♪♪♪ On May 3, 1882, Rizal secretly left the Philippines aboard the ship S.S. Salvador. Few people know about this departure. Only his brother Paciano, two sisters, and a few close friends were aware that he was leaving. Actually, there are many. But his parents didn't know this and he didn't tell them. He knew they wouldn't approve of what he was doing. He knew they would only fear for his safety. When Rizal's parents found out what he had done, they were of course saddened and hurt. Especially his father, who was devastated by what his son had done. Speaking of Paciano, Rizal's older brother played a big role in the hero's ability to travel abroad. Paciano did everything he could to make sure his brother could leave secretly and without the Spanish authorities, especially the friars, noticing. The main reason why Rizal left for Europe was to finish his studies. Because his mother is still going blind. However, he also has a secret mission. Since it was only the 19th century, direct commercial flights were not yet popular. You can't board a plane from the Philippines that will go straight to Europe. Actually, you can't really board a plane because it doesn't exist yet. So what you need to do, like Rizal did, is first go through different countries. And on June 16, 1882, after 1 ½ months of traveling, Rizal finally arrived in Barcelona. ♪♪♪ Since it was summer vacation during this time, Rizal met and mingled with his acquaintances and former classmates at Ateneo. Talking, then taking a walk, like that... - That's it. (♪♪♪) After Barcelona, Rizal went straight to Madrid. His brother Paciano wanted him to stay there because 1) it was the center of all the provinces of Spain, and 2) it was the province where he could learn the most. Rizal wasted no time in Madrid. He immediately put his talent for writing to use. He began writing for Diariong Tagalog under the pseudonym Laong Laan, which means "ever prepared." *On August 20, 1882 (AAAAHHHHHH BAT 08/18/22 I said) his essay "El Amor Patrio" or in English - Love of Country was published. It's just that , after "El Amor Patrio", Rizal stopped writing articles about the Philippines. The reason for this is because his mother opposed it. This was because the essay alerted Spanish officials to Rizal's nationalistic tendencies, and his mother feared the possible consequences for her son. and his mother is afraid of the possible consequences for her son. Also, Rizal also had difficulty gaining fame. So, he decided to focus on his studies first. On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he studied medicine. Later, he also took philosophy and letters at the same school. And he wasn't satisfied with that yet. He also found time to study painting and sculpture at the Academy of San Carlos, and drawing at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. He also found time to learn and become proficient in French, German, and English. During his first year in Madrid, Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino, a Filipino student organization that met regularly to discuss political issues and voice out the concerns of Filipinos. ...who aim to express their thoughts about the abusive Spanish government. However, this publication did not last long . They lack funds and often have conflicting views among the members of the organization. So the ending, they broke up. Some of the prominent members of the Circulo Hispano-Filipino were Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Juan Luna, and Graciano Lopez Jaena. We discussed before that Rizal's family was wealthy. But when the hero was in Madrid, it seemed like he was struggling financially. Why? This is because his family's financial status has declined . If you remember, Rizal's clan was Inquilino. And these days their harvests are not good. The friars also increased the price of the lands they leased. But, we'll talk about that later. Because of this, Rizal's monthly allowance from the Philippines was often delayed or insufficient. As a student in Spain, Rizal relied solely on the money his older brother Paciano sent him. Even though he wanted to work, he was instructed not to do so. This is so that he will not be distracted from his mission, which is to study medicine and study the culture and societies of Europe in order to help bring reforms to the Philippines. Most of the money he receives goes towards his education. In fact, there were times when Rizal would go to class with an empty stomach. He often went without food just to pay his exam fees, and to buy books and supplies to use at university. Often, all he does to stave off hunger and to have fun is visit