Rizal in

London
• After visiting the United States, Rizal lived in
London from May, 1888 in March, 1889.
• He chose this English city to be his new
home for three reasons.
1. To improve his knowledge of the English
Language
2. To study and annotate Moraga’s success
de las Islas Filipinas, a rare copy of which
he heard to be available in British museum,
and
3. London was a safe place for him to carry
on his fight against Spanish tyranny.
 In London, he engaged in
Filipiniana studies completed
annotating Moraga’s book, wrote
many articles for La Solidaridad in
defense of his people against
Spanish critics, penned a famous
letter to the young women of
Malolos, carried on his voluminous
correspondence with Blumentritt
and relatives, and had a romance
with Gertrude Becket.
Trip across the Atlantic
• The trans-Atlantic voyage of Rizal from
New York to Liverpool was a pleasant
one.
• He won many friends of different
nationalities on board the palatial City
of Rome because of his friendly nature
and his ability as a linguist.
 Trip across the Atlantic
• While on board, he
entertained the
American and European
passengers with his skill of
the yoyo
– He used it as an
offensive weapon
instead of a toy.
 Trip across the Atlantic
• On board the steamer were some
American newspapermen on their way to
Europe. Rizal discussed with them the
current social and political problems of
mankind, and found them to be
inadequate in geo-politics.
– He could not enjoy their companionship
because they were intellectually inferior
to him.
 Trip across the Atlantic
• May 24, 1888 - Rizal arrived
at liver pool, England
– He stayed one day in the
port city.
– Spending the night at
the Adelphi hotel.
• “Liverpool is a big and beautiful city and its
celebrated port is worthy of its great fame. The
entrance is magnificent and the customhouse
is quite good.”
 Life in London
• May 25, 1888 - Rizal went to London
–For a short time he stayed a guest
at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma.
Regidor
–Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor
• an exile of 1872 and a practicing
lawyer in London.
 Life in London
• By the end May, he
found a modest
boarding place no.
37 Charcot
crescent, Primrose
Hill.
• He was a boarder of
the Beckett family.
 Life in London

• The Becketts were Mr. Beckett, an organist

of St. Paul’s Church, Mrs. Beckett (his wife),
4 daughters and 2 sons
 Life in London
• The Beckett home was to Rizal
conveniently located.
– It was near the public parks and was
within easy walking distance to the
British Museum where he expected to
do much research work.
 Life in London
• Rizal came to know Dr. Reinhold Rost
– Dr. Reinhold Rost
• the librarian of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and;
• an authority on Malayan languages and
customs.
• Called Rizal “a pearl of a man” (una perla
de hombre) as he was impressed by his
learning and character
 Life in London
• Rizal spent much of his time
in the British Museum poring
over the pages of Morga’s
Sucesos and other rare
historical works on the
Philippines.
• He spent his Sundays at the house of Dr. Rost, with
whom he had many pleasant discussions on
linguistics.
• He also played crickets (popular English game)
and boxed with Dr. Rost’s sons.
News from Home, Good and Bad
• Both good and bad news from home
reached Rizal in London.
• Of the bad news, were the injustices
committed by the Spanish authorities on
the Filipino people and the Rizal family.
News from Home, Good and Bad
• Bad News from Home
• Persecution of the Filipino patriots who
signed the Anti-Friar Petition 1888 • The
Calamba Agrarian Conflict of 1888 in
which the tenants, including Rizal’s
family, were being persecuted by the
Dominicans
News from Home, Good and Bad
• Bad News from Home
1. Persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed
the Anti-Friar Petition 1888
– Was presented by Doroteo Cortes, a prominent Mason
and lawyer, to Jose Centeno, Civil Governor of the
Province of Manila, on March 1, 1888.
– Was signed by about 800 patriots and was actually written
by M. H. del Pilar.
– Addressed to the Queen Regent of Spain requesting the
expulsion of the friars, including Archbishop Pedro Payo
(Dominican) of Manila
News from Home, Good and Bad
• Bad News from Home
2. The Calamba Agrarian Conflict of 1888 in
which the tenants, including Rizal’s family, were
being persecuted by the Dominicans because
of their courage to petition the government for
agrarian reforms.
3. Furious attacks on Rizal by Senators Salamanca
and Vida in the Spanish Cortes and by
Desengaños (Wenceslao Retana) and Quioquiap
(Pablo Feced) in Spanish newspapers.
