PARIS TO BERLIN

(1885-1887)
Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in
ophthalmologyRizal chose this branch of medicine
because he wanted to cure his mothers eye ailment
 IN GAY PARIS (1885-1886)
Maximo Viola- a medical student and a member of a
rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan, Rizals friend
Seor Eusebio Corominas- editor of the newspaper La
Publicidad and made a crayon sketch of Don Miguel
Morayta, owner of La Publicidad and a stasman
Rizal gave Editor Corominas an article on the Carolines
Question, then a controversial issue, for publication
 November 1885, Rizal was living in Paris where he
sojourned for about four months
Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906)- leading French
ophthalmologist wherein Rizal worked as an assistant from
November 1885 to February 1886
 Paz Pardo de Tavera- was a pretty girl, who was engaged
to Juan Luna
At the studio of Luna, Rizal spent many happy hours. Rizal
helped Luna by posing as model in several paintings
In Lunas canvas The Death of Cleopatra Egyptian
Priest, The Blood Compact a Sikatuna, role of Legazpi
 IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
February 1, 1886- Rizal reluctantly left Gay Paris for
Germany
February 3, 1886- Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic
city in Germany famous for its old university and romantic
surroundings
Dr. Otto Becker- distinguished German ophthalmologist
where Rizal worked University Eye Hospital
 April 22, 1886- Rizal wrote a fine poem A Las Flores de
Heidelberg (To the Flowers of Heidelberg)
In the spring of 1886, Rizal was fascinated by the
blooming flowers along the cool banks of the Neckar
River. Among them was his favorite flower the light blue
forget-me-not
 Wilhelmsfeld- a mountainous village near Heidelberg
where Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation
Dr. Karl Ullmer- a kind Protestant pastor where Rizal
stayed, who became his good friend and admirer
June 25, 1886- Rizal ended his sojourn at Pastor Ullmers
home
 July 31, 1886- Rizal wrote his first letter in German
(which he had improved after his stay with the Ullmers)
to Professor Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of
Leitmeritz, Austria
Aritmetica (Arithmetic)-Rizal sent this book he
mentioned and was published in two languages
Spanish and Tagalogby the University of Santo Tomas
Press in 1868. the author was Rufino Baltazar
Hernandez, a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna
 IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
August 9, 1886- Rizal left Heidelberg
August 14, 1886- boarded by a train. Rizal arrived in
Leipzig
Professor Friedrich Ratzel- a famous German historian,
Rizal befriend with him
Dr. Hans Meyer- German anthropologist, a friend of
Rizal
In Leipzig, Rizal translated Schillers William Tell from
German into Tagalog so that Filipino might know the
story of that champion of Swiss independence
Rizal also translated into Tagalog for his nephews and
niece Hans Andersens Fairy Tales
 Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was
cheapest in Europe so that he stayed two months and a
half
Because of his knowledge of German, Spanish, and
other European languages, Rizal worked as proof- reader
in a publishers firm
October 29, 1886- Rizal left Leipzig for Dresden where he
met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the Anthropological
and Ethnological Museum
Rizal heard Mass in a Catholic church; evidently, this
Mass impressed him very much, for he wrote on his diary:
Truly I have never in my life heard a Mass whose music
had greater sublimity and intonation.
Morning of November 1, 1886- Rizal left Dresden by
train reaching Berlin in the evening
 BERLIN
Rizal met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor, celebrated
German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the
Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired during
his student days in Manila
Dr. Rudolf Virchow- introduced to Rizal by Dr. Jagor;
famous German anthropologist
Dr. Hans Virchow- son of Dr. Rudolf Virchow, professor
of Descriptive Anatomy
Dr. W. Joest- noted German geographer
 Dr. Ernest Schweigger (1830-1905)- famous German
ophthalmologist where Rizal worked
Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society,
the Ethnological Society, and the Geographical Society of
Berlin, upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr.
Meyer
Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art)- Rizal wrote
this scholarly paper in German which he read before the
society in April 1887, this paper was published by the
society in the same year, and elicited favorable comments
from all scientific quarters
 Rizal lived in Berlin, famous capital of unified Germany
for five reasons: (1) to gain further knowledge of
ophthalmology (2) to further his studies of sciences and
languages (3) to observe the economic and political
conditions of the German nation (4) to associate with
famous German scientists and scholars (5) to publish his
novel, Noli Me Tangere
Madame Lucie Cerdole-Rizals professor of French in
order to master the idiomatic intricacies of the French
language
Unter den Linden- the most popular boulevard of Berlin
wherein Rizal enjoyed promenading, sipping beer in the
citys inns and talking with the friendly Berliners
 March 11, 1886 - one of Rizals important letters written
while he was in Germany that addressed to his sister,
Trinidad - in this letter, Rizal expressed his high regard
and admiration for German womanhood - The German
woman, said Rizal to his sister, is serious, diligent,
educated, and friendly. She is not gossipy, frivolous and
quarrelsome
Aside from the German women, Rizal admired the
German customs which he observed well
 NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN
BERLIN (1887)
The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizals darkest
winter because no money arrived from Calamba and he
was flat broke.
Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin- inspired Dr.
Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict the miseries of
his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants
 January 2, 1884- in a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno
residence in Madrid, Rizal proposed the writings of a
novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos Toward
the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid
and finished about one-half of it
When Rizal went to Paris, in 1885, after completing his
studies in the Central University of Madrid, he continued
writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half
Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He
wrote the last few chapters of the Noli in Wilhelmsfeld in
April-June, 1886
In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal
made the final revisions on the manuscript of the Noli
 Maximo Viola
After the Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches
on his novel. To save printing expenses, he deleted certain
passages in his manuscript, including a whole chapter
Elias and Salome
February 21, 1887- the Noli was finally finished and ready
for printing
Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft
March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere came off the press
 March 29, 1887- Rizal, in token of his appreciation and
gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs of the Noli
The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means
Touch Me Not. It is not originally conceived by Rizal, for
he admitted taking it from the Bible
Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5,
1887, said: Noli Me Tangere, words taken from the Gospel
of St. Luke, signify do not touch me but Rizal made a
mistake, it should be the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20
Verses 13 to 17)
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the
PhilippinesTo My Fatherland