The article was written by Maximo Viola’s great-grandson, Ramon Viola. Dr. Maximo Viola, or Lolo Maximo to us, nationalist, compatriot, and close friend of Dr. Jose Rizal, was born on October 17, 1857 in the town of San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan, to Pedro Viola and Isabel Sison. Known as the “savior” of the Noli Me Tangere, which he financed in 1887, Lolo Maximo spent his childhood years in Bulacan and Manila. After studying at San Juan de Letran College and completing a year of medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas, Lolo left the Philippines for Spain in 1882 to pursue a medical degree at the University of Barcelona, which he obtained in 1886. Author Ramon Viola standing outside the Archbishop’s Palace in Leitmeritz which Rizal and Lolo Maximo also visited in May of 1887
Isang eksibit ang ipapamalas sa unang palapag ng Aklatang DLSU Maynila sa buong buwan ng Hunyo 2011, ang buwan ng ika-150 taong kaarawan ng ating pambansang bayani na si Gat Dr. José Rizal, na pinamagatang “My Rizal at My La Salle.” Ang eksibit na handog ng Aklatan ng Pamantasang De La Salle Maynila sa pakikipagtulungan ng DLSU Departamento ng Kasaysayan, at ng inisyatibang MY RIZAL 150 ay katatampukan ng kayamanang Rizaliana sa Koleksyong Lopez-Rizal Bantug na nasa mismong Aklatang DLSU Maynila at ng mga mas bagong aklat ukol kay Rizal na nasa nasabi ring aklatan.