Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

University Town, Northern Samar

GE 9: LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

Prepared and Compiled by:

DANISE B. PETATE
CAC, Part Time Lecturer

NAME OF STUDENT: _______________________________________________________

COURSE & YEAR: __________________________________________________________
CLASS ID: _________________________________________________________________
 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNIT 2: RIZAL’S LIFE 3

ABROAD.............................................................................
.............
Introduction 3
……………………………………………………………………………………
Learning 3
Outcomes……………………………………………………………………………
Module 2: Rizal’s Life Abroad……………………………..…………………... 4
…………...
1. Course to Spain …………...……..………………………………. 4
……………………. 4
1.1 Singapore………………….. 4
……………………………………………………… 5
1.2 Singapore to 5
Colombo…………………………………………………………… 6
1.3 First Trip through Suez Canal……………….. 6
…………………………………. 6
1.4 Naples and Marseilles……….. 8
…………………………………………………..
1.5 In Barcelona……………..
…………………………………………………………
1.6 Life in
Madrid……………………………………………………………………...
1.7 First Visit to
Paris………………………………………………………………….
Learning Exercise #1.1
………………………………………………………………………..
2. Paris to Berlin………...………………………………..…………………………….. 9
…….. 9
2.1 At Heidelberg……………. 1
……………………………………………………….. 0
2.2 Leipzig and Dresden 1
…………………………………………………………….. 1
2.3 1
Berlin……………………………………………………………………………….. 2
Learning Exercise #2.1
………………………………………………………………………..
3. Noli Me Tangere Published in Berlin 1
……………………………………………… 3
3.1 Noli Me Tangere.. 1
………………………………………………………………… 3
3.2 Characters in the Novel……. 1
…………………………………………………….. 4
3.3 Summary of the 1
Novel…………………………………………………………… 5
Learning Exercise #3.21…. 1
…………………………………………………………………… 7
Rubrics 2
……………………………………………………………………………………......... 2

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

References 2
……………………………………………………………………………………... 3

2 : RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

INTRODUCTION
Hi, Welcome to Module 2!
Are you ready for another lesson? Okay, let us get started!

During our hero’s time, travelling is very limited to the lay Filipino, since it
was expensive. And also during that time, there were no airships that would
hastily bring people to a certain place as we have today. The major
transportation means were steamers, horse-power, trains, and foot. Rizal was not
merely a sightseer but a traveller who studies the culture of the places he visits.
He is also travelling to acquire more knowledge, most of which are sciences and
literature.

In this lesson, we will talk about the different travels of Rizal, the values
and knowledge he acquire, friends he met during his travels, the places he visits
and what happened there, and the special friends of Rizal. We will also deal with
the fascination of Rizal and the rather bad opinions in the places he visits. Lastly,
we will attempt to talk about the growth of our hero’s knowledge and acquiring
skills that would later spell downfall to the 333 years of Spanish reign.

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

 Explore the different travels of Rizal; and
 Determine the values, knowledge, and friendship he acquired during his
travels;

Now, let us properly begin our discussion!

Module 2: Rizal’s Life Abroad

I. COURSE TO SPAIN

Impelled by his desire to learn to perfect himself and to become more

useful to his people, Rizal left home and country and went to Europe in order to
educate himself.

Rizal’s departure to Spain was kept a secret to avoid detection by the

Spanish authorities and the friars. Even his own parents did not know because
his mother would not allow him to do so. Only his older brother, his uncle, his
sisters Neneng and Lucia, the Valenzuela family, Pedro Paterno, Mateo
Evangelista, the Ateneo Jesuit fathers, and some intimate friends. The Jesuit
priests gave him letters of recommendation to the members of the Society in
Barcelona. He used the name Jose Mercado.

Before his departure, he wrote a farewell letters for his beloved parents
and another for his sweetheart, Leonor Rivera.

On 03 May 1882, Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora

bound for Singapore. With tears in his eyes and gloom in his head, he gazed the
receding skyline of Manila. He then took his pencil and paper and sketched it as
it vanished in his view.

1.1 Singapore

During the voyage, he carefully observed the people

and things on board the steamer. There were 16 passengers.
He was the only Filipino and the rest were Spaniards, British,
and Indian Negroes. The captain of the ship, Donato Lecha

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

befriended Rizal. To kill boredom of the voyage, Rizal played chess with his
fellow passengers. He then defeated them many times, for he was a good chess
player.

