CHAPTER 20 OPTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONGKONG.ppt

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1. Chapter 20
Ophthalmic surgeon
in Hong Kong
Marceline G. Puedan ll

2. Leave Europe because:
•Life was unbearable in Europe
because of his political
differences with M.H. del Pilar
and other Filipinos in Spain.
•To be near his idolized
Philippines and his family.

3. Farewell to Europe
October 3, 1891
•Rizal left Ghent for Paris, where he stayed a few days to
say goodbye to the Lunas, the Padro de Travejas, the
Venturas and other friends.
October 18, 1891
•He boarded the steamer “Mel Bourne” bound for
Hong Kong. He brought with him a letter of
recommendation by Juan Luna for Miguel Camus,
a compatriot living in Singapore, and 600 copies
of the fili.

4. The trip was delightful, “heavenly” , in Rizal’s own
opinion. Writing to Blumentritt on October 22, 1891,
he said: “Since we left Marseilles, we have had …..
Magnificent weather. The sea is calm, placid like
glass, the sky blue, the air fresh and invigorating.
Truly it is a heavenly trip”. Over 80 first class
passengers – mostly Europeans, including two
Spaniards who were going to Amoy. Rizal was the
only Asian among them. As usual, he amazed his
fellow – passengers because of his knowledge of
many languages.

5. During his travel he befriended
many Missionaries:
French Jesuits (Italian
Fransiscans) and Msgr. Velenteri (Bishop)
with on of them, Father Fuchs (Tyrolese),
he enjoyed playing chess. Speaking of this
priest, he wrote to Blumentritt: “He is a
fine fellow, a Father Damaso without pride
and malice”.

6. Rizal and The German Ladies:
During the board, at dinner time,
passengers were having their meal. Rizal being
the only Asian, was eating alone. Near him
was a bigger table occupied by German ladies
who were eating and gossiping about Rizal.
Rizal who is fluent in German understood
every word they were talking about but he
simply kept silent letting the ladies enjoy their
gossiping.

7. •Suddenly, the door of the dining room was
blown open. Nobody among the passengers
stood up to close the door. A lady said to her
companions in German: “If this man in front of
us were a gentlemen he would close the
door”.
• Upon Hearing her remark, Rizal rose and
closed the door, he then conversed with the
German Ladies in perfect German. The
German ladies were very much embarrassed.
Thereafter they treated rizal with respect and
admiration.

8. Arrived in Hong Kong:
•November 20, 1891
• Welcomed by Filipino residents and his
old friend Jose Ma. Basa.
• Establish his residence at No. 5 D’
Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace,
where he opened his medical clinic.

9. December 1, 1891
•Wrote his parent a letter asking permission to
return home.
• He received a letter from his brother-in –
law, Manuel T. Hidalgo.
• Relating the sad news of the “deportation
of twenty-five persons from Calamba, including,
Father, Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano and the rest
of us.
• Manuel T. Hidalgo also stated that he will a
letter to the Queen Regent of Spain. And “if
Queen will not listen”, he said, “we will write to
Queen Victoria of England appealing for
protection in the name of humanity. . .”.

10. Family Reunion in Hong Kong
•Before Christmas his father, brother and Silvestre
Ubaldo (brother-in-law) arrived in Hong Kong.
• Not long afterwards, his mother and sisters
Lucia, Josefa, and Trinidad also arrived.
• Her mother was almost blind, she suffered
so much from Spanish brutality and injustice. She
was also arrested and was forced by a guardia
civil to walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz. But
eventually was freed by the Governor of Laguna.
• The Christmas of 1891 in Hong Kong was
one of the happiest celebrations in rizals life,
because they were united, his family.

11. January 31, 1892
•Rizal wrote to Blumentritt, recounting their
pleasant life in Hong Kong.
• “ Here we are all living together, my
parents, my sisters and brother, in peace and
far from the persecutions they suffered in the
Philippines. They are very much pleased with
the English government”.

12. Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong
•Rizal practiced medicine in order to earn a
living for himself and his family.
• Dr. Lorenzo P. Marques helped him to
build up a wide clientele.
• In due time, Dr. Rizal became successful
and well-known medical practitioner.
• He successfully operated on his mother’s
left eye so that she would be able to read and
write again.

13. Borneo Colonization Project
Rizal planned to move the landless Filipino
families to the British-owned island as “New Calamba”
March 7, 1892
• He went to Sandakan on board the ship Menon
to negotiate with British authorities for the
establishment of the Filipino colony.
• Bengkoka River in Mardu Bay was offered by the
British authorities of Borneo Company.
• The British authorities of Borneo were willing to
give the Filipino Colonists 100,000 acres of land, a
beautiful harbor, and a good government for 999
years, free of all charges.

14. April 20,1892
•Rizal was back in Hong Kong.
• Rizal’s brother-in-law, Hidalgo objected to
the colonization project.
• Eulogio Despujol, the new governor general
announced to the Filipino people a fine program
of government.
• Rizal then sent him a letter of felicitation
and offering his cooperation in the belief that the
governor was sincere about his promise. But the
governor general denies that he received his
letter.

15. March 21, 1892
•Rizal wrote his second letter to Despojul. He
gave it to a ship captain. In his letter, he
requested the governor general to permit the
landless Filipinos to establish themselves in
Borneo.
•Despujol did not gave a reply. Instead, he
notified the Spanish consul general in Hong
Kong to tell Rizal that he could not approve
the Filipino immigration to Borneo.

