Rizal went to Europe to further his studies in ophthalmology. In Paris, he worked as an assistant to a leading ophthalmologist and also spent time with Filipino artist friends. He then traveled to Berlin where he befriended prominent scientists and was recognized for his own scientific work, becoming the first Asian member of several prestigious German scientific societies. Rizal gave lectures and published papers on the Philippines, aiming to educate Europeans and advocate for his home country.

2. PARIS to BERLIN
(1885 -1887)
Chapter 7
Prepared by Gil Nino Agnabo

3.  After completing his studies in Madrid, Rizal
went to Paris and Germany in order to
specialize in ophthalmology. He particularly
chose this branch of medicine because he
wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment.
 He also continued his travels and observations
of European life and customs, and government
and laws
 He served as assistant to the famous oculists of
Europe
Paris to Berlin

4.  In Berlin, capital of then unified Germany, he met and
befriended several top German scientists, Dr. Feodor
Jagor, Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Dr. Hans Meyer, and Dr.
Rudolf Virchow.
 His merits as a scientist were recognized by the eminent
scientists of Europe.
Paris to Berlin
 Dr. Rudolf Virchow. Dr. Adolph B. Meyer Dr. Hans Meyer

5.  Shortly after terminating his studies at the
Central University of Madrid, Rizal went
to Paris in order to acquire more
knowledge in Ophthalmology.
 He stopped at Barcelona to visit his
friend, Maximo Viola.
 Rizal gave Editor Corominas an article on
the Carolines Question and a
controversial issue for publication.
In Gay Paris (1885-86)

6. MAXIMO VIOLA –
a medical student and a member of a rich
family of San Miguel, Bulacan
SEÑOR EUSEBIO COROMINAS –
editor of La Publicidad
DON MIGUEL MORAYTA –
owner of La Publicidad and a statesman.
(Rizal gave him a crayon scketch of him)

7.  He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de
Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist
from November 1885 to February 1886.
 He wrote a letter to his family. “I am doing
well, I know how to perform all the
operations; which requires much practice.”
 Outside his working hrs. Rizal relaxed by
visiting his friends like family of Pardo de
Traveras, Juan Luna and Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo.
In Gay Paris (1885-86)
Paris

8.  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
“The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed
as Sikatuna
In Gay Paris (1885-86)
The Death of Cleopatra
The Blood Compact

9.  Music played an important part in all Filipino
Reunions in many places in Europe.
 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”. And described his voice as “braying
of the asses.”
Rizal as Musician

10.  He is also a flutist in various Filipino reunion in
Paris.
 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 by José Rizal, July 1892 in Dapitan
during hi s exile.
Rizal as Musician

11. “Alin Mang Lahi”
Kundiman composed by José Rizal
Alin mang lahi, insinasanggalang
Sa lupit ang kanyang lupang tinubuan
Tuloy pinaghahandugan
Ng buhay at dugo kung kailangan
Ang kamatayan man, kung saka-sakali
Igiginhawa ng mga kalahi
Tatanggapin ng may ngiti
Kasaliw ang tuwang di mumunti
Nguni’t pagkasawing-plad yata
Ng katagalugang napapanganyayaI
bukod pa sa ibang umaaba
Lalong nagbibigay hapis ang ibang
kapwa
Sabagay di kulang sa pupuhunanin
Lakas, dunong, tapang, yaman ay
gayundin
Aywan kung bakit at inaalipin
Ng bawa’t lahing makasuno natin

12. “La Deportacion”
(also known by the title, El Deportado)
Cautivo entre mil cadenas cual un traidor, cual un traidor
Solo lloro mis penas por mi dolor, por mi dolor
Avecesen mi ilusion, la libertad, la libertad
Solo ves en la prison la realidad, la realidad
(repeat)
La luz del dia nunca vere
La no dia sombria siempre estare, siempre estare
Sueño de amores venid ya ver
Por mis dolores, por mis dolores a ver me morir
(repeat)

13.  FEBRUARY 3, 1886 – Rizal
arrived in Heidelberg, a
historic city in Germany
famous for its old university
and romantics surroundings.
 For a short time he lived in a
boarding house with some
German law students
In Historic Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany

14.  He became popular among the
Germans because they found out
that he was a good chess player
and he joined them in their beer
drinking and watch their friendly
saber duels.
 He worked at the University Eye
Hospital of University of
Heiderberg under the direction of
Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished
German ophthalmologist.
In Historic Heidelberg
University of Heiderberg

15.  He attended the lectures of Doctor Becker and Prof.
Wilhelm Kuehne at the university.
 During his weekends he visited some scenic
spot.(Heidelberg Castle, Churches etc.)
 He noticed that German Catholics and Protestants
practiced ecumenism.
 One of the town churches was used “ one-half ny the
Catholics and the other half by the Protestants”
In Historic Heidelberg

