Chapter 1: Advent of a National Hero

The Birth of a Hero

June 19, 1861
birth date of Jose Rizal, born in Calamba, Laguna Province.
June 22, 1862
He was baptized in the Catholic church of his town at the age of 3.
Father Rufino Collantes – baptized Rizal.
Father Pedro Casañas – Rizal's godfather.
Mariano Herbosa– nephew of Casanas who will marry Lucia (Rizal’s sister).
Lieutenant-General Jose Lemary – governor general of the Philippines when Rizal was born.
Meanings of Rizal’s Names
Jose–chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose (St. Joseph).
Protacio—from Gervacio P. which came from a Christian calendar.
Market - adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great-grandfather of Jose
Rizal). The Spanish term “Mercado” means “market” in English.
Rizal – in Spanish means a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again.
Y–and
Alonzo—old surname of his mother.
Realonda – used by Dona Teodora from the surname of her godmother.
Rizal's Parents
Francisco Mercado Rizal
Born on May 11, 1818.
Born in Biñan, Laguna.
Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
June 28, 1848 - he married Teodora.
The youngest of the 13 children of Cirila Alejandro and Juan Mercado.
Teodora Alonzo Realonda
Born on November 09, 1827.
Educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well-known college for girls.
Died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85.
The Rizal Children
1. Saturnina (1850-1913) – oldest of the Rizal children; nicknamed Neneng.
2. Paciano (1851-1930) – older brother and confidant of Jose Rizal; second father of Rizal;
Philosopher, Tasio in Noli Me Tangere.
Narcisa
Olimpia
5. Lucia (1857-1919) – married Mariano Herbosa, who died of cholera in 1889 and was
denied Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Rizal.
Maria
[Link] (1861-1896)–the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius; nickname: Pepe.
8. Concepcion (1862-1865) - pet name: Concha; she died of sickness at the age of 3; her death
was Rizal's first sorrow in life.
9. Josefa (1865-1945)–pet name: Panggoy; died an old maid at the age of 80.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951)–pet name: Trining; also died an old maid at the age of 83.
11. Soledad (1870-1929) - youngest of the Rizal children; pet name: Choleng.
Rizal's Ancestry
 Paternal Side
-Domingo Lamco–great-great grandfather of Rizal; a Chinese immigrant from
Changchow; he was married to a Chinese Christian girl from Manila named Ines de la Rosa
-1731–he adopt the name Mercado meaning Market
- Francisco Mercado - the son of Domingo Lamco; married to Cirila Bernacha.
Juan Mercado - Francisco's son married to Cirila Alejandro.
- Francisco Mercado– youngest son of Juan Mercado; Rizal’s father.
Maternal Side
LakanDula – descendant; last native king of Tondo.
Eugenio Ursua – great-great grandfather of Rizal; Japanese married to a Filipina named Benigna.
Regina–daughter of Eugenio, married Manuel de Quintos (Filipino-Chinese lawyer).
Brigida–daughter of Regina who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso (Spanish-Filipino mestizo).

Chapter 2: Childhood Years in Calamba

Earliest Childhood Memories

The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the family garden when
He was 3 years old. He was given the tenderest care by his parents because he was frail.
sickly, and
undersized.
His father built a little nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in during the daytime.
A aya (nurse maid), a kind old woman, was employed to look after him.
He watched from the cottage, the culiauan, maya, mariacapra, & martin pitpit and other
birds and listened with "wonder and joy" to the twilight songs.
The daily Angelus prayer.
The happy moonlit nights at the rooftop after the nightly Rosary.
The imaginary tales told by the aya aroused Rizal’s interest in legends and folklore.
The aya would threaten Rizal with asuang, nuno, tigbalang, or a terrible bearded and
the turbaned Bombay would come to take him away if he would not eat his supper.
The nocturnal walk in the town, especially when there was a moon, with his aya by the river.
The Hero’s First Sorrow
Death of LittleConcha (Concepcion) "When I was four years old," he said, "I lost my
little sister Concha, and then for the first time I shed tears caused by love and grief…
Devoted Son of the Church
Young Rizal is a religious boy. He grew up a good Catholic. At the age of 3, he began
to take part in the family prayer. His mother taught him the Catholic prayers.
At 5 years old, he was able to read the Spanish family bible.
He was so seriously devout that he was laughingly called Manong Jose by the
Brothers & Sisters Third.
Father Leoncio Lopez, town priest, one of the men he esteemed and respected in Calamba
during his boyhood.
Pilgrimage to Antipolo
June 06, 1868.
Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo.
 First trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay and his first pilgrimage to Antipolo. They rode in
a Casco(barge). He was awed by 'The magnificence of the water expanse and the silence
of the night”. After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father
went to Manila and visited Saturnina, who was then a boarding student at La Concordia
College in Santa Ana.
Artistic Talents
At the age of 5, he started making sketches with his pencil and molding objects in clay and wax.
which attracted his fancy.
At the age of 6, his sisters laughed at him for spending so much time making those images instead.
than participating in their games. He told them, 'All right, laugh at me now! Someday'
When I die, people will make monuments and images of me!
First Poem by Rizal
At the age of 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled 'To My Fellow Youth'.
(To MyFellow Children). He wrote it in an appeal to our people to love our national
language.
First Drama by Rizal
At the age of 8, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog comedy. It was staged.
In a Calamba festival, a gobernadorcillo from Paete purchased the manuscript for 2 pesos.
Chapter 3: Early Education in Calamba and Biñan
The Hero’s First Teacher
Dona Teodora, his mother, was his first teacher.
Private tutors: Maestro Celestino (first tutor) and Maestro Lucas Padua (second tutor).
Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal's father, became the hero's tutor in Spanish.
and Latin.
Jose Goes to Biñan
After Monroy’s death, Rizal’s parents decided to send him to a private school in Binan.
June 1869
Jose left Calamba for Binan with Paciano.
Carriage – their mode of transportation.
Aunt’s House – where Jose lodges.
First Day in Biñan School
Master Justiniano Aquino Cruz–owner and teacher of the school.
Rizal described Maestro Justiniano as 'tall, thin, long-necked, and sharp-nosed with a'
body slightly bent forward.
End of Biñan Schooling
December 17, 1870
Jose left Binan using the steamer Talim for Calamba.
Arturo Camps, a Frenchman and a friend of his father, who took care of him during his trip.

Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za
January 20, 1872
Cavite Mutiny.
February 17, 1872
Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora were implicated and executed.
The GOMBURZA were leaders of the secularization movement.
 The martyrdom of the 3 priests inspired Rizal to fight the evils of Spanish tyranny.
Paciano quit his studies at the College of San Jose and returned to Calamba, where he
told the heroic story of Burgos to Rizal.
In 1891
Rizal dedicated his second novel El Filibusterismo to GOMBURZA.
Injustice to the Hero’s Mother
In 1872,
Dona Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that she aided her brother Jose.
Alberto is trying to poison his wife. Jose Alberto planned to divorce his wife because of
her infidelity. His wife connived with the Spanish lieutenant of the Civil Guard and
filed a case against Rizal’s mother.
Antonio Vivencio del Rosario
the little governor of Calamba, helped the lieutenant arrest Dona Teodora.

50 kilometers
Dona Teodora was made to walk from Calamba to the provincial prison in Santa Cruz.
Don Francisco de Mercaida and Don Manuel Marzan
most famous lawyers of Manila, defended Dona Teodora in court.
After 2 years the Royal Audiencia acquitted Dona Teodora.
Chapter 4: Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872-1877)
Municipal Ateneo
Bitter rival of the Dominican
owned College of San Juan de Letran.
Formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity School)
for poor boys in Manila established in 1817.
In 1859,
name was changed to Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits and later became the Ateneo
from Manila.
Rizal Enters the Ateneo
June 10, 1872
Jose, accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila to take the entrance examination.
Christian Doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at the College of San Juan de Letran, and passed
His father was the first one who wished him to study at Letran but he changed his mind.
mind and decided to send Jose to Ateneo instead.
Father Magin Fernando
The college registrar of Ateneo Municipal refused to admit Jose because: (1) he was late for
registration and (2) he was sickly and undersized for his age (11 years old).
Manuel Xerez Burgos
nephew of Father Burgos; upon his intercession, Jose Rizal was admitted at Ateneo.
Jose used Rizal instead of Mercado because the name 'Mercado' had come under suspicion of
the Spanish authorities. Boarded in a house on Caraballo Street, owned by Titay who owed Rizal
family 300 pesos.
Rizal's First Year in Ateneo (1872-73)
June 1872
first day of class in Ateneo.
Fr. Jose Bech
 first professor of Rizal. Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class since he was a
newcomer and knows little Spanish. He was an extern and was assigned to
Carthaginians. At the end of the month, he became emperor of his Empire. He was the
brightest pupil in the whole class. Took private lessons in Santa Isabel College and paid 3
pesos for extra Spanish lessons.
Placed 2nd at the end of the year, although all his grades were still marked Excellent.
Summer Vacation (1873)
March 1873
Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation.
His sister Neneng (Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan to cheer him up. Visited his
mother in prison at Santa Cruz without telling his father. After vacation, he returned to
Manila for his 2nd year term in Ateneo. Boarded inside Intramuros at No. 8 Magallanes
Street.
Dona Pepay - proprietress and old widow with a widowed daughter and four sons
Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74)
Rizal lost the leadership but he repented and even studied harder, once more he became
emperor. He received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal. He had 3
classmates from Binan who had also been his classmates in the school of
Maestro Justiniano.
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75)
Shortly after the opening of classes, his mother was released from prison.
Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies. He failed to win the medal in
Spanish because his spoken was not fluently sonorous.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76)
June 16, 1875
he became an inferno in Ateneo.
Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez
inspired him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal described him as a "model of"
uprightness, earnestness, and love for the advancement of his pupils.” He returned to
Calamba with 5 medals and excellent ratings.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
June 1876
last year of Rizal in Ateneo. The most brilliant Atenean of his time, “the pride of the
Jesuits. Obtained highest grades in all subjects.
Graduation with Highest Honors
Excellent scholastic records from 1872-1877.
March 23, 1877
Commencement Day. 16 year old Rizal received from his Alma Mater the degree of
Bachelor of Arts with highest honors.
Poems Written in Ateneo
My First Inspiration
first poem he wrote for his mother's birthday.
In 1875
inspired by Father Sanchez, he wrote more poems such as: Felicitation.
The Departure Hymn to Magellan’s fleet
 And in Spanish: Elcano, the first to circumnavigate the world), and The Combat: Urbiztondo
Terror of Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo).
In 1876
A Memory of My Town
Town), Intimate Alliance Between the Region and Good Education (Intimate Alliance
Between Religion and Good Education, For Education Brings Glory to the Homeland
(Through Education the Country Receives Light), E Cultivero Y El Triunfo (The Captivity)
and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the Imprisonment of Boabdil), and La
Triumphal Entry of the Catholic Monarchs into Granada
Catholic Monarchs into Granada.
A year later, in 1877
He wrote more poems: The Heroism of Columbus, Columbus and Juan
II (Columbus and John II), Great Solace in Great Misfortune
Misfortune and A Dialog Allusive to the Farewell of the Schoolmates
Dialogue of the Students.

