FERDINAND BLUMENTRIT:

A Friend and a Mentor

Rizal sailed to Spain in 1882 to continue
his medical studies and to “search for the
good which we all desire….for the good
you are doing your countrymen” (Vicente
Gella to Jose Rizal, 30 June 1882, quoted
in Guerrero 2008, 83).
In February 1886, Rizal moved to Heidelberg
to continue his study in University of
Heidelberg in Germany.
 Born in Prague (then a part of the Austro-
Hungarian Empire) on 10 September 1853,
Blumentritt studied History at Prague University.
He was a master teacher at Leitmeritz (today
known as Litomerice in the Czech Republic) and
had already published scholarly writings on
Philippine languages and ethnography.
 Blumentritt was married to Rosa Muller and had three
children: two sons – Friedrich and Konrad – and a daughter
named Dolores, whom Blumentritt sometimes
affectionately addressed with the Tagalog nickname,
“Loleng” (Tomas 2008, 15; Guerrero 2008, 157).
While continuing his medical studies in Germany, the
25-year old Rizal heard of an Austrian scholar in
Leitmeritz whose historical and ethnographic
publications on the Philippines reflected his abiding
interest in a people and a country he had never even
seen with his own eyes.
 FRIENDSHIP BY
CORRESPONDENCE BEGINS
"Esteemed Sir: Having heard that “Very esteemed Sir,
Your Lordship is studying our I received you letter
language and that you have together with the two books
already published some works on that I value very much. I
the subject, I take the liberty of Bluementrit
t read them with great
sending you a valuable book pleasure and satisfaction. I
written in that language by a reciprocate
d with a gift appreciate your kindness
countryman of mine. The Spanish and I shall not forget
version is mediocre because the of two
books to your courtesy
author is only a modest writer, but in accepting my
the Tagalog version portion is Rizal.
insignificant gift.”
good.”
Send Pic
Okay

Nice!
EYEBALL
 Hi, nice to
Rizal arrived in Leitmeritz on 14 finally meet
May 1887. Accompanied by his you!
wife and children, Blumentritt met
the two travelers at the train station
and helped them check in at the Hello, me too!
Hotel Krebs. Blumentritt would
meet up with his Filipino guests
after breakfast and take them
around the city. Each day would
end with dinner at the Blumentritt
home.
 This is
goodbye my
friend.

Before finally leaving Leitmeritz,

Rizal left a pencil sketch of Please accept
Blumentritt, as a memento of their my present.
all too brief but memorable
encounter.
BESTFRIEND AND MENTOR
“My heart was full, and I asked myself: What have I
done to deserve the friendship and sympathy of
such kind souls....I will also bear in mind my good
friends in Leitmeritz and I will say... ‘You are not
alone, Rizal; there in a little corner of Bohemia,
there are good, noble souls and friends who
appreciate you; think of them; consider them as if
they were with you, as if they were seeing you;
they will gladden at your joys and they will weep
for your sorrows”
(Rizal to Blumentritt, 19 May 1887, in National Historical
Institute 1992, 1: 80).
 Esteemed Sir

Esteemed Friend

Dear Friend

Dear brother

-Journalist John Nery

"It is a charming and, in its own way, fascinating
correspondence...the letters they exchanged also
illustrate something that is very rare, the evolution of a
purely intellectual friendship....Clearly Blumentritt the
Austrian schoolmaster, is Rizal’s mentor; he has a greater
command of the authorities, a better knowledge of the
world; but the young Malay can also teach the erudite
Czech what cannot be found in maps and ethnographical
treatises; political realities, the feeling of a people"

(Guerrero 2008, 162-3).

Their interest in Philippine history and culture led to collaborative
efforts such as translating each other’s works and sharing their
discoveries about the existence of Filipiniana titles in various
libraries. Such collaboration can also be seen in Blumentritt’s
agreeing to write the Prologue to Rizal’s annotations of Morga’s
Sucesos.
 In 1891, against the advice of his family and friends – including
Blumentritt – Rizal left Europe for good. “The field of battle is in the
Philippines,” Rizal declared, “there is where we should be
found….There we will help each other, there we will suffer united,
and perhaps even triumph”
(quoted in Schumacher 1991, 100).
By April 1896, Rizal expressed sadness over his separation from
friends and his wish to leave Dapitan (Rizal to Blumentritt, 5 April
1896, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 147).

Blumentritt suggested that he offer his services as a volunteer

doctor to Cuba
Blumentritt was a staunch advocate of Philippine freedom and was
not afraid to make his sentiments known in the Filipino newspaper
La Solidaridad and other publications. For this, as well as for his
defense of the Noli, Blumentritt earned the ire of some Spaniards
who openly attacked him in Spanish periodicals

(Rizal to Blumentritt, 20 January 1890, summarized in Ocampo

2011, 98).
 The Final
Letter
"My dear brother: When you receive this
letter, I shall be dead by then. Tomorrow at
seven, I shall be shot; but I am innocent of
the crime of rebellion. I am going to die with
a tranquil conscience. Adieu, my best, my
dearest friend, and never think ill of me!
(Rizal to Blumentritt, 29 December 1896, in National Historical Institute
1992, 2: 539)
FERDINAND BLUMENTRIT:
Mutual Understanding
FERDINAND BLUMENTRIT:
Love for Philippines
FERDINAND BLUMENTRIT:
In building Philippines’ identity
 RETRIEVED FROM:

https://joserizalproject.weebly.com/jose-rizalrsquos-educational-
background.html

http://pilosopotassium.blogspot.com/2011/06/rizal-150-
years.html

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticl
e/265463
Thank You!