Welcome to the fourth lesson on the course on the Life and Works of Jose
Rizal. This lesson is about the life and experiences of Jose Rizal in Europe.
It discusses the reasons of Rizal’s travel to Europe, his experiences in
Europe and how these influenced and shaped his ideals and philosophies in
life.
Objectives:
The following are the learning outcomes we are expected to achieve at the
end of the lesson:
Activities/Exercises
Accomplish the module execises. Watch movie clip about Rizal’s life and
experiences in Europe. Read some of Jose Rizal’s works.
• Jose Rizal was disgusted with the method of instruction in the Dominican-owned
University (UST) and the racial prejudice of Dominican professors against
Filipino students – who were regarded as second-class citizens.
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LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL
READ the full text of the English translation of the ‘El Amor Patrio’
in:http://philhist.pbworks.com/w/page/16367051/Rizaliana#OtherWritings
Rizal continued writing articles for this magazine during the short time it lived.
• Jose Rizal devoted his time in reading and studying as a way of relieving
himself from homesickness.
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• While studying, he encountered books that had left deep imprint on his
philosophies and ideals :
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher’s Stowe
- The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
- Other storieswere “Picturesque America", "Lives of the Presidents of the
United States", "The Anglo-Saxons", "The English Revolution” which
were stories of ‘free people’ that interested him.
• In 1884, he received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and in 1885, on his
twenty-fourth birthday; he finished his degree in Philosophy and Letters with
highest honors.
• Also in 1884, Juan Luna’s Spoliariumand Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo’s Las
VirgenesCristianasExpuestas al Populacho (The Christian Virgins Exposed
to the Populace) won in the prestigious ExposiciónNacional de BellasArtes de
Madrid (Madrid Art Exposition, May 1884). Jose Rizal was asked to give a
congratulatory toast (brindis) for the two artists.
This speech reached Manila and was interpreted as an open challenge to the
Spanish regime in the Philippines.
• Other studies:
June, 1885: He went to Paris to study under Dr. Louis de Wecker and
mastered the technique of eye operations.
February 1886: he went to Germany to attend lectures at the University of
Heidelberg.
April 22, 1886: Jose Rizal wrote the poem "A Las Flores de Heidelberg"
which shows his feeling of nostalgia for his parents and his country. Full
text of this poem could be accessed in
http://www.rizalinfo.net/PoemsDetails.asp?TableIndex=83http://www.rizal
info.net/PoemsDetails.asp?TableIndex=82
August, 1886: Jose Rizal transferred to the University of Leipzig to study
psychology and history.
• He completed the writing of the Noli Me Tangere on February 22, 1887 in Berlin,
Germany. Because of lack of funds, he was disheartened and discouraged to publish
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LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL
the book. However, his friend Maximo Viola, a Filipino doctor from a wealthy family
in Bulacan lent money to Rizal in order to publish the book. Bound copies were sent
to Barcelona and Madrid. Some copies also reached the Philippines but were later
banned and confiscated.
• Jose Rizal andMaximo Viola went on trips to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy
before he went back to the Philippines.
• He arrived in Manila in August, 1887.
Further readings about Jose Rizal’s travels, life and experiences in Europe:\
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6867/6867-h/6867-h.htm
http://www.rizalinfo.net/groupcatravels.htm
http://joserizal.ph/tr01.html
http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Biography/e-europe.htm
Full text of ‘Reminiscences of Rizal in Europe:
https://archive.org/stream/cu31924023255874/cu31924023255874_djvu.txt
References
• Coates, Austin. 1969. Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr. Quezon City:
Malaya Books
• Craig, Austin. Lineage Life and Labors of Jose Rizal Philippine Patriot
• Ocampo, Ambeth R, 2000. Rizal Without The Overcoat. Pasig City: Anvil Pub.
• Ocampo, Nilo S. 1995. Rizal: Makabayan at Martir. Diliman, Q.C.: University of
the Philippines Press
• Schumacher, John SJ. 1996. The Making of a Nation. Quezon City: Ateneo de
Manila Press
Internet Sources:
• http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Biography/e-europe.htm
• http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/filipiniana-library/filipiniana/70-features/221-the-
travels-of-rizal
• http://g2joseriz.weebly.com/review-page.html
• http://joserizal.ph/tr27.html
• http://joserizal.info/
• http://www.rizalinfo.net/
• http://elearning.nhcp.gov.ph/rizal-shrine
• http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=jose+rizal
• http://philhist.pbworks.com/w/page/16367051/Rizaliana#OtherWritings
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