Module 12

In Belgian Brussels

Misfortunes in Madrid

Prepared by:

Flor A. Docusin
 Learning Objectives:

At the end of this lesson you will be able to:

Describe the life of Rizal’s in Brussels.
Enumerate the articles published in La Solidaridad.
Explain the new orthography of Tagalog language.
Justify Rizal’s preparation to go to Madrid.
Discus Rizal’s misfortunes in Madrid.
Explain why did Rizal abdicates his leadership.
Introduction
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 and (2) the
gay social life of the city hampered his literary works, especially the
writing of his second novel El Filibusterismo.
Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid. He tried all legal means to
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.
Module 12
In Belgian Brussels (1890)
Life in Brussels
In Brussels, Rizal’s was busy writing his second novel which was a
continuation of the Noli. Aside from writing its chapters, he wrote articles
for La Solidaridad and letters to his family and friends. Being a physician,
he spent part of his time in the medical clinic, gymnasium and target
practice and fencing at the armory.
Articles Published in La Solidaridad
1. “A La Defensa (To La Defensa) April 30, 1889.
2. “A La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth for All) May 31, 1889.
3. “Vicente Barrantes”Teatro Tagalo,” June 15, 1889.
4. “Una Profanacion” (A Profanation) July 31, 1889.
5. “Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths) July 31, 1889.
6. “Crueldad” (Cruelty) August 15, 1889.
7. “Differencias” (Differences) September 15, 1889.
8. “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences) November 30, 1889.
9. “Llanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughter) November 30 1889.
10. “Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude) January 15, 1889.
New Orthography of Tagalog Language
He was first to advocate the Filipinization of its orthography.
For instance, the Tagalog letters k and w should be used instead of the
Spanish c and o. Thus the Hispanized Tagalog word salacot (peasant’s head-
gear) should be written salakot and the Hispanized Tagalog term arao be
changed into araw.
When he was in Leipzig, Rizal adopted the Filipinized Tagalog orthography
in his Tagalog translations of Schiller’s Wilhelm Tell and Andersen’s Fairy
Tales and again he used it in his first novel Noli Me Tangere (Berlin, 1887).
“Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala” (The new Orthography of
the Tagalog Language) was published in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1890.
In this article he lad down the rules of the new Tagalog orthography and,
with modesty and sincerity, he gave the credit for the adoption of this new
orthography to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, author of the celebrated
work El Sanscrito en la Lengua Tagala (Sanskrit in the Tagalog Language)
which was published in Paris, 1884.
Rizal’s Criticizes Madrid Filipinos for Gambling
In Brussels, Rizal received news from Juan Luna and Valentin Ventura that
the Filipinos in Spain were destroying the good name of their nation by
gambling too much. These two compatriots in Paris urged him to do
something about it.
May 28, 1890-Rizal wrote to M.H. Del Pilar to remind the Filipinos in
Madrid that they did not come to Europe to gamble, but to work for their
fatherland’s freedom.
The gambling Filipinos in Madrid were angry when they learned of Rizal’s
moralizing. They derisively called him “Papa” (Pope) instead of “Pepe”
Bad News from Home
Letters from home which Rizal received in Brussels worried him. The
Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse.
The management of the Dominican hacienda continually raised the land rents
until such time that Rizal’s father refused to pay his rent. Other tenants,
inspired by Don Francisco’s courage, also refused to pay the unreasonable
rents.
The Dominican Order filed a suit in court to dispossess the Rizal family of
their lands in Calamba. Meanwhile the tenants, including the Rizal family
were persecuted. Paciano and brothers-in-law Antonio Lopez (husband of
Narcisa) and Silvestre Ubaldo (husband of Olympia) were deported to
Mindoro. Another brother-n-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo (husband of Saturnina)
was banished for a second time to Bohol.
Presentiment of Death
In his moment of despair Rizal had bad dreams during the nights in
Brussels when he was always thinking of his unhappy family in Calamba.
Although he was not superstitious, he feared that he would not live long.
He was not afraid to die, but he wanted to finish his second novel before
he went to his grave.
Preparation to Go Home
In the face of the suffering which afflicted his family, Rizal planned to go
home. He could not stay in Brussels writing a book while his parents,
relatives and friends in the distant Philippines were persecuted.
All his friends, including, Blumentritt, Jose Ma. Basa, and Ponce, were
horrified by Rizal’s plan to return to the Philippines. They warned him of
the danger that awaited him at home.
Decision to Go to Madrid
Rizal ignored the dire warning of his friends. No threat of danger could
change his plan.
Something, however, happened that suddenly made him change his mind. It
was a letter from Paciano which related that they lost the case against the
Dominicans in Manila, but they appealed it to the Supreme Court in Spain,
hence a lawyer was needed to handle it in Madrid.
June 20, 1890-Rizal wrote to M. H. Del Pilar retaining the latter’s
services as lawyer. He further informed Del Pilar that he was going to
Madrid, in order to supervise the handling of the case.
July 29, 1890-Rizal announced that he was leaving Brussels at the
beginning of the following month and would arrived in Madrid about
the 3rd and 4th (August)
To My Muse (1890)
It was against a background of mental anguish in Brussels, during