 News from Home, Good and Bad
• Bad News from Home
4. Rizal’s brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo,
husband of Saturnina was exiled by Governor
General Weyler to Bohol without due process
of law.
5. A friend of Rizal, Laureano Viado, a medical
student at the University of Santo Tomas, was
arrested and Jailed in Bilibid prison because of
the copies of Noli that were found in his house.
News from Home, Good and Bad
• Good News from Home
• REV. VICENTE GARCIA defended the Noli
Me Tangere against the attack of the
friars
• He heard this news from Mariano Ponce
• January 7, 1891 - Rizal wrote to Father
Garcia expressing his personal gratitude
Annotating Morga’s book
• The greatest achievement of Rizal on
London was the annotating of Morga’s
book, Sucessos de Las Isla Filipinas
(Historical Events of the Philippine Islands)
which was published in Mexico, 1609.
• 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.
Annotating Morga’s book
• Of all the written histories published during
the early years of the Spanish regime, that
of Dr. Morga was, in his considered
opinion, the best.
 Short visit to Paris and Spain
• Early in September 1888 - Rizal visited Paris
for a week in order to search for more
historical materials Bibliotheque
Nationale.
• He was entertained by Juan Luna and his
wife (Paz Pardo de Tavera), with their little
son Andres (nickname Luling)
 Short visit to Paris and Spain
• December 11, 1888 - Rizal went to
Spain, visiting Madrid and Barcelona.
• He contacted his compatriots and
surveyed the political situation with
regards to the agitation for Philippine
reforms.
 Short visit to Paris and Spain
• For the first time, Rizal met Marcelo
del Pilar and Mariano Ponce, the two
titans of Propaganda movement.
• He exchanged ideas with these new
friends and promised to cooperate in
the fight for reforms.
 Christmas in London (1888)
• Rizal returned to London on
December 24 and spent Christmas
and New Year’s days with the
Becketts.
–He experienced a delightful
Christmas Eve, his first on the English
soil.
 Christmas in London (1888)
• To his friend, Bluemetritt, Rizal sent as
Christmas gift a bust of Emperor
Augustus which he had made.
–This emperor was the ruler of the
Roman Empire when Jesus Christ
was born in Betlehem.
 Christmas in London (1888)
• To another friend, Dr. Carlos
Czepelak, Rizal gave as Christmas
gift a bust of Julius Cesar.
 Christmas in London (1888)
Rizal’s landlady, Mrs.
Beckett, knowing of
his interest in magic,
gave him as Christmas
gift a book entitled “The
Life and Adventures of
Valentine Vox, the
Ventriloquist”.
Rizal becomes leader of
Filipinos in Europe
While busy on his historical studies in
London, Rizal learned that the
Filipinos in Barcelona were planning
to establish a patriotic society which
would cooperate in the crusade for
reforms.
Rizal becomes leader of
Filipinos in Europe
• Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad
Association)
–Inaugurated on December 31, 1888
– President: Graciano Lopez Jaena
– [Link]: Manuel Santa Maria
– Secretary: Manuel Santa Maria
– Treasurer: Mariano Ponce
– Accountant: Jose Maria Panganiban
Rizal becomes leader of
Filipinos in Europe
• By unanimous vote of all the members,
Rizal was chosen honorary president of
society called Asociacion La
Solidaridad (Solidaridad Association)
–This was a recognition of his leadership
among all Filipino patriots in Europe.
Rizal becomes leader of
Filipinos in Europe
• As the leader of his countrymen in
Europe, Rizal wrote a letter addressed to
the members of the Association La
Solidaridad on January 28, 1889.
–In this letter, he expressed his gratitude
for the honor of making him honorary
president.
Rizal becomes leader of
Filipinos in Europe
• He gave the following advice:
1. In young associations, the spirit of tolerance ought
to prevail when it concerns trifles that do not
affect the essential part of a thing. No one should
resent defeat. When any opinion is rejected, its
author, instead of despairing and withdrawing,
should on the contrary wait for another occasion
in which justice may be done him. The individual
should give way to the welfare of the society.
Rizal becomes leader of
Filipinos in Europe
2. A great deal of integrity and much
good will. No member should expect
rewards or honors for what he does.
He who does his duty in expectation
of rewards, is usually disappointed,
because almost no one believes
himself sufficiently rewarded.
Rizal becomes leader of
Filipinos in Europe
2. And so that there may not be
discontented or ill-rewarded members, it
is advisable for each oneto do his duty
just for its own sake and at best expect
to be later treated unjustly, because in
anomalous countries, injustice is the prize
for those who fulfill their duties.
