PEOPLE  Lucia Rizal - married Mariano

Herbosa. One of their children is

 Jose Protacio Reolonda Alonso
Delfina, who helped Mrs. Marcela M.
Mercado Rizal Agoncillo make the first Filipino flag.
 Domingo Lam-Co - Rizal's paternal  Maria Rizal - married Daniel Faustino
ancestor. Married to Inez de la Rosa. Cruz of Binan, Laguna.
Rizal's great great grandfather who
adopted the surname Mercado in  Concepcion Rizal - Died at the age
1731. of three

 Rizal was baptized by Fr. Rufino  Josefa Rizal - did not marry
Collantes, while Fr. Pedro Casañas
stood as Rizal's godfather.  Trinidad Rizal - also did not marry

 Francisco Mercado y Chinco - Rizal's  Soledad Rizal - married Pantaleon

father Quintero. She studied at La
Concordia College where she and
 Teodora Alonso - Rizal's mother and Leonor Rivera were classmates.
first teacher

 His mother was thrown into prison

SIBLINGS and charged with conspiracy with
her brother, Alberto Reolonda, to kill
 Saturnina Rizal - married to Manuel
his wife. She was imprisoned in
Hidalgo. Doña Saturnina published
Santa Cruz. She was released
Pascual H. Poblete's Tagalog
because of her child, Soledad.
translation of Noli Me Tangere.
 Brigida De Quintos - She was
 Paciano Rizal - Rizal's brother.
considered a Lorenzo Alberto's other
General of the Philippine Revolution.
woman considering the latter's
 Narcisa Rizal - married Antonio marriage to Paula Florentino.
Lopez. It is said the she could recite
 Theodora Formoso - Jose Alberto's
from memory all the poems of Jose
wife who accused Donya Teodora of
Rizal
poisoning her.
 Olympia Rizal - married Silvestre
 Rizal inherited his passion for
Ubaldo. One of their children was
literature from his uncle Gregorio
Aristeo, a retired physician and
Alonso.
professor at the Philippine General
Hospital and College of Medicine,
University of the Philippines,
respectively.  PRIVATE TUTORS - Maestro
 Celestino*, Maestro Lucas Padua  Senators who pursued killing the
and Leon Monroy Rizal bill - Senator Decoroso
Rosales, Mariano J. Cuenco, and
 *The hero's first tutor in Calamba Francisco Rodrigo
 Father Leoncio Lopez - Rizal's love
for scholarship and intellectual
pursuits was an influence of the  Father Magin Ferrando was the
town priest of Calamba during his college registrar.
boyhood.
 Manuel Xeres Burgos - the reason
 His teacher was Dr. Justiniano why Rizal was admitted at Ateneo
Aquino Cruz when he was sent to a
boys' school at the age of nine.  Rizal's first professor in the Ateneo
was Fr. Jose Bech. whom he
 GOMBURZA - Fr. Mariano Gomez, Fr. described as a "tall, thin man, with a
Jose Burgos, and Fr. Jacinto Zamora body slightly bent forward, a harried
walk, an ascetic face, severe and
 Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez inspired, small deep-sunken eyes, a
remarked that Rizal was becoming sharp nose that was almost Greek,
proficient in Spanish. He inspired the and thin lips forming an arc whose
young Rizal to study harder and to ends fell toward the chin."
write poetry.
 Father Jose Vilaclara, advised him
 Senator Claro M. Recto was the to stop communing with the Muses
original author of the bill which and pay more attention to more
would make Rizal's Noli Me Tangere practical studies, such as philosophy
and El Filibusterismo compulsory and natural sciences.
reading in all universities and
colleges.  He studied painting under the
famous Spanish painter, Agustin
 Senator Jose P. Laurel authored the Saez, and sculpture under Romualdo
RIZAL LAW believing that the great de Jesus, noted Filipino sculptor.
ideals and principles for which the
hero died must be imbibed into the  Rizal, to develop his weak body,
minds of the youths. engaged in gymnastics and fencing.
He thereby continued the physical
 Catholic Action of Manila - Rizal bill train- ing he began under his sports-
faced strong opposition from the minded Tio Manuel
Catholic Church through this
organization which urged the public  Father Lleonart, impressed by
to write letters to their Rizal's sculptural talent,requested
representatives in Congress for him to carve for him an image, of the
killing the bill. Sacred Heart of Jesus.
 Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of the became best of friends and became
Ateneo, advised Rizal to take his admirer
medical course
Rizal in Berlin
 Cervantes - Spain's glorified man-of-
 Rizal met Dr. Feodor Jagor, great
letters anf famous author of Don
scientist and author of “Travels in
Quixote
the Philippines”, one of the books
 D. N. del Punzo - won the second Rizal admired during his student
price on the literary contest (1880) days.

