Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal: A Biographical Sketch
BY TEOFILO H. MONTEMAYOR
JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and

pride of the Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in
the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in
a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his
parents were educated and belonged to distinguished
families.
His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious
farmer whom Rizal called "a model of fathers," came
from Biñan, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y
Quintos, a highly cultured and accomplished woman
whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother," was born
in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned
the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to read
and write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist.
He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil
drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. At the
age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata,"
the theme of which revolves on the love of one’s
language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his
Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent"
from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year,
he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of
Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading
to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the
Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21, 1877
and passed the Surveyor’s examination on May 21, 1878;
but because of his age, 17, he was not granted license to
practice the profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878,
he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas
but had to stop in his studies when he felt that the Filipino
students were being discriminated upon by their
Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain
where he continued his studies at the Universidad Central
de Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was
conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on
June 19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in
Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "excellent."
Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia,
he mastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan,
Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew,
Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian,
Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other native dialects. A
versatile genius, he was an architect, artists, businessman,
cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific
farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician,
mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic
surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist,
sculptor, sociologist, and theologian.
He was an expert swordsman and a good shot. In the hope
of securing political and social reforms for his country
and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the
greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while
in Europe, several works with highly nationalistic and
revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book,
NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the
arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was
published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris,
Morga’s SUCCESSOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS with
his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a
civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the
Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on September 18,
1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a
sequel to the NOLI and more revolutionary and tragic
than the latter, was printed in Ghent. Because of his
fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil
and clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of
those in power. This led himself, his relatives and
countrymen into trouble with the Spanish officials of the
country. As a consequence, he and those who had
contacts with him, were shadowed; the authorities were
not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin
him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago
from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a charge 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 conducted classes- taught his pupils the
English and Spanish languages, the arts.
The sciences, vocational courses including agriculture,
surveying, sculpturing, and painting, as well as the art of
self defense; he did some researches and collected
specimens; he entered into correspondence with renowned
men of letters and sciences abroad; and with the help of
his pupils, he constructed water dam and a relief map of
Mindanao - both considered remarkable engineering feats.
His sincerity and friendliness won for him the trust and
confidence of even those assigned to guard him; his good
manners and warm personality were found irresistible by
women of all races with whom he had personal contacts;
his intelligence and humility gained for him the respect
and admiration of prominent men of other nations; while
his undaunted courage and determination to uplift the
welfare of his people were feared by his enemies.
When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26,
1896, his enemies lost no time in pressing him down.
They were able to enlist witnesses that linked him with
the revolt and these were never allowed to be confronted
by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986, to the date of his
execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago. In
his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem, now known as
"Ultimo Adios" which is considered a masterpiece and a
living document expressing not only the hero’s great love
of country but also that of all Filipinos. After a mock trial,
he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming
illegal association. In the cold morning of December 30,
1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years of life had been
packed with varied activities which proved that the
Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who
treat him as a slave, was shot at Bagumbayan Field.
The Mercado Family
The Rizals is considered one of the biggest families
during their time. Domingo Lam-co, the family's paternal
ascendant was a full-blooded Chinese who came to the
Philippines from Amoy, China in the closing years of the
17th century and married a Chinese half-breed by the
name of Ines de la Rosa.
Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had
also traces of Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Even Negrito
blood aside from Chinese.
Jose Rizal came from a 13-member family consisting of
his parents, Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso
Realonda, and nine sisters and one brother.
FRANCISCO MERCADO (1818-1898)

Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of
Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in Biñan, Laguna on April 18,
1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.
TEODORA ALONSO (1827-1913)
Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo
Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She studied at the Colegio de
Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman, courteous,
religious, hard-working and well-read. She was born in Santa
Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in
Manila.
SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-1913)

Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel
Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas.
PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930)

Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San
Jose College in Manila; became a farmer and later a general of
the Philippine Revolution.
NARCISA RIZAL (1852-1939)
The third child. married Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal; a
teacher and musician.
OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887)

The fourth child. Married Silvestre Ubaldo; died in 1887 from
childbirth.
LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919)

The fifth child. Married Matriano Herbosa.
MARIA RIZAL (1859-1945)

The sixth child. Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.
JOSE RIZAL (1861-1896)
The second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the
Spaniards on December 30,1896.
CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865)

The eight child. Died at the age of three.
JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-1945)

The ninth child. An epileptic, died a spinster.
SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929)

The youngest child married Pantaleon Quintero.
RIZAL’S EARLY CHILDHOOD
In Calamba, Laguna
19 June 1861
JOSE RIZAL, the seventh child of Francisco Mercado Rizal and
Teodora Alonso y Quintos, was born in Calamba, Laguna.
22 June 1861
He was baptized JOSE RIZAL MERCADO at the Catholic of
Calamba by the parish priest Rev. Rufino Collantes with Rev.
Pedro Casañas as the sponsor.
28 September 1862
The parochial church of Calamba and the canonical books,
including the book in which Rizal’s baptismal records were
entered, were burned.
1864
Barely three years old, Rizal learned the alphabet from his
mother.
1865
When he was four years old, his sister Conception, the eight
child in the Rizal family, died at the age of three. It was on this
occasion that Rizal remembered having shed real tears for the
first time.
1865 – 1867
During this time his mother taught him how to read and write.
His father hired a classmate by the name of Leon Monroy who,
for five months until his (Monroy) death, taught Rizal the
rudiments of Latin.
At about this time two of his mother’s cousin frequented
Calamba. Uncle Manuel Alberto, seeing Rizal frail in body,
concerned himself with the physical development of his young
nephew and taught the latter love for the open air and developed
in him a great admiration for the beauty of nature, while Uncle
Gregorio, a scholar, instilled into the mind of the boy love for
education. He advised Rizal: "Work hard and perform every task
very carefully; learn to be swift as well as thorough; be
independent in thinking and make visual pictures of everything."
6 June 1868
With his father, Rizal made a pilgrimage to Antipolo to fulfill
the vow made by his mother to take the child to the Shrine of the
Virgin of Antipolo should she and her child survive the ordeal of
delivery which nearly caused his mother’s life.
From there they proceeded to Manila and visited his sister
Saturnina who was at the time studying in the La Concordia
College in Sta. Ana.
1869
At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem entitled "Sa Aking
Mga Kabata." The poem was written in tagalog and had for its
theme "Love of One’s Language."
Early Education in Calamba and Binan
Rizal had his early education in Calamba and Biñan. It was
a typical schooling that a son of an ilustrado family received
during his time, characterized by the four R’s- reading,
writing, arithmetic, and religion. Instruction was rigid and
strict. Knowledge was forced into the minds of the pupils by
means of the tedious memory method aided by the teacher’s
whip. Despite the defects of the Spanish system of
elementary education, Rizal was able to acquire the
necessary instruction preparatory for college work in
Manila. It may be said that Rizal, who was born a physical
weakling, rose to become an intellectual giant not because of,
but rather in spite of, the outmoded and backward system of
instruction obtaining in the Philippines during the last
decades of Spanish regime.
The Hero’s First Teacher

