First Meeting with Blumentritt

     In the 13th of May, 1887, Jose Rizal and Maximo Viola arrived at a railroad station where prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt was waiting for them. It was their first meeting and the two parties gladly welcomed each other. Shortly after, Blumentritt helped the duo get a room at Hotel Krebs, From there on they visited different landmarks and places in Leitmeritz. On their last night, they proposed a dinner to Blumentritt's family in their hotel. The following day of May 16, they left Leitmeritz by train, and the two have enjoyed the Blumentritt family's hospitality.

Characters:
James Dayrit as Jose Rizal
Gwyne Gomez as Maximo Viola
Jherlyn Javier as Ferdinand Blumentritt
Kuya guard as Guard at the railroad station

The Spread of Noli Me Tangere

     Shortly after Noli Me Tangere was published, Jose Rizal purposely gave each of his colleagues a copy of his novel. Everyone who had read the Noli was greatly impressed and admired Rizal's work. As a special thanks, Rizal also had given his galley proofs of Noli and the pen he used to write it on to Maximo Viola for saving his novel.

The Publication of Noli Me Tangere

     

     The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest winter because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke. The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was in the pawnshop. In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the manuscript of the Noli. But as he was about to finish the novel, he was also gradually losing hope about the Noli's coming to fruition due to severe financial crisis. 

      Just when he was about to give up, his friend Maximo Viola arrived in Berlin and came to his aid. He had rescued Rizal from desperation and helped him publish the novel - giving him the title "Savior of Noli". They canvassed around town to find the better option for the novel's printing. Eventually they settled for Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft, the printing press which charged the lowest rate, at 300 pesos for 2,000 copies. Maximo lent Rizal the money to pay for the publication of Noli. In addition to this, he also gave Rizal extra money to use for his own. 

Characters:

James Dayrit as Jose Rizal

Gwyne Gomez as Maximo Viola

Rizal's Romances

     Rizal's life was not all about patriotism and revolutions against the Spaniards. As a man, Jose also wants catching the attention of girls he meet on various occasions. He was depicted as a boy who easily falls in love. He can also be seen courting different girls throughout his journeys.

   
Characters:
James Dayrit as Jose Rizal
Sheshe Samson Umali as Segunda Katigbak
Jherlyn Javier as Leonor Valenzuela
Eisel Pineda Sacatropez as Miss L
Gwyne Gomez as Don Francisco

Attackers of the Noli

   The battle over the Noli took the form of a virulent war of words. Father Font printed his report and distributed copies of it in order to discredit the controversial novel. Another Augustinian, Fr. Jose Rodriguez, Prior of Guadalupe, published series of eight pamphlets under the general heading Cuestiones de Sumo Interes (Questions of Supreme Interest) to blast Noli and othe anti-Spanish writings.

   Copies of these anti-Rizal pamphlets written by Fray Rodriguez were sold daily in the churches after Mass. Many Filipinos were forced to buy them in order not to displease the friars, but they did not believe what their author said with hysterical fervor. 

This incident just strengthened the desires of the filipinos to read Noli Me Tangere . It became a very controversial novel that many people, not just filipinos,. wanted to have a copy of it.

Characters:
Filipinos who are forced to buy pamphlets:
    Armie Aranzado
    Kleir Liezel Balilo
    Joy Dizon
    Anna Marie David

Photo taken by:
    Izza Obmaces

Uploaded by:
    Anna Marie David 

 

Rizal's grand tour in Europe with Maximo Viola

After the publication of Noli, Rizal planned to visit the important places in Europe. Dr. Maximo Viola agreed to be his traveling companion. Rizal had received Paciano’s remittance of 1,000php which was forwarded by Juan Luna from Paris. He immediately paid Viola the sum of 300php which the latter kindly loaned so that the Noli could be printed. Having paid his debt, and with adequate funds in his pocket, he was ready to see Europe before returning to Calamba.

 

 

Rizal Writing Noli Me Tangere 

Jose Rizal wrote the first sections of his novel Noli Me Tangere in 1884 in Madrid, Spain when he was still studying medicine. Rizal continued with this novel in Paris, France after he finished his medicine course. Jose Rizal finished the last sections of the novel in Berlin, Germany. Rizal drew his inspiration in writing Noli Me Tangere from a book entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin which was authored by Harriet Beacher Stowe. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is about the life of  Negro slaves under the hands of powerful white Americans. The book centered on the sufferings, maltreatment and hardships experienced by the Negro slaves and compared the sad plight of the slaves with the unfair treatment experienced by his countrymen under the Spanish rule.

Noli Me Tangere is a Latin word which means “Touch Me Not” which was mentioned in the Bible in the book of St. John the Baptist. Rizal described the state of the country under the Spaniards as a disgrace which provided more hardships to the life of the Filipinos. The detailed story about the sufferings of his countrymen were meant to awaken the Filipinos to the truth that was adversely affecting the society and which had not been talked about by the people most probably due to fear with the ruling Spaniards.

Rizal's loyalty to Leonor Rivera

A photo of Rizal with Leonor Rivera and Consuelo Ortiga on both sides.

Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, the prettier of Don Pablo Ortiga’s daughters, fell in love with him. He dedicated to her A la Senorita C.O. y R., which became one of his best poems. The Ortiga's residence in Madrid was frequented by Rizal and his compatriots. He probably fell in love with her and Consuelo apparently asked him for romantic verses. He suddenly backed out before the relationship turned into a serious romance, because he wanted to remain loyal to Leonor Rivera and he did not want to destroy hid friendship with Eduardo de Lete who was madly in love with Consuelo.

Characters:
Michelle Rodico as Leonor Rivera
Joyce Olegario as Consuelo Ortiga
Cristopher Ramos as Jose Rizal

Childhood Years in Calamba

   One interesting anecdote about Rizal was the incident about his clay and wax images. One day when he was about six years old his sisters laughed at him for spending so much time making those images rather than participating in their games. He kept silent as they laughed with childish glee. But as they were departing, he told them: "All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of me!"

...and so we did. Rizal was right; at the age of six, he became prophetic. This scene made us realized that, as long as we believe in ourselves, nothing is impossible. 

Characters:

Sisters of Rizal: Armie Aranzado

                               Kleir Liezel Balilo

                               Izza Obmaces

Young Rizal: Joy Dizon

Photo taken by: Anna Marie David

Uploaded by: Anna Marie David