Page 1 of 2
Of all the places I visited, Dapitan is the only place where I felt sincere reverence for our national hero, Dr. Jose
P. Rizal. A plaque in the town square expresses gratitude for Rizal’s efforts.
Rizal spent the last four years of his life (1892-1896) in Dapitan. His personal desire to uplift the lives around
him ruled his day to day existence while in exile. He spent countless hours imparting knowledge to the children.
Another major contribution of Rizal to the populace is the hydraulic system. A walkway leads into the shady woods
and over the river where Rizal installed the waterwheel. The walkway ends at the beachside. Offshore, pumpboats have
long extended poles for raising and lowering fish into the water.
Brushes of Rizal’s life caught up with me as I stayed in Heidelberg, South Germany. This is where he finished the
novel Noli Me Tangere. His place of residence in Wilhelmsfeld is preserved. I once heard a Dutch student comment
that his life is being studied in their schools.
In Rizal Park, Heidelberg, our national hero is handsomely cast as a deep thinker and writer, with a book and pen in
hand. His expression is deep and pensive. Not distinguished for strength and height, he was nevertheless a stout-hearted
warrior who chose the biggest muscle in the human body as his weapon.
HEIDELBERG
History. The small town of Heidelberg is bursting from it. Human remains dating 500,000 BC, the oldest proof of man’s
existence in Europe were found in Heidelberg. The Celtics and Romans occupied the banks of the river Neckar.
Europe’s third oldest university was founded in Heidelberg in 1386. It holds 2.2 million books and manuscripts.
By 1518, the town was the center of humanism, the setting for Luther to expound on his theory. Freedom of religion
was granted in 1649.
Before the century ends, King Louis XIV of France laid Heidelberg a wasteland in three consecutive years. Afterwards,
its citizens slowly rebuilt the town and castle in the next centuries. The university was also re-established.
The ensuing threat of Napoleon brought the Tsar of Russia, Emperor of Austria, and King of Prussia together in 1815 to
Heidelberg where the formed an opposing alliance.
In WWII, citizens of Heidelberg handed the town unscathed to the Americans. Thus, Heidelberg was the administrative
headquarters for the American armed forces in Europe.
I emerged from the trees of Philosopher’s Road. Time was frozen as I gazed at the panorama of Heidelberg across the
Neckar river of the Rhine. The Alte Brücke (old bridge) with its four dramatic arches led to the quaint-looking town.
A castle nestled in the forest above. This sight fired the passion in poets and artists, thus turning Heidelberg into
the quintessence of the German romantic period.
I continued my exploration across the old stone bridge built by Prince Elector Karl Theodor. The Karlstor gate is
flanked by two towers of Baroque architecture. Both bridge and gate were built 1742-1799.
Near the gate is the Church of the Holy Ghost founded by Prince Elector Ruprecht III, otherwise known as King Ruprecht
I, King of Germany. In this church, The King’s and Queen’s 15th century tombs are carved with their likeness.
In the middle ages, residents maximized space by building houses in tall gothic and baroque styles. Cobblestone streets
crisscrossed. So easily did I imagine Rizal walking these same roads. I lost track of time, discovered nooks and
crannies, alleys and stone walls, courtyards of fountains, and solid houses built for Rapunzels. One famous establishment
for its renaissance style is Hotel Zum Ritter.