Jose Rizal
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Jose Rizal (Born José Protacio Mercado Rizal y Realonda) is a national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race. He was born on June 19, 1861 in the town of Calamba, Laguna.
[edit] Family and Early life
He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). His parents were educated and belonged to distinguished families. His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, was an industrious farmer from Biñan, Laguna. Rizal called him "a model of fathers." His mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. She was a cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal said was a "loving and prudent mother". , He learned the alphabet from his mother at the age of three. At age five, while learning to read and write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives with his pencil drawings and sketches and with his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, Sa Aking Mga Kabata. The theme of it revolves on the love of one’s language.
[edit] Education
In 1877, at the age of 16, he got his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas. At the same time, he took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. He stopped in his studies when he felt that the Filipino students were being discriminated against by their Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain. In Spain, he continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was got the degree of Licentiate in Medicine. On June 19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters.
Having traveled throughout Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages. These include:
A versatile genius, he was good at many professions:
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[edit] Political Life
He hoped to get political and social reforms for his country and to educate his countrymen. Rizal wrote several works with nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his book, Noli Me Tengere was published. It exposed the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy. El Filibusterismo, his second novel was published on September 18, 1891. It was more revolutionary and tragic his first novel.
Rizal was not liked by those in power. His exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials led himself, his relatives and countrymen into trouble. because of this, he and those who he knew were being watched by the government. They were not only finding faults but were making up charges against him. He was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892. they said that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and business. He maintained and operated a hospital. He taught the English and Spanish languages and the arts.
When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, his enemies immediately pressed him down. They were able get witnesses that linked him with the revolt. He was never allowed to confront these witnesses. From November 3, 1986, to the date of his execution, he was again held at Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem. It is now called Ultimo Adios. It is considered a masterpiece and a living document. It expresses the hero’s great love of country as well as that of all Filipinos. After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal association. He was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan Field. He was 35 years old at the time of his death.