19/06/2026
AHORA NA HISTORIA | The 165th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Today, we commemorate the 165th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, whose life of scholarship, service, and peaceful reform continues to inspire generations of Filipinos.
Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Rizal excelled as a physician, writer, and patriot. Through his landmark novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, he exposed the injustices of Spanish colonial rule and awakened the Filipino spirit of nationalism.
Although he championed reform through education, reason, and dialogue, Rizal's unwavering love for country led to his martyrdom on December 30, 1896. His legacy endures as a timeless reminder that knowledge, integrity, and courage are powerful instruments in the pursuit of justice, freedom, and nation-building.
As we honor his birth anniversary, may Dr. Rizal's life continue to inspire us to become persons of excellence, service, and love for the nation.
AHORA NA HISTORIA | THE 165TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF DR. JOSE RIZAL, VOLUME II, ISSUE 5
One-hundred sixty-five years ago today, Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born in Calamba, Laguna. He would later become a patriot, physician, and writer, whose life and works inspired the growth of Filipino nationalism during the Spanish colonial period.
Born to Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso Realonda, Rizal was the seventh of eleven children in a prosperous, educated family. His parents belonged to the principalia and ilustrado classes, giving him access to education and opportunities unavailable to most Filipinos during the nineteenth century. From an early age, Rizal displayed exceptional intelligence and curiosity. His mother became his first teacher, teaching him how to read and write at the age of three, while his father's former classmate, Leon Monroy, introduced him to the rudiments of Latin.
Rizal spent his childhood in Calamba, Laguna, where he developed a deep appreciation for nature, learning, and storytelling. Many of his later writings reflected memories of his youth, his family's values, and his growing awareness of the social inequalities experienced by Filipinos under Spanish rule. Despite growing up in relative comfort, Rizal witnessed firsthand the injustices committed against his countrymen, experiences that would later shape his political and intellectual convictions.
In 1872, Rizal enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, one of the country's leading educational institutions. There, he excelled academically and distinguished himself in literature, painting, and the sciences. He graduated in 1877 with highest honors and continued his studies at the University of Santo Tomas, initially taking Philosophy and Letters before shifting to Medicine due to concerns about his mother's failing eyesight.
In May 1882, Rizal secretly departed for Spain with the assistance of his elder brother, Paciano Rizal. Moreover, while in Europe, Rizal became actively involved in the Propaganda Movement, a reform campaign that sought equal rights and representation for Filipinos within the Spanish Empire. His most influential contributions were his novels Noli Me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891), which exposed the abuses of colonial authorities and the friars.
Upon returning to the Philippines, Rizal established La Liga Filipina in 1892, a peaceful reform organization dedicated to civic improvement and national unity. Shortly after its founding, he was arrested and exiled to Dapitan in Mindanao. During his four years of exile, Rizal remained productive as a physician, teacher, engineer, farmer, and community leader. He introduced agricultural projects, treated patients, educated local children, and continued his scientific and literary pursuits.
Although Rizal advocated peaceful reforms rather than armed revolution, the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1896 led Spanish authorities to accuse him of rebellion and sedition. Following a military trial, he was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad at Bagumbayan, Manila, on December 30, 1896. His martyrdom transformed him into a lasting symbol of the Filipino struggle for freedom and national identity.
Today, June 19 is commemorated throughout the Philippines as the birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal. His life exemplifies the power of education, intellectual excellence, peaceful reform, and patriotism. More than a century after his death, Rizal remains an enduring inspiration to Filipinos and a reminder that the pen, knowledge, and courage can become powerful instruments in the pursuit of justice and nationhood.
References (by author):
1. Ateneo de Manila University. Archives and Publications on Jose Rizal. Accessed June 2, 2026. https://archium.ateneo.edu/history-faculty-pubs/43/
2. Guerrero, Leon Ma. The First Filipino: A Biography of Jose Rizal. Manila: National Historical Institute, 2008.
3. Ocampo, Ambeth R. Rizal Without the Overcoat. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, 2011.
4. Project Gutenberg. The Hero of the Filipinos: The Story of José Rizal, Poet, Patriot and Martyr. Accessed June 2, 2026. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73848
5. Zaide, Gregorio F., and Sonia M. Zaide. Jose Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings. Manila: Anvil Publishing, 1999.
Authored by: Schummers, Lianne
Layout by: Humpa, Alexcis
19/06/2026
19/06/2026
18/06/2026
18/06/2026
17/06/2026
17/06/2026
17/06/2026
17/06/2026
16/06/2026