On 09 May, the Salvadora docked at Singapore. He then stayed at Hotel

de la Paz and spent 2 days on a sightseeing soiree of the city. He saw the
famous Botanical Garden, the beautiful Buddhist temples, the busy shopping
district, and the statue of Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles, who was the founder of
Singapore.

1.2 Singapore to Colombo

After days of staying in Singapore, Rizal boarded the

ship Djemnah, which was a French steamer and left
Singapore for Europe on May 11. It was a larger and cleaner
vessel which carried more passengers. French was spoken
on board and Rizal attempted to converse with his fellow
passengers in French, but he found out that his book French
could not be understood, so he spoke a mixed Spanish-Latin
and with the help sketching on paper. By conversing daily with the French
passengers, he then was able to improve his knowledge of the French language.

On May 17, the Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seacoast town in southern
Ceylon. Rizal was unimpressed by this town. The following day, the voyage
resumed towards Colombo, the capital of Ceylon. After a few hours of sailing,
Rizal reached the city. He was amazed by Colombo because of this scenic beauty
and elegant building.
1.3 First Trip through Suez Canal

From Colombo, the Djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian
Ocean to the Cape coast of Africa. Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa, for the
first time, which he called an ‘inhospitable land but
famous.’

The next stopover was in Aden. He found the city

hotter than Manila and was amused to see the camels for it
was also his first time seeing them.

From Aden, the ship proceeded to the city of Suez, the

Red Sea terminal of Suez Canal. Upon arrival, Rizal
disembarked and went sightseeing. What impressed him most
was the beautiful moonlight which reminded him of Colombia
and his family.

The Djemnah took five days to traverse the Suez Canal.

Rizal was thrilled because it was his first trip through this
canal which was built by Ferdinand de Lesseps (image on the
right). At Port Said, Rizal landed in order to see the interesting sights. He was
fascinated to hear multi-racial inhabitants speaking a wide variety of language.

1.4 Naples and Marseilles

From Port Said, the ship proceeded on its way to Europe. On June 11, Rizal
reached Naples. The city please Rizal because of its business activity, its lively

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

people, and its scenic beauty. He was fascinated by the Mouth Vesuvius, the
Castle of St. Telmo, and other historic sights of the city.

On the night of June 12, the steamer docketed at the French harbour of
Marseilles. Rizal bid farewell to his fellow passengers. He visited the famous
Chateau D’if where Dantes was imprisoned. He stayed 2 and a half days in
Marseilles.

1.5 In Barcelona

On the afternoon of May 15, Rizal left Marseilles to proceed to Spain via
train. He crossed the Pyrenees and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port
Bou.

After the passport inspection at Port Bou, Rizal

continued his trip by rail, finally reaching Barcelona on 16 June
1882. His first impression of Barcelona was unfavourable. He
thought of it as an ugly, dirty, and its residents are
inhospitable. He later changed his impression and liked the
city. He found it as a great city, with an atmosphere of
freedom and liberalism. He also found its people as open-
hearted, hospitable, and courageous. He enjoyed promenading along Las
Ramblas which was the famous street in Barcelona.

Filipinos in Barcelona, were some of his classmates in Ateneo, welcomed

him. They gave him a party at Café Plaza de Cataluña. After toasts, Rizal in turn
gave them the latest news and gossips in the Philippines.

In Barcelona, Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay titled Amor Patrio, which

was his first written article on Spain’s soil. He then sent this article to Basilio
Teodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong Tagalog. Basilio was deeply impressed by
the article and congratulated Rizal, and asked the latter to publish more articles.

While living in Barcelona, Rizal received bad news about the cholera
outbreak ravaging Manila and the provinces. Many people died and more were
dying daily. Sad news was that his beloved Leonor Rivera was getting thinner
because of the absence of her loved one. Also, 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.

1.6 Life in Madrid

On 03 November 1882, Rizal enrolled in the

Universidad Central de Madrid. He took up courses –
Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. Aside from the
two major courses, he also studied painting and
sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando;
took lessons in French, German, and English under
private instructors; and assiduously practiced fencing
and shooting in the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell.

