as a physician. By February, 1888, he earned a total of P5,000 as
medical fees.

Unlike many successful medical practitioners, Rizal did not selfishly devote all his time to
enriching himself. He opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced European sports.
He tried to interest his townmates in gymnastics, fencing and shooting so as to discourage :he
cockfights and gambling.

Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba his failure to see
Leonor Rivera. He tried to g to Dagupan, but his parents absolutely forbade him to go because
Leonors mother did not like him for a son-in-law. With a heavy heart, Rizal bowed to his parent's
wish. He was caught within the iron grip of the custom of his time that marriages must be arranged
by the parents of both groom and bride.

Attackers the Noli. The battle over the Noli took the om ofa virulent war of words. Father
Font printed his report and distributed copies of it in order to discredit the controversial novel.
Another Augustinian, Fr. Jose Rodriguez, Prior of Guadalupe, 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. These eight pamphlets were entitled as follows:

1. Porque no los he de leer? (Why Should I not Read Them?).

2. Guardaos de ellos. Porque? (Beware of Them. Why?).

3. Y..que me dice usted de la peste? (And What Can You Tell Me of Plague?)

4. Porque triunfan los impios? ( Why Do the Impious Triumph?).

5. Cree usted que de versa no hay purgatorio? (Do You Think There Is Really No
Purgatory?.)

6. Hay o no hay infierno? ( Is There or Is There No Hell?).

7. Que le parece a usted de esos libelos? (What Do You Think of These Libels?).

8. Confesion o condenacion? (Confession or Damnation?).

Copies of these anti-Rizal pamphlets written by Fray Rodriguez were sold daily in the
churches after Mass. Many Filipinos were forced to buy them in order not to displease the friars, but
they did not believe what their author said with hysterical fervor.

Repercussions of the storm over the Noli reached Spain. It was fiercely attacked on the
session hall of the Senate of the Spanish Cortes by various senators. particularly General Jose de
Salamanca on April 1, 1888, General Luis M. de Pando on April 12, and Sr. Fernando Vida on June 11,
The Spanish academician of Madrid, Vicente Barrantes, who formerly occupied high government
positions in the Philippines, bitterly criticized the Noli in an article published in La Espana Moderna
(a newspaper of Madrid) in January, 1890.
 Defenders the Noli. The much-maligned Noli had its gallant defenders who fearlessly came
out to prove the merits of the novel or to refute the arguments of the unkind attackers Marcelo H.
del Pilar, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor. Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce and other Filipino
reformists in foreign lands, of course, rushed to uphold the truths of the Noli. Father Sanchez, Rizal's
favorite teacher at the Ateneo, defended and praised it in public. Don Segismundo Moret, former
Minister of the Crown; Dr. Miguel Morayta, historian and statesman, and Professor Blumentritt,
scholar and educator, read and liked the novel.

A brilliant defense of the Noli came from an unexpected source. It was by Rev. Vicente
Garca, a Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a theologian of the Manila Cathedral, and a Tagalog
translator of the famous Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis, Father Garcia, 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 as
follows:

1. Rizal cannot be an ignorant man", as Fr. Rodriguez alleged, because he was a

graduate of Spanish universities and was a recipient of scholastic honors.

2. Rizal does not attack the Church and Spain, as Fr. Rodriguez claimed, because
what Rizal attacked in the Noli were the bad Spanish officials and not Spain, and the bad
and corrupt friars and not the Church.

3. Father Rodriguez said that those who read the Noli commit a mortal sin; since
be (Rodriguez) had read the novel, therefore he also commits a mortal sin.

Later, when Rizal learned of the brilliant defense of Father Garcia of his novel, he cried
because his gratitude was over whelming. Rizal, himself defended his novel against Barrantes attack,
in a letter written in Brussels, Belgium, in February, 1880. In this letter, he exposed Barrantes
ignorance of Philippine affairs and mental dishonesty which is unworthy of an academician.
Barrantes met in Rizal his master in satire and polemics.

During the days when the Noli was the target of a heated controversy between the friars
(and their minions) and the friends of Rizal, all copies of it were sold out and the price per copy
soared to unprecedented level. Both friends and enemies of the Noli found it extremely difficult to
secure a copy. According to Rizal, in a letter to Fernando Canon from Geneva, June 13, 1887, the
price he set per copy was five pesetas (equivalent to one peso), but the price later rose to fifty pesos
per copy.

Rizal and Taviel de Andrade. While the storm over the Noli was raging in fury, Rizal was not
molested in Calamba. This is due to Governor General Terrero's generosity in assigning bodyguard to
him. Between this Spanish bodyguard, Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade, and Rizal, a beautiful friendship
bloomed.

Together, Rizal and Andrade, both young, educated and cultured, made walking tour of the
verdant countrysides, discussed topics of common interest, and enjoyed fencing, shooting hunting
and painting. Lt. Andrade became a great admirer of the man he was ordered to watch and protect.
Years later, he wrote of Rizal: "Rizal was refined, educated and gentlemanly. The hobbies that most
interested him were hunting, fencing, shooting, painting, and hiking . . . I well remember our
excursion to Mount Makiling, not so much for the beautiful view . . . as for the rumors and
pernicious effects that result from it. There was one who believed and reported to Manila that Rizal
and I, at the top of the mountain, hoisted the German lag and proclaimed its sovereignty over the
Philippines. I imagined that such nonsense emanated from the friars of Calamba, but did not take
the trouble to make inquiries about the matter".

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, witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.

Calambe's Agraran Trouble. Governor General Terrero, influenced by certain facts in Noli
Me Tangere, ordered a government investigation of the friar estates to remedy whatever iniquities
might have been present in connection with land taxes and with tenant relations. One of the friar
estates affected was the Calamba Hacienda which the Dominican Order owned since 1883. In
compliance with the governor general's orders, dated December 30, 1887, the Civil Governor of
Laguna Province directed the municipal authorities of Calamba to investigate the agrarian conditions
of their locality.

Upon hearing of the investigation, the Calamba folks solicited Rizal's help in gathering the
facts and listing their grievances against the hacienda management, so that the central government
might institute certain agrarian reforms.

After a thorough study of the conditions in Calamba, Rizal wrote down his findings which the
tenants and three of the officials of the hacienda signed on January 8, 1888. These findings, which
were formally submitted to the government for action, were the following:

1. The hacienda of the Dominican Order comprised not only the lands around
Calamba, but also the town of Calamba.

2. The profits of the Dominican Order continually increased because of the

arbitrary increase of the rentals paid by the tenants.

