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Jose, who was present in their family council when his mother
said this, was shocked. He know her mother was a woman o education
and culture: she even taught him and inspired him to write poetry; she
came from a family of high learning – her own brother ( and his uncle)
Jose Alberto Alonso had been educated abroad and could speak
multiple Spanish, French, English and German.
Rizal enters the university. In April 1877, Rizal, who was bearly
16 years old, matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas taking up
Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in this course for two reasons: (1)
his father like it and (2) he was was “still uncertain ti what career to
follow”. He had written to father Pablo Ramon, Recotr of the Ateneo,
who had been good to him during his days in Ateneo, asking for advice
in the choice of career. Unfortunately, Father Recto was in Mindanao
and during those days it several months to travel a letter from Manila
to Mindanao. Consequently during his first term (1877-78) in the
University of Santo Tomas he studied Cosmology, Metaphysics,
Theodicy and History of Philosophy.
Rizal’s unhappy days at UST. Rizal’s Ateneo boy wonder, found the
atmosphere at the UST a suffocating to his sensitive spirit. He was
unhappy of this Dominican Institution of high learning because (1) the
Dominican processors were hostile to him, (2) the filipino students
were racially discriminated, and (3) the method of teachings were
obsolete and repressive.
Barcelona. At Marseilles, Rizal took the train for the last lap for
his trip to Spain.
In one of his letters (dates May 26, 1882), Paciano advised his
younger brother to finish his medical course in Madrid. Evidently,
heeding his advised, Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and
established himself Madrid, the Capital of Sapin.
In due time, his friends who were Masons persuade him to join
Masonry. In 1883 he joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia in Madrid. His
Masonic name was Dimasalang.
After the Noli came off the press in Berlin, Rizal planned to visit
the important places in Europe. Dr. Maximo Viola agreed to be his
traveling componion. Rizal had received Paciano’s remittance of 1,000
pesos which was forwarded by Juan Luna to Paris. He immediately paid
Viola the sum of 300 pesos which the latter kindly loaned so that the
Noli could be printed. Having paid his debt, and with adequate fund in
his pocket, he was ready to see Europe before returning to Calmba.
First, he and Viola visited Potsdam, a city near berlin, which Frederick
the Great made famous.
The tour begins. At the dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola,
two brown-skinned doctors on roaming spree, left Berlin by train. It
was an ideal reason fo traveling. Spring was in the air, and all over the
Europe the flowers were blooming, the meadows were turning green
and the villagers were humming with activity. According to Viola the
luggage of Rizal included all the letters he had received from his
(Rizal’s) family and friends. Their destination was Dresden, “one of the
best cities in German.”
Prague. After Leitmeritz, Rizal and Viola visited the historic city
of Prague.
Vienna. On May 20, Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city
of Vienna, capital ofd Australia-Hungary.