Leviste buys Germany house where Jose Rizal completed ‘Noli Me Tangere’ 

Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste has purchased the house in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany where national hero Jose Rizal completed his famed novel “Noli Me Tangere.” 

A post on his Facebook page said the lawmaker purchased the house to preserve the site. 

“Layunin ng pagbili at pagpreserba ng bahay na ito na mapanatili ang isang makasaysayang lugar kung saan isinilang ang mga ideyang tumulong sa pagsiklab ng Himagsikang Pilipino at paghubog ng bansang Pilipinas,” the statement read. 

(The goal of buying and preserving this house is to maintain a historical site where the ideas that helped spark the Philippine Revolution and shape the Filipino nation were born.) 

According to the lawmaker’s office, Leviste's mother Senator Loren Legarda asked him to purchase the home, where Rizal lived while studying ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg. The house had served as a home to pastors since 1886, but hasn’t been in use since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Subalit matapos ang COVID-19 pandemic, hindi na ito ginagamit, kaya’t inilapit ito sa ina ni Cong. Leandro na si Senator Loren Legarda. Dahil walang ibang bumili ng bahay upang mapreserba ito, iminungkahi ni Sen. Loren kay Cong. Leandro na bilhin ito, nang walang gastos mula sa gobyerno, at gawing museo na bukas sa lahat ng mga Pilipino at dayuhang bumibisita sa Wilhelmsfeld upang maunawaan ang buhay at mga akda ni Rizal,” the statement read. 

(After the COVID-19 pandemic, the house was no longer being used, which is why it was brought to the attention of Cong. Leandro’s mother, Senator Loren Legarda. Because no one else was going to buy the house to preserve it, Sen. Loren suggested to Cong. Leandro that he buy it, at no cost to the government, and turn it into a museum open to all Filipinos and foreign visitors in Wilhelmsfeld to understand the life and works of Rizal.) 

Leviste held a signing ceremony last week, along with Dr. Franz Hack Ullmer, the great-grandson of Pastor Karl Ullmer, who was Rizal’s friend.

Also present at the signing were representatives of the Protestant church that owned the house; Dr. Tobias Dangel, the Mayor of Wilhelmsfeld; and Herbert Ehses, the Germany chapter commander of the Knights of Rizal.

“Ibinigay din ni Dr. Ullmer kay Cong. Leandro ang isang lamesa na kahawig ng lamesang pinagsulatan ni Rizal ng Noli Me Tangere, kasama ang iba pang mga bagay mula sa Rizal collection ng pamilyang Ullmer,” the statement added. 

(Dr. Ullmer also gave Cong. Leandro a table similar to the one Rizal used when writing Noli Me Tangere, along with other items from the Ullmer family’s Rizal collection.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News