Rizal lived a simple life in Madrid and knew that he came to Spain to study
and prepare himself for the service of his fatherland. He budgets his money and
time and never wasted a peseta for gambling, wine and women. On Saturday

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

evening, he visits the home of Don Pablo Ortega y Rey who lived with his son
and daughter. Don Pablo has been city mayor of Manila.

Rizal then had a love affair with Consuelo Ortega y Perez, the
daughter of Don Pablo. Rizal, being a lonely man in a foreign
country and far from his natal land, was attracted by Consuelo’s
beauty and vivacity. Their love did not flourish because he was
still engaged to Leonor Rivera and a friend of Rizal is also in-love
with Consuelo.

1.7 First Visit to Paris

On June 1883, Rizal left Madrid to visit Paris. He

stayed at the Hotel de Paris, but then moved to a
cheaper hotel. Like all tourists, Rizal was charmingly
tiltillated by the attractive scenery of Paris, such as the
beautiful boulevards, the Opera house, the Place de la
Concorde, the Arch of Triumph, the Bois de Boulogne,
the Madeline Church, the Cathedral of Nitre Dame, the
Column of Vendome, the Invalides, and the Versailles.
Rizal closely observed the French way of life and
spending many hours at the museums.

In Spain, he became close with prominent Spanish liberal and republican

Spaniards, who were mostly Masons. Rizal was impressed by the way Spanish
Masons openly and freely criticized the government policies and lambasted the
friars. In March 1883, he enjoined 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. Later, he was transferred to Lodge Solidaridad where he
became a Master Mason on 15 November 1890. Still later, he was awarded the
diploma as Master Mason by Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.

After departure for Spain, things turned from bad to worse in Calamba.
Harvests failed on account of drought and locusts. Also the Dominican-owned
hacienda increased the rentals of the lands cultivated by the Rizal family. Due to
the crises, allowance of Rizal were many times late or sometimes never arrived,
causing too much suffering to him.

And on 20-22 November 1884, Rizal was involved in student

demonstration. They were fighting for Dr. Miguel Morayta, who proclaimed that
“the freedom of science and the teacher.” Such liberal view was condemned by
the Catholic bishops of Spain.

On 21 June 1885, 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 the subjects leading to
the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and
Letters with excellent ratings.

LET’S TAKE A BREAK!

GE 9: LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL Page |

LEARNING EXERCISE 1.1

Arrange the following events. Write letter A – E in the line before each
 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

2. PARIS TO BERLIN

After completing his studies in Spain, Rizal

went to Paris and Germany for his specialization in
opthalmology. He chose this course of medicine
because he wanted to cure his mother’s growing eye
ailment. He still hasn’t forgotten his ‘secret mission’ –
to observe the customs and lifestyle of the Europeans
so that someday, he will render servcie to his father
land.

In 1885, after completing his studies at Central

University of Madrid, he went to Paris in order to acquire more
knowledge in opthalmology. He was then 24. He stopped over
at Barcelona, on his way to Paris, to visit his friend
Maximo Viola (photo on the left) who is also a
medical student and a member of a rich family in
Bulacan. And on November that year, Rizal was
living in Paris, where he sojourned for about 4
months. He worked as an apprentice of Dr. Louis de
Weckert (photo on the right), who was then a leading French
opthalmologist. And with his master, his knowlede in opthalmology
improved.

While not working at Dr. Weckert’s clinic, Rizal visited his

friends, such as the family of Pardo de Taveras, Juan Luna and Felix
Resurreccion, Hidalgo.

Rizal spent many happy hours in the studio of

Luna. The latter discussed with Rizal various problems
on art and improved his own painting technique. Rizal
posed to some painting of Luna. He was one of the
Egyptian priests in Luna’s painting ‘The Death of
Cleopatra.’

2.1 At Heidelberg
Rizal left Paris on 1 February 1886. After acquiring enough experience in
the clinic of Dr. Weckert. He was set to go to Germany. He visited Strasbourg and
other German towns.

On 3 February 1886, he arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany,

famous for its old university and romantic surroundings. He lived in a boarding
house with some German law students. The German students found out that
Rizal was a good chess player and made him a member of the Chess Player’s
Club. After a few days, he was transferred to a boarding house which was near
University of Heidelberg. He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the
direction of Dr. Otto Becker and attended the lectures of Doctor Becker and Prof.
Wilhelm Kuehne at the University.

