PORTFOLIO IN G12-

LIFE AND WORKS

OF RIZAL
(1ST SEMESTER, AY 2024-2025)

Submitted by:
GUILLEN, STEHVE MATTHEW B.
BSCRIM 3- ALPHA

Submitted to:
ANA MIE B. SOBREVEGA, MIT
Instructor III
 José Rizal, a name connected with Philippine nationalism, remains a towering
figure in the nation's history. His life and labor stoked the embers of revolution against
Spanish colonial control. He was born in Calamba, Laguna, on June 19, 1861. Rizal
was more than just a national hero; he was a versatile talent who sparked social and
political revolution as a doctor, author, poet, essayist, sculptor, and activist. He received
a top- notch education thanks to his fortunate upbringing in the ilustrado class, the
educated elite, which helped him develop a profound awareness of both Filipino culture
and the inequities of colonial society. His lifelong commitment to reform was spurred by
this early exposure to both privilege and oppression, which had a tremendous impact on
his worldview. After completing his official education at Calamba, Rizal went on to study
at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he achieved academic success. But his
interest in learning went beyond the official educational system. He immersed himself in
the intellectual ferment of Spain, Germany, France, and England while pursuing more
schooling in Europe. His viewpoint was widened by these encounters, which exposed
him to progressive concepts and contemporary innovations. Ultimately, this influenced
his critical evaluation of colonial society and shaped his vision for a changed Philippines.

His writings serve as both powerful catalysts for national consciousness and
pillars of Philippine literature. The 1887 publication of Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)
was a potent critique of the abuses of authority that took place within the colonial
system. Rizal skillfully captured the hardships of a young Filipino scholar attempting to
bring about change in a corrupt and repressive society through the character of
Crisostomo Ibarra. The novel's striking depictions of religious hypocrisy, social inequities,
and the exploitation of the Filipino people struck a deep chord with readers, igniting
contentious discussions and upending the existing quo. Its darker sequel, El
Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), which was released in 1891, mirrored Rizal's
increasing pessimism on the viability of nonviolent change. By using a more intricate
and ethically dubious story to reflect the intricacies of the fight for national freedom, it
portrayed a more extreme approach to social change. Even though both books were
fictional, the Filipino people's desire for independence was strongly echoed by their
underlying themes of resistance to oppression.

In addition to his novels, Rizal wrote a great deal of poetry, essays, articles, and
letters, all of which demonstrated his sharp mind and unwavering dedication to social
change. His writings gave the Filipino people a strong voice and articulated their desires
for independence and self-determination. He became a martyr whose death sparked the
Philippine Revolution, nevertheless, as his vocal criticism finally resulted in his arrest
and execution on December 30, 1896. His influence is still felt today, influencing
Philippine politics and culture and demonstrating the ability of one person to spark a
country's independence movement
 The Literary and Political Contributions of Jose Rizal

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was bom on June 19, 1861,
approximately 35 years before that fateful day. The seventh of the eleven children born
to a relatively well-off family in a Dominican-owned tenant land in Calamba, Laguna,
Jose Rizal lived and died during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. Jose's
father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, was a productive farmer from Binan, Laguna, while his
mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, was an educated and highly cultured woman from
Sta. Cruz, Manila In his early childhood, Jose had mastered the alphabet, learned to
write and read books like the Spanish version of the Vulgate Bible. At young age, he
already showed inclinations to arts. He amazed his family by his pencil drawings,
sketches, and moldings of clay. Later in his childhood, he showed special talent in
painting and sculpture, wrote a Tagalog play which was presented at a Calamba fiesta,
and penned a short play in Spanish which was presented in school. At the age of eleven,
Rizal attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila and obtained at the age of 16 his
Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent. In the same year (1877), he took
Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time
enrolled in a course in land surveying at the Ateneo. He finished his surveyor's training
in 1877, passed the licensing exam in May 1878, though the license was granted to him
only in 1881 when he reached the age of majority. He enrolled in medicine at the
University of Santo Tomas in 1878. Sensing however that the Filipino students were
being discriminated by the Dominican professors, he left UST without finishing his
course On May 3, 1882, he went to Spain and enrolled at the Universidad Central de
Madrid. in June of 1884, he received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine at the age of
23. A year later, he completed his course in Philosophy and Letters with the grade of
"excellent." Wanting to cure his mother's advancing blindness, Rizal went to Paris,
Heidelberg, and Berlin to get further knowledge and training in ophthalmology. In
Heidelberg, he completed his eye specialization. Being well-traveled, he is said to have
learned 22 languages. He wrote extraordinary poems, contributed nationalistic essays
to publications, religiously kept his diary, and corresponded to his friends and relatives.
In March 1887, he published in Berlin his first controversial novel, the Noli Me Tangere,
which revealed the tyranny and arrogance of the Spanish clergy and officials in the
Philippines. To bring to light that the Filipinos had an impressive civilization even long
before the Spanish colonization, he annotated and reprinted in Paris Morga's
Successos De Las Islas Filipinas. On September 18, 1891, Rizal's more militant novel,
El Filibusterismo was printed in Ghent As leader of patriotic Filipinos, he became one of
the leaders of the literary and cultural organization Propaganda Movement, the patriotic
society Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad Association), the temporary sodal society
Kidlat Club, the society of Filipino patriots in Paris Indio Bravo, the mysterious
Redencion de los Malayos (Redemption of the Malays), and founded the La Liga
Filipina, a civic organization that subsequently gave birth to the Katipunan. In various
ways, Rizal asked for radical reforms in the Spanish colonial system and clerical powers
in the Philippines and advocated equal rights before the law for Filipinos. When Rizal
retumed to the Philippines in 1892 (his second homecoming), he was imprisoned in Fort
Santiago from July 6 to July 15 on a trump-up charge that anti-priest leaflets were found
in the pillow cases of his sister Lucia who arrived with him from Hong Kong. He was
then exiled to Dapitan, an island in Mindanao. While an exile, he engaged in agriculture,
fishing, and commerce while operating a hospital and maintaining a school for boys.
