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CHAPTER 20

OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONGKONG (1891-92)


Farewell to Europe: Oct 31, 1891 (2 weeks after Filis publication), left Ghent for Paris, bade
farewell to friends (Lunas, Taveras, Venturas), to Marseilles and boarded steamer Melbourne forHongkong (HK)
on Oct 18 bringing recommendation letter by Juan Luna for Manuel Camuswith 600 copies of Fili; befriended
many passengers who were mostly missionaries for China
including Fr. Fuchs whom he described as A Father Damaso without pride and malice (let
ter toBlumentritt)Rizal and the German Ladies: conversed with them in perfect German and they treated him
withrespect and admiration despite his brown skinArrived in HK: Nov 20, 1891, welcomed by Jose Ma. Basa and
other friends, opened his medicalcl
inic; Manuel Hidalgo: if the Queen Regent will not listen, we will write to Queen Victoria
of England appealing for protection in the name of humanity
Family Reunion in HK: before Christmas of 1891, parents, sisters, bro and brothers-in-lawarrived; happiest
yuletide celebration in his life; very much pleased with the English governmentOphthalmic Surgeon in HK: made
a living for himself and his family as an ophthalmologist;Portuguese Dr. Lorenzo P. Marques helped him build a
wide clientele; successfully operated on
his Moms left eye making her read and write again; Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin congratulated him
from Paris and gave him a book on Diagnostic Pathology by Dr. H. Virchow; Dr. AntonioVergel de Dios offered
to buy books and equipments for him; Dr. Geminiano de Ocampo says
Rizal had all the qualities that would make him an ideal ophthalmic surgeon
Borneo Colonization Project: planned to move the landless Filipino families to the rich British-owned island;
went to Sandakan, Borneo on March 7, 1892 on board Menon to negotiate withthe British authorities who in turn
were willing to give the Filipino colonists 100,000 acres of land, a beautiful harbor, and a good government for
999 years, free of all charges; friends inEurope endorsed his Borneo
colonization project; Lopez Jaena (May 26, 1892): I have a greatdesire of joining you. I shall go
there to dedicate myself to the cultivation of sugarcane and themaking of sugar. Brother
-in-
law Hidalgo objected saying, Why should we leave the
Philippines, this beautiful country of ours? Why should we go to a foreign land without firstexhausting all means
for the welfare of the country which nurtured us from our cradles? Tell me
that?!; Gov. Gen. Eulogio Despujol did not reply Rizals two letters and
did not approve the
Borneo project because the Philippines lacked laborers.

Writings in HK: (1) Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao (translation of The Rights of Man
proclaimed by the 1789 French Revolution); (2) A la Nacion Espaola; (3) Sa Mga Kababayan;(
4) Una Visita a la Victoria Gaol; (5) In French, Colonisation du British North Borneo Par
deFamilles de Iles Philippines; (6) La Mano Roja (the Red Hand); and (7) Constitution of the
Liga
Filipina

Decision to Return to Manila: May 1892, in order to (1) confer with Despujol concerning Borneocolonization; (2)
establish Liga Filipina; (3) prove Eduardo de Lete wrong that he abandoned the
countrys cause; LS on April 15, 1892, he portrayed Rizal as cowardly, egoistic and
opportunistic; Rizal protested agai
nst LS editor Del Pilar; To Ponce: it will lead many to believethat there is really a schism
among us (May 23, 1892)

Last HK Letters: relatives and friends opposed his decision to return; sister Trinidad said,
for there they will kill you; (1) addressed to MY PARENTS, BRETHREN AND FRIENDS:
theoutcome judges things according to the consequences A man ought to die for duty and
his principles should fate go against me I shall die happy in the thought that my death
willend all your troubles; (2) TO THE FILIPINOS: My career, my life, my happiness
all I have
sacrificed for the love of my country: (3) To Despujol: to place himself under the protection of
the Spanish governmentRizal Falls into Spanish Trap: Rizal was issued the government guar
antee of safety but asecret case (on June 21, 1892) was filed in Manila for anti
-religious and anti-patriotic
agitation; Despujol ordered his sec. Luis Dela Torre to find out if Rizal is a naturalized German
who had the protection of a strong nation; Spanish duplicity

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