Rizal Life and Works

INTRODUCTIONRizal left Europe for Hong Kong, where he expired from November 1891 to June 1892. His reasons for leaving Europe were lifespan was unbearable in Europe because of his political differences with M.H. del Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain. to be near his idolized Philippines and family.FAREWELL TO EUROPERizal left Ghent for Paris on October 3, 1891He proceeded by train to Marseilles and on October 18, he boarded the steamer Melbourne bound for Hong Kong. He brought with him a earn of recommendation by Juan Luna for spelluel Camus, a compatriot living in Singapore, and 600 copies of the Fili Manuel Camus-During that time, he was a student and was make as a mason on October 12, 1898 at Zetland in the East Lodge No 508 in Singapore under the legal power of the M. W. Grand Lodge of England. He thus became a Senator of the Philippines on his later years. There were over 80 first class passengers mostly Europeans, including 2 Spaniards He befriended numerous missionaries and whizz of them is Fr. Fuchs, a Tyrolese, which he jollifyed playing chess with. He even wrote to Blumentritt saying ..He is a fine fellow, a Father Damaso with bulge pride and malice..RIZAL AND THE German LADIESOne evening at a dinner time the passengers were having their meal in the dining room. Rizal being the solely Asian, was eating unsocial at one table. Near him was a bigger table occupied by some German ladies who were gaily eating and gossiping about the lone Asian manful who was quietly taking his meal. Rizal, who was fluent in German, understood what the talkative German ladies were saying about him, but he simply kept silent, letting the ladies enjoy their gossip.Suddenly the fast running steamer encountered a heavysqu each(prenominal) and the door of the dining room was blown open. Nobody among the passengers who were busy eating stood up to wet the door. A lady said to her companions in German If this man in front of us were a gentleman he would close the door. Upon hearing her remark, Rizal, without saying a word, rose and closed the door, after which he resumed his seat. He then conversed with German ladies in perfect German. Of course, the German ladies were very much embarrassed, and, thenceforth they treated Rizal with admiration and respect, despite his brown skin, for he was a cultured gentleman.ARRIVED IN HONG KONGNovember 20, 1891 Rizal arrived in Hong KongHe was welcomed by the Filipino residents, especi every last(predicate)y his old friend, Jose Ma. Basa. He then established his residence at No. 5 D Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace, where he also opened his medical clinic. December 1, 1891 he wrote his parents enquire their permission to return home. On the same date, his brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, sent him a letter, relating the sad news of the deportation of twenty-five persons from Calamba, including father, Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano, and the rest of us. Also stated in his letter that he was preparing a letter to the Queen Regent of Spain explaining the Calamba situation in order to secure justice. Even saying such as If the Queen allow non listen, we will write to Queen capital of Seychelles of England appealing for protection in the name of humanityFAMILY REUNION IN HONG KONGBefore Christmas of 1891, he was gladdened by the arrival of his father, brother and Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law) in Hong Kong. Not long afterwards his mother and sisters Lucia, Josefa , and Trinidad also arrived. January 31, 1892 he wrote to Blumentritt recounting their pleasant life in Hong Kong, as follows here we are all living together, my parents, sisters, and brother in peace and far from persecutions they suffered in the Philippines. They are very much pleased with the English government.OPHTHALMIC surgeon IN HONG KONGDr. Lorenzo P. Marques a friend and admirer who helped him to build up a wide clientele. He successfully operated on his mothers left marrow so that she was able to r ead and write again. January 31, 1892 writing to Blumentritt, he said Here I practise as a doctor and I pass on . . . Here many sick of influenza because in that respect is an epidemic. Through the newspaper I am informed that this sickness is also causing ravages in Europe. I rely you and your esteemed family will be spared. In our house, my mother, my brother-in-law, and one of my sister are sick. Thank God, they are out of danger. Rizal was given moral support and important aid in his medical practice in Hong Kong from some of his friends in Europe. Mr. Boustead (the father of Nelly Bousted) wrote to him on March 21, 1892, praising him for his medical profession Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin sent him a congratulatory letter and a book on Diagnostic Pathology by Dr. H. Virchow and another medical book entitled Traite Diagnostique by Mesnichock. Don Antonio Vergel de Dios offered him his services for the leverage of medical books and instruments which he might need in his profess ion. Rizal possessed the qualities of a great ophthalmic surgeon. In the words of Dr. Geminiano de Ocampo, a distinguished Filipino eye doctor He had all the qualities that would make an ideal ophthalmic surgeon a keen and analytical intellect, lightness of touch and artistry of a painter, courage and