Dramatic Work in Ateneo

Father Sanchez, his favorite teacher, asked him to write a drama based on the prose story of
St. Eustace the Martyr.
Summer 1876 in Calamba
He wrote the religious drama in poetic verses.
June 02, 1876
finished the manuscript. He submitted the finished manuscript entitled 'San Eustacio,'
Martyr” (St. Eustace, the Martyr) to Father Sanchez in his last academic year at Ateneo.
First Romance of Rizal
16 years old
Rizal experienced his first romance.
SegundaKatigba - a pretty 14-year-old Batanguena from Lipa; sister of his friend Mariano
Katigbak. His sister Olimpia was a close friend of Segunda at La Concordia College. Segunda
was already engaged to Manuel Luz. His first romance was ruined by his own shyness.
and reserve. Segunda returned to Lipa and later married Manuel Luz. Rizal remained in
Calamba, a frustrated lover, cherishing nostalgic memories of lost love.

Chapter 5: Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

Mother's Opposition to Higher Education
Dona Teodora opposed the idea of sending Rizal to UST to pursue higher education.
education because she knew what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and the Spaniards might
Cut off his head if he gets to know more. Rizal was surprised by his mother’s opposition.
who was a woman of education and culture. Despite his mother's tears, Don Francisco
told Paciano to accompany Rizal to Manila.

Rizal Enters the University

April 1877
Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas.
 He enrolled in UST taking up Philosophy and Letters for two reasons: (1) his father liked
he was “still uncertain as to what career to pursue” He asked the advice of Father
Pablo Ramon (Rector of the Ateneo) on what career to choose but Father Recto was in
Mindanao so he was unable to advise Rizal.
First-year Term (1877-78)
Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy. Ateneo
Rector’s advice study medicine; reason: to be able to cure his mother’s
growing blindness.
Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied at Ateneo. He took the vocational
course leading to the title of “expert surveyor”. Colleges for boys in Manila
offered vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and surveying.
He excelled in all subjects in the surveying course obtaining gold medals in agriculture.
and topography.
At the age of 17, he passed the final examination in the surveying course.
November 25, 1881
he was granted the title as surveyor. Because of his loyalty to Ateneo, he continued to
participate actively in the Ateneo's extra-curricular activities. He was president of the
Academy of Spanish Literature and secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Romances with Other Girls
Miss L
Fair with seductive and attractive eyes.
Romance died a natural death.
2 Reasons for his change of heart: (1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in
his heart and (2) his father did not like the family of 'Miss L'.
Leonor Valenzuela
Daughter of the next-door neighbors of Dona Concha Leyva (her house is where Rizal
boarded). Tall girl with a regal bearing.
Orang
Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible ink. This ink consisted of common table salt.
and water. He taught Orang the secret of reading any note written in invisible ink by
heating it over a candle or lamp so that the words may appear.
Leonor Rivera
Rizal’s cousin from Camiling.
Born in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11, 1867.
A student of La Concordia College where Rizal's youngest sister, Soledad, was then.
studying. Frail, pretty girl 'tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes'. They
became engaged.
In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as 'Taimis', in order to camouflage.
their intimate relationship from their parents and friends.
Rizal lived in: Casa Tomasina No. 6 Santo Tomas Street, Intramuros Antonio Rivero–
Rizal's landlord-uncle is the father of Leonor Rivera.
To the Filipino Youth
Artistic-Literary Lyceum of Manila society of literary men and
artists held a literary contest.
 At the age of 18, Rizal submitted his poem entitled To the Filipino Youth.
Filipino Youth.
The Board of Judges
composed of Spaniards; gave the first prize to Rizal which consisted of a silver pen,
feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon. Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to
rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than the wind and descend with art and
science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of people.
Reasons why Rizal’s poem was a classic in Philippine Literature: (1) it was the first great
poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary
authorities and (2) it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos
were the "fair hope of the Fatherland".
The Council of the Gods (1880)
Artistic-Literary Lyceum
opened another literary contest for both Filipinos and Spaniards to commemorate the
fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and famous
author of Don Quixote. Rizal submitted an allegorical drama entitled The Council of the
Gods (The Council of the Gods) and he received the first prize, a gold ring on which
the bust of Cervantes was engraved.
Other Literary Works
Beside the Pasig
a zarzuela which was staged by the Ateneans on

December 08, 1880

on the annual celebration of the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception
(Patrons of the Ateneo).
The Philippines (1880)
a sonnet he wrote for the album of the Society of Sculptors.
Abd-el-Azis (1879)
a poem declaimed by Manuel Fernandez on the night of December 08, 1879 in honor of
the Patroness of Ateneo.
The M.R.P. Pablo Ramon (1881)
a poem he wrote as an expression of affection to Father PabloRamon.
Rizal’s Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan
Summer of May 1881
Rizal went on a pilgrimage to the town of Pakil, famous for the shrine of the Virgin Mary of the Lake.
Dolores. He was accompanied by his sisters—Saturnina, Maria, and Trinidad and their
female friends. They took a casco (flat-bottom sailing vessel) from Calamba to Pakil.
Laguna, and stayed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Regalado, whose son Nicolas
was Rizal's friend in Manila. Rizal and his companions were fascinated by the famous
turumba (people dancing in the streets during the procession in honor of the miraculous
Virgin Mary of Sorrows) Rizal was infatuated with a pretty schoolgirl,
Vicenta Ybardolaza, who skillfully played the harp at the Regalado home. Reasons why
Rizal and his company made a side trip to the neighboring town of Pagsanjan: (1) it was
the native town of Leonor Valenzuela and (2) to see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls.
Champion of Filipino Students
In 1880
 Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of Santo Tomas
called "Compaderismo" (Comradeship), whose members were called "Companions of
Jehu, after the valiant Hebrew general who fought the Arameans.
Chapter 6: In Sunny Spain 1882-1885
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 Filipinos
students, decided to complete his studies in Spain.
Rizal’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities.
and the friars. Even his parents did not know because he knew they, especially his
mother, would not allow him to go.
On May 3, 1882
Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore. With tears
in his eyes and gloom in his heart, he gazed at the receding skyline of Manila. He hastily
took a paper and pencil and sketched it as it vanished from view.
During the voyage to Singapore, he carefully observed the people and things on board the ship.
steamer.
On May 8, 1882
while the steamer was approaching Singapore, Rizal saw a beautiful island. Fascinated
by its scenic beauty, he remembered 'Talim Island with the Susong Dalaga'.
The following day, May 9, the Salvadora docked at Singapore. Rizal landed, registered.
at Hotel de la Paz, and spent two days on a sightseeing soiree of the city, which was a
colony of England.
In Singapore, Rizal transferred to another ship Djemnah, a French steamer, which left
Singapore for Europe on May 11. It was a larger and cleaner vessel which carried more
passengers.
On the afternoon of May 15
Rizal left Marseilles by train for the last leg of his journey to Spain. He crossed the Pyrenees.
and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port Bou. Here he noticed the indifference
granted by the Spanish immigration officers to tourists, in direct contrast with the
courtesy of the French immigration officers.
On May 17
theDjemnah reached point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Rizal was unimpressed by this town.
On June 11
From Port Said, the Djemnah proceeded on its way to Europe. Rizal reached Naples.
This Italian city pleased him because of its business activity, its lively people, and its
panoramic beauty. He was fascinated by Mount Vesuvius, the Castle of St. Telmo, and
other historic sights of the city.
On the night of June 12
the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles. Rizal, after bidding farewell to
his fellow passengers, disembarked. He visited the famous Chateau d’If, where Dantes,
hero of The Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned. He had enjoyed reading this novel
of Alexander Dumas when he was a student at the Ateneo. He stayed two and a half days.
in Marseilles, enjoying every day of his sojourn.
 Barcelona on June 16, 1882.
After the passport inspection at Port Bou, Rizal continued his trip by rail, finally
reaching his destination
On November 3, 1882
Rizal enrolled in the Central University of Madrid in two courses–Medicine and
Philosophy and Letters.
December 31, 1882
he wrote a poem entitled “They Ask Me For Verses” which he
personally declared during the New Year’s Eve reception held in the evening.
Rizal's first visit to Paris (1883)
During his first summer vacation in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris, sojourning in this gay.
capital of France from June 17 to August 20, 1883.
On November 20, 21 and 22, 1884
The serene city of Madrid exploded in bloody riots by the students of the Central
University. Rizal and other Filipino students participated, together with Cuban, Mexican,
Peruvian and Spanish students in the tumult.
June 21, 1884
Rizal completed his Medical studies in Spain. He was conferred the degree of Licentiate.
in Medicine by the Central University of Madrid
June 19, 1885 (his 24th birthday)
Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters, with higher grades. He was
awarded the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters.
Chapter 7: Paris to Berlin 1885-87
In Gay Paris (1885-1886)
shortly after terminating his studies at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who was
then 24 years old and already a physician, went to Paris in order to acquire more
knowledge in ophthalmology.
In November 1885
Rizal was living in Paris, where he sojourned for about four months. He worked as an
to Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906), leading French ophthalmologist, from
November 1885 to February 1886.
On February 3, 1886
he arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and
romantic surroundings. The beautiful spring flowers reminded him of the blooming
flowers at the garden of his home Calamba. In his mood of homesickness, he wrote on
April 22, 1886, a fine poem 'To The Flowers of Heidelberg'
Heidelberg.
July 31, 1886
Rizal wrote his first letter in German (which he had improved after his stay with the
Ullmers).
On August 9, 1886
three days after the fifth centenary celebration of the University of Heidelberg, Rizal left
the city. He boarded a train, visited various cities of Germany and arrived in Leipzig on
August 14, 1886.
On October 29
 he left Leipzig for Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum. In the morning of November 1, Rizal left
Dresden by train reaching Berlin in the evening.
Chapter 8: Noli Me Tangere Published in Berlin(1887)
Rizal spent winters in many temperate countries. The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his
darkest winter. During this bleak winter, he lived in poverty because no money arrived
from Calamba and he was flat broke.
On February 21, 1887
the Noli 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.
On March 21, 1887
the Noli Me Tangere came off the press. Rizal immediately sent the first copies of the
printed novel to his intimate friends.
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
to my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read my work–
Jose Rizal.
In London, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, a 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 congratulated Rizal, saying: “if the Quixote immortalizes its author because it exposes to
the world the ailments of Spain, your Noli Me Tangere will bring you an equal glory.
With your 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 incapable of producing great intellects are
mistaken or lying.
CHAPTER 9: RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH TOUR
1887
THE TOURS BEGIN
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. Their destination was Dresden, “one of the
best cities in Germany.
DRESDEN
Their visit coincided with the regional floral exposition Rizal impressed by a
Painting of 'Prometheus Bound' and recalled seeing a representation of the same.
idea in an art gallery in Paris.
FIRST MEETING WITH BLUMENTRITT
May 13, 1887
The train with Rizal and Viola on board arrived at the railroad of Leitmeritz.
Bohemia. For the first time, the two great scholars - Rizal and Blumentritt - who
 came to each other by correspondence, met in person. They are German. Blumentritt
Austrian professor.
BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF LEITMERITZ
Rizal had beautiful memories of his visit to Leitmeritz. He enjoyed the warm
hospitality of the Blumentritt family. Professor's wife Rosa was a good look.
PRAGUE
Rizal and Viola visited the historic city of Prague. They carried letters of
recommendation from Blumentritt to Dr. Willkomm, professor of natural history
at the university of Prague.
VIENNA
May 20
Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, capital of Austria.
Hungary. Famous in song and story, this city fascinates Rizal because of its
beautiful buildings, religious images, hunting waltzes, and majestic charm.

DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ

May 24
Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the beautiful sights of the
Danube river.
LINTZ TO RHEINFALL
Voyage ended in Lintz. They travelled overland to Salzburg, and from there to
Munich where they stay for a short time.
CROSSING THE FRONTIER TO SWITZERLAND
They crossed the frontier to Schaffhausen, Switzerland. They stayed in that city from June.
2-3 1887, they continue their bale, Bern, Lausanne.
RIZAL RESENTS EXHIBITION OF IGOROTS IN 1887 MADRID
EXPOSITION
Accompanied by Dr. Viola, was happily touring Europe an exposition of the
Philippines was held in Madrid.
Rizal in Madrid
From Geneva, Rizal went to Italy. He visited Turin, Milan, Venice, and Florence.
June 27, 1887, he reached Rome, the eternal city and also called the city of the
caesars.
CHAPTER 10: FIRST HOMECOMING1887-88
All the alluring beauties of foreign countries and all the beautiful memories of his
sojourn in alien lands could neither make Rizal for his fatherland nor turn his back
to his own nationality. True that he studied abroad, acquired the love 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.
August 1887
Thus, after five years of memorable sojourn in Europe, he returned to the
Philippines and practiced 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 to return home. But he
did not heed their warnings. He was determined to return to the Philippines for the following
reasons:
to operate on his mother's eyes;
to serve his people who had long been oppressed by the Spanish tyrants;
(3) to find out for himself how Noli and his other writings were affecting the Filipinos and
Spaniards in the Philippines: and
to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent.
In a letter to Blumentritt, written in Geneva on June 19, 1887, Rizal said: “Your
The 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 a wilderness.
My parents want to see me, and I want to see them too. All my life I have desired to
I live in my country by the side of my family. Until now I have not been 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," he wrote, "I shall embark for our country, so that from 15th to the 30th of
August, we shall see each other.
Delightful Trip to Manila
July 3, 1887
Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French port, which he researched without
mishap. He boarded the streamer Djemnah, the same streamer which brought him to
Europe five years ago. There were about 50 passengers, including 4 Englishmen, 2
Germans, 3 Chinese, 2 Japanese, 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 Streamer 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.
On July 30
Some passengers sang: others played on the piano and accordion. After leaving Aden, the
The weather became rough and some of Rizal's books got wet. In Saigon,

On August 2
he transferred to another streamer Haiphong which was Manila-bound, this streamer left
Saigon to Manila.
Arrival in Manila
On August 3rd
Rizal's voyage from Saigon to Manila was pleasant. The moon was full, and he slept.
soundly the whole night. The calm sea, illumined by the silvery moonlight, was 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 road, the same boats on the Pasig River, and
the same heavy 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 is 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 over Rizal's return were done, and his family became worried for his safety. Paciano did
not leave him the first day of his 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,
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. mother did not like him for a son-
in-law. With a heavy heart, Rizal bowed to his parent's wish.
Calamba's Agrarian 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.
Dominican Order owned since 1883. In compliance with the governor general’s orders,

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.
January 8, 1888
Rizal wrote down his findings for the tenants and three of the officials of the hacienda.
CHAPTER 11: IN HONG KONG AND MACAU
February 1888
Rizal forced to leave his country for a second time. He was then 27 years of age.
practicing physician and a recognized man of letters.
JUNE 1882
Rizal went abroad for the first time as a mere lad of 21.
RIZAL’S TRIP IN HONG KONG
February 3, 1888
Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was so sad during the choppy conditions.
China Sea.
 Rizal mentioned two reasons why he did not disembark from his ship during its brief stopover at Amoy.
February 7;
He is not feeling well.
It was raining hard
c. He heard that the city was dirty
February 16, 1888
During his day in Hong Kong, a British colony, Rizal wrote to Blumentritt that dated
expressing his bitterness.
February 16, 1888
Rizal stayed in Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino residents including
josemariaBasa, Balbino Mauricio and Manuel Yriarte (son of Francisco Yriarte, mayor
mayor of Laguna) A Spaniard, Jose Sainz de Varanda, who was former secretary of
Governor General Terrero, shadowed Rizal's movement in Hong Kong. 'Hong Kong' wrote
Rizal to Blumentritt is a small very clean city. There are some Filipinos the majority of.
whom being those who had been exiled to the Marianas Islands in 1872.

CHAPTER 12: ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)

One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was his sojourn in the land of cherry.
blossom for one month and the natural beauty of Japan.
He also fell in love with a Japanese girl, whose loveliness infused joy and romance into his life.
sorrowing heart named O-sei-san. Her real name was Seiko Usui. But he had sacrificed
his own happiness to carry on his work for the redemption of his oppressed people.

RIZALS IN TOKYO
February 28, 1888
Rizal arrived in Yokohama and he registered in the Grand Hotel. The next day he proceeded.
to Tokyo and took a room. He wrote to prof. Blumentritt 'Tokyo is more expensive than
Paris. The walls are built in a cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide.
After Rizal's arrival in Tokyo, he was visited by Juan Perez Caballero, secretary of
Spanish legation and later invited him to live at the Spanish Legation
He accepted it for two reasons:
. He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation.
. b. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
March 7
Rizal checked out of the Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish Legation. He and Perez
Caballero became a good friend. In a letter to Blumentritt, he described a Spanish diplomat.
as a "young, fine, and excellent writer and an able diplomat who had traveled much.
During his first time in Tokyo he was embarrassed because he did not know the Japanese.
He had a hard time shopping as he could understand. He looks like a Japanese.
but he could not talk Japanese. He also wrote this to Blumentritt.
To avoid further embarrassment, Rizal decided to study the Japanese language and him
able to speak it in a few days. He also studied the Japanese drama (kabuki), arts, music
and judo (Japanese art of self-defense)
RIZAL AND THE TOKYO MUSICIANS
March 1888
 Rizal was walking in a street of Tokyo with a band playing a classical work of Strauss.
impressed and stopped to listen in rapt attention and thought 'how admirable was the
rendition. I wonder how these Japanese people have assimilated the modern European
music to the extent of playing beautiful musical masterpieces of the great European
composers so well!
Rizal on O-SEI-SAN
Rizal's great love for O Sei San is attested by the hero's diary.