 Dr. Miguel Morayta was an advocate  He also met Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a
of freedom and self-determination. famous German Anthropologist; his
He was expelled from the university son Dr. Hans Virchow, a professor in
and his supporters who considered anatomy; and Dr. Wilhelm. Joest, a
him as their champion clashed with German Geographer.
their opponents in the campus and
 MAXIMO VIOLA - Rizal’s friend from
in the streets of Madrid.
Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the
 The notable members of CIRCULO height of Rizal despondency and
HISPANO-FILIPINO included Jose loaned him the needed funds to
Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano publish the novel; Savior of Noli
Lopez Jaena and Juan Luna.

 Dr. Louis de Weckert - He is the

leading French Ophthalmologist
during the period. He is the leading Romance of Rizal
authority among the oculists of
France, who found Rizal such a  Segunda Katigbak was Rizal's first
competent student and made him love, a pretty fourteen-year old
his clinical assistant. Batangueña from Lipa. In Rizal's own
words: "She was rather short, with
 Ferdinand Blumentritt was born in eyes that were eloquent and ardent
Prague on September 10, 1853. He at times and languid at others, rosy-
studied History at Prague University. cheeked, with an enchanting and
When his correspondence with Rizal provocative smile that revealed very
began, he was 33 years and was a beautiful teeth, and the air of a sylph;
master teacher at Leitmeritz. her entire self diffused a mysterious
Blumentritt was among the first to charm."
receive the earliest copies of Noli Me
Tangere.  "Miss L" - describing her as "fair with
seductive and attractive eyes".
 Dr. Karl Ulmer is a kind protestant
pastor. Rizal stayed at his home and  Leonor Valenzuela (Orang) who was
 a tall girl with a regal bearing. He the local fiesta.
sent her love notes written in
invisible ink.  In 1869, at the age of eight, he
wrote the poem "Sa Aking mga
 Leonor Rivera - his cousin from Kabata"
Camiling, was a frail, pretty girl
"tender as a budding flower with  At the age of nine, he wrote
kindly, wistful eyes". In her letters to "Mother's Birthday" to express
Rizal, Leonor signed her name as his deep love for his mother.
"Taimis," in order to camouflage
 When he was nine years old, he
their intimate relationship from their
was sent to a boys' school in
parents and friends.
Biñan, Laguna.
 In Pakil, Rizal was infatuated by a
 On June 6, 1868, the young Rizal
pretty girl colegiala, Vicenta
with his father had a pilgrimage
Ybardolaza, who skillfully played the
to the Virgin of Peace and Good
harp at the Regalado home.
Voyage in Antipolo.
 Rizal had feelings with Consuelo
 February 17, 1872 - Three priest
Ortiga y Rey, one of the two
were implicated in the mutiny,
daughters of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey,
tried, and sentenced to die.
a Spanish liberal who lived in the
Philippines during dela Torre’s rule.  Four months after the
He wrote her a poem “ A la Senorita martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za, he
C.O. y R. " was sent off to a school in
Manila. He attended Ateneo
Municipal in Intramuros.
DATES
 When the Jesuits, who had been
 June 19, 1861 - Rizal was born. expelled from the Philippines in
1768, returned in 1859, they
 June 22, 1861 - Rizal was were given the management of
baptized the Escuela Pia, whose name
was changed to Ateneo
 At the age of three, he was able
Municipal, and later became the
to read and he began to take part
Ateneo de Manila.
in the family prayers.
 On July 10, 1872, Jose took the
 At five years old, he was able to
entrance exam at the College of
read the Spanish family bible
San Juan de Letran and passed
(historia sagrada).
them.
 In 1868, at the age of seven,
 It is said that he wrote Mi
Jose Rizal wrote a comedy for
 Primera Inspiracion before he surveying course, but he could
was 14 years old, that is, in the not be granted the title as
year 1874. surveyor because he was below
age. The title was issued to him
 On June 16, 1875, he became an on November 25, 1881.
interno in the Ateneo.
 In 1879, he submitted his poem
 During the summer vacation of "A la Juventud Filipina" for the
1876, he wrote the requested poetry contest and won the first
religious drama in poetic verses prize.
at his home in Calamba and
finished it on June 2, 1876.  On December 8, 1880, students
of Ateneo presented his drama
 On Commencement Day, March "Beside the Pasig" as a play.
23, 1877, Rizal, who was 16
years old, received from his Alma  In the summer month of May,
Mater, Ateneo Municipal, the 1881, Rizal went on a pilgrimage
degree of Bachelor of Arts, with to the town of Pakil, famous
highest honors. shrine of the Birhen Maria de los
Dolores

