RIZAL’S FIRST HOMECOMING, 2ND TRAVEL ABROAD, JAPAN INTERLUDE and

SIDE TRIP TO THE USA

Rizal received an invitation, a summons, a writ commanding the sheriff, or other
authorized officer, to notify a party to appear in court to answer a complaint
made against him and in the said writ specified, on a day therein mentioned from
Governor-General Emilio Terrero regarding the novel which has become a hot
issue. He went to Malacañang to answer any question surrounding his novel. He
denied that he was a spy from Germany. He explained that he was only
expressing the truth of what is going on in the society in his novel. The Governor
was satisfied with his answer and asked for a copy of the novel, since he had not
read the novel himself.
Rizal’s enemies kept doing everything to persecute him. They accused the novel
to have subversive ideas against the church and the Spanish government.
The powerful friars put the novel under strict scrutiny headed by Manila
Archbishop Msgr. Pedro Payo. He sent a copy to the UST Fr. Rector Gregorio
Echevarria for examination. The latter found the novel heretical, impious, and
scandalous.
The Governor sent the novel for further assessment to the Permanent
Commission on Censorship composed of priests and laymen headed by Fr.
Salvador Font, Tondo parish priest. The body found the novel with subversive
ideas against the Church and the Spanish government. The Commission
recommended that the book be banned and have its circulation in the islands be
totally stopped.
Rizal’s Enemies from the Church

Among Rizal’s enemies were Manila Archbishop Msgr. Pedro Payo, UST Rector
Fr. Gregorio Echevarria, Fr. Salvador Font- head of the Permanent Commission
on Censorship.Fr. Jose Rodriguez published an anti-Noli pamphlet entitled “Caiingat Cayo.” The
pamphlet stated that “whoever reads the novel commits a mortal sin.”
Another attacker of the Noli was Vicente Barrantes, a Spanish writer who openly
criticized the novel in the Spanish newspaper La Esperanza Moderna.

Calamba Agrarian Problem

The Dominicans put pressure on Malacañang to eliminate Rizal. Governor-

general Terrero advised Rizal to leave the Philippines for his own good.
Rizal in Hong Kong and Macau
Amoy, in Hong Kong was the first stop over of the ship. After six months of
staying in the Philippines Rizal left via the steamer Zafiro bound for Hong Kong.
Rizal did not get off the ship for the following reasons: (a) He was not feeling
well. (b) It was raining hard. (c) He heard that the city is dirty.
Jose Sainz de Varanda, a Spaniard and former secretary of Governor-General
Terrero shadowed Rizal’s movement in Hong Kong. It is believed that he was
commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy on Rizal.
IMPRESSIONS OF RIZAL IN HONGKONG:
The celebration of the Chinese New Year was quite very noisy due to the
continuous explosion of firecrackers on the streets.
 The Lauriat party, wherein the guests were served a variety of dishes,
shows lavishness and hospitality among the Chinese.
 The Dominican Order, the richest religious order in Hong Kong, had
millions of dollars deposited in various banks earning very high interests.
 The graveyards for Catholics, Protestants and Muslims were well
maintained.
RIZAL in JAPAN
Rizal left Hong Kong on board of the Oceanic, an American steamer on his way
to Japan. He arrived in Yokohama, Japan and stayed for one day in the Grand
Hotel.
After spending a day in Yokohama, Rizal went to Tokyo and stayed in Tokyo
Hotel for five days. Juan Perez Caballero – secretary of the Spanish legation
visited him in the hotel inviting him to stay in the Spanish legation. Knowing that
it is a plot to monitor him, Rizal accepted the offer for the following reasons:
 He could economize his living expenses
 He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
 He and Caballero became good friends.

Rizal’s Impression of Japan

 The scenic beauty of the country
 The cleanliness, politeness and industry of the Japanese people.
 The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women.
 There were few thieves in Japan.
 Beggars are rarely seen in the city streets.
 Rickshaw, a popular mode of transportation which he did not like in
Japan.
Rizal fell greatly in-love with O-Sei-San that he was tempted to leave the
Philippines and settle down in Japan. He was offered a job in the Spanish
Legation but his brother Paciano wrote to him reminding him of his duty and why
he left the Philippines in the first place.

RIZAL in the UNITED STATES

Via the steamer Belgic, Rizal arrived in San Francisco, USA on April 28, 1888.
According to the Americans, Cholera was an epidemic raging in the Far East.
Thus, all passengers are quarantined for safety. But, Rizal was surprised
because there is no outbreak of the disease in the Far East, thus he joined other
passengers in protest. In actuality, there were 643 Chinese coolies who boarded
the ship from China who came as illegal migrants wanting to displace the White
laborers in railroad construction camp.
Rizal Toured the United States
 Oakland, California was the first stop via ferryboat.
 Via train Sacramento, where he ate his supper 75cents and slept at his
couch.
 Reno, Nevada, where he had his breakfast
 Utah, where he saw Mormons, thickly populated
 Colorado, a lot of snow and pine trees
 Nebraska, Omaha City, as big as San Francisco
 Missouri River, twice as big as Pasig River
 Chicago, a lot of Indians in cigar stores
 Albany, where he saw the Hudson River
 New York, which he considers a big city, where he stayed for three days.
RIZAL’S IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA
 Material progress of the country as shown in its cities, farms, and
industries
 The drive and energy of the Americans
 The natural beauty of the land
 The high standard of living
 The opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants.
 America for Rizal was the land par excellence of freedom but only for the
Whites.
 Non-existence of true civil liberty, as Negro cannot marry an American
and vice versa.
 The existence of racial prejudice as shown in their hatred of the Chinese,
Japanese and Negroes.
 The valuing of money over human life
RIZAL IN LONDON
Why did he choose to stay in London?
 To improve his knowledge of the English language
 To study and annotate Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de Las Islas Filipinas
 London was a safe place for him to carry out his fight against Spanish
tyranny
Bad News from Home
After Rizal left the country, the persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed the
Anti-Friar Petition 1888 escalated. The Calamba Agrarian Conflict of 1888 in
which the tenants, including Rizal’s family, were being persecuted by the
Dominicans.
Manuel T. Hidalgo (husband of Saturnina) was exiled to Bohol while Mariano
Herbosa (husband of Lucia) was denied of Christian burial because of the
malicious rumor that he had not confessed since marriage.
Laureano Viado, a medical student at UST and a friend of Rizal, was imprisoned
because of owning a copy of Noli Me Tangere.
Good News from Home
Rev. Vicente Garcia defended the Noli Me Tangere against the attack of the
friars. He heard this news from Mariano Ponce. On January 7, 1891, Rizal wrote
to Father Garcia expressing his personal gratitude.
Aims of La Solidaridad
1. To establish reform for our country
2. To show the unfortunate conditions in the Philippines committed by the
Spaniards
3. To promote free and progressive ideas
4. To implement the patriotic vision of the Filipinos

