ABCs About Rizal

A Ateneo Municipal
Jose, accompanied by Paciano, matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal. At first, Father
Magin Ferrando, the college registrar, refused to admit him for two reasons: he was
late for registration and he was sickly and undersized for his age. However, upon
the intervention of Manuel Xerez Burgos, the nephew of Father Burgos, he was
reluctantly admitted at Ateneo.
B Berlin
In Berlin, Rizal was not a mere student or curious tourist. He lived in this famous
capital of unified Germany for five reasons: to further his studies of sciences and
languages, to gain further knowledge of ophthalmology, to observe the economy
had political conditions of the German nations, to associate with famous German
scientists and scholars and to publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
C The Count of Monte Cristo
The first favourite novel of Rizal was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander
Dumas. This thrilling novel made a deep impression on him. His boyish imagination
was stirred by the sufferings of Edmond Dantes (the hero) in prison, his spectacular
escape from the dungeon of Chateau dIf, his finding a buried treasure on the rocky
island of Monte Cristo and his dramatic revenge on enemies who had wronged him.
D Dominican Order
The Rizal family belonged to the principalia, a town aristocracy in Spanish
Philippines. It was one of the distinguished families in Calamba. By dint of honest
and hard work and frugal living, Rizals parents were able to live well. From the
farms, which were rented from the Dominican Order, they harvested rice, corn and
sugarcane. They raised pigs, chickens and turkeys in their backyard. Dona Teodora
also managed a general goods store and operated a small flour mill and a home
made ham press.
E Elias and Salome
In the original manuscript of Noli Me Tangere, there was a chapter entitled Elias
and Salome which follows chapter XXIV In the Woods. This particular chapter on
Elias and Salome was deleted by Rizal so that it was not included in the printed
novel. His reason for doing so was definitely economic. By reducing the pages of the
manuscript, the cost of printing would correspondedly be reduced.
F F. Meyer-Van Loo Press
Shortly after Rizals arrival in Ghent, Rizal searched for a printing shop that could
give him the lowest quotation for the publication of El Filibusterismo. He did find a

publisher F. Meyer-Van Loo Press, No 66 Viaanderen Street who was willing to

print his book on instalment basis.
G GomBurZa
The martyrdom of GomBurZa in 1872 truly inspired Rizal to fight the evils of Spanish
tyranny and redeem his oppressed people. In 1891, he dedicated his second novel
El Filibusterismo to GomBurZa.
H Heidelberg
On February 3 1886, Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous
for its old university and romantic surroundings. He worked at the University Eye
Hospital under the Direction of Dr Otto Becker, distinguished ophthalmologist and
attended lectures of Doctor Becker and Prof Wilhelm Kuehne at the university.
I Invisible Ink
Rizal courted Leonor Rivera who was tall a tall girl with regal bearing. He sent her
love notes written in invisible ink. The ink consisted of common table salt and water.
It left no trace on the paper. Rizal taught Leonor the secret of reading any note
written in invisible ink by heating it over a candle or lamp so that the note may
appear. But as with Segunda, he stopped short of proposing marriage to Leonor.
J Josephine Bracken
Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at first sight. After a whirlwind
romance of one month, they agreed to marry. But Father Obach, the priest at
Dapitan, refused to marry then without the permission of the Bishop of Cebu.
K Kidlat Club
Rizal organized his compatriots into a society called the Kidlat Club. The Kidlat
Club was purely a social society of a temporary nature. It was founded by Rizal
simply to bring together the young Filipinos in the French capital so that they could
enjoy they sojourn in the city during the duration of the Universal Exposition.
L Miss L
Shortly after losing Segunda Katigbak, he paid court to a young woman in Calamba.
In his student memoirs, he called her simply Miss L describing her as fair with
seductive eyes. After visiting her in her house several times, he suddenly stopped
his wooing and the romance died a natural death. Nobody knows who the woman
was. He gave his reasons for his change of heart, namely: the fresh memory of
Segunda was still fresh in his heart and his father did not like the family of Miss L.
M Mi Primera Inspiracion

