Rizal chapter 17

1. CHAPTER 17 MISFORTUNES IN
MADRID (1890-1891)

2. INTRODUCTION
Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid. He tried all legal means to seek justice for his
family and the Calamba tenants, but to no avail. Disappoinment after disappointment piled on him,
until the cross he bore seemed insuperable to carry. He almost fought two duels- one with Antonio
Luna and the other with Wennceslao E. Retana. On top of his misfortunes, Leonor Rivera married a
British engineer. The infedelity of the girl, with whom he was engaged for eleven years, broke his
heart. With resilient strength of character, he survived the bitter pangs of love’s disillusionment and
continued his mission to redeem his oppressed people.

3. Arrival in Madrid
● Rizal immediately sought the help of the Filipino colony, the association Hispano-
Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspapers (La Justicia, El Globo, La Republica, El
Resumen, etc.)in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants, including his
family.
● Marcelo H. Del pilar - who acted as his lawyer
● Dr. Dominador Gomez - secretary of the Associacion Hispano-Filipina

4. Interview with Master Fabie
● He called on the Minister of Colonies (Seńor Fabie) in order to protest the injustices
committed by Governor General Valeriano Weyler and the Dominicans against the
Calamba folks.
● But nothing came out of the interview with Minister Fabie
El Resumen- It is a spanish policy “To cover the ears, open the pursue and fold the arms”

5. Terrible News
● From his brother-in-law, Sylvestre Ubaldo, he received a copy of the ejectment order bybthe
Dominicans against Francisco Rizal and other Calamba tenants.
LETTER FROM SATURNINA
● He learned of the deportation of Pacianon (Rizal), Antonino (Loopez), Silvestre (Ubaldo), Teong
(Mateo Elejorde), and Dandoy (Dr.Rizal’s relative) to Mindoro; the unfortunate deportees were
arrested in Calamba and were shipped out of Manila on September 6, 1890.
● He further learned from Saturnina’s letter that their parents had been forcibly ejected from their home
and were then living in the house of Narcisa.

6. Dr. Rizal Desperation
● Rizal sought the aid of the liberal Spanish statesmen, who were former members of
the Ministry, including Becerra and Maura. Again, he was disappointed, for these
statesmen merely gave him honeyed words of sympathy, and nothing else.
● Bluementritt urge Rizal to see Queen Regent Maria Cristina.

7. Rizal Eulogy To Panganiban
● Rizal settled down in Madrid, when he experienced another disappointment.
Jose Ma. Panganiban- Rizal talented co-worker
- Excellent companion of labor and difficulty, that amiable friend and
countryman beloved, has just described to the tomb at the early age of 27 years.
- Rizal Wrote Eulogy to Panganiban

8. Doleful News
● August 19, 1890, was a day of mourning to numerous Filipinos in Europe. And what
a fatal coincidence on the same month and day of the year just passed we had to
deplore the death of another friend and countryman, Feliciano Gonzales Timbang.

9. Aborted Duel of Antonio Luna
● Rizal is better pistol shooter than Luna
● Rizal Attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid (August, 1890)
● Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nelie Boustead.
● Rizal Challenged Luna to a duel.
Fortunately, Luna, when he became sober, realized that he had made a fool of himself during his
drunken state. He apologized for his bad remarks about the girl. Rizal immediately accepted his
apology, and the two became good friends again

10. Rizal Challenges Retana a Duel
Wenceslao E. Retana
- Bitter enemy of Rizal
- He wrote the La Epoca
Rizal Challenges him to a duel
Retana’s blood could vindicate the name of Rizal
Retana wrote an apology and the incident silence Retana’s pen. Latter he admired Rizal.

11. Infidelity of Leonor Rivera
- Teatro Apolo
● Rizal Lost his locket containing the picture of her Beloved Leonor Rivera
- December, 1890
● Rizal Received a letter from Leonor Rivera
- February 15, 1891
● Several Agonizing weeks passed before he confide his best friend Bluementritt.
● Bluementritt sent Rizal a comforting letter every 3 months.

12. Rizal- Del Pilar Rivalry
Closing Days of 1890
There arose rivalry between Rizal and Del Pilar for supremacy
Rizal Idealism
- Rizal tried to imbue compatriots with his own idealism that to gain prestige propaganda movement and to win
respect of the spanish people.
- Unfortunately his idealism is not shared.
- Some of his supporters supported Marcelo H. Del Pilar leadership.

13. Marcelo H. Del Pilar
- Fearless Lawyer-journalist
- He Gained prestige in Madrid for his editorials of La Solidaridad.
- January 1, 1891. Del Pilar opposed the preposition and he also willing to publish
articles that would express the aspirations and demands of the Filipino people.

14. Rizal Abdicates his Leadership
● The filipino peoples were divided into two hostile camp
- Rizalistas and Pilaristas
● First and Second, Rizal won on the votings but not obtain two-thirds vote to be Responsable
● Third day, Rizal won and became Responsable because of Mariano Ponce.
Rizal Declined the position and preferred to abdicate his leadership rather than be the cause of disunity and
bitterness of his countrymen.

15. Adios Madrid
● Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing him as Responsable.
Sadly he packed up his bags, paid his bills and boarding a train leaving for Biarritz.
● As he gazed through the window of his train at the city of Madrid, where he was
happy during his first sojourn (1882-1885) but unhappy to his second visit (1890-
1891). It was the last time he saw Madrid