Jose Rizal’s First Journey to his conqueror’s land: Rizal in Spain(1882-1885)

A Report excerpted from Chapter 6: In Sunny Spain

Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero

by G. Zaide and S. Zaide

Characters• Paciano – Brother of Rizal who conspired with him in his plans of

going to Spain• People who knew about his departure to Spain:

1. Antonio Rivera,2. Neneng Rizal3. Lucia Rizal 4. Valenzuela Family ( Juan, Sanday and Orang)5. Pedro A. Paterno6. Mateo Evangelista7. the Ateneo Jesuit Fathers8. Jose “Chengoy” M. Cecilio

• Donato Lecha – ship captain of of Salvadora who befriended Rizal• Companions in Djemnah:Mr. and Mrs. Salazar and Mr. Vicente

Pardo

Characters• Basilio Teodoro Moran – Publisher of Diariong Tagalog, the

first bilingual newspaper (Spanish and Tagalog); published Amor Patrio (Love of Country)

• Marcelo H. Del Pilar – Translated Amor Patrio into Tagalog• Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey – had a son named Rafael and a

daughter named Consuelo; city mayor of Manila during the time of Carlos Ma. De la Torre ; promoted as vice president of the Council of the Philippines in the Ministry of Colonies (Ultramar)

• Consuelo Ortiga y Perez – a girl whom Rizal admired and dedicated a poem entitled A La Señorita C. O. y P. (To Miss C. O. y P.)

Characters• Masons who Rizal met in Spain:• Miguel Morayta – statesman, professor, historian and writer;

excommunicated and caused the student demonstration at Central University

• Francisco Pi y Margal – journalist, statesman; former president, First Spanish Republic

• Manuel Becerra – Minister of Ultramar (Colonies)• Emilio Junoy – journalist and member of the Spanish Cortes• Juan Ruiz Zorilla – parliamentarian; head, Republican Progressive

Party in Madrid• Marcelo H. Del Pilar• Graciano Lopez Jaena• Mariano Ponce

Characters• Juan Luna – won 1st prize for his painting called the Spolarium• Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo – won 2nd place for his painting

Christian Virgins Exposed to Populace• Doctor Creus – replaced the Rector and described as a very

unpopular man, disliked by everybody

Body of the Report

Jose Rizal finished his 4th year of medical course in the University of Sto. Tomas yet he was very much disgusted due to out-dated instruction and racial prejudice to Filipino Students.

Since Spain was in constitutional monarchy, this encouraged him to continue his study in Spain. Yet unknown to most people, Rizal has a SECRET MISSION!

Rizal’s Secret MissionRizal conceived the secret

mission, with the blessing of his brother Paciano was to do the following:

Observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce and governments and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself for the task of liberating his people from Spanish Tyranny.

Highlights• When Jose Rizal becomes Jose Mercado• Due to the popularity of the surname and perhaps the kind Jesuit priest

who gave him letters of recommendation for their Society in Barcelona – he was claimed as a cousin

• Secret Departure to Spain• May 3, 1882• Salvadora, a steamer bound for Singapore• Donato Lecha• 16 passengers• May 8, 1882 – Talim Island with Susong Dalaga• Hotel de la Paz

Highlights• From Singapore to Colombo, Ceylon• May 11, 1882• Djemnah, a French Steamer• May 17, 1882: Arrival at Point Galle• May 18, 1882: Arrival at Colombo, Ceylon

• First Trip Through Suez Canal• From Indian Ocean to Cape Guardafui, Africa then to Aden• Stop over at City of Suez, stop over at the Red Sea terminal of the

Suez Canal• It took 5 days to traverse Suez Canal• Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal

Highlights• Naples and Marseilles• Naples, Italy: reached by Rizal on June 11, 1882• Marseilles, France: Rizal arrived on June 12, 1882

• Arrival at Barcelona• June 16, 1882 by rail from Port Bou• First impression was ugly but begun to like the city

• First Publication• Amor Patrio (Love of Country) by the pen name Laong Laan in

Diariong Tagalog

Highlights• Life in Madrid• November 3, 1882: enrolled at Universidad Central de Madrid

( Central University of Madrid)• Two courses: Medicine and Philosophy and Letters• Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando: Painting and Sculpture• Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell: fencing and shooting

• Romance with Consuelo Ortiga y Perez• Did not blossom to a serious relationship due to his

engagement to Leonor Rivera and friendship to Eduardo de Lete - a friend madly in love with Consuelo

Consuelo Ortiga y Perez

Highlights• Membership of Circulo Hispano-Filipino and wrote “Mi Piden

Versus” ( They Ask Me For Verses) and declaimed it on New Year’s Eve of December 31, 1882

• Rizal Love of Books• Led him to encounter the following texts which aroused his

sympathy:

• Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe• The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue

Circulo Hispano-Filipino

Highlights• Rizal as a Mason (Master Mason)• Due to close interaction with liberals and republicans• Spanish Masons: openly criticized the government policies and

lambasted the friars• Lodge Acacia to Lodge Solidaridad• Reason for joining: to have the support of free masonry to fight

the friars• Pertinent lecture : Science, Virtue and Labor

Highlights• Rizal’s Salute to Luna and Hidalgo• June 25, 1884• Saved Rizal for a meal• Delivered a speech, which garnered wild ovations from the

Spanish listeners• Rizal’s involvement in Student Demonstrations• November 20-22, 1884• Rizal was not hurt

Juan Luna

Felix Ressureccion Hidalgo

Highlights• Rizal Completed his studies• June 21, 1884, conferred by Universidad Central de Madrid with

the degree of Licentiate in Medicine• Studied and passed all the subjects leading to Doctor of Medicine

but failed to submit his thesis and to pay the fees, he was not awarded with his Doctor’s Diploma

• June 19, 1885, conferred by Universidad Central de Madrid with the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters with the award Sobresaliente (Excellent)