Summary
Highlights
Jose Rizal arrived in Madrid in September 1882 at the age of 21, coming from Barcelona. He lived in Madrid twice: first from 1882 to 1885 for his studies, and then from 1890 to 1891 to engage in reformist activities. Rizal actively participated in the Filipino community of students and reformists, interacting with various Filipinos studying or residing in Spain. The number of Filipino students in Spain increased during the 19th century due to government scholarships and the economic and social transformations in the Philippines, which allowed more indigenous and mestizo families, including Rizal's, to send their children abroad for education.
Rizal primarily came to Spain to study medicine at the Facultad de Medicina de San Carlos, now the office of the Colegio de Médicos de Madrid. Although he initially preferred law, his brother Paciano convinced him to study medicine or fine arts. Rizal took theoretical classes at the faculty and performed practical sessions at the Hospital de la Princesa, meticulously documenting patient cases and medical procedures in his 'Apuntes de Clínica'. His professors included notable Spanish physicians, and the institution also produced the Nobel Prize laureate Santiago Ramón y Cajal.
Rizal frequently moved residences in Madrid, changing his address at least eight times, mostly within the same central area. He often lived in less than ideal conditions, as evidenced by his correspondence mentioning infestations. During his early months, he faced financial struggles due to insufficient funds from his family, though his brother Paciano assured him of future support. He also received distressing news from home about a cholera epidemic and his parents' declining health, which prompted his sisters to urge him to return.
Rizal earned his Licenciatura en Filosofía y Letras from the Universidad Central (now Universidad Complutense de Madrid) in 1885, where he excelled in courses like History and literature, often achieving higher grades than in medicine. The university was a hub of progressive ideas, and Rizal's teacher, Miguel Morayta, was a prominent supporter of the Filipino Propaganda Movement. This movement, composed of Filipinos and some Spaniards, aimed for reforms in the Philippines. Organizations like the Circulo Hispano-Filipino, led by individuals such as the Paterno brothers, provided platforms for discussions and intellectual gatherings among Filipino students and reformists.
Rizal frequently visited the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, a former Mayor of Manila, which served as the headquarters for the Circulo Hispano-Filipino. These gatherings were crucial for discussions about the Philippines, where Rizal also nursed a romantic interest in Ortiga y Rey's daughter, Consuelo. He also frequented restaurants and cafes like Restaurante Viva Madrid in the 'Barrio de las Letras' (literary neighborhood), where intellectuals and writers converged. This environment fostered the development of his literary works, including early ideas for 'Noli Me Tangere,' and shaped his political and social thought. Despite these productive engagements, Rizal criticized some Filipino students for prioritizing entertainment over propaganda activities.
Rizal pursued a holistic education in Madrid, attending the Ateneo de Madrid for intellectual discourses and language studies (English, German, French) as well as taking painting and sculpture classes at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. In 1884, he celebrated with the Filipino community when Juan Luna and Felix Resurrección Hidalgo won gold and silver medals, respectively, at the National Fine Arts Exposition in Madrid. During the celebratory banquet at the Hotel Inglés, Rizal's politically charged speech asserted that talent and genius transcended race, which garnered significant attention and led his brother Paciano to warn him against returning to the Philippines due to the potential repercussions.
In 1887, after Rizal had left Madrid, the '1887 Philippine Exposition' was held at Parque del Buen Retiro to promote economic and commercial ties between Spain and the Philippines. While showcasing various aspects of the Philippines from its industries to flora and fauna, it controversially displayed native Filipinos, including Igorots and Tinguians, in an 'exotic' manner. Rizal, though not present, condemned this exhibition in a letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt, criticizing the indignity of exhibiting indigenous peoples alongside animals and plants, noting also the death of an indigenous woman from pneumonia—materials from this exposition are now housed in the Museo de Antropología.
Rizal continued to participate in reformist activities, notably contributing to 'La Solidaridad,' a newspaper published by Filipino propagandists. From its office at 43 Atocha Street in Madrid, 'La Solidaridad' served as a truthful and excellent voice for Filipinos. Rizal published significant articles such as 'Filipinas Dentro de Cien Años' (The Philippines Within a Century), predicting the Philippines' fight for independence if reforms were denied, and 'Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos,' which countered the Spanish portrayal of Filipinos as lazy by attributing their perceived indolence to Spanish mismanagement and oppressive policies. Meanwhile, in Madrid, propagandists lobbied the Spanish Cortes for Philippine representation to advocate for reforms.
Rizal returned to Madrid in August 1890 to address a personal legal battle involving his family and other Calamba residents against Dominican friars over land rents and taxes. Despite efforts with Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Dominador Gomez, Rizal failed to secure attention from Spanish officials. His family suffered, with relatives deported and forcibly evicted. Unfavorable events in Madrid, including a leadership dispute within the Propaganda Movement that split Filipinos between him and Del Pilar, led Rizal to leave for Biarritz in January 1891, never to return to Spain. This period intensified his political thoughts, leading him to declare, under the pseudonym 'Laong Laan,' that 'the battlefield is no longer in Europe but in the Philippines,' urging compatriots to unite for change.
Jose Rizal's time in Madrid exposed him to liberal ideas of freedom, equal rights, and modernity, profoundly shaping his intellectual, literary, artistic, and scientific pursuits. He collaborated with other Filipinos and progressive Spanish politicians in his quest for reforms, though these were slow to materialize due to Spain's imperial challenges. His experiences in Madrid were crucial to the burgeoning independence movement in the Philippines. Almost a century and a half later, Rizal's heroism is recognized with a monument in Avenida de Filipinas, Madrid. The city continues to host a growing Filipino community, and Rizal's ideological legacy remains a foundation for nation-building, challenging Filipinos to pursue progress.