Rizal's impression of Japan

He was favorably impressed by Japan. He was just a silly, lightheaded tourist who merely
enjoys attractive sights that appeal only to the senses. The things that he favors
impressed Rizal in Japan:
The beauty of the country - flowers, mountains, streams, and scenic panoramas
The cleanliness, politeness, and the industry of the Japanese people.
The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese people
There were very few thieves in Japan, so the houses remained open day and night.
Night, and in the hotel room could safely leave money on the table.
Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets, unlike in Manila and other cities.
ROMANCE WITH OSEI-SAN
Rizal saw a beautiful Japanese girl walking past the Spanish Legation that moved him.
was attracted by her legal loveliness and charm. O-sei-san was a lonely samurai’s
23-year-old daughter who has never experienced the ecstasy of true love.
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 see the land of cherry blossoms again.
blossoms and his beloved loved o-sei san. Years after Rizal's execution, o-sei-san married
to Mr. Alfred Charlton, a British teacher of chemistry in Peers School and has a daughter
named Yuriko.

CHAPTER 13: RIZAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 28, 1888
When he saw America for the first time.
May 4, 1888
he registered at the Palace Hotel which was considered a first class hotel in the city. Rizal
mentioned in his diary the Leland Stanford, who was a millionaire senator representing
California in the U.S. Senate at that time.

RIZAL IN NEW YORK

May 13
Rizal reached New York, ending his trip in America; he stayed 3 days in that city.
On May 16, 1888, Rizal left New York for Liverpool on board the City of Rome. It is the second.
largest ship in the world according to Rizal.

CHAPTER 14: RIZAL IN LONDON

 Rizal lived in London from May 1888 to March 1889. He chose this English city to be
his new home for three reasons:
Improve his knowledge of the English language. Study and annotate Morga's events.
the Philippines, a rare copy of which he heard to be available in the British Museum.
London was safe for him to carry on his fight against the Spanish tyranny.
LIFE IN LONDON
May 15, 1888
Rizal went to London, he stayed as a guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor.
found a modest boarding place at no. 37 Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill. He was a boarder
of the Beckett family. Mr. Beckett was an organist in St. Paul’s church. He met Dr.
Reinhold Rost, the librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an authority on Malayan.
languages and customs. He called Rizal a pearl of a man
ROMANCE GERTRUDE BECKETT
Rizal had a romantic interlude with the oldest of the three Beckett sisters - Gertrude.
was a buxom English girl with brown hair, blue eyes, and rosy cheeks. She fell in love with
Rizal..their friendship drifted towards romance. Rizal affectionately called her Ghettie in
reciprocation, she called him pettie
NEWS FROM HOME GOOD AND BAD
One good news cheered Rizal, and that was Rev. Vicente Garcia's defense of the noli.
against the attacks of the friars. The bad news was the injustice committed by the Spanish
authorities on the Filipino people and Rizal's family.
ANNOTATING MORGAS BOOK
The biggest achievement of Rizal in London was the annotating of Morga’s Book. Successes.
of the Philippine Islands (Historical events of the Philippine Islands) was published in Mexico
in 1609

SHORT VISIT TO PARIS AND SPAIN

September 1888
Rizal visited for a week in order to search for more historical materials in
National Library.
December 11, 1888
he went to Spain visiting Madrid and Barcelona
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON
December 24
Rizal returned to London and spent Christmas and New Year's with the Beckett family.
FIRST ARTICLE IN LA SOLIDARIDAD
The first article in la Solidaridad was entitled Filipino Farmers that published
on March 25, 1889 six days after he left London for Paris.
WRITINGS IN LONDON
Rizal, busy in research studies at the British Museum, received news about Fray.
Rodriquez unabated attack on his Noli. He wrote THE VISION OF FRAY.
RODRIQUEZ (THE VISION OF FRAY RODRIQUEZ that published in Barcelona
under his pen name Dimas Alang.
Demonstrated two things
 His profound knowledge of religion
His biting satire
LETTER TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS
THE MAIN POINTS OF THIS LETTER
A Filipino should teach her children love of God, fatherland, and mankind.
A Filipino should know how to preserve her dignity and honor.
A Filipino woman should educate herself, aside from retaining her good racial
virtues
Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious pictures, but rather
It is living the real Christian way, good morals and good manners.
Rizal becomes leader of Filipinos in Europe
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 association La solidaridad
solidarity association) that inaugurated on December 31, 1888 with the following officers
• Galicano Apacible - President
• Graciano Lopez Jeana - vice president
• Manuel Santa Maria - secretary
• Mariano Ponce - Treasurer
• Jose Ma. Panganiban
RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD NEWSPAPER
February 15, 1889
Graciano Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newspaper called La Solidaridad.
AIMS:
To work peacefully for political and social reforms;
They portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so that Spain may remedy them;
To force the evil forces of the reaction and medievalism;
To advocate liberal ideas and progress; To champion the legitimate aspirations of the
Filipino people to life democracy and happiness
GOODBYE, LONDON
May 19, 1889
Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett family (particularly Gertrude) and left London
for Paris.
CHAPTER 15: RIZAL'S SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS AND
UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION OF 1889
DIFFICULTY OF FINDING QUARTERS
March 1889
It was extremely difficult for a visitor to find living quarters in Paris.
The exposition of 1889, which was scheduled to open on May 6, 1889, attracted thousands of
tourist so that all hotel accommodations were taken.
For a short time, Rizal lived in the house of his friend Valentin Ventura, at no. 45 Rue.
Maubeuge, where he polished his annotated edition of Morgas' book.
BRAVE INDIANS
Rizal and the members of the Kidlat Club were amazed to see the buffalo bull show which
featured the American Indians. Thus was born a new society of Filipino patriots in
[Link] Brave Indians
R.D.L.M. SOCIETY
 Mysterious society R.D.L.M. Many biographers of Rizal do not mention it. The letters.
R.D.L.M. are believed to be the initials of the society’s secret name redemption of the
Malayos (Redemption of the Malays) Of the numerous letters written by Rizal and his
fellow propagandist, only two mentioned these secret society.
Rizal's letter to Jose Ma. Basa, Paris, September 21, 1889.
Rizal's letter to Marcelo H. Del Pilar, November 4, 1889
ANNOTATED EDITION OF MORGA PUBLISHED
Rizal's outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication in 1890 of his annotated
edition of Morga'Events which he wrote in British Museum.
RIZAL’S ERROR
Rizal commits the error of many historians in appraising the events of the past in the light
of present standards
Rizal's attack on the church was unfair and unjustified because of the abuses of the friars.
should not be construed to mean that Catholicism is bad.
RIZAL AS HISTORIAN
Research studies in the British Museum (London) and in the
National Library. His knowledge of foreign languages enabled Rizal to read
historical documents and books in the languages in which they were originally written.
aside from his excellent annotation on Morga's book, Rizal wrote other works which
qualify him to be a real historian.
THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN THE CENTURY
In this article, Rizal expressed his views on the Spanish colonization in the
Philippines and predicted with amazing accuracy the tragic end of Spain's
sovereignty in Asia.
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.
BY PHONE
Published in booklet form in Barcelona 1889. Rizal received the printed copies.
from Mariano Ponce, as revealed by his letter to the latter, dated Paris, August 13,
1889. This pamphlet is under the authorship of Dimasalang (one of Rizal's pen names).
names.)
CHRISTMAS IN PARIS
December 25, 1889
It was a wintry day in Paris, Rizal and Jose Albert who were living frugally in a
small room occupied by Captain Justo Trinidad, planned to have a sumptuous
Christmas dinner.

REASONS WHY RIZAL MADE A BRIEF VISIT IN LONDON;

To check annotated edition of MorgasSucesos with the original copy in the British Museum
To see Gertrude Beckett for the last time.
January 1890
he was back in paris and complained of a terrible headache.
Chapter 16: In Belgian Brussels
January 28, 1890
 Rizal left Paris for Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
Two reasons impelled Rizal to leave Paris, namely:
The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal explosion and
2. The gay social life of the city hampered his literary works, especially the
writing of his 2nd novel THE FILIBUSTERISM.
Articles published in La Solidaridad
April 30, 1889
To La Defensa 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.
May 31, 1889
The Truth For All Rizal's defense against the Spanish charge that the
native local officials were ignorant and depraved.
June 15, 1889
Vicente Barrantes, in this article, Rizal exposes Barrantes' ignorance on the
Tagalog theatrical art.
July 31, 1889
A bitter attack against the friars for denying Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa in
Calamba because he was the brother-in-law of Rizal. Herbosa, husband of Lucia, died of
Cholera on May 23, 1889.
July 31, 1889
'New Truths' a reply to Vicente Belloc Sanchez letter published in La
Patria, Madrid newspaper.
July 4, 1889
Asserted the granting of reforms in the Philippines would ruin the 'peaceful and maternal.
rule of the friars.

