Talambuhay ni Jose Rizal

Biography of Dr. Jose Rizal

Early Life and Family Background

• Dr. Jose Rizal, born as Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda, was the seventh of eleven siblings in a family that included Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olimpia, Lucia, Maria Josefa, Trinidad, and Soledad.

• He was baptized by Padre Rufino Collantes with his godfather being Padre Pedro Casanas; he had a strong respect for human rights instilled by his favorite parish priest, Padre Leon Lopez.

• The name "Jose" honored Saint Joseph while "Protasio" paid tribute to Saint Protasio; both names reflect significant cultural and religious influences on his identity.

Ancestry and Education

• Rizal's father Francisco Mercado was the son of a Chinese merchant named Domingo Lamco; his mother Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda also had Chinese ancestry.

• To avoid discrimination due to their Chinese roots, the family adopted the surname "Mercado," which means market in Spanish.

• The surname "Rizal" was added later under Governor Claveria's decree in 1849; it is derived from the Spanish word for green field.

Early Education

• At three years old (1864), Rizal began learning the alphabet from his mother and displayed exceptional intelligence despite limited resources.

• By age nine, he attended school in Biñan under Padre Justiniano Aquino Cruz but soon transferred to Manila after exhausting what he could learn there.

• In January 1872, he enrolled at Ateneo Municipal de Manila where he excelled academically, earning top honors including a Bachelor of Arts degree with sobresaliente (outstanding).

Higher Education and Language Skills

• Following Ateneo, he studied philosophy and letters at Santo Tomas University while also pursuing medicine at Ateneo Municipal de Manila.

• In May 1882, Rizal traveled to Europe to continue his studies in medicine and philosophy; he completed these courses by 1884 in Madrid.

• During this time, he learned multiple languages including English, French (which he already knew), German, and Italian to better understand different cultures.

Literary Contributions

• Rizal wrote the first half of Noli Me Tangere in Madrid during 1884; subsequent parts were completed in Paris and Germany before its publication in March 1887 with financial support from Dr. Maximo Viola.

• His second novel El Filibusterismo followed shortly after Noli Me Tangere, published in Ghent Belgium in 1891.

Political Activism

• On July 3rd, 1892, Rizal founded La Liga Filipina aimed at reforming government through peaceful means rather than revolution; however, upon returning to the Philippines on August 5th that same year,

he faced increasing scrutiny from Spanish authorities due to his writings.

Rizal's Final Days and Legacy

Rizal's Imprisonment and Trial

• Ikinulong si Rizal sa Maynila, specifically at the Real Fuerza de Santiago, where he faced a military trial.

• He was sentenced to death by firing squad on December 30, 1896.

• During his imprisonment, Rizal wrote his last work titled "Ultimo Adios" (Last Farewell), which reflects his noble thoughts and feelings.

Execution and Historical Significance

• On December 30, 1896, Rizal was executed in Bagong Bayan, now known as Luneta.