museums and read books. He also wanders around restaurants and cafes, trying to satiate himself with the smells of the food. Also because he had no money, Rizal often couldn't bathe every day. Because where he's staying, every bath has a corresponding fee. This is where he complained and he even quipped that he hadn't taken a bath for at least a month. Look, Rizal. If you just reduced the amount of work you do, you wouldn't be able to take a bath. You're smart, but you're being bullied, so it's okay. Is he a hero? Sorry, sorry. On the evening of June 25, 1884, after not eating all day, Rizal attended a banquet in Madrid. What's going on at this party? The whole point here is to celebrate the success of his two Filipino painter friends - Juan Luna and Felix RESURRECCION Hidalgo, at the National Exposition of Fine Arts or Expocision Nacional de Bellas Artes. Luna won a gold medal with his painting Spoliarium, and Hidalgo won a silver medal for his painting... ...you can do that, you know how to read. At the banquet, Rizal gave a speech. And this speech made history. This speech by Rizal was recorded by reporters who attended the banquet, and they published what he said in the magazine "Los Dos Mundos." The next day, Rizal was famous. Spaniards who supported the call for equality for Filipinos welcomed the speech as progressive and timely. Filipinos who supported the Propaganda Movement sent letters to congratulate Rizal. But of course, if there are supporters, the bashers won't disappear either. Critics of the Filipino Enlightened Ones, including the friars, were angered by Rizal's speech. Because Rizal's name was so popular, his parents worried about the possible impact of his "toast speech". His older brother Paciano informed him that their mother was upset with his sudden political impact. He also said there was a chance that his family might not accept him if he returned to the Philippines. Despite the controversy caused by his speech, Rizal continued his studies for a doctorate in medicine. He completed the coursework, but he was not given a Doctor's diploma. He was unable to submit the thesis required for graduation and he also failed to pay the corresponding fees. Fortunately, during Rizal's time, a licentiate was enough to practice medicine. Fast forward to 1885, a year after obtaining his licentiate in medicine, Rizal also completed his licentiate in Philosophy and Letters. ♪♪♪ In November 1885, Rizal moved from Madrid to Paris to specialize in ophthalmology. In Paris, he worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Wecker, a renowned French ophthalmologist who was known for using a pair of scissors in performing surgeries. In this work, Rizal's skills in the field improved even more. He learned how to conduct eye operations, diagnose eye ailments, and use various techniques of eye surgery. Also, at this time, Rizal was halfway through the novel Noli Me Tangere. ♪♪♪ Because living in Paris was expensive, Rizal left this country and headed to Germany in February 1886. ...where, he worked again as an assistant. Now it's up to Dr. Otto Becker, a renowned German ophthalmologist at the University Eye Hospital. During this same period, Rizal met Blumentritt. AYYYYYYYYYY!!!! ヽ(♡‿♡)ノ While continuing his medical studies in Germany, the 25-year-old Rizal heard of an Austrian scholar in Leitmeritz whose historical and ethnographic publications about the Philippines betrayed his abiding interest in a people and a country he had never even seen with his own eyes. Rizal was impressed because there was someone who had never been to the Philippines but was interested in this country. When Rizal learned that Blumentritt was studying Tagalog, he sent him a letter and a gift. ❤ Of course, Blumentritt was thrilled, delighted, and delighted with the gift Rizal gave him. So what he did was give her a gift. ♡( ◡‿◡ ) AYIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!! ヽ(♡‿♡)ノ In his letter, Blumentritt wrote: Rizal and Blumentritt became close friends, and they corresponded regularly for many years. They wrote to each other about the Philippines, Europe, government, science, ethnology, different cultures, and personal matters. They even exchanged books, manuscripts, and maps. After four months of correspondence, Rizal dared to suggest that they exchange photographs. I know you're already shipping the two of them and writing fan fiction, but according to Ambeth Ocampo, the two of them are just friends. There has been much writing and discussion about Rizal's sexual orientation. Now, you might be thinking... WOW, IT'S 2023!!!!! ARE WE STILL DEBATING WHETHER RIZAL WAS A MAN OR A