August 15, 1889

'CRUELTY' (cruelty) a brilliant defense of Blumentritt from the scurrilous attacks of
his enemies.
September 15, 1889
‘differences’ 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.
November 30, 1889
Inconsequences A defense of Antonio Luna against the attack of
Pablo Mir Dias in the Barcelona newspaper El Pueblo Soberano.
Liantos y Risas (Tears and Laughter) a denunciation of Spanish racial prejudice against
the brown Filipinos.
January 15, 1890
"Ingratitudes" (ingratitudes) a reply to Governor General Valeriano Weyler who, while
visiting in Calamba, told the People that they “should not allow themselves to be
deceived by the vain promises of their ungrateful son.
New Orthography of Tagalog Language
September 1886
 When Rizal was in Leipzig, he adopted the Filipinized Tagalog orthography in his Tagalog.
translation of Schiller's Wilhelm Tell and Andersen’s Fairy Tales and again he used it in
his first novel Noli Me Tangere (Berlin 1889)
April 15, 1890
He was sojourning in Brussels, his article entitled 'On the New Spelling of the
Lenguatagala (the new Orthography in his Tagalog Language) was published in La
solidarity.
He gave the credit for the adoption of his new orthography to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de
Tavera, author of the celebrated work The Sanskrit in the Tagalog Language
Tagalog language) which was published in Paris, 1884.
Rizal Criticizes Madrid Filipinos for Gambling
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 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

July 6, 1890
The sad news from home depressed Rizal, his heart bled to know the sorrowful plight of
his parents, brother, and brothers-in-law. from Brussels he wrote a letter to his sister.
Presentiment of Death
June 11, 1890
This morbid presentiment of early death was divulged by him to M.H del Pilar.

Preparation to go home
July 9, 1890
Opposing Graciano's plan, he said that Graciano should not go to Cuba to die of
yellow fever, instead he "ought to go to the Philippines to allow himself to be killed in
defense of his ideals.
July 18, 1890
He wrote another letter addressed to Ponce expressing his determination to go home.
his friends including Blumentritt, Jose Ma. Basa, and Ponce were horrified by Rizal’s
plan to return to the Philippines.
June 20, 1890
Rizal decided to go to Madrid, he ignored the dire warning of his friend. No threat of danger.
that awaited him at home.
He further informed Del Pilar in his letter's services as a lawyer 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 Month and would
arrived in Manila about 3rd or 4th of August.
1890
It was against a background of mental anguish in Brussels, during those sad days when he
was worried by his family disaster then he wrote a poem titled “to My Muse” this poem
 lacks the exquisiteness of 'to the flowers of Heidelberg' and is less polished than 'to'
the Filipino youth, but it is passionate in feeling.
Romance with Petite Jacoby
Two things brought some measure of cheer to the despondent Rizal, as he was preparing
for his trip to Madrid. First was the summertime festival of Belgium which was
celebrated in carnival style with colorful costumes, fantastic float and many days of
merriment. Second was his romance with Petite Jacoby the pretty niece of his landladies.
CHAPTER 17: MISFORTUNE IN MADRID
AUGUST 1890
RIZAL arrived in MADRID
He tried all legal means to seek justice for his family and Calamba tenants but to no avail.
ANTONIO LUNA and WENCESLAO E. RATANA
the two duels that Rizal almost engaged in because of his disappointment.
LEONOR RIVERA
the infidelity girl who was engaged to Rizal for eleven years but she married into a
British Engineer. She was the reason why RIZAL was heartbroken.
FAILURE TO GET JUSTICE FOR FAMILY
Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal sought the help of the COLONY, the association
Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspaper.
August 19, 1890
JOSE MA. PANGANIBAN died in BARCELONA because of illness Talented co-
worker in the propaganda movement the Bicol Hero, When his co-worker died he took his
pen and wrote a great eulogy to express his sorrow, he says that it was too hurt to let a
A close friend, a hero goes to the grave.
INFIDELITY OF LEONOR RIVERA
1890
Rizal was feeling bitter at so many disappointments he encountered in Madrid. December
30 the day when Rizal lost his locket proved the bad omen, with a cold winds of winter
sweeping across the shivering city, he received a letter from Leonor announcing her
coming marriage to an Englishman (which is the choice of her mother) and asking his
forgiveness. The letter had a great impact on Rizal because he was stunned, his eyes
dimmed with tears and his heart broke.
February 15, 1891
Blumentritt consoled him saying 'your last letter filled us with sadness' after all the
misfortunes that have befallen you and now your beloved has abandoned you.
Rizal was the hero who conquered pain from a wound inflicted by a woman, he has a
courageous heart and he will fall in love with a nobler woman, the motherland, because
Filipinas is like one of those enchanted princesses in the German legends who is captive of
a horrid dragon.
3 months later Blumentritt sent another letter saying I am grieved with all my heart that
you lost the girl to whom you were engaged, but if she was able to renounce a Rizal she
didn’t pass the nobility of your spirit.
January 1, 1891
On New Year's Day, Rizal and M.H. Del Pilar met with 90 Filipinos in Madrid.
persons.
 The affairs of the Filipino community and to determine the editorial policy of La
Solidarity.
Del Pilar opposed the proposition that the periodical be placed under the control of
responsible on the ground that it was a private enterprise but it was abandoned.
The meeting proceeded to the business of electing the responsible. It was agreed that
should be elected by a two-thirds vote of the Filipino community.
February 1891
during the election, the Filipinos were divided into two hostile camps
Rizalistas and the Pilaristas). 1st day of voting Rizal won on the voting but he could not
obtained the required two-thirds vote to be proclaimed responsible. The 2nd day the
result was again indecisive because he didn’t reach the required two-third. On the 3rd day
the situation became explosive and critical Mariano Ponce appealed to his countrymen
with stirring eloquence to vote Rizal, some Pilaristas evidently, heeded his plea. and the
Voting resulted in Rizal's victory, and he became the responsible one.
Goodbye Madrid:
Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing him as responsible.
packed up his bags, paid his bills, and boarded a train leaving for Biarritz.
(1882 to 1885)
he was happy during his first sojourn
(1890 to 1891)
he was unhappy with the second visit. It was the last he saw Madrid, his agonizing heart bade
goodbye to the metropolis of which he had written years ago.

CHAPTER 18: BIARRITZ VACATION AND ROMANCE WITH

NELLY BOUSTEAD (1891)
February 1891
When Rizal arrived in Biarritz, he was warmly welcomed by the Boustead family, particularly
Mr. Boustead who had taken a great liking for him because of his remarkable talents.
The one month vacation in Biarritz worked wonders for Rizal, because it made him
forget his memories in Madrid
February 11, 1891
His sorrow began to sing once more with joy and his health improved with
remarkable swiftness.
He wrote to Mariano Ponce saying that he was now feeling well.
Romance with Nellie Boustead
On an emotional rebound, Rizal, having lost his beloved Leonor, comes to entertain.
considerable affection for Nellie, the prettier and younger daughter of his host.
February 4, 1891
As early on that date M.H del Pilar teased him about changing the 'o' to 'e', which
means Noli to Nelly
 Antonio Luna, who had previously loved and lost Nelly, encouraged Rizal to woo and marry.
With the encouragement of his friends, Rizal courted Nelly who in turn reciprocated.
his affection. But his proposal for marriage has failed for two reasons;
He refused to give up his Catholic faith and be converted to Protestantism, as Nelly.
demanded.
Nelly’s mother didn’t like Rizal as her son-in-law.
The Filibusterism Finished in Biarritz
Frustrated in romance, Rizal found his life consolation in writing. Evidently, while
wooing Nellie and enjoying so many magnificent moonlight nights with her, he kept on
working on his second novel which he began to write in Calamba in 1887,
March 29, 1891
The eve of his departure from Biarritz, to Paris, he finished the manuscript of El
Filibusterism,

March 30, 1891

He left Biarritz and traveled to Paris by train after he said goodbye to the
Boustead's family. He stayed at the home of his friend, Valentine Ventura, on 4 Rue de
Chateaudum
April 4, 1891
Rizal wrote to his friend Jose Ma. Basa in Hong Kong expressing his desire to go to
British colony and practice ophthalmology in order to earn his leaving. Moreover his
letter requested Basa to advance him the amount for his first class steamer ticket to
Europe to Hong Kong.
April 1891
Rizal was back in Brussels where he was happily received by Marie and Suzane.
Jacoby.
Retirement from the propaganda movement
January, 1891
Since abdicating his leadership in Madrid, due to the intrigues of his jealous
Rizal retired from the propaganda movement, or reform crusade.
He desired to publish his 2nd novel, to practice his medical profession, and later he
became financially independent, he expected to make a more vigorous contribution for his country’s
redemption.
May 1, 1891
From Brussels, he notified the propaganda authorities in Manila to cancel his monthly
allowance and devote the money to some better cause, such as the education of the young
Filipino student in Europe.
Rizal Stopped Writing for La Solidaridad
August 7, 1891
M.H. delPilar wrote to Rizal begging forgiveness for any resentment and requesting
him to resume writing for La Solidaridad.
M.H. delPilar himself realized the need for Rizal’s collaboration in both the propaganda
movement and in the La Solidaridad newspaper because of the enthusiasm for the reform
Crusade in Spain was declining.
Revising the Fili for Publication
May 30, 1981
In Brussels, Rizal worked day after day revising the finished manuscript of El
The Reign of Greed.
when El Filibusterismo was prepared for printing.
June 13
Rizal informed Basa that he is negotiating with a printing firm to be printed in Belgium.
or in Spain.
CHAPTER 19: THE FILIBUSTERISM PUBLISHED IN GHENT
October 1887
when Rizal began writing El Filibusterismo while he was practicing medicine in
Calamba.
March 29, 1891
The following year (1888), in London, he made some changes in the plot and
corrected some chapters already written. Second, he wrote more in Paris and Madrid, and
finished the manuscript in Biarritz.
Privations in Ghent
July 5, 1891
Rizal left Brussels from Ghent, a famous University in Belgium.
His reasons for moving to Ghent were; 1. The cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than
in Brussels and, 2. To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzane.
In Ghent he met two compatriots, Jose Alejandro (from Pampanga), and
Edilberto Evangelista (from Manila) both engineering in the world-famed University of
Ghent.
The Printing of El Filibusterismo
Shortly after his arrival in Ghent, Rizal searched for a printing shop that could give him
the lowest quotation for the publication of his novel.
F. Meyer-Van Loo Press no. 66 Viaanderen Street who was willing to print his book on
installment basis. He pawned his jewels in order to pay his down payment for the
printing.
July 1891
Rizal wrote to Basa saying that he pawned his jewelry, he lived in a small room, he eats a
economize to order from the cheapest restaurant in order to be able to publish his novel.
August 6, 1891
The printing of El Fili had been suspended, as Rizal feared, because he could no longer
give the necessary funds to the printer.
"El Filibusterismo" Comes Off the Press
In his morbid moments of despair, Rizal almost burned the manuscript of Filibusterismo.
When everything seemed lost, help came from an unexpected source, Valentin Ventura
friend of Rizal.