The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was a remarkable
woman of good character and fine culture. On her lap, he
learned at the age of three the alphabet and the prayers. "My
mother," wrote Rizal in his student memoirs, "taught me how to
read and to say haltingly the humble prayers which I raised
fervently to God."
As tutor, Doña Teodora was patient, conscientious, and
understanding. It was she who first discovered that her son had a
talent for poetry. Accordingly, she encouraged him to write
poems. To lighten the monotony of memorizing the ABC’s and
to stimulate her son’s imagination, she related many stories.
As Jose grew older, his parents employed private tutors to give
him lessons at home. The first was Maestro Celestino and the
second, Maestro Lucas Padua. Later, an old man named Leon
Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the boy’s
tutor. This old teacher lived at the Rizal home and instructed
Jose in Spanish and Latin. Unfortunately, he did not lived long.
He died five months later.
After a Monroy’s death, the hero’s parents decided to send their
gifted son to a private school in Biñan.
Jose Goes to Biñan
One Sunday afternoon in June , 1869, Jose, after kissing the
hands of his parents and a tearful parting from his sister, left
Calamba for Biñan. He was accompanied by Paciano , who
acted as his second father. The two brothers rode in a carromata,
reaching their destination after one and one-half hours’ drive.
They proceeded to their aunt’s house, where Jose was to lodge.
It was almost night when they arrived, and the moon was about
to rise.
That same night, Jose, with his cousin named Leandro, went
sightseeing in the town. Instead of enjoying the sights, Jose
became depressed because of homesickness. "In the moonlight,"
he recounted, "I remembered my home town, my idolized
mother, and my solicitous sisters. Ah, how sweet to me was
Calamba, my own town, in spite of the fact that was not as
wealthy as Biñan."
First Day in Biñan School
The next morning (Monday) Paciano brought his younger
brother to the school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
The school was in the house of the teacher, which was a small
nipa hut about 30 meters from the home of Jose’s aunt.
Paciano knew the teacher quite well because he had been a pupil
under him before. He introduced Jose to the teacher, after which
he departed to return to Calamba.
Immediately, Jose was assigned his seat in the class. The teacher
asked him:
"Do you know Spanish?"
"A little, sir," replied the Calamba lad.
"Do you know Latin?"
"A little, sir."
The boys in the class, especially Pedro, the teacher’s son
laughed at Jose’s answers.
The teacher sharply stopped all noises and begun the lessons of
the day.
Jose described his teacher in Biñan as follows: "He was tall,
thin, long-necked, with sharp nose and a body slightly bent
forward, and he used to wear a sinamay shirt, woven by the
skilled hands of the women of Batangas. He knew by the heart
the grammars by Nebrija and Gainza. Add to this severity that in
my judgement was exaggerated and you have a picture, perhaps
vague, that I have made of him, but I remember only this."
First School Brawl In the afternoon of his first day in school,
when the teacher was having his siesta, Jose met the bully,
Pedro. He was angry at this bully for making fun of him during
his conversation with the teacher in the morning.
Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The latter readily accepted,
thinking that he could easily beat the Calamba boy who was
smaller and younger.
The two boys wrestled furiously in the classroom, much to the
glee of their classmates. Jose, having learned the art of wrestling
from his athletic Tio Manuel, defeated the bigger boy. For this
feat, he became popular among his classmates.
After the class in the afternoon, a classmate named Andres
Salandanan challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. They
went to a sidewalk of a house and wrestled with their arms. Jose,
having the weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his head on the
sidewalk.
In succeeding days he had other fights with the boys of Biñan.
He was not quarrelsome by nature, but he never ran away from a
fight.
Best Student in School
In academic studies, Jose beat all Biñan boys. He surpassed
them all in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects.
Some of his older classmates were jealous of his intellectual
superiority. They wickedly squealed to the teacher whenever
Jose had a fight outside the school, and even told lies to discredit
him before the teacher’s eyes. Consequently the teacher had to
punish Jose.
Early Schooling in Biñan
Jose had a very vivid imagination and a very keen sense of
observation. At the age of seven he traveled with his father for
the first time to Manila and thence to Antipolo to fulfill the
promise of a pilgrimage made by his mother at the time of his
birth. They embarked in a casco, a very ponderous vessel
commonly used in the Philippines. It was the first trip on the
lake that Jose could recollect. As darkness fell he spent the hours
by the katig, admiring the grandeur of the water and the stillness
of the night, although he was seized with a superstitious fear
when he saw a water snake entwine itself around the bamboo
beams of the katig. With what joy did he see the sun at the
daybreak as its luminous rays shone upon the glistening surface
of the wide lake, producing a brilliant effect! With what joy did
he talk to his father, for he had not uttered a word during the
night!
When they proceeded to Antipolo, he experienced the sweetest
emotions upon seeing the gay banks of the Pasig and the towns
of Cainta and Taytay. In Antipolo he prayed, kneeling before the
image of the Virgin of Peace and Good Voyage, of whom he
would later sing in elegant verses. Then he saw Manila, the great
metropolis , with its Chinese sores and European bazaars. And
visited his elder sister, Saturnina, in Santa Ana, who was a
boarding student in the Concordia College.
When he was nine years old, his father sent him to Biñan to
continue studying Latin, because his first teacher had died. His
brother Paciano took him to Biñan one Sunday, and Jose bade
his parents and sisters good-bye with tears in his eyes. Oh, how
it saddened him to leave for the first time and live far from his
home and his family! But he felt ashamed to cry and had to
conceal his tears and sentiments. "O Shame," he explained,
"how many beautiful and pathetic scenes the world would
witness without thee!"
They arrived at Biñan in the evening. His brother took him to
the house of his aunt where he was to stay, and left him after
introducing him to the teacher. At night, in company with his
aunt’s grandson named Leandro, Jose took a walk around the
town in the light of the moon. To him the town looked extensive
and rich but sad and ugly.
His teacher in Biñan was a severe disciplinarian. His name was
Justiniano Aquino Cruz. "He was a tall man, lean and long-
necked, with a sharp nose and a body slightly bent forward. He
used to wear a sinamay shirt woven by the deft hands of
Batangas women. He knew by memory the grammars of Nebrija
and Gainza. To this add a severity which, in my judgement I
have made of him, which is all I remember."
The boy Jose distinguished himself in class, and succeeded in
surpassing many of his older classmates. Some of these were so
wicked that, even without reason, they accused him before the
teacher, for which, in spite of his progress, he received many
whippings and strokes from the ferule. Rare was the day when
he was not stretched on the bench for a whipping or punished
with five or six blows on the open palm. Jose’s reaction to all
these punishments was one of intense resentment in order to
learn and thus carry out his father’s will.
Jose spent his leisure hours with Justiniano’s father-in-law, a
master painter. From him he took his first two sons, two
nephews, and a grandson. His way life was methodical and well
regulated. He heard mass at four if there was one that early, or
studied his lesson at that hour and went to mass afterwards.
Returning home, he might look in the orchard for a mambolo
fruit to eat, then he took his breakfast, consisting generally of a
plate of rice and two dried sardines.
After that he would go to class, from which he was dismissed at
ten, then home again. He ate with his aunt and then began at ten,
then home again. He ate with his aunt and then began to study.
At half past two he returned to class and left at five. He might
play for a short time with some cousins before returning home.
He studied his lessons, drew for a while, and then prayed and if
there was a moon, his friends would invite him to play in the
street in company with other boys.
Whenever he remembered his town, he thought with tears in his
eyes of his beloved father, his idolized mother, and his solicitous
sisters. Ah, how sweet was his town even though not so opulent
as Biñan! He grew sad and thoughtful.
While he was studying in Biñan, he returned to his hometown
now and then. How long the road seemed to him in going and
how short in coming! When from afar he descried the roof of his
house, secret joy filled his breast. How he looked for pretexts to
remain longer at home! A day more seemed to him a day spent
in heaven, and how he wept, though silently and secretly, when
he saw the calesa that was flower that him Biñan! Then
everything looked sad; a flower that he touched, a stone that
attracted his attention he gathered, fearful that he might not see
it again upon his return. It was a sad but delicate and quite pain
that possessed him.
Philosophies in Life
PHILOSOPHY may be defined as the study and pursuit
of facts which deal with the ultimate reality or causes of
things as they affect life.
The philosophy of a country like the Philippines is made
up of the intricate and composite interrelationship of the
life histories of its people; in other word, the philosophy
of our nation would be strange and undefinable if we do
not delve into the past tied up with the notable life
experiences of the representative personalities of our
nation.
Being one of the prominent representatives of Filipino
personalities, Jose Rizal is a fit subject whose life
philosophy deserves to be recognized.
Having been a victim of Spanish brutality early in his life
in Calamba, Rizal had thus already formed the nucleus of
an unfavorable opinion of Castillian imperialistic
administration of his country and people.
Pitiful social conditions existed in the Philippines as late
as three centuries after his conquest in Spain, with
agriculture, commerce, communications and education
languishing under its most backward state. It was because
of this social malady that social evils like inferiority
complex, cowardice, timidity and false pride pervaded
nationally and contributed to the decay of social life. This
stimulated and shaped Rizal’s life phylosophy to be to
contain if not eliminate these social ills.
Educational Philosophy
Rizal’s concept of the importance of education is clearly
enunciated in his work entitled Instruction wherein he
sought improvements in the schools and in the methods of
teaching. He maintained that the backwardness of his
country during the Spanish ear was not due to the
Filipinos’ indifference, apathy or indolence as claimed by
the rulers, but to the neglect of the Spanish authorities in
the islands. For Rizal, the mission of education is to
elevate the country to the highest seat of glory and to
develop the people’s mentality. Since education is the
foundation of society and a prerequisite for social
progress, Rizal claimed that only through education could
the country be saved from domination.
Rizal’s philosophy of education, therefore, centers on the
provision of proper motivation in order to bolster the
great social forces that make education a success, to
create in the youth an innate desire to cultivate his
intelligence and give him life eternal.
Religious Philosophy
Rizal grew up nurtured by a closely-knit Catholic family,
was educated in the foremost Catholic schools of the
period in the elementary, secondary and college levels;
logically, therefore, he should have been a propagator of
strictly Catholic traditions. However, in later life, he
developed a life philosophy of a different nature, a
philosophy of a different Catholic practice intermingled
with the use of Truth and Reason.
Why the change?
It could have been the result of contemporary contact,
companionship, observation, research and the possession
of an independent spirit.Being a critical observer, a
profound thinker and a zealous reformer, Rizal did not
agree with the prevailing Christian propagation of the
Faith by fire and sword. This is shown in his Annotation
of Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
Rizal did not believe in the Catholic dogma that salvation
was only for Catholics and that outside Christianity,
salvation was not possible even if Catholics composed
only a small minority of the world’s religious groups. Nor
did he believe in the Catholic observation of fasting as a
sacrifice, nor in the sale of such religious items as the
cross, medals, rosaries and the like in order to propagate
the Faith and raise church funds. He also lambasted the
superstitious beliefs propagated by the priests in the
church and in the schools. All of these and a lot more are
evidences of Rizal’s religious philosophy.
Political Philosophy
In Rizal’s political view, a conquered country like the
Philippines should not be taken advantage of but rather
should be developed, civilized, educated and trained in
the science of self-government.
He bitterly assailed and criticized in publications the
apparent backwardness of the Spanish ruler’s method of
governing the country which resulted in:
 the bondage and slavery of the conquered;
 the Spanish government’s requirement of forced
labor and force military service upon the n natives;
 the abuse of power by means of exploitation;
 the government ruling that any complaint against the
authorities was criminal; and
 Making the people ignorant, destitute and fanatic,
thus discouraging the formation of a national
sentiment.
Rizal’s guiding political philosophy proved to be the
study and application of reforms, the extension of human
rights, the training for self government and the arousing
of spirit of discontent over oppression, brutality,
inhumanity, sensitiveness and self love.
Ethical Philosophy
The study of human behavior as to whether it is good or
bad or whether it is right or wrong is that science upon
which Rizal’s ethical philosophy was based. The fact that
the Philippines was under Spanish domination during
Rizal’s time led him to subordinate his philosophy to
moral problems. This trend was much more needed at that
time because the Spaniards and the Filipinos had different
and sometimes conflicting morals. The moral status of the
Philippines during this period was one with a lack of
freedom, one with predominance of foreign masters, one
with an imposition of foreign religious worship, devotion,
homage and racial habits. This led to moral confusion
among the people, what with justice being stifled, limited
or curtailed and the people not enjoying any individual
rights.
To bolster his ethical philosophy, Dr. Rizal had
recognized not only the forces of good and evil, but also
the tendencies towards good and evil. As a result, he
made use of the practical method of appealing to the
better nature of the conquerors and of offering useful
methods of solving the moral problems of the conquered.
To support his ethical philosophy in life, Rizal:
 censured the friars for abusing the advantage of their
position as spiritual leaders and the ignorance and
fanaticism of the natives;
 counseled the Filipinos not to resent a defect
attributed to them but to accept same as reasonable
and just;
 advised the masses that the object of marriage was
the happiness and love of the couple and not financial
gain;
 censured the priests who preached greed and wrong
morality; and
 advised every one that love and respect for parents
must be strictly observed.
Social Philosophy
That body of knowledge relating to society including the
wisdom which man's experience in society has taught him
is social philosophy. The facts dealt with are principles
involved in nation building and not individual social
problems. The subject matter of this social philosophy
covers the problems of the whole race, with every
problem having a distinct solution to bolster the people’s
social knowledge.
Rizal’s social philosophy dealt with;
 man in society;
 influential factors in human life;
