Rizal’s Specialization in Medicine and his other Achievements

| • Dr. Virchow invited him to speak before the Berlin

Ethnographic Society.
• Rizal went to France and Germany for his ophthalmology specialization • Rizal publish a scientific / scholarly paper titled “Taglishche
• He chose this path of medicine because he wanted to cure his mother's Verskunst” (Tagalog Metrical Art)
deteriorating eye condition • In order to master the French language, Rizal took private
• secret mission,' which was to observe European customs and lifestyles in lessons from Madame Lucie Cerdole.
order to one day serve his fatherland  He studied at the Central University • Regarding culture, Rizal admired the German Yuletide custom,
of Madrid  1885. He traveled to Paris at the age of 24. in which Germans would take bushes from a pine tree and
• he stopped in Barcelona to see his friend Maximo Viola, a medical student decorate them with lanterns, papers and candies.
from a wealthy family in Bulacan. • German Yuletide -christmas (yule – day is longer)
• November of that year, Rizal was in Paris, where he had been for about four • His experiences in germny were not all positive, he ived in
months. He worked as an apprentice for Dr. Louis de Wecker, a leading poverty because of the crops failed due to locusts and the
French ophthalmologist at the time. sugar market collapsed in Calamba that Paciano can’t send him
• Rizal also visited friends such as the family of Pardo de Taveras, Juan Luna, money.
and Felix Resurreccion in Hidalgo • Another interesting custom in Germany is that if a man does
The death of cleopatra , “he was one of the Egyptian prists” not have anyone to introduce him to the other guests, he bows
• On February 1, 1886, He was scheduled to travel to Germany. his head to the guests and introduces himself to the other
• He arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany known for guests, shaking hands with everyone in the room.
its old university and romantic surroundings, on February 3, PUBLICATION OF NOLI ME TANGERE
1886. INTRODUCTION
• He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of • Noli Me Tangere is the first novel written by Filipino patriot and national
Dr. Otto Becker and attended Dr. Becker's and Prof. Wilhelm hero Dr. José Rizal in March 21, 1887 and published in Germany.
Kuehne's lectures at the university. • The Noli Me Tangere is written in Spanish
• He visited the scenic spots around Heidelberg which includes • Latin phrase which means “TOUCH ME NOT”
the Heidelberg Castle, the romantic Neckar Rivera, the theatre, • Taken from the holy bible (Jn 20:17)
and the old churches. Rizal noticed that the German Catholics • Inspiration in writing the Noli Me Tangere was the book of Harriet Beecher
and the Protestants practiced ecumenism Stowe “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
• On April 22, 1886, in the springtime of Heidelberg, he wrote a • In 1884, Rizal was supposed to write the novel with the following persons:
poem to the lovely blooming flowers along the Neckar River. 1. Paterno brothers–Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio
His favorite flower was among them: the forget-me-not. 2. Graciano López-Jaena
• Rizal then spent three months of his summer vacation in 3. Evaristo Aguirre
Wilhelmsfeld, a mountainous village near Heidelberg. He 4. Eduardo de Lete
stayed at the vicarage of Dr. Karl Ullmer, a kind Protestant 5. Melecio Figueroa
pastor. 6. Valentín Ventura
• Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand 7. Julio Llorento
Blumentritt on July 31, 1886 • However these people did not dissent during the writing process
• Aritmetica, a book, was included with the letter • Few chapters in Germany and the remaining chapters in the Philippines.
• the famous University of Heidelberg held its fifthcentenary • Deleted some passages. The chapter “ Elias and Salome” Chapter 25
celebration on August 6 of 1886. • He compared the Philippines to a cancer patient
• Rizal left Heidelberg on August 9, 1886, three days after the • Letter from Blumentritt was the most important of all congratulatory letter
University of Heidelberg celebrated its fifth centennial RIZAL SUSPECTED AS A FRENCH SPY
He arrives at Leipzig on August 14,1886  The chief of police of Berlin visited Rizal to see his passport. But he has nothing
• Professor Friedrich Ratzel, a well-known German historian, and to show so he was given four days to present or he will be deported
Dr. Hans PRINTING THE NOVEL
• Meyer, a German anthropologist. Rizal translated William Tell's • At the time when the novel is ready for printing, he ran out of funds.
story from German to • He contacted his friend, Maximo Viola, who agreed to lend him money for
Filipino. publishing.
• He also translated Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales • P300.00 cost for 2000 copies
• Cost of living in Leipzig is the lowest in Europe, he stayed for • Printing shop - Berliner Buchdruckrei Action Gesselchaft
two and a half months. • Rizal sent copies to:
• On October 29, 1886, Rizal left Leipzig for Dresden. Rizal met 1. Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor
Dr. Adolph Meyer, the director of the Anthropological and 2. Graciano López-Jaena
Ethnological Museum, in Dresden. He was only in town for two 3. Mariano Ponce
days. 4. Felix Hidalgo
• He experienced the Holy Mass in a Catholic church, and he 5. Blumentritt
wrote, "Truly, I have never in my life heard a Mass whose music • March 29, 1887 - Rizal gave Maximo Viola the galley proofs of the Noli rolled
had greater sublimity and intonation." around the pen that he used
• Left Dresden by train on November 1st, arriving in Berlin in the RIZAL’S DEDICATION WRITTEN IN THE NOLI ME TANGERE
evening. To My Fatherland:
• He met Dr. Feodor Jager. Author of “Travels in the Philippines” Recorded in the history of human sufferings is a cancer of so malignant
