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JOSE RIZAL IN LONDON
After visiting the United States, Rizal lived in London from May 1888 to March 1889.
He chose the English City to be his new home for 3 reasons:
1. To improve my knowledge of the English Language.
2. To study and annotate Morga’s Sucesos de Las Islas Filipinas.
3. London was safe place for me to carry on my fight against Spanish
tyranny.
ANTONIO DE MORGA SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS
TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Rizal was on board the ”SS CITY OF ROME” .
While on
the board, Rizal entertained the American and European
passengers with his marvelous skill of the yoyo as a
defensive weapon
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Liverpool, England Adelphi Hotel
Rizal arrived at Liverpool, England on May 24, 1888
He spent his night at Adelphi Hotel
Rizal wrote to his family:
“Liverpool is a big and beautiful city and its celebrated port is worthy of its
great fame. The entrance is magnificient and the customhouse is quite
good”.
LIFE IN LONDON
By train he arrived at LONDON on May 25, 1888
Upon his arrival, he stopped at Grand Hotel Midland
He stayed as a guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, an 1872
exile and a practicing lawyer
DR. ANTONIO MA. REGIDOR
-He transferred to a private home in No. 37 Chalcot
Crescent, Primrose Hill
-This is owned by the BECKETT FAMILY
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BECKET FAMILY
(Mr. Beckett, an organist of St. Paul’s Church Mrs. Beckett 4 daughters (Gertrude, Balnche, Flory and Grace) 2 sons)
Rizal came to know DR. REINHOLD ROST through a letter from
Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt
Librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Authority on Malayan
language and customs
Called Rizal “a pearl of a man” as he was impressed by his
learning and character
Bad News from Home good News from Home
Persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed REV. VICENTE GARCIA defended the Noli Me
the Anti-Friar Petition 1888 Tangere against the attack of the friars
The Calamba Agrarian Conflict of 1888 in which He heard this news from Mariano Ponce
the tenants, including Rizal’s family, were being On January 7, 1891, Rizal wrote to Father
persecuted by the Dominicans Garcia expressing his personal gratitude
MANUEL T. HIDALGO (husband of Saturnina)
was exiled to Bohol
MARIANO HERBOSA (husband of Lucia) was
denied of Christian burial because of the
malicious rumor that he had not confessed
since marriage
LAUREANO VIADO, a medical student at UST
and a friend of Rizal, was imprisoned because
of owning a copy of Noli Me Tangere
SHORT VISIT TO PARIS AND SPAIN
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BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE ILUSTRADOS
(Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar And Mariano Ponce)
Early in September 1888, Rizal visited Paris for a week in order to search for more historical materials
in the BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE
On December 11, 1888, Rizal went to Madrid and Barcelona in Spain to meet with MARCELO H. DEL
PILAR and MARIANO PONCE
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON
Rizal returned to London on December 24, 1888 and spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve with the
Becketts. He was extremely delighted to experience the holiday season.
He reflected on the meaning of the holiday as it reminded him of memorable days not just from his
childhood but also from history.
“How it shocks me to see some people misuse His name to commit many crimes.”
Rizal sent to Blumentritt as a Christmas gift a bust of Emperor Augustus which he had made
As another present, he sent to Dr. Carlos Czepelak a bust of Julius Caesar
M r s . B e c k e t t , k n o
“The Life and Adventures of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist”
ANNOTATING MORGA’S BOOK
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ANTONIO DE MORGA SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS
Annotating and studying the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (1609) was the main goal of Rizal in the
English capital.
Rizal’s outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication in 1890 of his annotated edition of
Morga’s
Sucesos, which he wrote in the British Museum. It was printed by Garnier Freres. The prologue was
written by Professor Blumentritt upon the request of Rizal.
Rizal 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.
Rizal dedicated his new edition of Morga to the Filipino people so that they would know of
their glorious past.
The title page of Rizal’s annotated edition of Morga reads: “PARIS, LIBERIA DE GARNIER
HERMANOS, 1890”
THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN A CENTURY- article written by Rizal which he expressed his views on
the Spanish colonization in the Philippines and predicted with amazing accuracy the tragic end of
Spain’s sovereignty in Asia
THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS- other essay of Rizal is also a prestigious work of historical
scholarship. It is an able defense of the alleged indolence of the Filipinos
Rizal made a critical study of the causes why his people did not work hard during the Spanish
regime. His main thesis was that the Filipinos are not by nature indolent
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINOLOGISTS- association proposed by Rizal to
establish taking advantage of world attention which was then focused at the Universal Exposition in
1889 in Paris and have its inaugural convention in the French capital
PROJECT FOR FILIPINO COLLEGE IN HONG KONG- another magnificent project of Rizal in
Paris which also fizzled out was his plan to establish a modern college in Hong Kong
POR TELEFONO- another satirical work as a reply to another slanderer, Fr. Salvador Font, who
masterminded the banning of his Noli, in the fall of 1889
- it was published in booklet form in Barcelona, 1889, this satirical pamphlet under the authorship
of “Dimas-Alang” is a witty satire which ridicules Father Font
Shortly after New Year, Rizal made a brief visit to London. It may be due to two reasons:
(1) to check up his annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos with the original copy in the British
Museum
(2) to see Gertrude Beckett for the last time
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RIZAL BECOMES LEADER OF FILIPINOS IN EUROPE
Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad Association) - a patriotic society, which cooperate in the crusade
for reforms, was inaugurated on December 31, 1888, with the following officers:
Galicano Apacible (President);
Graciano Lopez Jaena (Vice President);
Manuel Santa Maria (Secretary);
Mariano Ponce (Treasurer) and
Jose Ma. Panganiban (Accountant)
By unanimous vote of all members, Rizal was chosen honorary president
January 28, 1889- Rizal wrote a letter addressed to the members of the Asociacion La Solidaridad
RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD NEWSPAPER
LA SOLIDARIDAD
On February 15, 1889, Graciano Lopez Jaena founded the
patriotic newspaper called La Solidaridad in Barcelona, Spain.
GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA MARCELO H. DEL PILAR
founded the patriotic newspaper, became the editor of La Solidaridad.
La Solidaridad on February 15, 1889 Also known by his pen name Plaridel.
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OBJECTIVES OF LA SOLIDARIDAD
To work peacefully for political and social reforms.
To portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so that the Spain may remedy them.
To oppose the evil forces of reaction and medievalism.
To advocate liberal ideas and progress.
To champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino people to life, democracy and happiness.
ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN LA SOLIDARIDAD
Rizal’s first article in La Solidaridad was entitled LOS AGRICULTORES FILIPINOS (THE
FILIPINO FARMERS).
It was published on March 25, 1889, six days after he left London for Paris.
Rizal wrote articles for La Solidaridad in defense of his oppressed people and to point out the evils of Spanish
rule in the Philippines
“A La Defensa” (To La Defensa), April 30, 1889- this was a reply to an anti-Filipino writing of a
Spanish author
Patricio de la Escosura which was published by La Defensa on March 30, 1889
“La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth For All), May 31, 1889- Rizal’s defense against the Spanish
charges that the native local officials were ignorant and depraved
“Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo”, June 15, 1889- in this article, Rizal exposes Barrabtes’
ignorance on the Tagalog theatrical art
“Una Profanacion” (A Profanation), July 31, 1889- a bitter attack against the friars for denying
Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa in Calamba because he was a brother-in-law of Rizal. Herbosa,
husband of lucia died of cholera on May 23, 1889
“Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths), July 31, 1889- a reply to Vicente Belloc Sanchez’ letter published
in La Patria, Madrid newspaper, on July 4, 1889, which asserted that the granting of reforms in the
Philippines would ruin the “peaceful and maternal rule” of the friars
“Crueldad” (Cruelty), August 15, 1889- a brilliant defense of Blumentritt from the scutrillous attack
of his enemies
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“Diferencias’ (Differences), September 15, 1889- a reply to a biased article entitled “Old Truths”
published in La Patria on August 14, 1889, which ridiculed those Filipinos who asked for reforms
“Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889- a defense of Antonio Luna against the
attack of Pablo Mir Deas in the Barcelona newspaper El Puieblo Soberano
“Llanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughter), November 30, 1889- a denunciation of Spanish racial
prejudice against brown Filipinos
“Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude), January 15, 1890- a reply to Governor General Valeriano Weyler who,
while visiting Calamba, told the people that they “should not allow themselves to be deceived by the
vain promises of their ungrateful sons.”
Simultaneous with Rizal retirement from the Propaganda Movement, Rizal ceased writing articles for La
Solidaridad
August 7, 1891- M.H. Del Pilar wrote to Rizal begging forgiveness for any resentment and requesting
Rizal to resume writing for the La Solidaridad
Rizal stopped writing for La Solidaridad, it was because of several reasons:
(1) Rizal need to work on his book
(2) He wanted other Filipinos to work also
(3) Rizal considered it very important to the party that there be unity in the work
(4) Marcelo H. del Pilar is already at the top and Rizal also have his own ideas, it is better to
leave del Pilar alone to direct the policy
WRITINGS IN LONDON
While busy in research studies at the British Museum, Rizal received news on Fray Rodriguez’ unabated
attack on his Noli
LA VISION DEL FRAY RODRIGUEZ (THE VISION OF FRAY RODRIGUEZ)-pamphlet wrote
by Rizal which published in Barcelona under his nom-de-plume Dimas Alang in order to defense his
novel
In La Vision del Fray Rodriguez, Rizal demonstrated two things:
(1) his profound knowledge of religion
(2) his biting satire
LETTER TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS- a
famous letter wrote by Rizal on February 22, 1889 in
Tagalog
this letter is to praise the young ladies of Malolos
for their courage to establish a school where they
could learn
He penned it, upon the request of Marcelo del Pilar to
praise the young ladies of Malolos for their courage to
establish a school where they could learn Spanish,
despite the opposition of Fr. Felipe Garcia, a
Spanish parish priest of Malolos
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The main points of this letter were:
(1) a Filipino mother should teach her children love of God, fatherland, and mankind
(2) the Filipino mother should be glad, like the Spartan mother, to offer her sons in the defense of the
fatherland
(3) a Filipino woman should know how to preserve her dignity and honor
(4) a Filipino woman should educate herself, aside from retaining her good racial virtues
(5) Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious pictures, but rather it is living the real
Christian way, with good morals and good manners
DR. REINHOLD FROST, editor of Trubner’s Record, a journal devoted to Asian
studies, requested Rizal to contribute some articles.
In response to his request, Rizal prepared two articles which were
published in June 1889.
1. Specimen of Tagal Folklore
2. Two Eastern Fables
March 19, 1889- Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett Family and left London for
Paris
Before leaving London, Rizal finished four sculptural works:
A COMPOSITE
CARVING OF THE
HEADS OF THE
BECKETT SISTERS
(GAVE AS FAREWELL
GIFT TO THE
BECKETT SISTERS)
PROMETHEUS THE TRIUMPH OF THE TRIUMPH OF
BOUND DEATH OVER LIFE SCIENCE OVER
DEATH
