Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order
to specialize in ophthalmologyto cure his mother’s eye ailment.
After studying at the Central University of
Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 yrs old,
went to Paris to acquire more
knowledge in ophthalmology.
MAXIMO VIOLA – a
medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel,
Bulacan
SEÑOR EUSEBIO
COROMINAS – editor of La
Publicidad
DON MIGUEL MORAYTA –owner of La Publicidad
and a statesman
NOVEMBER 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris.
He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis
de Weckert, a leading French
ophthalmologist.
JUAN LUNA – great master of the brush;
Rizal helped him by posing as model in Luna’s
paintings.
“The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an
Egyptian priest
“The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed as Sikatuna
Rizal had no natural aptitude for music. Hestudied music from his classmates in Ateneo.
He told Enrique Lete that he “learned thesolfeggio, piano, and voice culture in onemonth and a half”.
He is also a flutist. His compositions
▪ Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a patriotic songwhich asserts that any race aspires for freedom
▪ La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza,composed in Dapitan
FEBRUARY 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in
Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany
famous for its old university and romantics
surroundings.
He played chess
Worked at the University Eye Hospital
under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker
APRIL 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) because he was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, which is the light blue flower called “forget-me-not”.
Rizal spent a three-month summer
vacation at Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed
at the place of a Protestant pastor, Dr.
Karl Ullmer. The pastor has a wife and two
children named Etta and Fritz.
JULY 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first letter to
Professor FERDINAND BLUMENTRITT who is
the Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.
Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist and he
has an interest in the Philippine language.
Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to
Blumentritt which was published in Spanish and
Tagalog.
Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal.
Attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history
and psychology.
He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, a famous historian, and
Dr. Hans Meyer, German anthropologist.
He went to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the
Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the
cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months and a half.
Rizal in Leipzig and Dresden
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of itsscientific atmosphere and the absence ofrace prejudice.
Some scientists Rizal met are: DR. FEODOR JAGOR – German scientist-
traveler and author of Travels in thePhilippines
DR. RUDOLF VIRCHOW – famous Germananthropologist
DR. W. JOEST – German geographer DR. KARL ERNEST SCHWEIGGER –
famous German ophthalmologist
His reason
for living in Berlin
To further his studies of
science and languages
To gain further knowledge of
ophthalmology
To observe the economic and
political conditions of the German nation
To associate with famous
German scientists and
scholars
To publish his novel, Noli Me
Tangere
Rizal worked as an assistant in the clinic of
Dr. Scweigger, and at night, he attended
lectures in the University of Berlin. He also
took private lessons in French under Madame
Lucie Cerdole.
Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on March 11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and admiration for German womanhood. Rizal said that German woman is serious, diligent, educated and friendly.
German customs Rizaladmired:
On Yuletide season,people will select a pinetree from the bushes andadorned it with lanterns,papers, lights, dolls,candies, fruits, etc.
Self-introduction tostrangers in a socialgathering.
The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.
He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calambaand he was flat broke.
He could not pay his landlord and he was eating only one meal a day.
His clothes were old and threadbare.
His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment.
This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.