Rizal published his work Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino Farmers) on
March 25, 1889, 6 days after he left London for Paris. This was his first article in
La Solidaridad.
Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
In this article, Rizal addressed Filipino women to work for their education and not
to merely be influenced by the friars.
THE PARIS UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION (1889)
The Exposition Universale Held in Paris, France from May 6 to October 31,
1889. The fair attracted exhibits from Europe, South America, United States, and
French colonies, yet it really was a celebration of French achievements on the
centennial of French Revolution. Because of the thousands of tourists, almost all
hotel accommodations were taken.

But he finally lived together with other Filipinos, Justo Trinidad and Jose Albert.
In the exposition, there was this International Art Competition where Felix
Hidalgo won the 3rd prize, Pardo de Tavera and Juan Luna won the 2nd prize,
and, unfortunately, Rizal got nothing.
Kidlat Club
The Kidlat Club was founded on March 19, 1889. The purpose was to enjoy their
journey in the exposition.
William Frederick Cody a.k.a. Buffalo Bill, founder and performer of Wild West
shows Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show in 1890 which presented the skills and life of
American Indians became the inspiration of Rizal in naming his one societal club
as Indios Bravos.
Another group known only as R.D.L.M. which stands for Redencion de Los
Malayos was also formed. Its purposes were: (a) to propagate useful knowledge,
in any forms, in the Philippines; and (2) to promote the redemption of Malayan
race. This group’s members don’t know each other, and Rizal doesn’t know them
as well. It’s still a mystery. * Mentioned in the letters of Rizal to Jose Maria Basa
on Sept. 21, 1889, and to Marcelo H. del Pilar on November 4, 1889
LIFE IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
On January 28, 1890, Rizal left Paris for Brussels, Belgium. Two reasons why
Rizal left Paris:
 The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal
Exposition.
 The gay social life of the city hampered his literary works, especially the
writing of his second novel El Filibusterismo.

FOUNDING OF THE LIGA FILIPINA

The officers of the new league were elected, as follows:

o Ambrosio Salvador (President)
o Deodato Arellano (Secretary)
o Bonifacio Arevalo (Treasurer)
o Agustin de la Rosa (Fiscal)
The motto of the Liga Filipina: Onus Instar Omnium (One Like All)
The governing body of the league was the Supreme Council which had
jurisdiction over the whole country. It was composed of a president, a secretary,
a treasurer, and a fiscal. There was a Provincial Council in every province and a
Popular Council in every town.

Misfortunes in Madrid
End of 11-Year Engagement
The Leader of All Filipinos (Responsible)
Duel with Antonio Luna
Aborted duel with wenceslao Retana

JOSE RIZAL’S PERSECUTION AND EXILE IN DAPITAN

Four days after the civic organization's foundation, Jose Rizal was arrested by
the Spanish authorities on four grounds:
1. for publishing anti-Catholic and anti-friar books and articles;
2. for having in possession a bundle of handbills, the Pobres Frailes, in which
advocacies were in violation of the Spanish orders;
3. for dedicating his novel, El Filibusterismo to the three “traitors” (Gomez,
Burgos and Zamora) and for emphasizing on the novel's title page that “the
only salvation for the Philippines was separation from the mother country
(referring to Spain)”; and
4. for simply criticizing the religion and aiming for its exclusion from the Filipino
culture.

Rizal also partakes in civic works in Dapitan. Upon arriving in the province, he
noticed its poor condition. He drained the marshes of Dapitan to get rid of
malaria-carrying mosquitoes. He also provided lighting system – coconut oil
lamps posted in dark streets – in the province out of what he earned from being
a physician. He beautified Dapitan by remodeling the town plaza, with the aid of
his Jesuit teacher, Fr. Francisco Sanchez, and created a relief map of Mindanao
(footnote: using stones, soil and grass) right in front the church.
A Biarritz Interlude
Rizal went to see Nelly in Biarritz. He finally decided to marry Nelly Boustead.

Conditions made by Nelly’s father:

1. Abort all travels abroad and stay with Nelly
2. Practice medicine and stay away from politics
3. Become a Protestant before marriage
Rizal, however, decided to back down from his proposal thinking he wasn’t ready yet to answer the given
conditions set by Nelly’s father.

DR. JOSE RIZALMEDICAL PRACTICE IN HONG KONG

BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT

Rizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in North Borneo (Sabah.

He planned to move the landless Filipino families to that rich British-owned
island. He also planned to carve out of its virgin wildness a “New Calamba”•
March 7, 1892.

DECISION TO RETURN TO MANILA

In May 1892, Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila. This decision was
spurred by the following:
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