 In 1880, he founded a secret

 In April 1877, Rizal who was then society of Filipino students in the
nearly 16 years old, matriculated University of Santo Tomas called
in the University of Santo Tomas, Compañerismo (Comradeship),
taking the course on Philosophy whose members were called
and Letters. "Companions of Jehu,"
 It was during the following term
(1878-79) that Rizal, having
received the Ateneo Rector's Travels of Dr. Jose Rizal
advice to study medicine, took
 On May 3, 1882, Jose Rizal secretly
up the medical course.
left the country aboard S.S.
 During his first school term in Salvadora bound for Singapore,
the University of Santo Tomas using a passport under the name
(1877-78), Rizal also studied in Jose Mercado
the Ateneo. He took the
 After arriving in Singapore, he stayed
vocational course leading to the
title of perito agrimensor (expert at the Hotel dela Paz for two days.
surveyor). Subsequently, he transferred to
another ship, the Djemnah, a French
 At the age of 17, he passed the streamer, which departed from
final examination in the Singapore for Europe on May 11,
 1882. by Francisco Calvo. This was the
First article he wrote abroad.
 Rizal arrived at Point Galle and
described it as picturesque yet  Because of lack of funds, the paper
lonely, quiet, and somewhat ceased publication on October 31,
melancholic in his travel diary. He 1882
left Point Galle for Colombo at 7:30
a.m.  November 3, 1882 - he went to
Madrid and enrolled in medicine at
 Upon arriving in Colombo in the the Universidad Central de Madrid.
afternoon, he resumed his journey in He enrolled in two courses: Medicine
the evening. He landed at Aden and Philosophy and Letters at the
around 8:30 a.m., where he noted Universidad Central de Madrid.
that the city was hotter than Manila.
Rizal was also amused by seeing
camels for the first time during his  In 1884, Juan Luna and Felix
observations in Aden. Resurreccion Hidalgo won top prizes
 JUNE 2, 1882 - Rizal arrived at the in the National Exposition of Fine
Suez Canal on his way to Marseilles Arts. Luna won the 1st place for his
and was struck by the beautiful Spolarium which depicted the
moonlight, which reminded him of corpses of dead Roman gladiators
Calamba and his family. being dragged under the bowels of
the Coliseum while Hidalgo garnered
 After disembarking, Rizal explored 2nd prize for his Christian Virgins
the City of Naples for an hour, Exposed to the Populace (Virgenes
marking his first time setting foot on Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho).
European soil.

