Rizal Report Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11BACK TO CALAMBA(1887-1888)

After 5 years of memorable sojourn in Europe, He returned to

Philippines in August, 1887.

DECISION TO RETURN HOME

Rizal warned by Paciano(his Brother), Silvestre Ubaldo(his

brothe in Law),Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio), And other friends not to

return home. But he did not heed their warning.

He was determined to return to the Philippines for the following reasons:1. to operate his mother’s eyes2.to serve his people who had long been oppressed by Spanish Tyrants3.to find out for himself how the Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards in the Philippines. And

4. To find out why Leonor Rivera had remained silent.

Delightful Trip To ManilaRizal left Rome by train for Marsailles, a French port, which he reached without mishap. On July 3, 1887, he boarded the steamer Djemjah.The same steamer which brought him to Europe five years ago. At Saigon on July 30, he transferred to another steamer Hayfong, Which was Manila bound.· August 2, 1887- the steamer left Saigon for Manila

Arrival in Manila· August 3, 1887- the moon was full and Rizal slept soundly the whole night. The

calm sea, illuminated by the silvery moonlight, was a magnificent sight to

him· Near midnight of August 5, 1887 , the

Haiphong arrived in ManilaOn August 6th he arrived in Manila. He desembarked shortly after nine o’clock

that night .He stayed in the city to visit his friends.

He found Manila same as when he left it five years ago.

Happy Home Coming On August 8th Two days after his arrival in Manila, he reached Calamba.His family welcome him affectionately, with plentiful tears of joy.Writing to Blumentritt about his home coming.

• In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic. His first patient was his mother, who was almost blind.

• · Rizal, who came to be called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany, treated their ailments

• and soon he acquired a lucrative medical practice

• Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced European sports

• Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba—his failure to see Leonor Rivera

Storm over Noli

A few weeks after his arrival, a storm broke over his novel.One day Rizal received a letter from Governor General Emilio Torrero to come to Malacañan.

Governor General Emilio Torrero asked for a copy of the noli so that he could read it.Rizal visited the Jesuit fathers to ask for a copy he sent them, but they would not part with it .

• For security measures Governor General Emilio Torrero assigned Spanish lieutenant Don Jose Taviel de Andrade as a body guard of rizal.

• This lieutenant came belonged to noble family. He is cultured and knew painting and he could speak English, French, and Spanish.

• Msgr. Pedro Payo (a Dominican)- sent a copy of Noli to Father Rector Gregorio Echavarria of the

• University of Sto. Tomas for examination by a committee of the faculty

• The report of the faculty members of University of Santo Tomas stated that the Noli was “heretical,

• impious, and scandalous in the religious order and anti-patriotic, subversive of public order, injurious to the government of Spain and its function in the Philippine Islands in the political order”

• Permanent Commission of Censorship-a committee composed of priest and laymen

• Fr. Salvador Font- Augustinian cura of Tondo, head of the committee

• -found the novel to contain subversive ideas against the Church and Spain, and recommended “that the

• importation, reproduction, and circulation of this pernicious book in the islands be absolutely prohibited.”

• Fr. Jose Rodriguez- Augustinian priest, published a series of eight pamphlets under the general heading Cuestiones de Sumo Interes (Questions of Supreme Interest) to blast the Noli and other anti-Spanish writings

• Vicente Barrantes- Spanish academician of Madrid, who formerly criticized the Noli in an article

• published in La Espańa Moderna (a newspaper of Madrid) in January, 1890

• What marred Rizal’s happy days in Calamba with Lt. Andrade were (1) the death of his older sister,

Olimpia, and (2) the groundless tales circulated by his enemies that he was “a German spy, an agent ofBismarck, a Protestant, a Mason, a witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.”

DEFENDERS OF NOLI

• Rev. Vicente Garcia-a Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a theologian of the Manila Cathedral and a

• Tagalog translator of the famous Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis

• -writing under the penname Justo Desiderio Magalang, wrote a defense of the Noli which was published in Singapore as an appendix to a pamphlet dated July 18, 1888, he blasted the arguments of Fr. Rodriguez

• Rizal, himself defended his novel against Barrantes’ attack, in a letter written in Brussels, Belgium in

• February 1880.

• Marcelo H. Del Pilar- editor of La Solidaridad• -he published a pamphlet entitled “Caiigat Cayo”• Caiigat Cayo- it means “Be slippery as an Eel”• Father Francisco Sanchez- Rizal’s beloved Jesuit professor• Don Segismundo Moret- a former President of the Council of

Minister • -he read and like the book very much.• Rev. Vicente Garcia- a Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a

theologian of the Manila Cathedral and a Tagalog translator of the famous Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis

• Father Garcia- writing under the pen name Justo Desiderio Magalang

-he wrote a defense of the Noli which was published in Singapore as an appendix to a pamphlet dated on July 18, 1888.

Rizal and Andrade

• Governor-General Terrero- between Lt. Andrade and Rizal, a

beautiful friendship bloomed.

Calamba’s Agrarian Trouble

Governor-General Terrero, influenced by a certain facts in Noli Me Tangere, ordered a government investigation of the friars

estates to remedy whatever iniquities might have been presents in connection with land taxes and with tenant relations.

FAREWELL TO CALAMBA

The friars asked Governor General Terrero to deport him, but latter refused because there was no valid charge against Rizal in court.· Rizal was compelled to leave Calamba for two reasons: (1) his presence in Calamba was jeopardizingthe safety and happiness of his family and friends (2) he could fight better his enemies and serve hiscountry’s cause with greater efficacy by writing in foreign countries

A POEM FOR LIPA

Before Rizal left Calamba in 1888 his friend from Lipa requested him to write a poem in commemoration of the town’s elevation to a villa (city), by virtue of the Becerra Law of 1888. He wrote a poem this was the Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor). He finished it and sent to Lipa before his departure from Calamba.

ACTIVITY

Answer the following question correctlywrite T if the statement is True; write F if the statement is False.1. The first novel of Rizal is Noli Me Tangere2. The Friend of Rizal is Lt. Jose De Andrade3. Father Francisco Sanchez is Rizal’s beloved Jesuit professor.4. Before Rizal was left to Calamba he wrote a poem in Lipa.5. Governor-General Terrero, influenced by a certain facts in Noli Me Tangere.

References: Pictures/Curicatures- www. Google.com.ph

Life and works of Rizal by: Gregorio Zaide