3. The hacienda owner never contributed a single centavo for the celebration of
the town fiesta, for the education of the children, and for the improvement of
agriculture.

4. Tenants who had spent much labor in clearing the lands were dispossessed of
said lands for flimsy reasons.

5. High rates of interest were charged the tenants for delayed payment of
rentals, and when the rentals could not be paid, the hacienda management confiscated
their carabaos, tools, and homes.

Farewell to Calamba. Rizal's exposure of the deplorable conditions of lenancy in Calamba

infuriated further his cnemies. Tie fnars exerted pressurC on Malacañan Palace to ecliminate him.
They asked Governor General Terrero to deport him, but ihe latler refused because there was no
valid charge against Rizal in court. Anonymous threats against Rizal's life were received by his
parents. The alamed parents, relatives and fricnds (including Lt. Tavicl de Andrade) advised him to
go away, for his life was in danger.
 One day Governor General Terrero summoned Rizal and "advised" him 1o leave the
Philippines for his own good. He was giving Rizal a chance to escape the fury of the friars' wrath.

This time Rizal had to go. He could not very well disobey the governor general's veiled
orders. But he was not running like a coward from a fight. He was courageous, a fact which his worst
enemies could not deny. A valiant hero that he was, he was not afraid of any man and neither was
he afraid to die. He was compelled to leave Calamba for two reasons: (1) his presence in Calamba
was jeopardizing the safety and happiness of his family and friends and (2) he could fight better his
enemies and serve his country's cause with greater efficacy by writing in foreign countries.

A Poem or Lipa. Shortly before Rizal lelt 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. Gladly, he wrote a poem dedicated to the industrious folks of Lipa. This was the
“Himno Al Trabajo” (Hymn to Labor). He finished it and sent it to Lipa before his departure from
Calamba. It runs as follows:

HYMN TO LABOR

CHORUS:

For our country in war.

For our country in peace
The Filipino will be ready,
While he lives and when he dies.

MEN:
As soon as the East is tinted with light
Forth to the fields to plow the loam!
Since it is work that sustains the man,
The motherland, family and the home.
Hard though the soil may prove to be,
Implacable the sun above,
For motherland, our wives and babes
‘Twill be easy with our love.

WIVES:
Courageously set out to work.
Your home is safe with a faithful wife
Implanting in her children, love
For wisdom, land, and virtuous life.
When nightfall brings us to our rest.
May smiling fortune guard our door;
But if cruel fate should harm her man,
The wife would toil on as before.
 GIRLS:
Hail! Hail! Give praise to work!
The country’s vigour and her wealth;
For work lift up your brow serene
It is your blood, your life, your health.
If any youth protests his love
His work shall prove if he be good.
That man alone who strives and toils
Can find the way to feed his brood.

BOYS:
Teach us then the hardest tasks
For down thy trails we turn our feet
That when our country calls tomorrow
Thy purposes we may complete.
And may our elders say, who see us.
See! How worthy of their sires!
No incense can exalt our dead ones
Like a brave son who aspires!

Chapter 11
Hong Kong 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 practising physician, and a
recognized man-of-letters. The first time he went abroad in June 1882, he was a mere lad of 21, a
youthful student in search of wisdom in the Old World, a romantic idealist with beautiful dreams of
emancipating his people from bondage by the magic power of his pen. Times had changed. Rizal at
27 was an embittered victim of human iniquities, a disillusioned dreamer, a frustrated reformer.

The Trip to Hong Kong. On February 3 1888, after a short stay of six months in his beloved
Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was sick and sad during the
crossing of the choppy China Sea. He did not get off his ship when it made brief stopover at Amoy on
February 7. For three reasons: (1) he was not feeling well, (2) it was raining hard, and (3) he heard
that the city was dirty. He arrived in Hong Kong on February 8

During his stay in Hong Kong, a British colony, Rizal wrote a letter to Blumentritt, dated
February 16, 1888, expressing his bitterness. This letter runs as follows:

At last I can write freely. At last I can express my thoughts without fear of
censorship from the chief! They forced me to leave my country. Half sick I left the
house.
 Oh, dear Blumentritt, you have no idea of my minor odysscy. Without the
aid of my friend Lieutenant Taviel de Andrade, what would become of me! Without
the sympathies of the Governor General, the directors of the civil administration
and civil government, I would now be in some dungeon.

All the provincials and the archbishop went daily to the Governor General to
complain against me. The Syndic of the Dominicans wrote a denunciation to the
alcalde that at night they saw me hold secret meetings with me and HEE women on
top of hill. It is true I went walking at dawn to a hill accompanied by many me,
women, and children, for the purpose of enjoying the coolness of the morning, but
always escorted by the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil1 who knows Tagalog. Who is
the conspirator of secret sessions that will hold them in the open air among women
and children? I allowed the accusation to roach the Governor General so he could
see what kind of enemies I have.

My countrymen offered me money to leave the islands. They asked me to

do so not only for my own interest but also theirs, because I have many friends and
acquaintances whom they would have deported with me to Balabag or the
Marianas Islands, Thus, half sick, I bade a hasty farewell to my family. I am returning
to Europe by way of Japan and the United States. We should see each other again. I
have so much to tell you.

In Hong Kong, Rizal stayed at Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino residents,
including Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte (son of Francisco Yriarte, alcalde
mayor of Laguna).

A Spaniard, Jose Sainz de Varanda, who was a former secretary of Governor General Terero,
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.
Many Portuguese, Hindus, English, Chinese, and Jews live in it. There are some Filipinos the majority
of whom being those who had been exiled to the Marianas Islands in 1872. They are poor, gentle, ad
timid. Formerly they were rich mechanics, industrialists, and financiers.”

Visit to Macao. On February 18, Rizal, accompanied by Basa, boarded the ferry steamer Kiu-
Kiang for Macao. He was surprised to see among the passengers a familiar figure Sainz de Varanda.

Macao is a Portuguese colony near Hong Kong. "The city of Macao," wrote Rizal, in his diary,
"is small, low, and gloomy There are many junks, sampans, but few steamers. It looks sad and is
'almost dead.

