Chapter 20: Ophthalmic surgeon in Hongkong (1891-1892)

(November 1891- June 1892) – Europe to Hongkong

Reasons for Leaving Europe:
1. Life is unbearable in Europe because of political differences with M.H. del
Pilar and other Filipinos
2. To be near his idolized Philippines and family
1. Farewell to Europe:
October 03, 1891- Left Ghent for Paris and Stayed there to say goodbye to the
Lunas, the Pardo de Taveras, the Venturas and other friends
Proceeded by train to Mersailles
October 18,1891- Boarded a steamer "Melbourne" bound for Hong Kong and
Brought with him a letter of recommendation by Juan Luna for Manuel Camus and
600 copies of El Filibusterismo.
The trip to Hong Kong:
 The trip was delightful and heavenly is Rizal's opinion
 There were over 80 first-class passengers and Rizal was the only Asian
among them
 Amazed his fellow-passengers because of his knowledge of many languages
and his skill in sketching
 "Rizal and the German ladies" incident
2. Arrival in Hong Kong:
November 20,1891- Rizal arrived in Hong Kong and he was welcomed by the
Filipino residents especially his friend, Jose Ma. Basa.
No. 5 D'Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace- His residence and where he
opened his medical clinic
Dec. 1, 1891- He wrote to his parents asking their permission to return home and
same date, he received a letter from Manuel T. Hidalgo relating the sad news of the
"deportation of 25 persons from Calamba including his father, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano
and the rest of us”
3. Family Reunion in Hong Kong:
Before Christmas of 1891, he was gladdened by the arrival of his father, brother
and his brother-in-law, Silvestre Ubaldo and not long afterwards his mother and
sisters Lucia, Josefa and trinidad arrived.
1890- Rizal’s Mother was then 65 years old and was almost blind, suffered
Spanish brutality and injustice was arrested on the flimsy charge that she was not
using her surname Realonda and, despite her advanced age and blindness she was
forced to walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz(capital of Laguna) Fortunately, the
Spanish governor of Laguna pitied her and kindly set her free.
Christmas of 1891- In Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide celebrations
in Rizal's life for He had a Happy family Reunion.
January 31, 1891- Rizal wrote to Blumentritt, as follows: Here we are all living
together, my parents, sisters, and brother, in peace and far from the persecutions
they suffered in the Philippines. They are very much pleased with the English
government.
4. Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong:
 To earn a living for himself and his family, he practiced medicine
 Dr. Lorenzo P. Marquez- A Portuguese physician who became Rizal’s
friend and admirer, also help rizal build a wide clientele.
 Rizal became a successful and well-known medical practitioner in the
British colony
January 31, 1892- Writing to Blumentritt, He said: “Here I practiced as a doctor
and I have here many sick of influenza because there is an epidemic. Through the
newspapers I am informed that this sickness is also causing ravages in Europe. I
hope you and your esteemed family will be spared. In our house, my mother, my
brother-in-law, and one of my sisters are sick. Thank God, they are out of danger.
-He successfully operated his mother's left eye
Dr. Geminiano De Ocampo- Rizal possessed the qualities of a great ophthalmic
surgeon, he would have become one of Asian’s eminent ophthalmologist
- Hong Kong Government erected a plaque beside Dr. Jose Rizal residence in
Hong Kong.
 5. BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT
 Governor Valeriano Weyler- Calamba is under his terroristic regime
 Rizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in North Borneo
(Sabah).
 He planned to move the landless Filipino families to that British-owned
island and create a “New Calamba”
 March 7, 1892- Rizal went to Sandakan on board the ship Menon to
negotiate with the British authorities for the establishment of a Filipino
colony.
 British North Borneo Company- offered the land up the Bengkoka River
in Maradu Bay
 The Borneo British authorities were willing to give the Filipino colonists
 100,000 acres of land
FREE OF ALL  a beautiful harbor
CHARGES
 a good government for 999 years
 Rizal went back to Hong Kong in April 20.