 Upon reaching Marseilles at ten

 MARCH 1883 - He joined the
o'clock in the evening, he spent the
Masonic Lodge called ACACIA
night on board. During his stay in
Lodge No. 9 under the Gran Oriente
Marseilles, he visited the famous
de España. He aimed to secure
Chateau d’If, where the hero of "The
Freemasonry's aid in his fight in the
Count of Monte Cristo," Edmond
Philippines. He used the symbolic
Dantès, was imprisoned.
name “Dimasalang”.
 August 1, 1882 - the Diariong
 NOVEMBER 1883 - He transferred to
Tagalog was founded, the first
LODGE SOLIDARIDAD, where he
Philippine bilingual newspaper.
become a Master Mason
 AUGUST 20, 1882 - His article "Amor
 JUNE 1885 - Rizal received his
Patrio" was published in the Diarong
Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters
Tagalog, a Manila newspaper edited
 and Licentiate in Medicine from the  Mother's Birthday
Universidad Central de Madrid.
 The first poem Rizal probably wrote
 From Madrid, Rizal went to Paris in during his days in the Ateneo was Mi
1885 and continued his medical Primera Inspiración (My First
studies under Dr. Louis de Weckert. Inspiration) which he was dedicated
to his mother on her birthday.
 Rizal left Paris to Germany and
arrived on February 3, 1886 in
Heidelberg - a historic city in
Germany famous for its old In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez,
university and romantic he wrote more poems, as such:
surroundings. Rizal worked under  1. Felicitación (Felicitation).
the distinguished German
ophthalmologist, Dr. Otto Becker, at  2. El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de
the University Eye Hospital Magallanes. (The Departure: Hymn
to Magellan's Fleet).
 NOVEMBER 1886 - Rizal arrived in
Berlin. He was enchanted by the  3. Y Es Español: Elcano, el Primero
scientific atmosphere and the en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is
absence of racial prejudice in Berlin. Spanish: Elcano, the First to
Circumnavigate the World).
 FEBRUARY 21, 1887 - the Noli was
finally finished and ready for printing  4. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de
Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror
 Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action- of Jolo).
Gesselschaft - a printing shop which
charged the lowest rate, that is, 300
pesos for 2,000 copies of the novel
In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on
 MARCH 21, 1887 - the Noli Me various topics - religion, education,
Tangere came off the press childhood memories, and war. They
were as follows:
 MARCH 29, 1887 - Rizal gave Viola
the galley proofs of the Noli carefully  1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In
rolled around the pen that he used in Memory of My Town). A tender
writing the novel and a poem in honor of Calamba, the
complimentary copy hero's natal town.

 2. Alianza Intima Entre la Religión y

la Buena Educación (Intimate
WRITINGS Alliance Between Religion and Good
 Sa Aking mga Kabata - Rizal's first Education). - Rizal showed the
poem importance of religion in education.
 To him, education without God is projected expedition of Columbus to
not true education. the New World.

