MY JOSE RIZAL TOUR SERIES: Rizal in HONG KONG (November 1891- June 1892)

MY JOSE RIZAL TOUR SERIES: 
Rizal in HONG KONG (November 1891- June 1892)

Jose Rizal, is the national hero of the Philippines. He was born on June 19, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna and died by firing squad on December 30, 1896 at Rizal Park at the age of 35. He was charged and convicted of rebellion by the Spanish court and sentenced to death.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG

1. This is where Rizal planned a new organization which was later to be named, La Liga Filipina. 

The source of this information was a letter from Graciano Lopez Jaena written to Jose Rizal in February 1892 while Rizal was in Hong Kong which mentioned Rizal founding an association named Liga in Hong Kong. (See page 331, of "The First Filipino" by Leon Ma. Guerrero.)

Also, when the revolution started, statements were made to authorities that the Liga statutes were sent by Rizal from Hong Kong.  (See page 332, of "The First Filipino" by Leon Ma. Guerrero.)

2. This is where Rizal formed the idea of establishing a Filipino colony in North Borneo (Sabah). And from Hong Kong, he went to North Borneo (Sabah) and successfully negotiated the terms of the settlement with W.B Pryor, the administrator of North Borneo.(See page 336-337, of "The First Filipino" by Leon Ma. Guerrero.)

His intention was to relocate his family there and around 300 families from Calamba who were evicted and being persecuted by the Dominican friars for failure to pay the rent on the land they are tilling.

3. Rizal started writing in Tagalog the 3rd volume of his novel (the first is the "Noli Me Tangere", and the second is the "El Filibusterismo.")

OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG:

1. He was practicing his profession and was a successful opthalmic surgeon.

2. Almost a month after he arrived in Hong Kong, he was able to bring his father, brother and brother-in-law, and later, his mother and some sisters to stay with him in Hong Kong to escape the persecution of the friars. For a few months, they were happy together, before Rizal returned to the Philippines to be arrested by the Spaniards.

GREAT SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG:

1. The book, "The First Filipino", by Leon Ma. Guerrero.

See Chapter XV: A Choice of Islands (pp. 319-343)

2. The website Life and Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal by Dr. Robert L. Yoder

See Chapter 12: Hong Kong at http://joserizal.info/Biography/man_and_martyr/chapter12.htm

The ownership of the website Rizal's Life and Writings at joserizal.info was formally turned over by Dr. Yoder to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on February 28, 2013. See more details of the news here.

3.  The website of the Jose Rizal University

Timeline of Rizal's life in Hong Kong at http://www.joserizal.ph/tr48.html

THE VIDEO BELOW IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG (courtesy of Gadnat)

TO FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF RIZAL IN HONG KONG, WE VISITED TWO PLACES:

1. The Clinic of Dr. Jose Rizal at D' Aguilar Street

2. The residence of Dr. Jose Rizal at Rednaxela Terrace


Map of the tour is shown below:

View Hong Kong in a larger map 

The red dots are the location of both places

THE CLINIC AT D' AGUILAR STREET

How to get there:


1. Exit the Central MTR station at Queen's Road.

This is what you will see when you exit the Central MTR station at Queen's Road

2. D'Aguilar Street is perpendicular to Queen's Road.

3. Jose Rizal's clinic near the corner of D'Aguilar Street and Stanley Street, beside Hublot store. Hublot store is at the corner of D' Aguilar Street and Stanley Street

This is D' Aguilar street.
The clinic is the one with the red gate

What you will see:

The clinic is used to be located where the Century Square building stands.

THE RESIDENCE AT REDNAXELA TERRACE

How to get there:

1. From D'Aguilar Street, walk back to Queen's Road

2. Walk along Queen's Road going toward Cochrane Street.

3. Ride the Central Mid-level escalator at Cochrane Street.

4. Follow the Central Mid-level escalator till Caine Street.

This is Caine street. You cannot cross the street so you need to go up the walkway.

Rednaxela terrace is near Jamia Masjid.

5. Cross Caine Street through the pedestrian walkway.

7. Rednaxela Terrace is to your right.

Dr. Jose Rizal's unit is no. 2 so it's further at the back.

What you will see:

'

Although the marker is posted here, Dr. Jose Rizal's residence is still further at the back of this path up the stairs.

The path beyond the stairs

Dr. Jose Rizal's residence is around this area.

He paid thirty-five pesos (P35.00) to D. Mallunko for the rent on the premises of A-2 Rednaxela from January 1st to 31st. (http://www.joserizal.ph/tr48.html)

Shows the steep route that Dr. Jose Rizal takes to go to his clinic at D' Aguilar Street