 racial problems;
 social constant;
 social justice;
 social ideal;
 poverty and wealth;
 reforms;
 youth and greatness;
 history and progress;
 future Philippines.
The above dealt with man’s evolution and his
environment, explaining for the most part human behavior
and capacities like his will to live; his desire to possess
happiness; the change of his mentality; the role of
virtuous women in the guidance of great men; the need
for elevating and inspiring mission; the duties and dictates
of man’s conscience; man’s need of practicing gratitude;
the necessity for consulting reliable people; his need for
experience; his ability to deny; the importance of
deliberation; the voluntary offer of man’s abilities and
possibilities; the ability to think, aspire and strive to rise;
and the proper use of hearth, brain and spirit-all of these
combining to enhance the intricacies, beauty and values
of human nature. All of the above served as Rizal’s guide
in his continuous effort to make over his beloved
Philippines.
The Many-Sided Personality
Filipinos and foreigners alike have paid tribute to Jose
Rizal claiming that his place of honor in history is secure.
It was his Austrian bosom friend, Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt, rector of the Imperial Atheneum of
Leitmeritz, who said "Rizal was the greatest product of
the Philippines and his coming to the world was like the
appearance of a rare comet, whose rare brilliance appears
only every other century." Another German friend, Dr.
Adolf B. Meyer, director of the Dresden Museum who
admired his all around knowledge and ability, remarked
"Rizal’s many-sidedness was stupendous." Our own Dr.
Camilo Osias pointed to him as the "versatile genius."
His precocity since early boyhood turned into versatility
in later years. Being curious and inquisitive, he developed
a rare facility of mastering varied subjects and
occupations.
Actor
Rizal acted as a character in one of Juan Luna’s paintings
and acted in school dramas.
Agriculturist
Rizal had farms in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte (1892-
1896) where he planted lanzones, coconuts and other
fruit-bearing trees.
Ambassador Of Good Will
His friendliness, goodwill and cultural associations with
friends entitled him as one.
Animal Lover
As a small boy, Rizal loved animals including birds, fish,
insects, and other specimens of animal life. Fowls,
rabbits, dogs, horses, and cats constituted his favorites. As
much as possible, he did not wish fowls to be killed even
for food, and showed displeasure in being asked to eat the
cooked animal. The family garden in Calamba abounded
with insects galore and birds native to the Calamba
environs. He wrote about and sketched animals of the
places he had toured.
Anthropologist
He made researches on the physical and social make up of
man.
Archeologist
Rizal studied monuments and antique currency
everywhere he went. He drew most of the monuments he
saw.
Ascetic
Rizal always practiced self-discipline wherever he went.
Book lover
He had a big library and brought many books abroad.
Botanist
Rizal maintained a garden in Dapitan where he planted
and experimented on plants of all kinds
Businessman
He had a partner in Dapitan in the Abaca business there
(1892-1896).
Cartographer
He drew maps of Dapitan, The Philippines and other
places he visited.
Chess Player
He played chess and bear several Germans and European
friends and acquaintances.
Citizen of the world
His extensive travels and multitude of friends in Europe,
Middle East and Asia made him one.
Commentator
Rizal always expresses and published his personal
opinion.
Conchologist
He had a good shell collection in Dapitan. An American
conchologist praised him.
Educator
Rizal taught in his special school in Dapitan.
Ethnologist
In his travels, Rizal was able to compare different races
and he noted the differences.
Father of community school
He proposed college in Hong Kong and his special school
in Dapitan made him a father of community schools.
Fencer
He fenced with Europeans and Juan Luna and other
friends in Europe.
Freemason abroad
He was member of La Solidaridad Lodge in Spain.
Horticulture and farmer
He experimented on and cultivated plants in Dapitan.
Historian
His annotation of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las
Islas Filipinas entitled him as one.
Humorist
There are many humorous incidents in the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Ichthyologist
He collected 38 new varieties of fish in Dapitan.
Japanophile
His admiration of Japanese traits and his knowledge of
her language proved he was one.
Journalist
He authored the published many articles in Spanish and
English and London.
Laboratory worker
He was employed in the clinic of Dr. L. Wecker in Paris.
Linguist
He spoke over 20 foreign languages.
Lover of truth
He chided Spanish writers for not writing the truth about
the Filipinos. He was always truthful since boyhood.
Musicians
He played the flute and composed pieces of music and
cultivated music appreciation.
Mythologist
Rizal used mythology in his Noli and Fili.
Nationalist
He gave full expression of the native spirit strengthened
by world civilization and loved and defended everything
Filipino.
Newspaperman
He wrote and published articles in many publications and
was one of the organizers of the La Solidaridad.
Ophthalmologist
He graduated in an ophthalmologic college in Spain.
Orientalist
Rizal admired the special characteristic and beauties of
Oriental countries peoples.
Pharmacologist
Rizal treasured and popularized the usefulness and
preparation of cures for treatment of his patients.
Philologist
Rizal loved of learning and literature is unequalled.
Philosopher
Rizal not only loved wisdom but also regulated his life
and enjoyed calmness of the life at all time
Physical culturist
Rizal maintained a good health by exercising all parts of
his body and eating proper foods
Physicians
He treated several patients afflicted not only with eye
diseases.
Plant lover
As a child, Rizal spend most of his time in the family
garden which was planted with fruit trees,
Shrubs and decorative trees. His diaries contained detailed
description and sketches of plants, flowers and fruits he
saw in the places he visited. He wrote poems on flower he
like very much as his poems To the Flowers of
Heidelberg.
Poet
Rizal wrote over 35 poems including his famous Ultimo
Adios.
Politician
Although Rizal did not engage in Politics, he exposed the
evils of the political activities of the Spaniards in the
Philippines through his writing.
Polyglot
Rizal spoke and wrote in 20 languages.
Proofreader
In Germany, He worked as a part-time proofreader of his
livelihood.
Propagandist
As a reformer, Rizal encourages the recommendation of
improving the government entities and discourage abuses
publishing articles.
Public relation man
He worked for better cooperation of rulers and subjects in
his country.
Reformer
He published the modern methods of government
administration, so changes could be made.
Researcher
Being a wide reader, he compared the old and new
practices in life.
Revolutionist
Rizal encouraged reforms, discouraged old, impractical
usage, and desired new and useful laws to benefit his
countrymen. He desired changes for the better.
Rhetorician
Rizal has always practiced the art of persuasive and
impressive speaking and writing.
Rural reconstruction worker
He practiced rural reconstruction work in Dapitan in 1894
and succeeded.
Sanitary engineer
His construction of a water system in Dapitan exemplified
this practice by Rizal.
Scientist
Rizal’s practice of many sciences here and abroad made
him noted scientist.
Sculptor
His works of his father and of Father Guerrico, S. J.
typified his sculptural ability.
Sharp shooter
He could hit a target 20 meters away.
Sinologist
Rizal’s ancestry and his ability to speak Chinese made
him one.
Sociologist
In Rizal’s study of Philippines social problems, he always
encouraged and introduced solutions.
Sodalist
He always joined fraternities, associations and
brotherhood, for self-improvement.
Sportsman
He engaged from a surveying class at the Ateneo after
passing his A. B. there.
Tourist
He was considered the foremost tourist due to his
extensive travels.
Traveler
He traveled around the world three times.
Tuberculosis expert
For having cured himself of this disease, he became and
was recognized as an expert.
Youth leader
He considered the youth as "the hope of his Fatherland."
Zoologist
He was fond of pets. He researched later on their
physiology, classification and habits.
Rizal's First Trip Abroad
3 May 1882
Rizal left Philippines for the first time Spain. He boarded
the Salvadora using a passport of Jose Mercado, which
was procured for him by his uncle Antonio Rivera, father
of Leonor Rivera. He was accompanied to the quay where
the Salvadora was moored by his uncle Antonio, Vicente
Gella, and Mateo Evangelista.
4 May 1882
He got seasick on board the boat.
5 May 1882
He conversed with the passengers of the ship; he was still
feeling sea-sick.
6 May 1882
He played chess with the passengers on board.
8 May 1882
He saw mountains and Islands.
9 May 1882
Rizal arrived at Singapore.
10 May 1882
He went around the town of Singapore and maid some
observations.
11 May 1882
In Singapore, at 2 p.m., Rizal boarded the boat Djemnah
to continue his trip to Spain. He found the boat clean and
well kept.
12 May 1882
He had a conversation with the passengers of the boat.
13 May 1882
Rizal was seasick again.
14 May 1882
On his way to Marseilles, Rizal had a terrible dream. He
dreamed he was traveling with Neneng (Saturnina) and
their path was blocked by snakes.
May 15 1882
Rizal had another disheartening dream. He dreamed he
returned to Calamba and after meeting his parents who
did not talk to him because of not having consulted them
about his first trip abroad, he returned traveling abroad
with one hundred pesos he again borrowed. He was so sad
and broken hearted. Soon he woke up and found himself
inside his cabin.
17 May 1882
Rizal arrived at Punta de Gales.
18 May 1882
At 7:30 a.m., he left Punta de Gales for Colombo. In the
afternoon, Rizal arrived at Colombo and in the evening
the trip was resumed.
26 May 1882
Rizal was nearing the African coast
27 May 1882
He landed at Aden at about 8:30 a.m. He made
observation at the time.
2 June 1882
He arrived at the Suez Canal en route to Marseilles.
3 June 1882
He was quarantined on board the Djemnah in the Suez
Canal.
6 June 1882
It was the fourth day at Suez Canal and was still
quarantined on board of the boat.
7 June 1882
Rizal arrived at Port Said. In a letter to his parents, He
described his trip en route to Aden along the Suez Canal.
11 June 1882
Rizal disembarked and, accompanied by a guide, went
around the City of Naples for one hour. This was the first
European ground he set foot on.
12 June 1882
At ten o’clock in the evening, the boat anchored at
Marseilles. He sleptn board.
13 June 1882
Early on the morning he landed at Marseilles and boarded
at the Noalles Hotel. Later he around for observation.
14 June 1882
His second in Marseilles.
15 June 1882
He left Marseilles for Barcelona in an express train.
Rizal, the Romantic
There were at least nine women linked with Rizal;
namely Segunda Katigbak, Leonor Valenzuela, Leonor
Rivera, Consuelo Ortiga, O-Sei San, Gertrude Beckette,
Nelly Boustead, Suzanne Jacoby and Josephine Bracken.
These women might have been beguiled by his
intelligence, charm and wit.
Segunda Katigbak and Leonor Valenzuela
Segunda Katigbak was her puppy love. Unfortunately, his
first love was engaged to be married to a town mate-
Manuel Luz. After his admiration for a short girl in the
person of Segunda, then came Leonor Valenzuela, a tall
girl from Pagsanjan. Rizal send her love notes written in
invisible ink, that could only be deciphered over the
warmth of the lamp or candle. He visited her on the eve of
his departure to Spain and bade her a last goodbye.
Leonor Rivera
Leonor Rivera, his sweetheart for 11 years played the
greatest influence in keeping him from falling in love
with other women during his travel. Unfortunately,
Leonor’s mother disapproved of her daughter’s
relationship with Rizal, who was then a known filibustero.
She hid from Leonor all letters sent to her sweetheart.
Leonor believing that Rizal had already forgotten her,
sadly consented her to marry the Englishman Henry
Kipping, her mother’s choice.
Consuelo Ortiga
Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, the prettier of Don Pablo Ortiga’s
daughters, fell in love with him. He dedicated to her A la
Senorita C.O. y R., which became one of his best poems.
The Ortiga's residence in Madrid was frequented by Rizal
and his compatriots. He probably fell in love with her and
Consuelo apparently asked him for romantic verses. He
suddenly backed out before the relationship turned into a
serious romance, because he wanted to remain loyal to
Leonor Rivera and he did not want to destroy hid
friendship with Eduardo de Lete who was madly in love
with Consuelo.
O Sei San
O Sei San, a Japanese samurai’s daughter taught Rizal the
Japanese art of painting known as su-mie. She also helped
Rizal improve his knowledge of Japanese language. If
Rizal was a man without a patriotic mission, he would
have married this lovely and intelligent woman and lived
a stable and happy life with her in Japan because Spanish
legation there offered him a lucrative job.
Gertrude Beckett
While Rizal was in London annotating the Sucesos de las
Islas Filipinas, he boarded in the house of the Beckett
family, within walking distance of the British Museum.
Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of
the three Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal.
Tottie helped him in his painting and sculpture. But Rizal
suddenly left London for Paris to avoid Gertrude, who
was seriously in love with him. Before leaving London,
he was able to finish the group carving of the Beckett
sisters. He gave the group carving to Gertrude as a sign of
their brief relationship.
Nellie Boustead
Rizal having lost Leonor Rivera, entertained the thought
of courting other ladies. While a guest of the Boustead
family at their residence in the resort city of Biarritz, he
had befriended the two pretty daughters of his host,
Eduardo Boustead. Rizal used to fence with the sisters at
the studio of Juan Luna. Antonio Luna, Juan’s brother and
also a frequent visitor of the Bousteads, courted Nellie but
she was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by
Filipinos in Madrid, a drunken Antonio Luna uttered
unsavory remarks against Nellie Boustead. This prompted
Rizal to challenge Luna into a duel. Fortunately, Luna
apologized to Rizal, thus averting tragedy for the
compatriots.
Their love affair unfortunately did not end in marriage. It
failed because Rizal refused to be converted to the
Protestant faith, as Nellie demanded and Nellie’s mother
did not like a physician without enough paying clientele
to be a son-in-law. The lovers, however, parted as good
friends when Rizal left Europe.
Suzanne Jacoby
In 1890, Rizal moved to Brussels because of the high cost
of living in Paris. In Brussels, he lived in the boarding
house of the two Jacoby sisters. In time, they fell deeply
in love with each other. Suzanne cried when Rizal left
Brussels and wrote him when he was in Madrid.
Josephine Bracken
In the last days of February 1895, while still in Dapitan,
Rizal met an 18-year old petite Irish girl, with bold blue
eyes, brown hair and a happy disposition. She was
Josephine Bracken, the adopted daughter of George
Taufer from Hong Kong, who came to Dapitan to seek
Rizal for eye treatment. Rizal was physically attracted to
her. His loneliness and boredom must have taken the
measure of him and what could be a better diversion that
to fall in love again. But the Rizal sisters suspected
Josephine as an agent of the friars and they considered her
as a threat to Rizal’s security.
Rizal asked Josephine to marry him, but she was not yet
ready to make a decision due to her responsibility to the
blind Taufer. Since Taufer’s blindness was untreatable, he
left for Hon Kong on March 1895. Josephine stayed with
Rizal’s family in Manila. Upon her return to Dapitan,
Rizal tried to arrange with Father Antonio Obach for their
marriage. However, the priest wanted a retraction as a
precondition before marrying them. Rizal upon the advice
of his family and friends and with Josephine’s consent
took her as his wife even without the Church blessings.
Josephine later give birth prematurely to a stillborn baby,
a result of some incidence, which might have shocked or
frightened her.
Rizal's Paintings
Title: Saturnina Rizal

