Rizal In

Brussels
PORTUGAL

SPAIN

FRANCE

BELGIUM

GERMANY
Why are Because the cost
you of living here in
leaving Paris is very high
Paris? and the gay
social life in the
city is hampering
my literary works.

Sure? Isn’t it
because
you’re
running away
from a girl in
London?
 Of course
not! The Ok
prices here then!
are just
really high.

Well then,
you can stay
in my place
Thank you, without
but no paying any
thanks my rent.
friend.
Jose Albert
accompanied Rizal to
move to Brussels.

Jose Alejandro
an engineering student who
replaced Jose Albert.
 They stayed in a boarding house at
38 Rue Philippe Champagne.

Rizal lived in this house when

he wrote his novel‘El Filibusterismo’
in 1890-1891

The boarding house is run by two Jacoby

sisters named Suzanne and Marie.
• Rizal spent his time writing
his second novel, El
Filibusterismo.

• He also wrote articles for La

Solidaridad and letter for his
family and friends.

• He also spent his remaining

time doing gymnastic in the
gymnasium, target practice
and fencing at the armory.
 Articles published in La Solidaridad
The articles he wrote for La Solidaridad during his stay in Brussel.
• “A La Defensa” (To La Defensa), April 30, 1889.
• “La verdad Para Todos” ( The Truth For All), May 31, 1889.
• “Vicente Barrantes’ (Teatro Tagalo) June 15, 18889
• “Una Profanacion” (A Profanation), July 31, 1889
• “Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths), July 31, 1889
• “Crueldad” (Cruelty), August 15, 1889
• “Differencias” (Differences), September 15, 1889
• “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889
• “Llanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughters), November 30, 1889
• “Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude), January 15, 1890
New tagalog orthography

• Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala

The New Orthography of the Language

• Rizal adapted the Filipinized tagalog in his

translations of Schiller’s Wilhelm Tell and
Andresen’s Fairy Tale

• Rizal gave credit to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de

Tavera’s work El Sanscrito en Lengua Tagala
“I put this on record so that when the history
of this orthography is traced, which is
already being enlightened Tagalists, that
what is Caesar‟s be given to Caesar. This
innovation is due solely to Dr. Pardo de
Tavera „s studies on Tagalismo. I was one of
its most zealous propagandists”
Rizal Criticizes Madrid Filipinos for Gambling

MAY 28, 1890 –

Rizal wrote to
Marcelo H. del Pilar to
remind the Filipinos in
Madrid that they went
to Europe to work for
their Fatherland’s
freedom and not to
gamble.
“ Luna in Paris complains about the gambling of the Filipinos in
Madrid, and so does Ventura. They say that according to news from the
Philippines, the parents are very much disgusted…I am afraid we are
serving the friars‟ scheme. There is nothing at home to remind them that
the Filipino does not come to Europe to gamble and amuse himself, but
to work for our liberty and for the dignity of his race. It is not necessary
to leave the Philippines to gamble, for they already gamble very much.
If we who are called upon to do something, if we, in whom the poor
place their modest hopes, spend our time in these things precisely when
the years of youth should be employed in something more noble and
lofty for the very reason that youth is noble and lofty, I fear much that
we are fighting for a useless illusion, and that, instead of being worthy
of liberty we are worthy of slavery.

I appeal to the patriotism of all Filipinos to give the Spanish people

proof that we are superior to our misfortune and that neither are we
capable of being brutalized, nor can our noble sentiments be deafened
with the corruption of customs."
• Through gambling they are showing that
the Filipinos are not worthy of freedom
but of slavery

• They should spend their time doing

something noble and generous because
the youth is noble and generous

• The gambling Filipinos in Madrid became

very angry when they learned of Rizal’s
moralizing that they called him “Papa”
(pope) instead of “Pepe”.
PRESINTEMENT OF DEATH

• Rizal had a bad dreams during the night in Brussels.

• LETTER TO DEL PILAR:

• In my childhood I had a strange belief that I
would not reach 30 years of age.
• I am preparing myself for death.
• Laong Laan (Ever Ready) is my true name.
SUMMARY OF RIZAL’S LETTER TO DEL PILAR:
“Sad presentiments (intuitions) assault me though I do not give them
entire credence (belief). In my childhood I had a strange belief that I
would not reach thirty years of age. I do not know why I thought, this.
There were two months during which almost every night I had no other
dream than that my friends and relatives were dead. Although I do not
believe in these things and although my body is very strong and I have no
illness and have no fear. I‟ am preparing myself for death and for any
eventuality. Laong Laan is my name (Laging Handa) is my true name.

• Rizal wanted to finish his second novel before

went to his grave.
 PREPARATION TO GO HOME
• Rizal could not stay in Brussels writing a book while
his parents, relatives and friends in the Philippines
were prosecuted.

RIZAL’S LETTER TO PONCE:

“I want to go back to the Philippines, and although I know it would be daring
and imprudent, what does that matter ?
The only thing that can detain me is a doubt whether my parents agree. Iam
afraid to disturb their last years .
In case they should object my homecoming, I would work for a livelihood in
some part of the world.”
• Rizal’s friends warned him of the danger that
awaited him at home
 Decision to go to Madrid

Something happened that made Rizal change his plan

in returning to the Philippines when he received a
letter from Paciano which related that they lost the
case against the Dominicans in Manila but they
appealed it to the Supreme Court in Spain.

