TRAVELS OF RIZAL AND HIS WORKS
A.RIZAL’S FIRST TRAVEL ABROAD
SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)
- Rizal’s secret mission is to observe keenly the life
and culture, languages and customs, industries and
commerce, and government and laws of the European
nations in order to prepare himself in the great task of
liberating his oppressed people from the Spanish
tyranny.
Jose Mercado- Rizal’s used name in order to avoid
detection from Spanish authorities
SINGAPORE
- May 3, 1882 Rizal departed on board through
Spanish Streamer Salvadora
Hotel De LA paz- where Rizal registered for 2 days
sightseeing soiree of the city which was a colony of
England
FROM SINGAPORE TO COLOMBO
-May 11,1882- Uses another ship djemnah a French
streamer
Colombo-Capital of Ceylon- scenic beauty and elegant
buildings
City of Suez-the red sea terminal of suez canal built by
Ferdinand de lesseps inaugurated November 17, 1869
NAPPLES AND MARSIELLES
-June 11, 1882 rizal reached napples
Italian city known for business activity ,lively people and
panaromic beauty
June 12, 1882-streamer docked at the French harbor of
Marseilles- famous chateau d’lt where Dantes, hero of
the count of monte cristo was imprisoned.
Barcelona
- May 15, 1882 – Rizal left Marseilles by train for
the last lap of his trip to Spain.
- June 16, 1882 – he reached Madrid.
- Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled “Amor
Patrio” which was his first written article on
Spain’s soil under his pen name Laong Laan. He
then sent his article to Basilio Teodoro Moran,
publisher of Diariong Tagalog.
- While living in Barcelona, his beloved Leonor
Rivera was getting thinner because of the
absence of her loved one.
- Paciano advised Rizal to continue his medical
course in Madrid. Heeding his advice, Rizal left
Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and proceeded to
Madrid.
MADRID
- On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in
Universidad Central de Madrid and took up two
courses – Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.
- He also studied painting and sculpture in the
Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, and he
also took lessons in French, German, and
English.
- Rizal then had a love affair with Consuelo
Ortiga y Perez. (daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga y
Rey) Their love did not flourish because he was
still engaged to Leonor Rivera and a friend of
Rizal is also in-love with Consuelo.
- Me Piden Versos – he wrote this poem which he
personally declaimed during the New Year’s Eve
reception of the Madrid Filipinos (December 31,
1882)
PARIS
- On June 1883, Rizal left Madrid to visit Paris
- In Spain, he became close with prominent
Spanish liberal and republican Spaniards, who
were mostly Masons. Rizal was impressed by
the way the Spanish Masons openly and freely
criticized the government policies and
lambasted the friars.
- In March 1883, he joined the Masonic lodge
called Acacia in Madrid. His reason for joining
was to secure Freemasonry’s aid in his fight
against the friars in the Philippines.
- He was transferred to Lodge Solidaridad where
he became a Master Mason on November 15,
1890.
- Science, Virtue and Labor – Rizal’s only Masonic
writing
- On June 21, 1884 Rizal completed his medical
course in Spain. He was conferred the degree of
Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad
Central de Madrid. In the next academic year,
he studied and passed al subjects leading to the
degree of Doctor of Medicine. On June 19,
1885, Rizal also finished his studies in
Philosophy and Letters with excellent ratings.
PARIS TO BERLIN
- Rizal went to Paris for his specialization in
ophthalmology.
- He worked as an apprentice of Dr. Louis de
Weckert, who is a then, a leading French
ophthalmologist.
 - Rizal posed to some painting of Juan Luna. He
was one of the Egyptian priests in Luna’s
painting “The Death of Cleopatra.
- Alin Mang Lahi – a patriotic song written by
Rizal which asserts that any race aspires
freedom
AT HEIDELBERG
- On February 3, 1886, he arrived in Heidelberg, a
historic city in Germany famous for its old
university and romantic surroundings.
- On April 22, 1886, spring on Heidelberg, he
wrote a poem to the beautiful blooming flowers
at the Neckar River entitled “A Las Flores de
Heidelberg”. Among those was his favorite
flower—the forget-me-not.
- On July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first letter in
German to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt.
Rizal heard that Blumentritt was interested in
the Philippine languages. Along with the letter
was a book entitled Aritmetica. Delighted with
Rizal, Blumentritt send gift books to Rizal.
LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
- August 9, 1886 – Rizal left Heidelberg and
reached Leipzig in August 14, 1886.
- During his stay, he corrected some chapters in
his second novel
- He heard the Holy Mass in a Catholic church
which greatly impressed him, for he wrote
“Truly I have never in my life heard a Mass
whose music had greater sublimity and
intonation”.