In Macao, Rizal and Basa stayed at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros, a Filipino
gentleman married to a Portuguese lady. He was rich and spent his days cultivating plants and
flowers, many of which came from the Philippines.

During his two-day sojourn in Macao, Rizal visited the theatre, casino, cathedral and
churches, pagodas, botanical garden, and bazaars, he also saw the famous Grotto of Camoens,
Portugal's national poet. In the evening of February 19, he witnessed a Catholic procession, in which
the devotees were dressed in blue and purple dresses and were carrying unlighted candies.

On February 20, Rizal and Basa returned to Hong Kong, again on board the ferry steamer Kiu
Kiang

Experiences in Hong Kong. During his two-week visit in Hong Kong, Rizal studied Chinese
life, language, drama, and customs. He wrote down in his own diary the following experiences:

1. Noisy celebration of the Chinese New Year which lasted from February 11th
(Saturday) to 13th (Monday) Continuous explosions of firecrackers. The richer the
Chinese, the more firecrackers he exploded. Rizal himself fired many firecrackers at the
window of his hotel

2. Boisterous Chinese theatre, with noisy audience and noisier music. In the
Chinese dramatic art, Rizal observed the following: (1) a man astride a stick means a
man riding on horseback, (2) an actor raising his leg means he is entering a house, (3) a
red dress indicates a wedding, (4) a girl about to be married coyly covers her face with a
fan even in the presence of her fiance, and (5) a man raising a whip signifies he is about
to ride a horse.

3. The marathon lauriat party, wherein the guests were served numerous
dishes, such as dried fruits, geese, dried fruits, shrimps, century eggs, shark fins, bird
nests, while ducks, chicken with vinegar, fish heads, roasted pigs, tea, etc. The longest
meal in the world

4. The Dominican Order was the richest religious order in Hong Kong. It engaged
actively in business. It owned more than 700 houses for rent and many shares in foreign
banks. It had millions of dollars deposited in the banks which earned fabulous interests.

5. Of the Hong Kong cemeteries belonging to the Protestants, Catholics, and

Muslims, that of the Protestants was the most beautiful because of its well-groomed
plants and clean pathways. The Catholic cemetery was most pompous, with its ornate
and expensive mausoleums and extravagantly carved sepulchres. The Muslim cemetery
was the simplest, containing only little mosque and tombstones with Arabic inscriptions.

Departure From Hong Kong. On February 22, 1888, Rizal left Hong Kong on board the
Oceanic, an American steamer His destination was Japan. He did no1 like the meals on board but he
liked the ship because it was clean and efficiently managed. His cabinmate was a British Protestant
missionary who had lived in China for 27 years and knew the Chinese language very well Rizal called
him "a good man

Other passengers, with whom Rizal conversed in their own languages, were two Portuguese,
two Chinese, several British and an American woman Protestant missionary.
 Chapter 12
Rizal in Japan (1888)
One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his S0journ the 1and of the Cherry
Blossoms for one month and a hall (February 28April 13, 1888). He was enchanted by the natural
beauty of Japan, the charming manners of the Japanese people, and the picturesque shrines.
Moreover, lie fell in love with a Japanese girl, whose loveliness infused joy and romance in his
sorrowing heart. Her real name was Seiko Usui. Rizal affectionately called her 0-Sei-San. Fate,
however, cut short his happy days in Japan. He had to sacrifice his own happiness to carry on his
work for the redemption of his oppressed people.

Rizal Arrives in Yokohama. Early in the morning of Tuesday February 28, 1888, Rizal arrived
in Yokohama. He registered at the Grand Hotel.

The next day he proceeded to Tokyo and took a room at Tokyo Hotel, where he stayed from
March 2 to 7. He was impressed by the city of Tokyo. He wrote lo Professor Blumeentritt: "Tokyo is
more expensive than Paris. The walls are built in cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide.

Rizal in Tokyo. Shortly after Rizal's arrival in Tokyo, he was visited at his hotel by Juan Perez
Caballero, secretary of the Spanish Legation. The latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation.

Rizal, being an intelligent man, realized that the Spanish diplomatic authorities were
instructed from Manila to monitor his movements in Japan. He accepted the invitation for two
reasons. (1) he could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation and (2) he had nothing
to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.

On March 7, Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation. He and
Perez Caballero became good friends. In a letter to Blumentritt, he described the Spanish diplomat
as "a young, fine, and excellent writer" and "an able diplomat who had traveled much.

During his first day in Tokyo, Rizal was embarrassed because he did not know the Japanese
language. He looked like, a Japanese, but could not talk Japanese. He had a hard time shopping, for
he could not be understood and the Japanese children laughed at him. Thus he wrote to
Blumentritt. "Here you have your friend, Rizal the wonder of the Japanese, who has the face of a
Japanese but does not speak Japanese. On the Streets, when I go shopping, people look at me and
ill-educated children laugh because I speak such a strange language. In Tokyo very few persons
speak English, but in Yokohama many speak if. Some believe I am an Europeanized Japanese who
does not want to be taken as such

To avoid further embarrassment, Rizal decided to study the Japanese language. Being a born
linguist, he was able to speak it within a few days. He also studied the Japanese drama (kabuki), arts,
music, and judo (Japanese art of self-defense). He browsed in the museums, libraries, art galleries,
and shrines. He visited Meguro, Nikko, Hakone, Miyanoshita, and the charming villages of Japan
 Rizal and the Tokyo Musicians. One cool afternoon in March, 1888, Rizal was promenading
in a street of Tokyo near a park. It was a beautiful spring afternoon. There were many people at the
park.

As he approached the park, Rizal heard the Tokyo band playing a classical work of Strauss.
He was impressed by the superb performances of the Western music. He stopped and listened in
rapt attention. He thought: "How admirable was the rendition. I wonder how these Japanese people
have assimilated the modern European music to the extent of playing the beautiful musical
masterpieces of the great European composers so well!

The band stopped playing. The mUsician5 descended from the bandstand and walked
around for a rest. Some began to converse. To Rizal's amazement, they were talking in Tagalog He
approached them, inquiring in Tagalog: "Paisano, taga saan po kayo?" (Compatriot, where are you
from?).

The musicians were equally surprised and delighted to meet him. They told him they were
Filipinos and that the principal instruments in the band were Japanese, but they were playing only
the secondary instruments.

