RZL 10

Rizal in Abroad
Chapter 6: In Sunny Spain

After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Jose Rizal, being disgusted with the antiquated method of instruction in this Dominican-owned university and the racial prejudice of Dominican professors against Filipino students, decided to complete his studies in Spain. At that time the government of Spain was a constitutional monarchy under a written constitution which granted human rights to the people, particularly freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of the assembly. Aside from this ostensible reason, he had another reason, which was more important than merely completing his studies in Spain. This was his secret mission .
Chapter 7: Paris to Berlin

After completing his studies in Madrid. Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology. He particularly chose this branch of medicine because he wanted to cure his mother's eye ailment. He served as assistant to the famous oculists of Europe. He also continued his travels and observations of European life and customs, government and laws in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig and Berlin In Berlin, capital of then unified Germany, he met and befriended several top German scientists. His merits as a scientist were recognized by the eminent scientists of Europe
Noli Me Tangere was published in Berlin
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 Antonio 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 see Europe before retuning to Calamba. First, he and Viola visited Potsdam, a city near Berlin, which Frederick the great made famous.
Rizal's Grand Tour of Europe with Viola
Chapter 11: In Hong Kong and Macao
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.
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. He was enchanted by the natural beauty of Japan, the charming manners of the Japanese people, and the picturesque shrines. Moreover, he 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 O-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.
Romantic Interlude in Japan
Rizal first saw America on April 28, 1888. His arrival in this great country was marred by racial prejudice, for he saw 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.
Rizal's Visit to the United States
Chapter 14: Rizal in London

After visiting the United States, Rizal lived in London from May 1888 to March 1889. He chose this English City to be his 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. 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 books, 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 his voluminous correspondence with Blumentritt and relatives, and had a romance with Gertrude Beckett.
Chapter 15: Rizal's Second Sojourn in Paris and the Universal Exposition of 1989
Paris in the spring of 1989 was bursting with gaiety and excitement because of the Universal Exposition. Thousands of visitors from all corners of the world crowded every hotel, inn and boarding house. Everywhere in the metropolis the hotel rates and house rents were soaring skyhigh, Rizal, fresh from the social parties and the glittering lights of the city, he continued his fruitful artistic, literary, and patriotic labors. He published his annotated edition of Morga's Sucesos; founded three Filipino societies, the Kidlat Club, the Indios Bravos, and the R.D.L.M.; and wrote Por Telefono, a satire against Fr. Salvador Font.
Chapter 16: In Belgian Brussels

On January 28, 1890, Rizal left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium. Two reasons impelled Rizal to leave Paris, namely: 1. the cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal Exposition 2. the gay social life of the city hampered his literary works, especially the writing on his second novel. His friends were of the belief that he left because he was running away from a girl just as he left London. When he told them that the reason for his leaving Paris was economic because his money was dwindling, Ventura generously invited him to live with hi, in Paris without paying rent. He could not accept Ventura's invitation, for he had a high sense of dignity and would not accept charity from any man.
Early in August 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid. He tried all legal means ti seek justice for his family and the Calamba tenants, but to no avail. Disappointment after disappointment piled on him, until the cross he bore seemed insuperable to carry. He almost fought two duels - one with Antonio Luna and the other one Wenceslao E. Retana. On top of his misfortunes, Leonor Rivera married a British engineer. The infidelity of the girl, with whom he was engaged for eleven years, broke his heart. With resilient strength of character, he survived the bitter pangs of love's disillusionment and continued his mission to redeem his oppressed people.
Chapter 17: Misfortunes in Madrid
Chapter 18: Biarritz Vacation and Romance with Nelly Boustead

To seek solace for his disappointment in Madrid, Rizal took a vacation in the resort city of Biarritz on the fabulous French Riviera. He was a guest of the rich Boustead family at its winter residence Villa Eliada. He had befriend Mr. Eduardo Boustead and his wife and two charming daughters (Adelina and Nellie) in Paris in 1889-90. He used to fence with the Boustead sisters at the studio of Juan Luna and to attend parties at the Boustead Parisian home. It was in Biarritz where he had serious romance with Nellie and finished the last chapter of his second novel, El Filibusterismo.
Chapter 20: Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong

After the publication of El Filibusterismo, Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong, where he lived November, 1891 to June 1892 his reason for leaving Europe were 1. life was unbearable in because of his political differences with M.H del Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain and 2. to be near his idolized Philippines and family.
Before sailing for Hong Kong, he noticed Del Pilar that he was retiring from political arena in Spain in order to preserve unity among the compatriots and that despite their parting ways, he had the highest regard for him.

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Rizal in Abroad

Chapter 6: In Sunny Spain

Chapter 7: Paris to Berlin

Noli Me Tangere was published in Berlin

Rizal's Grand Tour of Europe with Viola

Chapter 11: In Hong Kong and Macao

Romantic Interlude in Japan

Rizal's Visit to the United States

Chapter 14: Rizal in London

Chapter 16: In Belgian Brussels

Chapter 17: Misfortunes in Madrid

Chapter 18: Biarritz Vacation and Romance with Nelly Boustead

Chapter 20: Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong

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