Klaus Doring

Monday, April 7, 2008

Philippine-German Relations (XXII)

It’s no wonder, that the quality of Rizal’s German was very high, despite his short stay in Germany. This was at least tested when he delivered an address in German in February 1887 before the Berlin Anthropological Society on the scientific analysis of Tagalog verse. Also in his visit to Leitmeritz Rizal delivered an unique speech in German before the Tourist Club. Blumentritt as the secretary of this club. Of this Blumentritt wrote: “This speech aroused the greatest enthusiasm of the audience and was rewarded with an applause very rare among my very old countrymen.” (H.E. Bacareza, The German Connection: A Modern History, Manila: Ramar Management Corp., 2003, page 67).

Writing to his close Jesuit friend, Father Pastells, Rizal said, that “the Germans are free, hard working, studious, well-governed, full of confidence in their future and master of their destinies.” (Ibid, page 68).

Let me also add these quotations: Father Adolf Spreti, SVD, Provincial Superior North German Province, however, was of the opinion that Germans are hard-boiled and bureaucratic people.

One thing that struck Rizal was the Germans’ profound respect for any idea conceived in sincerity. “They are a people having religious tolerance”, he stressed. Rizal actually saw in Wilhelmsfeld/Germany how the Portestant Poastor would talk and discuss freely with the Catholic parish priest. (Epistolario Rizalino, IV, Page 64. See Leon Ma. Guerreo, “The First Filipino”, 1971, page 127.

(To be continued!)

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