07/12/2025
Everything You Need to Know About Dr. Josรฉ P. Rizal
I. Basic Information
Full Name: Josรฉ Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda
Born: June 19, 1861
Birthplace: Calamba, Laguna, Philippines
Died: December 30, 1896 (executed by firing squad)
Nationality: Filipino
Professions: Doctor (ophthalmologist), writer, poet, scientist, linguist, educator, reformist, and national hero
Rizal is considered the Philippinesโ national hero for his patriotism, intellect, and peaceful advocacy for reforms during Spanish colonial rule.
II. Family Background
Parents:
Francisco Mercado โ a prosperous tenant farmer
Teodora Alonso Realonda โ a well-educated and strong-willed mother
Siblings (11 in total):
1. Saturnina
2. Paciano
3. Narcisa
4. Olimpia
5. Lucia
6. Maria
7. Josรฉ (himself)
8. Concepciรณn
9. Josefa
10. Trinidad
11. Soledad
Rizalโs family was known for education and progressive values.
III. Education
โข Rizal was a brilliant student from a young age.
โข Primary Education
โข Studied under local tutors and at Biรฑan, Laguna.
โข Higher Education
โข Ateneo Municipal de Manila
โข Graduated with highest honors (Bachelor of Arts)
โข University of Santo Tomas
โข Studied Medicine and Philosophy
โข University of Madrid (Spain)
โข Completed Doctor of Medicine
โข Specialized in ophthalmology to cure his motherโs eyesight problems
He also studied in Paris and Heidelberg, becoming one of the most well-trained Filipino doctors of his time.
IV. Rizal as a Writer
Rizal is most famous for his novels and essays exposing Spanish abuses.
Major Novels:
1. Noli Me Tรกngere (1887)
Uncovered corruption and brutality of Spanish friars
Highlighted social injustices
Characters: Crisostomo Ibarra, Maria Clara, Elias, Sisa
2. El Filibusterismo (1891)
Darker and more political
Exposed greed, abuse, and desire for power
Showed the dangers of oppression
Characters: Simoun (Ibarra), Isagani, Basilio
These novels awakened Filipino nationalism and angered the Spanish government.
V. Rizalโs Other Works
Poems:
Mi รltimo Adiรณs (My Last Farewell)
To the Philippine Youth
A La Juventud Filipina
Sa Aking Mga Kabata (authorship debated)
Essays:
The Philippines a Century Hence
The Indolence of the Filipino
Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
Other Contributions
Rizal wrote about:
โข Anthropology
โข History
โข Culture
โข Education
โข Womenโs rights
โข Freedom and equality
VI. Rizal as a Scientist, Linguist, and Intellectual
Rizal was a polymath, skilled in many fields:
He mastered 22 languages, including:
โข Spanish
โข English
โข German
โข French
โข Latin
โข Greek
โข Japanese
โข Tagalog
โข And more
Areas of expertise:
๏ถ Ophthalmology
๏ถ Anthropology
๏ถ Agriculture
๏ถ Zoology
๏ถ Architecture
๏ถ Engineering
๏ถ Sculpture
๏ถ Painting
๏ถ Martial arts
His wide knowledge showed his belief in education as a tool for freedom.
VII. Rizal as a Reformer
Rizal did not call for immediate revolution. Instead, he wanted peaceful reforms such as:
๏ถ Equal rights for Filipinos and Spaniards
๏ถ Representation in the Spanish Cortes (parliament)
๏ถ Abolition of friar abuses
๏ถ Freedom of speech and press
๏ถ Education for all Filipinos
๏ถ He founded La Liga Filipina, a reformist organization that aimed for unity and peaceful change.
VIII. Exile in Dapitan (1892โ1896)
The Spanish arrested and exiled him to Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte.
During his exile, he:
Treated patients as a doctor
Built a school for boys
Conducted scientific research
Improved the community through engineering projects
Wrote poems and letters
Practiced agriculture
He also met Josephine Bracken, whom he loved and lived with.
IX. Trial and Ex*****on
o In 1896, the Spanish accused him of:
o Rebellion
o Sedition
o Conspiracy
o Even though he supported peaceful reform, he was blamed for the Philippine Revolution.
Ex*****on:
Date: December 30, 1896
Place: Bagumbayan (now Luneta/Rizal Park)
He wrote Mi รltimo Adiรณs, his farewell poem, the night before his death.
Rizalโs martyrdom ignited Filipino nationalism and fueled the revolution.
X. Legacy
Rizal is honored as:
๏ถ The National Hero of the Philippines
๏ถ A symbol of education, freedom, and moral courage
๏ถ An inspiration for peaceful reform and intellectual resistance
๏ถ Places and institutions named after him:
๏ถ Rizal Province
๏ถ Rizal Park
๏ถ Numerous schools, streets, universities, and monuments
๏ถ Statues around the world (Spain, Germany, Japan, USA, Singapore, etc.)
His life teaches:
โข Love for country
โข Value of education
โข Courage to fight injustice
โข Respect for human dignity
XI. Why Rizal is the National Hero
โข He fought oppression without violence
โข United Filipinos through education and writing
โข Died for the countryโs freedom
โข Showed that intellectual and moral courage can change society
