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 Jose
Rizal's real name was Jose Protacio Mercado Alonzo. He
was born in Calamba, Laguna on June 19,1861. His parents
were Don Francisco Engracio Rizal and Teodora Morales
Alonzo Realonda.
His lone brother Paciano was older than him. He was the
7th child in a brood of eleven. Jose used the family
name Rizal in compliance with a directive issued by
Governor General Claveria on November 21, 1841.
As a young boy, Jose was fondly called Pepe by his
parents and siblings. His mother was the first to
discover his extraordinary intelligence.
His mother Dona Teodora was his first mentor. Even
before Jose went to study in Binan, Laguna, he already
knew how to read and write. His teacher, Justiniano Cruz
suggested that he pursue his studies in Manila to
further cultivate his natural talent.
Jose entered Ateneo de Manila University in 1872. There
he registered the excellent scholastic marks. He went on
to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree obtaining highest
academic honors.
He wasted no time in taking up Philosophy of Letters at
the University of Santo Tomas as preparatory for a
medical course. He was not able to finish medicine here
because he left for Spain when he was only 21 years old.
There he continued his studies in medicine.
He stayed in Spain for three years where he finished his
doctorate degree in medicine in 1885.
He toured many countries in Europe and studied the
different cultures and languages of each country he
visited. At age 27, he already became an expert on
western culture and language and was recognized as a
certified linguist.
It was in Germany and France where he became interested
in studying ophthalmology. He made use of his knowledge
in eye surgery after he successfully operated on his
mother's cataract.
After his medical studies, Rizal focused on the field of
literature. He wrote many articles and books that
depicted the cruelties suffered by Filipinos at the
hands of their Spanish conquistadors. |
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Two of his novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
drew so much attention. The two books bravely exposed
the brutality of the Spanish colonizers to the helpless
Filipinos. Many believed that the two books were the
main reasons why Spanish colonizers ordered for Rizal's
execution.
It was during the peak of the twin novel's popularity in
1887 that Rizal decided to go back to his home country.
This heightened the anger of the clergymen and Spanish
authorities. Fearing for his safety, Rizal's parents
asked him to go back to Europe. On his way there, he
visited Japan and the United States of America.
Rizal knew about the abuses committed by the Spanish
colonizers to his town mates in Calamba. They were
forced to pay higher taxes. Those who are not able to
pay were forced to leave their homes and their lands
confiscated. His own family was not spared from these
abuses. His parents were also forced to vacate from
their home and land.
Rizal sought the help of higher Spanish authorities in
Spain. He narrated all the sentiments of his countrymen
and that of his town mates in Calamba. He was assured
that everything will be settled but none of it was
fulfilled.
This angered Rizal even more and inspired him to fight
fiercely for more drastic reforms for his motherland.
He came back to the Philippines in June 3,1892 and
formed a secret society that goes by the name "La Liga
Filipina." Its prime objective was to unite the
Filipinos and work for their independence.
But this only made the Spanish authorities and clergy
more furious. They ordered for his arrest and sent him
into exile in Dapitan on December 7. 1892.
Rizal's exile in Dapitan did not go to waste. He cured
many sick people, performed eye surgery to half-blind
folks and built school houses, which he himself taught.
He also planted crops and raised farm animals, collected
insects, which he studied and preserved and built
irrigation systems for the rice fields.
He became the savior of the needy and the sick in that
remote town in Mindanao. The townsfolk learned to love
him and he was treated like a real son of Dapitan.
It was also in Dapitan where he met and loved Josephine
Bracken.
Rizal sought permission from the Spanish authorities to
allow him to leave for Cuba to help cure Spanish injured
Spanish forces fighting there. Cuba was under Spanish
rule that time.
Governor General Blanco granted Rizal's request but his
enemies did not stop pressuring the Spanish government
until they see Rizal dead.
Rizal did not reach Cuba anymore. He was arrested and
jailed at Fort Santiago in Intramuros. While in jail he
continued to write subversive articles against the
Spanish occupation. It was here he wrote his immortal
masterpiece "Mi Ultimo Adios" (My Last Farewell).
Rizal was killed by musketry. He was supposed to be shot
at the back but he insisted to be shot facing his
executioners because he wanted to symbolize that he did
not betray his countrymen. The leader of the execution
team did not agree to this. When he was about to be
shot, Rizal bravely turned to the front side and faced
his killers.
Rizal died as a hero and martyr on December 30,1896 in
Bagumbayan, now popularly known as Luneta or Rizal Park. |
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