WOMAN??!?!?! In which I respond with... ...yes. People are genuinely curious about this question, to the point that it's ABSURD. It's among the icebergs, people discuss this on the internet, and historians answer this questions all the time. I mean, this is TOP 4 in "The Best." And since we're talking about his life, we might as well talk about one of the most popular "rumors" about the national hero." ♪♪♪ (if you have a life, feel free to skip this part) So again, there have been many writings and discussions about Rizal's sexual orientation. In 1996, for example, on the 100th death anniversary of the national hero, the professor of literature and Philippine studies, Dr. Isagani Cruz of De La Salle University, wrote a column in Filipino Magazine about it. The title... "Is Rizal gay?" I note that the examples you hear to prove his point are somewhat HOMOPHOBIC. However, we'll still talk about it. Not to agree with his beliefs, but to find out how some people come up with this conclusion. OK. So in his column, Cruz wrote... In 1997, the next year after Isagani Cruz published his column, he rebutted the speculative question of J. Neil Garcia, a writer who is known for his work on Filipino gay culture and literature. The title of this essay is... "Was Rizal Gay?" First, a "gay" cannot be a revolutionary because they are *raw* weak and cowardly. Second, if you are having difficulty or have problems in your relationships with women, you should be called a "gay." Third, it is not possible for a "gay" to have sex with a woman, even if she is a prostitute. And fourth, "gays" are impotent and cannot impregnate a woman. Garcia disagreed with Cruz's "evidence" because there is no scientific evidence to prove that if you are included even once in the list, it means you are "gay". I mean, technically, you can only say that a person is "gay" if that person is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the same sex. The writer asserts that these assumptions, associate being "gay" with cowardice, relationship failures, sexual abstinence, and impotence, which are all negative stereotypes, are false and do not represent the reality of being a homosexual. As for the question of what Rizal really was, according to Garcia, it would be good to first understand the historical context at that time when gender and sexuality were discussed. It was put here... It should also be careful when applying our modern understandings of sexuality to historical figures. It was put here... Garcia acknowledged that there were same sex relationships and activities in the Philippines during the pre-colonial period. But again, this too was different from our modern concepts and understandings of homosexuality. The essay concludes (actually he's not done yet, I don't know why I said that) that there is no evidence to suggest that Rizal identified as "gay" or any other category of gender identity known at the time. He was likely seen as an illustrated man, a term that doesn't provide any new insights into his identity. There is. (hehe) According to Garcia too... Still ongoing that debates about Rizal's sexuality. You might agree with them. You might also think that with so many issues happening in the Philippines, this is just malicious and a waste of time. There is really no definitive answer to the question of Rizal's sexuality, and that different experts have different opinions on the matter. But whatever you think, remember that we should always approach these conversations with sensitivity and respect. ♪♪♪ Rizal arrived in Leipzig on August 14, 1886, and attended lectures conducted by a German historian and a well-respected anthropologist. He also mastered German easily, which is impressive because it is a difficult language to learn. And not content with just learning, he also translated several German works into Tagalog. This included "William Tell." He translated it into Tagalog so that his countrymen would know, and also get inspired, by the story of freedom. And he was still not satisfied that he would only translate one. He also translated the fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen into Tagalog. Rizal also made sure that even through translation, he would be able to express abstract concepts, like sound effects and animal noises, into Filipino expressions that would be understood by children. So instead of "twit twit" for the bird, he would use "kuirrebirrebit." Before we go to the next place, let's have a game. It's not original but we can still play it. I will mention the Tagalog titles of famous fairy tales written by Andersen that Rizal translated. All you have to do is find out what