HIST 17

BSIE-3

MWF; 2:30-3:30pm
The Travels of Rizal

CITY/ COUNTRY
VISITED
(in no particular order)
1. Singapore

2. Punta
Gales,
Colombo

de

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

3. Aden

4. City of Suez

5. Naples

The Salvadora docked at Singapore and because of

this Rizal spent two days sightseeing and observing
the Singapore which is a colony of England and he
was very much fascinated by it.
On his way to Marseilles, Rizal had two terrible
dreams. First, he was travelling with Saturnina
(Neneng) and their path was blocked by snakes and
second was that he went back to the Philippines and
his parents did not talk to him and so he went back
abroad borrowing 100 pesos. He was so sad and
depressed and soon he woke up and he noticed that
he was inside his cabin
Rizal reached Punta de Gales for Colombo and
observed that it was picturesque but lonely and quiet.
Rizal was then enamored by Colombo for its scenic
beauty and elegant buildings. He even said that it was
more beautiful, smart and elegant than Singapore,
Point Galle and Manila
He wanted to improve his knowledge and language in
French in the French vessel, Djemnah
Rizal then arrived at Aden observed that it was hotter
than manila and was amused to see camels for the
first time.
Rizal then arrived at City of Suez which was the Red
Sea terminal of Suez Canal. He was impressed in the
beautiful moonlight which reminded him of Calamba
and his family
Then on June 11, 1882 Rizal reached Naples and went
on a guided city tour which was the first European
ground that he set foot in. He was pleased on this
Italian city because of its business activity, its lively
people, and its panoramic beauty.

6. Marseilles

7. Barcelona,
Spain

8. Madrid, Spain

On his way to Marseille, Rizal discovered that the

Siamese were Buddhists and not Catholics and he
noticed that the church in the Philippines did not
presumably care for it to be known how little of the rest
of Asia was Christian
Rizal then arrive at the French harbor of Marseilles
and visited where Dantes (the hero of Count of Monte
Cristo) was imprisoned and stayed two and a half days
in Marseille.
He then left by train in Marseilles to Barcelona
Rizal met a few Filipinos in Barcelona and his first
impression was that it was the greatest city of
Cataluna and Spains second largest city, was
unfavorable.
During his stay in Barcelona, he created his first
written article on Spains soil under his pen name
Laong Laan which was Amor Patrio or Love of
Country and appeared on print in Diariong Tagalog
To complete his studies and widen his political
knowledge
through
exposure
to
European
governments.
He left Barcelona for Madrid, to pursue his medical
studies in the Universidad Central de Madrid. He also
took French, German, and English lessons from
private tutors.
Rizal enrolled in the Central University of Madrid in
Medicine and Philosophy and Letters
Rizal also studied painting and sculpture
Rizal joined Circulo Hispano-Filipino which was a
society of Spaniards and Filipinos and upon request of
the members Rizal wrote Me Piden Versos (They ask
me for verses) and personally declaimed during the
New Years Eve reception. In this sad poem, he
poured out the cry of his agonizing heart
Two books aroused Rizals sympathy for the
oppressed and unfortunate people and these are
Uncle Toms Cabin and The Wandering Jew
In Madrid, Rizal also heard the news of Leonor
Rivera's marriage with an Englishman Henry Kipping
who was the choice of Leonors mother.
As if misfortunes were not enough, there emerged
the Del Pilar-Rizal rivalry for leadership in the

9. Biarritz, Paris,
Brussels

10. Heidelberg,
Leipzig,
Dresden,
Berlin,
Leitmeritz

Asociacion Hispano Filipino. The supposedly healthy

election for a leader produced divisive unpleasant split
among the Filipinos in Madrid (the Rizalistas vs. the
Pilaristas). Rizal thus decided to leave Madrid, lest his
presence results in more August 1890
Rizal proceeded to take a more than a month vacation
in Biarritz, a tourist town in southwestern France noted
for its mild climate and sand beaches. Arriving there in
February 1891, Rizal was welcomed as a family guest
in the house of the Bousteds, especially by Nellie
whom he had a serious (but failed) romantic
relationship.
In Biarritz, he continued to worked on his El Fili and
completed its manuscript on March 29, the eve of his
departure for Paris.
Valentine Ventura hosted his short stay in Paris, and
the Jacobies, especially Petite Suzanne, cordially
welcomed his arrival in Brussels in April 1891.
In Brussels, Rizal revised and prepared for printing his
second novel until the end of Rizal arrived at France
for the first time at Marseilles, where he visited the
Chateau dlf, the fortress famous as the setting for
Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo.
In Heidelberg, Rizal worked as apprentice of Dr. Otto
Becker and was able to visit picturesque spots in the
historical city including the Heidelberg Castle and the
ancient churches.
In Leipzig, he attended lectures in the University of
Leipzig and worked on with his mission of enlightening
his Filipino brethren with inspiring stories by translating
the story of the Swiss independence and some of
Hans Christian Andersens Fairy Tales to Filipino.
In Dresden, he met Dr. Adolph Meyer and was
impressed for the first time of the spirituality of a
Catholic Holy Mass
In Berlin, Rizal was captivated by its scientific
atmosphere and absence of racial discrimination. He
wrote the Tagalog Metrical Art (TaglischeVerkunst) and
published Noli Me Tangere.
In Leitmeritz, Bohemia, Rizal bonded with his close
friend and professor, Ferdinand Blumentritt
They saw the infamous torture machines used in the