Material: Oil
Remarks: Now in Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago
Title: Dapita church curtains
Material: Oil
Remarks: Made in Dapitan, 1894
Title: A painting on a pair of mother-of-pearl
Material: Oil
Remarks: Shells painted by Rizal in Dapitan and
given as a gift to Doña Leonor Valenzuela and later
passed into the hands of Doña Margarita Valenzuela
Title: Spanish coat of arms
Material: Water color
Remarks: Done during a fiesta of San Rafael in
Calamba in 1867
Title: Allegory on a pair of porcelain bases of the new
year celebration
Material: Oil
Remarks: Made in Berlin in 1886
Title: Christ crucified
Material: Crayon
Remarks: 1875
Title: Immaculate Conception
Material: Crayon
Remarks: Made in Manila, 1974
Title: Portrait of Morayta
Material: Crayon
Remarks: Made in Barcelona, 1885
Sketches Made by Rizal

Title: Singapore lighthouse
Material: Ink or pencil
Remarks: Sketch book of Rizal on his first trip on
May 1882 or the diary
Title: Along Suez Canal
Title: Castle of St. Elmo
Title: Aden
Title: Fishes caught in Dapitan
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in Dapitan, 18 in number
Title: Sketch of himself
Material:
Remarks: Made in the training class in sketching
Title: Pencil sketch of Dr. Blumentritt
Material: Pencil
Remarks: Made in Leitmeritz, 1886
Title: Monkey and the Turtoise
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made by Rizal in the album of Mrs. Juan
Luna in Paris in 1886
Title: Segunda Katigbak
Material: Ink
Remarks:
Title: Brooklyn Bridge
Material: Pencil
Remarks: De Nueva York (illustration) diary. Made in
1886
Title: Sulpakan
Material: Ink
Remarks: Epistolario Rizalino
Title: Father Pablo Pastells
Material:
Remarks: Lost
Title: Room in which El Filibusterismo was begun
Material: Crayon
Remarks: Made in October 1887 in Calamba
Title: Two sketches without description
Material: Crayon
Remarks: Madrid diary of January 1884. Academy of
San Fernando
Title: A landscape and sketch of a figure
Material:
Remarks: Madrid diary of January 1884. Academy of
San Fernando
Title: Side sketch of Rizal's nurse
Material:
Remarks:
Title: Side sketch of Señor Monroy
Material:
Remarks:
Title: Sketch of artist Juancho
Material:
Remarks:
Title: Padre Burgos
Material:
Remarks:
Title: Mt. Makiling
Material:
Remarks:
Title: Sketches of his stay in Japan
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in 1888
Title: Imitation of Japanese art
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in 1888
Title: Studies of passengers of SS Djemnah
Material: Pencil
Remarks: Sketchbook of Rizal on his first trip on May
1882
Title: Parting view of Manila
Material: Pencil
1882
Title: Cover of Noli Me Tangere
Material: Ink
Remarks: Now in the original Noli Me Tangere in
Bureau of Public Libraries
Title: Rizal family tree
Material:
Remarks: Made in Dapitan
Title: Heads of Sibili Cumana
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in Dapitan. Included in the Sibila
Cumana
Title: Antonio de Morga
Material: Pencil
Remarks: Made in London while annotating
"Sucecos"
Title: Sketch of friends in Cafe Madrid
Material: Chalk
Remarks: Lost
Title: Sketches of scenery and Filipino customs
Material:
Remarks: Sent to Dr. Czpelack in 1888 from London
Title: Pen sketches of Drs. de Wecker and Becker
made by Rizal and inserted in a letter to Dr. Viola
Material: Ink
Remarks: Lost. Made in Madrid in 1886
Title: Sketch of the ascent of Mt. Makiling
Material: Pencil
Remarks: Sent to Dr. Blumentritt
Title: Sketches of diary: De Heidelberg a Leipzig
pasando por el Rhin
Material: Pencil
Remarks: Made in Germany, Switzerland and Italy in
1887
Title: Sketches of diary: De Marseille and Hong Kong
Material: Pencil
Remarks: Made on board the Djemnah in 1887
Title: Sketches of "Apuntas de Portificacion de
Campaña"
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in London in 1888
Title: "Limang Salita"
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in Berlin 1886
Title: Notas Clinicas
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in Madrid in 1884-1885
Title: Sketch of the plan of their lodging house in 15
Baño, Madrid
Material: Ink
Remarks: Lopez Museum
Title: Sketches of archeological findings in Lumanao
hill
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in Dapitan, 1894-1895
Title: Sketches in "Hundred Letters"
Material: Ink
Remarks: May be seen in "100 Letters of Jose Rizal"
Material: Pencil
Title: Leonor Rivera
Material: Crayon
Remarks: Kept in original frame
Material: Pencil
Title: Sketch of himself
Material: Ink
Remarks: Sent to Dr. Blumentritt in 1887
Title: Sketch of Fritz Ullmer
Material: Pencil
Remarks: Made in Heidelberg in 1886
Title: Sketches of Spanish characters in Madrid
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in Madrid in 1883
Title: Cartoons made in Heidelberg
Material: Ink
Remarks: made in Heidelberg in 1886
Title: Sketch of Pastor Ullmer
Material: Pencil
Remarks: made in Heidelberg in 1886
Title: Sketch of Ephigenia
Material: Pencil
Title: Sketch of a gladiator
Material: Pencil
Title: Sketch of a boat
Material: Ink
Remarks: Made in Leitmeritz in 1886
Sculptures Made by Rizal