Moreover, he did scientific researches, collected specimens of rare species,
corresponded with scholars abroad, and led construction of water dam and a relief map
of Mindanao. Rizal fell in love with Josephine Bracken, a woman from Hong Kong who
brought her stepfather to Dapitan for an eye operation. Josephine became Rizal's
'common-law wife'. The couple had a child who was born prematurely, Francisco Rizal y
Bracken, who died a few hours after birth. Prior to his relationship with Josephine, Jose
Rizal had become romantically involved with other women, the most notable of whom
were Segunda Katigbak, his first love, and Leonor Rivera, his so-called true love. In
1896. Rizal received a permission from the Governor General to become a volunteer
military physician in the revolution in Cuba, which was at the time also raged by yellow
fever. But the Katipunan started the Philippine Revolution on August 26, 1896. The
powerful people whose animosity Rizal had provoked took the opportunity to implicate
him to the rebellion. After a trial in a kangaroo court, he was convicted of rebellion and
sentenced to death by firing squad at Bagumbayan Field (now Luneta). Dressed in a
black coat and trousers and tied elbow to elbow, Rizal refused to kneel and declined the
traditional blindfold. Placid and a bit pale, he even requested to face the firing squad,
maintaining that he was not a traitor to his country and to Spain. After some sweet-talk,
Rizal agreed to tum his back but requested that he be shot in the small of the back, for
that would twist his body and cause him to fall face upward. The night before his
execution, Rizal perhaps had a mental flash back of the meaningful events in his 35-
year existence we have outlined here. But more than anyone, he himself had known for
long that his execution would certainly come to pass, and not even an Andres Bonifacio
nor Emilio Aguinaldo would have saved him from the executioners Remingtons and
Mausers. Facing the sky, the man died in that serene morning of December 30, 1896.
But since then, he has lived perpetually in the hearts and minds of true Filipinos. The
mandatory Rizal subject in the Philippines was the upshot of this bill which later became
a law in 1956. The bill involves mandating educational institutions in the country to offer
a course on the hero's life, works, and writings, especially the 'Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo'. The transition from being a bill to becoming a republic act was however
not easy as the proposal was met with intense opposition particularly from the Catholic
Church. Largely because of the issue, the then senator Claro M. Recto the main
proponent of the Rizal Bill-was even dubbed as a communist and an anti-Catholic.
Catholic schools threatened to stop operation if the bill was passed, though Recto
calmly countered the threat, stating that if that happened, then the schools would be
nationalized. Afterward threatened to be punished in future elections. Recto remained
undeterred. Concerning the suggestion to use instead the expurgated (edited) version
of Rizal's novels as mandatory readings, Recto ex explained his firm support for the
unexpurgated one: version, exclaiming "The people who would eliminate the books of
Rizal from the schools would blot out from our minds the memory of the national hero.
This is not a fight against Recto but a fight against Rizal." (Ocampo. 2012, p. 23) The
bill was eventually passed, but with a clause that would allow exemptions to students
who think that reading the Noll and Fill would ruin their faith. In other words, one can
apply to the Department of Education for exemption from reading Rizal's novels though
not from taking the Rizal subject. The bill was enacted on June 12, 1956. RA 1425 and
other Rizal laws. The Rizal Bill became the Republic Act No. 1425, known as the 'Rizal
Law'. The full name of the law is "An Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public and
Private Schools, Colleges and Universities Courses on the Life, Works and Writings of
Jose Rizal, Particularly His Novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing
the Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes The first section of the law
concerns mandating the students to read Rizal's novels. The last two sections involve
making Rizal's writings accessible to the general public they require the schools to have
a sufficient number of copies in their libraries and mandate the publication of the works
in major Philippine languages. Jose P. Laurel, then senator who co-wrote the law,
explained that since Jose Rizal was the founder of the country's nationalism and had
significantly contributed to the current condition of the nation, it is only right that Filipinos,
especially the youth, know about and learn to imbibe the great ideals for which the hero
died. Accordingly, the Rizal Law aims to accomplish the following goals: 1. To rededicate
the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our heroes lived
and died 2. To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping
the Filipino character 3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of
Rizal's life, works, and writings. So far, no student has yet officially applied for
exemption from reading Rizal's novels. Correspondingly, former President Fidel V.
