04.2 - Rizal's Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad (Part 2) | Life and Works of Rizal

Main ideas / concepts / lessons

Rizal’s secret departure from the Philippines (1882)

• May 3, 1882: Rizal left the Philippines secretly aboard the ship SS Salvadora.
• Only a small inner circle knew, including:
  • his brother (“Pasano”, as mentioned in the subtitles)
  • two sisters
  • close friends
  • his parents did not.
• He concealed the plan because he expected his parents would object and fear for his safety.
• His brother later described how his parents were devastated—especially the father’s silent grief.

Why he went abroad: education + a “secret mission”

• Primary purpose: finish his studies in Europe (his mother was still blind at the time).
• Secret secondary mission: observe European life—its cultures, laws, and governments—to prepare for:
  • future reforms
  • the eventual liberation of the Philippines from Spain

Travel route to Europe (no direct flights)

• The subtitles emphasize that Rizal could not travel directly by air (planes were not yet available in the way people imagine today).
• He followed a multi-country route, including:
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Italy
  • France
• June 16, 1882: after about 1.5 months, he met former classmates/acquaintances at Ateneo de stories (as transcribed).

Madrid (1882 onward): writing, politics, and studies

• Rizal moved to Madrid, supported by his brother’s desire for him to stay there.
• He began writing for a Tagalog newspaper under the pseudonym “laonglaan.”
• Key publication: August 18 (the subtitle shows “2022,” likely an error; context suggests 1882)
  • Essay: “El Amor patrio” (Love of Country)
  • Themes: the Philippines as a homeland worthy of love and protection
• Mother’s opposition:
  • After the essay, Rizal stopped writing political-national content because Spanish officials noticed his nationalistic tendencies.
  • His mother feared consequences.
• Studies:
  • Medicine at Universidad Central de Madrid
  • Later: philosophy and letters
  • Also studied:
    • painting/sculpture at Academy of San Carlos
    • drawing at Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
    • French, German, and English
• Circulo Español-Filipino / student organization
  • Rizal joined a Filipino student group discussing political issues affecting Filipinos.
  • They published Revista del Circulo Español-Filipino to oppose abusive Spanish rule.
  • The group later disbanded due to lack of funds and internal conflicts.

Financial hardship while studying

• The subtitles explain that Rizal’s family wealth declined due to:
  • poor harvests
  • increased land prices/rents
• His monthly allowance was delayed/insufficient.
• Money came mainly from his older brother, and he was discouraged from working so he could focus on:
  • medicine
  • European cultural/societal study
• He lived on a tight budget:
  • studied even when hungry
  • paid exam fees and bought books/supplies, sometimes skipping meals
  • visited museums and read to cope with scarcity

Recognition through art and Rizal’s historic banquet speech (1884)

• June 25, 1884 (night): Rizal attended a banquet celebrating Filipino painters:
  • Juan Luna (Spoliarium — gold medal)
  • Félix Resurrección Hidalgo (silver medal for painting referenced as Hidalgo)
• Rizal delivered a speech praising Luna and Hidalgo as geniuses whose talent transcends nations.
• The speech was recorded by reporters and published (subtitle cites magazine Los Dos Mundos).

Support and backlash

• Some Spanish supporters viewed it as progressive and timely.
• Filipinos in the propaganda movement sent congratulations.
• Critics (aligned with the friars/anti-Rizal circles) reacted angrily; his parents feared consequences.
• His brother warned his mother was ill due to the speech’s political impact and controversy.

Medical progress and later specialization

• Rizal continued medical studies.
• He could not obtain a doctorate diploma because of missing thesis requirements and/or fees.
• He became a licensed practitioner (licentiate), considered sufficient to practice.
• After gaining the licentiate in medicine (1885), he completed a licentiate in philosophy and letters.
• Paris (Nov 1885):
  • Worked as assistant to Dr. Louis de Wecker (ophthalmology; surgery techniques emphasized)
  • Met friends including Juan Luna and Maximo Viola
  • Subtitle claims he completed “half” of Noli Me Tangere while in Paris (at least in progress)
• Germany (Feb 1886):
  • Moved to work under Dr. Otto Becker in Heidelberg
  • Practical diagnosis and treatment were emphasized
  • Paris patient-operations experience reportedly improved his performance

Friendship with Ferdinand/Blumentritt (documented correspondence)

• Rizal learned about Ferdinand Blumentritt, an Austrian scholar whose ethnographic/historical interest in the Philippines impressed him.
• Rizal sent Blumentritt a Spanish-Tagalog arithmetic book.
• They exchanged letters, and also exchanged manuscripts, maps, and pictures.
• The subtitles emphasize it lasted years (about 1886 to 1896) with over 200 letters.

