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is a small, mountainous, land-locked country in the heart of Europe.
It is bordered on the north by Germany, on the east by Austria and Liechtenstein,
on the south by Italy, and on the west by France. Switzerland is about
one-eight the size of the Philippines with a total area of 39,998 square
kilometers. Almost one half of the country is occupied by the mountain
ranges of the Alps.
Switzerland
is a land of great natural beauty. Lakes, valleys, and mountain peaks present
a splendid panorama to tourists and visitors from all over the world. Switzerland
derives much of its revenue from the tourist industry. From all over Europe
and the rest of the world, around 5,000,000 tourists visit Switzerland
every year to enjoy the scenery, to engage in summer and winter sports
or to regenerate their health in the clean air and bright sunshine of the
Swiss Alps.
But, perhaps
the most important reason why Dr. Jose Rizal went to visit Switzerland
was that he wanted to know more about its glorious history. Rizal was very
familiar with the heroic exploits of William Tell, the greatest legendary
hero of Switzerland. Hence, he was very eager to learn more about
the country, the people and their culture.
It should be
recalled that during his sojourn in Germany, Rizal had translated into
Tagalog language Schiller’s William Tell, a historical drama which deals
with the Swiss struggle for justice, unity and freedom from foreign domination.
There is no proof that William Tell, the hero, really existed, but
the play was partly based or inspired by actual events which took
place during the 13th century in the land which is now called Switzerland.
During that time, Switzerland was under the harsh rule of the Habsburg
monarchy. In 1291, a group of people from three neighboring regions united
themselves and organized a league for the purpose of defense of their common
area. That league was the beginning of Switzerland as a nation. It
was also the beginning of Switzerland’s long struggle for independence.
The hard and long fight for independence culminated in 1815 when the country
became a confederation, which the European powers during the Congress of
Vienna held in that year guaranteed its perpetual neutrality and agreed
that Switzerland should enjoy the blessings of liberty and independence
for all times.
Being a neutral
country, anybody who seeks protection in Switzerland cannot be turned over
to a foreign government for a political crime. Under the constitution,
safety is granted to political refugees. For this reason, Switzerland has
become a melting pot for reformers, thinkers, radicals and revolutionaries.
One of its famous citizens, was John Calvin, a leader of the Protestant
Reformation in Switzerland and a follower of the great religious reformer,
Martin Luther. Calvin was born in France, but he settled in Geneva where
he greatly influenced the religious, political and economic developments
of the city for many years.
Rizal was indeed
fascinated by the colorful history of Switzerland. When he finally returned
home to the Philippines in 1892, he immediately organized the Liga Filipina,
which was more or less similar in objectives to the early league formed
by the three original cantons of Switzerland. The main purposes of the
Liga Filipina were: (1) union of the entire archipelago into a compact,
vigorous, and homogeneous body, (2) mutual protection in every existence
and need, and (3) defence against all violence and injustice.
Moreover, Rizal
was undoutedly influenced by Schiller’s William Tell. In his second
novel, El Filibusterismo, he had paraphrased several passages from
the William Tell and incorporated them in the El Filibusterismo.
To wit, compare the following excerpts from the William Tell and
the El Filibusterismo:
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