Rizal's Impression of Japan. Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. He was a keen observer
taking copious notes on the life, customs, and culture of the people. He was no silly, light headed
tourist who merely enjoys attractive sights that appealed only to the senses. 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 the hotel room one could safely leave money on the
table.

5. Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets, unline in Manila and other
cities.

However, there is one thing which he did not like in Japan, and that was the popular mode
of transportation by means of rickshaws drawn by men. His sensitive soul recoiled at seeing human
beings working like horses, pulling the carts called rickshaws. He felt disgusted at the way a human
being was employed like a horse.

Romance with O-Sei-San. One spring afternoon, a few days after he had moved to the
Spanish Legation in the Azabu district of Tokyo, Rizal saw a pretty Japanese girl walking past the
legation gate. Being a man with an eye for feminine beauty, he was attracted by her regal loveliness
and charm. He craved to meet her – but how?
 Rizal made inquiries among the legation employees and learned from one of them (a
Japanese gardener) that she was Seiko Usui, who lived in her parent’s home and that she used to
pass by the legation during her daily afternoon walk.

The following afternoon, Rizal and the Japanese gardener waited at the legation gate and
watched for the girl. As she approached, he took off his hat and politely introduced himself as was
the custom in Germany. At that time, Rizal's Japanese was still very poor so that the gardener came
to his aid and explained to the girl that the young man was a physician from Manila who was a guest
of the Spanish Legation.

Seiko-san was mildly amused at the gallant gentleman from the Philippines who spoke in
halting Japanese. She replied in English, for she knew that language and also French. The two then
conversed in both English and French the language barrier was thus eliminated.

Since that first meeting, Rizal and 0-Sei-San, as Rizal called her, met almost daily. Together,
they visited the interesting spots of the city – the Imperial Art Gallery, the Imperial Library, the
universities, the Shokubutsu-en (Botanical Garden), the city parks (particularly Hibiya Park), and the
picturesque shrines.

Both found happiness in each other's company. Rizal was then a lonely physician of 27 years
old, disillusioned by his frustrated romance with Leonor Rivera and embittered by Spanish injustices
at home. O-Sei-San was a lonely samurai's daughter of 23 years old and had never yet experienced
the ecstasy of true love. Affinity of interest in the arts paved the way for their romance.

Rizal saw in lovely 0-Sei-San the qualities of his ideal womanhood- beauty, charm, modesty,
and intelligence. No wonder, he fell deeply in love with her. O-Sei-San reciprocated his affection, for
it was the first time her heart palpitated with joys to see a man of gallantry, dignity, courtesy, and
versatile talents.

O-Sei-San helped Rizal in many ways. More than a sweetheart, she was his guide,
interpreter, and tutor. She guided him in observing the shrines and villages around Tokyo. She
improved his knowledge of Nippongo (Japanese language) and history. And she interpreted for him
the Kabuki plays and the quaint customs and mores of the Japanese people.

0-Sei-San's beauty and affection almost tempted Rizal to settle down in Japan. At thc same
time, he was offereda good job at the Spanish Legation. If he were a man of lesser heroic mould, of
lesser will power, he would have lived permanently in Japan - and happily at that with 0-Sei-San; but
then the world, in gencral, and the Philippines, in particular, would have lost a Rizal.

Rizal on O-Sei-San. Rizal's great love for O-Sei-San is attested by the hero's diary. On the eve
of his departure, he wrote in his diary:

Japan bas enchanted me. The beautiful scenery, the lowers, the trees, and
the inhabitants so peaceful, so courteous, and so pleasant. O-Sci-San, Sayonara,
Sayonara! I have spent a happy golden month; I do not know if I can have another
one ike that in all my lifc. Love, money, friendship, appreciation, honorsthese havc
nol been wanting
 To think that 1 am leaving this life for the uncertain, the unknown, There I
was offered an easy way to live, beloved and esteemed. . .

To you l dedicate the final chapter ol these memoirs of my youth. No

woman, like you, has ever loved me. No woman, like you has ever sacrificed for me.
Like the flower of the chodji that (alls from the stem fresh and whole without falling
leaves or without witheringwith poetry still despite its fall thus you fell, Neither have
you lost your purity nor have the delicate petak of your innocence faded Sayonara,
Sayonara!

You shall never retum to know that I have once more thought of you and
thal your image lives in my memory; and undoubtedly, I am always thinking of you.
Your name lives in the sight of my lips, your image accompanies and animates all my
thoughts. When shall I return to pass anotber divine afternoon like thal in the
temple of Meguro? When shall the sweet hours I spent with you return? When shall
T find them sweeter, more ranquil, more pleasing You the color of the camellia, its
freshness, its elegance.

Ab! last desoendant ol a noble lamily, laithful to an unfortunate vengeance.

you are lovely Bke... everyhing has endedl Sayonara, Sayonara!

With this tenderly tragic entry in his own diary, Rizal bade farewell to lovely 0-Sei-San.

Sayonara, Japan. On April 13, 1888, Rizal boarded the Belgic, an English steamer, at
Yokohama, bound for the United States. He left Japan with a heavy heart, for he knew that he would
never again sec 1his beautiful "Land of the Cherry Blossoms" and his beloved 0-Sci-San. Truly, his
sojourn in Japan for 45 days was one of the happiest interludes in his life.

O-Sel-San Afler Rizal's Departure. As everything on earth has to end, the beautiful romance
betwecn Rizal and O-Sei- San inevitably came to a dolorous ending. Sacrilicing his personal
happiness, Rizal had to carry on his libertarian missIOn in Europe, accordingly, he resumcd his
voyage, leaving behind the lovely O.Sci-San, whom he passionately loved.

Broken-hearted by the departure of Rizal, the first manto capture her heart, O-Sei-San
mourned for a long time the lass of her lover. Eventually, she became resigned to hersate, cherish
ing unto death the nostalgic memories of her romance with Rizal

About 1897, a year after Rizal's execution, she marricd Mr. Alfred Charlion, British tcacher of
chemistry of the Peers School in Tokyo. Their wedlock was blessed by only one child- daughter
named Yuriko. After many years of teaching, Charlton Was awarded by the Japanese government
with an imperial decoration Order of Merit, 5th Class. He died on November 2, 1915, survived by O-
Sei-San, whose real name was Seiko Usui, and their daughter Yuriko. This daughter later marmicd
Yoshiharu Takiguchi, son of a Japanese scnator.

