José Rizal Essay Example
José Rizal Essay Example

José Rizal Essay Example

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Born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, Jose Rizal is celebrated as the national hero of the Philippines and a source of pride for the Malayan race. He was one of eleven siblings (2 boys and 9 girls) in his family, being the seventh child. Rizal's parents came from educated backgrounds and were respected individuals. His father Francisco Mercado Rizal was an industrious farmer from Binan, Laguna who served as a role model to him. On the other hand, his mother Teodora Alonzo y Quintos was a highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal affectionately referred to as his "loving and prudent mother." She was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz Manila.

He acquired knowledge of the alphabet from his mother at 3 years old and demonstrated artistic aptitude as he grasped read

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ing and writing by age 5. His family and relatives were amazed by his pencil drawings, sketches, and clay sculptures. At a mere 8 years old, he penned a Tagalog poem called "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," highlighting the significance of one's native tongue. In 1877, at 16 years old, he achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. Simultaneously, he pursued studies in surveying and expert assessment courses at the Ateneo while also engaging in Philosophy and Letters studies at the University of Santo Tomas.

On March 21, 1877, he finished the latter course and passed the Surveyor’s examination on May 21, 1878. However, because he was only 17 years old, he couldn't work in that profession until December 30, 1881. In the same year of 1878, he enrolled in the medicine program at the

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University of Santo Tomas but had to stop his studies due to perceived discrimination against Filipino students by their Dominican tutors.

On May 3, 1882, he started studying at the Universidad Central de Madrid in Spain. At 23 years old, on June 21, 1884, he earned a Medicine degree. A year later, at age 24 on June 19, 1885, he completed his studies in Philosophy and Letters with an "excellent" grade. During his travels across Europe, America, and Asia, he became proficient in multiple languages including Arabic,
Catalan,
Chinese,
English,
French,
German ,
Greek ,
Hebrew ,
Italian ,
Japanese ,
Latin ,
Malayan ,
Portuguese ,
Russian,
Sanskrit ,
Spanish ,
Tagalog,and various native dialects. He had a wide range of talents encompassing architecture,
artistry,business,cartooning,
teaching,economics,
ethnology,farming techniques,historiography,invention,journalism,
linguistics,musicianship,
mythology studies,patriotic activism,naturalism,novel writing,optometry surgery,receiving accolades as a poet,true beliefs promotion expertise,mastery in psychology and scientific methodology,integration within the field of sculpture,sociological investigation,and theological exploration.

Rizal, who possessed great skill in swordsmanship and marksmanship, had two main objectives: to bring about political and social reforms in his country and to educate his fellow countrymen. During his time in Europe, he published several highly nationalistic and revolutionary works. In March 1887, he boldly released NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel that exposed the arrogance and tyranny of the Spanish clergy. Furthermore, he republished Morga's sucesos delas islas filipinas in Paris in 1890 with his own annotations to showcase the civilization and heritage of Filipinos prior to the arrival of Spaniards. On September 18, 1891, el filibusterismo—Rizal's second novel—was printed in Ghent; it served as a more revolutionary and tragic sequel to the noli. Rizal's fearless revelations of injustices committed by civil and clerical officials resulted in hostility from those holding positions of

power.

While in the Philippines, he encountered difficulties with Spanish authorities, which resulted in constant surveillance and false accusations against him and his family. Consequently, he was imprisoned at Fort Santiago from July 6 to July 15, 1892 for supposedly possessing pamphlets that criticized the friars. During his exile in Dapitan, he devoted himself to activities such as agriculture, fishing, and trade. Additionally, he established a hospital and provided English and Spanish education as well as arts training to his students.

In various fields such as agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and painting, he actively participated. He also conducted research and engaged in self-defense while collecting specimens. Through correspondence, he established connections with intellectuals and scientists from different countries. Alongside his students, he achieved remarkable engineering accomplishments like constructing a water dam and creating a relief map of Mindanao. His sincerity and friendliness earned the trust of even his guards. Women from different ethnic backgrounds found themselves attracted to his good manners and warm personality. Admirers from other nations held him in high regard for his intelligence and humility. His unwavering bravery and determination to improve the well-being of his people instilled fear in his enemies.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out on August 26, 1896, Rizal's adversaries wasted no time in oppressing him. They managed to gather witnesses who implicated him in the revolt, yet he was never given the chance to confront them. Consequently, he was returned to Fort Santiago from November 3, 1886, until his execution. While incarcerated, he composed an untitled poem called "Ultimo Adios," now hailed as a masterpiece and a living testament to not only the hero's profound

love for his country but also that of all Filipinos. Following a sham trial, Rizal was found guilty of rebellion, sedition, and involvement in illegal associations. At the chilly dawn of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man whose eventful 35 years exemplified the Filipino's capability to match or exceed even those who subjugate him as a slave, was shot at Bagumbayan Field.

Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Philippines, Jose Rizal wrote about the discrimination that came with Spain's colonial rule of his country while living in Europe. When he returned to the Philippines in 1892, he was exiled for his desire for reform. Despite promoting peaceful change, Rizal was convicted of sedition and executed on December 30, 1896, at the age of 35.

"Quotes"

Jose Rizal believes that creativity is not limited to one country, but is present everywhere. He compares it to light, air, space, life, and God, indicating that it is universal and belongs to everyone.

Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines. He was a highly intelligent student who excelled in various languages. Rizal pursued his medical studies in Manila before going to Spain in 1882 to finish his medical degree.

The topic of discussion is writing and reform.

Jose Rizal, while in Europe, joined the Propaganda Movement and connected with fellow Filipinos who aimed for reform. He wrote his first novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not/The Social Cancer), which exposed Spain's negative colonial rule in the Philippines, specifically the influence of Catholic friars. Despite being banned in the Philippines, copies of

the book were smuggled. However, Rizal's return to his homeland in 1887 was cut short as he became a police target due to this novel. He then went back to Europe and continued writing, publishing his next work titled El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) in 1891. Rizal also contributed articles to La Solidaridad, a publication linked to the Propaganda Movement. Rizal advocated for equal treatment of Filipinos, limiting Spanish friars' power, and obtaining representation for the Philippines in Spain's parliament rather than seeking Philippine independence.

Exile in the Philippines

Rizal came back to the Philippines in 1892 with the aim of making a positive impact on his country. Despite promoting non-violent action through the Liga Filipino (Philippine League) that he established, Rizal was eventually forced to live in exile on Mindanao Island in Dapitan. Throughout his four-year exile, Rizal practiced medicine and offered education to his students.

Execution and Legacy

In 1895, Rizal received permission to travel to Cuba as an army doctor. However, in August 1896, the nationalist Filipino society known as Katipunan, founded by Andres Bonifacio, staged a revolt. Despite having no association with them and disapproving of their violent tactics, Rizal was arrested shortly after. He underwent trial and was convicted of sedition. At the age of 35, he faced the punishment of death by firing squad and was publicly executed in Manila on December 30, 1896. This execution further fueled opposition against Spanish rule. Although Spanish control over the Philippines ended in 1898, true independence wasn't achieved until after World War II. In the Philippines, Rizal is greatly revered as a symbol of nationalism for his

role in leading the country's initial steps toward independence.

The contents of this text, including the , should be kept andtogether as follows:

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. He was the seventh child of Francisco Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Alonza y Quintos. Despite being one of eleven children, he demonstrated remarkable intelligence and a strong eagerness to learn from an early age. At the tender age of five, his mother taught him the skills of reading and writing.

Educational Foundations

The Mercado family was well-off as landowners who leased their hacienda's land to the Dominican friars in Laguna. Because of this, they prioritized education, sending young Jose Protacio to be taught by Justiniano Aquino Cruz, a tutor from nearby Binan, Laguna. However, the education provided by a small town and tutor did not satisfy Jose's thirst for knowledge. As a result, the family made arrangements for his enrollment at Ateneo Municipal de Manila, a prestigious academic institution in the country. This school, which was overseen by the Jesuit Order, catered to the affluent, powerful, and intelligent students – an ideal place for a young man like Jose Protacio Mercado.

Studying in Manila

Before enrolling in a prestigious learning institution, Jose's older brother Paciano Rizal Mercado advised him to drop the surname "Mercado" so as to distance himself from his brother's outspoken and potentially subversive reputation. Consequently, Jose Protacio Rizal joined the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he pursued a degree in Land Surveying and Assessment. He graduated with honors or sobresaliente on March 14, 1877 and successfully passed

the licensure exam for land surveying and assessment in 1878. However, he did not receive his license until 1881 when he turned 21 years old. After completing his degree at Ateneo Municipal de Manila, he followed his passion for the arts and enrolled in the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas to study Philosophy.

With a strong background in philosophy, he was motivated to pursue a medical education after learning that his mother would soon become blind. As a result, in 1878, he enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas' Faculty of Medical Sciences with the intention of specializing in ophthalmology. However, due to discrimination against Filipino students by Dominican professors, he decided to leave the medical program in 1882. Recognizing the limited educational opportunities available in his own country, he secretly traveled to Spain with the help of his older brother Paciano. His ten-year stay in Europe had a profound impact on him, shaping his character and worldview while also refining his natural abilities and deepening his love for his homeland.

Academics in Europe

During his time in Spain, he continued his studies that had been interrupted in the Philippines and went to the Universidad Central de Madrid. In 1884, he earned a degree in Medicine and one year later, he also received a degree in Philosophy and letters from the same university. However, he felt unsatisfied with these accomplishments alone and decided to go to France for further education at the University of Paris. To expand his knowledge in ophthalmology, which was his chosen field of specialization, he enrolled at the University of Heidelberg under

the mentorship of Professor Otto Becker, a renowned eye specialist.

Recognition in Europe

If Rizal had lived during the Renaissance period, he could have been considered the epitome of a well-rounded individual. He possessed an extensive range of skills and knowledge in various fields such as land assessment, medicine, and literature. Additionally, Rizal displayed remarkable talent in numerous arts including sculpting, painting, and architecture. His physical abilities were also impressive as he excelled in martial arts, fencing, and pistol shooting. Furthermore, Rizal had a deep understanding of subjects like agriculture, economics, sociology, anthropology, and history. His linguistic prowess was exceptional; fluently speaking over 10 languages including Filipino Spanish English French German and Dutch. Being a member of the Freemasons added another intriguing dimension to his life. Wherever he went, people were captivated by his charm wit intelligence and personality; leaving an enduring impact on everyone he encountered.

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