Chapter 15:

The Visionary Journalist to Paris and Bruisseis

By: Jett B. Raymundo

Karim Abdul Pasilan

 Rizal Conceived of the organization of an International Association of Philippinologists,

with Rose, Blumentritt and himself as organizers.
Rizal suggested that Blumentritt be the President and himself as secretary.
Rizal told Blumentritt that the organization of that the international association would
coincide with the Universal Exposition of 1899 in Paris.
He also informed Blumentritt of the tentative agenda for the first conference. Blumentritt
accepted the offer suggested that independent tribes and regions of the Philippines be
included in the agenda.
The plan did not materialize since the French government limited the number of
conferences to be held in Paris during the exposition of 1889.

Synthesizing Historical Materials

About the Philippines

 Rizal founded the Kidlat Club on March 19, 1889 to bring together the
youthful Filipinos in Paris
The Paris Exposition was opened on May 6, 1889.
Another society that Rizal founded in Paris was the Indios Bravos or also
known as Brave Indians. The members of this organization vowed to excel in
intellectual and physical prowess in order to gain the admiration of foreigners,
especially that spaniards. Thus, they practiced enthusiastically the use of the
sword and pistol.
In addition to the aforementioned society of Filipino patriots, Rizal founded the
Sociedad R.D.L.M (Redencion de los Malayos).

Rizal and the Exposition of 1889

 Rizal published his annotation of Morga's Sucesos. He dictated to the

filipinos: " If the book succeeds in awakening in you, the consciousness of our
past blotted from memory, then I shall not have labored in vain, and with this
basis, slight though it be, we can devote ourselves to the study of the future".
Another accomplishment is when he wrote the satirical essay, entitled Por
Telefeno under the pen name of Dimas Alang.
A project conceived by Rizal while in Paris was the establishment of a modern
college in Hong Kong though the plan did not materialize.
Meanwhile, Rizal continued contributing articles to the La Solidaridad.

Other Activities and

Accomplishments in Paris

 This was the longest essay written by Rizal.

As the most important analytical study made by Rizal about our society, during
the Spanish regime, this essay represents his defense of the Filipinos from the
charge that they were inherently lazy or indolent.
According to Rizal, whenever something goes wrong in the Philippines, there is
a tendency to blame the Filipinos. On this basis, he tried to analyze the social
and political conditions of the time to prove that indolence was the cause.
The deterioration of the industry of the Filipinos can be attributed to two sets of
factors: those attributable to the Spanish Colonizers; and those attributable to
the Filipino's own faults.

Sobre La Indolencia delos

Filipinos

Wars and Internal disorders that followed Spanish Conquest.

Piratical Attacks on Coastal Towns and Villages by Muslim Pirates.
Forced Labor in Shipbuilding.
Government's Neglect and Apathy to Agriculture, Industry and Commerce
Absence of Material and Moral Incentives to Work Harder.
The teaching of the Spanish Missionaries that heaven is for the Poor.
Too much Government Restriction and Red Tape in the approval to Transact Bussiness
Encouragement and Propagation of Gambling.
Ownership of the Big Estates by the Friars.
Example Set by the Spaniards in Disdaining Manual Labor.
Deprivation of Human Dignity.

Attributable to the spanish

colonizers

Feeling inferiority.
Placing Hopes in Miracles.
Lack of Spirit.
Lack of National Sentiment.

Attributable to the Filipino

 Rizal wrote Filipinas Dentro de Cien Anos or The Philippines A Century

Henceto forcecast the future of the country within a hundred years. It came
out as a series of four articles in teh La Solidaridad.
This essay starts with an analysis of the causes of the miseries of the people.
One of the causes identified in this article was Spains implementation of
her military policies. As a consequence of these policies:
1.
2.
3.

The country was depopulated.

Families and farmlands were neglected.
Thus, all phases of the life of the Filipinos were retarded.

FILIPINAS DENTRO DE CIEN ANOS

 A second cause if this misery was the deterioaration and dissappearance of

Filipino indigeneous culture.With the conquest of the sword and the cross,
came the destruction of native ways of living of the people. This in effect,
resulted into the peoples lost of confidence in the past, lost of faith in the
present, and lost of hope in the future.
A third cause of this miserable condition of the people was thier passivity and
submissiveness to the Spanish colonizers, They had resigned themselves to
their fate since the friars had been very effective in developing a culture of
silence among the people.