16. Writings in Hong Kong
•Rizal wrote:
Ang Mga Karapatan ng Tao
A la Nacion Espanola (To The Spanish Nation)
Sa Mga Kababayan ( To My Countrymen)
Contributed to the British Newspaper “The Hong
Kong Telegraph” (but eventually got banned)
Una Visita a la Victoria Gaol (A Visit to Victoria Gaol)
Colonisation du British North Borneo, par de Familles
de Iles Philippines (Colonization of the British North
Borneo by the Families from the Philippine Islands)

17. •Proyecto de Colonizacion del British North Borneo por los
Filipinos (Project of the Colonization of British North Borneo
By the Filipinos)
• June 1892 he wrote “La Mano Roja” (The Red Hand)
which was printed in sheet form in Hong Kong. It denounces
the frequent outbreaks of intentional fires in Manila.
• 1892, Constitution of the Liga Filipina is the most
importan writing made by Rizal in his sojourn in Hong Kong.
To deceive the spanish authorities, the printed copie carried a
false information that the printing was done by the LONDON
PRINTING PRESS, No.25, Khulug Street, London.
• Liga Filipina (Philippine League) an association of
patriotic filipinos for civic purposes, was originally conceived
by Jose Ma. Basa, but it was Rizal who wrote its constitution
and realized it’s establishment.
• Copies of the printed Liga constitution were sent by
Rizal to Domingo Franco, his friend in Manila.

18. Decision to Return in Manila
In May, 1892, Rizal made up his mind to
return to Manila. This decision was spurred by
the following:
•To confer with Governor Despujol regarding
his Borneo colonization project.
•To establish the Liga Filipina in Manila; and
•To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in
attacking him in Madrid that he (Rizal), being
comfortable and safe in Hong Kong, had
abandoned the country’s cause.

19. Lete’s attack, which was printed in La
Solaridad on April 15, 1892, portrayed Rizal
cowardly, egoistic, opportunistic - patriot
words only.
To Ponce, Rizal confided on May 23
1892: “I am very sorry that Del Pilar allowed
the article to be published because it will lead
many to believe that there is really a schism
among us.

20. Last Hong Kong Letters
Relatives and friends of Rizal opposed his
decision to return home because it was like bearding
lions in their den. His sister Trinidad tearfully warned
him to desist, “for here they will kill you”.
Not even the fear of death could deter Rizal
from his decision. On June 19, 1892, he spent his 31
st

birthday in Hong Kong. Evidently, he had a
premonition of his death, for mthe following day June
20 he wrote two letters which he sealed, inscribed on
each envelop “to be opened after my death,” and gave
them to his friend Dr, Marques for safekeeping. In the
pages of history where is scarcely a parallel for these
two sealed letters, which were virtually Rizal’s political
testaments.

21. First letter, addressed TO MY
PARENTS, BRETHREN, AD FRIENDS.
The affection that I have ever professed for you suggest this step, and time
alone can tell whether or not it is sensible. The outcome judges things
according to the consequences; but whether the result be favorable or
unfavorable, it may always be said that duty urged me, so if I die in doing it, it
will not matter.
I realize how much suffering I have caused to you yet I do not regret what I
have done. Rather, if I had to begin over again I should do just the same, for
what I have done has been only in pursuit of my duty. Gladly do I go to expose
myself to peril, not as an expiation of misdeeds for in this matter I believe
myself guiltless of any, but to complete my work and so that I, myself, may
offer the examples of which I have always preached.

22. A man ought to die for duty and his principles.
I hold fast to every idea which I have advanced as to
the condition and future of our country, and shall
willingly die for it and even more willingly sacrifice all
to secure justice and peace for you.
With pleasure, then, I risk life to save many
innocent persons – so many niece and nephews, so
many children of friends, and children too of others
who are not even friends – who are suffering on my
account. What am I?

23. A bachelor, practically without a family and
sufficiently undeceived as to life. I have had many
disappointments and the future before me is
gloomy, and will be gloomy if light does not
illuminate it with the dawn of a better day for my
native land. On the other hand, there are many
persons, filled with hope and ambition, who perhaps
might be happier if I were dead, and then I hope my
enemies would be satisfied and stop persecuting so
may entirely innocent people. To a certain extent
their hatred is justifiable as to myself, and my
parents and relatives.

24. Should fate go against me, you will all
understand that I shall die happy in the
thought that my death will end all your
troubles. Return to our country and may you
be happy in it.
Till the last moment of my life I shall be
thinking of you and wishing you all good
fortune and happiness.

25. Second letter, addressed TO THE
FILIPINOS.
The step which I am taking, or rather am about to take,
is undoubtedly risky, and it is unnecessary to say that I
have considered it for some time. I understand that
almost everyone is opposed to it; but I know also that
hardly anybody else understands what is in my heart. I
cannot live on seeing so many suffer unjust persecution
on my account; I cannot bear the sight of my sisters and
their numerous families treated like criminals. I prefer
death and cheerfully shall relinquish life to free so
many innocent persons from such unjust persecution.

26. I appreciate the fact that at present the future of our
country gravitates in some degree around me, that at my
death many will feel triumphant, and thus, many are now
wishing for my fall. But what of it? I hold duties of conscience
above all else. I have obligations to the families who suffer, to
my aged parents whose sight strikes me to the heart; I know
that I alone, only with my death, can make them happy,
returning them to their native land to a peaceful life at home.
I am all my parents have, but our country has many more
sons who can take my place and even do my work better.
Besides I wish to show those who deny us the boon of
patriotism that we know how to die for duty and principles.