Ramos in 1994, through Memorandum Order No. 247, directed the Secretary of
Education, Culture and Sports and the Chairman of the Commission on Higher
Education to fully implement the RA 1425 as there had been reports that the law had
still not been totally carried out. In 1995, CHED Memorandum No. 3 was issued
enforcing strict compliance to Memorandum Order No. 247 Not known to many, there is
another republic act that concerns the national hero. Republic Act No. 229 is an act
prohibiting cockfighting, horse racing, and jai-alai on the thirtieth day of December of
each year and to create a committee to take charge of the proper celebration of Rizal
Day in every municipality and chartered city, and for other purposes. The Importance of
Studying Rizal the academic subject on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal was
not mandated by law for nothing Far from being impractical, the course interestingly
offers many benefits that some contemporary academicians declare that the the subject,
especially when taught properly, is more beneficial than many subjects in various
curricula. The following are just some of the significances of the academic subject: The
subject provides insights on how to deal with current problems There is a dictum, "He
who controls the past controls the future. Our view of history forms the manner we
perceive the present, and therefore influences the kind of solutions we provide for
existing problems. Jose Rizal course, as a history subject, is full of historical information
from which one could base his decisions in life. In various ways, the subject, for
instance, teaches that being educated is a vital ingredient for a person or country to be
really free and successful. It helps us understand better ourselves as Filipinos The past
helps us understand who we are. We comprehensively define ourselves not only in
terms of where we are going, but also where we come from, our heredity, past
behaviors, and old habits as a nation are all significant clues and determinants to our
present situation. Interestingly, the life of a very important national historical figure like
Jose Rizal contributes much to shedding light on our collective experience and identity
as Filipino. The good grasp of the past offered by this subject would help us in dealing
wisely with the present. It teaches nationalism and patriotism Nationalism involves the
desire to attain freedom and political independence, especially by a country under
foreign power, while patriotism denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one's nation. Jose
Rizal's life, works, and writings-especially his novels essentially, if not perfectly, radiate
these traits. For one thing, the subject helps us to understand our country better. It
provides various essential life lessons We can learn much from the way Rizal faced
various challenges in life. As a controversial figure in his time, he encountered serious
dilemmas and predicaments but responded decently and high-mindedly. Through the
crucial decisions he made in his life, we can sense his priorities and convictions which
manifest how noble, selfless, and great the national hero was. For example, his many
resolutions exemplified the aphorism that in this life there are things more important
than personal feeling and happiness. 5. It helps in developing logical and critical
thinking Critical Thinking refers to discerning, evaluative, and analytical thinking. A
Philosophy major. Jose Rizal unsurprisingly demonstrated his critical thinking skills in
his argumentative essays, satires, novels, speeches, and written debates. In deciding
what to believe or do, Rizal also proved his being a reasonably reflective thinker, never
succumbing to th the irrational whims and baseless opinions of been totally carried out.
In 1995, CHED Memorandum No. 3 was issued enforcing strict compliance to
Memorandum Order No. 247 Not known to many, there is another republic act that
concerns the national hero. Republic Act No. 229 is an act prohibiting cockfighting,
horse racing, and jai-alai on the thirtieth day of December of each year and to create a
committee to take charge of the proper celebration of Rizal Day in every municipality
and chartered city, and for other purposes. The Importance of Studying Rizal the
academic subject on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal was not mandated by law
for nothing Far from being impractical, the course interestingly offers many benefits that
some contemporary academicians declare that the subject, especially when taught
properly, is more beneficial than many subjects in various curricula. The following are
just some of the significances of the academic subject: 1. The subject provides insights
on how to deal with current problems There is a dictum, "He who controls the past
controls the future. Our view of history forms the manner we perceive the present, and
therefore influences the kind of solutions we provide for existing problems. Jose Rizal
course, as a history subject, is full of historical information from which one could base
his decisions in life. In various ways, the subject, for instance, teaches that being
educated is a vital ingredient for a person or country to be really free and successful. 2.
It helps us understand better ourselves as Filipinos The past helps us understand who
we are. We comprehensively define ourselves not only in terms of where we are going,
but also where we come from, our heredity, past behaviors, and old habits as a nation
are all significant clues and determinants to our present situation. Interestingly, the life
of a very important national historical figure like Jose Rizal contributes much to
shedding light on our collective experience and identity as Filipino. The good grasp of
the past offered by this subject would help us in dealing wisely with the present 3. It
teaches nationalism and patriotism Nationalism involves the desire to attain freedom
and political independence, especially by a country under foreign power, while
patriotism denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one's nation. Jose Rizal's life, works,
and writings-especially his novels essentially, if not perfectly, radiate these traits. For
one thing, the subject helps us to understand our country better. 4. It provides various
essential life lessons We can learn much from the way Rizal faced various challenges in
life. As a controversial figure in his time, he encountered serious dilemmas and
predicaments but responded decently and high-mindedly. Through the crucial decisions
he made in his life, we can sense his priorities and convictions which manifest how
noble, selfless, and great the national hero was. For example, his many resolutions
exemplified the aphorism that in this life there are things more important than personal
feeling and happiness. It helps in developing logical and critical thinking Critical Thinking
refers to discerning, evaluative, and analytical thinking. A Philosophy major. Jose Rizal
unsurprisingly demonstrated his critical thinking skills in his argumentative essays,
satires, novels, speeches, and written debates. In deciding what to believe or do, Rizal
also proved his being a reasonably reflective thinker, never succumbing to the irrational
whims and baseless opinions of anyone. In fact, he indiscriminately evaluated and
criticized even the doctrines of the dominant religion of his time. A course on Rizal's life,
works, and writings therefore is also a lesson in critical thinking. Rizal can serve as a
worthwhile model and inspiration to every Filipino If one is looking for someone to
imitate, then Rizal is a very viable choice. The hero's philosophies, life principles,
convictions, thoughts, ideals, aspirations, and dreams are a good influence to anyone.
Throughout his life, he valued nationalism and patriotism, respect for parents. love for
siblings, and loyalty to friends, and maintained a sense of chivalry. As a man of
education, he highly regarded academic excellence, logical and critical thinking,
philosophical and scientific inquiry, linguistic study, and cultural research. As a person,
he manifested versatility and flexibility while sustaining a strong sense of moral
uprightness. The subject is a rich source of entertaining namatives People love fictions
and are even willing to spend for books or movie tickets just to be entertained by made-
up tales. But only a few perhaps know that Rizal's life is full of fascinating non- fictional
accounts For instance, it is rarely known that (1) Rizal was involved in a love triangle
with Antonio Luna as also part of the romantic equation; (2) Rizal was a model in some
of Juan Luna's paintings: (3) Rizal's common-law wife Josephine Bracken was
'remarried' to a man from Cebu and had tutored former President Sergio Osmeña; (4)
Leonor Rivera (Maria Clara'), Rizal's true love', had a son who married the sister of the
former President of the United Nations General Assembly Carlos P. Romulo, (5) the
Filipina beauty queen Gemma Cruz Araneta is a descendant of Rizal's sister, Maria; (6)
the sportscaster Chino Trinidad is a descendant of Rizal's first love (Segunda Katigbak);
and (7) the original manuscripts of Rizal's novel (Noll and Fill) were once stolen for
ransom, but Alejandro Roces had retrieved them without paying even a single centavo.
