CHAPTER VI IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)

CHAPTER VI IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)

RIZALS SECRET MISSION-This mission which Rizal conceived with the approval of his older brother Paciano was to observe keenly the life and culture,languages and customs,industries and commerce,and government and laws pf the european nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from spanish tyranny.This was evidence in his farewell letter which was delivered to his parents shortly after his departure for spain.

SECRET DEPARTURE FOR SPAIN-Rizals departure for spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the spanish authorities and friars.Even his own parents did not know because he knew they,especially his mother,would not allow him to go.Only his older paciano,his uncle,his sisters,Valenzuela family,his compadre and some intimate friends.The kind Jesuit priests gave him letters of recommendation to the members of their society in Barcelona.He used the name Jose Mercado,a cousin from Binan.

Singapore-During the voyage, Rizal observed the he is the only Filipino on the ship.The ship captain, Donato Lecha, from Asturias, Spain, befriend him. On May 9,1882, the Ship docked at Singapore. Rizal landed, registered at the Hotel de la Paz,and spent two days for sightseeing; there he saw the statue of Sir Thomas StanfordRaffles (founder of Singapore).

FROM SINGAPORE TO COLOMBO-Rizal transferred to shipDjemnah, and he left to Europe on May 11. It wasa French vessel therefore French mostly spoken on board. On May 17, Djemnahreach Point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).The following day, Djemnah resume the voyage, after a few hours of sailing, they reach Colombo, the capital of Ceylon on the same day.

FIRST TRIP THROUGH SUEZ CANAL-From Colombo, Djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian Oceanto the Cape of Guardafui, Africa, and then a stopover on Aden. From Aden Djemnah proceeded to the city of Suez, the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal. It took fivedays to traverse the Suez Canal.At Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal, Rizal landedand he was fascinated to hear the multi-racial inhabitants speaking a babel of tongues.

NAPLES AND MARSEILLES-From Port Said, the Djemnah proceeded on its way to Europe. On June 11,Rizal reached Naples. On the night of June 12, the steamer docked at the Frenchharbor of Marsielles. He stayed two and a half day in Marsielles, he visited the famous Chateau dlf, where Dantes, hero of The Count of Monte Cristo.

BARCELONA-On the afternoon of May 15, Rizal left Marseilles by train; he crossed thePyrences and stopped for a day at Port Bou. After the passport inspection at PortBou, he contribute his journey, and he reached Barcelona on June 16, 1882.Rizals first impression of Barcelona was unfavorable; he found out that the people were open-hearted, hospitable, and courageous. The Filipinos in Barcelona,some of whom even his schoolmates on the Ateneo, welcome Rizal.

AMOR PATRIA-Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled Amor Patria (Love of Country),his first article written on Spanishs soil. He sent the article to Basilio TeodoroMoran, publisher of Diaryong Tagalog, under his pen-name Laong Laan. Amor Patria appeared on the newspaper on August 20, 1882, with tagalong version translated by M.H.Del Pilar.Rizal wrote again for Diaryong Tagalog; Los Viajes (Travels), Revisita deMadrid (Review of Madrid), unfortunately Diaryong Tagalog had ceased publication for lack of funds.MANILA MOVES TO MADRID-Sad news, on September 15, 1882, Rizal received a letter from Paciano,according to the letter, Philippines was ravaging by epidemic. Another sad newsfrom Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio, intimate friend), Leonora Rivera was began to beunhappy because of the absence of Rizal.In one of his letters (dated May 26, 1882) Paciano adviced Rizal to finish hismedical course in Madrid, therefore, Rizal establish himself to Madrid.

LIFE IN MADRID-On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid(Central University of Madrid) in two courses Medical and Philosophy and Letters.Rizal is thirst for knowledge; he studied a lot in Madrid and on his leisure times arereading and writing, sometimes he is attending the reunions of Filipino Students.