ENTRY TO THE FREEMASONRY

-Jose met masons in Madrid.

-Rizal entered the Freemasonry in 1883 through the Lodge Acacia which was based in Madrid.

-His masonic name was DIMASALANG (ungraspable)

-Jose moved up in the ranks of the Freemasonry and became a master mason at the Lodge Solidaridad on Nov. 15, 1890.

-February 15, 1892 he became a master mason of the Le Grand Orient France while staying in Paris.

THE AVID BOOK COLLECTOR

-In Spain, Jose was exposed to more readings. He spared no amount in buying even from secondhand bookstores.

-Uncle Tom's Cabin and The Wandering Jew influenced his two later novels, NOLI ME TANGERE and EL FILIBUSTERISMO.

-His family in Calamba underwent a financial crisis.

-As a result of economic difficulty, Jose's allowance was decreased and Paciano had to sell his pony to pay for his brother's allowance. He also
worked as a private tutor for rich students.

THE SPEECH THAT ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF REACTIONARY SPANIARDS IN THE PHILIPPINES

-On June 25, 1884, Jose entered a contest in Greek. On the evening of the same day delivered an eloquent speech at a banquet praising Filipino
painters Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. Jose voiced the hope that spain will someday grant the reforms needed by Filipinos.

-Jose's speech was mentioned in the newspaper El Liberal, and the news about this event reached the Philippines.

-Doña Teodora warned him to stop writing articles that might offend the friars.
COMPLETION OF STUDIES IN SPAIN

-On June 21, 1884, Rizal completed his medical studies and was given the title of Licenciado en Medicina (Licentiate in Medicine) which would
enable him to practice medicine. His academic records at the Universidad Central de Madrid were the following:

Fifth Year (1882-1883)

Continuation of medical Course in the University of Santo Tomas

Medical Clinic 1 Bueno

Surgical 1 Bueno

Obstetrical Clinic Aprobado

Legal Medicine Sobresaliente

Sixth year (1883-1884)

Medical Clinic 2 Bueno

Surgical Clinic 2 Notable

-Rizal continued studying subjects that would have led to a Doctorable in Medicine but was not awarded the degree because of his failure to
present the thesis required for graduation. And was not able to pay the corresponding fees. The grades for these subjects were the following:

History of the Medical Science Aprobado

Surgical Analysis Applied to the Medical Science Bueno

Advanced Normal and Pathological History Sobresaliente

-The Prefix "Dr." is actually a misnomer.

-Rizal was able to secure his certificate and practice medicine through the help of his friend Maximo Viola who lent him money.
-On his 24th birthday, June 19, 1885 Rizal obtained the degree Licenciado en Filosofia y Letras (Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters) from the
Universidad Central de Madrid with the rating of Sobresaliente (excellent). His grades were as follows:

1882-1883

Universal History 1 Saliente

General Literature Sobresaliente

1883_1884

Universal History 2 Sobresaliente

Greek and Latin Literature Sobresaliente (with prize)

Greek 1 Sobresaliente (with prize)

1884-1885

Spanish Language Sobresaliente (with a scholarship)

Arabic Language Sobresaliente (with a scholarship)

-His new degree qualified him to serve as professor of humanities in any Spanish University.

-He decided to improve his training in Medicine specializing in Ophthalmology by working as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert in Paris (from
October 1885 to March 1886), and later in Germany, as an assistant to various expert Ophthalmologists like the Polish doctor Javier Galezowsky
and the German Otto Becker in Heidelberg in 1886, and another German eye doctor named Dr. R. Schulzer and Dr. Schwiegger in1887.

-He broadened his knowledge by learning many new things, improved his intellectual outlook, worked for the recognition and defense of the
culture and identity of the Filipinos.
-During this time he organized groups to promote Philippine culture as a national identity of the Filipinos and the writing of his first novel, the
Noli Me Tangere.