11. Hong Kong

12. Sandakan
(East
Malaysia)

of

13. Ghent, Belgium

so-called Catholic Inquisition. Afterward, they went to

Ulm and climbed Germanys tallest cathedral there
Rizal went to Munich and enjoyed its famous beer, to
Nuremberg to see its doll factory and Ulm to see the
biggest cathedral in all of Germany.
October 1891 Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong
onboard the ship Melbourne on which he began
writing his third (but unfinished) novel.
He arrived in Hong Kong on November 20 and resided
at No. 5 D Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxela Terrace.
(In case you did not notice, Rednaxela is
Alexander spelled reversely).
In Hong Kong, Jose opened a medical clinic. A
Portuguese friend, Dr. Lorenzo P. Marques helped him
to have plentiful patrons of various nationalities. His
successful operation on his mothers left eye allowed
her to read again.
March 1892 He went to Sandakan (East Malaysia)
aboard Menon to negotiate with British authorities
concerning the founding of a Filipino colony in North
Borneo (now called Sabah).
On March 21, Rizal asked Governor General Eulogio
Despujol through a letter to allow the landless
Filipinos, especially the deported Calamba tenants, to
establish themselves in North Borneo.
Rizal was back in Hong Kong in April, 1892.
July 1891 Rizal went to Ghent in July 1891 because
the cost of printing in the place was cheaper.
He lived in a low-cost boarding house where he had as
roommate Jose Alejandro, an engineering student in
the University of Ghent.
Tightening their belts, they rented a room exclusive of
breakfast. They bought a box of biscuit, counted the
contents, and computed for their daily ration for a
month.
In just 15 days, Alejandro had eaten up all his shares
whereas Rizal frugally limited himself to his daily
allocation.
In Belgium, Rizal busied himself with writing the El
Fili and contributing for La Solidaridad using the pen
names Dimas Alang and LaongLaan.
When he heard the news that the Calamba agrarian

14. France

15. London

trouble was getting worse, Rizal decided to go home.

But Paciano told him through a letter that they lost the
court case against the Dominicans in the Philippines
and they intended to bring the case to Madrid.
This prompted Jose to go to Madrid instead to look for
a lawyer and influential people who would He arrived
Barcelona, Spain where he met some Filipinos.
In Paris, Rizal frequented the Bibliotheque Nationale,
working on his annotation of the Sucesos . Rizal
witnessed the Universal Exposition of Paris, having as
its greatest attraction the Eiffel Tower.
He formed the Kidlat Club, a temporary social club
which brought together Filipinos witnessing the
exposition. He also organized the Indios Bravos , an
association which envisioned Filipinos being
recognized for being admirable in many fields, and the
mysterious Redencion de los Malayos (Redemption of
the Malays) which aimed to propagate useful
knowledge. In March 1889
On 1883, Rizal visited the French capital of France,
where he was fascinated by its architectural wonders
(e.g. Place de la Concorde and the Arch of Triumph).
He visited the Leannec Hospital to observe and
became an apprentice of Dr. Louis de Weckert to
specialized in ophthalmology
He also joined Free Masonry and was impressed with
the freedom they enjoyed in openly criticizing the
government.
In London, Rizal manually copied and annotated
Morgas Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, a rare book
available in the British Museum.
He also became the honorary president of the
patriotic society Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad
Association) and wrote articles for the La
Solidaridad.
In his 10-month stay in London, he had short visits in
Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona.
He reached London and stayed briefly at Dr. Antonio
Ma. Regidor's home.
He then boarded at the Beckett family where he fell in
love with Gertrude, the oldest daughter of his landlord.
In June 1888, Rizal made friends with Dr. Reinhold