Title: Triumph of death over life
Material: Clay
Remarks: Given to Dr. Blumentritt in 1890 in
Brussels
Title: Triumph of science over death
Material: Clay
Brussels
Title: Bust of Father Jose Guerrico
Material: Clay
Title: Oyang Dapitana
Material: Clay
Remarks: Made in Dapitan in 1893 - 1894
Title: Model head of a Dapitan girl
Material: Clay
Title: Sacred heart of Jesus
Material: Wood
Remarks: Made in Ateneo de Manila in 1875 - 1877
Title: Sacred heart of Jesus
Material: Terra Cotta
Title: Composite statuette (nude lady lying down)
Remarks: Molded in Brussels in 1890
Title: Mother's revenge
Material: Clay
Remarks: Made in Dapitan in 1894
Title: Josephine Bracken (medallion)
Material: Wood
Remarks: Made in Dapitan in 1895 - 1896
Title: Dr. Francisco Mercado (bust)
Material: Wood
Remarks: Life-size. Made Calamaba in 1887 - 1888
Title: Prometheus bound
Material: Clay
Brussels
Title: Bust of Felix Pardo de Tavera
Material:
Remarks: Made in Paris
Title: Image of Virgin Mary
Material: Wood
Remarks: Made in Ateneo de Manila
Title: Wild boar
Material: Clay
Title: Orate Frantes (let us pray brethren)
Material: Wax
Remarks: Illustrated in Alejandro's La Senda Del
Sacrificio
Title: San Antonio de Padua
Material: Clay
Remarks:
Title: Bust of Dr. Ricardo Carnicero
Material: Clay
Remarks: Made in Dapitan, 1892 - 1893
Title: St. Paul the Hermit
Material: Clay
Remarks: Given as a gift to Fr. Pablo Pastells by Rizal
in Dapitan in 1893
Title: Bust of Gen. Blanco
Material: Ivory
Title: Heads of 3 Beckette Girls
Material: Bas Relief, Clay
Remarks: Made in London, 1888
Title: Josephine's Head
Material: Clay
Title: Two gate columns (depicting busts)
Material: Wood
Remarks: Made in Dapitan when the water service
was completed in 1895
Title: Parting view of Manila
Material: Pencil
1882
Title: Bust of Augustus Ceasar
Material: Clay
Remarks: Sent from London to Dr. Blumentritt in
1888
Title: Bust of Julius Ceasar
Material: Clay
Remarks: Sent from London in December 1888
Title: A (Filipina) girl doll
Material: Wood
Remarks:
Title: A marionette in a form of a clown
Material: Wood
Title: A gay Franciscan Friar beside a wine barrel
Material: Wood
Title: Biscuit mold
Material: Wood
Title: Wooden platters
Material: Wood
Remarks: Dapitan, 1894 - 1896
Title: Three wooden tops of different sizes
Material: Wood
Remarks: Dapitan 1894
Title: Allegoric medal - The Centenary of the Real
Society of the Friends of the Country
Material: Wax
Remarks: Retana
Title: Bust of an intern at Hospital de Sta. Cruz
Material: Clay
Remarks: Barcelona, 1885
Title: Two statuettes. A maiden and a beggar
Remarks: Sent to Blumentritt from Paris in September
1889
Title: Bust of Juan Sitges
Material: Clay
Title: Bust of "El Friale al Regreso"
Material: Wood
Remarks:
Title: A bowl of a pipe representing a girl's head
Material: Wood
Remarks: Dapitan
Title: Josephine Sleeping
Material: Plaster
Title: Bust of Gov. Carnicero and his wife
Material: Clay
Title: Public faucets representing a lion's head
Title: Bust of his father
Material: Clay
Remarks: Made in Calamba, 1881
Title: Head of Egyptian (candle holder)
Material: Plaster
Remarks: Made in Hong Kong in 1892
Title: Bust of Mirabeau
Remarks: Made in Barcelona, intended for Valentin
Ventura
Title: The wounded gladiator
Material: Clay
Remarks: Started in Madrid in 1884 at Academia de
San Fernando
Title: Bust Presented in the Solon of Paris
Material: Clay
Remarks: Accepted by the Solon in 1889
Maps and Plans Made by Rizal
Title: Relief map of Mindanao

Material:
Remarks: Made in Dapitan church plaza by the end of
1892
Title: Pacific ocean spheres of influence
Material:
Remarks: Made during the administration of Pres.
Benjamin Harrison. Mentioned by Rizal in his Article
"The Philippines a Century Hence", made in London in
1889.
Title: Plan for modern college (front and side views)
Material:
Remarks: Owned by Dr. L. L. R, apparently in Paris,
1872
Title: The lake district of central Luzon
Material:
Remarks: Mentioned in "Memorias de un Estudiante
de Manila", 1872.
Title: Plan of the waterworks in Dapitan
Material:
Remarks: Made with Father Sanchez, in Dapitan,
1895
Title: Sketch of the Lumanao Hill where jewels were
found
Material:
Remarks: Owned by Ateneo. Made in 1895
Rizal's Poems
Last Poem of Rizal (Mi Ultimo Adios)

[ Tagalog | English ]
To The Philippines
[ English ]
Our Mother Tongue

[ English ]
Memories of My town
[ English ]
Hymn to Labor
Kundiman
[ English ]
A Poem That Has No Title
[ English ]
Song of Maria Clara

To the Philippines Youth

To Josephine
[ English ]
Education Gives Luster to the Motherland

[ English ]
To the Virgin Mary

[ English ]
Sa Aking mga Kabata

[ Tagalog ]
NOVELS
Noli Me Tangere
Spain, to Rizal, was a venue for realizing his dreams. He
finished his studies in Madrid and this to him was the
realization of the bigger part of his ambition. His vision
broadened while he was in Spain to the point of
awakening in him an understanding of human nature,
sparking in him the realization that his people needed
him. It must have been this sentiment that prompted him
to pursue, during the re-organizational meeting of the
Circulo-Hispano-Filipino, to be one of its activities, the
publication of a book to which all the members would
contribute papers on the various aspects and conditions of
Philippines life.
"My proposal on the book," he wrote on January 2, 1884,