• Dr. Jagor introduced Rizal to Dr. Rudolf Virchow – well known a character that the least touch irritates it and awakens in it the sharpest pains.
anthropologist, and his son, Dr. Hans Virchow- professor of Thus, how many times, when in the midst of modern civilizations I have wished to
Descriptive Anatomy. call thee before me, now to accompany me in memories, now to compare thee
• Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – well known German with other countries, hath thy dear image presented itself showing a social cancer
ophthalmologist, hired Rizal to work in his clinic like to that other.
• Rizal was the first Asian to be honored for membership in the Desiring thy welfare, which is our own, and seeking the best treatment,
Anthropological Society, Ethnological Society and, I will do with thee what the ancients did with their sick, exposing them on the
Geographical Society of Berlin.
steps of the temple so that every one who came to invoke the divinity might offer • Amazed by his explanation, he requested for a copy of the book.
them a remedy. • He knew that Rizal’s life was in jeopardy so he assigned him a body
And to this end, I will strive to reproduce thy condition faithfully, guard to protect him.
without discriminations; I will raise a part of the veil that covers the evil, sacrificing • Rizal’s bodyguard was then assigned to him by a young Spanish lieutenant
to truth everything, even vanity itself, since, as thy son, I am conscious that I also
suffer from thy defects and weaknesses. Archbishop Pedro Payo
THE AUTHOR • Archbishop of Manila
EUROPE, 1886 (Derbyshire 1912, p1) • Archbishop Pedro Payo sent a copy of the novel to Father Rector Gregorio
Echevarria of the University of Santo Tomas
GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA • Novels was indeed against Catholic teachings
• Governor General sent the novel to the Permanent Commission of
MAXIMO VIOLA Censorship which was made up of priest and lay people, for further
• The Savior of NOLI ME TANGERE investigation and verification.
• Best friend of Jose Rizal in Europe. • It was recommended that the novel be banned in the Philippines
• Máximo Viola y Sison was a propagandist, writer, revolutionary leader and
doctor from Bulacan, Philippines. Reverend Vicente Garcia had the best defense
• Viola was an active member of the Propaganda Movement in Madrid. • Jose Rizal was a graduate of Spanish universities and a recipient of
scholastic honors, so he couldn't be an ignorant;
• May 11, 1887 - Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train • Jose Rizal does not criticize the Church or Spain because what he
• First Destination was Dresden, they visited Dr. Adolph Meyer, the Museum criticizes in the novel are bad Spanish officials, not Spain, and bad corrupt
of Arts and witnessed Floral Exposition friars, not the Church;
• They also met Dr. Feodor Jagor and advised him to write Ferdinand • Finally, the friars believe that those who have read the novel have
Blumentritt before going to him committed a mortal sin, so Fr. Rodriguez has also committed a mortal sin.
• They then took a train to Leitmeritz Czechoslovakia where they met
Blumentritt, they met at Hotel Krebs • In the land disputes at Kalamba, Rizal advised the tenants to demand
• After Czechoslovakia they went to Prague to see Copernicus Tomb. that the landlords show their deeds in court
• Went to Vienna to see the magnificent churches, museums, art galleries,
theaters and public parks • His happy days were marred by the:
• March 24, 1887 - left Vienna by boat to see the beautiful sights of Danuber
River (1) death of his older sister Olimpia
• Rizal celebrated his 26th birthday in Geneva by treating Dr. Viola. (2) the unfounded rumor spread by his enemies that he was a "German spy,
• After Geneva, they decided to part ways an agent of Bismarck, a Protestant, a Mason, a Witch, a soul beyond
• Viola returned to Barcelona salvation."
• Rizal travelled throughout Italy • His happy days were marred by the:
• He enjoyed observing structures and edifices of the churches of St. Peter • Governor General Terrero advised him to leave the Philippinnes after 6
and St. Paul months
• After a week he decided to go home. • 1888 Rizal left Calamba
• A poem for Lipa – shortly before Rizal left in 1888, he was asked by a
FIRST HOMECOMING friend to write a poem in commemoration of the town’s cityhood.
• Studied in Europe between 1882 and 1887 • Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn To Labor) – title of the poem dedicated to the
• Returned to the Philippines in August 1887 after a 5 year adventure in industrious people of Lipa.
Europe, where he practice medicine in Calamba
Reasons
• To operate his mother’s eyes
• To see how his novel has affected the lives of Filipinos
• July 3 1887 – took the train from Rome to Marseilles and boarded steamer
Djemnah
• Passing through Suez Canal on its way to the Orient.
• July 30 1887 – transferred to a different steamer in Saigon “steamer
Haiphong” to Manila on August 2
• August 5 1887 – Haipong arrived in Manila
• Visited some friends in manila and noticed that Manila had not changed
• August 8 1887 – He returned to Calamba
• His brother, Paciano stayed with him for a few days because he wanted
to protect him from enemy attacks.
• He opened a medical clinic in Calamba
• First patient – his mother
• Earned 900 pesos in a month
• Opened a gym for young people where he taught them European sports
• Interested in gymnastics, fencing and shooting rather that cockfightings and
gambling.
• Rizal did not see Leonor Rivera

Governor General Emilio Terrero

• Received a letter from Governor General Emilio Terrero asking him to come
to Malacanang Palace
• Rizal travelled to Manila and testified denying the Governor General’s
accusations against his novel, the Noli Me Tangere