On weekends, he visited the scenic spots around Heidelberg which

includes the Heidelberg Castle, the romantic Neckar River,
the theater, and the old churces. Rizal noticed that the

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German Catholics and the Protestants practiced ecumenism wherein theu live
together in harmony and cordiality.

On 22 April 1886, spring on Heidelberg, he wrote a poem to the beautiful

blooming flowers at the Neckar River, To The Flowers of Heidelberg. Among
those was his favorite flower – the forget-me-not.

Rizal then spent 3-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld, a mountanous

village close to Heidelberg. He stayed at the vicarage of a kind Protestant pastor,
Dr. Karl Ullmer. He was very delighted in his stay at the Ullmers.

On 31 July 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 titled Aritmetica.
Delighted with Rizal, Blumentritt sent gift books to Rizal. This marked the
beginning of their long and frequent correspondence.

Rizal was fortunate to be sojourning in Heidelberg when the famous

University of Heidelberg held its 5th centenary celebration on 6 August 1886. It
was 3 days before his departure and he was sad because he had come to love
the land and the beautiful city.

2.2 Leipzig and Dresden

On 9 August 1986, three days after the 5th centenary of the University of
Heidelberg, Rizal left the city. He boarded a train and visited various cities of
Germany until arriving in Leipzig on 14 August 1986. He attended some lectures
in the University of Leipzig and befriended Professor Freidrich Ratzel, a famous
German historian, and Dr. Hans Mayer, a German anthropologist.

Rizal translated William Tell from German to Filipino so that filipinos might
know the story of that champion of Swiss Independence. He also translated into
filipino Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales.

Cost of living in Leizpig is the cheapest in Europe, so he stayed there for 2-

months and a half. During his stay, he corrected some chapters in his second
novel, and also had time for exercise. He also worked as a proof-reader in a
publishing firm and earning some money.

Rizal left Leizpig to set course in Dresden on 29 October 1886, where here,
he met Dr. Adolph Meyer, the director of the Anthropological and Ethnological
Museum. He stayed for only 2-days in the city. 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 a greater sublimity and intonation.”
And morning of November 1st, Rizal left Dresden by train, reaching Berlin in the
evening.

2.3 Berlin
Rizal like Berlin because of its atmosphere which was very
scientific and the absence of race prejudice. Also here, he met Dr.
Feodor Jagor (photo on the right), author of Travels in the
Philippines, a book that Rizal admired because of its keen
observances in the Philippine setting. Dr. Jagor, in turn,
introduced Rizal to Dr. Rudolf Vichrow, a famous anthropologist
and to his son, Dr. Hans Vichrow, professor of Descriptive

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

Anatomy. Rizal worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger, a famous
German opthalmologist.

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. Dr. Virchow recognized Rizal’s genius and invited him to give a
lecture before the Ethnographic Society of Berlin. Rizal wrote a scholarly paper
titled Taglische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art) which elicited favorable
comments from all scientific quarters.

He spends his leisure moments touring the country sides of Berlin and
observing the culture and life of the people. He also made sketches of the things
he saw. About observing culture, Rizal greatly admired the German Yuletide
custom, wherein Germans would take bushes from a pine tree and dress it up
with lanterns, papers, and candies. Another interesting custom in Germany is
that, when a man has nobody to intoduce him to the other guests, he bows his
head to the guests and introduces himself to the other guests and shakes hands
for everyone in the room.

Not all the experiences or 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 eat one meal a day and had to
wash his clothes himself because he could not afford to pay the laundry. On
Calamba, Paciano tried to raise money but crops have failed due to locusts and
the sugar market collapsed.

LET’S TAKE A BREAK!

LEARNING EXERCISE 2.1

IDENTIFICATION: identify the term being described in the following

sentences. Write the answer on the space provided.
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_____________________ 1. The head doctor of the eye clinic where Rizal

took his training in France.
 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

3. NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN

During Rizal’s stay in Berlin was unable to be published. But with the help
of Maximo Viola, who gave him necessary funds to publish his novel, Noli me
Tangere was published. Viola loaned Rizal money for publishing and for the
latter’s living expenses. With that, Rizal and Viola happily celebrated the
Christmas of 1886 in Berlin.