September 18, 1891

El Fili comes to press.
Rizal immediately sent on this date two printed copies to Hong Kong, one for Basa and
the other is for Sixto Lopez.
October 1891
 The liberal Madrid newspaper, El Nuevo Regimen, serialized the novel in its issues.
Practically all the copies of the first edition (Ghent) of El Filibusterismo were placed in
wooden boxes and shipped to Hong Kong, but almost all the boxes were confiscated and
the books are lost. So it came to pass that the book immediately became rare, and the few
available Ghent copies were sold at very high price, reaching as high as 400 pesetas per
copy.
Dedicated to GOM-BUR-ZA
Evidently, Rizal all the years of his studies, travels, and labors in foreign lands, had not
forgotten the martyrdom of father Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, which Paciano related to
him when he was a mere lad in Calamba. He dedicated the El Filibusterismo to them.
February 17, 1872
The three priest martyrdom in Bagumbayan
The Manuscript and the Book
The original manuscript of El Fili in Rizal's own handwriting is now presented at the
Filipiana Division of the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila.
Acquired from Valentin Ventura for 10.0, it consists of 279 pages of long sheets of paper.
The two features in the manuscript do not appear in the printed book, namely: the
Foreword and the Warning. These were not put into print, evidently, to save printing cost.
Chapter 20: Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong
Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong, where he lived from November 1891 to June 1892.
His two reasons for leaving Europe were;
Life was unbearable in Europe because of his political differences with M.H. del Pilar and others.
Filipinos in Spain, and
To be near his idolized Philippine and family.
Before sailing for Hong Kong, he notified Del Pilar that he was retiring from the political.
arena in Spain in order to preserve unity among the compatriots and that despite their
At the parting of ways, he held him in the highest regard.

Farewell to Europe
October 3, 1891
Rizal left Ghent for Paris
October 18
He proceeded by train to Marseilles, where he boarded the steamer Melbourne bound for Hong.
Kong.
He brought with him a letter of recommendation by Juan Luna for Manuel Camus, a
compatriot living in Singapore and 600 copies of the Fili.
October 22, 1891
Rizal writing to Blumentritt for his opinion about his trip that it was heavenly delightful.

November 20, 1891

Rizal arrived in Hong Kong, he established his residence at no. 5 D’ Aguilar Street no. 2
Rednaxola Terrace, where his clinic was also opened.
December 1, 1891
Rizal wrote his parents asking their permission to return home
 On the same date, his brother-in-law Manuel T. Hidalgo, sent him a letter relating a sad
news of the 'deportation of twenty-five persons from Caleamba, including father,'
Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano, and the rest of us,
Family Reunion In Hong Kong
1891
Before Christmas, Rizal was gladdened by the arrival of his father, brother, and Silvestre.
Ubaldo (his brother-in-law), not long afterwards his mother and sisters Lucia, Josefa, and
Trinidad also arrived. He was then 65 years old and was almost blind.
The Christmas in Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide celebrations in Rizal's life.
for he had a family reunion.
January 31, 1892
He wrote to Blumentritt, recounting pleasant life in Hong Kong
To earn a living for himself and for his family, Rizal practiced Medicine.
Dr. Lorenzo Marquez - a Portuguese physician, who became Rizal's friend and admirer,
who helped him to build up a wide clientele
In recognition of Rizal’s skills as an ophthalmic surgeon, he returned many to him.
of his eye cases.
Rizal successfully operated on his mother’s left eye so that she was able to see.
write again.
March 21, 1892
After vainly waiting for three months for a reply to his 1st letter (dated December 23,
Rizal wrote again in 1891 and gave it to a ship captain to ensure it would reach the Governor.
Despujol's hand
Writings In Hong Kong
Notwithstanding the pressure of his medical practice and his Borneo colonization
projects, Rizal continued his writing.
March 2, 1892
Rizal wrote "A Visit to the Victoria Gaol"
June 1892
He wrote "La Mano Roja" (The Red Hand) printed in sheet form in Hong Kong.
The Constitution of the Liga Filipina was the most important made by Rizal during his
Sojourn in Hong Kong.
May 1892
Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila.
Decision was spurred by the following:
1. To confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project;
To establish the Liga Filipina in Manila;
3. To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid that he
(Rizal), being comfortable and safe in Hong Kong, had abandoned the country’s
cause.
June 19, 1892
He spent his 31st birthday in Hong Kong.
He had a premonition of his death.
June 20
He wrote two letters which he sealed.
 Inscribed on each envelope 'to be opened after my death,' and gave them to his friend Dr.
Marques for safekeeping.
The first letter, addressed TO MY PARENTS, BRETHREN, AND FRIENDS.
second letter, addressed TO THE FILIPINOS.
June 21, 1892
Rizal penned another letter in Hong Kong for Governor Despujol, incidentally his third.
letter to that discourteous Spanish chief executive.
On the same day, Rizal and his sister Lucia, the widow of Herbosa, left Hong Kong for Manila.
Rizal falso en trampa española
Immediately after Rizal's departure from Hong Kong, the Spanish consul-general, who
issued government guarantee of safety, sent a cablegram to Governor Despujol that
victim 'is in the trap' on the same day June 21, 1892 a secret case was filed in Manila
against Rizal and his followers 'for anti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation.'