Rizal and the La
Solidaridad Newspaper
• February 15, 1889 -
Graciano Lopez
Jaena founded the
patriotic newspaper
called La Solidaridad
in Barcelona, Spain.
Rizal and the La
Solidaridad Newspaper
• This was fortnightly
periodical which
served as the organ of
the Propaganda
Movement.
 Rizal and the La
Solidaridad Newspaper
Objectives of La Solidaridad
1. To establish political and social reform
for our country
2. To show the unfortunate conditions in
the Philippines committed by the
Spaniards
3. To promote free and progressive ideas
 Rizal and the La
Solidaridad Newspaper
Objectives of La Solidaridad
4. To champion the legitimate aspirations
of the Filipino people to life, democracy
and happiness.
5. To oppose the evil forces of reaction
and medievalism.
Rizal and the La Solidaridad
Newspaper
• Rizal congratulated Lopez Jaena and his
associates in founding the La Solidaridad.
• He prepared articles for the periodical
which were subsequently published.
• In his letter to Lopez Jaena, he advised
him that great care should be taken in
publishing only the truth in the periodical.
First Article in La Solidaridad
• Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino
Farmers) - Rizal’s first article in La
Solidaridad
– published on March 25, 1889, six days after he
left London for Paris.
First Article in La Solidaridad
• Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino
Farmers)
– He depicted the deplorable conditions in the
Philippines which cause the backwardness of
the country.
Writing’s in London
• While busy in research studies at the British
museum, Rizal received news on Fray
Rodriguez’ unabated attack on this Noli.
– In defense, he wrote a pamphlet
entitled La Vision del Fray Rodriguez
(The Vision of Fray Rodriguez).
– Published in Barcelona under his nom-
de-plume Dimas Alang
Writing’s in London
• La Vision del Fray Rodriguez (The Vision of
Fray Rodriguez).
– This opus is a satire depicting a spirited
dialogue between St. Augustine and Fr.
Rodriguez. St. Augustine told Fr. Rodriguez
that he (St. Augustine) was commissioned by
God to tell him (Fr. Rodriguez) of his stupidity
and inform him of his penance on earth that
he (Fr. Rodriguez) shall continue to write more
stupidly so that all men may laugh at him.
Writing’s in London
• La Vision del Fray Rodriguez (The Vision of
Fray Rodriguez).
– Rizal demonstrated two things:
1. His profound knowledge of religion
2. His biting satire
Writing’s in London
• Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
– While in London, Rizal wrote this in Tagalog
– February 22, 1889
– He penned it, upon the request of M. H. del
Pilar to praise the young ladies of Malolos for
their courage to establish a school where
they could learn Spanish, despite opposition
of Father Felipe Garcia, Spanish parish priest
of Malolos.
Writing’s in London
• Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
– Main point:
1. A Filipino mother should teach her children
love of God, fatherland and mankind.
2. The Filipino mother should be glad, like
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.
Writing’s in London
• Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
– Main point:
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
Cristian way, with good
morals and good manners.
Writing’s in London
• Dr. 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:
1. Specimen of Tagal Folklore (May 1889)
2. Two Eastern Fables (June 1889)
Romance with Gertrude Beckett
• Rizal had a romantic interlude with the
oldest of the three Beckett sisters –
Gertrude (Gettie).
• Gettie , as she was affectionately called,
was a buxom English girl with brown hair,
blue eyes, and rosy cheeks.
– She fell in love with Rizal.
Romance with Gertrude Beckett
• Rizal being a man of normal emotions, found
exhilarating joy in Gertrude’s company.
• Their friendship drifted towards romance.
• Rizal affectionately called her “Gettie” and in
return, she fondly called him “Pettie”.
• As their flirtation was fast approaching the
point of no return.
– Rizal suddenly realized that he could not
marry Gettie for he had a mission to fulfill in
life.
Romance with Gertrude Beckett
• On cold winter mornings, she had a sunny
smile for him, chattering gaily like a humming
bird.
• During the family picnics, she was particularly
very happy because Rizal was with them and
she gave him all her attention.
• And in rainy days when Rizal stayed at home,
she helped him by mixing his colors for
painting or assisted in preparing the clay for
sculpturing”
Adios, London
• March 19, 1889 - he bade goodbye to the
kind Beckett family (particularly Gertrude)
and left London for Paris.
– He was sad as he crossed the English
channel, for he cherished so many
beautiful memories of London.