BERLIN
- Rizal liked Berlin because of its atmosphere
which was very scientific and the absence of
race prejudice.
- he met Dr. Feodor Jagor author of Travels in the
Philippines, a book that Rizal admired
- Rizal worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest
Schweigger, a famous German ophthalmologist.
- Rizal was the first Asian to be accorded with
honors for being a member of the
Anthropological Society, the Ethnological
Society, and the Geographical Society of Berlin.
- Rizal wrote a scholarly paper entitled Taglische
Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art) which elicited
favorable comments from all scientific quarters.
- Not all the experiences of Rizal in Germany
were good, there is this one winter time
wherein he lived in poverty because no money
arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke.
During that time, he only eats one meal a day
and had to wash his clothes himself because he
could not afford to pay the laundry.
- Noli Me Tangere during Rizal’s stay in Berlin was
unable to be published. But with the help of
Maximo Viola, who gave him the necessary
funds to publish the novel, Noli Me Tangere was
published. Viola loaned Rizal money for
publishing and for Rizal’s living expenses.
- During the printing of the Noli, the chief of
police Berlin paid a sudden visit to Rizal’s
boarding house. The chief asked for Rizal’s
passport, but Rizal couldn’t show any. The chief
told him to secure a passport within four days,
otherwise he would be deported.
- Rizal failed in obtaining his passport and
presented himself at the German police office,
politely apologizing for his failure. The police
then told him that Rizal was suspected as a
French spy because he came from Paris and
knew the language of the French people so
well. Rizal explained in German to the police
that he was not a French spy, but a Filipino
physician and scientist. With that, he was
allowed to stay freely in Germany.
- On March 21, 1887, the Noli Me Tangere came
off the printing press. Rizal immediately sent
copies to his intimate friends, including
Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio Jaena, Mariano Ponce,
and Felix R. Hidalgo. As a token of his
appreciation and gratitude, Rizal gave Viola the
galley proofs of Noli carefully rolled around the
pen that he used in writing. It also has a
dedication “To my dear friend, Maximo Viola,
the first to read and appreciate my work—Jose
Rizal.”
- Noli Me Tangere was solely dedicated to the
Philippines. He described the Philippines as a
patient with cancer that even with the most
careful touch; it awakens in it the sharpest
pains.
Grand Tour of Europe
- After the publication of Noli, Rizal planned to
visit the important places in Europe. Rizal
received his money from Paciano worth 1,000
pesos. He immediately paid viola the sum of
300 pesos from his kind loan.
RIZAL’S SECOND TRIP ABROAD
The Trip to Hongkong
 February 3, 1888- Rizal left Manila for Hongkong
 February 8, 1888- Rizal arrived in Hongkong on
board the Zafiro
 Jose Sainz de Varanda- shadowed Rizal’s
movement in Hongkong and commissioned by
Spanish authorities to spy Rizal
Visit to Macao
 Rizal described this city as small, low and gloomy
Romantic Interlude in Japan-1888
 Stayed for one month and half, met Seiko Isui (O-
Seiu- San).
Rizal’s Visit to United States-1888
 His visit marred with racial prejudice and saw the
discriminatory treatment of chinese and negros by
the white americans.
Rizal had good and bad impressions of the United
States. The good impressions were (1) the material
progress of the country as shown in the great cities,
huge farms, flourishing industries and busy factories (2)
the drive and energy of the American people (3) the
natural beauty of the land (4) the high standard of living
(5) the opportunities for better life offered to poor
immigrants
· One bad impression Rizal had of America was the lack
of racial equality: “America is the land par excellence of
freedom but only for the whites”
Rizal in London(1888-1889)
Three reasons:
 To improve his knowledge of english language
 To study and annotate Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas
 London was a safe place for him to carry on his
fight against Spanish tyranny
Greatest achievement of Rizal was the annotating of
Morga’s book, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas which was
published in Mexico.