Jose Rizal's Bitter Sweet Life in Dapitan. THE DEPORTEE could have stayed in the
Dapitan parish convent should he retracted his religious errors and made a general
confession of his past life. Not willing to accede to these main conditions. set by the
Jesuits, Jose Rizal instead opted to live at commandant's residence they called "Casa
Real The commandant Captain Ricardo Carnicero and Jose Rizal became good friends
so much so that the exile did not feel that the captain was actually his guard. Later in his
life in Dapitan, Rizal wrote a poem 'A Don Ricardo Camicero honoring the kind
commandant on the occasion of his birthday on August 26, 1892. In September 1892,
Rizal and Carnicero won in a lottery. The Manila Lottery ticket no. 9736 jointly owned by
Rizal, Camicero, and a Spanish resident of Dipolog won the second prize of Php 20,
0000. Rizal used some part of his share (Php 6, 200) in procuring a parcel of land near
the coast of Talisay, a barrio near Dapitan. On a property of more than 10 hectares, he
put up three houses made of bamboo, wood, and nipa. He lived in the house which was
square in shape. Another house, which was hexagonal, was the ban where Rizal kept
his chickens. In his octagonal house lived some of his pupils for Rizal also established a
school, teaching young boys practical subjects like reading, writing, arithmetic,
geography, and Spanish and English languages. Later, he constructed additional huts to
accommodate his recovering out-of-town patient’s Daily life as an exile During his his
exile, Rizal practiced medicine, taught some puplis, and engaged in farming and
horticulture. He grew many fruit trees (like coconut, mango, lanzones, makopa, santol,
mangosteen, jackfruit, guayabanos, baluno, and nanka) and domesticated some
animals (like rabbits, dogs, cats, and chickens). The school he founded in 1893 started
with only three pupils, and had about more than 20 students at the time his exile ended.
Rizal would rise at five in the morning to see his plants, feed his animals, and prepare
breakfast. Having taken his moming meal, he would treat the patients who had come to
his house. Paddling his boat called 'baroto (he had two of them), he would then proceed
to Dapitan town to attend to his other patients there the whole morhning. Rizal would
return to Talisay to take his lunch. Teaching his pupils would begin at about 2 pm and
would end at 4 or 5 in the afternoon. With the help of his pupils, Rizal would spend the
rest of the afternoon in farming-planting trees, watering the plants, and pruning the fruits.
Rizal then would spend the night reading and writing Rizal and the Jesuits the first
attempt t by the Jesuit friars to win back the deported Rizal to the Catholic fold was the
offer for him to live in the Dapitan convent under some conditions. Refusing to
compromise, Rizal did not stay with the parish priest Antonio Obach in the Church
convent Just a month after Rizal was deported to Dapitan, the Jesuit Order assigned to
Dapitan the priest Francisco de Paula Sanchez, Rizal's favorite teacher in Ateneo. Many
times, they engaged in cordial religious discussions. But though Rizal appreciated his
mentor's effort, he could not be convinced to change his mind. Nevertheless, their
differences in belief did not get in the way of their good friendship. The priest Pablo
Pastells, superior of the Jesuit Society in the Philippines, also made some attempts by
correspondence to win over to Catholicism the exiled physician. Four times they
exchanged letters from September 1892 to April 1893. The debate was none less than
scholarly and it manifested Rizal's knowledge of the Holy Scriptures for he quoted
verses from it. Though Rizal consistently attended mass in Dapitan, he refused to
espouse the conventional type of Catholicism Achievements in Dapitan Rizal provided
significant community services in Dapitan like improving the town's drainage and
constructing better water system using empty bottles and bamboo joints. He also taught
the town folks about health and sanitation so to avoid the spread of diseases. With his
Jesuit priest friend Sanchez, Rizal made a huge relief map of Mindanao in Dapitan
plaza. Also, he bettered their forest by providing evident trails, stairs, and some benches.
He invented a wooden machine for mass production of bricks. Using the bricks he
produced; Rizal built a water dam for the community with the help of his students. As
the town's doctor, Rizal equally treated all patients regardless of their economic and
social status. He accepted as 'fees things like poultry and crops, and at times, even
gave his services to poor folks for free. His specialization was ophthalmology but he
also offered treatments to almost all kinds of diseases like fever, sprain, broken bones,
typhoid, and hermia. Rizal also helped in the livelihood of the abaca farmers in Dapitan
by by trading their crops in Manila. He also gave them lessons in abaca-weaving to
produce hammocks. Noticing that the fishing method by the locals was inefficient, he
taught them better techniques like weaving and using better fishing nets. As a scientist
and philologist Aside from doing archaeological excavations. Rizal inspected Dapitan's
rich flora and fauna, providing a sort of taxonomy to numerous kinds of forest and sea
creatures. From his laboratory and herbarium, he sent various biological specimens to
scientists in Europe like his dear friend Doctor Adolph B Meyer in Dresden, In return, the
European scholars sent him books and other academic reading materials. From the
collections he sent to European scholars, at least three species were named after him:
a Dapitan frog ('Rhacophorus rizali), a type of beetle ('Apogonia rizali), and a flying
dragon (Draco rizali) Having learned the Visayan language, he also engaged himself in
the study of language, culture, and literature. He examined local folklores, customs,
Tagalog grammar, and the Malay language. His intellectual products about these
subjects, he related to some European academicians like Doctor Reinhold Rost, his
close philologist friend in London, Spies and secret emissary Not just once did Rizal
leam that his enemies' sent spies to gather incriminating proofs that Rizal was separatist
and an insurgent. Perhaps disturbed by his conscience, a physician named Matias.
