The National Hero Dr. José Rizal stayed in Wilhelmsfeld near Heidelberg in Germany from April 26 to June 26 of the Year 1886 and finalized his novel Noli me Tangere.Art is a powerful tool. It can convey a message that can transform a society, preserve a dying culture, or revive a lost faith. When other communication between people seems not to be possible anymore, art may still be a way to bridge different opinions.
Dr. Jose Rizal, the National Hero of the Philippines spent a short, but very important part in 1886 in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld, Germany. During his studies at the Heidelberg University Eye Clinic, the surroundings inspired him to write his famous poem “A las Flores de Heidelberg”. During his time, he met Protestant Pastor Karl Ullmer, who invited him to stay with his family in the vicarage in Wilhelmsfeld. During his stay, he encountered religious tolerance while Pastor Ullmer and the catholic clergy having openly discussions, even drinking white wine from time to time, a white burgundy from the nearby village of Schriesheim.
Those open communications influenced him, that beside his ongoing studies in Heidelberg he found time to “moderate” and completed some statements of his famous, strongly autobiographical novel “Noli me Tangere” while still staying in Wilhelmsfeld. The novel was later printed in Berlin, where Rizal went after he left Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld.
His experiences in Germany led him to place great emphasis on education, hard work, democratic and civil rights and patriotism, through which he wanted to win freedom for his country and his compatriots.
In 2015 the wine label for the first edition of Rizal Wine from Schriesheim was created by the Philippine Artist Oscar Ramos, who stayed that time with the Rizalist and Artcollector Mr. Klaus W. Hartung.In 2019 the second edition of the wine label was chosen during an art competition within the Magkaisa, former Transwing Art Gallery Artists. The winner was Filipino Contemporary Artist Dominic Urbano.For the next editions of the Schriesheim Burgundy a new label will be created, taking into consideration the time Dr. Jose Rizal stayed in the village of Wilhelmsfeld, the so-called Noli Village.Magkaisa - Consultancy and Gallery through Mr. Klaus W. Hartung partnered this year with the Mayor of Wilhelmsfeld, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt and the Order of the Knights of Rizal HD-Wilhelmsfeld. With the support of additional sponsors like Etihad Airways, the German Embassy in Manila, Philippines, the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, Germany and the German Club Manila the Jose Rizal wine label competition under the guidance of the Master Watercolorist Artist Rafael Popoy Cusi was set into reality.
The white wine in Schriesheim to be filled and labeled with the picture of the winning artwork of this competition is just in time for 2024, when the Philippines and Germany will celebrate the 70th year anniversary of diplomatic relations of both countries.
Magkaisa draws on its rich German-Filipino heritage of resilience, strength and dependability and is honored to provide insights of the relation between Germany and the Philippines during the time of the National Hero of the Philippines, Dr. José Rizal.
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