Rizal

RIZAL IN PARIS
After completing his studies in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris and Germany to specialize ophthalmology. He studied this field to be able to cure his mother’s eye ailment. He served as an assistant to famous ophthalmologists in Europe. He also continued his travels and observations on European life and customs, government and laws in Paris and Germany. * In Gay Paris * 24 years old, already a physician * On his way to Paris, he stopped at Barcelona to meet his friend, Maximo Viola. * Assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, leading French ophthalmologist, for 4 months which greatly improved his knowledge on ophthalmology. “I am doing well. I know now how to perform all the operations; I only need to know what is going on inside the eye, which requires much practice. ” – Rizal * Rizal as a Musician * Rizal had no natural ability for music. * Learned the solfeggio, piano and voice culture in one month and a half. * Composed Alin Mang Lahi, a patriotic song which asserts that any race aspires for freedom, as with the Filipinos and La Deportacion (Deportation), a sad danza.
RIZAL IN GERMANY After acquiring enough experience in Paris as an ophthalmologist in Dr. Weckert’s clinic, Rizal left Paris for Germany on February 1, 1886. * In Historic Heidelberg * Worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished German ophthalmologist. * Continued to observe customs and visited scenic spots in Heidelberg. He noticed that German Catholics and Protestants practiced ecumenism (promoting unity among Christian Churches) for they lived together in harmony and cordiality. In one of the town churches, one half was used by Catholics and the other by Prostestants. * “To the Flowers of Heidelberg” * The beautiful spring flowers along the banks of the Neckar River, among them was his favorite flower, the light blue “forget-me-not”, reminded him of the blooming flowers in their home in Calamba. * He wrote ”A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flower of Heidelberg) on April 22, 1886. * With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld * Rizal spent 3 months at Wilhelmsfeld. He stayed at the vicarage of a kind Protestant pastor named Dr. Karl Ullmer. * When he left, he wrote to Pastor Ullmer expressing his great gratitude for their kindness and hospitality.

* First Letter to Blumentritt * On July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first German letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt. Rizal learned of this Austrian ethnologist’s interest in Philippine languages. With his letter, Rizal sent a book entitled Aritmetica (Arithmetic). This book was published in two languages, Spanish and Tagalog, by Rufino Baltazar Hernandez, a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna. * Blumentritt also send Rizal two books as a gift. This marked the beginning of their long and frequent correspondence. * In Leipzig and Dresden * Rizal arrived in Leipzig on August 14, 1886. * He attended lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and psychology. He befriended Professor Friedrich Ratzel, famous German historian and Dr. Hans Meyer, German anthropologist. * He corrected some chapters of his second novel. * In Dresden, he heard a mass in a Catholic church. He wrote in his diary, “Truly I have never in my life heard a mass whose music had greater sublimity and intonation.” * Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific Circles * Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of racial prejudice. He met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor, celebrated German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines, where Jagor foretold the downfall of Spanish rule in the Philippines and the coming of America to Philippine shores. Rizal had a letter of introduction by Blumentritt for him. * In return, Dr. Jagor introduced Rizal to Dr. Rudolf Virchrow, famous German anthropologist, and the latter’s son, Dr. Hans Virchrow, professor of Descriptive Anatomy. Rizal also met Dr. W. Joest, noted German geographer. He worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Shweigger, famous German ophthalmologist. * Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, Ethnological Society, and Geographical Society of Berlin, upon recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr. Meyer. His membership proves that his scientific knowledge was recognized by Europe’s scientists. He was the first Asian to be accorded such honors. * Dr. Virchrow invited Rizal to give a lecture before the Ethnographic Society of Berlin. Rizal wrote Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art) which he read before the society in April 1887. * Rizal’s life in Berlin * He lived in the unified capital of Germany for five reasons: first, to gain further knowledge in ophthalmology. Second, to further his studies of sciences and languages. Third, to observe the economic and political conditions of Germany. Fourth, to associate with famous German scientist and scholars. And fifth, to publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere. * Rizal lived a methodological and frugal life in Berlin. By day, he worked as an assistant in Dr. Schweigger’s clinic. At night, he attended lectures in the University of Berlin.

* Rizal on German Women * Rizal addressed a letter to his sister Trinidad expressing his high regard and admiration for German women. * According to Rizal, the German woman is serious, diligent, educated and friendly. She is not gossipy, frivolous, and quarrelsome like the Spanish woman. She is not particular about beautiful dresses and expensive jewelry, though she could dress nicely like any other woman in the world. * Rizal regretted that in the Philippines, women are more interested in how they dress than in how much they know. He praised however the delicacy of feeling, the fine manners, devotion and hospitality of the Filipino women, especially those in the provinces. * Rizal advised his sister, “Now that you are still young you should strive to read, read, and learn. You must not allow yourself to be conquered by indolence because it costs so little to cast it off.” * German Customs * Rizal was a keen observer of the customs of the peoples in all the countries he visited. * The Christmas custom of the Germans delighted him most. He wrote: “On Christmas eve, the people take from the bushes of a pine tree, selecting one which must not only be straight, but also must have leaves that do not fall in spring; I mean that dry leaves are not leaves at all in this particular case, but are kind of small needle. It is adorned with lanterns, papers, lights, dolls, candies, fruits etc; and shown at night to the children (who had not seen it being prepared). Around this tree is made the family observance. * Another interesting German custom observed by Rizal is the self-introduction to strangers in a social gathering. In Germany, when there is nobody to introduce a man to other guests in a social function, he bows his head to the guests, introduces himself and shakes the hands of everyone in the room. According to German etiquette, it is bad manners for a guest to remain aloof and wait for his host or hostess to make the proper introduction. * Rizal’s Darkest Winter * During the winter of 1886, he lived in poverty because no money from Calamba arrived and he was broke. The diamond ring given by his sister Saturnina was in the pawnshop. He could not pay his landlord and ate only one meal a day consisting of bread and water and some cheap vegetable soup. His clothes were old and threadbare and he washed them himself for he could not afford to pay the laundry. * Money did not arrive for their crops in Calamba failed due to the ravages of the locusts. The sugar market also collapsed. * Due to starvation, Rizal’s health broke down. He began to cough. Never had he suffered such physical blows of poverty.

NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN The gloomy winter of 1886 was memorable in Rizal’s life for two reasons: first, it was a painful episode for he was hungry, sick and greatly discouraged in a strange city and second, it brought him great joy because his first novel, the Noli, came off the press in March 1887. Dr. Maximo Viola arrived in Berlin at the height of his discouragement and loaned him the funds needed to publish his novel. * Idea of Writing a Novel on the Philippines * His reading on Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin inspired to prepare a novel that would depict the miseries of the Filipinos under Spanish rule. He was then a student in the Central University of Madrid. * In a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid on January 2, 1884, Rizal proposed the writing of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos. This was approved unanimously by the people present; among them were the Paternos, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente, Melecio Figueroa and Valentin Ventura. * Unfortunately, the project was not materialized. Those who were expected to collaborate did not write anything. Everybody wanted to write about women, when the novel was supposed to cover all phases of Philippine life. * Disgusted by his compatriots’ lack of seriousness, he decided to write the novel alone. * The Writing of the Noli * Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one half of it. * When he went to Paris in 1885, he finished one half of the second half. He finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. * In Berlin during the winter days, Rizal made the final revisions on the Noli. Sick and penniless, he saw no hope of having it published. He almost threw it into the flames. * Viola, Savior of the Noli * When Viola arrived in Berlin, he was shocked to find Rizal living in such poverty and being sickly due to lack of proper nourishment. * Viola gladly agreed to finance the printing cost of the Noli. He also loaned Rizal some money for living expenses. * After the Christmas season, Rizal furnished the novel. To save printing expenses, he deleted some passages including an entire chapter – “Elias and Salome”. * Rizal had the novel published on February 21, 1887 for 300 pesos for 2000 copies. * Rizal Suspected as French Spy * One morning, the chief of police paid a sudden visit to Rizal’s boarding house and requested to see the latter’s passport but he had none. The police told Rizal to secure a passport within four days or he will be deported. The four day ultimatum expired and failed to obtain a passport. He asked why he was to be deported and the chief informed him that he had received intelligence reports that Rizal made frequent visits to the villages thereby arousing suspicion that he was a French spy. At that time, Germany and France were not in good terms. * Rizal defended himself and explained why he was observing the customs and lifestyles of the people. Impressed by Rizal’s mastery of German language and his charisma, the chief allowed Rizal to stay freely in Germany. * Printing of the Noli Finished * On March 21, 18787, the Noli came off the press. Rizal immediately sent the first copies to Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, G. Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce, and Felix Hidalgo. * The Title of the Novel * The title Noli Me Tangere us a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”. Rizal took it from the Bible. * The Author’s Dedication * Rizal dedicated the Noli to the Philippines. * Rizal wrote: “Desiring thy welfare which is our own, and seeking the best treatment, I will do with thee what ancients did with their sick, exposing them on the steps of the temple so that everyone who came to invoke the Divinity might offer them a remedy. And to this end, I will strive to reproduce thy condition faithfully without discriminations.” * The “Noli” Based on Truth * The Noli was a true story of Philippine conditions during the last decades of Spanish rule. As said by Rizal. “The facts I narrate there are all true and have happened; I can prove them.” * The characters were drawn from persons who actually existed during his times. Some of these were:
Maria Clara – Leonor Rivera
Elias and Ibarra – Jose Rizal
Tasio the Philosopher – Paciano, his older brother
Padre Salvi – Padre Antonio Piernavieja
Padre Damaso – the typical domineering, arrogant, immoral and anti-Filipino friar * Missing Chapter of the Noli * The chapter “Elias and Salome”, which follows Chapter XXIV “In the Woods”, was deleted for economic reasons. * Rizal’s Friends Praise the Noli * Rizal’s friends hailed the novel, but Rizal anticipated the attacks of his enemies. He told Blumentritt: “The government and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting my statements, but I trust in the God of Truth and in the persons who have actually seen our sufferings.” * Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor told Rizal: “If the Quixote immortalizes its author because it exposes to the world the ailments of Spain, your Noli Me Tangere will bring you equal glory.”

SOURCE: JOSE RIZAL: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero by Gregorio F. Zaide and Sonia M. Zaide