imperturbability, a broad and deep knowledge of medicine and ophthalmology, and last but not the least, he had been properly and adequately trained by master ophthalmic surgeons.BORNEO closure PROJECTRizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in North Borneo (Sabah) He planned to move those Filipino families to that British-owned island and carve out of its virgin wilderness a New Calamba March 7, 1892 he went to Sandakan on board the ship Menon to negotiate with the British authorities for the establishment of a Filipino colony. His mission was successful.The British politics of Borneo were willing to give the Filipino colonists, 100,000 acres of land, a beautiful har bor and a good government for 999 years, free of all charges. By April 20, he was cover charge in Hong Kong.Rizal friends in Europe enthusiastically endorsed his Borneo colonization project. Lopez Jaena express his rely to join the project and wrote to Rizal sayingI build a great desire of joining you. Reserve for me there a piece of land where I fuel plant sugarcane. I shall go there. . . to dedicate myself to the cultivation of sugarcane and the qualification of sugar. Send me further details. Hidalgo, on the other hand, objected to the colonization project sayingThis idea about Borneo, is no good. Why should we leave the Philippines, this beautiful bucolic of ours? And too what will people say? Why have we made all these haves? Why should we go to a foreign land without first exhausting all means for the welfare of the country which nurtured us from our cradles? Tell me that The infamous Weyler, whom the Cubans called The Butcher was relieved of his gubernatorial office. A new governor general Eulogio Despujol, the Count of Caspe, proclaimed to the Filipino people a fine program of government Rizal sent him a letter of felicitation (dated December 23, 1891) and offering his cooperation, but instead the governor did not even acknowledge receipt of his letter.Rizal wrote a min letter (dated March 21, 1892), in this second letter, he requested the governor general to give up the landless Filipinos to establish themselves in Borneo. 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 soilWRITINGS IN HONG KONGHe wrote Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao (a tagalog translation of The Rights of Man proclaimed by the French Revolution in 1789) About the same time (1891), he wrote A la Nacion Espaola (To the Spanish Nat ion), which is anappeal to Spain to even out the violates through to the Calamba tenants. Another proclamation, entitled Sa Mga Kababayan (To my Countrymen) was written in December 1891 explaining the Calamba agrarian situation. Rizal contributed articles to the British daily newspaper, The Hong Kong Telegraph, whose editor, Mr. Frazier Smith, was his friend.March 2, 1892 Rizal wrote Una Visita a la Victoria Gaol (A Visit to Victoria Gaol), an account of his visit to the colonial prison of Hong Kong. In this article he contrasted the cruel Spanish prison system with the modern and more humane prison system. He wrote an article entitled Colonisation du British North Borneo, par de Familles de Iles Philippines (Colonization of British north Borneo by families from the Philippine Islands) to elucidate his Borneo colonization project He elaborated on the same idea in another article in Spanish, Proyecto de Colonizacion del British North Borneo por los Filipinos (Project of the Colon ization of British North Borneo by the Filipinos) June 1892 he wrote La Mano Roja (The Red Hand) which denounces the frequent outbreaks of intentional fires in Manila. Constitution of the Liga Filipina printed in 1892, was the most important writing made by Rizal during his Hong Kong sojourn To deceived the Spanish authorities, the printed copies carries the dour information that the printing was done by the LONDON PRINTING PRESS, No. 25, Khulug Street, London. The idea of establishing the Liga Filipina was originally conceived by Jose Ma. Basa, but it was Rizal who wrote its constitution and realized its establishment.DECISION TO RETURN TO MANILAMay 1892 Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila The 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 that he being comfortable and safe in Hong Kong, h ad abandoned the countrys cause. Letes attack which was printed in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1892, portrayed Rizal as cowardly, egoistic, opportunistic a patriot in wordsonly. Rizal protested to Del Pilar sayingI am more persuade that yourself to be carried away. Friend or enemy, if the article has harmed me, it would harm more the interests of the Philippines. Who knows, however, if after all it was for the best it has shaken me awake, and long after a long tranquility I enter the field anew. .. I am going to activate the Propaganda again and fortify the Liga. To Ponce, Rizal confided on May 23, 1892I am very unfit that Del Pilar allowed the article to be published because it will lead many to mean that there is really a schism among us. I believe that we can well have little misunderstanding and personal differences among ourselves, without exhibiting them in public. . As for myself. . . I always welcome criticisms because they improve those who wish to be improved cash in ones chips HONG KONG LETTERSOn June 19, 1892 he spent his 31st birthday in Hong Kong.Evidently, he had premonition of