Mrs. Chardton (0-Sei-San), as a widow, lived in a comfor able home in Shinjuko district,
Tokyo. She survived World War 1I, but her home was destroyed in 1944 by the U.S. bombing of
Tokyo. She died on May 1, 1947 at the age of 80. She was buried in her husband's tomb al
Zoshigawa Cemetery. AA Japanesc inscription on their tomb reads as follows:
 Alfred Charlton, 5th Order of Merit, and wife Seiko

Voyage Across the Pacific. Despite his sorrowing heart, Rizal enjoyed the pleasant trans-
Pacific voyage to the United States. On board the ship, he met a semi-Filipino family-Mr. Reinaldo
Turner, his wife Emma Jackson (daughter of an Englishman, their children, and their maid servant
from Pangasinan.

One day one of the children, a bright young boy, asked Rizal:

Do you know, sir, a famous man in Manila named Richal?

He wrote a novel, Noli Me Tangere.

Yes, hijo, I am Richal," replied Rizal.

In great joy the boy rushed lo his mother, informing her that the famous man is their fellow
passenger, she felicitated Rizal, feeling proud that they were travelling with a celebrity.

Rizal and Tetcho. Another passenger which Rzal befriended on board the Bclgic was Tetcho
Suehiro, a fighting Japanese journalist, novelist, and champion of human rights, who was forced by
the Japanese govemmeni to leave the country, just as Rizal was compelled to leave the Philippines
by the Spanish authorities. At the beginning of the voyage from Yokohama, Tetcho was miserably
alone, for he knew only his own Japanese language and so he could not communicate with the ship
officers and the passengers. Learning of his predicament, Rizal, who : knew many foreign languages,
including Japanese, befriended him and acted as his interpreter during their long trip from
Yokohama to San Francisco, across the U.S. to New York until they reached London, where they
parted.

Rizal and Tetcho were kindred spirits. Both were valiant patriots, implacable foes of injustice
and tyranny. Both were men of peace using their Irenchant pens as fomidable weapons to fight for
their peoples' welfare and happiness.

Rizal told Tetcho the story of his life's mission to emancipate his oppressed people from
Spanish tyranny and of the persecu- tions which he and his family suffered from the vindictive
Spanish officials and bad friars, causing him to nee to foreign countries where he could freely carry
on his libertarian activities. During their intimate acquaintanceship of almost eight months (April 13-
December 1, 1888) Tetcho came to admire Rizal, whose patriotism and magnificent talents greatly
fascinated him and influenced him to fortify his own crusade for human rights in his own country.

On December 1, 1888, after a last warm handshake and bidding each other "g0odbyc, " Rizal
and Tetcho parted ways never lo meet again. Rizal remained in London te conducr historical
researcheson Mora at the British Museum. while Tetcho returned to Japan.

In 1889, shortly after his return to Japan, he ublished his fravel diary which contained his
impressions of Rizal, as follows:

“Mr. Rizal was a citizen of Manila in the Philippines. Age about 27 to 29.
Young as he was, he was proficient in seven languages.”
 “It was in S/S Belgic that we first met. I came to England by way of America
with him. Ever since I had been intercoursing with him.”

“Rizal was an open-hearted man. He was not hair-spliting. He was an

accomplished, good at picture, skilful in exquisite wax work, especially.”

“I arrived at London late in May, I888. I temporarily stayed at "King Henry's

Road," then moved to Room 56 of Parliament Hill Road. I intended to stay here until
February or March, but unfortunately London had been shrouded by fog since early
October. I have a slight illness, and it appeared to be very hard for me to spend the
coming& winter here. 1 decided 1o go home, and scheduled to leave London on
December the First.

“On December the First, I got up early, It was a fine sunny day, after
uncomfortable days of fog and rain. The Sun rose 1s if it congratulated my lucky
departure for home. I took a farewell of my people and at 9:30 'A.M. when I was
going down the Parliament Hilt Road, I met Mr. Rizal coming up to my hotel. I called
him to ride with me on the coach. Mr. Rizal came from Manila. He has a good
command of seven different foreign languages at the age of only twenty-seven... He
was a frank and daring fellow, fond of various arts, especially good at dearing . . .

After the publication of his travel diary, Tetcho resigned his position as editor of Tokyo
newspaper, Choya, and entered politics. In 1890 he was elected as member of the lower house of
the First Imperial Diet (Japanese parliament), where he earned on his light for human rights. The
following year (1891) he published a political novel titled Nankai-no-Daiharan (Storm Over The
South Sea) which resembles Rizal's Noli Me Tangere in plot. Three years later (1894) he published
another novel entitled O-unabara (The Big Ocean) which was similar to El Filibusterismo.

While still a member of the Imperial Diet, Tetcho died of heart attack i: Tokyo in February,
1896 (ten months before Rizal's execution). He was then 49 years old.

Chapter 13
Rizal’s Visit to the United States (1888)
Rizal first saw America on April 28, 1888. His arrival in this great country was marred by
racial prejudice, for he the discriminatory treatment of the Chinese and the Negroes by the white
Americans. He kept notes of what he observed during his trip from San Francisco to New York,
where he took a ship for England. From his notes and his letters to his friends, we get a wealth of
first-hand impressions of America, some of which were rather unfavorable but true. Rizal was a man
of truth, and he wrote what he had seen and experienced.

Arrival in San Francisco. The steamer Belgic, with Rizal on board, docked at San Francisco on
Saturday morning, April 28, 1888. All passengers were not allowed to land. The American health
authorities placed the ship under quarantine on the ground that it came from the Far East where a
cholera epidemic was alleged to be raging. Rizal was surprised because he knew there was no
cholera epidemic at that time in the Far East. He joined the other passengers in protesting the
unjustifiable action of the health authorities. The American consul in Japan had given the ship a
clean bill of health, and the British Governor of Hong Kong certified to the absence of cholera cases
in China.

He soon discovered that the placing of the ship under quarantine was motivated by politics.
The ship was carrying 643 Chinese coolies." At that time public opinion on the Pacific coast wass
against cheap coolie labor because the coolies rom China were displacing while laborers in railroad
construction camps. To win the votes of the whiles in California (for election was near), the
administration impeded the entry of Chinese coolies.

Rizal noticed that contrary to quarantine regulations 700 bales of valuable Chinese silk were
landed without fumigation, that the ship doctor went ashore without protest on the part of the
health officers, and the customs employees ate several times on board the supposedly cholera-
infested ship.