Controversy over Rizal’s sexual orientation (major section)

• The video discusses whether Rizal was gay.
• It references:
  • a column by Dr. Isagani Cruz (title given as “Bakl ba si Rizal”, as transcribed)
  • Ambet Campo (claims and speculative conclusions, as transcribed)
  • Janil Garcia (response/critique, as transcribed), arguing against stereotype-based reasoning
• Core arguments presented:
  • Inferences attempt to infer orientation from:
    • absence of explicit sex in letters/writings
    • relationships with women vs. men
    • stereotypes (e.g., cowardice, lack of relationships, impotence)
  • Garcia argues there is no scientific proof and that “what counts as gay” historically differs.
  • Conclusion as framed by the subtitles: there is no conclusive evidence that Rizal identified as gay or any specific modern gender-sexual label; the question itself may be misguided.

Rizal’s translation work and German learning

• Rizal arrived in Leipzig (subtitle says “Leps”) on Aug 14, 1886.
• He attended lectures by:
  • a German historian
  • an anthropologist
• He improved German and translated it into Tagalog to communicate clearly.
• Example given: translating animal sounds and “abstract concepts” so children can understand.
• A “game” segment tested knowledge of Tagalog titles of Anderson fairy tales and their English equivalents, including:
  • “Pine tree” → “The fear tree” (as transcribed; likely intended as a different word)
  • “Gahin Lalaki” → “Tom Bellina” (as transcribed)
  • “The girl carrying a …/saaka fuego” → “Little match girl”
  • “The ugly duckling” → “You …” (as transcribed; intended English title clearly The Ugly Duckling)

Berlin crisis: illness, poverty, and finishing Noli Me Tangere

• Berlin (Nov 1886):
  • Rizal wanted to publish Noli Me Tangere but was hungry, sick, and short on money.
  • He pawned songs and sold books.
  • He sometimes ate only bread and developed tuberculosis.
  • He even considered burning the manuscript.
• Maximo Viola helped by lending money (amount given in pesos), enabling publication.
• 1887: about 2,000 copies of Noli Me Tangere were produced and distributed in Europe.
  • Some bound copies were shipped to Spain (Barcelona/Madrid).

Propaganda Movement (context for later actions)

• Emerged in the late 19th century among young Filipino expatriates (ilustrados) studying abroad.
• Members realized freedom abroad contrasted sharply with conditions in the Philippines.
• They published La Solidaridad, printed every two weeks:
  • first issue led by Graciano López Jaena
  • later replaced by Marcelo H. del Pilar until funds ran out
• Assimilationist stance (as stated):
  • incorporate the Philippines as a Spanish province (not a colony) for autonomy
  • expel friars and increase Filipino priests’ teaching authority
  • use Filipino artistic/writing production to demonstrate intellectual capability

Return to the Philippines (Aug 1887) and conflict with friars

• Ateneo controversy:
  • A Jesuit teacher urged him to return to faith.
  • A priest involved in statue carving; criticisms of his novel followed.
• Rumors circulated:
  • Rizal as a spy for Germans
  • Rizal as a Mason
• He received death threats; his parents feared poisoning.
• Rizal worked as an eye specialist, assisting cataract-related operations (some operational details are inconsistent in the transcript, but the theme is his medical service).

Conspiracies and misinformation included

• The subtitles mention online conspiracies, including:
  • alleged links to “serial-killer” plots (e.g., “Jack the Ripper”)
  • “Hitler as Rizal’s son” (presented as a claim, then refuted using dating/location logic)

Agrarian conflict in Calamba / tenant struggles

• The subtitles describe conflict between Calamba tenants and Dominican friars, who owned hacienda land.
• Friars raised rents, causing tenant hardship.
• Governor-General Emilio Terrero:
  • liberal-minded Spanish official
  • organized/authorized investigation
• Rizal was asked to lead the tenants’ investigation and presented findings alleging exploitation of poverty.
• Friars demanded Rizal be expelled abroad.
  • Terrero refused, but advised Rizal for safety.
• Rizal left to Hong Kong despite being in the Philippines for only six months.

Japan → U.S. → London → Paris/Belgium: continued education and observation

• Hong Kong:
  • Met Filipino exiles (names given in subtitles)
  • Studied Chinese language and culture
• Japan:
  • Learned Japanese culture, theater, and martial arts
  • Met Ose San; relationship/love described; he left after a month
• U.S. (San Francisco):
  • Ship quarantine due to suspected cholera
  • He noted immigrant treatment and racial inequalities
  • He saw opportunity mixed with discrimination
• London (May 24, 1888):
  • Goals: improve English, study Antonio Morga to rewrite Philippine history, and continue propaganda writing
  • Met Dr. Reinhold Rost
  • News from the Philippines:
    • some priests defended the novel
    • others persecuted others (tenants; friends arrested for keeping copies)
• Paris (March 1889):
  • Continued writing/research; worked on El Filibusterismo and annotations
• Brussels (1890):
  • Chosen to reduce costs and social disruption
  • Wrote about gambling concerns among Filipinos in Europe; feared it gave friars ammunition