Arrieta revealed his covert mission and asked for forgiveness after he was cured by
Rizal (Bantug. p. 115) In March 1895, a man introduced himself to Rizal as Pablo
Mercado. Claiming to be Rizal's relative, this stranger eagerly volunteered to bring
Rizal's letters to certain persons in Manila. Made suspicious by the visitor's insistence,
Rizal interrogated him and it turned out that his real name was Florencio Nanaman of
Cagayan de Misamis, paid as secret agent by the Recollect friars. But because it was
raining that evening, the kind Rizal did not command Nanaman out of his house but
even let the spy spend the rainy night in his place. In July the next year, a different kind
of emissary was sent to Rizal. Doctor Pio Valenzuela was sent to Dapitan by Andres
Bonifacio-the Katipunan leader who believed that carrying out revolt had to be
sanctioned first by Rizal. Disguised as a mere companion of a blind patient seeking
treatment from Rizal, Valenzuela was able to discreetly deliver the Katipunan's message
for Rizal. But Rizal politely refused to approve the uprising, suggesting that peaceful
means was far better than violent ways in obtaining freedom. Rizal further believed that
a revolution would be unsuccessful without arms and monetary support from wealthy
Filipinos. He thus recommended that if the Katipunan was to start a revolution, it had to
ask for the support of rich and educated Filipinos, like Antonio Luna who was an expert
on military strategy (Bantug, p. 133). Visited by loved ones Rizal was in Dapitan when
he learned that his true love Leonor Rivera had died. What somewhat consoled his
desolate heart was the visits of his mother and some sisters. In August 1893, Doña
Teodora, along with daughter Trinidad, joined Rizal in Dapitan and resided with him in
his casa cuadrada (square house). The son successfully operated on his mother's
cataract at distinct times, Jose's sisters Maria and Narcisa also visited him. Three of
Jose's nephews also went to Dapitan and had their early education under their uncle:
Maria's son Mauricio (Moris) and Lucia's sons Teodosio (Osio) and Estanislao (Tan).
Jose's niece Angelica, Narcisa's daughter, also had experience living for some time with
her exiled unde in Mindanao. In 1895, Doña Teodora left Dapitan for Manila to be with
Don Francisco who was getting weaker. Shortly after the mother left, Josephine
Bracken came to Jose's life. Josephine was an orphan with Insh blood and the
stepdaughter of Jose's patient from Hongkong. Rizal and Bracken were unable to obtain
a church wedding because Jose would not retract his anti-Catholic views. He
nonetheless took Josephine as his common-law wife who kept him company and kept
house for him. Before the year ended in 1895, the couple had a child who was born
prematurely. The son who was named after Rizal's father (Francisco) died a few hours
after birth. (For detailed discussion on Rizal-Bracken relationship, look for the section
"Josephine Bracken" under "Rizal's love life".) Goodbye Dapitan In 1895, Blumentritt
informed Rizal that the revolution-ridden Cuba, another nation colonized by Spain, was
raged by yellow fever epidemic Because cause there a shortage of physicians to attend
to was a war victims and disease-stricken people, Rizal in December 1895 wrote to the
then Governor General Ramon Blanco, volunteering to provide medical services in
Cuba. Receiving no reply from Blanco, Rizal lost interest in his request. But on July 30,
1896, Rizal received a letter from the governor general sanctioning his petition to serve
as volunteer physician in Cuba. Rizal made immediate preparations to leave, selling
and giving as souvenirs to friends and students his various properties. In the late
afternoon of July 31, Rizal got on the España with Josephine, Narcisa, a niece, three
nephews, and three of his students. Many Dapitan folks, especially Rizal's students,
came to see their beloved doctor for the last time. Cordially bidding him goodbye, they
shouted "Adios, Dr. Rizal and some of his students even cried. With sorrowing heart. He
waved his hand in farewell to the generous and loving Dapitan folks, saying. "Adios.
Dapitan!" The steamer departed for Manila at midnight of July 31, 1896. With tears in
his eyes, Rizal later wrote in his diary onboard the ship, "I have been in that district four
years, thirteen days, and a few hours." Jose Rizal: The Adventurous Voyager HE DID
GO PLACES! Jose Rizal's thrilling experience during his first lake-and-river voyage
perhaps inspired him to travel more. Riding in a casco, Jose temporarily left his
hometown Calamba on June 6, 1868. He and his father went on a pilgrimage to Antipolo
and afterward visited his sister Saturnina in Manila, who was at the time a student at La
Concordia. Across Laguna de Bay and the Pasig River, Jose had an unforgettably
amazing trip that he did not fail to record the journey in his memoir. In Biñan and Manila
A year after. Paciano brought Jose to the nearby town Biñan to attend the school of
Maestro. Justiniano Aquino Cruz. Except for occasional homecomings, he stayed in the
town for a year and a half of schooling, living in an aunt's house where his breakfasts
generally consisted of a plate of rice and two dried sardines (tuyo). Don Francisco sent
Jose to Manila in June 1872 to enroll in Ateneo Municipal. Paciano found Jose a
boarding house in Intramuros though Jose later transferred to a house on Calle Carballo
in Santa Cruz area. The following year, Jose transferred residence to No. 6 Calle
Magallanes. Two years after, he became an intern (boarding student) in Ateneo and
stayed there until his graduation in the institution. From 1877 to 1882, Rizal studied in
the University of Santo Tomas, enrolling in the course on Philosophy in Letters, but
shifted to Medicine a year after. During his first year in UST, he simultaneously took in
Ateneo a vocational course leading to being being an an expert surveyor. He boarded in
the house of a certain Concha Leyva in Intramuros, and later in "Casa Casa Tomasina,
Tomasina at Calle 6, Santo Tomas, Intramuros. In Casa Tomasina', his landlord-uncle
Antonio Rivera had a daughter, Leonor, who became Jose's sweetheart. In Europe Sick
and tired of the discriminatory and oppressive Dominican professors, Rizal stopped
attending classes at UST in 1882. On May 3 of that year, he left for Spain to complete
his studies and widen his political knowledge through exposure to European
governments. It's funny that his departure for Spain had gone down to history as a
secret departure although at least ten sure people including his three siblings and an
uncle-collaborated in his going away, exclusive of the unnamed and unnumbered Jesuit
priests' and 'intimate friends' who co-conspired in the plan. On his way to Madrid, Rizal
had many stopovers. He first disembarked and visited the town of Singapore. Onboard
the steamship Djemnah he passed through Punta de Gales, Colombo, and Aden. En
route to Marseilles, he also went across the historic waterway of Suez Canal and visited
the Italian city of Naples. He left Marsellles, France for Barcelona in an express train.
