ACTIVITY #1.
Q1. Investigate Rizal's decision to study in Spain.
Q2. Describe Rizal's Time in Paris, his medical training, and cultural immersion in Paris.
Q3. Analyze Rizal's Challenges and Achievements in Berlin, his interaction with German Scientist, and how he cope with the hardships he faced?
Answer (1)
Answer:Q1. Investigate Rizal's Decision to Study in Spain:Rizal decided to study in Spain primarily due to the lack of academic freedom and racial discrimination in the Philippines under Spanish colonial rule. After being disillusioned by the injustices he witnessed at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, he sought a more liberal and progressive education in Europe. In 1882, he secretly left for Madrid to pursue further studies in medicine and philosophy at the Universidad Central de Madrid. Spain's intellectual and political climate, more open and tolerant compared to the Philippines, allowed Rizal to grow not only as a scholar but also as a nationalist reformist.Q2. Describe Rizal's Time in Paris, His Medical Training, and Cultural Immersion:Rizal stayed in Paris from around 1885 to 1886. During this time, he worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Wecker, a renowned ophthalmologist. Here, he refined his medical skills, particularly in eye surgery, which was significant because he wanted to treat his mother's failing eyesight. Aside from medical training, Rizal immersed himself in the rich cultural life of Paris—visiting museums, attending the theater, and engaging with artists and intellectuals. His stay in Paris deepened his appreciation of European art, history, and literature. He also observed the social and political freedoms in French society, which influenced his reformist ideas for the Philippines.Q3. Analyze Rizal's Challenges and Achievements in Berlin, His Interaction with German Scientists, and How He Coped with Hardships:Rizal moved to Berlin in 1886, where he faced severe financial difficulties—often living in near poverty and skipping meals. Despite these hardships, Rizal found Berlin intellectually stimulating. He became a member of several scholarly organizations, including the Anthropological Society and the Ethnological Society, and established meaningful relationships with prominent German scientists like Dr. Rudolf Virchow and Dr. Feodor Jagor. During his stay, Rizal completed and published the Noli Me Tangere, his first novel that criticized Spanish colonial rule and the Catholic Church in the Philippines. This was a major achievement and marked a turning point in his activism.To cope with adversity, Rizal relied on discipline, support from friends (like Dr. Maximo Viola who helped publish Noli), and his passion for learning. His time in Berlin showcased his resilience and determination to pursue his mission for reform despite personal struggles.