"was unanimously approved. But afterwards difficulties
and objections were raised which seemed to me rather
odd, and a number of gentlemen stood up and refused to
discuss the matter any further. In view of this I decided
not to press it any longer, feeling that it was impossible to
count on general support…"
"Fortunately," writes one of Rizal’s biographers, the

anthology, if we may call it that, was never written.
Instead, the next year, Pedro Paterno published his Ninay,
a novel sub-titled Costumbres filipinas (Philippines
Customs), thus partly fulfilling the original purpose of
Rizal’s plan. He himself (Rizal), as we have seen, had
‘put aside his pen’ in deference to the wishes of his
parents.
But the idea of writing a novel himself must have grown

on him. It would be no poem to forgotten after a year, no
essay in a review of scant circulation, no speech that
passed in the night, but a long and serious work on which
he might labor, exercising his mind and hand, without
troubling his mother’s sleep. He would call it Noli Me
Tangere; the Latin echo of the Spoliarium is not without
significance. He seems to have told no one in his family
about his grand design; it is not mentioned in his
correspondence until the book is well-nigh completed.
But the other expatriates knew what he was doing; later,
when Pastells was blaming the Noli on the influence of
German Protestants, he would call his compatriots to
witness that he had written half of the novel in Madrid a
fourth part in Paris, and only the remainder in Germany.
"From the first," writes Leon Ma. Guerrero, Rizal was

haunted by the fear that his novel would never find its
way into print, that it would remain unread. He had little
enough money for his own needs, let alone the cost of the
Noli’s publication… Characteristically, Rizal would not
hear of asking his friends for help. He did not want to
compromise them.
Viola insisted on lending him the money (P300 for 2,000
copies); Rizal at first demurred… Finally Rizal gave in
and the novel went to press. The proofs were delivered
daily, and one day the messenger, according to Viola,
took it upon himself to warn the author that if he ever
returned to the Philippines he would lose his head. Rizal
was too enthralled by seeing his work in print to do more
than smile.
The printing apparently took considerably less time than

the original estimate of five months for Viola did not
arrive in Berlin until December and by the 21st March
1887, Rizal was already sending Blumentritt a copy of
"my first book."
Rizal, himself, describing the nature of the Noli Me

Tangere to his friend Blumentritt, wrote, "The Novel is
the first impartial and bold account of the life of the
tagalogs. The Filipinos will find in it the history of the last
ten years…"
Criticism and attacks against the Noli and its author came
from all quarters. An anonymous letter signed "A Friar"
and sent to Rizal, dated February 15, 1888, says in part:
"How ungrateful you are… If you, or for that matter all
your men, think you have a grievance, then challenge us
and we shall pick up the gauntlet, for we are not cowards
like you, which is not to say that a hidden hand will not
put an end to your life."
A special committee of the faculty of the University of

Santo Tomas, at the request of the Archbishop Pedro
Payo, found and condemned the novel as heretical,
impious, and scandalous in its religious aspect, and
unpatriotic, subversive of public order and harmful to the
Spanish government and its administration of theses
islands in its political aspect.
On December 28, 1887, Fray Salvador Font, the cura of

Tondo and chairman of the Permanent Commission of
Censorship composed of laymen and ordered that the
circulation of this pernicious book" be absolutely
prohibited.
Not content, Font caused the circulation of copies of the

prohibition, an act which brought an effect contrary to
what he desired. Instead of what he expected, the negative
publicity awakened more the curiosity of the people who
managed to get copies of the book.
Assisting Father Font in his aim to discredit the Noli was

an Augustinian friar by the name of Jose Rodriguez. In a
pamphlet entitled Caiingat Cayo (Beware). Fr. Rodriguez
warned the people that in reading the book they "commit
mortal sin," considering that it was full of heresy.
As far as Madrid, there was furor over the Noli, as
evidenced by an article which bitterly criticized the novel
published in a Madrid newspaper in January, 1890, and
written by one Vicente Barrantes. In like manner, a
member of the Senate in the Spanish Cortes assailed the
novel as "anti-Catholic, Protestant, socialistic."
It is well to note that not detractors alone visibly reacted

to the effects of the Noli. For if there were bitter critics,
another group composed of staunch defenders found
every reason to justify its publication and circulation to
the greatest number of Filipinos. For instance, Marcelo H.
Del Pilar, cleverly writing under an assumed name
Dolores Manapat, successfully circulated a publication
that negated the effect of Father Rodriguez’ Caiingat
Cayo, Del Pilar’s piece was entitled Caiigat Cayo (Be
Slippery as an Eel). Deceiving similar in format to
Rodriguez’ Caiingat Cayo, the people were readily
"misled" into getting not a copy o Rodriguez’ piece but
Del Pillar’s.
The Noli Me Tangere found another staunch defender in

the person of a Catholic theologian of the Manila
Cathedral, in Father Vicente Garcia. Under the pen-name
Justo Desiderio Magalang. Father Garcia wrote a very
scholarly defense of the Noli, claiming among other
things that Rizal cannot be an ignorant man, being the
product of Spanish officials and corrupt friars; he himself
who had warned the people of committing mortal sin if
they read the novel had therefore committed such sin for
he has read the novel.
Consequently, realizing how much the Noli had awakened

his countrymen, to the point of defending his novel, Rizal
said: "Now I die content."
Fittingly, Rizal found it a timely and effective gesture to

dedicate his novel to the country of his people whose
experiences and sufferings he wrote about, sufferings
which he brought to light in an effort to awaken his
countrymen to the truths that had long remained
unspoken, although not totally unheard of.
Noli Me Tangere: Mga Tauhan

Sinimulang sulatin ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal ang mga unang
bahagi ng "Noli Me Tangere" noong 1884 sa Madrid
noong siya ay nag-aaral pa ng medisina. Nang makatapos
ng pag-aaral, nagtungo siya sa Paris at doon ipinagpatuloy
ang pagsusulat nito. At sa Berlin natapos ni Rizal ang
huling bahagi ng nobela.
Ang pagsusulat ng "Noli Me Tangere" ay bunga ng

pagbasa ni Rizal sa "Uncle Tom's Cabin" ni Harriet
Beacher Stowe, na pumapaksa sa kasaysayan ng mga
aliping Negro sa kamay ng mga panginoong putting
Amerikano. Inilarawan dito ang iba't ibang kalupitan at
pagmamalabis ng mga Puti sa Itim. Inihambing niya ito sa
kapalarang sinapit ng mga Pilipino sa kamay ng mga
Kastila.
Sa simula, binalak ni Rizal na ang bawat bahagi ng nobela

ay ipasulat sa ilan niyang kababayan na nakababatid sa uri
ng lipunan sa Pilipinas at yaon ay pagsasama-samahin
niyang upang maging nobela. Ngunit hindi ito nagkaroon
ng katuparan, kaya sa harap ng kabiguang ito, sinarili niya
ang pagsulat nang walang katulong.
Ipinaliwanag ni Rizal sa kanyang liham sa matalik niyang

kaibigang si Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt ang mga dahilan
kung bakit niya isinulat ang "Noli." Ang lahat ng mga ito
ay maliwanag na inilarawan sa mga kabanata ng nobela.
Ang pamagat ng "Noli Me Tangere" ay salitang Latin na

ang ibig sabihin sa Tagalog ay "Huwag Mo Akong
Salingin" na hango sa Ebanghelyo ni San Juan Bautista.
Itinulad niya ito sa isang bulok sa lipunan na
nagpapahirap sa buhay ng isang tao.
Mga Tauhan:
Crisostomo Ibarra
Binatang nag-aral sa Europa; nangarap na makapagpatayo
ng paaralan upang matiyak ang magandang kinabukasan
ng mga kabataan ng San Diego.
Elias
Piloto at magsasakang tumulong kay Ibarra para makilala
ang kanyang bayan at ang mga suliranin nito.
Kapitan Tiyago
Mangangalakal na tiga-Binondo; ama-amahan ni Maria
Clara.
Padre Damaso
Isang kurang Pransiskano na napalipat ng ibang parokya
matapos maglingkod ng matagal na panahon sa San
Diego.
Padre Salvi
Kurang pumalit kay Padre Damaso, nagkaroon ng lihim
na pagtatangi kay Maria Clara.
Maria Clara
Mayuming kasintahan ni Crisostomo; mutya ng San
Diego na inihimatong anak ng kanyang ina na si Doña Pia
Alba kay Padre Damaso
Pilosopo Tasyo
Maalam na matandang tagapayo ng marurunong na
mamamayan ng San Diego.
Sisa
Isang masintahing ina na ang tanging kasalanan ay ang
pagkakaroon ng asawang pabaya at malupit.
Basilio at Crispin
Magkapatid na anak ni Sisa; sakristan at tagatugtog ng
kampana sa simbahan ng San Diego.
Alperes
Matalik na kaagaw ng kura sa kapangyarihan sa San
Diego
Donya Victorina
Babaing nagpapanggap na mestisang Kastila kung kaya
abut-abot ang kolorete sa mukha at maling pangangastila.
Donya Consolacion
Napangasawa ng alperes; dating labandera na may
malaswang bibig at pag-uugali.
Don Tiburcio de Espadaña

