Pinoy Congressman Buys Jose Rizal's Historic German House — Plans to Turn It Into a Museum

Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste has purchased the house in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany where national hero Jose Rizal completed his iconic novel "Noli Me Tangere." The lawmaker says the goal is to preserve the site and transform it into a museum open to all Filipinos and visitors.

According to Leviste's office, it was his mother, Senator Loren Legarda, who asked him to buy the property. The house had been a home to pastors since 1886 but fell into disuse after the COVID-19 pandemic. When no other buyer stepped up to preserve it, Legarda suggested her son acquire it — using no government funds.

"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 lawmaker's statement read. The house is where Rizal lived while studying ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg.

Leviste held a signing ceremony last week with Dr. Franz Hack Ullmer, the great-grandson of Pastor Karl Ullmer, who was Rizal's close friend during his time in Germany. Also present were representatives of the Protestant church that owned the property, Wilhelmsfeld Mayor Dr. Tobias Dangel, and Herbert Ehses, the Germany chapter commander of the Knights of Rizal.

In a special gesture, Dr. Ullmer gifted Leviste a table similar to the one Rizal used while writing Noli Me Tangere, along with other items from the Ullmer family's personal Rizal collection. The acquisition is a proud moment for Filipino heritage preservation abroad.

Source: GMA News