CHAPTER 7

Paris to Berlin
1885 - 1887
 PARIS AND GERMANY

 After completing his studies in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris

and Germany to specialize in ophthalmology.
He became also as an assistant to a famous oculist in Europe.
He also continued his travels and observations of European life
and customs, government, and laws in:
• Paris
• Heidelberg
• Leipzig
• Berlin
 BERLIN GERMANY

 Dr. Jose Rizal also met and befriended several

German top scientists:
• Dr. Feodor Jagor
• Dr. Adolph B. Meyer
• Dr. Hans Meyer
• Dr. Rudolf Virchow
 JOSE RIZAL IN
GAY PARIS
1885 – 86

 He terminated his studies at t h e Central

University of Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 years
old and already a physician, went to Paris to
continue and acquire more knowledge in
ophthalmology.

 Ophthalmology is the study and treatment

concerning disorders and diseases of the eye.
 BARCELONA
 When he was traveling to Paris he stopped in Barcelona
because he wanted to visit also some friends and his new
friends:
 Maximo Viola – a medical student and a member of a
 rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan.

 Señor Eusebio Corominas – editor of the newspaper

La Publicidad.

 Don Miguel Morayta – owner of La Publicidad and a

statesman.
 LIVING IN PARIS

 In November 1885 he stayed for 4 months and

worked as an assistant of Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852
– 1906). From November 1885 to February 1886.

 Dr. Louis de Weckert A leading French

Ophthalmologist Rizal rapidly expanded his
knowledge in the field.
 FRIENDS OF RIZAL

 Pardo de Taveras – Trinidad, Felix, and Paz.

 Juan Luna

 Felix Resurrection Hidalgo

 Paz Pardo de Taveras – a pretty girl who was engaged

to Juan Luna. On her album, Rizal drew a series of
sketches on the story of “The Monkey and the Turtle”.
 STUDIO OF LUNA

 Rizal spent many happy hours at the studio of Luna.

 They discussed various problems of art and improved

his own painting technique.
 He also posed as a model in several paintings of Luna:
• The Death of Cleopatra
• The Blood Compact
“The Death of Cleopatra” – as an Egyptian priest.
“The Blood Compact” – as a Sikatuna, with Trinidad
Pardo de Taveras as Legazpi.
 RIZAL AS MUSICIAN

 He admitted that he had no natural aptitude for music.

However, he had to because of his classmates were taking
music lessons.
 Sheer determination and constant practice, he came to learn
playing flute fairly well.
 He was a flutist in various impromptu reunions of Filipinos
in Paris. He composed some songs:
• Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – patriotic song
• La Deportacion (Deportation) – composed during his
exile in Dapitan.
 HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
 February 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived at Heidelberg, a historic
city in Germany. Famous for its old university and
romantic surroundings.
 He worked at the University Eye Hospital under Dr.
Otto Becker, a distinguished German Ophthalmologist,
and Professor Wilhelm Kuehne attend lectures.
 Noticing the German Catholics and Protestants
practiced ecumenism, for they lived together in
harmony and cordiality.
 “TO THE FLOWERS OF
HEIDELBERG”
 Spring of 1886, Rizal was fascinated by the blooming
flowers along the cool banks of the Neckar River.
Among the flowers, was his favorite “Forget–me–not”
the light blue.

 April 22, 1886 – he wrote a fine poem: “A Las Flores

de Heidelberg” (To The Flowers of Heidelberg).
 PASTOR ULLMER AT
WILHELMSFELD
 Pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer, Rizal’s good friend whom he became
close with because of his hospitality and kindness.
 Pastor Ullmer admired Rizal’s personality, and talents in
languages and sketching.
 A good friend that Rizal can never be forgotten whom he expressed
so much gratitude.
 Rizal ended his stay on June 25, 1886, and wrote a letter to express
his gratitude. As well on May 29, 1887, he wrote another letter to
Pastor Ullmer’s son expressing his great gratitude.
 FIRST LETTER TO
BLUMENTRITT
 Written on July 31, 1886 – Rizal’s first letter written in
German to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, Director of
the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.
 In his letter, he sent the book that he mentioned.
Entitled Aritmetica (Arithmetic), published in two languages
– Spanish and Tagalog – by the University of Santo Tomas
Press in 1868. Authored by Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.
 Blumentritt was impressed and sent two books to Rizal as
gifts. This marked the beginning of their lifelong friendship.
 FIFTH CENTENARY OF
HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY

 A celebration was held on August 6, 1886 – which Rizal

was fortunate about.
 Rizal had come to love the beautiful city and its
hospitable people.
 Described as many elegant and brilliant costumes
among the students of Heidelberg.
 IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN

 August 9, 1886 – 3 days after the celebration of

Heidelberg, Rizal left the city and arrived in Leipzig on
August 14, 1886.
 He attended several lectures at the University of
Leipzig on history and psychology.
 He befriended Professor Friedrich Ratzel – a famous
German historian and Dr. Hans Meyer – a German
anthropologist.
 TO DRESDEN, TO BERLIN

 October 29, 1886 – Rizal left Leipzig for

Dresden.
• He met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer – director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
• He stayed 2 days in the city.

 November 1, 1886 – Rizal left Dresden by train

and
arrived by evening.
 RIZAL WELCOMED IN
Scientific Circles
BERLIN’S
 Rizal was enchanted by Berlin’s scientific
atmosphere and absence of racial prejudice.
 He met some great scientists:
• Dr. Feodor Jagor – a celebrated German scientist –
traveler
and author of Travels in the Philippines, a book that Rizal
read and admired.
• Dr. Jagor visited the Philippines in 1859 – 1860 before
Rizal was born (June 19, 1861).
• The book was published in 1873. Foretold the downfall of
Spanish rule in the Philippines and the arrival of
Americans.
 RIZAL WELCOMED IN
Scientific Circles
BERLIN’S
 Rizal was introduced to Dr. Rudolf Virchow – a famous
German anthropologist, and the latter’s son.
• Dr. Hans Virchow – professor of Descriptive Anatomy.
• Dr. W. Joest – noted German geographer.
• Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger (1830 – 1905) – a famous
German ophthalmologist.
 Rizal worked in Dr. Karl’s clinic.
 He became a member of various Societies as he was
recommended by the said Doctors.
 Dr. Virchow recognized Rizal as a genius.
 RIZAL’S LIFE IN BERLIN

 His reasons to live in Berlin:

1: To gain knowledge of ophthalmology
2: To further his studies of sciences and languages
3: To observe the economic had political conditions of the
German nation
4: To associate with famous German scientists and
scholars
5: To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
 RIZAL’S GERMAN
WOMAN
 In his letter to his sister on March 11, 1886 – he was
impressed by the German womanhood. He described them
as:
• Serious
• Diligent
• Educated
• Friendly
• She is not gossipy, frivolous, and quarrelsome like the
Spanish woman.
 RIZAL’S GERMAN
WOMAN

 They are not particular with beautiful dresses and

expensive jewelry, however, still, they are dressed
nicely.
 Rizal regretted women in the Philippines because
many of them are more interested in how they dress
than in how much they know.
 Rizal, however, praised the delicacy of feeling, the
fine manners, devotion, and hospitality.
 GERMAN CUSTOMS

 Rizal admired the German customs very well.

 Especially the interesting self-introduction to

strangers in a social gathering.
 According to German etiquette, it is bad manners
for a guest to remain aloof.
 RIZAL’S DARKEST WINTER

Winter in Berlin, in 1886, was his darkest moment.

Mostly because he was poor and had no money when he arrived
from Calamba.
• He was flat broken.
• He only had 1 meal a day which caused him to become
malnourished.

Rizal feared that he might die from getting sick with tuberculosis.
However, his brother Paciano tried to desperately raise money for
his brother Rizal.