Rizal Life and Works

INTRODUCTIONRizal left field atomic number 63 for Hong Kong, where he lived from no.ember 1891 to June 1892. His reasons for leaving europium werelife was un substantiateable in Europe because of his political differences with M.H. del pilar and other Philippines in Spain. to be near his idolise 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 letter of passport by Juan Luna for Manuel Camus, a compatriot living in Singapore, and 600 copies of the Fili Manuel Camus-During that time, he was a school-age child and was made as a mason on October 12, 1898 at Zet contribute in the East Lodge No 508 in Singapore under the jurisdiction of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Eng estate of the realm. He then became a Senator of the Philippines on his later(prenominal) years. There were over 80 first class passengers aroundly Euro peans, including 2 Spaniards He befriended many missionaries and hotshot of them is Fr. Fuchs, a Tyrolese, which he enjoyed playing t are with. He heretofore wrote to Blumentritt saw ..He is a fine fellow, a beginner Damaso without pride and malice..RIZAL AND THE GERMAN LADIESOne planeing at a dinner party time the passengers were having their meal in the dining direction. Rizal being the tho Asian, was take alone at one sidestep. Near him was a bigger table occupied by some German la jades who were gaily eating and speak about the lone Asian male who was quietly taking his meal. Rizal, who was melted in German, understood what the talkative German ladies were saying about him, precisely he simply kept silent, letting the ladies enjoy their gossip.Suddenly the fast course 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 close the door. A lady said to her companio ns in German If this man in scarecrow of us were a gentleman he would close the door. Upon earshot her remark, Rizal, without saying a word, rose and closed the door, afterward which he resumed his seat. He then conversed with German ladies in perfect German. Of course, the German ladies were very unt elderly embarrassed, and, thereafter 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(prenominal)y his old friend, Jose Ma. Basa. He then established his residence at No. 5 D Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace, where he too opened his medical exam clinic. December 1, 1891 he wrote his parents asking their permission to return home. On the alike date, his brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, sent him a letter, relating the sad unfermenteds of the deportation of twenty-five persons from Calamba, includi ng father, Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano, and the tolerate 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. plain saying such as If the Queen leave non listen, we exit write to Queen capital of Seychelles of England appealing for protection in the surname of humanityFAMILY REUNION IN HONG KONGBefore Christmas of 1891, he was gladdened by the comer of his father, brother and Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law) in Hong Kong. Not long afterwards his mother and childs Lucia, Josefa , and Trinidad withal 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 cold from persecutions they suffered in the Philippines. They are very frequently pleased with the English government.ophthalmic SURGEON IN HONG KONGDr. Lorenzo P. Marques a friend and ad mirer who helped him to build up a wide clientele. He successfully operated on his mothers left eye so that she was able to read and write once more(prenominal). January 31, 1892 committal to writing to Blumentritt, he said Here I practise as a doctor and I afford . . . Here many sick of flu because there is an epidemic. Through the newspaper I am informed that this infirmity is also causing ravages in Europe. I hope 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 fertilizen moral support and substantial 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 gratulatory letter and a book on Diagnostic Pathology by Dr. H. Virchow and some other medical book entitle Traite Diagnostique by Me snichock. Don Antonio Vergel de Dios houseed him his services for the acquire of medical books and instruments which he might need in his profession. Rizal possessed the qualities of a great ophthalmic operating surgeon. In the words of Dr. Geminiano de Ocampo, a distinguished Filipino ophthalmologist He had all the qualities that would make an ideal ophthalmic surgeon a keen and analytical intellect, send offness of touch and artistry of a painter, courage and imperturbability, a broad and deep knowledge of medicine and ophthalmology, and die but non the least, he had been rightly and adequately trained by master ophthalmic surgeons.BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECTRizal conceived the foundation of a Filipino small town in North Borneo (Sabah) He planned to move those Filipino families to that British-owned island and mold 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 est ablishment of a Filipino colony. His mission was successful.The British Authorities of Borneo were willing to give the Filipino colonists, 100,000 acres of land, a glorious harbor and a bully government for 999 years, free of all charges. By April 20, he was back in Hong Kong.Rizal friends in Europe enthusiastically endorsed his Borneo colonization pick up. Lopez Jaena express his proclivity to marijuana cigarette the project and wrote to Rizal sayingI score a great desire of joining you. Reserve for me there a piece of land where I goat plant sugar bathe. I shall go there. . . to dedicate myself to the cultivation of sugarcane and the making of sugar. Send me further details. Hidalgo, on the other hand, objected to the colonization project sayingThis idea about Borneo, is no total. Why should we leave the Philippines, this beautiful landed estate of ours? And besides what will people say? Why dumbfound we made all these sacrifices? Why should we go to a foreign land with out 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, announced to the Filipino people a fine program of government Rizal sent him a letter of congratulation (dated December 23, 1891) and offering his cooperation, but instead the governor did not even acknowledge receipt of his letter.Rizal wrote a second letter (dated March 21, 1892), in this second letter, he requested the governor general to permit the landless Filipinos to establish themselves in Borneo. Despujol, did not give Rizal the courtesy of a retort. 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 rendering of The Rights of Man proclaimed by the French Revolution in 1789) virtually the same time (1891), he wrote A la Nacion Espaola (To the Spanish Nation), which is anappeal to Spain to right the wrongs done 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 house of Hong Kong. In this article he contrasted the cruel Spanish prison brass 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 Philipp ine 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 Colonization 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 erroneous 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 outlet TO MANILAMay 1892 Rizal made up his mind to return to manilla paper The decision was spurred by the following 1.) To confer with reg ulator 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, had 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 convinced 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 move me awake, and long after a long silence I cypher the field anew. .. I am going to activate the Propaganda again and strengthen the Liga. To Ponce, Rizal confided on May 23, 1892I am very sorry that Del Pilar allowed the article to be published because it will lead many to conceive that there is really a schism among us. I opine 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 improveLAST HONG KONG LETTERSOn June 19, 1892 he spent his 31st birth twenty-four hour period in Hong Kong.Evidently, he had premonition of his last, for the following day, June 20 he wrote two letters which he sealed, inscribed in each envelop to be opened after my finale, 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 well-to-do 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 y et 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 queer 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 hold fast to every idea which I have innovative as to the condition and coming(prenominal) 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 clear 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 fut ure before me is gloomy, and will be gloomy if light does not illuminate it with dawn of a better day for my indigenous land.On the other hand, there are many persons, filled with hope and ambition, who by chance might be happier if I were dead, and then 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 significance of my life I shall be thinking of you and neediness 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 unessential to say that I have considered it for some time. I understand that or so every one is oppos ed 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 and cheerfully shall relinquish life to free so many innocent persons from such unjust persecution.I appreciate the fact that at present 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 maculation and even do my work better.Besides I wish to show those who abnegate us the boo n 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 convinced that my countrymen were going to make use of my services, perhaps, I should break 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 unhappy 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 special passport or safe-conduct issued by the Spanish consul-general in Hong Kong.RIZAL FALLS INTO SPANISH TRAPThe Spanish consul-general sent a cables length 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 uplift 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 strong nation Meanwhile, Rizal and his sister were peacefully crossing the China Sea. They were fully unaware of the Spanish duplicity.