16.  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”.
 This reminded him of the blooming
flowers at the garden of his home in
Calamba
In Historic Heidelberg: “To the flowers of Heidelberg”
forget-me-not

17. In April 22 1886 he wrote a fine poem ;
“ A Las Flore de Heidelberg”
Go to my native land, go, foreign flowers,
Sown by the traveler on his way,
And there, beneath its azure sky,
Where all my afflictions lie;
There from the weary pilgrim say
What faith is his in that land of ours!
Go there and tell how when the dawn,
Her early light diffusing,
Your petals first flung open wide;
His steps beside chill Neckar drawn,
You see him silent by your side
Upon its Spring perennial musing,
Say how when morning's light,
All your fragrance stealing,
Whispers to you as in mirth,
Playful songs of Love's delight,
He, too, murmurs his love's feeling
In the tongue he learned at birth.
That when the sun of Koenigsthul's height
Pours out its golden flood,
And with its slowly warming light
Gives life to vale and grove and wood,
He greets that sun, here only apraising,
Which in his native land is at its zenith blazing.
And tell there of that day he stood,
Near to a ruin'd castle gray,
By Neckar's banks, or shady wood,
And pluck'd you beside the way
Tell, too, the tale to you addressed,
And how with tender care,
Your bending leaves he press'd
Twist pages of some volume rare.

18.  Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at
Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed at the place of a
Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. Who became his
good friend and admirer because of his pleasant
personality and talent in languages. The pastor has
a wife and two children named Etta and Fritz.
 On June 25 1886 he returned to Heidelberg
carrying with him beautiful memories of the Ulmers
friendship and hospitality.
With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld

19. JULY 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first
letter in German 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.
First Letter to Blumentritt
Ferdinand Blumentritt

20. - along with his letter he gave him Aritmetica
(Arithmetic) book published in two different
languages -Spanish and Tagalog by Rufino
Baltazar Hernandez.
 Rizal’s letter impressed Blumentitt, who
reciprocated by sending Rizal’s a gift of two books.
 This become the start of their friendship that lasted
all their lives
First Letter to Blumentritt

21. First Letter to Blumentritt
I have heard that you are studying our
language and that you already published some
works about it; permit me to you a book written by
my country men in our language. The Spanish
version is mediocre because the author is only the
modest writer but the Tagalog part is good, and it
is precisely the language spoken in our province.

22.  The famous University of Heidelberg
held its fifth centenary celebration on
August 6, 1886 where Rizal had
witnessed the said celebration.
 It was three days after his departure
and he was sad because he had come
to love the beautiful city and its
hospitable people.
 August 9, 1886 he left the city.
Fifth Centenary of Heidelberg University

23. 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.
 Rizal found out that the cost of living in
Leipzig was the cheapest in Europe so he
stayed for 2 months and a half.
Leipzig
Dresden

24. In Leipzig and Dresden
 He corrected some of chapters of his second
novel and performed his daily physical
exercise at the city gymnasium.
 Because of his knowledge on German, Spanish
and other European languages he worked as
proof-reader in publisher’s firm, thereby
earning some money.
 On October 29, he went to Dresden, where he
met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
Leipzig
Dresden

25.  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” a book he admired during his student days in Manila
 DR. RUDOLF VIRCHOW – famous German anthropologist
 DR.W. JOEST – German geographer
 DR. KARL ERNEST SCHWEIGGER – famous German ophthalmologist
Rizal welcomed in Berlin’s scientific circles
Berlin,
Germany

26.  Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society the
Ethnnological Soaciety And the Geographical Society of
Berlin, upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr. Meyer .
He was the first Asian to be accord such honors.
 DR. Virchow, who recognize Rizal’s genius, invited the latter to
give a lecture before the Ethnographic Society of Berlin.
 In response to Verchow, Rizal wrote a scholarly paper in
German entitled Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art)
which he raed before the society in the same year in April
1887.
Rizal welcomed in Berlin’s scientific circles

27. 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
 Rizal worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Scweigger, and
at night, he attended lectures in the University of Berlin.
 He also took private lessons in French under Madame Lucie
Cerdole.
Rizal’s Life in Berlin

28. 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 gathering.

29.  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 was eating only one meal
a day.
 His clothes were old and threadbare.
 His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment.
 Out in far away Calamba, Paciano tried desperately to raise
money. But the corps had failed due to the raveges of the
locusts. Poosr Paciano was delayed in raisng the necessary
funds.
Rizal’s Darkest Winter