MISFORTUNES IN MADRID (1890-91)

-Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid
-Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal immediately sought help of the Filipino colony, The Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspaper in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants
· El Resumen- a Madrid newspaper which sympathized with the Filipino cause, said: “To cover the ear,
open the purse, and fold the arms—this is the Spanish colonial policy
· La Epoca- an anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid
1. Jose Ma. Panganiban, his talented co-worker in the Propaganda Movement, died in Barcelona on August 19, 1890, after a lingering illness
2. Aborted Duel with Antonio Luna—Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie
Boustead. Deep in his heart, he was blaming Rizal for his failure to win her, although Rizal had previously explained to him that he had nothing to do about it. Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks about Nellie, Rizal heard him and angered by the slanderous remarks, he challenged Luna, his friend, to a duel. Fortunately, Luna realized that he had made a fool of himself during his drunken state, he apologized for his bad remarks about the girl and Rizal accepted his apology and they became good friends again
3. Rizal challenges Retana to Due l—Wenceslao E. Retana, his bitter enemy of the pen, a talented Spanish scholar, was then a press agent of the friars in Spain. He used to attack the Filipinos in various newspapers in Madrid and other cities in Spain. Retana wrote an article in La Epoca, asserting that the family and friends of Rizal had not paid their rents so they were ejected from their lands in Calamba by the Dominicans. Such as insult stirred Rizal to action, immediately he sent his seconds to Retana with his challenge to a duel
4. Infidelity of Leonor Rivera —Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an Englishman (the choice of her mother) and asking his forgivefess
5. Rizal-Del Pilar Rivalry —toward the closing days of 1890 phere arose an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and M.H. del Pilar for supremacy. Because of this, the Filipinos were divided ibto two hostile camps—the Rizalistas and the Pilaristas. The sitqation was becoming explosive and critical. Despite of winning the votes, Rizal graciously declined the coveted position
· Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing him as Responsible. It was the last
time he saw Madrid