Jose Rizal Life and Writings
On February 28, 1888, a year after the publication of Noli Me Tangere, and six months after his arrival in the Philippines, José Rizal sailed from Manila again, by "advice" of the government. The letters he wrote back home show how his heart ached at going, yet his judgment told him that it was best for him to go. The phenomenal effect of Noli Me Tangere made it clear that Rizal could wield a mighty influence through his pen, but to write the truth he would have to go to some country where he would be free from spies or plots. The spot he chose was the Library of the British Museum, the greatest library in the world.
Rizal's own story of his voyage to England, written to his friend Mariano Ponce after he reached London, will interest Filipinos and Americans alike. (01) Nearly every sentence of the first paragraph was packed with fateful significance:
"When I set forth I was already ill, and soon became seasick. We reached Hong Kong, which delighted me. There I was introduced to some leading Spaniards, one of them Varanda, who was, they said, Secretary to General [Emilio] Terrero. I traveled about with him several days, especially on a trip which Varanda, Basa, and I took to Macao, to see that Portuguese colony; and to visit Mr. Lecaroz, in whose house we were guests. Lecaroz, Basa, and the other Filipinos of Hong Kong are partisans and promoters of the book Noli Me Tangere. In Hong Kong I investigated many important matters, for example concerning the riches of the Dominicans, concerning their missions, concerning the Augustinians, etc. There I came to know D. Balbino Mauricio, (02) an unfortunate man worthy of a better fate, and his acquaintanceship was useful for me, for it prepared me for a fate which may be much worse!"
Let us pause to clarify several allusions:
(1) Varanda, the Spaniard, was under orders of the Spanish government not to leave Rizal out of his sight, and he seldom did.
José Maria Basa
(2) Mr. José Maria Basa had been exiled in 1872, a
Rizal's own story of his voyage to England, written to his friend Mariano Ponce after he reached London, will interest Filipinos and Americans alike. (01) Nearly every sentence of the first paragraph was packed with fateful significance:
"When I set forth I was already ill, and soon became seasick. We reached Hong Kong, which delighted me. There I was introduced to some leading Spaniards, one of them Varanda, who was, they said, Secretary to General [Emilio] Terrero. I traveled about with him several days, especially on a trip which Varanda, Basa, and I took to Macao, to see that Portuguese colony; and to visit Mr. Lecaroz, in whose house we were guests. Lecaroz, Basa, and the other Filipinos of Hong Kong are partisans and promoters of the book Noli Me Tangere. In Hong Kong I investigated many important matters, for example concerning the riches of the Dominicans, concerning their missions, concerning the Augustinians, etc. There I came to know D. Balbino Mauricio, (02) an unfortunate man worthy of a better fate, and his acquaintanceship was useful for me, for it prepared me for a fate which may be much worse!"
Let us pause to clarify several allusions:
(1) Varanda, the Spaniard, was under orders of the Spanish government not to leave Rizal out of his sight, and he seldom did.
José Maria Basa
(2) Mr. José Maria Basa had been exiled in 1872, a