Rizal went to Europe from 1885-1887 to further his studies in ophthalmology. He studied in Paris under Dr. Louis de Weckert and in Heidelberg and Berlin under other doctors. While abroad, he befriended many scientists and continued observing European life. Rizal experienced poverty during the winter of 1886 in Berlin when he ran out of money and could only afford one meal a day. Despite the hardship, Rizal used this time to socialize with scientists and work on publishing his novel Noli Me Tangere, which critiqued the issues he saw in Philippine society under Spanish rule.
2. Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in
ophthalmology.
He chose this branch because he wanted to cure his mother’s eye
ailment.
Rizal also continued his travels and observation of European life
and customs, government and laws in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig,
and Berlin.
Rizal met and befriended several top German scientist: Dr. Feodor
Jagor, Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Dr. Hans Meyer and Dr. Rudolf
Virchow.
3. IN GAY PARIS (1885-1886)
After studying at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who was
then 24 years old and already a physician, went to Paris in order
to acquire more knowledge in ophthalmology.
Maximo Viola – a medical student and a member of a rich family
of San Miguel,Bulacan
Señor Eusebio Corominas – editor of the newspaper La Publicidad
4. Don Miguel Morayta – owner of La Publicidad and a statesman
Rizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the Carolines Question)
November 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris He worked as an
assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French
ophthalmologist.
Juan Luna – great master of the brush; Rizal helped him by
posing as model in Luna’s paintings.
“The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an Egyptian
priest
5. Outside of his working hours at Dr. Weckert’s clinic. Rizal relaxed
by visiting his friends, such as:
Family of the Pardo de Taveras (Trinidad, Felix and Paz)
Juan Luna
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
6. RIZAL AS MUSICIAN
Rizal had no natural aptitude for music, and this he admitted. He
studied music only because many of his schoolmates at Ateneo were
taking music lessons.
He told Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, piano, and voice
culture in one month and a half”.
He is also a flutist. Some of his compositions are:
Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a pariotic song which asserts that any
race aspires for freedom
La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza, composed in Dapitan
during his exile.
7. IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
February 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in
Germany famous for its old university and romantics
surroundings.
He became popular among the Germans because they found out
that he was a good chess player.
He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of
Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished German ophthalmologist.
8. IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
During weekends, Rizal visited the scenic spot around Heidelberg,
including:
The famous Heidelberg Castle
The Romantic Neckar River
The Theater
The old churches
9. “TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG”
April 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A Las Flores de
Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) because he was
fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, which
is the light blue flower called “forget-me-not”.
10.
11. WITH PASTOR ULLMERAT WILHELMSFELD
Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld
where he stayed at the place of a Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl
Ullmer. The pastor has a wife and two children named Etta
(daughter) and Fritz. (son)
Dr. Karl Ullmer – who became his good friend and admirer
Wilhelmsfeld – a mountainous village near Heidelberg
12. FIRST LETTER TO BLUMENTRITT
July 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first letter to Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt - who is the Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz,
Austria.
Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist and he has an interest in
the Philippine language.
Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which was
published in 2 languages - Spanish and Tagalog – by the
University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868.The author was Rufino
Baltazar Hernandez.
- Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal.
13. FIFTH CENTENARY OF HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY
The famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary
celebration on August 6, 1886 where Rizal had witnessed the said
celebration.
IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
August 14, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Leipzig
He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on
history and psychology.
He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, a famous historian, and Dr.
Hans Meyer, German anthropologist.
14. IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the
cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months and a half.
On October 29, he went to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph
B. Meyer, the Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological
Museum.
15. RIZAL WELCOMED IN BERLIN’S SCIENTIFIC CIRCLES
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere
and the absence of race prejudice.
Some scientists Rizal met are:
DR. FEODOR JAGOR – German scientist-traveler and author of
Travels in the Philippines
DR. RUDOLF VIRCHOW – famous German anthropologist
DR. W. JOEST – German geographer DR. KARL ERNEST
SCHWEIGGER
16. RIZAL’S LIFE IN BERLIN
Five reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin:
To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
To further his studies of science and languages
To observe the economic and political conditions of the German
nation.
To associate with famous German scientists and scholars
To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere
17. RIZAL ON GERMAN WOMEN
Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on March 11, 1886.
In his letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and admiration for
German womanhood. Rizal said that German woman is serious,
diligent, educated and friendly.
GERMAN CUSTOMS
Some of the German customs Rizal admired:
On Yuletide season, people will select a pine tree from the
bushes and adorned it with lanterns, papers, lights, dolls,
candies, fruits, etc.
Self-introduction to strangers in a social
18. RIZAL’S DARKEST WINTER
The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.
He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba
and he was flat broke.
He could not pay his landlord and he had scrimp, eating only
one meal a day.
His clothes were old and threadbare.
His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment.
This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.
