Rizal in France:
1. Education and Medical Training (1885-1886):
○ Rizal went to Paris after completing his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid in Spain.
○ He pursued further studies in ophthalmology, working under Dr. Louis de Wecker, a renowned French
ophthalmologist, to specialize in eye treatment and surgery.
○ While in Paris, he also refined his knowledge of the French language and immersed himself in the artistic
and intellectual culture.
2. Writing and Intellectual Activities:
○ Rizal was exposed to liberal ideas in France, which shaped his political and social views.
○ He continued writing his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, which he had begun in Spain.
○ Rizal also frequented the Louvre and became acquainted with European art and history, which enriched his
understanding of Filipino culture in relation to European civilization.
3. Intellectual Circles:
○ Rizal interacted with the Filipino expatriate community in Europe, as well as European intellectuals and
reformers, further influencing his beliefs about reform and nationalism.
Rizal in Germany:
1. Further Medical Studies and Research (1886-1887):
○ After his stay in France, Rizal moved to Germany to complete his medical specialization in ophthalmology.
○ He trained under Dr. Otto Becker in Heidelberg, one of the leading medical institutions for eye care at the
time.
○ While in Germany, Rizal's discipline and work ethic earned him high regard from his mentors.
2. Cultural Exposure and Intellectual Growth:
○ Rizal became fluent in the German language and was highly influenced by German philosophy, particularly
the ideas of Kant and Schiller.
○ In 1887, he published Noli Me Tangere in Berlin, a novel that exposed the abuses of the Spanish colonizers
and the Catholic Church in the Philippines. This work was a turning point in his advocacy for Filipino rights
and reforms.
3. The Scientific and Academic Network:
○ Rizal also joined scientific societies, including the Anthropological Society of Berlin. His anthropological
interests made him study Filipino identity and culture in a more scholarly way.
4. Friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt:
○ While in Germany, Rizal developed a close friendship with Austrian scholar Ferdinand Blumentritt, who
became his confidant and ally in his reformist endeavors. Blumentritt provided Rizal with moral support and
insights into the European intellectual climate.
The Hero’s Journey to Martyrdom:
1. Return to the Philippines (1892):
○ Despite warnings from friends, Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892 to continue his peaceful campaign
for reforms under Spanish rule. He founded La Liga Filipina, a reformist organization aimed at uniting
Filipinos for social change.
2. Exile in Dapitan (1892-1896):
○ Rizal’s reformist ideas and advocacy for peaceful change were viewed as subversive by the Spanish
authorities. He was arrested and exiled to Dapitan, where he continued his medical practice, community
development projects, and scientific research.
3. The Philippine Revolution:
○ Despite his insistence on peaceful reform, Rizal’s writings inspired the Katipunan, a revolutionary movement
led by Andrés Bonifacio, which sought independence through armed struggle.
○ Rizal distanced himself from the Katipunan, as he believed the Philippines was not yet prepared for a
revolution, but his ideas were undeniably influential in sparking the revolutionary spirit.
4. Arrest and Execution (1896):
○ In 1896, during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, Rizal was arrested and falsely accused of being
the leader of the revolt.
○ He was sentenced to death by a Spanish military court and executed by firing squad on December 30,
1896, in Bagumbayan (now Luneta Park). His martyrdom made him a symbol of Philippine nationalism and
the struggle for independence.
