THE OTHER RIZAL'S FRIEND WE HARDLY KNEW

Believe Me Or Not!

By

Jose Sison Luzadas, KGOR

Scarborough Chapter

CANADA

A five-minute immersion in Philippine history

Topic:

The other Rizal friend who many among us hardly knew

If there was one man other than Ferdinand Blumentrtitt who by just delivering an obituary boasted so much credibility on who Rizal was, is no one but this famous German pathologist. Famous as a German doctor, anthropologist, public health activist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician. He is referred to as the "Father of Pathology," and founded the field of Social Medicine.

Famous, because it was he who put an end to the search in the quest for the “missing link”! His name is Dr. Rudolf Virchow whom Rizal met when Blumentritt introduced him.

Dr. Rudolf Virchow who at that time was a member of the German parliament and president of the Berlin Society delivered his obituary to Dr. Jose Rizal during a meeting of paleontologists, pathologists, archeologists and other members of the Berlin Society to which Rizal was a member. It happened in 1897, one year after Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan, December 30, 1896.

Here is the excerpt from the obituary

“In the penetrating psychological analysis of the man by Mr. Blumentritt there is mention of Rizal's sensitivity as an artist, Mr. Blumentritt being the possessor of three terracotta statues: Prometheus bound, the victory of death over life and the triumph of the intellect over death.

We are losing in Rizal not only a faithful friend of Germany and German scholarship but also the only man with sufficient knowledge and resolution to open a way for modern thought into that far-off island world."

Rizal demonstrated as multi talented man not just medicine and literary work but also what Rudolf Virchow described “sensitivity as an ARTIST.

Here are the three pieces of artwork originally made from terracotta by Rizal and mentioned in Virchow’s obituary to Rizal. They are (1) Prometheus Bound, (2) The Triumph of Intellect over Death and (3) Victory of death over Life

In the first artwork, Rizal showed his interest in Greek mythology by using a mythical hero, Prometheus whose hands were tied to a rock with an eagle watching and eating his liver as punishment.

If we go back to Greek mythology, Prometheus was of one the Gods in Mount Olympus with Zeus as the BIG Chief. Prometheus has nothing but pity and sympathy to man because he was created to be slave, born to be stupid, obedient and cannot reason out.

One day when Zeus was sleeping Prometheus stole a fire and gave it man. Thus putting an end to man’s stupidity. By receiving the fire, man is now equipped with “knowledge”, “intelligence” and “independence”. Zeus was angry for having been deceived and sold out by a lesser god exacted his revenge. The sculpture depicts Prometheus with both hands tied to big rock, receiving his punishment from an eagle assigned to eat his liver.

The use of the mythic hero Prometheus has special meaning to explain Rizal’s philosophy. Did he not say in the NOLI that he is going to remove the veil of ignorance to open the minds of his countrymen through education?

Therefore symbols like Light, Torch and Fire could mean Knowledge, Learning, Education, awakening, liberation and emancipation.

Let’s go back to our elementary and high school years when we are required to NOTE BOOK for writing and homework? In the cover page made from manila paper there is a picture of a TORCH and around it is boldly printed “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER” or “ANG KARUNUNGAN AY TANGLAW”.

The second Rizal artwork illustrates “The Triumph of Intellect Over Death”. Rizal used the symbolic TORCH or LIGHT to wipe out ignorance, superstition and darkness.

A close look at the third artwork demonstrates how sensitive Rizal was on the grim reality when mortal life is extinguished. “The Victory of Death over Life” as the title he gave reflects the popular theme when the evil forces of darkness gain upper hand from the forces of good and righteousness.

Depicting the interplay of life and death is still the most popular theme among writers, dramatists, poets, philosophers and composers from the Renaissance to the present.