During the printing of the Noli, the chief of police in 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 also told him to secure a passport within 4-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 21 March 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 the sharpest pains.

The friends of Rizal hailed the novel, appreciated its content and deeply
touched and awakened by its fine truth. Of all the congratulatory letters received
by Rizal about Noli, that from Blumentritt was significant “First of all” wrote
Blumentritt, “accept my cordial congratulations for your beautiful novel about
customs which interests me extraordinarilly. Your work, as we German say, has
been written with the blood of the heart, and so the heart also speaks. I continue
reading it with much interest..”

However, other personalities in the Philippines especially the friars

criticized the novel because the gobernadorcillo in the country had the petition
to the Governor-General to remove the friars. So, the latter brought the novel
into censorship and they succeeded because the committee declared the novel
as anti-church and so ordered the ban of the novel and the imprisonment of the
people who had copies of the book.

3.1 Noli me Tangere

The Noli me Tangere was Rizal’s first novel which tackled the society and
government in the Philippines during the Spanish colonization. He used ‘ cancer’
as the metaphor of the Philippine society since like cancer, the sickness of our
society was untouched, growing to be chronic malady and incurable. In his novel,
he discussed how the friars deceived the Filipinos and made them blindly believe
in the practices of religion.

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

He used San Diego as the epitome of the Philippines, the events in San
Diego were based on his observation in political situations and society in our
country and also there were influences of the books that he had read while he
was in Europe, like the book of Harriet Beecher Stone titled Uncle Tom’s Cabin
which described the abuses experienced by the Africans under their American
masters and the book written by Eugene Sue titled The Wandering Jew.
3.2 Characters of the Novel

1. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra – he was the main character in the novel. A

gentleman who studied in Europe, full of idealism and dream to contribute
change in the society by the establishement of a school. He was the son of
Don Rafael Ibarra and the lover of Maria Clara. However, his good
intention failed because of Padre Damaso, who did everything against his
father and him. He was also a picture of a son who wanted justice for his
father who died because of injustice and abuse of others in their power.

2. Don Rafael Ibarra – he was the father of Crisostomo, a person who

belonged to the high part of the society but had a heart for the poor.
Dignified and a person of principles. A former friend of Padre Damaso and
because of the prestige and recognition that Don Rafael experienced,
Padre Damaso envied him and plotted different things against Don Rafael.
He was imprisoned because he helped a child under the abuse of a
Spaniard. Inside the prison, he died and Padre Damaso ordered that his
remains should be thrown in the river .

3. Elias – he was a rebel in the novel. He became friends with Crisostomo

when the latter saved him from the crocodile who attacked them. He
symbolized the less fortunate Filipinos who thought that uprising could be
a means in ending their poverty and abuse in the society.

4. Maria Clara – she was the girlfriend of Crisostomo, she symbolized a

Filipina who came from a good education, modest, faithdul, reserved, and
conservative.

5. Sisa – the mother of Crispin and Basilio. She came from a rich family and
married a man who was engaged in gambling. They became poor and
becayse her husband, Pedro did not want to work, her 2 children worked in
the church. Unfortunately, the Sakristan Mayor accused Crispin that he
got the seven silver coins of the church. Crispin was punished and later on
died in the hands of Sakristan Mayor. Sisa became insane due to her
search for Basilio and Crispin. Sisa symbolized a mother who would do
everything for the sake of her children.

6. Kapitan Tiago – he was Don Anastacio de los Santos and one of the
richest men in San Diego. He was known as the father of Maria Clara and
his house was often the venue for the gatherings in the town. Even though
he knew some of the irregularities in the government and society, he
would not do anything because he wanted to protect his properties. He
symbolized the Filipinos who were passive and thought of their welfare
first.

7. Padre Damaso – the head priest of San Diego for 20 years. He was a
former friend of Don Rafael Ibarra and the real father of Maria Clara. He

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

was envious, greedy and he would use his power to get what he want. He
symbolized the abusive leaders of the church and society.

8. Doña Victorina – she was the wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a doctor.
She was a social cliber and dreamed to be part of the upper society. She
symbolized the Filipinos who would give up their principles and identities
as a Filipino just to be part of the higher society.