After a week of quarantine, all first-class passengers, including Rizal, were permitted to land.
But the Chinese and Japanese passengers of the second and third-class accommodations were
forced to remain on board for a longer quarantine period.

Rizal in San Francisco. On Friday afternoon, May 4, 1888, the day he was permitted to go
ashore, Rizal registered at the Palace Hotel, which was then considered a first-class hotel in the city.
On this day, he wrote on his diary:

I lodged in Palace Hotel; $4 a day with bath and everything included.

Stockton St., 312. 1 saw the Golden Gate . . . On Sunday he stores are closed. The
best Street in San Francisco is Market Street.

Rizal mentioned in his diary the name of Leland Stanford, who was a millionaire senator
representing California in the US. Senate at that time. This senator was the founder and benefactor
of Stanford University at Palo Alto, California. Also recorded in Rizal's diary was a street – Dupont
Street – in Chinatown which is Grant Avenue today.

Rizal stayed in San Francisco for two days May 4 to 6, 1888. The President of the United
States at that time was Grover Cleveland.

Across the American Continent. On May 6, 1888 Sunday, 4:30 P.M.-Rizal, left San Francisco
for Oakland, nine miles across San Francisco Bay, by ferry boat.

In Oakland, he boarded the train for his trip across the continent, He took his supper at
Sacramento for 75e and slept in his coach.

Early the following morning (May 7), he awoke and had a good breakfast at Reno, Nevada,
now glamourized by American high-pressure propaganda as "The Biggest Little City in the World."
Rizal's diary recounts his travel observation as follows:

Monday, May 7. I saw an Indian attired in semi-European suit, and semi-

Indian suit, leaning against a wall. Wide deserts without plants nor trees.
Unpopulated. Lonely place Bare mountains, Sands, A big extension of white land,
like chalk. Far from this desert cap be seen some blue mountains It was a fine day. It
was warm, and there was still snow on the top of some mountains.

Tuesday, May 8. This is a beautiful morning. We slop from place to place.

We are near Ogden. I believe with a good system of irrigation this place could be
cultivated. We are at Utah state, the 3rd state we passed over. In approach ing
Ogden the fields are seen with horses, oxen, and trees. Some small houses are seen
from a distance. From Ogden to Denver: The clock is set one hour ahead of time. We
are now beginning to see lowers with yellow color on the way. The mountains at a
distance are covered with snow, The banks of Salt Lake are more beautiful than
other things we saw. The mules are very big. There are mountains in the middle of
the lake like the island of Talim in Laguna de Bay. We saw three Mormon boys at
Farminton. There were sheep, cows, and horses in the meadows. This region is not
thickly populated. A Dock of ducks in the lake.. Children greeted us at Salt Lake City.
In Utah, the women serve at the table. We changed train at Ogden, and we will not
have any change until Denver. In Provo I ate much for 75t. We are passing between
two mountains through a narrow channel.

Wednesday, May 9. We are passing through the mountains and rocks along
a river; the river is noisy and its noise gives life to the lifeless territory. We woke up
at Colorado, the 5th state we crossed over. A1 10:30 we climb up a certain height,
and this is why snow is seen along the way. There arc many pines. We passed
through tunnels made of wood to protect the road against snow. Icicles in these
tunnels are very bright which gave majestic effect. The porter of the Pullman Car, an
American, is a sort of thief. Colorado has more trees than the three states we
passed over. There are many horses.

Thursday, May 10. We woke up in Nebraska. The country is a plain. We

reached Omaha, a big city -the biggest since we left San Francisco. The Missouri
River is twice as wide as the Pasig River in its widest part. It is marshy... The train
passed aver the Missouri bridge for 2 and h minutes; the train goes slowly. We are
now in Illinois.

Friday, May 11. We woke up near Chicago. The country is cultivated. It show
Our nearness to Chicago. We left Chicago at 8:14 Friday night. What observed in
Chicago is that every cigar store has an Indian figure, and always different. (2775
Washington Street, Boston, Miss C.G. Smith).

Saturday, May 12. A good Wagner Car-we were proceeding in a fine day.
The country is beautiful and well populated. We shall arrive at the English territory
(Canada-Z.) in the afternoon, and we shall soon see Niagara Falls. We stop for some
time to see the points that are beautiful; we went io the side below the Falls: I was
between two rocks and his is the greatest cascade i ever saw, It is not o beauiiful nor
0 fine as the falls at Los Baños (sic Pagsanjan – Z); but much bigger, more
imposing . . . The cascade has various falls, various parts, We left the place at night.
There is a mysterious sound and persistent echo.
 Sunday, May 13. We woke up near Albany. This is a big city. The Hudson
River which runs along carries many boats. We crossed over a bridge. The landscape
is beautiful and it is not inferior lo he best in Europe. We are going along the banks
of the Hudson. They are very beautiful although little more solitary than those of the
Pasig . . . The Hudson is wide. Beautiful ships. Sliced granite rocks were paved along
the railroads.. There were beautiful houses between trees. Day fine. Cur grand
transcontinental trip ended on Sunday, May 13, at 11:10 A.M.

Rizal in New York. On Sunday morning, May 13, Rizal reached New York, thus ending his trip
across the American continent. He stayed three days in this city, which he called the "big town". He
visited the scenic and historic places. He was awed and inspired by the memorial to George
Washington. Of this great American, he wrote o Ponce: "He is a great man who. I think, has no equal
in this country.

On May 16, 1888, he left New York for Liverpool on board the City of Rome. According to
Rizal, this steamer was the second largest ship in the world, the largest being the Great Eastern". He
saw with thrilling sensation the colossal Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island as his ship steamed out of
New York Harbor.

Rizal's Impression of America. Rizal had good and bad impressions of the United States. The
good impressions were (1) the material progress at the country as shown in the great cities, huge
farms, flourishing industries, and busy factories: (2) the drive and energy of the American people;

(3) the natural beauty of the land: (4) the high standard of living; and (5) the opportunities
for better life offered to poor immigrants.

One bad impression Rizal had of America was the lack of racial equality. There existed racial
prejudice which was inconsistent with the principles of democracy and freedom of which the
Americans talk so much but do not practise. Thus he wrote to Ponce: They do not have true civil
liberty. In some states the Negro cannot marry a white woman, nor a white man a Negress. Hatred
against the Chinese leads to difficulty for other Asiatics who, like the Japanese, arc mistaken for
Chinese by the ignorant, and therefore being disliked, too.