those sad days when he was worried b family disasters that he wrote
his pathetic poem. “A Mi…” (To My Muse).
Romance with Petite Jacoby
Rizal was so charming and dignified a gentleman that Petite Susanne was
attracted to him.
He was lonely in a strange country and Leonor Rivera was so far away.
Naturally being a normal young man, he found certain bliss in the company
of a pretty Belgian girl.
He might have flirted with Petite Susanne, but he could not stoop low to a
deceptive amorous relationship.
Like other women—Segunda Katigbak, Orang Valenzuela, Leonor Rivera,
O-Sei-San, Gettie Beckett, Consuela Ortiga y Perez and the Nellie Bousted
—Suzanne fell in love with Rizal. She cried when he left toward the end of
July 1890 for Madrid, stopping for a few days in Paris.
Misfortunes in Madrid
Failure to Get Justice for Family
Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal immediately sought the help of the Filipino
colony, the Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspapers
(La Justicia, El Globo, La Republica, El Resumen, etc.) in securing justice for
the oppressed Calamba tenants, including his family.
M.H. Del Pilar-who acted as his lawyer.
Dr. Dominador Gomez-secretary of the Asociation Hispano-Filipina)
He called on the Minister of Colonies (Senor Fabie) in order to protest the
injustices committed by governor General Valeriano Weyler and the
Dominicans against the Calamba folks.
Nothing came out of Rizal’s interview with Minister Fabie. As El Resumen,
a Madrid newspaper which sympathized with the Filipino cause, said: “To
cover the ears, open the purse, and fold the arms—this is the Spanish
colonial policy”.
More terrible news reached Rizal in Madrid as he was waging a futile fight
for justice. From his brother-in-law, Silvestre Ubaldo, he received a copy of
the ejectment order by the Dominicans against Francisco Rizal and other
Calamba tenants.
From his sister, Saturnina, he learned of the deportation of Paciano,
Antonio (Lopez), Silvestre (Ubaldo), Teong (Mateo Elorde), and Dandoy
(Dr. Rizal’s relative) to Mindoro; these unfortunate deportees were arrested
in Calamba in Calamba and were shipped out of Manila on September 6,
1890.
He further learned from Saturnina’s letter that their parents had been
forcibly ejected from their home and were then living in the house of
Narcisa (Antonino’s wife).
In his desperation, Rizal sought the aid of the liberal Spanish statesmen,
who were former members of the Ministry, including Becerra and Maura.
Again, he was disappointed, for he was disappointed, for these statesmen
merely gave him honeyed words of sympathy, and nothing else.
Rizal’s Eulogy to Panganiban
Jose Ma. Panganiban-his co-worker in the Propaganda Movement died on
August 19, 1890, after a lingering illness.
Feliciano Gonzales Timbang-another friend and countryman died on
August 19, 1890.
Aborted Duel with Antonio Luna
At that time, Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie
Boustead. Deep in his heart, he was blaming Rizal for his failure to win her,
although Rizal had previously explained to him that he had nothing to do
about it. In a fit of jealousy, which his alcohol-befogged mind could not
control, Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks about Nellie.
The Filipinos were shocked by the incident. They tried to pacify Rizal and
Luna, pointing out to both that such a duel would damage their cause in
Spain.
Luna, when he became sober, realized that he had made a fool of himself
during his drunken state. He apologized for his bad remarks about the girl.
Rizal immediately accepted his apology, and the two became good friends
again.
Rizal Challenges Retana to a Duel
Wenceslao E. Retana-his bitter enemy of the pen.
Retana, a talented Spanish scholar, was then a press agent of the friars in
Spain.
He used to attack the Filipinos, including Rizal, in various newspapers in
Madrid and other cities in Spain.
One day he imprudently wrote an article in La Epoca, an anti-Filipino
newspaper in Madrid, asserting that the family and friends of Rizal had not
paid their rents so that they were ejected from their lands in Calamba by the
Dominicans.
Only Retana’s blood or his apology could vindicate the name of Rizal’s
family and friends.
The incident silenced Retana’s pen against Rizal.
Wenceslao E. Retana-he wrote the first book-length biography of the
greatest Filipino hero, whose talents he came to recognize and whose
martyrdom he glorified.
Infidelity of Leonor Rivera
Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an
Englishman (the choice of her mother) and asking his forgiveness. This
letter was a great blow to him. He was stunned, his eyes dimmed with tears,
and his heart broke.
Rizal-Del Pilar Rivalry
The editorial policy of La Solidaridad under Del Pilar’s management
enhanced the cleavage between Rizal and Del Pilar. Rizal’s and his
close friends objected to the periodical’s editorial policy which was
occasionally contrary to Rizal’s political views.
Rizal Abdicates His Leadership
Having obtained the necessary two-thirds vote, he became the Responsible.
He knew that some of his compatriots who supported Del Pilar despised or
disliked him.
So he preferred to abdicate his leadership rather than be the cause of
disunity and bitterness among his countrymen.
Adios Madrid
Sadly, he packed up his bags, paid his bills, and boarded a train for Biarritz.
Summary
Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert when he moved to Brussels.
There, Rizal became busy writing his second novel which was a
continuation of the Noli. Aside from the hectic schedule wrote articles
for La Solidaridad and letters to his family and friends.
In August of 1890, he arrived in Madrid. He tried all legal means to
seek justice for his family and the Calamba tenants but they were all
to no avail. On top of his misfortune Leonor Rivera, whom he was
engaged for eleven years, broke his heart.