9. Doña Patrocino – she had an ilicit love affair with the Alferez. Although
she had bad attitudes and habits, she wanted to hide it by being prayerful.
She symbolized the Filipinos who always prayed and joined the activities
in the church just to hide her bad attitudes.
10. Pilosopo Tasio – he was considered insane in the novel due to his
intelligence and his assertiveness in speaking his mind. However,
Crisostomo Ibarra often referred to him for truth and knowledge. He
symbolized a filipino who was intelligent and spoke for his principles.

3.3 Summary of the Novel

Don Crisostomo Ibarra returned to San Diego after his stay in Europe for
his studies. He learned about the death of his father because of sickness inside
the prison. He attended a dinner in the house of Don Tiago to see his girlfriend,
Maria Clara but in the same place he also saw Padre Damaso who had negative
remarks about him because he practiced the behaviour that he learned from
Europe. During the dinner, Padre Damaso got mad because Crisostomo got the
meaty part of the chicken tinola when he only got the neck part. Señor Guevarra,
a friend of his father, told Crisostomo about the misfortune that his father
suffered.

The knowledge about the misfortune of his father led him to seek justice
and to know the persons behind this injustice. The next day, he was able to talk
to Maria Clara and renew their relationship and after their conversation, he went
to the cemetery to seek justice for his father. From there, he knew that Padre
Damaso was the one behind the sufferings of his father.

On his travel to different parts of San Diegom he met Pilosopo Tasio with
whom he had the conversation about the school that he wanted to build for the
reform of the society. He also learned about the story of Sisa who became insane
due to the search for her 2 sons who were abused by the Sakristan Mayor. In
the midst of insanity, she only uttered the name of Basilio and Crispin.

The friends of Crisostomo and Maria Clara had the picnic in the river. While
riding in a boat, a crocodile attacked the group. Elias dove into the water but the
crocodile overpowered him, so Crisostomo also dove into the water and saved
Elias. And this was the start of their friendship. So during the ground breaking of
the school that Crisostomo planned to build, Elias saved the latter from the plan
of assassination against him.

The search for justice and his good intention of building school for poor led
Padre Damaso to hate Crisostomo, so he always delivered negative comments
and criticism to Crisostomo during his homily. And because he knew that Padre
Damaso was the person behind the death of his father, in one dinner, he
attempted to kill Padre Damaso but Maria Clara pleaded to him because Padre
Damaso was her true father. Crisostomo escaped after the incident.

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The people had an uprising against the government but it was not
successful. And Crisostomo was accused to be the leader of the said uprising.
Elias helped him to escape and before they left, they went to the house of Maria
Clara. Unfortunately, the Guardia Civil knew that they were there so after bidding
goodbye to Maria, the 2 jumped to the water to escape. The guardia civil shot
Elias thinking that he was Crisostomo, and as the 2 jumped into the water, the
truth was hidden from the authorities. Crisostomo went to the cemetery to bury
the body of Elias and in the same place, there was Basilio who also buried the
body of her mother, Sisa. It was only Basilio who knew the truth about
Crisostomo. At the end of the novel, the readers observed that evil things could
overshadow the good principles of the other people.

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LET’S TAKE A BREAK!

LEARNING EXERCISE 3.1

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the letter of the correct answer and write it down on
the space provided in each item.

_____ 1. Which was NOT a reason why Rizal went to Berlin?

A. To publish Noli me Tangere
B. To observe the social and economic conditions
C. To mingle with fellow scientists
D. To publish El Filibusterismo

_____ 2. Which was NOT TRUE about Noli me Tangere?

A. It was originally a project that would be made with other
propagandists
B. It was only published through the financial help of Maximo
Viola
C. It was well received by everyone who read it
D. It was written well in Spanish

_______ 3. How do we translate the title Noli me Tangere in English?

A. Touch Me Never
B. Touch Me Here
C. Touch Me Not
D. Don’t Touch Me

_______ 4. Which was NOT TRUE about the title of Noli me Tangere?
A. The title served to confuse the readers
B. The title was taken from a passage from the Bible
C. The title referred to a social cancer
D. The title was Latin

_______ 5. Which was TRUE about the social cancer Rizal talks about?
A. It referred to vanity
B. It referred to the Spaniards
C. It referred to a chronic ailment that haunts society
D. It referred to nothingness.

