Oh, Consuelo...

While Rizal was in Madrid, he frequently visited the place of the Ortigas and met the daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, Consuelo Ortiga y Perez. Unfortunately, Rizal’s romance with her did not turn into a serious relationship for two reasons; for he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera and that his friend, Eduardo de Lete was madly in love with Consuelo.  But he even wrote a poem dedicated to her and was considered one of the greatest writings of Rizal. It was entitled A La Senorita C.O.y.P.

Characters: 

Hilary Carlos as Consuelo

Arvin Paul Compio as Rizal

A Hero's Sweetheart

When Rizal first reached Spain, he arrived in Barcelona and stayed there for a while before moving to Madrid to continue his studies, also upon the advice of his brother Paciano. But while he was there, he received some bad news from the Philippines. One of those was when his friend, Chengoy, sent him a letter about the unhappiness of Leonor Rivera, his fiancé back then, and who was getting thinner because of the absence of a loved ones.

Character: Genica Matias as Leonor Rivera

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