PARIS TO BERLIN (1885-1887)

 -Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize

in ophthalmology—Rizal chose this branch of
medicine because he wanted to cure his mother’s eye
ailment
 Rizal went to Barcelona
and visited Maximo
Viola. They agreed to
have a grand tour of
Europe, once he
finished his medical
studies in France and In
Germany.
 Maximo Viola – a medical
student and a member of a
rich family of San Miguel,
Bulacan. Rizal’s friend.
After studying at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who
was then 24 yrs old, went to Paris to acquire more
knowledge in ophthalmology.
 Señor Eusebio Corominas – editor of La Publicidad and
made a crayon sketch of Don Miguel Morayta, owner of La
Publicidad and a statesman
 Don Miguel Morayta – owner of La Publicidad and a
statesman
 Rizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the Carolines
Question), then a controversial issue, for publication
 November 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris, where he stayed
for about 4 months
 He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a
leading French ophthalmologist. ophthalmologist wherein
Rizal worked as an assistant from November 1885 to
February 1886
 Paz Pardo de Tavera- was a pretty girl, who was engaged
to Juan Luna
 Juan Luna – great master of the brush; Rizal helped him by
posing as model in Luna’s paintings.
1. “The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an
Egyptian priest
2. “The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed as Sikatuna
 Clinic of Dr. Louis de Wecker
José now went to Paris to study ophthalmology.

Dr. Louis de Wecker

He found Rizal such a
competent student and
admired him so much,
that he took him as his
clinical assistant.
http://joserizal.info/Biography/man_and_martyr/chapter04.
 Paris Boulevards Place de la Concorde,

A commemorative
plaque Rizal received
from Paris.
 This one was taken in Paris with Juan
Luna (left) and Jose Rizal (right)
when they were playing their favorite
past time game “labanang espada”.

Rizal in Paris
One-fourth of
this novel was
completed in
Paris before
Rizal leaved.

In Paris home of Juan Luna withRizal and

Valentin while practicing fencing
"Parisian Life" is a painting that brought Juan Luna the Silver Medal at
the St. Louis Exposition (World's Fair). Rizal is one of the men in the
background.
45 Rue Maubeuge
Paris, November 18

"Dear friend,
"I sent you those proofs a long while ago. Since you have not received them,
they must be lost. Send me others at once; I have the manuscript.
"We have many enemies, and they are furious; we face the fight and must not
be divided.

Your friend,
Laong Laan [Rizal]“

The above hasty letter was written by Rizal to his trusted friend
Mariano Ponce which gives a perfect picture of José Rizal in
Paris.
(the picture before this slide)
 Rizal in Paris

Rizal doing his little job

as an opthalmologist in
Paris.
 Rizal became Luna’s model
in two of his historical
canvasses.

Parisian studio of Juan Luna 1st Canvass. Rizal (seated) shared a deep
friendship with painter Juan Luna and often
For a time, Rizal stayed w/ Juan agreed to pose for Luna's paintings as in
Luna in a latter studio in Paris. 'The Death of Cleopatra’ as a priest.
2nd Canvass. The Blood Compact (El Pacto de Sangre) where
Rizal posed as Sikatuna.
 Rizal had no natural aptitude for music, and this he
admitted. He studied music only because many of his
schoolmates at Ateneo were taking music lessons.
 He told Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, piano,
and voice culture in one month and a half”.
 By sheer determination and constant practice, Rizal came
to play the flute fairly well. He was a flutist in various
impromptu reunions of Filipinos in Paris
 Some of his compositions are:
 Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a pariotic song which asserts
that any race aspires for freedom
 La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza, which Rizal
composed in Dapitan during his exile
 February 1, 1886- after specializing in ophthalmology,
Rizal left Paris for Germany.
 he arrived at Heidelberg, the university town of Germany.
 February 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic
city in Germany famous for its old university and romantics
surroundings.
 Chess Player’s Club- a club wherein the students made
Rizal as a member because of being a good chess player
 He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the
direction of Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished German
ophthalmologist.
 It was at the university town where rizal perfected the
techniques of diagnosing eye ailment, which he learned
under Dr. Louis de Wecker.
 Rizal decided to transfer to a boarding house near
the University of Heidelberg.
 Rizal wrote letters to his sisters (Maria and Trinidad)
describing Germany as country of order and obedience.
rizal also described the German students as affectionate,
respectful, modest and not boastful and women as tall
stout and blonde.
 from the foregoing letters sent by Rizal to Trinidad, he
stressed so much the good qualities of german women:
serious; studious; simple; industrious; not afraid of men;
concerned about education. shows the rizal's concern
about her sister's training to be able to adapt the virtues of
German women.
View of the town center and the castle.
Universitätsplatz 12
(former Ludwigsplatz 12),
where Dr. Rizal had
composed his famous
poem "To the Flowers of
Heidelberg".
A bronze memorial
plaque in front of the
building bears witness to
his memorable stay in
this place.
Bergheimer Straße 20 -
Former University of
Heidelberg Eye Clinic w
here Dr. Rizal had
practiced ophthalmology
under the direction
of Prof. Dr. Otto Becker.
"Gasthaus zur Hirschgasse" (Guesthouse on the
Hirschgasse), where Rizal used to watch student
duelling matches. Built in 1791, it has been
renovated and it is now called "Hotel
Hirschgasse".
Interior view of the "Gasthaus zur Hirschgasse"
as seen during Rizal's time.
 April 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine poem during the
Spring 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”.

