On May 3, 1882, Jose Rizal secretly left the Philippines aboard the S.S. Salvadora. Only his brother Paciano, two sisters, and a few close friends knew about his departure. Rizal knew that his parents would not approve of his decision to leave, as they feared for his safety. Jose Rizal went to Madrid in 1882, where his brother Paciano wanted him to stay because it was the center of all the provinces of Spain and where he could learn the most.⁷ Rizal wasted no time in Madrid. He began writing for the Diariong Tagalog under the pseudonym Laong Laan, which means "ever prepared." On August 20, 1882, his essay "El Amor Patrio" (Love of Country) was published. This work focuses on the author's perceptions of the Philippines, both tangible and imagined. It paints the Philippines as a homeland, worthy of love and protection. In his essay, Rizal wrote: "Love is an extremely powerful force behind most noble activities. Of all loves, the love of country has inspired the grandest, the most heroic, and the most selfless of deeds. We need only read history books, historical records, or traditions to see this." After writing "El Amor Patrio," Rizal suspended writing articles about the country because of his mother's opposition. The essay had alerted Spanish officials to Rizal's nationalistic tendencies, and his mother feared that he would be arrested. Rizal also had a difficult time gaining fame, so, he decided to focus on his studies instead. Rizal enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid on November 3, 1882. He first enrolled in medicine, and later also enrolled in philosophy and letters. He found time for additional lessons, such as painting and sculpture at the Academy of San Carlos, and drawing at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. He also found time to study French, German, and English. Circulo Hispano-Filipino During his first year in Madrid, José Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino, a Filipino student organization that met regularly to discuss political issues and to voice out the concerns of Filipinos. The organization was able to publish the newspaper Revista del Circulo Hispano-Filipino, which aimed to express thoughts about the abusive Spanish government. However, the publication was short-lived due to lack of funds and conflicting political issues. This led to the dissolution of the organization. Notable members of the organization included José Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Juan Luna, and Graciano López Jaena. Jose Rizal had a difficult time financially during his stay in Madrid. His family's financial status had been declining due to crop failures and the increase in rentals of the Dominican hacienda lands in his hometown. As a result, the monthly allowance that Rizal received from the Philippines was often delayed or not enough. No Time To Waste Jose Rizal went to Madrid in 1882, where his brother Paciano wanted him to stay because it was the center of all the provinces of..

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3. IV. The Scholar’s Journey

4. On May 3, 1882, Jose Rizal quietly departed the
Philippines, with only his brother Paciano, two
sisters, and a few friends aware of his leaving.

5. When Rizal's parents learned of his departure, they were
heartbroken. His father, especially, was devastated.

6. APPRECIATION POST TO THIS GUY

7. Jose's primary goal in leaving for Europe
in 1882 was to complete his education.

8. However, he had a secret mission: to study European
cultures, laws, and governments for the eventual
liberation of the Philippines from Spanish rule.

9. Rizal's journey took him through several countries.
He arrived in Barcelona on June 16, 1882, after a
month and a half of travel.

11. Since it was summer vacation in Barcelona when he arrived,
he was able to meet and socialize with acquaintances and
former classmates from the Ateneo.

13. In 1882, Jose Rizal went to Madrid, following his
brother Paciano's advice to stay there for its
central location and educational opportunities.

14. In Madrid, Rizal swiftly
engaged by writing for
Diariong Tagalog under the
pseudonym Laong Laan.
His essay "El Amor Patrio"
(Love of Country) was
published on August 20, 1882.

15. This work focuses on the author's views on
the Philippines, depicting it as a cherished
homeland deserving love and protection.

16. In his essay, Rizal wrote:

17. After writing "El Amor Patrio," Rizal suspended writing articles
about the country because of his mother's opposition.

18. The essay raised concerns among
Spanish officials about Rizal's nationalism,
prompting his mother's fear of his arrest.

19. Rizal also had a difficult time gaining
fame in Madrid, so, he decided to
focus on his studies instead.

21. !!!
Jose Rizal had a difficult time
during his stay in Madrid.