Isang pilay at bungal na Kastilang napadpad sa Pilipinas
sa paghahanap ng magandang kapalaran; napangasawa ni
Donya Victorina.
Linares
Malayong pamangkin ni Don Tiburcio at pinsan ng
inaanak ni Padre Damaso na napili niya para
mapangasawa ni Maria Clara.
Don Filipo
Tinyente mayor na mahilig magbasa na Latin; ama ni
Sinang
Señor Nol Juan

Namahala ng mga gawain sa pagpapatayo ng paaralan.
Lucas
Taong madilaw na gumawa ng kalong ginamit sa di-
natuloy na pagpatay kay Ibarra.
Tarsilo at Bruno
Magkapatid na ang ama ay napatay sa palo ng mga
Kastila.
Tiya Isabel
Hipag ni Kapitan Tiago na tumulong sa pagpapalaki kay
Maria Clara.
Donya Pia
Masimbahing ina ni Maria Clara na namatay matapos na
kaagad na siya'y maisilang.
Iday, Sinang, Victoria,at Andeng
Mga kaibigan ni Maria Clara sa San Diego
Kapitan-Heneral
Pinakamakapangyarihan sa Pilipinas; lumakad na
maalisan ng pagka-ekskomunyon si Ibarra.
Don Rafael Ibarra

Ama ni Crisostomo; nakainggitan nang labis ni Padre
Damaso dahilan sa yaman kung kaya nataguriang erehe.
Don Saturnino
Nuno ni Crisostomo; naging dahilan ng kasawian ng nuno
ni Elias.
Mang Pablo
Pinuno ng mga tulisan na ibig tulungan ni Elias.
Kapitan Basilio
Ilan sa mga kapitan ng bayan sa San Diego Kapitan
Tinong at Kapitan Valentin
Tinyente Guevarra
Isang matapat na tinyente ng mga guwardiya sibil na
nagsalaysay kay Ibarra ng tungkol sa kasawiang sinapit
ng kanyang ama.
Kapitana Maria
Tanging babaing makabayan na pumapanig sa
pagtatanggol ni Ibarra sa alaala ng ama.
Padre Sibyla
Paring Agustino na lihim na sumusubaybay sa mga kilos
ni Ibarra.
Albino
Dating seminarista na nakasama sa piknik sa lawa.
El Filibusterismo
The word "filibustero" wrote Rizal to his friend,
Ferdinand Blumentritt, is very little known in the
Philippines. The masses do not know it yet.
Jose Alejandro, one of the new Filipinos who had been

quite intimate with Rizal, said, "in writing the Noli Rizal
signed his own death warrant." Subsequent events, after
the fate of the Noli was sealed by the Spanish authorities,
prompted Rizal to write the continuation of his first novel.
He confessed, however, that regretted very much having
killed Elias instead of Ibarra, reasoning that when he
published the Noli his health was very much broken, and
was very unsure of being able to write the continuation
and speak of a revolution.
Explaining to Marcelo H. del Pilar his inability to
contribute articles to the La Solidaridad, Rizal said that he
was haunted by certain sad presentiments, and that he had
been dreaming almost every night of dead relatives and
friends a few days before his 29th birthday, that is why he
wanted to finish the second part of the Noli at all costs.
Consequently, as expected of a determined character,

Rizal apparently went in writing, for to his friend,
Blumentritt, he wrote on March 29, 1891: "I have finished
my book. Ah! I’ve not written it with any idea of
vengeance against my enemies, but only for the good of
those who suffer and for the rights of Tagalog humanity,
although brown and not good-looking."
To a Filipino friend in Hong Kong, Jose Basa, Rizal

likewise eagerly announced the completion of his second
novel. Having moved to Ghent to have the book published
at cheaper cost, Rizal once more wrote his friend, Basa, in
Hongkong on July 9, 1891: "I am not sailing at once,
because I am now printing the second part of the Noli
here, as you may see from the enclosed pages. I prefer to
publish it in some other way before leaving Europe, for it
seemed to me a pity not to do so. For the past three
months I have not received a single centavo, so I have
pawned all that I have in order to publish this book. I will
continue publishing it as long as I can; and when there is
nothing to pawn I will stop and return to be at your side."
Inevitably, Rizal’s next letter to Basa contained the tragic

news of the suspension of the printing of the sequel to his
first novel due to lack of funds, forcing him to stop and
leave the book half-way. "It is a pity," he wrote Basa,
"because it seems to me that this second part is more
important than the first, and if I do not finish it here, it
will never be finished."
Fortunately, Rizal was not to remain in despair for long.

A compatriot, Valentin Ventura, learned of Rizal’s
predicament. He offered him financial assistance. Even
then Rizal’s was forced to shorten the novel quite
drastically, leaving only thirty-eight chapters compared to
the sixty-four chapters of the first novel.
Rizal moved to Ghent, and writes Jose Alejandro. The

sequel to Rizal’s Noli came off the press by the middle of
September, 1891.On the 18th he sent Basa two copies,
and Valentin Ventura the original manuscript and an
autographed printed copy.
Inspired by what the word filibustero connoted in relation

to the circumstances obtaining in his time, and his spirits
dampened by the tragic execution of the three martyred
priests, Rizal aptly titled the second part of the Noli Me
Tangere, El Filibusterismo. In veneration of the three
priests, he dedicated the book to them.
"To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez (85

years old), Don Jose Burgos (30 years old), and Don
Jacinto Zamora (35 years old). Executed in the
Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of February, 1872."
"The church, by refusing to degrade you, has placed in

doubt the crime that has been imputed to you; the
Government, by surrounding your trials with mystery and
shadows causes the belief that there was some error,
committed in fatal moments; and all the Philippines, by
worshipping your memory and calling you martyrs, in no
sense recognizes your culpability. In so far, therefore, as
your complicity in the Cavite Mutiny is not clearly
proved, as you may or may not have been patriots, and as
you may or may not cherished sentiments for justice and
for liberty, I have the right to dedicate my work to you as
victims of the evil which I undertake to combat. And
while we await expectantly upon Spain some day to
restore your good name and cease to be answerable for
your death, let these pages serve as a tardy wreath of dried
leaves over one who without clear proofs attacks your
memory stains his hands in your blood."
Rizal’s memory seemed to have failed him, though, for

Father Gomez was then 73 not 85, Father Burgos 35 not
30 Father Zamora 37 not 35; and the date of execution
17th not 28th.
The FOREWORD of the Fili was addressed to his

beloved countrymen, thus:
"TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AND THEIR

GOVERNMENT"
Rizal and the Katipuan

On June 21, 1896. Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
Bonifacio’s emissary, visited Rizal in Dapitan
and informed him of the plan of the
Katipunan to launch a revolution. Rizal
objected to Bonifacio’s bold project stating
that such would be a veritable suicide. Rizal
stressed that the Katipunan leaders should do
everything possible to prevent premature flow
of native blood. Valenzuela, however, warned
Rizal that the Revolution will inevitably break
out if the Katipunan would be discovered.
Sensing that the revolutionary leaders were

dead set on launching their audacious project,
Rizal instructed Valenzuela that it would be
for the best interests of the Katipunan to get
first the support of the rich and influential
people of Manila to strengthen their cause. He
further suggested that Antonio Luna with his
knowledge of military science and tactics, be
made to direct the military operations of the
Revolution.
Rizal and the Propaganda Movement

To prove his point and refute the accusations
of prejudiced Spanish writers against his race,
Rizal annotated the book, Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas, written by the Spaniard Antonio
Morga. The book was an unbiased
presentation of 16th century Filipino culture.
Rizal through his annotation showed that
Filipinos had developed culture even before
the coming of the Spaniards.
While annotating Morga’s book, he began

writing the sequel to the Noli, the El
Filibusterismo. He completed the Fili in July
1891 while he was in Brussels, Belgium. As in
the printing of the Noli, Rizal could not
published the sequel for the lack of finances.
Fortunately, Valentin Ventura gave him
financial assistance and the Fili came out of
the printing press on September 1891.
The El Filibusterismo indicated Spanish

colonial policies and attacked the Filipino
collaborators of such system. The novel
pictured a society on the brink of a revolution.
To buttress his defense of the native’s pride

and dignity as people, Rizal wrote three
significant essays while abroad: The
Philippines a Century hence, the Indolence of
the Filipinos and the Letter to the Women of
Malolos. These writings were his brilliant
responses to the vicious attacks against the
Indio and his culture.
While in Hongkong, Rizal planned the

founding of the Liga Filipina, a civil
organization and the establishment of a
Filipino colony in Borneo. The colony was to
be under the protectorate of the North Borneo
Company, he was granted permission by the
British Governor to establish a settlement on
a 190,000 acre property in North Borneo. The
colony was to be under the protectorate of
the North Borneo Company, with the "same
privileges and conditions at those given in the
treaty with local Bornean rulers".
Governor Eulogio Despujol disapproved the

project for obvious and self-serving reasons.
He considered the plan impractical and
improper that Filipinos would settle and
develop foreign territories while the colony
itself badly needed such developments.
Rizal's Articles in La Solidaridad

La verdad para todos (The Truth for All) –
May 31, 1889 Rizal’s irst article.
Verdades nuevas (New Facts) – July 31,

1889
Una profanacion (A Desecration) July 31,

1889 – A scathing attacked against the friars
for refusing to bury Mariano Herbosa in the
Catholic cemetary. The friars alleged that the
deceased had not made any confession since
his marriage to Lucia Rizal (1857-1919),
Rizal’s elder sister.
Diferencias (Differences) – September 15,