 3. Por la Educación Recibe Lustre la  3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor

Patria (Through Education the Desdicha (Great Solace in Great
Country Receives Light). - He Misfortune). This is a legend in verse
believed in the significant role which of the tragic life of Columbus)
education plays in the progress and
welfare of a nation.  4. Un Diálogo Alusivo a la Despedida
de los Colegiales (A Farewell
 4. El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla Dialogue of the Students). This was
de Lucena y Prision de Boabdil (The the last poem written by Rizal in
Captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Ateneo; it is a poignant poem of
Lucena and the Imprisonment of farewell to his classmates.
Boabdil). This martial poem
describes the defeat and capture of
Boabdil, last Moorish sultan of
Granada.
Rizal's Religious Poems
 5. La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes
Catolices en Granada (The  Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus) -
Triumphal Entry of the Catholic This poem was written in 1875 when
Monarchs into Granada). This poem he was 14 years old.
relates the victorious entry of King
 A la Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary)
Ferdinand and Queen Isabel into
Granada, last Moorish stronghold in
Spain.
 San Eustacio, Martir (St. Eustace, the
Martyr) - Father Sanchez, requested
A year later, in 1877, he wrote more him to write a drama based on the
poems. It was his last year in the prose story of St. Eustace the Martyr.
Ateneo. Among the poems written
 A La Juventud Filipina (To the
that year were:
Philippine Youth)
 1. El Heroismo de Colón (The
 The Council of the Gods - was based
Heroism of Columbus). This poem
on the Greek classics. The allegory
praises Columbus, the discoverer of
established a parallel among Homer,
America.
Virgil, and Cervantes.
 2. Cólon y Juan II (Columbus and Other Literary Works
John II). This poem relates how King
John II of Portugal missed fate and  Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig) - a
riches by his failure to finance the zarzuela which was staged by
 Ateneans on December, 1880 declaimed during the New Year’s Eve
reception of the Madrid Filipinos
 A Filipinas (1880) - for the album of held in the evening of December 31,
the Society of Sculptors. 1882
 Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma - he  While in Madrid, a request had come
composed a poem, which was from the Philippines for Jose to
declaimed by Manuel Fernandez, on write a song to celebrate the raising
the night of December 8, 1879 in of Lipa Batangas into a villa. In
honor of the Ateneo's Patroness. response, Rizal wrote a poem titled
“Hymn to Work” which arrived in the
 Al M. R. P. Pablo Ramon (1881) - this
Philippines after the celebration had
peom is an expression of affection
passed.
to Father Pablo Ramon.
 Inspired by the blooming flowers of
the university city along the Neckar
Life in Barcelona River, he wrote the poem " To the
Flowers of Heidelberg."
 He wrote an essay entitled “EL
AMOR PATRIO”(Love of Country) -
nationalistic essay, Rizal’s first
LAWS
article written on Spain’s soil. Under
his pen-name Laong Laan. It was  Republic Act 1425 - It is otherwise
published in two texts – Spanish and known as Rizal Law, which
Tagalog – the Spanish text was the mandates the teaching of the life,
one originally written by Rizal in works and writings of Rizal in all
Barcelona, the tagalog text was a schools in the country
Tagalog translation made by M.H.
del Pilar  Act No. 243 - This law provided the
authorization for public to erect a
 His next article was entitled “LOS monument in honor of Rizal in
VIAJES” (Travels) and followed by Luneta
“REVISTA DE MADRID” (Review of
Madrid), but the latter was returned  Act No. 137 - This law created the
because the publication was ceased province of Rizal
because of lack of funds.
 Act No. 346 - This law set aside the
anniversary of Rizal’s death as a day
of observance.
 Me Piden Versos (They Ask Me For
Verses)- upon the request of the  CHED Memo No. 3, Series of 1995 -
members of this society, Rizal wrote This CHED Memorandum was
this poem which he personally issued to strictly implement Rizal
 Law in the universities and colleges. frail Calamba boy progressed rapidly.
At the end of the month, he became
 Royal Decree of 1849 by Governor "emperor"
Narciso Claveria - The surname
Rizal was adapted by virtue of a  To improve his Spanish, Rizal took
royal decree commanding the private lessons in Santa Isabel
Filipinos to use Spanish surnames. College during the noon recesses.