After some months, Rizal left Barcelona for Madrid and enrolled in Medicine and
Philosophy and Letters at the Universidad Central de Madrid on November 3, 1882. In
Rizal's letter dated February 13, 1883, he informed Paciano of his meeting with other
Filipinos "The Tuesday of the Camival we had a Filipino luncheon and dinner in the
house of the Patemos, each one contributing one 'duro'. We ate with our hands, boiled
rice, chicken adobo, fried fish and roast pig." Ironically, a year after that sumptuous
feasting, Rizal became penniless as his family encountered economic regression. One
day in June 1884, Rizal who failed to eat breakfast still went to school and even won a
gold medal in a contest. At night, he attended the feast held in honor of two award
winning Filipino painters, Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. In the occasion,
he delivered a daring liberal speech which became so controversial that it even caused
sickness to his worrying mother. Perhaps, being broke and hungry could really make
one braver and more impulsive. As one student commented, "Hayop man, pag gutom,
tumatapang." In 1885, Rizal who had finished his two courses in Madrid went to Paris,
France, From November 1885 to February 1886, he worked as an assistant to the
celebrated ophthalmologist Dr. Louis de Weckert In February 3, 1886, he left Paris for
Heidelberg, Germany. He attended lectures and training at the University of Heidelberg
where he is said to have completed his eye specialization. Afterward, Rizal settled for
three months in the nearby village. Wilhems Feld, at the pastoral house of a Protestant
pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. It was also during this time that the correspondence and long-
distance friendship between Jose and Ferdinand Blumentritt began. Rizal wrote a letter
in German and sent it with a bilingual (Spanish and Tagalog) book Aritmiteca to
Blumentritt who was interested in studying Jose's native language. Jose traveled next to
Leipzig and attended some lectures at its university. Having reached Dresden afterward,
he met and befriended Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the Director of the Anthropological and
Ethnological Museum. Also, a Filipinologist, Meyer showed Rizal some interesting
things taken from tombs in the Philippines. In November 1886, he went to Berlin and
further enhanced his skills and knowledge in ophthalmology. In that famous city, not only
did he learn other languages but also became member of various scientific communities
and befriended many famed intellectuals at the time. On February 21. 1887, he finished
his first novel and it came off the press a month later. Grand Europe Tour with his friend
Maximo Viola who loaned him some amount to cover for the printing of the 'Noli, Rizal
traveled to various places in Europe. Through Paciano's remittance, Jose had paid Viola
and decided to further explore some places in Europe before returning to the Philippines.
They went first to see Potsdam ac a city southwest of Berlin which became the site of
the Potsdam Conference (1945) at which the leaders of powerful nations deliberated
upon the postwar administration of Germany. On May 11, 1887, they left Berlin for
Dresden and witnessed the regional floral exposition there. Wanting to visit Blumentritt,
they went to Leitmeritz, Bohemia passing through Teschen (Decin, Czechoslovakia),
Professor Blumentritt warmly received them at Leitmeritz railroad station. The professor
identified them through the pencil sketch which Rizal had previously made of himself
and sent to his European friend. Blumentritt acted as their tour guide, Introducing them
to famous European scientists like Dr. Carlos Czepelak and Prof. Robert Kiutschak. his
family and to On May 16, the two Filipinos left Leitmeritz for Prague where they saw the
tomb of the famous astronomer Copernicus. They stopped at Brunn on their way to
Vienna. They met the famed Austrian novelist Norfenfals in Vienna, and Rizal was
interviewed by Mr. Alder, a newspaper correspondent. To see the sights of the Danube
River, they left Vienna on a boat where they saw passengers using paper napkins. From
Lintz, they had a short stay in Salzburg. Reaching Munich, they tasted the local beer
advertised as Germany's finest. In Nuremberg, they saw the infamous torture machines
used in the so-called Catholic Inquisition. Afterward, they went to Ulm and climbed
Germany's tallest cathedral there. They also went to Sttutgart, Baden, and then
Rheinfall where they saw Europe's most beautiful waterfall. In Switzerland, they toured
Schaffhausen, Basel, Bern, and Lausanne before staying in Geneva Rizal's 15-day stay
in Geneva was generally enjoyable except when he learned about the exhibition.
But if there were a person who was truly entertained at the time, it was Rizal himself
who was amused by the Japanese girl who used to pass by the legation every day. The
23-year-old Seiko Usul whom he fondly called 'O-Sei-San became his tour guide and
sweetheart rolled into one. Sail to the West Because he loved his mission more than O-
Sel-San, he boarded the "Belgic on April 13, 1888. In the vessel, he had befriended
Tetcho Suehiro, a Japanese novelist and human rights fighter who was also forced by
his government to leave his country. The ship arrived in San Francisco on April 28. For a
week, they were however quarantined, allegedly because of the cholera outbreak in the
Far East In reality, some politicians were just questioning the arrival of the Chinese
coolies in the ship who would displace white laborers in railroad construction projects.