Chapter 21: Second Homecoming and The Liga Filipina

December 31, 1891
he reiterated this belief in a letter to Blumentritt, 'I believe that La Solidaridad is no
longer our battlefield; now it is a new struggle. . .the fight is no longer in Madrid.
I’m going home to lead anew the reform movement; he was like the biblical Daniel
bearding the Spanish lion in its own den:
June 26, 1892
Rizal and his widowed sister Lucia (wife of the late Mariano Herbosa) arrived in
Manila
At 4:00 o’clock, he went to Malacañang Palace to seek an audience with the Spanish.
Governor General, General Eulogio Despujol, Count of Caspe.
June 27 at 6:00 P.M
Rizal boarded a train in Tutuban Station and visited his friends in Malolos (Bulacan).
San Fernando (Pampanga), Tarlac (Tarlac), and Bacolor (Pampanga).
June 28, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon,
Rizal returned by train to Manila. Whether he knew it or not, he was shadowed by
government spies who watched carefully his every movement. The homes he had visited
were seized by the Civil Guard which seized some copies of the Noli and Fili and
some “subversive” pamphlets.
July 3, 1892
Rizal attended a meeting of the patriots at the home of the Chinese-Filipino mestizo.
Doroteo Ong Junco, on Ylaya Street, Tondo, Manila.
July 6
Rizal went to Malacanan Palace to resume his series of interviews with the governor.
general. During this interview Governor General Despujol suddenly showed him some
printed leaflets which were allegedly found in Lucia’s pillow cases. These incriminatory
leaflets were entitled Poor Friars under the authorship of Fr. Jacinto and
printed by the Imprenta de los Amigos del Pais, Manila.
July 7
theGacetade Manila published the story of Rizal’s arrest which produced indignant
commotion among the Filipino people, particularly the members of the newly organized
 Liga Filipina. Governor General Despujol’s decree deporting Rizal to 'one of the
islands in the South.
July 15 at 12:30 A.M
Rizal was brought under heavy guard to the steamer Cebu which was sailing for Dapitan.
This steamer under Captain Delgras departed at 1:00 A.M, sailing south, passing
Mindoro and Panay, and reaching Dapitan on Sunday, the 17th of July, at 7:00 in the
evening.
July 17, 1892
Rizal began his exile in lonely Dapitan which would last until July 31, 1896, a period of
four years.
Chapter 22: Exile in Dapitan, 1892-96
Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the
missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four-year interregnum in
His life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied achievements.
He practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic and literary
works, widened his knowledge of languages, established a school for boys, promoted
community development projects, invented a wooden machine for making bricks, and
engaged in farming and commerce.
August 26, 1892
Rizal, for his part, admired the kind, generous Spanish captain. As evidence of his esteem,
He wrote a poem, a Don Ricardo Carnicero, on the occasion of the captain's birthday.
September 21, 1892
the sleepy town of Dapitan burst in hectic excitement. The mail boat Butuan was
approaching the town, with colored pennants flying in the sea breezes. Captain Carnicero,
thinking that a high Spanish official was coming, hastily dressed in gala uniform, ordered
the town folks to gather at the shore, and himself rushed there, bringing a brass band.
mail boat, Butuan, brought no Spanish officials but the happy tidings that the Lottery
Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain Carnicero, Dr. Rizal, and Francisco Equilior
Spanish resident of Dipolog, a neighboring town of Dapitan, won the second prize of
20,000 in the government-owned Manila Lottery.
Rizal’s share of the winning lottery ticket was 6,200. Upon receiving this sum, he gave
2,000 to his father and 200 to his friend Basa in Hong Kong, and the rest he invested well
by purchasing agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay, about one kilometer away
from Dapitan.
May 14, 1893
Rizal formed a business partnership with Ramon Carreon (Dapitan businessman) in lime.
manufacturing. Their Limeburner had a monthly capacity of more than 400 bags of lime.
August 1893
Rizal had an exemplary life, idyllic in serenity, as members of his family took turns in visiting.
him in order to assuage his loneliness in the isolated outpost of Spanish power in the
Moroland. Among them were his mother, sisters Trinidad, Maria, Narcisa; and nephews
Theodosio, Stanislaus, Mauricio, and Prudencio. He built his house by the seashore of
Talisay, surrounded by fruit trees. He also had another house for his school boys and a
hospital for his patients.
During the early days of November 1893
 Rizal was living peacefully and happily at his house in Talisay, a kilometer away from
Dapitan. His mother, sisters and nephews were living with him.
November 3, 1893
this spy with the assumed name of 'Pablo Mercado' and posing as a relative, secretly
visited Rizal at his house on the night of the said day. He introduced himself as a friend.
and relative showing a photo of Rizal and a pair of buttons with the initials 'P.M' as
evidence of his kinship with the Rizal family.
In February 1895
Dona Teodora, with her eyesight fully restored, returned to Manila. During her long stay
in Dapitan, she saw her talented son regretted that he had neglected the Muses.
requested him to write poetry again.
On October 22, 1895
In response to her request, Rizal wrote a beautiful poem about his serene life as an exile.
in Dapitan and sent it to her. This poem was “MiRetiro” (My Retreat), which is
acclaimed by literary critics as one of the best ever penned by Rizal.
August 28, 1893
Rizal and Josephine Bracken in the silent hours of the night after the day’s hard work,
Rizal was often sad. He missed his family and relatives, his good friends in foreign.
lands, the exhilarating life in the cities of Europe, and his happy days in Calamba.
death of Leonora Rivera left a poignant void in his heart. He needed somebody to cheer
him up in his lonely exile.
October 3, 1876
In God’s own time this 'somebody' came to Dapitan, like a sunbeam to dispel his
melancholy mood. She was Josephine Bracken, an Irish girl of sweet eighteen, slender,
chestnut blond, with blue eyes, dressed with elegant simplicity, with an atmosphere of
light gayety. She was born in Hong Kong of Irish parents – James Bracken, a corporal
in the British garrison, and Elizabeth Jane MacBride. Her mother died in childbirth, and
she was adopted by Mr. George Taufer, who later became blind.
Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at first sight. After a whirlwind romance
of one month, they agreed to marry. But father Obach, the priest of Dapitan, refused to
marry them without the permission of the Bishop of Cebu.
On April 5, 1896
his last year exile in Dapitan, he wrote to Blumentritt “I know already Bisayan and I
speak it quite well; it is necessary, however, to know other dialects of the Philippines. By
this time, Rizal could rank with the world’s great linguists. He knew 22 languages, as
follows: Tagalog, Ilokano, Bisayan, Subanun, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French
German
Portuguese, Swedish, and Russian.
May 2, 1896
in a secret meeting of the Katipunan at a little river called Bitukang Manok, near the town
of Pasig. Dr. Pio Valenzuela was named emissary to Dapitan, in order to inform Rizal of
the plan of the Katipunan to launch a revolution for freedom's sake.
On June 15, 1896
Dr. Valenzuela left Manila on board the steamer Venus. To camouflage his real mission,
he brought with him a blind man named Raymundo Mata and a guide, ostensibly going
to Dapitan to solicit Rizal’s expert medical advice.
On June 21, 1896
Dr. Valenzuela arrived in Dapitan in the evening. Rizal, ever a hospitable host,
welcomed him. After supper, the two had a heart-to-heart talk in the garden. Valenzuela
told him of the Katipunan plan and of the necessity of his support.
July 14, 1896
when he least expected it, a letter from Governor Blanco arrived in Dapitan, notifying
him of the acceptance of his offer, also stated that the politico-military commander of
Dapitan would give him a pass so that he could come to Manila, where he would be
given a safe conduct to Spain, and there the Minister of War will assign you to the
Army of Operations in Cuba, detailed to the Medical Corps.

On July 31, 1896

Rizal's four-year exile in Dapitan came to an end. At midnight of that date, he embarked
on board the steamer Espana.
Chapter 23 Last Trip Abroad, (1896)
On August 26, 1896
Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan raised the cry of Revolution in the hills of
Balintawak, a few miles north of Manila. Rizal, worried about the raging hostilities, left
for Spain on the steamer Isla de Panay on September 3, 1896. It was his last trip abroad.
On the fateful evening of August 19, 1896
the Katipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule by means of revolution was discovered by
Friar Mariano Gil, Augustinian priest of Tondo.
The tumult produced by the discovery of the Katipunan plot was aggravated by the 'Cry'
of Balintawak" which was raised by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros on August
26,1896. At the sunrise of August 30, the revolutionists led by Bonifacio and Jacinto
attacked San Juan, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first eight
provinces for rising in arms against Spain–Manila (as a province), Bulacan, Cavite
Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.
On August 30, 1896
the day when the state of war was proclaimed in the eight provinces, Rizal received from
Governor General Blanco two letters of introduction for the minister of War and the
Minister of Colonies, with a covering letter which absolved him from all blame for the
raging revolution.
On September 2, 1896
the day before his departure for Spain, Rizal on board the Castilla. At 6 p.m. Rizal was
transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay which was sailing for Barcelona, Spain. The Isla
de Panay arrived at Singapore in the evening of September 7.
The Isla de Panay, with Rizal on board, left Singapore at 1:00 p.m. September 8.
Unaware of the Spanish duplicity, particularly of Governor General Blanco's infernal
deceit, he happily continued the voyage towards Barcelona.

On September 25
he saw the steamer Isla de Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish troops.
Two days later (Sunday, September 27) he heard from the passengers that a telegram
arrived from Manila reporting the execution of Francisco Roxas, Genato, and Osorio.
On September 28
A day after the steamer had left Port Said (Mediterranean terminus of the Suez Canal), a
The passenger told Rizal the bad news that he would be arrested by order of the Governor.
General Blanco would be sent to prison in Ceuta (Spanish Morocco), opposite
Gibraltar.
On September 29
Rizal wrote in his travel diary: 'there are people on board who do nothing but slander me'
and invent fanciful stories about me. I’m going to become a legendary personage.
September 30, at 4:00 p.m
he was officially notified by Captain Alemany that he should stay in his cabin until
further orders from Manila. He graciously complied with the captain’s directive. About
6:25 p.m. the steamer anchored at Malta. Being confined to his cabin, Rizal was not able
to visit the famous island-fortress of the Christian crusaders.
On October 3, at 10:00 in the morning
the Island of Panay arrived in Barcelona, with Rizal a prisoner on board. The trip from
Manila to Barcelona lasted exactly 30 days. He was kept under heavy guard in his cabin.
for three days. His jailor was no longer the ship captain but the Military Commander of
Barcelona, quien fue el General Eulogio Despujol, el mismo que ordenó su
banishment to Dapitan in July, 1892. It was one of those coincidences in the lives of men
that make "history stranger than fiction".
At 3:00 a.m. on October 6
Rizal was awakened by the guards and escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress.
named Monjuich. He spent the whole morning in cell. About 2:00 in the afternoon, he
was taken out of prison by the guards and brought to the headquarters of General
Despujol. In the interview, which lasted a quarter of an hour, the brusque general told
Rizal that he would be shipped back to Manila on board the transport ship Colon which
was leaving that evening. After the interview, Rizal was taken aboard the Colon, which
was "full of soldiers and officers and their families." At 8:00 p.m. the ship left
Barcelona, with Rizal on board.

Chapter 24 Last Homecoming and Trial

Rizal’s homecoming in 1896
the last in his life, was the saddest return to his beloved native land. He knew he was
facing the supreme test, which might mean the sacrifice of his life, but he was unafraid.
As a matter of fact, he welcomed it. Gladly, he desired to meet his enemies and to offer
himself as a sacrificial victim to their sadistic lust and unholy designs for he knew that
his blood would water seeds of Filipino freedom. The trial that was held shortly after his
homecoming was one of history’s mockeries of justice. His enemies howled like mad
dogs for his blood, and they got it, without benefit of genuine justice.
On October 8
A friendly officer told Rizal that the Madrid newspapers were full of stories about the
bloody revolution in the Philippines and were blaming him for it. Realizing the adverse
and unjust public opinion, he thanked God for giving him the chance to return in order to
confront his slanderers and to vindicate his name.
On October 11
 before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary taken away and was critically scrutinized by the
authorities. Nothing dangerous was found in its contents. The cabin was searched.
thoroughly but nothing incriminating was found.
On November 2
the diary was returned to him. Owing to the interruption, Rizal was not able to record the
events from Monday, October 12 to Sunday, November 1.
On November 3
the Colon reach Manila, where it was greeted with wild rejoicing by Spaniards and
friars because it brought more reinforcement and military supplies. While the Spanish
community was exalting with joy, Rizal was quietly transferred under heavy guard from
the ship to Fort Santiago. Meanwhile, Spanish authorities fished for evidence against
Rizal. Many Filipino patriots, including Deodato Arellano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Moises
Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Timoteo Paes, and Pedro Serano Lactaw, were
brutally tortured to implicate Rizal. Rizal’s own brother, Paciano, was arrested and
cruelly tortured. He suffered all pains inflicted by Spain's diabolical torturers, but he
never signed any damaging statement incriminating his younger brother. Although his
body was shattered on the torture rack and his left hand crushed by the screw, his valiant
Asian spirit remained unbroken.