 In the second half of his first year in

the Ateneo, Rizal did not try hard
EVENTS
enough to retain his academic
 Martyrdom of GOMBURZA - This supremacy which he held during the
event is a turning point in the life of first half of the term. This was
Rizal and the dawn of Filipino because he resented some remarks
nationalism. Without this event of his professor. He placed second
which took place in 1872, Rizal at the end of the year, although all
might have been a priest. his grades were still marked
"Excellent".
 Rizal’s first taste of injustice was
the imprisonment of his beloved  When the summer vacation ended,
mother. Rizal returned to Manila for his
second year term in the Ateneo. This
 The registrar at Ateneo Municipal time he boarded inside Intramuros
refused to admit Jose for two at No. 6 Magallanes Street. His
reasons: (1) he was late for landlady was an old widow named
registration and (2) he was sickly Doña Pepay
and undersized for his age.
 Rizal's prophecy became true. Barely
 He first boarded in a house outside three months passed, and suddenly
Intramuros, on Caraballo Street, 25 Doña Teodora was set free.
minutes' walk from the college. This
boarding house was owned by a  One day he carved an image of The
spinster named Titay who owed the Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling
Rizal family the amount of P300. (Philippine hardwood) with his
Jose boarded with her in order to pocket-knife.
collect part of the debt.
 Anecdotes on Rizal, the Atenean.
 Being a newcomer and knowing little One of Rizal's contemporaries in the
Spanish, Rizal was placed at the Ateneo was Felix M. Roxas. He
bottom of the class. He was an related an incident of Rizal's
externo, hence he was assigned to schooldays in the Ateneo which
the Carthaginians, occupying the end reveals the hero's resignation to pain
of the line. After the first week, the and forgiveness. One day many Ate-
 neans, including Rizal, were studying  Rizal, recording his first and tragic
their lessons at the study- hall. Two romance, said: "Ended, at an early
Ateneans, Manzano and Lesaca, hour, my first love! My virgin heart
quarreled and vio- lently hurled will always mourn the reckless step
books at each other. Rizal, who was it took on the flower-decked abyss.
busy at his desk poring over his My illusions will return, yes, but
lessons, was hit in the face by one indifferent, uncertain, ready for the
of the thrown books. He did not first betrayal on the path of love."
raise a cry of protest, although his
wounded face was bleeding. His  Doña Teodora, who knew what
classmates brought him to the happened to Gom-Bur-Za, vigorously
infirmary where he had to undergo opposed the idea and told her
medical treatment for several days. husband: "Don't send him to Manila
After the incident, he continued to again; he knows enough. If he gets
attend his classes, feeling neither to know more, the Spaniards will cut
bitterness nor rancor towards the off his head."
guilty party.
 He enrolled in Philosophy and Letter
 Another anecdote on Rizal the for two reasons: (1) his father liked it
Atenean was related by Manuel and (2) he was "still uncertain as to
Xeres Burgos. This anecdote what career to pursue".
illustrates Rizal's prediction to help
 One dark night in Calamba, during
the helpless at the risk of his own
the summer vacation in 1878, he
life. One Thursday afternoon, being
was walking in the street. He dimly
vacation day, the boys flew their
perceived the figure of a man while
kites from the azotea. Young Rizal
passing him. Not knowing the
then was busy reading a Spanish
person due to darkness, he did not
book of fables at the window. After a
salute nor say a courteous "Good
while he heard Julio Meliza from
Evening". The vague figure turned
Iloilo, one of the smallest boarders,
out to be a lieutenant of the Guardia
crying because his kite was caught
Civil. With a snarl, he turned upon
by the vines growing on the belfry of
Rizal, whipped out his sword and
the Manila cathedral which was near
brutally slashed the latter on the
the boarding-house. The bigger boys
back.
were laughing, making fun of Julio's
misfortune. Rizal closed the book he The wound was not serious, but it
was reading and told Julio not to cry, was painful. When he recovered,
for he would try to retrieve the kite. Rizal reported the incident to
True to his promise he courageously General Primo de Rivera, the
climbed the high cathedral tower Spanish governor general of the
and successfully recovered the kite. Philippines at that time.
  In the year 1879 the Liceo Artistico- •Legalization of Spanish and Filipino
Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) equality
of Manila, a society of literary men
•Creation of a public school system
and artists, held a literary contest.
independent from friars
 The following year (1880) the
•Abolition of polo and vandala
Artistic-Literary Lyceum opened
another literary contest to •Equal opportunity for Filipinos and Spanish
commemorate the fourth centennial to enter government service
of the death of Cervantes.

