In Belgian Brussels

(1890)
January 28 1890-Rizal left Paris for
Brussels, capital of Belgium
Two reasons:
The cost of living in Paris was very high
because of the Universal Exposition,
and
The gay social life of the city hampered
his literary works especially the writing
of his second novel El Filibusterismo.
Rizals life in Brussels
Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert when he
moved to Brussels. They lived in a modest
boarding house on 38 Rue Philippe Champagne.
Run by Suzanne and Marie. Then when Albert left
the city he was replaced by Jose Alejandro.
In Brussels, Rizal was busy writing his second
novel which was a continuation of Noli. He was
never idle even for an hour. Aside from writing its
chapter he wrote articles for La Solidaridad and
letters to his family and friends.
Being a physician, he spent part of his time
in the medical clinic. For recreation, he had
gymnastics at the gymnasium at target
practice and fencing at the armory.
 New Orthography of
Tagalog Language
Rizal was the 1st to advocate to the Filipinization of our
letters C and O and use instead of K and W.
September 1886, in Leipzig, Rizal adopted the Filipinized
Tagalog Orthography in his Tagalog translations of
Schillers Wilhelm tell and Andersens Fairy Tales
Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala (The new
Orthography of the Tagalog Language) was published in La
Solidaridad in which he laid down the rules of the new
Tagalog orthography and with modesty and sincerity, he
gave the credit for the adoption of this new orthography to
Dr.Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera.
Rizal Criticizes Madrid Filipinos for
Gambling
In Brussels, Rizal received news from Juan Luna, and
Valentin Ventura that the Filipino in Spain were destroying
the good name of their nation by gambling too much.
These two compatriots in Paris urged him to do something
about it.
May 28 1890 Rizal wrote to M.H Del Pilar to remind the
Filipinos in Madrid that they did not come to Europe to
gamble, but to work for their father lands freedom.
The gambling Filipinos in Madrid were angry when they
learned of Rizals moralizing. Thereafter, they called Rizal
Papa (pope) instead of Pepe.
Bad News From Home
The Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse.
The management of the Dominican hacienda continually
raised the land rents until such time that Rizals father
refused to pay his rent.
Meanwhile, the tenants, including the Rizal family, were
persecuted and ejected from their lands.
The sad news from home depressed Rizal. His heart bled to
know the sorrowful plight of his Parents, brother and
brother-in-law.
Presentation of Death
In his moment of despair, Rizal had bad
dreams during the nights in Brussels when
he was restless because he was always
thinking of his unhappy family in Calamba.
Although he was not superstitious, he
feared that he would not live long. He was
not afraid to die, but he wanted to finish his
2nd novel before he went to his grave.
Preparation To Go Home
Hearing that Graciano Lopez Jaena was planning
to go to Cuba, he wrote to Ponce on July 8, 1890,
opposing Gracianos plan of action. He said that
Graciano should not go to Cuba to die of yellow
fever, instead he ought to go the Philippines to
allow himself to be killed in defense of his ideals.
Rizal said We have only once to die, and if we do
not die well, we lose an opportunity which will not
again be presented to us.
To My Muse(1890)
This Poem lacks the exquisiteness of To The Flowers of
Heidelberg and is less polished than to the Filipino Youth,
but it is passionate in feeling.
Two things brought some measure of cheer to the
despondent Rizal as he was preparing for his trip to
Madrid:
The summertime festival of Belgium

His romance with Suzanne Jacoby. Like his other

woman, Suzanne fell in love with Rizal. She cried
when he left toward the end oh July, 1890 for Madrid,
stopping for a few days in Paris.
RIZALS ARTICLES IN LA
SOLIDARIDAD
A La Defensa (To La Defensa)
La Verdad Para Todos (The Truth for All)
Vicente BarrantesTeatro Tagalo
Una Profanacion (A Profanation)
Verdades Nuevas (New Truths)
Crueldad (Cruelty)
Diferencias (Differences)
Inconsequencias (Inconsequences)
Llanto y Risas (Tears and Laughter)
Ingratitudes (Ingratude)