José Rizal: Life and Education

Personal Information

• José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda is Rizal's full name.
• He was born on June 19, 1861.
• Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna.
• Rizal's father was Francisco Mercado.
• Rizal's mother was Teodora Alonzo.
• He was the seventh child in his family.

Early Education

• Rizal's first teacher was his mother.
• He learned the alphabet at the age of 3.
• As a child, Rizal used pencil, paper, chalk and slate to practice writing.
• Rizal first formally studied in Biñan, Laguna.
• Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz was Rizal's teacher in Biñan.
• At age 11, Rizal attended Ateneo Municipal de Manila.
• He graduated from Ateneo with the academic rank of Sobresaliente (Excellent).
• Rizal earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Ateneo.

Higher Education

• He studied medicine in Europe at Universidad Central de Madrid.
• Rizal excelled in literature and science.
• In Madrid, Rizal completed degrees in Medicine and Philosophy & Letters.
• One of his favorite books was Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Influences and Nationalism

• Spanish oppression and education inspired Rizal's nationalism.
• Paciano influenced Rizal to pursue education abroad.

Involvement in Madrid

• Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino in Madrid.

Literary Works

• "Amor Patrio" was Rizal's first published essay.
• He used the pen name "Laong Laan" for "Amor Patrio".
• "Amor Patrio" was published in Diariong Tagalog.
• "Amor Patrio" means "Love of Country".
• In "Amor Patrio", Rizal urged Filipinos to love their country.
• "Amor Patrio" was written in Spanish.

Travel and Departure

• Rizal left for Europe on May 3, 1882.
• Paciano accompanied Rizal to Manila before departure.
• He boarded the ship Salvadora on his way to Europe.
• Rizal used the name "Jose Mercado" on his passport.
• He did not inform his parents about the real reason for his trip.
• Rizal's sister, Saturnina, gave him a diamond ring before his departure.

Emotional State and Fears

• Rizal left the country secretly to avoid suspicion from Spanish authorities.
• He was nervous and emotional during his departure.
• Rizal feared arrest or being stopped by the authorities if his plan was discovered.
• Tio Antonio was one of the people who saw him off at the port.

Europe

• Rizal first stayed in Europe in Barcelona.
• His first impression of Barcelona was ugly and inhospitable.
• A warm welcome from Filipinos changed Rizal's view of Barcelona.
• After staying in Barcelona, Rizal moved to Madrid.

Studies in Madrid

• Rizal took Medicine and Philosophy & Letters in Madrid.

Relationships

• Consuelo Ortiga was the daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga and Rizal's admirer.
• Rizal dedicated the poem "A La Señorita C.O." to Consuelo.
• He did not pursue a romance with Consuelo because he was loyal to Leonor Rivera and respected Eduardo de Lete.

Literary Contributions

• Rizal wrote "Me Piden Versos" for a Filipino gathering.
• He worked with Dr. Louis de Wecker in Paris.
• Dr. Otto Becker was a German ophthalmologist in Heidelberg.
• Rizal wrote the poem "A las Flores de Heidelberg" in Heidelberg.
• He wrote his first German letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt.

Germany and Poverty

• Rizal found Berlin to be a scientifically advanced city free of racial prejudice.
• Due to poverty, Rizal lived on bread and water in Berlin.

Travel to Italy

• Rizal visited Italy before returning to the Philippines.
• Rome was the last city Rizal visited in Europe.
• St. Peter's Basilica impressed Rizal in Rome.
• Rizal and Viola went boating on Lake Como.

Noli Me Tangere

• Maximo Viola helped Rizal publish "Noli Me Tangere".
• Rizal became a part of the Propaganda Movement while in Europe.
• Equal rights for Filipinos and Spaniards was the main goal of the Propaganda Movement.
• La Solidaridad became the mouthpiece of the Propaganda Movement.
• Graciano Lopez Jaena was the founder of La Solidaridad.
• Marcelo H. del Pilar took over as editor of La Solidaridad after Lopez Jaena.
• Laong Laan and Dimasalang were Rizal's pen names in La Solidaridad.
• Rizal advocated for representation in the Spanish Cortes in his writings for reforms.
• Violent uprising was NOT one of Rizal's goals for reform.
• A biblical phrase meaning "Touch Me Not" inspired the title "Noli Me Tangere".
• Crisostomo Ibarra in Noli Me Tangere was Rizal’s alter ego and the main character.
• Social injustices in the Philippines was the central theme of Noli Me Tangere.
• The first complete draft of Noli Me Tangere was finished in Berlin.
• Maximo Viola loaned him money, which allowed him to afford publication of the book.
• Elias in Noli Me Tangere was a boatman who symbolizes the Filipino masses.
• Maria Clara was based on Leonor Rivera.
• El Filibusterismo was considered the sequel to Noli Me Tangere.
• The tone of El Filibusterismo was darker and more revolutionary compared to Noli Me Tangere.
• Simoun in El Filibusterismo was Ibarra in disguise.
• Simoun tried to instigate a revolution in the novel.
• Rizal used political satire and symbolism in El Filibusterismo.

El Filibusterismo

• Rizal lived in Ghent while writing parts of El Filibusterismo.
• Financial problems were a personal struggle Rizal faced while writing El Filibusterismo.
• Rizal focused on political and educational reforms in his European writings.
• The purpose of Rizal’s annotations to Antonio Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas was to prove that Filipinos had a rich culture before Spanish colonization.
• Rizal wrote in Spanish to reach the educated elite and the Spanish government.
• He dedicated his novel El Filibusterismo to the memory of the Gomburza.
• The message of “Mi Ultimo Adios” is to sacrifice for one’s country.
• Rizal wrote “Mi Ultimo Adios” in his prison cell in Fort Santiago.

Execution and Legacy

• It was requested that Rizal face the firing squad before his execution.
• Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan (Luneta).
• Rizal was executed in 1896.
• A fellow prisoner betrayed Rizal's secret writings.
• The Rizal Monument in Luneta stands today where Rizal was executed.
• Rizal believed education was the key to Filipino progress.
• La Liga Filipina was the name of Rizal's organization founded in the Philippines.
• The goal of La Liga Filipina was to unite Filipinos for peaceful reform.
• Andres Bonifacio led the Katipunan after Rizal's arrest.
• Rizal turned to face the firing squad as his final gesture before execution.
• Rizal was 35 years old at the time of his death.
• Rizal's legacy is national identity, intellectual inspiration, and peaceful reform ideals.