Unit IV - Education and Travel Abroad: 1. Universidad Central de Madrid 2. Rizal As Mason

Life and Works of Rizal  On Saturday evenings, he visited the home of
Unit IV – Education and Don Pablo Origa y Rey who lived with his son
(Rafael) and daughter (Consuelo).
Travel Abroad  Don Pablo had been city mayor of Manila
during the administration of the literal
governor general Carlos Ma. De la Torre
1. Universidad Central de Madrid
(1869 – 1871) and was later promoted vice-
2. Rizal as Mason
president of the Council of the Philippines in
3. The Writing of the Noli Me Tangere
the Ministry of Colonies (Ultramar).
4. Ophthalmic training under Dr. Louis de Wecker
and Dr. Otto Becker
5. Friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt
6. Grand Tour of Europe 2. Rizal as Mason
1. Universidad Central de Madrid  In Spain, Rizal came in close contact with

prominent Spanish liberal and republican
Spaniards, who were mostly Masons, including:
 On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in the
o Miguel Morayta. Statesman, professor,
Universidad Central de Madrid (Central
University of Madrid) in two courses — historian, and writer;
o Francisco Pi y Margal. Journalist,
Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.
 Aside from his heavy studies in the university— statesman, and former President of the
o He studied painting and sculpture in short-lived First Spanish Republic;
o Manuel Becerra. Minister of Ultramar
the Academy of Fine Arts of San
Fernando; (colonies);
o Took lessons in French, German, and o Emilio Junoy. Journalist and member
English under private instructors; and of the Spanish Cortes; and
o Assiduously practiced fencing and o Juan Ruiz Zorilla. Parliamentarian and
shooting in the Hall of Arms of Sanz y head of the Republican Progressive
Carbonell. Party in Madrid.
 His thirst for knowledge of music, he visited the  Rizal was impressed by the way the Spanish
art galleries and museums and read books on Masons openly and freely criticized the
all subjects under the sun, including military government policies and lambasted the friars,
engineering, in order to broaden his cultural which could not be done in the Philippines.
background.  In due time, in March 1883, he joined the
 Rizal led a Spartan life in Madrid. Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid.
 He knew that he came to Spain to study and  His reason for becoming a mason was to secure
prepare himself for service to his fatherland. Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against the
friars in the Philippines.
 Accordingly, he rigidly budgeted his money and
 Since the friars used the Catholic religion as a
time.
shield to entrench themselves in power and
 He lived frugally, spending his money on food,
wealth to persecute the Filipino patriots, he
clothing, lodging, and books—never wasting a
intended to utilize Freemasonry as his shield
peseta for gambling, wine, and women.
to combat them.
 His only extravagance was investing a few
 Later, he transferred to Lodge Solidaridad
pesetas for a lottery ticket in every draw of the
(Madrid), where he became a Master Mason
Madrid Lottery. (SUGARol)
on November 15, 1890.
 He spend his leisure time reading and writing
 Still later, on February 15, 1892, he was
at his boarding house, attending the reunions of
awarded the diploma as Master Mason by Le
Filipino students at the house of the Paterno
Grand Orient de France in Paris.
brothers (Antonio, Maximino, and Pedro), and
 As a Mason, Rizal played a lukewarm role in
practicing fencing and shooting at the
gymnasium. Freemasonry, unlike M.H. del Pilar, G. Lopez
Jaena, and Mariano Ponce who were very active
 At other times, during the summer twilights, he
in Masonic affairs.
sipped coffee and fraternized with the
students from Cuba, Mexico Argentina, etc. at  His only Masonic writing was a lecture titled
the Antigua Café de Levante. “Science, Virtue and Labor,” which he delivered
in 1889 at Lodge Solidaridad, Madrid.
 A pertinent portion of this lecture reads as
follows:
The duty of modern man, to my way of thinking,

is to work for the redemption of humanity, because once
man is dignified there would be less unfortunate and
more happy men that is possible in this life. Humanity
cannot be redeemed so long as there are oppressed
peoples, so long as there are some men who live on the
tears of many, so long as there are emasculated minds
and blinded eyes that enabled others live like sultans
who alone may enjoy beauty. Humanity cannot be
redeemed while reason is not free, while faith would
want to impose itself on facts while whims are laws,
while there are nations who subjugate others. For
humanity to be able to attain the lofty destiny toward
which God guides it, it is necessary that within its fold
there should be no dissensions nor tyranny, that
plagues do not decimate it and no groans and curses be
heard in its march. It is necessary that its triumphant
career march to the tune of the hymns of glory and
liberty with a bright face and serene forehead.

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Life and Works of Rizal  On Saturday evenings, he visited the home of

1. Universidad Central de Madrid  In Spain, Rizal came in close contact with

The duty of modern man, to my way of thinking,

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