the English title is of the one I am referring to. Supposedly - Tagalog Title: "Ang Punong Pino" The answer: "The Fir Tree" OK, let's start. Tagalog title: "Si Gahinlaki" Of course the answer there is "Thumbelina." This is a bit difficult. Tagalog Title: "Ang Batang Babaeng May Dalang Sakafuego" The English title of that is "The Little Matchgirl." This is easy. Tagalog Title: "The Ugly Duckling" Of course the answer to that is, "YOU." ♪♪♪ Jose Rizal moved to Berlin, the capital of Germany in November 1886. Every morning, he worked as an assistant at Dr. Schweigger's clinic. He attended classes at the University of Berlin every evening. Rizal's life was difficult in this place. He wanted to publish his novel Noli Me Tangere, but he was sick, sad, and had no money. His older brother Paciano could not send him his monthly allowance. This was because their harvests continued to be slow. Rizal continued to pawn his ring and sell his books to bookstores just to eat. But that was still not enough. It even came to the point that all Rizal ate every day was bread. Because of his poor nutrition, he developed tuberculosis. Rizal was so discouraged by what was happening that it even led him to think to burn the manuscript of his novel. Fortunately, his friend Maximo Viola visited him in Berlin. Viola was a Filipino from a wealthy family from Bulacan. When he learned of his friend's plight, he lent him money for an allowance and 300 pesos, a large sum at that time, to print the Noli Me Tangere. In 1887, two thousand copies of the Noli Me Tangere were printed and distributed to Filipinos in Europe. Of course, this included Dr. Blumentritt. There were also bound copies in boxes that were sent to some of his friends in Barcelona and Madrid. These friends of his had a plan to get his novel into the Philippines. It was supposed to be a simple merchandise. With Viola, Rizal visited lovely sections of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. And little by little, Rizal was encouraged and made to live. After a visit to Vienna, Rome, and a few other cities in Italy, he was finally ready to have his mother's cataracts operated on. Before we discuss Rizal's return to the Philippines, let's first explain what the Propaganda Movement was. Most of the members of the movement were Ilustrados, intelligent Filipinos studying abroad, who were interested in progressive and patriotic ideas. The first students who participated in the Propaganda Movement came from wealthy and affluent families. Only those who were well-off could afford to study abroad at that time. When these students arrived in Spain, they were shocked by what they witnessed. The freedom they enjoyed in other countries was different from the Philippines. There, they experienced a society where ideas were freely discussed, institutions of church and state were openly critiqued or attacked, and dogmas of liberty and progress were proclaimed. ...the La Solidaridad, which was printed every two weeks. The first issue of La Solidaridad was edited by Graciano Lopez Jaena. He was succeeded by Marcelo H. Del Pilar in late 1889. Minanage Del Pilar's publication until the newspaper folded due to lack of funds. The Propaganda Movement was assimilationist, meaning that the propagandists believed that the Philippines should be fully incorporated into Spain as a province, not a colony. This is so that the Philippines will achieve greater autonomy under Spanish rule. That the Filipinos would be treated just as the Spaniards were treated. They also wanted to expel the Spanish friars from the Philippines and give Filipino priests the power to teach the Word of God . They also wanted to showcase the writing and artistic production of the young Filipino elite as a means of demonstrating their intellectual sophistication. Back to Rizal's travels. Rizal returned to the Philippines in August 1887, after living abroad for five years. And of course, he was met with controversy. When he visited the Ateneo, Jesuit teachers tried to convert Rizal to his former faith. Father Faura, the priest who taught Rizal to to carve the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pepe was told that there were many mistakes in his novel Noli Me Tangere. In fact, the hero stood by what he wrote because he believed that everything he said was correct. The friars who did not like him were giving sermons in churches. They were slandering Rizal and writing pamphlets that denounced him and his work. They said that if you read the novel, you would commit a mortal sin. There were also rumors that Rizal was a spy sent by the Germans and that he was a freemason, so he was a