FILIPINAS DENTO DE CIEN ANOS

 The third article of Rizals essay centered on the reforms and political changes needed
for the Philippines to remain under the Spanish rule. Nevertheless, he stressed that
reforms have to be initiated by the government for them to be peaceful and effective.
This was because any change originated by the masses would definitely be fatal and
violent.
These reforms were the ff:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Freedom of the press in the country; representation of the Filipinos in the Spanish Cortes
granting of Spanish citizenship to the people
Filing of government positions through competitive examinations
Reforms in commerce, agiculture and education
Greater security for the individual and other reforms.

FILIPINAS DENTO DE CIEN ANOS

 The last article of this essay delved on the stages that would lead the
Philippines to independence. As stressed by Rizal in this essay. Independence
would be unavoidable should Spain not assimilate the Philippines as one of its
provinces. Inasmuch as the Filipinos are not ready for indepence, Rizal
predicted that Spain would be deposed or replaced by another power.
What Rizal envisioned in this essay came true. On May 1, 1898, the
Americans entered the Philippines and wrestled from Spain the control of the
Philippines and wrestled from Spain the control of the Philippines,

FILIPINAS DENTO DE CIEN ANOS

 Rizal left Paris for Brussels, Belgium on January 29, 1980.

His departure from this city was brought about by two reasons:
1. The cost of living in Paris has become so exorbitant.
2. Rizal could not resist the gay social life in Paris, which interfered with the writing of his
second novel, El Filibusterismo.

Rizal in Brussels

 In defense of the oppressed Filipinos, Rizal wrote the ff. Articles which were
published in the La Solidaridad, while he was in Brussels
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

A La defensa (To the Defense)

La Verdad Para Todos ( The Truth for All)
Vicente Barrantes Teatro Tagalo
Vuna Profanacion ( A Profanation)
Verdades Nuevas (New Turths)
Crueldad (Cruelty)
Diferencias (Differences
Inconsequencies (Inconsequences)
Llanto y Risas ( Tears and Laughters)
Ingratitudes (Ingratitude)

Articles Written for the La

Solidaridad

 While in Brussels, Rizal was informed by Juan Luna and Valentin Venture that
many of his fellow expatriates in Madrid had become too much preoccupied
with gambling. They wanted Rizal to do something about this considering that
they were in Europe not for the purpose of indulging in games of chance but
to carry out a noble mission.
Rizal responded by sending Marcelo del Pilar a letter, dated May 28, 1890,
reminding his fellow Filipinos that their mission in Europe was to work for
the freedom of the Philippines.

CRITICISM OF FILIPINOS PASSION

FOR GAMBLING

 Rizal was disturbed by the news he received from Calamba, while in Brussels.
He came to learn:
He came to learn that the agrarian problem has worsened
Annual payment for land rental was increased resulting into the inability of many tenants at
the Dominican hacienda
The illegal deportation of his brother and brothers-in-law made him very depressed.

DISTURBING NEWS FROM HOME

 As a consequence of the despair brought about circumstances, which he was

not able to cope with, Rizal experienced sleepless and restless nights.
Although he was not a superstitios man, he could no help entertain that
thought of dying. His only wish nontheless, to finish his second novel, El Fili,
before he finally bid this world adios.

THE PREMONITION OF RIZAL

 When Rizal learned about Jaenas plan to go to Cuba, he conceived the letter
to go to the Philippines and die there in defense of his ideals.
Rizals compatriots and friends in Europe were stunned and horrified with his
decisions, knowing that he was already a marked man for the friars. They,
therefore cautioned Rizal not to push through with his plan.

THE PLAN TO RETURN TO THE

PHILIPPINES

 This poem was written by Rizal in 1890 as a result of his disenchantment

over the lukewarn attitude of the Filipino expatriates in Spain working for
reforms from the Spanish government.
This poem expressed Rizals bitterness over land troubles in Calamba.
Softened by his dissapointment, he bids the Muse to depart from him. But as
the Muse leaves, he askes her to go back and bring his faith, vigor, and
victory.

A MI MUSA (TO MY MUSE)

 Being lonely in Belguim, Rizal had an affair with Suzanne, one of the pretty
nieces of his landladies. Suzanne fell in love with him due to his charm and
dignified manners, just like the other women in the life of Rizal.
Rizal enjoyed her company. Nevertheless, Suzanne shed her tears of sadness
and gried upon knowing that Rizal had left for Madrid.

RIZALS AFFAIR WITH SUZANNE

JACOBY