22. Rizal family faced financial decline
due to crop failures and rising
rentals of Dominican hacienda
lands in their hometown.

23. As a result, the monthly
allowance that Rizal received
from the Philippines was
often delayed or not enough.

24. As a student in Spain, Rizal depended
on money from his brother Paciano.
He was advised not to work to stay
focused on his mission.

25. Rizal lived frugally, allocating most of his money to education.
At times, he attended classes hungry, sacrificing meals to
cover exam fees and purchase necessary books and tools.

26. In his free time, he visited museums, read books, and
walked around hungry, satisfying his appetite with the
aroma of food from restaurants and cafes.

27. On June 25, 1884, Rizal attended a banquet
celebrating the success of Filipino painters
Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo at
the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes.

28. Luna's painting "Spoliarium" won a gold medal,
while Hidalgo's painting "Virgenes Cristianas
Expuestas al Populacho" won a silver medal.

29. At the banquet, Rizal gave a
speech that would make history.

31. Rizal's speech was recorded by the reporters
who attended the banquet, and it was
published in the magazine "Los Dos Mundos."

32. Rizal gained fame overnight as supportive Spaniards lauded
his progressive speech on Filipino equality, and Filipinos
supporting the Propaganda Movement congratulated him.

33. Just as fame beckoned, Rizal found
out that his family was worried about
the impact of his "toast speech".

36. Despite the controversy caused by
his speech, Rizal continued his
studies for a doctorate in medicine.

37. He finished the coursework but failed to obtain
the Doctor's diploma due to a lack of thesis
submission and unpaid fees.

38. However, during Rizal's time, a licentiate was enough to
practice medicine. At the age of 24, José also finished
his licentiate in Philosophy and Letters in 1885.

40. In November 1885, Rizal moved to Paris to specialize in
ophthalmology and worked as an assistant under Dr.
Louis de Wecker, a renowned French ophthalmologist.

41. As a result, Rizal significantly improved his skills in
conducting eye operations, diagnosing ailments,
and employing various eye surgery techniques.

42. Rizal also met up with his friends, including painter
Juan Luna and writer/medical student Maximo Viola.

43. During his stay with Luna, Rizal became a model
and posed for two historical paintings.

44. Also at this time, Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere
was half-finished.

46. Due to the high cost of living in Paris,
Rizal left for Germany in February 1886.

47. He arrived in Heidelberg, an old university town, and
worked as an assistant to Dr. Otto Becker, a renowned
German ophthalmologist at the University Eye Hospital.

48. Rizal mastered the techniques of diagnosing eye ailments
under Dr. Becker, which he had first learned from Dr. Wecker.

49. The program emphasized operations less, but Rizal's hands-on
experience in Paris made him one of Dr. Becker's top students.

51. While studying in Germany, Rizal heard of an Austrian
scholar intrigued by the Philippines. Though unfamiliar,
the scholar was eager to learn more.

52. Eager to share his knowledge, Rizal wrote a letter
to the curious Austrian scholar Blumentritt, who
was studying the Tagalog language.

53. Blumentritt was delighted to receive Rizal's letter and
gift, and he reciprocated by sending Rizal two books.

54. Rizal and Blumentritt became close friends, and
they corresponded regularly for many years.

56. In November 1886, Jose Rizal moved
to Berlin, Germany, aiming to explore
ophthalmology, German culture,
government, and meet scientists.

57. Rizal intended to publish
his novel, Noli Me Tangere,
but he was sick, sad, and
penniless.
His brother Paciano was
unable to send him his
monthly allowance due to
crop failures in Calamba.

59. Learning of Rizal's troubles, Maximo Viola
lent him money for both his allowance and
the printing cost of "Noli Me Tangere."

60. In 1887, 2,000 copies of Noli Me Tangere
were distributed to Filipinos in Europe.

61. Bound copies were shipped to friends in Spain who smuggled
them into the Philippines disguised as merchandise.

62. With Viola, Rizal visited
different countries and his
spirit began to soar again.

63. Rizal took a ship from Marseilles and started home on July 5,
1887. He was finally ready to operate on his mother's cataracts.

