Early in August, 1890 – Rizal arrived in Madrid

• He tried all legal means to seek justice for his family and the calamba tenants, but to no avail.
• He almost fought to duels – one with Antonio Luna and the other to Wenceslao E. Retana.
• Leonor Rivera married a British Engineer.

Failure to Get Justice for family

Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal immediately sought the help of the Filipino Colony, the Asociacion Hispano – Filipina, and the Liberal Spanish newspapers (La Justicia, El Globo, La Republica, El resumen).

M. H. Del Pilar – acted as his lawyer.

Dr. Dominador Gomez – secretary of Asociacion Hispano – Filipina.

More terrible news reached Rizal in Madrid:

• From Silvestre Ubaldo, he received a copy of the ejectment order by the Dominicans against Francisco Rizal and other calamba tenants.
• From Saturnina, he learned of the deportation of Paciano, Antonio Lopez, Silvestre Ubaldo, Teong, and Dandoy to Mindoro
• His parents were forcibly ejected from their home and were then living in the house of Narcisa.

Rizal’s Eulogy to Panganiban

Jose Ma. Panganiban – his friend and his talented co-worker in the propaganda.

August 19, 1890 – date of the death of Jose Ma. Panganiban because of a lingering illness.

Aborted Duel with Antonio Luna

End of August, 1890 – Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid.

• Wine was served in the reunion.
• After drinking so many glasses, the guests became more loquacious.
• Antonio Luna became drunk.
• Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead
• He was blaming Rizal for his failure.
• Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks for Nellie.
• Rizal heard him and challenge for a duel.
• The Filipinos were shocked of the incident.
• They tried to pacify Rizal and Luna, pointing out to both that such a duel would damage their cause in Spain.
• Luna, when he became sober, realized that he had made a fool and he apologized to Rizal

Rizal Challenges Retana to Duel

On another occasion, he challenged another man to duel – Wenceslao E. Retana.

Retana

– The bitter enemy of Rizal in Pen.

– A talented Spanish scholar was then a press agent of the friars in Spain.

– Used to attack the Filipinos, including Rizal, in various newspapers in Madrid.

– He imprudently wrote an article in La Epoca an anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid, asserting that the family and friends of Rizal had not paid their rents so that they were ejected from their lands in Calamba by the Dominicans.

• Such an insult stirred Rizal to action.
• Immediately, he sent his seconds to Retana with his challenge to a duel.
• Retana at once published a retraction and apology in the newspapers.
• The incident silenced Retana’s pen against Rizal.
• Years afterward, Retana wrote the first book-length biography of the greatest Filipino hero, whose talents he came to recognize and whose martyrdom he glorified.

Infidelity of Leonor Rivera – Rizal lost his gold watch chain with a locket containing the picture of Leonor Rivera, his beloved sweetheart while he attended a play in the Teatro Apollo together with his friends, and that incident proved to be a bad omen.

December, 1890 – Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming married with an Englishman.

February 15, 1891 – Blumentritt replied to the letter of Rizal and comforted Rizal when Rizal confide to him about his agony and broken heart.

Rizal-Del Pilar Rivalry – In 1890, there arise an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and del Pilar for supremacy.

January 1, 1891 (New Year’s Day) – the Filipinos of Madrid met to reorganize the Asociacion Hispano – Filipina and to elect a new leader who would act as a spokesman of the Filipino cause in Europe.

Filipinos were divided into two rival camps:

· Rizalistas or Rizal’s friends

· Pilaristas or del Pilar’s friends

Rizalistas – worked hard for the election of Rizal.

Pilaristas – fought for del Pilar’s election

Back to Brussels – Since Rizal walked out from the election for the new leader because he found out that only 19 people voted him, he go back to Brussels.

February, 1891 – he left Madrid and proceeded to Biarritz, where he was a welcomed guest of the Bousted at their Villa Eliada.

Valentin Ventura – Rizal’s friend and companion in Paris, where Rizal staying with him.

April 4, 1891 – He wrote to Jose Ma. Basa, expressing his wish to live in Hongkong and practice medicine.

Middle of April 1891 – Rizal turned to Brussels for one reason, to finish his second novel.