_______ 6. What was the solution proposed by Jose Rizal in Noli me Tangere
to cure this social cancer?
A. Education
B. Revenge
C. Religion
D. Revolution

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

_______ 7. Who was Crisostomo Ibarra?

A. A young man who studied in Europe and believed in a
revolution
B. A young man who studied in Europe and believed in
Catholicism to save his country
C. A young man who studied in Europe and believed in
educational reform
D. A young man who studied in Europe and believed in nihilism

_______ 8. Why Crisostomo Ibarra was considered an IDEALIST?

A. Because he relied on what was happening around him
B. Because he believed that a revolution could solve anything
C. Because he believed that God could solve anything
D. Because he believed in a certain utopia that must be
achieved

_______ 9. Who was Maria Clara?

A. A young woman who was narcissistic
B. A young woman who was kind-hearted
C. A young woman who questioned the church
D. A young woman who was liberated

_______ 10. Which is NOT TRUE about Maria Clara?

A. She represented all the women in the Philippines due to her
devotion to the Church
B. She was the biological daughter of Padre Damaso
C. She was the beloved of Elias
D. She was the one who sang a song while having a picnic

_______ 11. Who was Padre Damaso?

A. An arrogant and corrupt friar
B. A very generous and respectful friar
C. An arrogant but loving friar
D. A philanthropic and humane friar

_______ 12. Which was TRUE about Padre Damaso and the tinola?
A. He loved the tinola he received
B. He disliked the tinola because he received the wing and
breast part
C. He disliked the tinola because he received the neck and wing
part
D. He ate all of it and asked for more

_______ 13. How did Maria Clara find out about her real relationship with Padre
Damaso?
A. She received a letter written by Pia Alba from Padre Salvi that
tells all about it
B. Padre Damaso confessed to her about it
C. Ibarra investigated Damaso and found out about it
D. She sneaked into the friar’s chamber and found out about it

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

_______ 14. Which was TRUE about Elias?

A. He was an arrogant man
B. He was formerly a rich man
C. He was considered a lunatic
D. He was really a doctor in disguise

_______ 15. How many times did Elias save Ibarra’s life?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four

_______ 16. Which among these statements could describe the dynamic
between Crisostomo Ibarra and Elias?
A. They viewed life differently yet they concur with one another
B. They had similar views on life
C. They did not see eye to eye that was why they had some kind
of conflict between them
D. They had no significant dynamic at all

_______ 17. Which is NOT TRUE about Pilosopo Tasio?

A. He was often called a lunatic because of his ideas
B. He was an intellectual who was formerly a rich man
C. He acted like a medical doctor
D. He wrote in hieroglyphics so that common people may not
understand his writings

_______ 18. Who was Rizal’s inspiration in Pilosopo Tasio’s character?

A. Paciano Rizal
B. Teodora Alonzo
C. Marcelo H. Del Pilar
D. Himself

_______ 19. In honor of Leonor Rivera or Taimis, which character in Noli me

Tangere was created?
E. He loved the tinola he received
F. He disliked the tinola because he received the wing and
breast part
G. He disliked the tinola because he received the neck and wing
part
H. He ate all of it and asked for more

_______ 20. Which was TRUE about Doña Victorina?

A. She was a self-conceited woman who wanted to become a
Spaniard
B. She was a kind-hearted woman who helped the poor
C. She was the woman who became insane
D. She was the mistress of the Alferez

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

_______ 21. Who was Sisa?

A. She was an apathetic mother
B. She was a loving mother
C. She was an indifferent mother
D. She was a selfish mother

_______ 22. What happened to Basilio and Crispin?

A. They were abused by the sacristan mayor
B. They were abused by the friars
C. They were abused by the guardia civil
D. They were abused by their mother

_______ 23. Why Crisostomo Ibarra did threatened Padre Damaso, up to the
point that he pointed a knife at the friar?
A. Because Padre Damaso insulted Crisostomo
B. Because Padre Damaso exposed his love to Maria Clara
C. Because Padre Damaso insulted Don Rafael Ibarra
D. Because Padre Damaso threw a fork at Ibarra

_______ 24. What happened to the father of Crisostomo Ibarra?

A. He was imprisoned by committing treason
B. He was imprisoned by committing battery
C. He was imprisoned by committing thievery
D. He was imprisoned by committing homicide