El Filibusterismo and later political/personal conflicts

• Rizal was saddened/angry by continued eviction of his family and other tenants; friars won a court case.
• He wrote the poem “Amim Musa” (or “To My Muse”) in La Solidaridad.
• Brussels → Madrid conflict (1891):
  • Filipino gathering; quarrels leading to a duel challenge (as described in the subtitle version, Luna vs. Rizal)
  • later apologized; close friends again
• Rizal vs Marcelo H. del Pilar (1890 editorial conflict):
  • Disagreement on policies
  • Attempted to select a “responsible” leader with a voting threshold
  • Rizal initially had the most votes but failed to meet the required majority fraction
  • He later became “responsible” after persuading Pilarists, but still left and reduced involvement

Hong Kong (1891–1892): La Liga Filipina and the North Borneo plan

• In Hong Kong, Rizal helped draft La Liga Filipina, aiming to:
  • unite the archipelago
  • mutual protection
  • protect against violence/injustice
  • promote education, agriculture, commerce
  • study and implement reforms
• He wrote articles criticizing Spain’s injustice toward Calamba tenants:
  • “A la nacion española”
  • “Sa mga kababayan”
• He met William Pryor, connected to British North Borneo.
• Proposed relocating expelled Calamba tenants:
  • lease at least 5,000 acres
  • option to buy more for 950 years
  • tenants could emigrate only with permission of the Spanish Governor-General
• A major complication:
  • His brother Despool (as transcribed) feared Rizal might use the plan to spark revolution.
  • Rizal was invited (possibly as a trap) to return to Manila to discuss it.

Final step set up for the next chapter

• June 20, 1892: Rizal wrote a letter explaining his decision to return to Manila.
• He frames it as dangerous but necessary to relieve persecution and suffering.
• The subtitles end by transitioning to Rizal’s death in the next video.

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Methodology / instruction lists included

No formal “how-to” methodology is presented. The subtitles do include structured processes conceptually, such as:

• Travel route procedure: Philippines → multiple countries (e.g., Singapore, Sri Lanka, Italy, France) → then continue within Europe rather than direct flights.
• Calamba investigation/reporting: Terrero orders investigation → Rizal leads tenant investigation → presents findings → friars attempt to expel Rizal.
• Propaganda publishing workflow (conceptual):
  • La Solidaridad printed every two weeks
  • leadership shifts from Jaena to del Pilar
  • publication ends due to lack of funds
• “Responsible” leader selection (Madrid): voting among ~90 Filipinos with a 2/3 threshold; repeated election attempts and political maneuvering.

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Speakers / sources featured (named in the subtitles)

Rizal’s family / people mentioned

• Pasano (Rizal’s brother; involved in departure/writing about family grief)
• Rizal’s parents
• Despool (relative/brother referenced in the North Borneo plan; as transcribed)
• Teodora (Rizal’s mother referenced)

European teachers / doctors / scholars

• Dr. Louis de Wecker
• Dr. Otto Becker
• Dr. Schwager (Berlin clinic)
• Dr. Reinhold Rost
• German historian (unnamed)
• Anthropologist (well-respected; unnamed)

Propaganda movement / political figures

• Graciano López Jaena
• Marcelo H. del Pilar
• Emilio Terrero (Governor-General)
• Bernardo Nozaleda (Archbishop referenced)
• José Taviel de Andrade (assigned to protect Rizal)

Friends / artists / collaborators

• Juan Luna
• Félix Resurrección Hidalgo
• Maximo Viola
• Ose San (Japanese woman mentioned)
• Antonio Morga (historian/author referenced)

Correspondents / scholars linked to Rizal

• Ferdinand Blumentritt
• William Pryor
• Jose Maria Basa Balbino (names transcribed; Filipino exiles referenced)
• Mauricio and Manuel Iriarte (Filipino exiles referenced)
• Jose Join Baranda (name transcribed; Spaniard contact)

Authors / commentators in the sexuality discussion

• Dr. Isagani Cruz (column writer referenced)
• Ambet Campo
• Janil Garcia
• Yumi 2020.3 (referenced as a claim in the subtitles)

Other historical/fiat names used in disputes

• Manuel Kon (credited in the subtitle re: Hitler conspiracy)
• Wenceslao Retana
• Mariano (first name used; involved in Madrid leadership voting maneuver—full identity not given)

Pirates / ships / institutions (non-speaker entities)

• SS Salvadora
• Universidad Central de Madrid
• Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes
• British Museum
• British North Borneo company
• La Solidaridad
• La Liga Filipina