his death, for the following day, June 20 he wrote two letters which he sealed, inscribed in each envelop to be opened after my death, and gave them to his friend, Dr. Marques for safekeeping. The first letter was addressed TO MY PARENTS, BRETHREN, AND FRIENDS, is as followsThe affection that I have ever professed for you suggests this step, and time alone can tell whether or not it is sensible. The outcome judges things according to the consequences but whether the result be favorable or unfavorable, it may always be said that duty urged me, so if I die in doing it, it will not matter.I realize how much suffering I have caused you yet I do not regret what I have done. Rather, if I had to begin over again I should do just the same, for what I have done has been only in pursuit of my duty. Gladly do I go to expose myself to peril, not as an expiation of misdeeds for in this matter I believe myself guiltless of any, but to complete my work and so that I, myself, may offer the examples of which I have always preached.A man ought to die for duty and his principles. I cause fast to every idea which I have advanced as to the condition and future of our country, and shall willingly die for it, and even more willingly sacrifice all to secure justice and peace for you. With pleasure, then, I risk life to save so many innocent persons so many nieces and nephews, so many children of friends, and children too of others who are not even friend who are suffering on my account. What am I? A bachelor, practically without a family and sufficiently undeceived as to life. I have had many disappointments and the future before me is gloomy, and will be gloomy if light does not illuminate it with dawn of a breach day for my native land.On the other hand, there are many persons, filled with hope and ambition, who perhaps might be happier if I were dead, and the n I hope my enemies would be satisfied and stop persecuting so many entirely innocent people. To a certain extent their hatred is justifiable as to myself, and my parents and relatives. Should fate go against me, you will all understand that I shall die happy in the thought that my death will end all your troubles. Return to our country and may you be happy in it. Till the last moment of my life I shall be thinking of you and compliments you all good fortune and happiness.The second letter was addressed TO THE FILIPINOS, and is as followsThe step which I am taking, or rather am about to take, is undoubtedly risky, and it is unnecessary to say that I have considered it for some time. I understand that almost every one is opposed to it but I know also that hardly anybody else understands what is in my heart. I cannot live on seeing so many suffer unjust persecution on my account I cannot bear the sight of my sisters and their numerous families treated like criminals. I prefer death a nd cheerfully shall relinquish life to free so many innocent persons from such unjust persecution.I appreciate the fact that at pose the future of our country gravitates in some degree around me, that at my death many will feel triumphant, and thus,many are now wishing for my fall. But what of it? I hold duties of conscience above all else. I have obligations to the families who suffer, to my aged parents whose sight strikes me to the heart I know that I alone, only my death can make them happy, returning them to their native land to a peaceful life at home. I am all my parents have, but our country has many more sons who can take my place and even do my work better.Besides I wish to show those who deny us the boon of patriotism that we know how to die for duty and principles. What matters death, if one dies for what one loves, for native land and beings held dear?If I thought that I were the only resource for the consummation of a policy of progress in the Philippines and were I c onvinced that my countrymen were going to make use of my services, perhaps, I should hesitate about taking this step but there are others who can take my place, who can do my services that are not utilize, and I am reduced to inactivity.Always have I loved our hard-pressed land, and I am sure that I shall continue loving it till my last moment, in case men prove unjust to me. My career, my life, my happiness and all I have sacrificed for love of it. Whatever my fate I shall die blessing it and longing for the dawn of its redemption.June 21, 1892 Rizal penned another letter in HK for Governor Despujol. In this letter, he informed the governor general of his coming to Manila and placed himself under the protection of the Spanish government. June 21, 1892 (On the same date) Rizal and his sister Lucia left HK for Manila. They carried a excess passport or safe-conduct issued by the Spanish consul-general in Hong Kong.RIZAL FALLS INTO SPANISH TRAPThe Spanish consul-general sent a cab legram to Governor Despujol that the victim is in the trap. On the same day a secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and his followers for anti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation Despujol ordered his secretary, Luis de la Torre, to find out ifRizal was naturalized as a German citizen, as was rumored, so that he might take proper action against on who had the protection of a self-coloured nation Meanwhile, Rizal and his sister were peacefully crossing the China Sea. They were fully unaware of the Spanish duplicity.