64. V. The Propagandist’s Journey

65. The Propaganda Movement
In the late 19th century, a group of
young Filipino expatriates in Europe
sparked a movement for reform
and national consciousness.

66. The Propaganda Movement published its own newspaper,
La Solidaridad, which saw print every two weeks.

67. Graciano Lopez Jaena was the first editor,
and Marcelo H. del Pilar took over in late 1889.

68. Del Pilar managed the publication until the
newspaper folded due to lack of funds.

69. The Propaganda Movement
was an assimilationist movement that sought
to fully incorporate the Philippines into Spain.

70. They also wanted to empower the native
Filipino clergy and showcase Filipino
intellectual sophistication to the world.

72. Jose Rizal returned to the Philippines in
August 1887 after five years of living abroad.

73. He was greeted by controversy. The Jesuits at the
Ateneo attempted to get him to return to his old faith.

74. There are friars who were resolute in silencing
Rizal, preaching against him in church and
publishing denouncing pamphlets.

75. Nevertheless, Rizal stayed busy in Calamba by establishing
a medical clinic, with his mother as his first patient.

76. On August 30, 1887, Rizal left Calamba for
Manila to meet with Governor-General Emilio
Terrero, a liberal-minded Spanish official.

77. After reading the novel, Terrero saw no issue with it.
Concerned for Rizal's safety, he assigned Lieutenant
Jose Taviel de Andrade for protection.

78. At about the same time, Terrero ordered an
investigation into the Calamba agrarian problems.

79. Rizal led the Calamba tenants' investigation,
presenting findings to Terrero that revealed
the friars' exploitation.

80. Furious with Rizal's findings, the
friars demanded Terrero to order
Rizal to leave the country.

81. Terrero refused, but he did advise
Rizal to leave for his own safety.

82. Rizal's family and relatives
also advised him to leave.

83. After six months in the Philippines,
Rizal left for Hong Kong.

84. Link to the video.
Editor’s Note: Due to its length and irrelevance to the topic,
Rizal's visits to Hong Kong, Japan, the USA, London, Paris, and
other countries are omitted from this slide.
You can still explore them further in my video on this topic (42:44)
or by searching the YouTube channel "Over the Academic Wall."

86. In January 1890, Jose Rizal relocated to Brussels, Belgium,
seeking a more affordable and focused lifestyle away from
the high expenses and social distractions of Paris.

87. Rizal was troubled by reports that some Filipinos in Spain were
gambling too much, and he feared that this was giving the
friars ammunition to discredit the Propaganda Movement.

88. He urged Marcelo H. del Pilar to remind Filipinos
in Madrid that their purpose was not to gamble
but to strive for Philippine freedom.

92. Rizal also learned that his family and relatives were evicted
from their Calamba land due to increased rents imposed
by the Dominican friars, making them refuse to pay.

93. He wrote a poem entitled "A Mi Musa" (To My Muse)
that was published on La Solidaridad to express his
disappointment and to call for justice.

94. Defending his family in court, Rizal tasted defeat.
The injustice fueled his fight for Filipino rights.

96. Rizal vs del Pilar

97. Rizal's discontent in Madrid stemmed
from political issues, particularly
disagreements with del Pilar and
fellow Filipino expatriates.

98. The two men had different political visions,
and del Pilar's editorial policies alienated Rizal.

99. In an attempt to resolve their differences, about 90
Filipinos met to elect a leader, called the Responsable.

100. The Responsable would be responsible for unifying the
group and ensuring that their work was coordinated.

101. Unfortunately, the election produced a division
among the group: the Rizalistas and the Pilaristas.

102. The election was held two times,
and each time Rizal won most votes.

103. However, he did not receive the required two-thirds
majority, so he was not declared the Responsable.

104. On the third day, Mariano Ponce urged some Pilaristas
to support Rizal, and the election resulted in Rizal's
becoming the legal Responsable.