 Rizal was the champion of the

Filipino students in their frequent  Rizal joined the CIRCULO HISPANO-
fights against the arrogant Spanish FILIPINO. It is an association formed
students. by Filipino students in Spain
composed both Filipinos and
 After finishing the fourth year of his Spaniards led by Juan Atayde.
medical course, Rizal decided to
study in Spain. He could no longer  The organization published the
endure the rampant bigotry, Revisita del Circulo Hispano –
discrimination, and hostility in the Filipino, a newspaper aiming to
University of Santo Tomas. Thus, express thoughts on the abusive
Rizal's parents, Leonor, and the Spanish government.
Spanish authorities knew nothing of
his decision to go abroad in order to
finish his medical studies in Spain.  Rizal gave a speech at the banquet
emphasizing that the two are the
His first trip abroad and his secret mission
pride of the Filipino people and that
 To observe keenly the life and genius knows no race. He stated
culture, languages and customs, that the hold of Spain over the
industries and government and laws Philippines was rapidly ending. The
of the European nations speech was mentioned at the
newspaper El Liberal and the news
 To prepare himself for the mighty about it reached the Philippines.
task of liberating his oppressed Some elements in the country were
people from Spanish tyranny. displeased and it was said that Rizal
made enemies with his speech.
Rizal’s specific goals were:

•Representation of the Philippines in the

Spanish Cortes RIZAL’S REASON IN STAYING IN
BERLIN
•Secularization of the clergy
1. To gain further knowledge in • Vienna, Lintz and Salzburg in
Ophthalmology Austria

2. To further his studies of sciences • Munich and Ulm Germany

and languages;
• Switzerland
3. To observe the economic and
political conditions of the German • Milan, Venice and Rome before he
nation; boarded Djemnah in Marseilles,
France bound for the Philippines
4. To associate with famous German
scientists and scholars;

5. To publish his novel, Noli Me

Tangere.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Making of Noli Me Tangere  The townspeople of Calamba called
The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin him "Pepe" or "Pepito"
was Rizal’s darkest winter because
 Memorias de un Estudiante de
no money arrived from Calamba and
Manila by P. Jacinto - Rizal's diary
he was flat broke. The diamond ring
his sister, Saturnina, gave him was  Mercantilism - This is an economic
in the pawnshop. It was memorable doctrine based on the idea that a
in the life of Rizal for two reasons: country’s economic wealth and
power can be measured in its stocks
(1)It was a painful episode, for he
of gold and silver.
was hungry, sick, and despondent in
a strange city  Canovite / Rotaticism- The liberals
and conservatives in Spain took
(2) it brought him great joy after
turns in administering the affairs of
enduring so much suffering,
the country.
because his first novel, Noli Me
Tangere came off the press in  The amalgamation of the church and
March 1887 state during Rizal’s time is called
frailocracy

 The story of the moth is the story

Grand Tour of Rizal with Viola
told by Rizal’s mother which left a
• Visited Blumentritt at Leitmeritz deep impression on Rizal's mind
from May 13-17, 1887 about “death of a martyr