1889
Filipinas dentro de cien anos (The

Philippines Within One Hundred Years) –
serialized in La Solidaridad on September
30, October 31, December 15, 1889 and
February 1, 1890 Rizal prognosticated the
Filipinos’ revolution against Spain winning
their independence, but later the Americans
would come in over its colonization.
Ingratitudes (Ingratitudes) – January 15,

1890. A reply to Gov. Gen. Weyler who in
company with the Dominicans, visited the
Provine of Laguna. The Governor told the
people : "You should not allow yourselves to
be deceived by the vain promises of
ungrateful sons."
Sin nobre (Without Name) – February 28,

1890.
Sobre la nueva ortografia de la lengua
tagala (On the New Orthography of the
Tagalog Language) – April 15, 1890. Rizal’s
advocacy of a new spelling in Tagalog.
Cosas de Filipinas (Things About the

Philippines) – April 30, 1890.
Sobre la indolencia de los Filipinas (On

the Indolence of the Filipinos) – serialized on
July 15 to September 15, 1890. Rizal’s
brilliant and masterly defense against the
imputation of indolence of the Filipinos.
Rizal and the Katipuan

On June 21, 1896. Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
Bonifacio’s emissary, visited Rizal in Dapitan
and informed him of the plan of the
Katipunan to launch a revolution. Rizal
objected to Bonifacio’s bold project stating
that such would be a veritable suicide. Rizal
stressed that the Katipunan leaders should do
everything possible to prevent premature flow
of native blood. Valenzuela, however, warned
Rizal that the Revolution will inevitably break
out if the Katipunan would be discovered.
Sensing that the revolutionary leaders were

dead set on launching their audacious project,
Rizal instructed Valenzuela that it would be
for the best interests of the Katipunan to get
first the support of the rich and influential
people of Manila to strengthen their cause. He
further suggested that Antonio Luna with his
knowledge of military science and tactics, be
made to direct the military operations of the
Revolution.
Rizal and the Propaganda Movement

To prove his point and refute the accusations
of prejudiced Spanish writers against his race,
Rizal annotated the book, Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas, written by the Spaniard Antonio
Morga. The book was an unbiased
presentation of 16th century Filipino culture.
Rizal through his annotation showed that
Filipinos had developed culture even before
the coming of the Spaniards.
While annotating Morga’s book, he began

writing the sequel to the Noli, the El
Filibusterismo. He completed the Fili in July
1891 while he was in Brussels, Belgium. As in
the printing of the Noli, Rizal could not
published the sequel for the lack of finances.
Fortunately, Valentin Ventura gave him
financial assistance and the Fili came out of
the printing press on September 1891.
The El Filibusterismo indicated Spanish

colonial policies and attacked the Filipino
collaborators of such system. The novel
pictured a society on the brink of a revolution.
To buttress his defense of the native’s pride

and dignity as people, Rizal wrote three
significant essays while abroad: The
Philippines a Century hence, the Indolence of
the Filipinos and the Letter to the Women of
Malolos. These writings were his brilliant
responses to the vicious attacks against the
Indio and his culture.
While in Hongkong, Rizal planned the
founding of the Liga Filipina, a civil
organization and the establishment of a
Filipino colony in Borneo. The colony was to
be under the protectorate of the North Borneo
Company, he was granted permission by the
British Governor to establish a settlement on
a 190,000 acre property in North Borneo. The
colony was to be under the protectorate of
the North Borneo Company, with the "same
privileges and conditions at those given in the
treaty with local Bornean rulers".
Governor Eulogio Despujol disapproved the

project for obvious and self-serving reasons.
He considered the plan impractical and
improper that Filipinos would settle and
develop foreign territories while the colony
itself badly needed such developments.
Peaceful Life in Dapitan

During the early part of his exile in Dapitan, Rizal lived at
the commandant’s residence. With his prize from the
Manila Lottery and his earnings as a farmer and a
merchant, he bought a piece of land near the shore of
Talisay near Dapitan. On this land, he built three houses-
all made of bamboo, wood, and nipa. The first house
which was square in shape was his home. The second
house was the living quarters of his pupils. And the third
house was the barn where he kept his chickens. The
second house had eight sides, while the third had six
sides.
In a latter to his friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, on

December 19, 1893, Rizal described his peaceful life in
Dapitan.
"I shall tell you how we lived here. I have three houses-
one square, another hexagonal, and the third octagonal.
All these houses are made of bamboo, wood, and nipa. I
live in the square house, together with my mother, my
sister, Trinidad, and my nephew. In the octagonal house
live some young boys who are my pupils. The hexagonal
house is my barn where I keep my chickens.
"From my house, I hear the murmur of a clear brook

which comes from the high rocks. I see the seashore
where I keep two boats, which are called barotos here.
"I have many fruit trees, such as mangoes, lanzones,

guayabanos, baluno, nangka, etc. I have rabbits, dogs,
cats, and other animals.
"I rise early in the morning-at five-visit my plants, feed
the chickens, awaken my people, and prepare our
breakfast. At half-past seven, we eat our breakfast, which
consists of tea, bread, cheese, sweets, and other things.
"After breakfast, I treat the poor patients who come to my

house. Then I dress and go to Dapitan in my baroto. I am
busy the whole morning, attending to my patients in town.
"At noon, I return home to Talisay for lunch. Then, from

2:00 to 4:00 p.m., I am busy as a teacher. I teach the
young boys.
"I spend the rest of the afternoon in farming. My pupils

help me in watering the plants, pruning the fruits, and
planting many kinds of trees. We stop at 6:00 p.m. for the
Angelus
"I spend the night reading and writing."
Rizal in Manila Bay
6 August 1896
At dawn the España entered Manila Bay. He was not able
to depart immediately for Spain, because the Isla de
Luzon which Rizal was supposed to board left the day
before they arrived at Manila.
6 August to 2 September 1896

For twenty-seven days, from Thursday, August 6, to
Wednesday, September 2,1896, Rizal was kept under
arrest aboard the cruiser, Castilla, anhored off Cañacao,
Cavite.
12 August 1896
He sent a letter to his sister Narcisa , asking her to let
Josephine Bracken send him pants, vests, collars, and
cuffs, through a certain Prudencio Bulag.
19 August 1896
He advised his parents and sisters how they could visit
him on board the Castilla, and likewise requested Narcisa
to buy fruits for the officers of the cruiser, who treated
him well.
25 August 1896
In a letter, he thanked his sister Narcisa for the hospitality
she had shown by letting Josephine Bracken stay in her
house.
30 August 1896
Governor Ramon Balnco sent Rizal a letter
recommending him to the Minister of War, saying that
Rizal’s conduct in Dapitan was exemplary and that he had
no connection at all with the Philippine Revolution.
2 September 1896
Rizal was transferred to the boat Isla de Panay at 6:00
o’clock in the evening. He was met by the captain of the
boat, Capt. Alemany, and was given the best cabin. Later,
he wrote a letter to his mother informing her of his good
health on board the ship.
He informed his mother of his departure for Cuba,

comforting her that everybody is in the hands of the
Divine Providence. To his sisters, he urged them to take
good care and and love their aged parents the way they
expect their children to love them.

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Jose Rizal: A Biographical Sketch

JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and

FRANCISCO MERCADO (1818-1898)

SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-1913)

PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930)

OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887)

LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919)

MARIA RIZAL (1859-1945)

CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865)

JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-1945)

SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929)

The Hero’s First Teacher

Title: Saturnina Rizal

Sketches Made by Rizal

Sculptures Made by Rizal

Title: Relief map of Mindanao

Last Poem of Rizal (Mi Ultimo Adios)

Our Mother Tongue

Song of Maria Clara

To the Philippines Youth

Education Gives Luster to the Motherland

To the Virgin Mary

Sa Aking mga Kabata

"My proposal on the book," he wrote on January 2, 1884,

"Fortunately," writes one of Rizal’s biographers, the

But the idea of writing a novel himself must have grown

"From the first," writes Leon Ma. Guerrero, Rizal was

The printing apparently took considerably less time than

Rizal, himself, describing the nature of the Noli Me

A special committee of the faculty of the University of

On December 28, 1887, Fray Salvador Font, the cura of

Not content, Font caused the circulation of copies of the

Assisting Father Font in his aim to discredit the Noli was

It is well to note that not detractors alone visibly reacted

The Noli Me Tangere found another staunch defender in

Consequently, realizing how much the Noli had awakened

Fittingly, Rizal found it a timely and effective gesture to

Noli Me Tangere: Mga Tauhan

Ang pagsusulat ng "Noli Me Tangere" ay bunga ng

Sa simula, binalak ni Rizal na ang bawat bahagi ng nobela

Ipinaliwanag ni Rizal sa kanyang liham sa matalik niyang

Ang pamagat ng "Noli Me Tangere" ay salitang Latin na

Don Tiburcio de Espadaña

Señor Nol Juan

Don Rafael Ibarra

Jose Alejandro, one of the new Filipinos who had been

Consequently, as expected of a determined character,

To a Filipino friend in Hong Kong, Jose Basa, Rizal

Inevitably, Rizal’s next letter to Basa contained the tragic

Fortunately, Rizal was not to remain in despair for long.

Rizal moved to Ghent, and writes Jose Alejandro. The

Inspired by what the word filibustero connoted in relation

"To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez (85

"The church, by refusing to degrade you, has placed in

Rizal’s memory seemed to have failed him, though, for

The FOREWORD of the Fili was addressed to his

"TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AND THEIR

Rizal and the Katipuan

Sensing that the revolutionary leaders were