16. Austria

17. United States

of America

18. Prague

19. Italy

20. Japan

Rost and his family. Expert in Malayan language, Rost

had in his house a good Filipiniana library
In Vienna, Rizal was met by a famous European
novelist, Norfenfals, who toured him to the churches,
art galleries, and other tourists spots in the city
especially along the Danube Rivera.
In Salzburg, Rizal enjoyed the baroque architecture of
the old town
The ship arrived in San Francisco on April 28.
For a week, they were however quarantined, allegedly
because of the cholera outbreak in the Far East.
In reality, some politicians were just questioning the
arrival of the Chinese coolies in the ship who would
displace white laborers in railroad construction
projects.
On May 6, he went to Oakland. Onboard a train, he
took his evening meal at Sacramento and woke up at
Reno, Nevada.
He had visited also the states of Utah, Colorado,
Nebraska, Illinois, and finally reached New York on
May 13.
On Bedloe Island, he had seen the Statue of Liberty
symbolizing freedom and democracy. Inconsistently,
Rizal observed that there was racial inequality in the
land and real freedom was only for the whites
May 6 In Prague, he met Dr. Willkomm from the
University of Prague who toured him to the citys
historic spots including the tomb of Copernicus and the
National History Museum
Rizal toured the Italys famous cities namely Milan,
Venice and Florence, known for their arts and culture.
He also visited the Vatican in Rome and was
particularly overwhelmed by St. Peters
Rizal arrived in Yokohama, Japan on February 28 and
proceeded to Tokyo the next day.
He lived in the Spanish legation in Tokyo upon the
invitation of its secretary, Juan Perez Caballero.
In March 1888, he heard a Tokyo band nicely playing
a European music and was astonished to find out after
the gig that some of its members were Filipinos
We can surmise from this that even during Rizals
time, some Filipinos were already entertainers in

Japan
21. Switzerland

22. Calamba

23. Dapitan

24. Fort Santiago

Rizal saw Rhein falls, the largest plain waterfall in

Europe and head towards other Swiss cities Basel,
Bern, and Lausanne.
Rizal was particularly fascinated with Geneva where
the people speak French, German, and Italian.
Restoring his mothers eyesight, he began to be
dubbed as German doctor or Doctor Uliman and
made a lot of money because people from different
places flocked him for a better vision.
6 July 1892 Rizal held the last interview with the
Governor- General. The governor-general confronted
him for anti-friar bills supposedly found in the
baggages of his sister Lucia.
He was ordered imprisoned in Fort Santiago. On 15
July 1892 At 1:00 on the morning, Rizal was shipped
on board the boat S. S. Cebu to Dapitan. He was
given good cabin, but well guarded.
In Dapitan he engaged in agriculture, fishing and
business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he
conducted classes- taught the pupils English and
Spanish languages and the arts

When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26,

1896, his enemies lost no time in pressing him down.
They were able to enlist witnesses that linked him with
the revolt and these were never allowed to be
confronted by him.
- Thus, from November 3, 1986, to the date of his
execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago.
How did these experiences influence Rizals political thinking and religious
views?
These experiences greatly influenced Rizals political thinking and religious
views. First, it was obvious that reading shaped Jose Rizals political consciousness and
thinking. Rizal travelled to Spain in order to pursue his medical studies and to widen his
political knowledge through exposure to European governments most especially with
Spains environment; however, Rizals other travels helped him understand and learn
the culture and politics of other countries. During Rizals toasting speech he mentioned
that a conquered country like the Philippines should not be taken advantage of but

rather should be developed, civilized, educated and trained in the science of selfgovernment. Rizal didnt mind being colonized he just wanted a reformation. It is
obvious that Rizals books were written to raise political consciousness in relation to the
current state of affairs in the Philippines. It was his way to show to his countrymen that
they can do something and that they should fight for their freedom. Until Rizals very last
moment he fought not only for his independence but for all of us.
Second, Rizals religious perspective was humanistic blended with some forms of
existentialism. From Rizals letter: To the Women of Malolos he stated that,
You know that the will of God is different from that of the priest; that
religiousness does not consist of long periods spent on your knees, nor in
endless prayers, big rosarios, and grimy scapularies [religious garment
showing devotion], but in a spotless conduct, firm intention and upright
judgment. You also know that prudence does not consist in blindly
obeying any whim of the little tin god, but in obeying only that which is
reasonable and just, because blind obedience is itself the cause and origin
of those whims, and those guilty of it are really to be blamed. The official
or friar can no longer assert that they alone are responsible for their unjust
orders, because God gave each individual reason and a will of his or her
own to distinguish the just from the unjust; all were born without shackles
and free, and nobody has a right to subjugate the will and the spirit of
another your thoughts. And, why should you submit to another your
thoughts, seeing that thought is noble and free?
Rizal did not believe in many things but one thing is for sure, he believed in God. He
said, How can I doubt God when I am convinced of my own existence? Who
recognizes the effect recognizes the cause. To doubt God would be to doubt ones
conscience and consequently, to doubt everything; and then, what is life for? Rizal
believed in religion and he respected all other religion besides Christianity. Rizals
Christian morality formed the very core of his social and political reforms.
Source:
http://www.slideshare.net/marygraceflores90/travels-of-rizal-1
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/14303/reading-shaped-rizal%E2%80%99s-politicalconsciousness
http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/kasarinlan/article/viewFile/1405/pdf_52
http://www.slideshare.net/ricie26/dr-jose-rizals-travels
Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr by Austin Coates