180, two years alter Rizal's visit to the United States, Jose Alejandro, who was then studying
engineering in Belgium, roomed with him on 38 Rue Philippe Champagne, Brussels. Alejandro had
never been in America, so that one day he asked Rizal: "What impressions do you have of America?

“America," answered Rizal, "is the land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites"

Chapter 14
Rizal in London (1888-1889)
After visiting the United States, Rizal lived in London from May, 1888 to March, 1889. He
chose this English city to be his new home for three reasons: (1) to improve his knowledge of the
English language, (2) to study and annotate Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, a rare copy of
which he heard to be available in the British Museum, and (3) London was a safe place for him to
carry on his fight against Spanish tyranny. In London, he engaged in Filipiniana studies, completed
annotating Morga's book, wrote many articles for La Solidaridad in defense of his people against
Spanish critics, penned a famous letter to the young women of Malolos, carried on this voluminous
correspondence with Blumentritt and relatives, and had a romance with Gertrude Beckett.

Trip Across the Atlantic. The trans-Atlantic voyage of Rizal from New York to Liverpool was a
pleasant one. He won many friends of different nationalities on board the palatial City of Rome
because of his friendly nature and his ability as a linguist.

Rizal entertained the American and European passengers with his marvelous skill with the
yo-yo as an offensive weapon. The yo-yo is a small wooden disc attached to a string from the finger.
It is used by Filipino children as a toy. But Rizal manipulated it as a weapon of offense, to the great
amazement of the foreigners.

On board the steamer were some American newspapermen on their way to Europe. Rizal
discussed with them the current Social and political problems of mankind, and found them to be
inadequate in geo-politics. He could not enjoy their companion- ship because they were
intellectually inferior to him.

Rizal arrived at Liverpool, England, on May 24, 1888. He stayed one day in this port city,
spending the night at the Adelphi Hotel "Liverpool, he wrote to his family, is a big and beautiful city
and its celebrated port is worthy of its great fame. The entrance is magniicent and Ihe customhouse
is quite good"

Life in London. On May 25, 1888, a day after, docking, at Liverpool, Rizal went to London.
For a short time, he stayed as guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, an exile of 1872 and a
practising lawyer in London. By the end of May he found 4 modest boarding place at No. 37 Chaleot
Crescent, Primrose Hill. He was a boarder of the Beckett family The Becketts were Mr. Beckett,
organist of St. Paul's Church, Mrs Beckett (his wife), two sons and four daughters. The oldest of the
Beckett sisters was Gertrude, called "Gettie" or "Tottie" by her friends.

The Beckett home was to Rizal conveniently located. It was near the public parks and was
within easy walking distance to the British Museum where he expected to do much research work.

Rizal came to know Dr. Reinhold Rost, the librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an
authority on Malayan languages and customs. Dr. Rost was impressed by Rizal’s learning and
character, and he gladly recommended him to the authorities of the British Museum. The called
Rizal "a pearl of a man (una perla de hombre).

Rizal spent much of his time in the British Museum poring Over the pages of Morga's
Sucesos and other tare historical works on the Philippines. He frequently visited Dr. Regidor and
discussed with him problems pertaining to Philippine affairs.

He spent Sundays in the house of Dr. Rost, with whone had many pleasant discussions on
linguistics. He also played cricket (popular English game) and boxed with Dr. Rost's sons.
 News from Home, Good and Bad. Both good and bad news from home reached Rizal in
London. Of the bad news, Were the injustices committed by the Spanish authorities on the Filipino
people and the Rizal family. Among which were as follows:

1. Persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed the "Anti-Friar Petition of

1888 which was presented by Doroteo Cortes, prominent Mason and lawyer, to Jose
Cenieno, Civil Govermor ol thc Province of Mamila, on March 1, 1888. This petition
was signed by about 800 patriots nd wa actually written by M.H. del Pilar. It was
addresscd to the Queen Regcnt of Spain requesting the expulsion of the Iriars,
includling Archbishop Pedro Payo (Dominican) of Manila.

2. Persecution of the Calamba tenants, including Rizal's amily and relatives,

lor their courage to petition the goverm meni for agrarian reforms

3. Furious aitacks on Rizal by Senalors Salamanca and Vida in the Spanish

Cortes and by Desengaños (Wenceslao E. Retana) and Ouioquiap (Pablo Feced) in
Spanish news papers

4. Rizal's brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, husband of Saturnina, was

exiled by Govennor General Weyler ta Bobol without due proces8 of law.

5. Africnd of Rizal, Laureano Viado, a medical studen at the University ol

Santo Tomas, was arresied arnd jailed I in Bilibid Prison because copies of the Noli
were found in his houSE.

One good news cheered Rizal, and that was Rev. Vicente Garcia's defcnse of the Noli against
the attacks of the friars. He heard this good news Irom Manano Ponce. He was deeply gratificd by
the courageous action of Father Garcia, a venerable Filipino canon of the Manila Cathedral. Latecr,
On January 7, 1891, he wrote to Father Garda, expressing his personal thanks. In this famous letter,
hc said:

We young Filipinos are trying to make over a nation and must not halt in our
onward march, but from time to time tum our gaze upon our elders. We shall wish
to read in their counlenances approval ol our actions. We are anx ious to learn of
the Philippines past which we nced to understand in order to plan intelligently for
the future. We want to know ali that our ancestors knew, and then add our own
studies lo theirs. Thus we shall progress the laster because we can go on from where
they left off.

Annotating Morga's Book. The greatest achievement of Rizal in London was the annotating
of Morga's book, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands) which was
published in Mexico, 1609. He spent many days in the reading room of the British Museum poring
over the pages of this book and laboriously reading the old histories of the Philippines, such as those
written by Fr. Chirino, Fr. Colin, Fr. Argensola, Fr. Plasencia, ctc. Of all Written histories published
during the early years of the Spanish régime, that of Dr. Morga was, in his considered opinion, the
best.
 In a letter to Blumentritt, dated Septembcr 17, 1888, Rizal said: "Mlorga's work is an
excellent book; it can be said that Morga is a modern scholarly explorer. He does not have the
superficiality and exaggeration which are found among Spaniards oday: he writes very simply, but
one has to read between the lines.