he remained in
Heidelberg for
three months
(long enough to
complete his
course)
 On August 8, 1886, he wrote in his diary this pathetic
memorandum:
 "Within two days I shall leave this happy place and start out
anew in quest of the unknown in distant places. Always I
travel about and wander alone, breaking the friendships
which I have just formed, separating from so many people
whom I suppose I shall not see again, to go from city of city,
from country to country, without love nor fortune, placing
confidence in fate. . . Ah, now I long for my distant country,
now I recall my home, and now I am thinking of rest. I have
wandered through so many countries, have seen so many
customs, have met so many persons, that I have almost
preserved neither ideas nor ideals; I have seen nothing
more than the appearance of good and evil. I have loved, I
have choked the paintings of my heart, and I have
conquered. If this life continues my heart will begin to die."
 After composing the poem, rizal took a 3 months
vacation at Wilhemsfeld.
 Wilhelmsfeld- a mountainous village near
Heidelberg
 He left Heidelberg for Wilhemsfeld to honor invitation
extended to him by Reverend Karl Ullmer whom Rizal
meet one day in the woods with his family
 Rizal was invited to visit the vicarage. Later, on Rizal’s
choice, he boarded with the Ullmer family until he left
Wilhelmsfeld by last week of June.
 Dr. Karl Ullmer- a kind Protestant pastor who
became his good friend and admirer.
 Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at
Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed at the place of Dr. Karl
Ullmer. The pastor has a wife and two children named
Etta and Fritz.
 The Ullmer family help Rizal improve his German.
House of Pastor Ullmer Letter of Rizal to Karl
ullmer and to his family
(drawing)

