• August 1890 Rizal arrived in Madrid.

• He tried all legal means to seek justice for his family and the Calamba tenants, but failed.

• Leonor Rivera married a British Englishman, which made his burden even worse.

• Upon arrival in Madrid Rizal sought the help of the Filipino colony, the Asociacion Hispano – Filipina and the liberal Spanish newspapers

• M.H del Pilar acted as his lawyer together with Dr. Dominador Gomez (secretary of the Asociacion Hispano – Filipina), He calleds on the minister of colonies (senior Fabie) to protest the injustices committed by the Gov. Gen. and the Dominicans.

• Nothing came out of the interview.

• More terrible news reached Rizal: he received ejectment order from his brother-in-law Silvestre Hidalgo, against Francisco Rizal and other Calamba tenats: from Saturnina he learned the deportation of of Paciano and other friends and relatives in Mindoro: Their parents were forcibly ejected fro their home.

• He had the urge to see Queen regent Maria Christina but failed because of no influence and power.

• After a short time, Rizal learned that his Friend and co workerin the propaganda movement, Jose Maria Panganiban, died in Barcelona due to illness.

• He mourned the passing of this Bicol hero and made a eulogy for him.

• During the social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid Antonio Luna become drunk.

• Because of Luna’s alcohol-befogged mind he started uttering unsavory remarks about Nelly Boustead, whom he had a frustrated romance with.

• Rizal heard him and became angry because of his slanderous remarks and challenge Luna to a duel.

• Luna chose to have sword fight, something that Rizal isn’t good with as he is a maste of pistol shot.

• The Filipinos were shocked but fortunately Luna realized that he made a fool out of himself and apologize to Rizal.

• Retana, a talented Spanish scholar was then a press agent of the friars in Spain.

• He used to attack the Filipinos including Rizal.

• He wrote an article in La Epoca. Asserting that the family and friends of Rizal have not paid their rents so they were ejected from their lands.

• The insult stirred Rizal to action and challenged Retana for a duel.

• Retana at once published a retraction and an apology in the newspapers.

• He had no chance to what so ever to Rizal on the field of honor for Rizal is superior in both pistol in sword.

• The incident made Retana developed a great admiration for Rizal.

• Years afterwards he wrote the first book length biography of the greatest Filipino hero.

• One night in the autumn of 1890, Rizal and some friends attended the play at theater Apollo and lost his gold watch chain with a locket containing the picture of Leonor Rivera.

• The lost of the locket proved to be a bad omen.

• Early in December 1890, Rizal received a letter from Leonor announcing her coming marriage to an Englishman.

• He was stunned and his heart broke.

• Weeks passed before Rizal confided to his friend Blumentritt.

• Blumentritt consoled him by sending comforting letters stating that Leonor is not a woman to Rizal and that he is in loved with a nobler woman the motherland

• Rizal was then the undisputed leader of the Filipino in Europe; on the other hand del Pilar the fearless lawyer journalist was gaining prestige in Madrid for his La Solidaridad.

• He purchased the periodical from Pablo Rianzales and replaced Graciano Lopez Jaena as its editor.

• Rizal tried to in abuse his compatriots and his own idealism for he believed that to win the respect of the Spanish people, they must posses high standards of morality, dignity and spirit of sacrifice.

• His idealism was not shared by frivolous countrymen, who love wine, women and cards.

• Some of his former admirers turned against him because they resented his inference in their private lives.

• They become supporters of del Pilar.

• To avert the breakup between Rizal and M.H del Pilar, the Filipinos in Madrid met on January 1, 1891 to patch up their differences.

• It was decided in this meeting that a leader called Responsible, be chosen to direct the affairs of the Filipino community and to determine the editorial policy of La Solidaridad.

• Del Pilar opposed on the ground that it was a private enterprise. However he was willing to publish articles that would express the aspirations of Filipino people.

• The proposition to place La Solidaridad under the control of the responsible was abandoned.

• It was agreed that the Responsible was elected by 2/3 notes of the Filipino community.

• During the elections the Filipinos were divided into two camps, the Rizalistas and Pilaristas.

• Having obtained 2/3 of the votes Rizal became the Responsible.

• Rizal graciously declined the position.

• He knew that some of his compatriots who supported del Pilar despise or dislike him.

• He preferred to abdicate his leadership rather than be the cause of disunity and bitterness among his countrymen.

• Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing him as Responsible.

• He packed up his bags, paid his bills and boarded a train leaving for Biarritz.

• It was the last time he saw Madrid.