JOSE RIZALS: THE ADVENTUROUE VOYAGER
Rizal’s Visit Brussels, Belgium
January 28, 1890
Rizal left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium. Mainly for two reasons: (1) The cost of living in Paris was very high. (2) The active social life of the city hampered his literary works especially the writing of his second novel El Filibuterismo. Rizal was busy writing his second novel which is the continuation of Noli Me Tangere. There was never an idle moment for Rizal. Alongside, he also wrote articles in La Solidaridad and letters to his family and friends. As physician, he also spent some time in the clinic as the needs arise. For recreation, he had gymnastics at the gymnasium and target practice and fencing at the armory. Ingratitude (January 15, 1890) A reply to Governor General Weyler, who accompanied the Dominicans, who visited the Province of Laguna. The Governor told the people: “you should not allow yourself to be deceived by the vain promises of ungrateful sons.” Sin Nobre (Without Name) written in February 1890, on the new orthography of Tagalog language. Rizal’s advocacy of a new spelling in Tagalog. A La Defensa" (To La Defensa) , April 03, 1889. This was in response to the anti-Filipino writing by Patricio de la Escosura published by La Defensa on March 30, 1889 issue. Written on April 30, 1889, Rizal’s article refuted the views of Escosura, calling the readers’ attention to the insidious influences of the friars to the country. "La Verdad Para Todos" (The Truth For All), May 31, 1889 This was Rizal’s counter to the Spanish charges that the natives were ignorant and depraved. On May 31, 1889, it was published in the La Solidaridad. "Vicente Barrante' Teatro Tagalo", May 31, 1889 The first installment of Rizal’s “Vicente Barrantes” was published in the La Solidaridad on June 15, 1889. In this article, Rizal exposed Barrantes’ lack of knowledge on the Tagalog theatrical art. "Una Profanacion" (A Profanation), May 31, 1889 Published on July 31, 1889, this article mockingly attacked the friars for refusing to give Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa, Rizal’s brother in law, who died of cholera in May 23, 1889. Being the husband of Lucia Rizal (Jose’s sister), Herbosa was denied of burial in the Catholic cemetery by the priests. "Verdades Nuevas" (New Truths), May 31, 1889 In this article dated July 31, 1889, Rizal replied to the letter of Vicente Belloc Sanchez which was published on July 4, 1889 in ‘La Patria’, a newspaper in Madrid. Rizal addressed Sanchez’s allegation that provision of reforms to the Philippines would devastate the diplomatic rule of the Catholic friars. "Crueldad" (Cruelty), August 15, 1889 Dated August 15, 1889, this was Rizal’s witty defense of Blumentritt from the libelous attacks of his enemies. "Differencias" (Differences), September 15, 1889 Published on September 15, 1889, this article countered the biased article entitled “Old Truths” which was printed in La Patria on August 14, 1889. “Old Truths” ridiculed those Filipinos who asked for reforms. "Inconsequencias" (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889 The Spanish Pablo Mir Deas attacked Antonio Luna in the Barcelona newspaper “El Pueblo Soberano”. As Rizal’s defense of Luna, he wrote this article which was published on November 30, 1889. "Llanto y Risas" (Tears and Laughters), November 30, 1889 Dated November 30, 1889, this article was a condemnation of the racial prejudice of the Spanish against the brown race. Rizal remembered that he earned first prize in a literary contest in 1880. He narrated nonetheless how the Spaniard and mestizo spectators stopped their applause upon noticing that the winner had a brown skin complexion. New Orthography of Tagalog Language Rizal was the first o advocate the filipinization of its orthography. For instance, the tagalog letters K and W should be used instead of the spanish C and O. SALACOT - SALAKOT ARAO – ARAW Early in September, 1886 - while in leipzig, Rizal adopte the? Filipinized tagalog orthography in his tagalog translator of schiller's wilhelm tell and andersen's fairy tales and again he used it in his first novel noli me tangere ( Berlin, 1887) "Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala" (The new Orthography of th Tagalog Language) - article of rizaland was published in la solidaridad. Dr. Trinidad H. Pardode Tavera - author of the celebrated work elsancristo en la lengua tagala ( sankrist in the tagalog language) which was published in paris, 1884. RIZAL CRITICIZES MADRID FILIPINOS FOR GAMBLING Rizal recieved news from juan luna and valentin ventura that the filipinos in spain were destroying the good name of theri nation by gambling too much. Accordingly rizal wrote to M. H. Del Pilar on May 28, 1890 to remind the filipinos in madrid that they did not come to europe to gamble, but to work for their fatherland's freedom. The gambling people in madrid were angry when they learned of rizal's moralizing. They derisevely called him "Papa" (People) instead of "pepe". Bad news from home
Preparation to go home Rizal planned to go home. He could not stay in brussels writing a book while his parents, relatives and friends in the distant philippines were persecuted. July 9, 1890 Upon hearing the graciano lopez jaena was planning to go to cuba, rozal wrote to ponce to oppose the plan of actionof graciano. July 18, 1890 He wrote another letter to ponce in which he expresses his determination to go home. All his friends, including blumentritt, jose ma. Basa, and ponce, were horrified by rizal's to return to the philippines. They warned him of a dangerthat awaited him at home. April 30, 1890 He wrote Cosas de Filipinas ( Things about the philippines ). Sobrela indolencia de los filipinas ( On the indolence of the filpinos ). May 1, 1891 Rizal sent a letter to Basa and reiterate his desire to be in Hongkong. May 30, 1891 Rizal set ready for printing 20 chapters of the El Filibuterismo. On June 21 1891 Rizal left Brussels for Ghent. |