brotherly camaraderie
Left side; Ferdinand Blumentritt, right side; Jose Rizal (photos aren’t mine)
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” - Proverbs 18:24
Dr. Jose Rizal has been a role model, not only to Filipinos but to individuals of different nationalities as well. He is truly the classic epitome of knowledge and a patriot of our nation. It might be hard for us to imagine his human side doing the normal stuff just like that of a “normal” person. This is because Rizal is often viewed symbolically. Besides those towering monuments of being a national hero and the superlatives attached to his name, Rizal, of course possessed such traits like that of a man usually have. One of which is Rizal being a friend.
Rizal gained many friends from all over the countries that he visited and from the associations or groups that he joined. He was a sociable and a friendly person. Amongst all of his acquaintances, one stood out remarkably. This was his friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt of Austria. Ferdinand Blumentritt and Jose Rizal’s mutual interest in the Philippines made their relationship became intact with each other.
The threshold of a great good will
Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt was a teacher of geography and history in the Imperial Etheneum of Leitmeritz in Bohemia, Austria. It was through his aunt whom Ferdinand became so much interested with Spain, its language, culture, and particularly one of its colony, the Philippines. In fact, he had published ethnographic and linguistic works about the country. These writings were “Die Chinesen auf den Philippines (The Chinese in the Philippines)” which was written in 1879, and the “Versuch einer Ethnographie der Philippinen (An Attempt of an Ethnography of the Philippines)” which was published in 1882.
Jose Rizal, having known Ferdinand’s works, wrote to him and has sent comments regarding the latter’s incredible admiration to Jose’s homeland. Since then, they were exchanging letters. This was the beginning of their friendship.
Means of communication: exchanging letters
This is the first letter that Rizal had sent to Blumentritt from Heidelberg on July 31 1886 regarding the book Aritmética.
11 Obere Neckar StrasseHeidelberg, 31 July 1886Esteemed Professor Ferdinand BlumentrittEsteemed Sir,Having heard that Your Lordship is studying our language and that you have already published some works on the subject, I take the liberty of sending you a valuable book(1) written in that language by a countryman of mine. The Spanish version is mediocre because the author is only a modest writer, but the Tagalog portion is good and this is precisely the language spoken in our province.I amVery respectfully yours,J. Rizal
Rizal and Blumentritt continued to write to each other until Rizal’s death in 1896. He also counseled Rizal during his long exile in Dapitan. Once Blumentritt read Rizal’s first novel Noli Me Tangere, he immediately wrote a letter of praise to Rizal and asked for permission to translate the novel to German. With that said, unfortunately, no copy of this said translation is found. He also wrote the preface of the second novel, El Filibusterismo, even though he was kind of against it.
This was one of Blumentritt’s reply to Rizal regarding his exile in Dapitan.
Leitmeritz, Austria
16 July 1892 Doctor José Rizal
DapitanDearest Rizal:My entire household is full of gloom. Yesterday we received the news of your banishment or deportation to the south of the Archipelago. This news has shocked us very much; my wife, Loleng, Fritz and Conradito turn pale because they imagine that the bailiffs maltreat you. I hope that the barbarities with which Barrantes and other gentlemen, who often render lipservice to national nobility, stained the pages of the history of the Philippines, would not be repeated. Under the administration of Despujol, acts of barbarism are not committed; and so I ask you to live in the conviction that informed justice will give you the freedom which mistaken autocracy has robbed you. And do not forget that it you have bitter enemies, you also have devoted friends who will do everything that law and honor to restore to your freedom.We pray the Most Blessed Virgin to give you her protection. I send you the affectionate regards of my family and receive, with loving and fraternal greetings, a close embrace of your faithful friend,Fernando Blumentritt
Blumentritt took a big part in defending Noli Me Tangere. He had Rizal send him a “Multatulis” book with the remark: "It will make me very happy to get to know it, since I want to be rid of the attackers of the Noli. Maybe the book can help me." Shortly after this, he received a letter from Rizal that because of the friars, Noli Me tangere was officially banned from the Philippines. Blumentritt was there throughout the whole Noli Me Tangere fiasco and was always on its defense.
In the times of the oncoming revolution, Rizal faced a lot of problems including the problem of his family, he was about to look at violence or revolution as the only way to end everything. Blumentritt, of course, attempted to calm down his friend and make him see reason.
Rizal requested for Blumentritt to write the history of the Philippines for he knows that he would not be impartial and unbiased. He also added that people would not believe it if Rizal himself wrote it. He knows that Blumentritt will objectively view the past of the Philippines.
Blumentritt was truly a great part of Rizal’s life. Even though they do not see each other often and cannot be with each other’s side, they are always by the other’s side in a figurative sense. Blumentritt was always there in the times of need and always helped out Rizal one way or another. He has done so much for Rizal that even Rizal asked Blumentritt to back down so that Blumentritt can still live his life the way it has been before and look out for his health, and maybe retain his position as professor in Austria.
A farewell of veneration
During the last days of Rizal’s life,aside from the letters and remembrance he prepared for his family, he never forgot his closest foreigner friend. He did not get the chance to say goodbye personally because Blumentritt has never been in the country and also the guards would have not allowed him to visit. In his letter which he made on December 29, 1986, he bid farewell to his dearest friend.
This was Rizal’s last letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt.
Prof. Fernando BlumentrittMy dear Brother,When you receive this letter, I shall be dead by then.
Tomorrow at seven, I shall be shot; but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion.I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.Adieu, my best, my dearest friend, and never think ill of me!Fort Santiago, 29 December 1896José RizalRegards to the whole family, to Sra. Rosa, Lolena, Conradito, and Federico.I leave a book for you as my remembrance.
It was evident that Rizal and Blumentritt had a friendship like no other. Even Blumentritt’s family are Rizal’s friends. Blumentritt had helped Rizal so much especially in times of his downfall. In a way, Blumentritt is also considered a part of Rizal’s heroism. Effects of these is the naming of a street in Metro Manila after Ferdinand Blumentritt, and the commemoration of Blumentritt’s 100th death anniversary this year.
Blumentritt street in Sampaloc, Manila (photo from Google maps)
We can conclude that our national hero is a best friend also. This is one of the many things that we barely know about him.
"Rizal was the greatest son of the Philippines, and his coming into the world was like an apparition of a rare comet, with a special brilliance, which could be seen and admired only once in a great while." - Ferdinand Blumentritt to Maximo Viola, 1887
Good day! :)
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