LIFE IN MADRID

· November 3, 1882- Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid (Central University of Madrid) in two courses—Medicine and Philosophy and Letters
· Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando- Rizal studied painting and sculpture
· Rizal’s only extravagance was investing a few pesetas for a lottery ticket in every draw of the Madrid
Lottery
· Rizal spent his leisure time reading and writing at his boarding house, attending the reunions of Filipino students at the house of the Paterno brothers (Antonio, Maximo and Pedro) and practicing fencing and shooting at the gymnasium
· Antigua Café de Levante-during the summer twilights, this is where Rizal sipped coffee and fraternized with the students from Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, etc
· On Saturday evenings, Rizal visited the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey who lived with his son (Rafael) and daughter (Consuelo)
· Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle)- a society of Spaniards and Filipinos which Rizal
joined shortly after his arrival in Madrid in 1882
· Me Piden Versos (They Ask Me For Verses)- upon the request of the members of this society, Rizal’s wrote this poem which he personally declaimed during the New Year’s Eve reception of the Madrid Filipinos held in the evening of December 31, 1882
-in this sad poem, Rizal poured out the cry of his agonizing heart
· Rizal economized on his living expenses, and with the money he saved, he purchased books from a
second-hand book store owned by a certain Señor Roses
· Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The Wandering Jew- these two books
aroused Rizal’s sympathy for the oppressed and unfortunate people