The first poem Rizal wrote during his days in Ateneo was Mi Primera Inspiracion
which was dedicated to his mother on her birthday. It is said that he wrote it before
he was fourteen years old, that is, in the year 1874. Before this year he did not
write poetry because there was a gloom in his heart owing to his mothers
imprisonment.
N Nellie Boustead
On an emotional rebounce, Rizal having lost Leonor, came to entertain considerable
feelings for Nellie. Antonio Luna, who had previously loved and lost Nellie,
encouraged Rizal to woo and marry her. With the encouragement of his friends,
Rizal courted Nelly, who in return, reciprocated his affection.
P102
O Ortiga
In a peom titled A La Senorita C. O. y P, he expressed his admiration for Consuelo
Ortiga y Rey. He found solace and joy in her company. However, he backed out of
their blossoming romance because he was good friends with Eduardo de Lete who
was in love with Consuelo. He also wanted to remain loyal to Leonor Rivera who
eventually married Henry Kipping.
P Painting Lessons
Near the Binan School was the house of an old painter, called Juancho, who was the
father-in-law of the school teacher. Jose, lured by his love for painting, spent many
leisure hours at the painters studio. Old Juancho freely gave him lessons in drawing
and painting. He became the apprentice of the old painter along with his classmate,
Jose Guevarra. They improved their art, so that in due time they became the
favourite painters of the class.
Q Quetcuti
A descendant of one of the executioners, Adolfo Pastor Quetcuti, revealed that only
one of the rifles was loaded with bullets. He explained that this is to ease their guilt
as they already knew in the beginning that Rizal was innocent.
R Father Rufino Collantes
Rizal was baptized in the Catholic church of his town on June 22, while he was three
years of age, by parish priest Rufino Collantes, who was a Batangueno. During the
christening ceremony, Father Collantes was impressed by the babys big head and
told the members of the family who were present: Take good care of this child for
someday he will become a great man.
S Segunda Katigbak

Shortly, after his graduation from Ateneo, Rizal, who was sixteen years old
experienced his first romance with Segunda Katigbak, a pretty fourteen year old
Batanguena from Lipa. Theirs was indeed a love at first sight. But it was hopeless
since the very beginning because Segunda was already engaged to be married to
her town mate, Manuel Luz. Segunda had manifested, by insinuation and deeds, her
affection for him but he timidly failed to propose.
T Dona Teodora
The first teacher of Riza was his mother, Dona Teodora, who was a remarkable
woman of good character and fine culture. On her lap, he learned at the age of
three the alphabet and the prayers. My mother, wrote Rizal in his student
memoirs, taught me how to read and to say haltingly the humble prayers which I
raised fervently to God.
U University of Sto Tomas
In April 1877, Rizal who was then nearly sixteen years old, matriculated in the
University of Sto Tomas taking the course on Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in
this course for two reasons: his father liked it and he was still uncertain as to what
career to pursue.
V The Virgin Mary
Rizal impressed his Jesuit professors in Ateneo with his artistic skill. One day, he
carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood)
with his pocket knife. The Jesuit fathers were amazed at the beauty and grace of the
image.
W Wilhemsfeld
Rizal spent a three month long vacation at Wilhelmsfeld, a mountainous village near
Heidelberg. He stayed at the vicarage of a kind Protestant pastor, Dr Karl Ullmer,
who became his good friend and admirer. His pleasant personality and talents in
languages and sketches endeared him to the pastors wife, who was a good cook
and two children, Etta and Fritz.
X
Y
P 74
Z Zoshigawa Cemetery
As everything on earth comes to an end, the beautiful romance between Rizal and
O-Sei-San inevitably came to a dolorous ending. Sacrificing his personal happiness,
Rizal had to carry on his liberation mission in Europe. He left behind the lovely O-

Sei-San, whom he passionately loved. Broken-hearted by the departure of Rizal, the

first man to capture her heart, O-Sei-San mourned for a long time. Eventually, she
resigned to her fate, cherishing unto death the nostalgic memories of her romance
with Rizal. She died on May 1, 1974. She was buried at Zoshigawa Cemetery.