Pastor Ullmer
 Rizal’s first letter in German
 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 2 languages – Spanish and
Tagalog – by the University of Santo Tomas Press in
1868. The author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.
 Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal.
· August 6, 1886- the famous University of Heidelberg
held its fifth centenary celebration (500th) where Rizal
had witnessed the said celebration.
 August 1886: Rizal left Heidelberg, boarded by a train
and arrived in Leipzig.
 He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig
on history and psychology.
 Professor Friedrich Ratzel- a famous German
historian, Rizal befriend with him
 Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was
the cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months and a
half.
 In Leipzig, Rizal translated Schiller’s William Tell
from German into Tagalog so that Filipino might know
the story of that champion of Swiss independence
 Rizal also translated into Tagalog for his nephews and
niece Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales.
 Because of his knowledge of German, Spanish, and
other European languages, Rizal worked as
proofreader in a publisher’s firm
The Neue Rathaus (New Town Hall) of Leipzig.
The Old Town Hall of Leipzig was built
betweem 1556 to 1558. It is now the
Town Museum of Leipzig.
View of the old University, which Rizal had visited upon his
arrival at Leipzig, and the Pauliner Church. Both buildings were
demolished to give way to a modern high-rise University complex.
The Mende Fountain. Dr. Rizal witnessed the
inauguration of this attractive fountain on
2 September 1886.
Napoleon's Stone.
Dr. Rizal had visited this marker in the vicinity of Leipzig where Napoleon
had watched the famous battle of 16-18 October 1813, which resulted in the
decisive defeat of the armies of Napoleon.
 On October 29, he went to Dresden, where he met Dr.
Adolph B.Meyer, the Director of the Anthropological
and Ethnological Museum.
 Rizal heard Mass in a Catholic church; evidently, this
Mass impressed him very much, for he wrote on his
diary: “Truly I have never in my life heard a Mass
whose music had greater sublimity and
intonation.”
 Rizal left for Berlin after his three day visit to Dresden
Steps leading to the famous Brühl Terrace of Dresden which is sometimes
referred to as the "Balcony of Europe".
The Brühl Terrace overlooking the broad
Elbe River.
The Catholic Church. The
church has been heavily
damaged in World War II, but
it has been rebuilt to its former
glory. Dr. Rizal heard mass in
this church during his first visit
to Dresden.
The Royal Palace. The palace was almost totally destroyed in World War II, but it is
now under reconstruction for use as a museum.
The Johanneum with its beautiful facade. It was originally built as a stable
between 1586 and 1591. During the 19th century, it was redesigned and served as
an Art Gallery. At present, it is used as a Transport Museum with a huge display of
various means of transportation.
The Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).
This impressive church was totally
destroyed during the Second World War.
It is now being rebuilt and it is expected
to be finished by the year 2005.
The Zwinger is the most significant baroque building in Germany. It was
constructed between 1709 and 1728 during the rule of August the Strong. The
whole complex consists of the Semper Gallery, Crown Gate with the Polish royal
crown on top. Wall Pavillion, Chimes Pavillion, Museum of Natural Sciences,
Historical Museum, etc.
Partial view of the vast courtyard of
the Zwinger.
The Painting Gallery. Dr. Rizal had visited the Painting Gallery during his sojourn
in Dresden in 1886.
Five reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin:
 To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
 To further his studies of science and languages
 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.
 · Madame Lucie Cerdole-Rizal’s professor of French in
order to master the idiomatic intricacies of the French
language
 Unter den Linden- the most popular boulevard of Berlin
wherein Rizal enjoyed promenading, sipping beer in the
city’s inns and talking with the friendly Berliners
 Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific
atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice.
 Some scientists Rizal met are:
 Dr. Feodor Jagor – German scientist-traveler and
author of Travels in the Philippines
 Dr. Rudolf Virchow – famous German anthropologist.
Referred to as "the father of modern pathology," he is
considered one of the founders of social medicine.
 Dr. W. Joest – German geographer
 Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – famous German
Ophthalmologist where Rizal worked
 Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the
Ethnological Society, and the Geographical Society of Berlin,
upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr. Meyer
 Following custom, he delivered an address in German in April
1887 before the anthropological society on the orthography and
structure of the Tagalog language.
“In Rizal we are not only losing a loyal friend of Germany, and of
German scholarship, but also the one man with sufficient
knowledge and resolution to open a way for modern thought to
that far-off island world.”
 Prof. Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) in his obituary address for Dr.
Jose Rizal at the Annual General Meeting of the Berlin Society
for Anthropology, Ethnology and Prehistory in 1897.
 Rizal wrote this scholarly paper in German which he
read before the society in April 1887
 this paper was published by the society in the same
year, and elicited favorable comments from all
scientific quarters.
 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.
 Some of the German customs Rizal admired:
 On Yuletide season, people will select a pine tree from
the bushes and adorned it with lanterns, papers,
lights, dolls, candies, fruits, etc.
 Self-introduction to strangers in a social gathering.
 The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.
 He lived in poverty because no money arrived from
Calamba and he was flat broke.
 The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was
in the pawnshop.
 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.
 it brought him great joy after enduring so much sufferings,
because his first novel, Noli Me Tangere came off the press
in March, 1887
 This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.
 When later he told his old friend Fernando Canon about the dark
period, he said:
"I did not believe that Noli Me Tangere would ever be published. I was in
Berlin, heartbroken, weakened, and discouraged from hunger and
deprivation. I was on the point of throwing my work into the fire as a
thing accursed and fit only to die; . . . ." (13)
"Man's extremity," says an ancient proverb, "is God's opportunity."
Evidently God did not want this book to die. A telegram came from Dr.
Maximo Viola, a rich young Filipino whom Rizal had known in Madrid,
saying he was on his way to visit Berlin.
"It revived me," said Rizal. "It gave me new hope. I went to the station to
receive him and spoke to him about my work. He said he might be able
to help me. I reflected and then decided to shorten the book, and
eliminated whole chapters. . . . but these will have a place in the
continuation. . . . I plan to publish seven volumes about Philippine
conditions."
Thanks to the providential help of Maximo Viola, Noli Me
Tangere appeared a few weeks later. One of the first copies
was sent to Dr. Blumentritt. In the accompanying letter,
Rizal said:
"I have not wept over our misfortunes, but rather laughed at
them. No one would want to read a book full of tears. . . .
The incidents which I have related are all true and have
actually occurred. I can prove this statement. . . .“
- Jose Rizal
- Bound copies were boxed and sent to some friends in
Barcelona and Madrid. These friends employed a clever
ruse for getting them into the Philippines disguised as
merchandise.
Berlin15The renovated house at Jägerstraße 71, where Dr.
Rizal resided in Berlin. A bronze memorial plaque has
been placed in front of the building in honor of Dr. Rizal.
Central Hotel. Dr. Rizal booked at this hotel upon his arrival
in Berlin. He occupied room No. 294. The hotel was totally
destroyed in World War II and has never been rebuilt.
Interior view of Cafe Bauer, where Rizal used to sit and
read newspapers.
University of Berlin
Blumentritt Home
Historical Marker
Dr. Feodor Jagor
Dr. Hans Virchow Dr. Karl Ernst Schweigger
Dr. Wilhelm Joest
The original cover
of “Noli Me
Tangere” designed
by Jose Rizal

was finished in
Berlin on February
22, 1887.
 Reporters Researchers - Pictures
1. ANGELES, James 1. FELIX, Carmina
2. ORTIZ, Farah 2. LAROZA, Roanne
3. SIATELA, Rosanne 3. FAMILARA, John
 Researchers – Data 4. CORTEZ, Danielle
1. INABAYASHI, Akemi 5. RENDON, Marc
2. MARALLAG, Anselmo
3. CORTES, Robby Powerpoint Makers
4. GUINTU, Justin 1. CONCEL, Mark
5. MEDRANO, Henedina 2. CARI, Jet