Who was Jose Rizal? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

Died At Age: 35

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Josephine Bracken

father: Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado de Alejandro

mother: Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda de Quintos

siblings: Concepción, José Protasio, Josefa, Lucia, Maria, Narcisa, Paciano Rizal, Saturina, Soledad, Trinidad

children: Francísco Rizal y Bracken

Born Country: Philippines

Revolutionaries Filipino Men

Died on: December 30, 1896

place of death: Bagumbayan, Manila[

Cause of Death: Execution

Founder/Co-Founder: La Liga Filipina

More Facts

education: University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Paris, Complutense University of Madrid, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, University of Santo Tomas

awards: - FAMAS Awards for Best Story category for Gerardo de León's adaptation of his book Noli Me Tángere

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1

Why is Jose Rizal considered a national hero in the Philippines?

Jose Rizal is considered a national hero in the Philippines because of his significant role in the country's fight for independence from Spanish colonial rule. He was a prominent figure in the Philippine Revolution and used his writings to inspire and mobilize Filipinos to stand up against oppressive colonial forces.
2

What were Jose Rizal's major contributions to Philippine society and history?

Jose Rizal made major contributions to Philippine society and history through his literary works, which exposed the injustices and abuses of the Spanish colonial government. His novels, such as "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," sparked nationalistic sentiments and paved the way for the Philippine Revolution.
3

How did Jose Rizal's ideas and writings influence the Philippine Revolution?

Jose Rizal's ideas and writings greatly influenced the Philippine Revolution by awakening the national consciousness of Filipinos and inspiring them to fight for their rights and freedom. His works challenged the status quo and encouraged Filipinos to resist colonial oppression and work towards independence.
4

What was Jose Rizal's stance on education and reform in the Philippines?

Jose Rizal advocated for education and reform in the Philippines as a means to uplift the country and its people. He believed that education was key to national progress and emphasized the importance of critical thinking, civic responsibility, and cultural pride in shaping a better future for the nation.
5

How did Jose Rizal's martyrdom impact the course of Philippine history?

Jose Rizal's martyrdom, through his execution by the Spanish authorities, further fueled the flames of revolution in the Philippines. His death served as a rallying cry for Filipinos to continue the fight for independence and galvanized the movement towards nationhood and self-determination.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, one of the 11 children of Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Morales Alonso y Quintos. He later adopted a shorter version of his name, Jose Rizal. His family was very prosperous.

He enrolled at Ateneo de Municipal de Manila and graduated with a degree in Land Surveying and Assessment in 1877. He had a deep interest in arts and thus he went to the Faculty of Arts and Letters for a degree in Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas.

His mother was becoming blind during this time and the young man decided to specialize in ophthalmology in order to help her. He enrolled at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at University of Santo Tomas in 1878 for this purpose.

He went to Spain to continue his studies and enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid from where he earned his degree in medicine in 1884. He completed another degree in Philosophy and Letters from the same institute the next year.

He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and went to France to further his knowledge of ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg. He completed his eye specialization in 1887 under the tutelage of the famous professor Otto Becker.

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Later Life

In 1887, while studying medicine in the Universidad Central de Madrid, he wrote the novel ‘Noli Me Tangere’. He harshly criticized the Spanish colonial rule in Philippines and wrote of the injustices and brutalities suffered by the native people. His novel was banned by the government due to its scathing contents.

He had been exposed to the problematic life under the Spanish government and was aware of the difficulties experienced by the Filipinos. He became the leader of the reform movement of Filipino students in Spain and wrote several articles and essays in the Spanish newspaper ‘La Solidaridad’.

He believed that Philippines was struggling with the twin problems of corrupt friars and bad government. Ideas of progressive ideals, peaceful reforms, individual rights and rights for the Filipino people formed the foundation of his writings.

The main focus of the reforms he advocated were freedom of assembly and speech, representation in the legislature, equal rights before the law for both Filipinos and Spanish, and that the Philippines be a province of Spain. However, the colonial authorities did not favor these reforms.

In 1891, his second novel ‘El Filibusterismo’ was published as a sequel to his first novel. The novel dealt with dark and violent themes that were considerably different from the theme of its predecessor. The novel profoundly impacted the Philippine society’s views about national identity and was banned in some parts of the country for its portrayal of the Spanish government’s corruption.

He returned to Philippines in 1892 as he felt he needed to be in the country to effectively bring about reforms. He formed a civic movement called La Liga Filipina which campaigned for social reforms through peaceful and legal means.

By the early 1890s the government had branded Rizal an enemy of the State in spite of the fact that he advocated peaceful reforms; the authorities were angry with his novels and writings which had exposed the corruption of the Spanish Colonial government. He was exiled to Dapitan in July 1892.

In Dapitan he continued his reform work by building a school for young boys, a hospital and a water supply system. He also taught farming and worked on agricultural projects using abaca, a plant used for making rope.

In 1895, Cuba was engulfed by an epidemic of yellow fever and Rizal volunteered to serve as an army doctor. His request was accepted by the Governor-General Ramon Blanco.

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By August 1896, a secret society Katipunan started a violent revolution. Even though Rizal was in no way associated with the revolution, he was arrested enroute to Cuba.

He was sent back to Manila where he was tried for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy and convicted of all these charges.

Major Works

Jose Rizal was a national hero of the Philippines who exposed the corruptions and wrongdoings of the Spanish colonial government through his writings. He was an advocate of peaceful reforms and founded the progressive organization ‘La Liga Filipina’ which was considered a threat by the Spanish authorities and ultimately led to his arrest.

Personal Life & Legacy

He had been involved with numerous women including Gertrude Beckett, Nelly Boustead, Seiko Usui and Leonor Rivera.

He had a civil marriage with an Irish woman from Hong Kong named Josephine Bracken. The couple had one son, born prematurely, who died soon after birth.

He was a polymath with the exceptional ability to master several subjects and skills. He was a doctor, writer, poet, artist, farmer, educator, and historian. He also had considerable knowledge in the fields of economics, anthropology, dramatics and sociology. He could speak 22 languages.

He was arrested in October 1896 and convicted on charges of sedition, conspiracy and rebellion. He was sentenced to death. His execution was carried out on December 30, 1896 by a squad of Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army.

Facts About Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal was a talented artist and was skilled in sculpting, painting, and sketching. He even used his artistic abilities to create political cartoons that criticized the Spanish colonial government.

Rizal was a polyglot, proficient in several languages, including Spanish, English, French, German, and Chinese. This linguistic talent allowed him to communicate with people from various backgrounds and cultures.

Rizal was an advocate for women's rights and believed in gender equality. He supported women's education and empowerment, and his writings reflected his progressive views on gender roles in society.

Rizal was an accomplished fencer and marksman. He excelled in these sports and even won various fencing competitions during his time in Europe.

Jose Rizal Biography

You wanted to know

Why is Jose Rizal considered a national hero in the Philippines?

What were Jose Rizal's major contributions to Philippine society and history?

How did Jose Rizal's ideas and writings influence the Philippine Revolution?

What was Jose Rizal's stance on education and reform in the Philippines?

How did Jose Rizal's martyrdom impact the course of Philippine history?