On November 20
The preliminary investigation began. Rizal, the accused, appeared before the judge.
advocate, colonel Francisco Olive. He was subjected to a grueling five day investigation.
He was informed of the charges against him. He answered the questions asked by the judge.
advocate, but he was not permitted to confront those who testified against him.
On December 8
Feast day of the Immaculate Conception, a list of one hundred first and second lieutenants.
In the Spanish army, Rizal was presented. He looked over the list. One name struck his attention.
fancy. It was Don Luiz Taviel de Andrade, first lieutenant of the artillery, the name was
familiar to him so that he chose the lieutenant to be his defender in court.
On December 11
The information of charges was formally read to Rizal in his prison cell, with his counsel
present. He was accused of being 'the principal organizer and the living soul of the'
Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to
fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion.” As the accused, Rizal raised no objection
on the jurisdiction of the court, but pleaded not guilty to the crime of rebellion. He
admitted that he wrote the constitution of the Liga Filipina which was merely a civic
association. He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made,
except that he had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan.
Dominguez forwarded the papers of the Rizal case to Malacanang Palace on December 13,
the same day when General Camillo G. De Polavieja, with the help of the powerful
Dominican friars became Governor General of the Philippines succeeding General
Blanco. The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernatorial office sealed Rizal’s fate, for
he was more humane in character than the rootless Polavieja and, moreover, he firmly
believed that Rizal was not a traitor to Spain. Had he remained longer in office, Rizal
would not have been executed. But this was one of those intriguing 'ifs' in history, of
 which man has no control because the destiny of man and nations is in accordance with
God’s divine plan.
On December 15
Rizal wrote a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop the necessary shedding
of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry.
On December 25, 1896
It was Christmas. On that day all Christendom joyously celebrated the birthday of Christ.
who was born to redeem mankind and to bring peace and brotherhood to all men on
earth.
On December 26, 1896 at 8:00 a.m.
The court martial of Rizal started in the military building called Cuartel de Espanya.
Seated behind a long table on the elevated dais were the seven members of the military.
court, dressed in their respective army uniforms as follow: Lt. Col Jose Tagores Arjona
Capt. Ricardo Monuz Arias
Osorio, Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nunez, Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano, Capt. Fermin
Perez Rodriguez. On the same day, the court decision was submitted to Governor
General Polavieja sought the opinion of the judge advocate General Nicolas De la Pena.
the latter affirmed the death verdict.
On December 28th
Polavieja confirmed the decision of the court martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00 in
the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan field (Luneta).
Chapter 25: Martyrdom at Bagumbayan
After the court martial, Rizal returned to his cell in Fort Santiago to prepare his
rendezvous with destiny.
During his last 24 hours on earth - from 6:00 a.m. December 29 to 6 a.m.
December 30, 1896
he was busy meeting visitors including Jesuit priest, Josephine Bracken, and members of
his family, a Spanish newspaper correspondent (Santiago Mataix), some friends, and
secretly finishing his farewell poem. As a Christian and a hero martyr, he was serenely
resigned to die for his beloved country, which he called 'Pearl of the Orient Seas' in his
last poem and 'Pearl of the Orient' in the article entitled 'unfortunate Philippines'
published in the Hong Kong telegraph on September 24 1892.
December 29, 1896
Capt. Rafael Domingues, who was designated by governor general Camillo Polavieja to
take charge of all arrangements for the execution of the condemned prisoner, read the
death sentenced to Rizal- to be shot at the back by a firing squad at 7 a.m. at Bagumbayan
(Luneta).
At 7:00 A.M., an hour after the reading of the death sentence, Rizal was moved to the
prison chapel, where he spent his last moment. His first visitors were Father Miguel
SaderraMata (rector of Ateneo Municipal), and Father Luiz Visa, Jesuit teacher.
At 7:15 A.M. Rector Saderra left. Rizal, in a jovial mood, reminded father Visa of the
statuette of the sacred heart of Jesus which he had carved with his pen knife as an Ateneo
student. Father Visa, anticipating such reminiscence, got the statuette from his pocket and
gave it to Rizal. The hero happily received it and placed it on his writing table.
 At 8:00 A.M. Father Antonio Rosell arrived to relieve Father Visa. Rizal invited him.
to join him at breakfast, which he did. After breakfast, Lt. Luiz Taviel de Andrade
(Rizal's defense counsel) came, and Rizal thanked him for his gallant services.
At 9:00 A.M. Father Federico Faura arrived. Rizal reminded him that he said (Rizal
would someday lose his head for writing the Noli.” Father, “Rizal remarked, “You are
indeed a prophet.
At 10:00 A.M. Father Jose Villa Clara (Rizal's teachers at the Ateneo) and Vicente
Balaguer (Jesuit missionary in Dapitan who had befriended Rizal during the latter's)
exile) visited the hero. After then came the Spanish journalist, Santiago Mataix, who
interviewed Rizal for his newspaper El Heraldo de Madrid.
From 12:00 noon to 3:30 p.m., Rizal was left alone in his cell. He took his lunch; after
which he was busy writing. It was probably during this time when he finished his farewell.
poem and hid it inside his alcohol cooking stove (not lamp as some biographers
erroneously assert) which was given to him as a gift by Paz Pardo de Tavera (wife of
Juan Luna) during his visit to Paris in 1890. At the same time he wrote his last letter to
Professor Blumentritt (sein bester Freund)
At 4:00 P.M. Rizal’s mother arrived. Rizal knelt down before her and kissed her hand.
begging her to forgive him. Both mother and son were crying as the guards separate.
them. Shortly afterwards Trinidad entered the cell to fetch her mother. As they were
leaving, Rizal gave to Trinidad the alcohol cooking stove, whispering to her in English:
there is something inside.
This "something" was Rizal's farewell poem. At 6:00 p.m. Rizal received a new visitor.
Don Silvino Lopez Tunon, el DECANO de la Catedral de Manila.
At 8:00 p.m. Rizal had his last suffer. He informed Capt. Domingues who was with him.
that he forgave his enemies, including the military judges who condemned him to death.
At 9:30 p.m. Rizal was visited by Don Gaspar Cestano, the fiscal of the royal Audiencia.
of Manila. As a gracious host, Rizal offered him the best care in the cell. After a pleasant
conversation, the fiscal left with the impression of Rizal’s intelligence and noble
character.
At 10:00 PM on the night of December 29th, the draft of the retraction sent by the anti-
Filipino archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda (1890-1903) was submitted by father Balaguer
to Rizal for signature, but the hero rejected it because it was too long and he did not like
it. According to Father Balaguer’s testimony, he showed Rizal a shorter retraction which
was prepared by Father Pio Pi, superior of the Jesuit society in the Philippines, which was
acceptable to Rizal.
At 3:00 in the morning of December 30, 1896
Rizal heard mass, confessed his sins, and took Holy Communion.
At 5:30 a.m. he took his last breakfast on earth. After this, he wrote two letters, the first
addressed to his family and the second to older bro. Paciano.
At 6:00 a.m. as soldiers were getting ready for the death march to Bagumbayan, Rizal
wrote his last letter to his beloved parents.
About 6:30 a.m. a trumpet sounded at Fort Santiago, a signal to begin the death march to
Bagumbayan the designated place for the execution. The advance guard of four soldiers
with bayoneted ripples moved. A few meters behind, Rizal walked calmly with his defense
counsel (lt. Luis Taviel De Andrade) on one side and two Jesuit priests (fathers march
and Dila Clara on the other). More well-armed soldiers marched behind him.
Rizal was dressed elegantly in a black suit, black derby hat, black shoes, white shirt and
black tie. His arms were tied behind from elbow to elbow, but the rope was quite loose to
give his arms freedom of movement.
To the muffled sounds of drums, the cavalcade somnolently marched slowly. There was a
handful of spectators lining the street from Fort Santiago to the Plaza del Palacio in front
of the Manila Cathedral. Everybody seemed to be out at Bagumbayan, where a vast
crowd gathered to see how a martyr dies.
Going through the narrow Postigo Gate, one of the gates of the city wall, the cavalcade
reached the Malecon (now Bonifacio Drive), which was deserted. Rizal looked at the sky,
and said to one of the priests: “how beautiful it is today, Father. What morning could be
more serene! How clear is Corregidor and the mountains of Cavite! On a morning like this,
I used to take a walk with my sweetheart.
Reluctantly, Rizal turned his back to the firing squad and faced the sea. A Spanish
military physician, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, asked his permission to feel his pulse, which
request was graciously granted. Dr. Castillo was amazed to find it normal, showing that
Rizal was not afraid to die.
The death ruffles of the drums filled the air. Above the drum-beats, the sharp command
“Fire” was heard, and the guns of the firing squad barked. Rizal, with supreme effort,
turned his bullet-riddled body to the right, and fell on the ground dead–with face upward
facing the morning sun. it was exactly 7:03 in the morning when he died in the bloom of
manhood–aged 35 years, five months, and 11 days.
At the time when the bullets of Spain’s firing squad killed Dr. Jose Rizal, the Spaniards –
residents, friars (Jesuits not included), corrupt officials (including Governor Polavieja)
exulted with sadistic joy, for Rizal, formidable champion of Filipino freedom, was gone.
In fact, immediately after the hero’s execution, the Spanish spectators shouted "
Long Live Spain! Death to the Traitors!
and the Spanish military band, joining the jubilance over Rizal’s death, played the gay
March of Cadiz.
TIMELINE