For about ten months (May 1888-March 1889), Rizal was deeply immersed in his historical
studies in London. During which time his compatriots in Spain were waging the crusade for
Philippine reforms. At one time, Mariano Ponce, whom he had never yet met and who was then
living in Barcelona, urged him to edit a newspaper which would defend the Filipino interest from the
scurrilous attacks of their Spanish detractors. He refused Ponce's request because he was busy.
"Today," he wrote to Ponce on October 12. 1888, "I am dedicated day and night to certain studies,
so that I do not want to edit any newspaper

Short Visit to Paris and Spain. Early in September, 1888, he visited Paris for a week, in order
to search for more historical materials in the Bibliotheque Nationale. He was entertained in this gay
French metropolis by Juan Luna and his wife (Paz Pardo de Tavera), who proudly showed him their
little son Andres (nickname Luling). After poring over the old books and manus cript in the
Bibliotheque Nationale, he returned to london.

On December 11, 1888, he went to Spain, visiting Madrid and Barcelona. He contacted his
compatriots and surveyed the political situation with regards to the agitation for Philippine reforms.
For the first time, he met Marcelo H. del Pilar and Mariano Ponce, two titans of the Propaganda
Movement. He exchanged ideas with these new friends and promised to cooperate in the fight for
reforms.

Christmas in London (1888). Rizal returned to London on Decembcr 24 and spent Christmas
and New Year's Day with the Becketts. He experienced a delightful Christmas Eve, his first on English
soil. That night he wrote lo Blumentritt "it is now Noche-Buena (Christmas Eve); it is the holiday T
like best to celebrate. It reminds me of the many good days not only oDt my infancy, but also ofl
history. Whelher or not Christ was borm CXactly on this day, I do nol know; but exact chronology is
immaterial to sce the joy of this night. A great Genius was born who preached irnth and love. He
suffered on accounf of lis mission, but because of His sufferings the world had improved. if not
saved. Hlow it shocks me to sce people misuse His namnc to commit many crimes.

To his friend, Biumeniri, Rizal sent as Christmas gift a bust of Emperor Augustus which he
had nate. This empere was the ruler of lhe Roman Empire when Jesus (hrisl WAs bor in Bethlehem.
To another friend, Dr Carlos Czepclak (Polist cholar). he gave as Christmas gift a busI of Julius Caesar.

Rizal's landlady, Mrs. Beckett. knowing of his iilerest u magik, gave him as Christmas gilt u
book entitled The Life and Adrentures of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist Rizal was delighted to
receive this book, for he had great admiration for this British magician who was famous for his
ventriloquist.

Rizal Becomes leader of Filipinos in Europe. While busy in his historical studies in London,
Rizal learned that the Filipinos in Barcelona were planning to establish a patriotic society which
would cooperate in the crusade for reforms. This society, called Asociacion La Solidaritad
(Solidaridad Assciation), Was inau guraled on ecember 31, 1888, with the following officers Galicano
Apacible. president; Graciano Lopez Jaena, vice pres ident; Manuel Santa Maria, sccrelary; Mariana
P'once, treasurer and Jose Ma. Panganiban, accountant.

By unanimous vote of all the members, Rizal was chosen honorary president. This was a
recognition of his leadership among all Filipino patriots in Europe.

As the leader of his countrymen in Europe, Rizal wrote a Ietter addressed to the members of
the Asociacion La Solidaridad on January 28, 1889. In this letter, he expresscd his thanks lor the
hono of making him honorary president and gave the following advice:

1. In young associations the spirit of tolerance ought to prevail when it

concerns trifles that do not affect the essential part of a thing; in the discussions, the
conciliatory tendency ought to dominate before the tendency to oppose. No one
should resent defeat. When any opinion is rejected, its author, instead of despairing
and withdrawing, should on the contrary wait for another occasion in which justice
may be done him. The individual should give way to the welfare of the society.

2. A great deal of integrity and much good will. No member should expect
rewards or honors for what he does. He who does his duty in the expeciation of
rewards, is Usually disappointcd, because ainost no one believes himnseif uliiciently
rewarded. And that Lhere may 1O be discon lented or ill-rewarded members, it is
advisable for cach one lo do his duty just for its own ake and al best caped lo aler
lreale unjustiy, because i nommalous cOuntKG inustice is the prize for those who
fulfill their duties.

Thrift, thrift, thrift.

Seriousness and equal justice for all.

Rizal and The La Solidaridad Newspaper. On February 15. 1889, Graciano Lopez Jacna
founded the patriotie newspaper called La Solidaridad in Barcelona, where he was then residing.
This was a fortnightly periodical which served as the organ of the Propaganda Movenent. is aims
were as follows: to work peacefuly for political and social reforms; (2) to portray the deplorable
conditions of the Philippines 5o that Spain may remedy them; (3) to oppose the evil forces DÍ
reaction and medicvalism; (4) to advocate liberal ideas and progress; and (S) to champion the
legitimatc aspirations of the Filipino people to life, democ racy, and happiness.

Two days after the birth of La Solidaridad. M.H. del Pilar wrote to Rizal in London: "A last our
litule newspaper was born. It is democratic in its opinion, but very much more sa in the organization
of its staff. One should see how editor Graciano writes, corrects proofs, directs the printing.
distributes the copies and cven takes them to the mail. Naning (Mariano Ponee -Z.. the manager,
gathers the data, edits, corrects the proofs, writes the leads, prepares the correspondence. and also
distritbutes the copics. 1,am the only idler, though the newspaper had me preoccupied during the
period of its conception and birth. for which reason I am behind in my correspondence with you".

Rizal congratulated Lopez Jaena and his associates in founding La Solidaridad. As evidence of
his approval and cooperation, he prepared articles for the periodical which were subsequently
published. In his letter to Lopez Jaena, he advised him that great care should be taken in publishing
only the truth in La Solidaridad. “Be careful”, he admonished, “not to publish exaggerations or lies or
imitate others, who avail themselves of dishonest means and of vulgar and ignoble language to
attain their ends. See that the periodical is just, honest, and truthful so that its opinion may always
be respected. It is necessary that we show our enemies that we are more worthy than they, morally
and humanly speaking. Should we tell the truth we shall have won out cause because reason and
justice are on our side. There is no need for knaveries”.