On May 6, he went to Oakland. Onboard a train, he took his evening meal at
Sacramento and woke up at Reno, Nevada. He had visited also the states of Utah,
Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, and finally reached New York on May 13. On Bedloe Island,
he had seen the Statue of Liberty symbolizing freedom and democracy. Inconsistently,
Rizal observed that there was racial inequality in the land and real freedom was only for
the whites. But if Rizal were alive today, he would be surprised that the Americans have
already allowed a black guy to become their president for two terms. In Great Britain on
May 16, 1888 on the ship City of Rome Rizal sailed for Liverpool and arrived on May 24.
A day after, he reached London and stayed briefly at Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor's home.
He then boarded at the Beckett family where he fell in love with Gertrude, the oldest
daughter of his landlord. In June 1888, Rizal made friends with Dr. Reinhold Rost and
his family. Expert in Malayan language, Rost had in his house a good Filipiniana library.
Our national hero was described by Rost as a pearl of a man" ('una peria de hombre").
In London, Rizal manually copied and annotated Morga's 'Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas,
a rare book available in the British Museum. He also became the honorary president
ofthe patriotic society Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad Association) and wrote
articles for the 'La Solidaridad. In his 10-month stay in London, he had short visits in
Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. In Spain, he met Marcelo H. del Pilar for the first time. In
France Leaving London for good, he went to Paris in March 1889. He shortly lived in the
house of a friend. Valentin Ventura before transferring g in a little room where e had as
roommates two Filipinos, one of which was Jose Albert, a student from Manila. In Paris,
Rizal frequented the Bibliotheque Nationale, working on his annotation of the 'Sucesos.
He spent his spare hours in the houses of friends like Juan Luna and his wife Paz Pardo
de Tavera, Rizal witnessed the Universal Exposition of Paris, having as its greatest
attraction the Eiffel Tower. He formed the Kidlat Club, a temporary social club which
brought together Filipinos witnessing the exposition. He also organized the 'Indios
Bravos', an association which envisioned Filipinos being recognized for being admirable
in many fields, and the mysterious Redencion de los Malayos (Redemption of the
Malays) which aimed to propagate useful knowledge. In Paris, Rizal also finished and
published his annotation of the 'Sucesos. In Belgium After celebrating the Yuletide
season in Paris in 1889, Rizal shortly visited London for the last time. With Jose Albert,
Rizal left Paris for Brussels on January 28, 1890. The two stayed in a boarding house
administered by the Jacoby sisters (Suzanne and Marie) where Rizal met and had a
transitory affair with Petite, the niece of his landladies. In Belgium, Rizal busied himself
with writing the 'Fill and contributing for La Solidaridad using the pen names Dimas
Alang and Laong Laan. When he heard the news that the Calamba agrarian trouble was
getting worse, Rizal decided to go home. But Paciano told him through a letter that they
lost the court case against the Dominicans in the Philippines and they intended to bring
the case to Madrid. This prompted Jose to go to Madrid instead to look for a lawyer and
influential people who would defend the Calamba tenants. In Madrid Rizal traveled to
Madrid in August 1890. Along with his lawyer, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, he tried to seek
justice for his family but could not find anyone who could help him. Rizal encountered
many adversities and tribulations in Madrid. He heard that his family was forced to leave
their land in Calamba and some family members were even deported to far places. One
day, Rizal challenged his friend Antonio Luna to a duel when he (Luna), ), being
unsuccessful in seeking Nellie Boustead's love, gave negative comments on the lady.
Rizal also dared to a duel Wenceslao Retana of the anti-Filipino newspaper "La Epoca'
who wrote that Rizal's family did not pay their land rent. Both duels were fortunately
aborted-Luna became Rizal's good friend again and Retana even became Rizal’s first
non-Filipino biographer. In Madrid, Rizal also heard the news of Leonor Rivera's
marriage with an Englishman Henry Kipping who was the choice of Leonor's mother. As
if misfortunes' were not enough, there emerged the Del Pilar-Rizal rivalry for leadership
in the Asociacion Hispano Filipino. The supposedly healthy election for a leader
('Responsible') produced divisive unpleasant split among the Filipinos in Madrid (the
Rizalistas vs. the Pilaristas). Rizal thus decided to leave Madrid, lest his presence
results in more serious faction among Filipinos in Madrid. In Biarritz, Paris, and Brussels
Rizal proceeded to take a more than a month vacation in Biarritz, a tourist town in
southwestern France noted for its mild climate and sand beaches. Arriving there in
February 1891, Rizal was welcomed as a family guest in the house of the Bousteds,
especially by Nellie whom he had a serious (but failed) romantic relationship. In Biarritz,
he continued to worked on his El Fili and completed its manuscript on March 29, the eve
of his departure for Paris. Valentin Ventura hosted his short stay in Paris, and the
Jacobies, especially Petite Suzanne, cordially welcomed his arrival in Brussels in April
1891. In Brussels, Rizal revised and prepared for printing his second novel until the end
of May. By June 1891, he was already looking for a printing firm to print the El
Filibusterismo In Ghent Rizal went to Ghent in July 1891 because the cost of printing in
the place was cheaper. He lived in a low-cost boarding house where he had as
roommate Jose Alejandro, an engineering student in the University of Ghent. Tightening
their belts, they rented a room exclusive of breakfast. They bought a box of biscuit,
counted the contents, and computed for their daily ration for a month. In just 15 days.