105. However, Rizal declined the position because
he knew that there were people who did not
like either his views or personality.

106. Rizal then left Madrid and no longer
contributed to La Solidaridad. He arrived
in Hong Kong on November 20, 1891.

108. Rizal decided to practice medicine in Hong
Kong, and he was granted a license to practice.

109. His family also went to Hong Kong, and
they spent their Christmas together.

110. In a letter to his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt
in Vienna, he expressed his emotions:

111. Even in a peaceful life abroad, Rizal couldn't
shake thoughts of the struggles faced by
tenant farmers in Calamba.

112. During his journey to Hongkong from
Marseilles, Rizal met William Pryer, who
managed the British North Borneo Company.

113. This company had a lease to oversee North Borneo.

114. When Rizal heard about Pryer's plans for the British
colony, he suggested creating a Filipino colony in
North Borneo for the evicted Calamba tenants.

115. Pryer embraced Rizal's proposal. Together, they met the
governor of North Borneo to discuss leasing 5,000
acres, with an option to buy more for 950 years.

116. But there was a problem – the Calamba tenants
couldn't leave the Philippines without permission from
the Spanish Governor-General, Eulogio Despujol.

117. To address this, Rizal wrote to Despujol asking for permission
to change their nationality, sell their property in the
Philippines, and let those facing trouble leave the country.

118. Despujol got incensed and thought Rizal might
use the Filipino colony in North Borneo to start
a revolution against Spain.

119. Instead of replying directly, Despujol asked the
Spanish Consul in Hongkong to invite Rizal
back to Manila to discuss the matter.

120. Rizal's family and friends advised him to decline
Despujol's invitation, considering it a trap.

121. However, Rizal was resolute in his determination to
improve the lives of the evicted Calamba tenants.

125. Rizal shall set foot once again upon the cherished land
of the Philippines, where destiny beckons him to weave
his final chapter, immersing himself in its embrace until
the final whispers of mortality claim him.

126. Tapos na
yehey :D

128. References:
• Encyclopedia Britannica. “Propaganda Movement,” 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Propaganda-Movement.
• “Episode 4: Rizal Abroad” (PODKAS, 2022),
https://www.podkas.org/rizal-on-air/rizal-abroad.
• Ladrido, Portia. “This Book Reveals 5 Things You Never Knew about
José Rizal.” CNN Philippines, 2018.
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/literature/2018/10/5/jose
-rizal-andersen-tales.html.
• Mantle Magazine, https://www.mantlemagazine.com/.
• Nery, Imelda, and Paul John Sion. The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. 1st
ed. JTCA Publishing, 2019.
• Ocampo, Ambeth. “Rizal and His ‘Bff’: My Finds in Czechoslovakia.”
Inquirer, 2017. https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/261765/rizal-bff-finds-
czechoslovakia/.
• Pasigui, Ronnie Espergal, and Danilo Hipolito Cabalu. Jose Rizal: The
Man and the Hero: Chronicles, Legacies, and Controversies. 2nd ed.
C&E Publishing, 2014.
• Ramos, John Ray. Bayani Biographies: Jose Rizal. St. Matthew’s
Publishing Corporation, 2018.
• Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School. “Propaganda
Movement, The,” n.d.
https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/faq/propaganda-movement.
• Roces, Alejandro R. “The Art of Rizal.” Philstar, 2010.
https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2010/06/26/587431/art-
rizal.
• Rodis, Rodel. “Why Did Dr. Jose Rizal Return to the Philippines?”
Inquirer, 2014. https://globalnation.inquirer.net/114720/why-
did-dr-jose-rizal-to-return-to-manila.
• “The ‘Love-and-Hate’ Relationship of Jose Rizal And Marcelo
Del Pilar | OurHappySchool,” n.d.
https://ourhappyschool.com/history/love-and-hate-
relationship-jose-rizal-and-marcelo-del-pilar.
• Zaide, Gregorio, and Sonia Zaide. Jose Rizal : Life, Works, and
Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National Hero. 2nd
ed. All-Nations, 1999.
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