RIZAL IN SPAIN
After Jose Rizal’s fourth year in medical studies in Santo Tomas, the University of Higher Learning in the Philippines whom Rizal was disgusted of its primitive method of instruction and the racial prejudice of Dominican Professors against Filipino students, he was brought to realization that pursuing further studies abroad will be much better.
During that time the government of Spain was constitutional monarchy where human rights were protected and considered specifically freedom of speech, of press, and of assembly that were all denied in the Philippines. Such atmosphere of freedom lured Jose Rizal to travel to Spain not only to study but also to carry out his secret mission that he long been conceived with the approval of his brother Paciano.
Secret Mission – to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
His Journey for Spain
The departure of Jose Rizal for Spain was kept secret from Spanish authorities, friars and even to his parents especially to his mother because she would not allow him to go. Only handful of family members and trusted family friends were informed. In order to avoid detection, he used the name Jose Mercado, name of his cousin in Calamba. Before his departure, he scribbled farewell letters to his parents and his sweetheart Leonor Rivera.
On May 3, 1882 he boarded on Salvador bound for Singapore. He was the only Filipino passenger. The captain of the ship, Donato Lecha from Asturias Spain, befriended him although some Spaniards who spoke ill of the Philippines peeved him. To while away his boredom he played chess and always came out victorious for he was truly a good chess player. They landed on Singapore on May 9 and registered to Hotel de la Paz and spent a couple of days sightseeing.
Studies Completed in Spain
He was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid on June 21, 1884. The next academic year, he studied and passed all subjects leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine. However, he did not submit the thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees. He was not awarded his Doctor’s Diploma.
Jose Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters with higher grades. He was awarded the Degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by the Universidad Central de Madrid on June 19, 1885 (his 24th birthday) with the rating of excellent.
Rizal faced financial problems after two years in Madrid. Due to locust invasions and droughts that destroyed the farms back home, his monthly allowances were late and there times where they did not even arrive at all.
He was also popular in Madrid and on one occasion was invited as a guest speaker in a banquet held in honor of Juan Luna and Felix R. Hidalgo, sponsored by the Filipino community to celebrate the victory of their first and second prizes in a national fine arts exposition. A part of his speech goes:
I drink to the health of our artists: Luna and Hidalgo, legitimate and pure glories of two peoples; I drink to the health of the persons who have lent them a helping hand on the dolorous path of art. I drink to the health of Filipino youth, sacred hope of my Native Land, that may imitate such precious examples so that Mother Spain, solicitous and heedful of the welfare of her provinces implement soon the reforms she has contemplated for a long time. The furrow is ready and the ground is not sterile. And I drink finally for the happiness of those parents who deprived of the tenderness of their children, from those distant regions follow them with moist eyes, and palpitating hearts across seas and space, sacrificing on the altar of the common welfare the sweet consolations that are so scarce in the twilight of life, precious and lonely winter flowers that sprout along the snow white boarders of the grave.
Here he gave a speech which was applauded and greeted with ovations. The speech showed his already developing spirit of nationalism.
Rizal later soon after received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and continued working for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then traveled to Berlin where his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, was printed with the help of a rich friend, Dr. Maximo Viola.
After publishing Noli Me Tangere with the assistance of his rich friend, Dr. Maximo Viola, the novel was praised by friends but caught the attention of his enemies who condemned it as expected.
Rizal even stated.
The government and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting my statements, but I trust in the God of Truth and in the persons who have actually seen our sufferings.
Shortly after, Jose Rizal finally met his close friend and long time writing companion, Dr. Blumentritt at a railroad station in Czechoslovakia, for the first time.
After five years in Europe, Jose Rizal finally left for his hometown, Calamba. He wanted to live a peaceful life as a doctor, but because of his novel, friars were enraged. He came home disregarding Paciano’s warnings and that of his friend, Blumentritt.
