FIRST HOMECOMING (1887-1888)

-Because of the publication of the Noli Me Tangere and the uproar it caused among the friars, Rizal was warned by Paciano (his brother), Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law), Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio) and other friends not to return home.
-Rizal was determined to return to the Philippines for the following reasons: (1) to operate on his mother’s eyes (2) to serve his people who had long been oppressed by Spanish tyrants (3) to find out for himself how Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards in the Philippines and (4) to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent
· July 29, 1887- Rizal wrote to his father, announcing his homecoming, “on the 15th of July, I shall
embark for our country, so that from the 15th to the 30th of August, we shall see each other”

DELIGHTFUL TRIP TO MANILA
-Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French port, which he reached without mishap.
· July 3, 1887-Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah, the same streamer which brought him to Europe 5
years ago
· July 30, 1887-at Saigon, Rizal transferred to another steamer, Haiphong, which was Manila-bounded
· August 2, 1887- the steamer left Saigon for Manila

ARRIVAL IN MANILA
· August 3, 1887- the moon was full and Rizal slept soundly the whole night. The calm sea, illuminated by the silvery moonlight, was a magnificent sight to him
· Near midnight of August 5, 1887 , the Haiphong arrived in Manila

HAPPY HOMECOMING
· August 8, 1887- Rizal returned to Calamba
· In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic. His first patient was his mother, who was almost blind.
· Rizal, who came to be called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany, treated their ailments
and soon he acquired a lucrative medical practice
· Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced European sports
· Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba—his failure to see Leonor Rivera