Paris- September 1888
“Is the costliest capital in Europe”
Spent most of the time reading Bibliothique Nationale
Science, Virtue and Labor- Rizal’s only Masonic writing
Spain - December 11, 1888
Visiting Madrid and Barcelona and met for the first time
Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Marizano Ponces, two titans of
the Propagand Movement
Europe
-Rizal becomes the leader of Filipinos in Europe
Solidaridad Association- patriotic society which
cooperate in the crusade for reforms
Graciano Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newspaper
called La Solidaridad in February 15, 1889
The Filipino Farmers- Rizal’s first article which appeared
in La Solidaridad published on March 25, 1889
Articles Published in La Solidaridad
1. To La Defensa- reply to an anti Filipino writing of
Spanish author Patricio de la Escosura
2. The Truth of All- Rizal’s defense against the Spanish
charges that the native local officials were ignorant and
depraved
3. Vicente Barrante’s Teatro Tagalo- Rizal exposes
Barrabte’s ignorance on Tagalog theatical art
4. A profanation- a bitter attack against the friars for
denying Christian Burial to Mariano Herbosa in Calamba
the brother-in-law of Rizal
5. New Truths- reply to Vicente Belloc Sanchez’ letter
which asserted granting of reforms in the Philippines
would ruin the “peaceful and maternal rule of the
friars”
6. Cruelty- brilliant defense of Bluementritt from attack
of his enemies
7. Differences- reply to biased article entitled “Old
Truths” which ridiculed those Filipinos who asked
reforms
8. Inconsequences- defense of Antonio Luna against the
attack of Pablo Mir Deas in the Barcelona newspaper El
Puieblo Soberano
9. Tears and Laughter- denunciation of Spanish racial
prejudice against brown Filipinos
10. Ingratitude- reply to Governor General Valeriano
Weyler while visiting Calamba told the people that they
“should not allow themselves to be deceived by the
vain promises of their ungrateful sons”
Writings in London
The Vision of Fray Rodriguez- pamphlet wrote by Rizal
which published in Barcelona in order to defend his
novel
Letter to the Young Women of Malolos- famous letter
wrote by Rizal
-this letter is to praise the young ladies of Malolos for
their courage to establish a school where they could
learn Spanish
Two articles of Rizal contributed to Dr Reinhold Rost,
editor of Trubner’s Record
1. Specimens of Tagal Folklore
2. Two Eastern Fables
Rizal’s Second Sojourn in Paris and The Universal
Exposition-1889
Kidlat Club- founded by Rizal to bring together young
Filipinos in the French capital
R.D.L.M SOCIETY- mysterious society founded by Rizal in
Paris during the Universal Exposition of 1889
ANNOTATED EDITION OF MORGA PUBLISHED- Rizal’s
outstanding achievement in Paris
The Philippines Within a century- article written by Rizal
wich he expressed his views on the Spanish colonization
in the Philippines
The Indolence of the Filipinos- other essay of Rizal is
also a prestigious work of historical scholarship. Rizal
made a critical study of the causes why people didn’t
work hard during Spanish regime
Por Telefono- another satrical work as a reply to
another slanderer, Fr. Salvador Font- mastermind of
banning Noli Me Tangere
Life in Brussels
MISFORTUNES IN MADRID-(1890-91)- Rizal immediately
sought help of th Filipino colony, The Association
Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspaper in
securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants.
1. Jose Ma. Panganiban- his talented co-worker in
the propaganda movement.
2. Aborted duel with ANTONIO LUNA- bitter
because of frustrated romance with NELLIE
BOUSTEAD.
3. RIZAL CHALLENGES RITANA TO DUEL- rizal’s
bitter enemy of the pen, a talented Spanish
scholar was then a press agent of the friars in
spain. Used to attacked Filipinos in various
newspaper and wrote an article in LA EPOCA-
Says rizal’s family didn’t ay rent so they need to
be ejected which insulted rizal to immediately
sent his seconds to retana through a duel
4. INFIDELITY TO LEONOR RIVERA- a letter from
Leonor announcing her marriage to an
englisman
5. RIZAL-DEL PILAR RIVALRY- toward the closing
days of 1890 phere arose an unfortunate rivalry
for supremacy.
BIARRITZ VACATION- to seek solace for his
disappointments in Madrid.
Febraury 1891- Frustrated in romance rizal
found consolation in writing while wooing
Nellie, enjoying so many magnificient moonlight
nights with her.
March 29, 1891- the eve of his departure from
Biarritz to paris he finished the manuscript of El
Filibusterismo.
EL FILIBUSTERISMO PUBLISHED IN GHENT
(1891)- rizal was busy revising and polishingthe
manuscript of el filibusterismo begun October
1887-1881 in London.
July 5, 1891 Rizal left Brussels for Ghents
because of less cheaper printing cost and
escaping the enticing attraction of Pelite
Suzzane.
VALENTIN VENTURA- the one who sent rizal the
necessary fund, savior of fili.
September 18, 1891- EL FILIBUSTERISMO came
of the press.
OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONGKONG- (1891-
1892). Rizal left Europe to hongkong and
establishes his own clinic.
BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT- Rizal
planned to move the landless Filipinos to North-
Borneo.
WRITINGS IN HONGKONG-
‘‘Ang mga karapatan nang Tao” translation of
“The Rights Of Man” proclaimed by the French
revolution(1789).
A la Nacion Espanola- (To the Spanish Nation),
1891 which is an appeal to Spain to right the
wrongs done to the Calamba tenants.
Sa Mga Kababayan( To The Countrymen)-
December, 1891, another proclamation
explaining the calamba agrarian situation.