_______ 25. What was the reason behind Sisa’s insanity?

A. She lost her children
B. She was abused by her husband
C. She was taking illegal drugs
D. She was depressed

_______ 26. At the end of the novel, what happened to Maria Clara?
A. She was married to Crisostomo Ibarra
B. She was married to Alfonso Linares
C. She entered the convent
D. She was raped by Padre Salvi

_______ 27. Why was the Noli me Tangere considered as an attempt to

create an imagined community?
A. Because it was a work of fiction, hence, Rizal just imagined its
setting, plot, and characters
B. Because San Diego and its characters could be considered as
the microcosm of the Philippines
C. Because everything in the “Noli” was just a figment of Rizal’s
imagination
D. Because Rizal was high on drugs when he wrote the novel

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

_______ 29. Why Maximo Viola is considered as the saviour of Noli me

Tangere?
A. He lend Jose Rizal the amount of 300 pesos to publish the
novel
B. He lend Jose Rizal an amount of 400 pesos to publish the
novel
C. He lend Jose Rizal an amount of 200 pesos to publish the
novel
D. None of the above

_______ 30. To whom did Crisostomo Ibarra entrusted his secret?

A. Sisa
B. La Grande Dame
C. Basilio
D. Elias

ESSAY: Answer the following based on your interpretation or on what you

have learned and write your answers on the spaces provided. Enjoy!

1. How would you describe Noli me Tangere as a classical romantic

novel?
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________.

2. How did Noli me Tangere come into being as a political novel?

___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________.

3. Where did the concept of Noli me Tangere came from?

___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________.

4. Describe Maria Clara as a character in Noli me Tangere.

___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________.

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Rubrics for Essay Learning Exercises:

CRITERIA 4 3 2 1
Information is
Information is
slightly Information is
very organized The
organized in a organized but
Organizati in a well- information
well- paragraph(s)
on constructed appears to be
constructed are not well-
paragraph or disorganized.
paragraph or constructed.
paragraphs.
paragraphs.
Information Information
Information
relates to the relates to the
partially relates Information has
topic. It topic. It
to the topic. No little or nothing
Content provides a lot provides few
details and/or to do with the
of supporting supporting
examples are topic.
details and/or details and/or
given.
examples. examples.
Main points
Main points
well developed Main points are Main points
well developed
with high present with lack detailed
with quality
quality and limited detail development.
supporting
Developm quantity and Ideas are
details and
ent support. development. vague with
quantity.
Reveals high Some critical little evidence
Critical thinking
degree of thinking is of critical
is weaved into
critical present. thinking.
points.
thinking.
Spelling,
punctuation,
Essay is free of Essay has few
Most spelling, and
distracting punctuation
punctuation, grammatical
spelling, and
and grammar errors create
punctuation, grammatical
Grammar correct distraction,
and errors allowing
& allowing reader making reading
grammatical reader to follow
Mechanics to progress difficult;
errors; absent ideas clearly.
through essay. fragments,
of fragments, Very few
Some errors comma splices,
comma splices, fragments or
remain. run-ons
and run-ons. run-ons.
evident. Errors
are frequent.
Meets all
formal and
Meets format
assignment
Meets format and
requirements Fails to follow
and assignment
and evidences format and
assignment requirements;
attention to assignment
requirements; generally
detail; all requirement;
margins, correct
margins, cover format,
Format spacing, and margins,
spacing and incorrect
indentations spacing, and
indentations indentations;
are correct; indentations;
are correct; neatness of
essay is neat essay is neat
essay is neat essay needs
and correctly but may have
and correctly attention.
assembled. some assembly
assembled with
errors.
professional
look.

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 MODULE 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

REFERENCES

Books:
 Francisco, V., Francisco, P.M., Papel, R. O. Rizal: A Modular Approach.
Mindshapers Co., Inc. Manila. 2017
 Zaide, G., Zaide, S.O. JOSE RIZAL: Life, Works, & Writings of a Genius,
Writer, Scientist, and National Hero. All Nations Publishing Co., Inc.
Manila. 2nd Edition
 Zulueta, F.M. Rizal: Life, Works, and Ideals. National Book Store.
Mandaluyon. 2010

GE 9: LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL Page |