• Brunn and Prague  Escuela Pia -> Ateneo Municipal ->

 Ateneo de Manila - was formerly a  Rizal was also a member of the
school for boys in Manila which was Academy of Spanish Literature and
established by the city government the Academy of Natural Sciences.
in 1817. It is a college under the These "academies" were exclusive
supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. societies in the Ateneo, to which
only Ateneans who were gifted in
 Intramuros - "within walls" literature and sciences could qualify
 Students were divided into two for membership.
groups, namely: the "Roman Empire"  Another reason why he chose
consisting of the internos (boarders) medicine for a career was to be able
and the "Carthaginian Empire" to cure his mother's growing
composed of the externos (non- blindness.
boarders).
 The first prize consisted of a silver
 Each of these empires had its ranks. pen, feather-shaped and decorated
The best student in each "empire" with a gold ribbon (1879) and a gold
was the emperor; the second best, ring on which was engraved the bust
the tribune; the third best, the of Cervantes (1880)
decurion; the fourth best, the
centurion and the fifth best, the  This winning poem of Rizal is a
standard-bearer. classic in Philippine literature for two
reasons: First, it was the first great
 The first favorite novel of Rizal was
poem in Spanish written by a
The Count of Monte Cristo by Filipino, whose merit was
Alexander Dumas. recognized by Spanish literary
 He persuaded his father to buy him a authorities, and secondly, it
costly set of Cesar Cantu's historical expressed for the first time the
work entitled Universal History nationalistic concept that the
According to Rizal, this valuable Filipinos, and not the foreigners,
work was of great aid in his studies were the "fair hope of the
and enabled him to win more prizes Fatherland".
in Ateneo  Rizal and his companions were
 Later Rizal read Travels in the fascinated by the famous turumba,
Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a the people dancing in the streets
German scientist-traveler who during the procession in honor of the
visited the Philippines in 1859-1860. miraculous Birhen Maria de los
Dolores.
 He was an active member, later
secretary, of a religious society, the  Years later Rizal mentioned the
Marian Congregation. Turumba in Chapter VI of Noli Me
Tangere and Pagsanjan Falls in his
 travel diary (United States Saturday,  Practiced fencing and shooting at
May 12, 1888), where he said that the Hall of Arms in Sanz y Carbonell.
Niagara Falls was the "greatest
cascades I ever saw" but "not so
beautiful nor fine as the falls at Los
 Licentiate is an undergraduate
Baños, (sic) Pagsanjan".
similar to the Bachelor’s degree with
 He was unhappy at this Dominican a more vocational focus.
institution of higher learning
 Rizal failed to complete his
because (1) the Dominican profes-
doctorate in medicine because he
sors were hostile to him, (2) the
did not submit his doctoral thesis.
Filipino students were racially
discriminated against by the
Spaniards, and (3) the method of
instruction was obsolete and  During his free time, he visited his
repressive fellow countrymen – Pardo de
Taveras (Trinidad, Felix and Paz) and
 In his novel, El Filibusterismo, he Juan Luna. Rizal posed in Luna’s
described how the Filipino students canvass like, “The Blood Compact”
were humiliated and insulted by their in which he posed as Sikatuna and
Dominican professors and how Trinidad as Legaspi. He also posed
backward the method of instruction for a group picture called “The Death
of Cleopatra” wherein he dressed as
 Because of the unfriendly attitude of an Egyptian.
his professors, Rizal, the most
brilliant graduate of the Ateneo,
failed to win high scholastic honors.
 UNCLE TOM’S CABIN by HARRIET
BEECHER STOWE & THE
WANDERING JEWS by EUGENE SUE
 The Suez Canal, built by French - inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel
diplomat-engineer Ferdinand de that would depict the miseries of his
Lesseps and inaugurated on people under the lash of Spanish
November 17, 1869, connected him tyrants.
to Port Said, the Mediterranean
terminal of the canal.  The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin
phrase which means “Touch Me
 Academy of Fine Arts of San Not”. It is not originally conceived by
Fernando – Rizal studied painting Rizal, for he admitted taking it from
and sculpture. the Bible. Rizal mistakenly wrote to
 Took lesson in French, German and Felix R. Hidalgo that the words were
English at the Academy of San taken from the gospel of St. Luke. It
Carlos. should be the Gospel of John 20:13-
 17.

 Noli was dedicated to the

Fatherland.