Rizal came back home to:
1.) Operate on his mother’s eyes
2.) Find out first hand how his novel affected the country
3.) Determine the cause of Leonor Rivera’s silence
After Jose Rizal’s fourth year in medical studies in Santo Tomas, the University of Higher Learning in the Philippines whom Rizal was disgusted of its primitive method of instruction and the racial prejudice of Dominican Professors against Filipino students, he was brought to realization that pursuing further studies abroad will be much better.
During that time the government of Spain was constitutional monarchy where human rights were protected and considered specifically freedom of speech, of press, and of assembly that were all denied in the Philippines. Such atmosphere of freedom lured Jose Rizal to travel to Spain not only to study but also to carry out his secret mission that he long been conceived with the approval of his brother Paciano.
Secret Mission – to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
His Journey for Spain
The departure of Jose Rizal for Spain was kept secret from Spanish authorities, friars and even to his parents especially to his mother because she would not allow him to go. Only handful of family members and trusted family friends were informed. In order to avoid detection, he used the name Jose Mercado, name of his cousin in Calamba. Before his departure, he scribbled farewell letters to his parents and his sweetheart Leonor Rivera.
On May 3, 1882 he boarded on Salvador bound for Singapore. He was the only Filipino passenger. The captain of the ship, Donato Lecha from Asturias Spain, befriended him although some Spaniards who spoke ill of the Philippines peeved him. To while away his boredom he played chess and always came out victorious for he was truly a good chess player. They landed on Singapore on May 9 and registered to Hotel de la Paz and spent a couple of days sightseeing.
Studies Completed in Spain
He was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid on June 21, 1884. The next academic year, he studied and passed all subjects leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine. However, he did not submit the thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees. He was not awarded his Doctor’s Diploma.
Jose Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters with higher grades. He was awarded the Degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by the Universidad Central de Madrid on June 19, 1885 (his 24th birthday) with the rating of excellent.
Rizal faced financial problems after two years in Madrid. Due to locust invasions and droughts that destroyed the farms back home, his monthly allowances were late and there times where they did not even arrive at all.
He was also popular in Madrid and on one occasion was invited as a guest speaker in a banquet held in honor of Juan Luna and Felix R. Hidalgo, sponsored by the Filipino community to celebrate the victory of their first and second prizes in a national fine arts exposition. A part of his speech goes:
I drink to the health of our artists: Luna and Hidalgo, legitimate and pure glories of two peoples; I drink to the health of the persons who have lent them a helping hand on the dolorous path of art. I drink to the health of Filipino youth, sacred hope of my Native Land, that may imitate such precious examples so that Mother Spain, solicitous and heedful of the welfare of her provinces implement soon the reforms she has contemplated for a long time. The furrow is ready and the ground is not sterile. And I drink finally for the happiness of those parents who deprived of the tenderness of their children, from those distant regions follow them with moist eyes, and palpitating hearts across seas and space, sacrificing on the altar of the common welfare the sweet consolations that are so scarce in the twilight of life, precious and lonely winter flowers that sprout along the snow white boarders of the grave.
Here he gave a speech which was applauded and greeted with ovations. The speech showed his already developing spirit of nationalism.
Rizal later soon after received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and continued working for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then traveled to Berlin where his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, was printed with the help of a rich friend, Dr. Maximo Viola.
After publishing Noli Me Tangere with the assistance of his rich friend, Dr. Maximo Viola, the novel was praised by friends but caught the attention of his enemies who condemned it as expected.
Rizal even stated.
The government and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting my statements, but I trust in the God of Truth and in the persons who have actually seen our sufferings.
Shortly after, Jose Rizal finally met his close friend and long time writing companion, Dr. Blumentritt at a railroad station in Czechoslovakia, for the first time.
After five years in Europe, Jose Rizal finally left for his hometown, Calamba. He wanted to live a peaceful life as a doctor, but because of his novel, friars were enraged. He came home disregarding Paciano’s warnings and that of his friend, Blumentritt.
Rizal came back home to:
1.) Operate on his mother’s eyes
2.) Find out first hand how his novel affected the country
3.) Determine the cause of Leonor Rivera’s silence