Alejandro had eaten up all his shares whereas Rizal frugally limited himself to his daily
allocation, The publisher F. Meyer-Van Loo Press, No. 66 Viaanderen Street agreed to
print the El Fili on installment basis. Despite pawning all his jewels and living tightfistedly,
Rizal run out of funds and the printing had to be suspended on August 6. But through
Valentin Ventura's salvific' act, the El Filibusterismo came off the press on September
18, 1891. Two weeks after, he visited Paris for the last time to bid goodbye to his friends
and compatriots. In Hong Kong and Sandakan In October 1891, Rizal left Europe for
Hong Kong onboard the ship 'Melbourne on which he began writing his third (but
unfinished) novel. He arrived in Hong Kong on November 20 and resided at No. 5 D'
Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxela Terrace. (In case you did not notice, Rednaxela' is
'Alexander spelled reversely). Having escaped the friars' persecution, Don Francisco,
Paciano, and Silvestre Ubaldo (Jose's brother-in-law) also arrived in Hong Kong. Shortly
after, Doña Teodora and children Lucia, Josefa, and Trinidad also came, and the Rizal
family had a sort of family reunion in the Yuletide season of 1891. In Hong Kong, Jose
opened a medical clinic. A Portuguese friend, Dr. Lorenzo P. Marques helped him to
have plentiful patrons of various nationalities. His successful operation on his mother's
left eye allowed her to read again. In March 1892, he went to Sandakan (East Malaysia)
aboard Menon' to negotiate with British authorities concerning the founding of a Filipina
colony in North Borneo (now called Sabah). On March 21, Rizal asked Governor
General Eulogio Despujol through a letter to allow the landless Filipinos, especially the
deported Calamba tenants, to establish themselves in North Bomeo. Rizal was back in
Hon Kong in April, 1892. Second homecoming Wanting to confer with Despujol
concerning his North Bomeo colonization project, Rizal left Hong Kong on June 21,
1892 along with his sister Lucia. Without his knowledge, the Spanish consul in Hong
Kong sent a cablegram to Despujol stating figuratively that "the rat is in the trap". A
secret case against Rizal was thus filed in Manila for anti-religious and anti-patriotic
public campaign. Rizal and his sister arrived in Manila at 12:00 noon of June 26, 1892.
At 7 pm, he was able to confer in Malacañan with Despujol who agreed to pardon his
father and told him to retum on June 29. Не then visited sisters and friends in Manila.
On June 27, he took a train and visited his friends in Central Luzon. He had a stopover
at the Bautista mansion in Malolos, Bulacan and spent the night in the house of Evaristo
Puno in Tarlac, Tarlac, about 30 kilometers away from the residence of Leonor Rivera-
Kipping in Camiling. He also went to San Fermando and Bacolor, Pampanga and
returned to Manila on June 28, at 5 pm. On June 29, 30, and July 3, he had other
interviews with Despujol. The colonization project was rejected though Rizal's request to
lift the exile of his sisters was granted. On the evening of July 3, Rizal spearheaded the
meeting in the house of Doroteo Ongjunco on Ylaya Street, Tondo, Manila of at least 20
Filipinos, including Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini, Rizal explained the aims of
the civic association 'La Liga Filipina'. Officers were then elected, having Ambrosio
Salvador the president, thereby officially establishing the league, Just three days after
though, Rizal was arrested during his interview with the governor general. Despujol
showed him anti-friar leaflets Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars) allegedly discovered in his
sister Lucia's pillow cases. Imprisoned in Fort Santiago for almost ten days, Rizal was
brought at 12:30 am on July 14 to the steamer 'Cebu. Passing through Mindoro and
Panay, the vessel docked at Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte on the evening of July 17.
True, Dapitan is a a scenic place with fine beaches, perhaps a soothing place for a
'balik-bayan' like Rizal. But Jose was not there as a tourist ourist or a vacationer he was
an exile. The ship captain Delgras handed him over to the local Spanish commandant,
Ricardo Camicero and that signaled the start of Rizal’s life as a deportee in Dapitan.
The year is 1896. A volley of shots silenced the pen of José Rizal, but not his voice. His
martyrdom ignited a revolution, his words a burning torch. Freedom's dawn broke,
stained with the blood of a hero, his legacy etched in the heart of a nation.
 Reflection
The life and writings of José Rizal provide a complicated prism through which to
view the intricacies of nationalism, colonialism, and the persistent strength of intellectual
opposition. From a wealthy childhood in Calamba to his terrible death in 1896, his story
captures both the transformational power of literature and the fight of a nation longing
for independence. Beyond simple fiction, Rizal's books Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo are powerful critiques of Spanish colonial rule that brutally and
unapologetically reveal the system's cruelty, corruption, and hypocrisy. These were
more than just tales; they were weapons, expertly manipulated to arouse a sense of
national awareness and spur a reform movement.

Rizal's method is brilliant because he skillfully combines social observation and

realism. He was not afraid to portray the harsh facts of colonial life, the Filipino people's
suffering, and the moral decline of the colonial government. Despite being fictional, his
characters struck a deep chord with his readers because they accurately captured the
realities faced by Filipinos living under Spanish control. In Noli Me Tangere, Crisostomo
Ibarra represents the desire for change inside an apparently unchangeable system by
first attempting a peaceful transformation. Disillusioned and resentful, Simoun in El
Filibusterismo symbolizes the possibility of drastic action when nonviolent tactics are
ineffective. This dichotomy reflects the intricacies of the fight for national independence,
which frequently calls for striking a careful balance between optimism and realism.

In addition to his novels, Rizal's essays, poems, and letters provide more insight
into his brilliant mind and steadfast dedication to his people. His works were calculated
interventions in the continuous fight for Filipino identity and self-determination, not just
works of literature. He promoted a more just and equal society by arguing that
education is an essential instrument for empowerment. His multilingualism and
exposure to many intellectual currents in Europe enlarged his perspective, allowing him
to convey his vision for a reformed Philippines with both clarity and complexity. The
impact of Rizal goes beyond his writings. His image as a national hero was cemented
when his martyrdom turned into a powerful symbol of resistance that sparked the
Philippine Revolution. His life and contributions are a potent reminder of the costs
incurred in the fight for justice and freedom as well as the tenacity of intellectual
opposition to oppression. Future generations will be motivated to strive for social justice
and national self-determination by his story, which still has resonance today. His writings
will always be relevant because they push us to oppose injustice, challenge authority,
and struggle toward a more just and equal society.