June 20, 1890 – Rizal wrote to M. H. Del Pilar retaining the

latter’s service as a lawyer and informed Del Pilar that he was
going to Madrid, in order to supervise the handling of the case.
July 29, 1890 – he wrote a letter to Ponce announcing that he
was leaving Brussels at the beginning of the following month and
would arrive Madrid about the 3rd and 4th of August.
August 1890 - He arrived in Madrid, burdened with sorrow
brought about by terrible news about his family and the
worsening trouble in his hometown
Spanish newspapers.
- El Resumen, El Dia, La Justicia and El Globo
“to cover the ears, open the purse, and fold the arms”
– El Resumen (liberal Spanish newspaper), in an article they published which talks
about the colonial policy of the Spaniards especially those in the Philippines and
other colonies

December 1890 - Rizal spent a cold month with a letter from

Leonor Rivera asking his forgiveness and telling him about
her forthcoming marriage to an Englishman chosen by her
mother.
To my Muse
Invoked no longer is the Muse,
The lyre is out of date;
The poets it no longer use,
And youth its inspiration now imbues
With other form and state.

If today our fancies aught

Of verse would still require,
Helicon’s hill remains unsought;
And without heed we but inquire,
Why the coffee is not brought.

In the place of thought sincere

That our hearts may feel,
We must seize a pen of steel,
And with verse and line severe
Fling abroad a jest and jeer.
Muse, that in the past inspired me,
And with songs of love hast fired me;
Go thou now to dull repose,
For today in sordid prose
I must earn the gold that hired me.

Now must I ponder deep,

Meditate, and struggle on;
E’en sometimes I must weep;
For he who love would keep
Great pain has undergone.

Fled are the days of ease,

The days of Love’s delight;
When flowers still would please
And give to suffering souls surcease
From pain and sorrow’s blight.
One by one they have passed on,
All I loved and moved among;
Dead or married—from me gone,
For all I place my heart upon
By fate adverse are stung.

Go thou, too, O Muse, depart,

Other regions fairer find;
For my land but offers art
For the laurel, chains that bind,
For a temple, prisons blind.

But before thou leavest me, speak:

Tell me with thy voice sublime,
Thou couldst ever from me seek
A song of sorrow for the weak,
Defiance to the tyrant’s crime.
 Romance with petite Jacoby
As the despondent Rizal was preparing for
his trip to Madrid, two things brought some
measure of cheer to him:

• First, was the summertime festival of

Belgium which was celebrated in carnival
style with:

 Colorful costumes
 Fantastic floats and
 Many days of merriment

• Second, was his romance with

Petite Suzanne Jacoby,
the pretty niece of his land ladies.
Leaving Brussels, Rizal left the young Suzanne a
box of chocolates.

Two months later, Suzanne wrote a letter to Dr.

Rizal, saying:

“After your departure, I did not take the chocolate. The box
is still intact as on the day of your parting. Don’t delay too
long writing us because I wear out the soles of my shoes for
running to the mailbox to see if there is a letter from you.
There will never be any home in which you are so loved as in
that in Brussels, so, you little bad boy, hurry up and come
back…”
In her another letter,
“Where are you now? Do you think of me once in a while? I am
reminded of our tender conversations, reading your letter, although it is cold
and indifferent. Here in your letter I have something which makes up for your
absence. How pleased I would be to follow you, to travel with you who are
always in my thoughts.
You wish me all kinds of luck, but forget that in the absence of a
beloved one a tender heart cannot feel happy.
A thousand things serve to distract your mind, my friend; but in my
case, I am sad, lonely, always alone with my thoughts – nothing, absolutely
nothing relieves my sorrow. Are you coming back? That’s what I want and
desire most ardently – you cannot refuse me.
I do not despair and I limit myself to murmuring against time which
runs so fast when it carries us toward a separation but goes so slowly when
it’s bringing us together again.
I feel very unhappy thinking that perhaps I might never see you again.
Goodbye! You know with one word you can make me very happy.
Aren’t you going to write to me?

To her surprise, Rizal returned to Brussels by the middle

of April 1891 and stayed again in the Jacoby’s boarding
house.

Rizal’s return however was not specifically for Suzanne

for the hero just busied himself revising and finalizing
the manuscript of El Fili for publication.

On July 5, 1891, Rizal bade goodbye to Brussels and

Suzanne, never to come back again in Belgium and in her
arms.
El Filibusterismo
“Reign of Greed”
Aim:
to address and reform the Spanish system
Writing of the novel:
Started writing in Calamba 1887 – revised the
plot and some chapters and continued in Paris
- then to Brussels – completed on March 29
1891 at Biarritz- published on September 1891
at Ghent.
It was partially funded by his friend Valentin
Ventura.
Comparison: (nher, I really don’t know if
nindot ba ni i.apil or dili,basin lang buh)
In Noli ma Tangere , there is aspiration, beauty,
romance, and merc, while, in El Filibusterismo,
all the reader will feel is bitterness, hatred, and
antipathy.
Aim:
(1) to work peacefully for political and social reforms
(2) to portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines
so that Spain may remedy them
(3) to oppose the evil forces of reaction and medievalism
(4) to advocate liberal ideas and progress
(5) to champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino
people to life, democracy and happiness

The articles he wrote for La Soli during his stay in Brussel.

“A La Defensa” (To La Defensa), April 30, 1889.
“La verdad Para Todos” ( The Truth For All), May 31, 1889.
“Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo,” June 15, 18889
“Una Profanacion” (A Profanation), July 31, 1889
“Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths), July 31, 1889
“Crueldad” (Cruelty), August 15, 1889
“Differencias” (Differences), September 15, 1889
“Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889
“Llanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughters), November 30, 1889
“Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude), January 15, 1890