Jose Rizal: PDF Biography of the Filipino National Hero

Who is Jose Rizal José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda ❦ Birthdate: June 19, 1861 ❦ Year of Death: December 30, 1896 ❦ Rizal was a poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian, architect, painter, sculptor, educator, linguist, musician, naturalist, ethnologist, surveyor, engineer, farmer...

Who is Jose Rizal José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda ❦ Birthdate: June 19, 1861 ❦ Year of Death: December 30, 1896 ❦ Rizal was a poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian, architect, painter, sculptor, educator, linguist, musician, naturalist, ethnologist, surveyor, engineer, farmer businessman, economist, geographer, cartographer, bibliophile, philologist, grammarian, folklorist, philosopher, translator, inventor, magician, humourist, satirist, polemicist, sportsman, traveller, and a prophet. ❦ Rizal was also a product of his time. Changes and historical events all over the world, particularly from the 19th to the early 20th centuries brought relevance and impact to the character of the person known in history as the “First Malayan Hero”. ❦ Rizal was also a product of his time. Changes and historical events all over the world, particularly from the 19th to the early 20th centuries brought relevance and impact to the character of the person known in history as the “First Malayan Hero”. ❦ Philippine Revolutionary Government headed by Emilio Aguinaldo in Malolos, Bulacan is the first to celebrate the death anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal on December 30, 1898. ❦ December 30, 1898 this is the day was marked as the day for national mourning and solemn observance of the death anniversary of the Filipino National Hero. ❦ An officer of the revolutionary government named Antonio Guevarra, who was sent to Lucban, Quezon in 1898, to accomplish a mission for the government wrote the following observations. “The town was in mourning with a flag at half mast at each house. I learned it was in commemoration of the anniversary of the tragic killing of the eminent Doctor Jose Rizal at the hands of the Spaniards in the execution ground of Bagumbayan (now Luneta). ❦ Mrs. Dauncey Compbell, she was an American Author who visited the Philippines in December 31, 1904, she noted that her observations while she was in Iloilo; she stated how the people in this place celebrated the death anniversary of Rizal. “I think you may be amused to hear about a Filipino Fiesta, which took place yesterday called Rizal Day- the anniversary of the death of the national hero, a Filipino by the name of Doctor Jose Rizal”. Who choose Rizal to become a National Hero ❦ He was chosen by the Taft Commission. The Taft Commission was given the responsibility to do the Job. ❦ This Commission was headed by William Howard Taft. ∞ Members: ① Americans: W. Morgan Shuster, Bernard Moses, dean Warcester and Henry Clay. ① Filipinos: Jose Luzuriaga, Gregorio Araneta and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera Criteria: Of a National Hero Declared by the Taft Commission ① He must be a Filipino. ② He is already Dead. ③ He has Immeasurable Love for the country. ④ He has Low Temper (since the Filipinos are emotional). ⑤ He died in Dramatic Manner. Rizal possesses all the criteria and then he became our National Hero. Why Rizal became the greatest national hero? ❦ Rizal became the greatest Filipino because he is a man of honoured. ❦ Even after death he received public worship because of his exceptional service to mankind. ❦ We can say that before his execution, Rizal was already acclaimed by both Filipinos and Foreigners as the foremost leader of his people. ❦ Prof. Blumentritt told Dr. Viola in May 1887 that Rizal was the greatest product of the Philippines and that his coming to the world was like the appearance of a Rare Comet, who Rare Brilliance appears only other century. The birth of our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal was born on June 19,1861 in Calamba Laguna. \ He was baptized in the catholic church in Calamba Laguna on June 22, 1861, by the parish priest Father Rufino Collantes. Rizal God Father – was father Pedro Casanas, a close friend of Rizal’s Family. His name “Jose” was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint “San Jose” or Saint Joseph. The Baptismal Certificate was signed and witness by Leoncio Lopez. Lieutenant- General Jose Lemery – He was the Governor- General of the Philippines at the time Jose Rizal was born. Family Background of Jose Rizal ❦ Jose Rizal was the 7th of the 11th children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda. ❦ Francisco Mercado Rizal (1818-1898) – He was the father of Rizal. He was born on May 11, 1818 in Biñan, Laguna. His Father studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose Manila. ❦ Doña Teodora (Teodora Alonso Realonda) (1827-1911) – She was the mother of Rizal. o She was born on November 9, 1827 and was educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well- known College for girls in the City. ❦ Paciano Rizal – (1851- 1930); Older brother and confidant of Jose Rizal. After Jose Rizal execution, Paciano joined the Philippine Revolution and became a combat general, after the Revolution. ❦ Lucia Rizal– (1857- 1919); Lucia Rizal Herbosa. She married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who was a Nephew of Father Casanas. Herbosa died of Cholera in 1889 and was denied Christian burial and because he was a brother- in- law of Dr. Jose Rizal. ❦ Conception Rizal (1862- 1865). Her nickname was Concha o She died at the aged of 3. Her death was Jose Rizal first sorrow in life The Surname of Rizal ❦ Rizal’s family acquired a second surname “Rizal” which was given by a Spanish Alcalde Mayor of Laguna, who was a family friend. ❦ Surename “Rizal” came from the word Ricial which means “green fields” or “ricefield”. Rizal House ∞ The house of the Rizal family was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during Spanish times. ∞ It was a two-storey building, rectangular in shape, built of adobe stones and hard-woods, and roofed with red tiles. ∞ Behind the house were the poultry yard full of turkey’s and chickens and a big garden of tropical fruit trees- like, atis, balimbing, chico, macopa, papaya, santol, tampoy, etc. A Good and Middle- Class Family ∞ The Rizal family belonged to the “Principalia”, a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines. ∞ They owned “carriage” which was a status symbol of the “ilustrados” in Spanish Philippines and a private library (the largest library in Calamba) which consists of more than 1,000 volumes. ∞ “Carriage is also known as “Kalesa” or Carromata in the 19th century. Home Life of Rizal’s Family ❦ The family believed in the maxim that “ Spare the rod and spoil the Child”. ❦ Calamba: The Town’s name was derived from the local names of a big native jar called Calambanga.