subversive or traitor. Rizal was generally seen as a dangerous man because of his ideas. Because of this, Rizal received death threats every day. Of course, his parents were worried about what was happening to their son. When he ate, they did not touch him with their hands and Rizal had to use silver utensils because they thought the hero might be poisoned, and they believed that since the silver reacted with poison, they would know immediately if someone was planning to attack their child. Don Kiko also did not allow his son to leave alone. That is why Rizal went everywhere with his brother Paciano. He established a medical clinic, and his first patient was his mother. But, but, but, but, but, but he did not immediately cure his mother's eyes. It is possible that what he did here in Calamba was iridectomy as a preliminary to cataract extraction. Teodora's cataract was not yet ripe . Rizal had just operated on his mother when they were in Hong Kong. It was successful and the cataract was removed... in the left eye. The right one, it is still there. Rizal had just operated on her right eye in Dapitan when he was exiled there. But after the operation, Teodora did not follow the instructions given by her son and immediately removed the bandage. That is why what happened, Teodora's right eye became infected and completely blinded. Here Rizal wondered why it was better not to Your patients are relatives. So there you go. I didn't tell you anything. You'll carry that information with you for the rest of your life , that Rizal had his mother's cataract surgery on separate dates. Anyway, in Calamba... In their place, Rizal was known as Doctor Uliman because he was always mistaken for a German. Speaking of mistaken for a German... (do you want that transition?) ♪♪♪ (if you have a life, feel free to skip this part) There are many conspiracy theories about Rizal. There's the one that says he's Mao Zedong's father, that he's the serial killer Jack the Ripper, that he has a bank account that he inherited from Marcos, and many others that will ruin your life if you keep searching the internet. I think the most famous conspiracy about the hero is that he's the son of dictator Adolf Hitler. According to Ambeth Ocampo... If we use one percent of our brains, we'll realize that this isn't true. I mean, that's common sense. Humi, is there any more? I'll explain that. But maybe after I brought up this question, you'll be curious about the question. That you suddenly doubt what you know about history. Then you started searching on social media sites, and the last thing you know, you were saying "A-Ama namin" in front of Rizal's statue. So, how did this conspiracy come about? There are many versions, actually. There was a researcher who looked into Rizal's travels abroad. And in 1886, while Pepe was in Germany, Hitler 's mother was also there, her name was Klara. She had it on the table, they had sex, then boom! Baby Hitler. Also in 1886, Rizal was about to finish Noli Me Tangere. And what was the name of the primary female character in the novel again? Maria Clara. Klara? Clara. Clara? Klara. Put******. OH MY GOD! IT ALL MAKES SENSE! No, it doesn't make sense. Hitler was born in 1889. So if you count we're nine months up, he was born in 1888. Again, they supposedly met in 1886. So what, Hitler's mother labored for three years? When he came out, the child could count? Also, Hitler was born in Austria, not Germany. And in 1888, Rizal wasn't there either. He was in Japan, the US, and London. According to historians, Maria Clara personifies the ideal Filipina, not a German, Austrian, or any European. They also agree that Maria Clara is based on Leonor Rivera, Rizal's true love. The second version of this story happened in Austria. Hitler's mother was supposedly a chambermaid in Vienna. They met, developed a relationship, had a one-night stand, then boom! Baby Hitler. And a reference used to prove this is true is Maximo Viola's diary entry. According to Viola, when Rizal was supposedly wandering around Europe, Pepe allegedly saw a Viennese prostitute having a one-night stand It's like this. Also in Austria, Rizal supposedly lost his diamond stickpin. A maid there supposedly found it, who gave it to Blumentritt. Again, this sounds true. Especially since we've used him as a reference. But if we look at the date, Rizal was in Austria in 1887. And as I said, Hitler was born in 1889, so his mother must have been pregnant in 1888. To be exact, July 1888. And where was Rizal in July 1888, in London! London is 1,000 km away from Austria. What an animal... that's a ***! What? He can travel a book of kilometers? The third version of this story is simple, because the two look alike. Just give Rizal a mustache, then boom! The dictator's father. Add to that the fact that Hitler looks half-Filipino. Unlike other Germans, he's not tall and his hair isn't blond. Like Pepe, he's small his height is only a little bit and his hair is a little bit dark. It's a bit of a stretch since it's not because you just look like someone, it means he's related to you. I mean people say I look like Timothee Chalamet, but I promise, we're not siblings or cousins. According to Ambeth Ocampo, that's why Hitler doesn't look German because he's not German. He's an Austrian. According to columnist Manuel Quezon III, If we just use simple mathematics and one percent of our brains, we can realize that this conspiracy can die. ♪♪♪ On August 30, 1887, Rizal left Calamba to go to Manila. This was to meet the then Governor-General, Emilio Terrero, to discuss his novel. This Terrero was a liberal-minded Spanish official and when he read what Rizal had written, he didn't see anything wrong with it. But the then Archbishop of Manila, Bernardo Nozaleda, didn't like what the hero was saying. He recommended the publication, printing, distribution, and possession of the novel should be stopped. Because the Governor-General was concerned about Rizal's safety, he assigned Lieutenant Jose Taviel de Andrade to protect Pepe. He also requested the hero to go abroad. Rizal refused. He returned to Calamba, where he continued to write and work for the betterment of his country. During this time, the Governor-General also ordered an investigation into the agrarian problems in Calamba. Terrero was concerned about the growing tension between the Calamba tenants and the Dominican friars who owned the hacienda in Calamba. The friars were raising the rent on the land, making it difficult for the tenants to make a living. Among these tenants was Rizal's family. Terrero wanted to investigate the situation and see if there was a way to resolve the conflict... peacefully. It was there... Of course, the friars were confused by Rizal's findings. He ordered the friars asked Terrero to expel Rizal abroad. The Governor-General refused their demand to force him out, but he advised the hero again that he would be safer if he left. And Pepe's family and relatives felt the same way. So even though he had only been in the Philippines for six months, Rizal left the country and went to Hong Kong. ♪♪♪ In Hong Kong, Rizal met Filipino exiles Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte. He also studied Chinese language, drama, theater, Chinese culture and values. He even (met, not friends) with some leading Spaniards... ♪♪♪ ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ Rizal arrived in Yokohama, Japan, and stayed at the Tokyo Hotel for a few days. During his stay in Japan, he studied Japanese language, culture, theater, and martial arts. He also visited various provinces there and appreciated the cleanliness, polite, and the industry of the Japanese. While living in the Spanish legation, Rizal met O-Sei-San, a Japanese woman. They became friends and eventually fell in love. O-Sei-San accompanied Rizal and served as a tour guide wherever he went. She also helped him immerse himself in Japanese culture. It was no surprise that Jose fell for the charming, modest, pretty, and intelligent daughter of a samurai. I mean, just look at her face. Rizal had thought about staying in Japan, but he thought he still had many missions to fulfill for his country. So after a month of their love, he said goodbye to O-Sei-San and left Japan. EYOOOOOOO. ♪♪♪ The ship Rizal was on was quarantined in San Francisco on April 28, 1888. The ship itself was suspected of carrying cholera. That's what they said, but according to Rizal, the real reason why he didn't was being lowered because the ship was carrying Chinese and Japanese laborers, who were seen as a threat to American jobs. Other passengers were allowed to disembark, but the Chinese and Japanese passengers were still required to quarantine for a longer period. Rizal disembarked and traveled to various cities in the United States, such as Reno, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Chicago, Albany, and New York City. Rizal was amazed by the beauty of the United States, the hardworking Americans who lived there, and the material progress of the country. He also saw the opportunity open to poor immigrants to improve their lives. But he also noticed that ... the country is racist. He saw how African Americans (please disregard this part, he didn't mention Native Americans) living here were discriminated against. He was also disturbed by the mistreatment of the Chinese and Japanese. In the end, Rizal saw that the United States was a land of great opportunity, but it was also a land of great inequality. ♪♪♪ After the United States, Rizal went to London on May 24, 1888. There were many reasons why Rizal decided to live in London. He wants to improve his English, study Antonio Morga's "Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas", research Philippine history, and continue writing for La Solidaridad to defend his countrymen against Spanish tyranny. In London, Rizal met Dr. Reinhold Rost, the librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in England. This allowed Dr. It was decided that Rizal would undertake research at the British Museum, where the hero had the opportunity to read "Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas" by Antonio Morga. Also in London, Rizal received good and bad news from the Philippines. The good news is, not everyone in the church hates Noli Me Tangere. The Filipino priest Vicente Garcia defended the novel from attacks by the friars. He created a defense letter that cited phrases from the novel to prove that the hero was not a heretic or blasphemer as accused by the friars. The bad news is, Rizal's compatriots who supported the Anti-Friar Petition of 1888 faced persecution. This includes the tenants of Calamba, including Rizal's family and relatives. Rizal's brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, was exiled to Bohol, and Rizal's friend, Laureano Vida, was arrested for keeping copies of Noli Me Tangere in his home. ♪♪♪ Although Rizal was reluctant to leave the British Museum, he still left and headed to Paris in the middle of March 1889 to continue writing El Filibusterismo, the sequel to Noli. At the National Library in Paris, he continued his research on Philippine history. In that same place, he polished the annotated version of Antonio Morga's Sucesos de las Islas FIlipinas. ♪♪♪ In January 1890, Jose Rizal moved to Brussels, Belgium, to escape the high cost of living in Paris and the distractions of social life. Because Rizal was concerned that his writing in La Solidaridad and El Fili might interfere, he limited his social engagements for now. While in Belgium, Rizal heard something bad. There are reports that some Filipinos in Spain are addicted to gambling. So Rizal wrote to Marcelo H. del Pilar and asked him to remind the Filipinos in Madrid that they did not go to Europe to gamble, but to work for the independence of the Philippines. He said... That wasn't the only bad news Rizal received. He heard that his family and his relatives had been evicted from their land in Calamba. The Dominican friars, in retaliation, raised the rent again, so Rizal's family and the other tenants could no longer pay. Unable to pay, the friars filed a lawsuit to have the Rizals' land title revoked. Rizal was very angry and saddened by this news. He felt that the friars were taking advantage of the poor tenants, and he was determined to help them. Rizal wrote a poem titled "A Mi Musa" (To My Muse) which was published in La Solidaridad, to express his disappointment at what had happened and also to call for justice. Rizal also tried to defend his family in court, but he was unsuccessful. The friars won the case, and the Rizals were forced to leave Calamba. This was a huge blow to Rizal, and he became even more determined to fight for the rights of the Filipino people. ♪♪♪ Rizal spent about a year in Brussels. He completed the (manuscript) of El Filibusterismo (in Biarritz). In *(August 1890)... [please forgive me for my stupidity] At the gathering, Rizal and Antonio Luna had a fight. The reason... a woman named Nellie. Potek. It's so shallow. Let's see how it looks. Okay. Okay. Pinotrayed by Solen Heusaff. Hmmm. Okay. Anyway, Luna thinks she was the first to score with Nellie, but it's clear that Nellie is dead set on Rizal. After these Filipinos had drinks at the gathering, Luna made some unflattering comments about Nellie. And Rizal heard this and became angry. So what happened was, Rizal challenged Luna to a duel. Or Luna challenged Rizal... I'm not sure who challenged first. When Luna's friend disappeared, she realized her mistake and apologized to Rizal. I would like to say that Rizal almost fought a duel only once, but he didn't. In the article, Retana implied that the Rizal family was evicted from their ancestral properties in Biñan because they did not pay taxes. Rizal was angry with what he read and challenged Retana to a duel. But it went through a public apology, so their fight didn't continue . And guess what, the two became best friends. ♪♪♪ Just one more!!! Applause yourselves! Applause! Applause! That's enough. Rizal left Madrid and went to Hong Kong after publishing El Fili in Europe. He was not happy with the political situation happening there, especially since he did not get along with del Pilar and other Filipinos living in the area. Let's go back to Madrid first. The animosity between Rizal and del Pilar grew in 1890. To resolve this difference, approximately 90 Filipinos in Madrid met. They decided to just choose one leader. They will call this leader the Responsible... They also decided that the Responsible can only be elected if he gets 2/3 of the votes. But, the people were just divided into two groups. On the other side, the Rizalists. On the other hand, the Pilaristas. And both sides are campaigning for what they care about. When the election was held, Rizal won. It's just that he didn't get the two-thirds majority needed, so he wasn't declared Responsible. This was repeated the next day, but the result was still the same. Even though Rizal had more votes than Del Pilar, it still did not reach the needed fraction. On the third day, Mariano Ponce encouraged some Pilarists to become Rizalists. That Rizal is the one to vote for. That Del Pilar gave up fighting and just followed what the majority wanted. So in the ending, Rizal won. He was the one called Responsible. However, Rizal refused. I mean the fact that they can't get along just means that their differences can't be resolved . He knew that many Pilarists disliked his views and personality and that nothing would change that even if he took over. Rizal decided to practice medicine in Hong Kong, and he was granted a license to do so. His family also went to Hong Kong and they spent Christmas together there. And... Rizal was happy. Maybe this is the happiest day of his life. In his letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt who was in Vienna, Rizal expressed the emotions he felt. If I were Rizal, I would just stay in Hong Kong. I mean, you now have a decent job and are now with the people you love in your life that you haven't seen in a long time. And you're handsome and there are a lot of short-haired beauties there. There's also a chance you'll meet Josephine Bracken there since she grew up there. Also, I already know what will happen next. Spoiler alert: you're going to die, so I'd just stay there if I were you. But sadly, unlike me, the hero has principles. He thinks that what good life is if your countrymen continue to suffer? The league's goals were to... Aside from his plan to establish La Liga Filipina, Rizal could not get the events that happened to the tenant farmers in Calamba out of his mind. So while in Hong Kong, he wrote two articles. First, "A La Nacion Espanola," or in English "To The Spanish Nation," where he called out Spain for the injustices experienced by Calamba tenants and hoped that it would be fixed. The second article, "Sa Mga Kababayan," or in English "To My Countrymen," where he expressed his own analysis of the agrarian issue in Calamba. When Rizal traveled to Hong Kong, he met William Pryer, a company that had significant control and authority over the entire island of North Borneo. Rizal heard that Pryer had a plan to expand the British colony, so Rizal suggested to Pryer... "Hey, maybe you can create a Filipino colony in North Borneo for our Calamba tenants who were evicted." There is a problem. The tenants of Calamba in the Philippines cannot just leave. They first had to have permission from the Spanish Governor-General, who at this time was Eulogio Despujol. To address this, Rizal wrote to the Governor-General and asked for permission on behalf of the Calamba tenants to... change their nationality, sell their remaining properties left amidst various disturbances, and ensure the emigration of those who faced criticism from powerful individuals in the Philippines. When Despujol read this, he was incensed or angry because Rizal might just use the proposed Philippine colony in North Borneo to incite a revolution against Spain. What Despujol did was he didn't reply to it directly. Instead, he instructed the Spanish Consul in Hongkong to invite Rizal to return to Manila and discuss the matter in person. If meeting Despujol in Manila was necessary to achieve this goal, he was willing to do so. On June 20, 1892, Rizal wrote a letter to his countrymen explaining his decision to return to Manila: And this is where CHAPTER FOUR ends!!!! APPLAUSE FOR YOURSELVES! That's enough. I hope you learned something and in the next video, we will talk about Rizal's death. I'm feeling the TIREDNESS.