 Juan Luna, Antonio Luna, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Blumentritt, Dr.
Bautista Lin, etc. enthusiastically endorsed his Borneo colonization project.
 May 26, 1892- Lopez Jaena wrote to Rizal expressing his desire to join the
colony
 Hidalgo- Rizal’s brother-in-law, objected to the colonization project
 New trends of events in the Philippines gave Rizal a new hope for realizing
his Borneo project.
 Governor Weyler or “The Butcher” was relieved of his gubernatorial
office
 new governor general Eulogio Despujol, the Count of Caspe,
announced to the Filipinos a fine program of government
 December 23, 1891- in the belief that the governor was sincere in his
beautiful promises of a better government, Rizal sent him a letter of
felicitation and offering his cooperation.
 The governor did not even acknowledge receipt of his letter.
  March 21, 1892- after waiting for 3 months for a reply, he wrote a second
letter and gave it to a ship captain to be sure it would reach Governor
Despujol’s hand.
 He requested the governor general to permit the landless Filipinos to
establish themselves in Borneo.
 However, Despujol did not give Rizal the “courtesy of a reply”.
 Instead, he notified the Spanish consul general in Hong Kong to tell Rizal
that he could not approve the Filipino immigration to Borneo, alleging that
“the Philippines lacked laborers” and “it was not very patriotic to go off and
cultivate foreign soil”
6. Writings in Hong Kong
● Ang mga Karapatan ng tao -This is the Tagalog translation of “The Rights of
Man” proclaimed by the French Revolution in 1789.
● A La Nacion Espanola- Which is an appeal to Spain to right the wrongs done to
the Calamba tenants (1891)
● Sa mga kababayan- (To My Fellowmen) December 1891, this is about the
Calamba agrarian situation.
● Una Visita a la Victoria Gaol- (A visit to Victoria Gaol) March 02, 1892,
Rizal’s visit to the colonial prison of Hong Kong.
● The Hong Kong Telegraph- Whose editor, Mr. Frazier Smith, was his friend.
Copies of this newspaper entered the Philippines so that Filipino people were able
to read Rizals articles. The vigilant Spanish censors soon discovered the spread of
Rizal side and immediately banned the Hong Kong newspaper.
● Constitution of La Liga Filipina- The most important writing made by Rizal
during his Hong Kong sojourn was the Constitution of Liga Filipina which was
printed in hong Kong in 1892. To deceive the Spanish authorities, the printed
copies carried false information that the printing was done by the London Printing
Press.
The idea of establishing Liga Filipina was originally conceived by Jose Ma. Basa,
but it was Rizal who wrote its constitution and realized its establishment. Copies of
the printed Liga constitution were sent by Rizal to his friend in Manila.
7. Decision to Return to Manila
May 1892- Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila for the following reasons:
1. To confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project
2. To establish the Liga Filipina in Manila
3. To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid

8. Last Hong Kong Letters

● Relatives and friends of Rizal opposed his decision to return home but not even
death could stop Rizal from his decision.
● In his 31st birthday in Hong Kong, he had a premonition of his death and on the
following day he wrote 2 letters which he sealed in each envelope "to be opened
after my death" and gave it to his friend, Dr. Marques for safekeeping.
● The first letter was addressed to his parents ,brethren and friends.
● The second letter was addressed to the Filipinos
June 21 1892- Rizal wrote another letter in Hong Kong for Governor Despujol, he
informed the governor general of his coming to Manila and placed himself under
the protection of the Spanish government.

9. Rizal Falls into Spanish trap

● Rizal and Lucia left Hong Kong and they carried a special passport of safe
conduct issued by Spanish consul general in Hong Kong.
● Immediately after Rizal's departure from Hong Kong, the Spanish consul-general
who issued the government guarantee of safety sent a cablegram to the Governor
Despujol stating that the victim "is in the trap".
June 21, 1892- A secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and his followers
for anti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation.