Rizals Second Sojourn in Paris and the Universal Exposition of 1889

Paris in the Spring of 1889 was bursting with gaiety and excitement
because of the Universal Exposition. Thousands of visitors from all corners of
the world crowded every hotel, inn, and boarding house. Everywhere in the
metropolis the hotel rates and house rents were soaring skyhigh, Rizal, fresh
from London, was caught in the whirl of the city, he continued his fruitful
artistic, literary, and patriotic labors. He published his annotated edition of
Morgas Sucesos; founded three Filipino societies, the Kidlat Club, the Indios
Bravos, and the R.D.L.M.; and wrote Por Telefono, a satire against Fr.
Salvador Font.
Difficulty of Finding Quarters
March 1889- it was extremely difficult for a visitor to find living quarters in
Paris. The approaching Universal Exposition of 1889 which was schedule to
open on May 6, 1889 attracted thousands of tourists so that all hotel
accomodations were taken.
Valentin Ventura- friend of Rizal, for a short time Rizal lived in the house of
his friend at No. 45 Rue Maubeuge, where he polished his annotated edition
of Morgas book.
Rizal lived in a little room, together with two other Filipinos:

Capitan Justo Trinidad- former gobernadorcillo of Santa Ana, Manila,

and a refugee from Spanish tyranny.
Jose Albert- a young student form Manila.
Life in Paris

He spent time frugality and fruitfully and he used most of his time in the
reading room the Bibliotheque Nationale (National Library) checking up

his historical annotations on Morgas Book.

Writing letters to his family and friends, in his living quarters,
Daily physical exercises , in the gymnasium
Visiting friends
He used to dine at the homes of his friends three Pardo de Taveras
namely:
Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera - physician by vacation and

philologist by avocation.
Dr. Felix Pardo de Tavera - phycisian by vocation and an artist

and sculptor by avocation.

Paz Pardo de Tavera- wife of Juan Luna , they have 2 children
namely :
1. Andres- A.K.A. Luling, the first child of Juan Luna
2. Maria dela Paz, Blanca, Laureana, Hermenegilda
Juana Luna y Pardo de Tavera the name of Juan
Lunas second child and Jose as God father.

Rizal and Paris Exposition of 1889

Like any ordinary Filipino tourist in a foreign land, Rizal was fascinated
by the Universal Exposition of Paris which opened on may 6, 1889.

Eiffel Tower- 984 feet high, which was built by Alexander Eiffel, celebrated
French engineer.
International Art Competition- one of the features of the Exposition

in

which; Felix R. Hidalgo, Juan Luna, Felix Pardo de Tavera, and Rizal
participated.
Hidalgos painting was awarded second prize, the painting of Juan Luna and
F. Pardo de Tavera obtained the third prize, while Rizals entry got no prize.
Three Filipino Societies
1. Kidlat Club- was purely a social society of a temporary nature. It was
founded by Rizal simply to bring together young Filipinos in the French.
Among the members were:
- Antonio and Juan Luna
- Gregorio Aguilera
- Fernando Canon
- Lauro Dimayuga
- Julio Llorente
- Guillermo Puatu
- Baldomero Roxas
2. Indios Bravos- a new society of Filipino patriots in Paris. It replaced
the ephemeral Kidlat Club. Its members pledged to excel in intellectual
and physical prowess. They practiced with great enthusiasm the use of
the sword and pistol. Rizal taught them judo an Asian art of selfdefense, that he learned in Japan.
3. R.D.L.M. Society- the letters belived to be the initials of the societys
secret name Redencion de los Malayos ( redemption of the Malays).

So much mystery surrounded the R.D.LM. because Rizal rigidly

guaded its secret existence. It had various degrees of
membership, with the members not knowing each other. Only a
few of Rizals trusted friends became members namely;
- Gregorio Aguilera
- Jose Ma. Basa
- Julio Llorente
- Marcelo H. del Pilar
- Mariano Ponce
- Baldomero Roxas
- Father Jose Maria Changco (Filipino priest)
Aim of the Secret Society as stated by Rizal the
propagation of all useful knowledge- scientific, artistic,
literary, etc. in the Philippines.
Max Havelaar (1860) a famous book written by Multatuli
(pseudonym of E.D. Dekker, Dutch author) which inspired Rizal.
This book exposed the miserable conditions of the oppressed
Malay inhabitants of the Netherlands East Indies under Dutch
rule.

The 999 years- a period of time long enough for many

generations to form a nation and to consolidate its status.

Annotated Edition of Morga Published

Rizals outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication in 1890 of
his annotated edition of Morgas Sucesos, which he wrote in the British

Museum. It was printed by Garnier Freres. The Prologue was written by

Professor Blumentritt, upon the request of Rizal.
Blementritt revealed Rizals two errors, namely:
1. Rizal commits the error of many historians in appraising the events of
the past in the light of present standars and
2. Rizals attacks on the Church were unfair and unjustified because the
abuses of the friars should not be construed to mean that Catholicism
is bad.
Rizal annotated and published Morgas Sucesos because it was the
best of the may histories of the Philippines written by the early Spanish
writers, being accurate in the narration of events, unbiased in judgement, and
unmarred by childish fantasies.