THE LIFE
AND WORKS
OF RIZAL
Prepared by: Tristan James C. Tabudlong
INTRODUCTION
As required by Republic Act 1425,
this course examines the life and
writings of the country's national
hero, José Rizal. Among the subjects
covered are Rizal's life and writings,
notably the novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, as well as some
of his essays and letters.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda, also known as Jose Rizal, was a
Filipino nationalist and polymath who played a significant role in the Philippines' effort
for independence from Spanish colonial control. He was born on June 19, 1861, in
Calamba, Laguna, Philippines, and was executed on December 30, 1896, in Manila,
Philippines.
FAMILY BACKGROUND:
Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines. He hailed
from a prosperous and respected family. Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonzo
Realonda were his parents. His father was a successful landowner and farmer, while his
mother was a well-educated woman who had a significant impact on Rizal's upbringing.
Parents:
Francisco Mercado: Rizal's father was an affluent farmer and landowner. He was a
well-educated man who could read and write in both Spanish and his native Tagalog.
He was well-known for his perseverance and love of the land.
Francisco Mercado was a successful farmer and landowner in Calamba, a town in
the Philippine province of Laguna.
He was born on May 11, 1818, into a Chinese Filipino family, which may explain his
surname "Mercado."
Francisco Mercado was well-known for his hard labor and love of the land. He was a
farmer who handled his lands.
Teodora Alonzo Realonda: Rizal's mother was a well-educated woman who excelled in
art, literature, and science. She was a powerful mother who pushed her children to
further their studies and develop their abilities.
Teodora Alonzo Realonda was a well-educated and talented woman.
She was born on November 8, 1827, in Meisik, Tondo, Manila.
Teodora was well-known for her abilities in the arts, literature, and science. She had
a significant effect on Rizal's schooling and growth.
Despite her gender and the social standards of the time, Teodora's excellence and
education made her a noteworthy figure in her own right.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
Siblings
Saturnina Rizal (Neneng)
The eldest of the Rizal children.
She was a diligent and compassionate sister who helped sustain the family.
Paciano Rizal
Jose Rizal's older brother.
Paciano had a big effect on Jose Rizal's life and was active in nationalist
movements.
Narcisa Rizal (Sisa):
She is known for her courage and loyalty to her family.
She married Antonio Lopez in 1890.
Olimpia Rizal (Pia):
The fourth child of the Rizal family.
She married Silvestre Ubaldo in 1893.
Lucia Rizal (Lucing):
The fifth child in the family.
Maria Rizal (Biang):
The sixth child of Francisco and Teodora.
Jose Protacio Rizal:
Jose Rizal himself was the seventh child.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
Siblings
Concepcion Rizal (Concha):
The eighth child of the Rizal family.
Josefa Rizal (Panggoy):
The ninth child.
Trinidad Rizal (Trining):
The youngest of the Rizal siblings.
Often called Jose Rizal's favorite sister.
These siblings, together with their parents, had a significant impact on Jose Rizal's life
and values. They provided him with encouragement, support, and a loving atmosphere,
which helped him grow into a national hero who advocated for Philippine independence
from Spanish colonial control.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Jose Rizal had a wide and extensive educational background. He was educated in both
the Philippines and overseas.
Early Education in Calamba:
Rizal's schooling began at home, under the supervision of his mother, Teodora
Alonzo. She taught him to read, write, and do basic mathematics at a young age,
instilling in him a passion for study.
Formal Education in Manila:
Rizal was transferred to Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila, a prestigious
school when he was eight years old.
He eventually went to the Jesuit-run Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he
completed his official education. He excelled in several courses at Ateneo and got
multiple honors.
Before his departure to Spain, Rizal briefly attended the Royal and Pontifical
University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He pursued a degree in Philosophy and Letters.
Formal Education in Europe:
Dissatisfied with how Filipinos in the Philippines were treated as second-class
citizens at educational institutions and elsewhere, National Hero Jose Rizal left the
country in May 1882 to further his education overseas. He enrolled in a medical
program at the Universidad Central de Madrid in Spain. He flew to France in June
1883 to examine how medicine was performed there.
Rizal obtained a Licentiate in Medicine from the Universidad Central de Madrid,
where he also studied philosophy and literature. He had the idea for Noli Me Tangere
in Madrid. He also studied at the University of Paris and finished his eye specialty
course at the University of Heidelberg in 1887. In the same year, Rizal's first novel was
published (in Berlin).
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
JOSE RIZAL IN EUROPE
Jose Rizal spent a significant part of his life in Europe, where he furthered his education,
pursued intellectual and political endeavors, and played an important role in the
Philippine nationalist struggle.
Education in Spain:
In 1882, Rizal moved to Madrid, Spain, to further his studies. He began his studies at
the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he majored in Philosophy and Letters.
In Spain, Rizal became interested in the reformist movement and met with other
Filipino expats campaigning for reforms in the Philippines.
Novel Publication:
While in Spain, Rizal penned two significant novels: "Noli Me Tangere" (Touch Me
Not) and "El Filibusterismo" (The Reign of Greed). These works revealed the excesses
of the Spanish colonial rule and the Catholic Church in the Philippines.
These efforts were effective in increasing awareness and motivating Filipinos to
pursue reforms and independence.
Europe Travel:
During his stay abroad, Rizal traveled widely throughout Europe. He traveled to
numerous European cities, including Paris, Berlin, and London, and met with a variety
of intellectuals, professors, and reformists.
Through his travels, he was able to obtain a better grasp of European society,
politics, and culture.
The Filipino Reform Movement:
Rizal was a significant figure in the Propaganda Movement, a reformist Filipino
movement based in Europe. He provided articles, essays, and literary works to
Filipino publications in Spain in order to highlight injustices in the Philippines and to
advocate for political and social reforms.
He also founded the "La Solidaridad" newspaper, which served as a venue for the
Propagandists' reformist ideas.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES:
Jose Rizal's return to the Philippines in 1892 represented a turning point in his life and
involvement in the Philippine nationalist movement.
Decision to Return:
After spending several years in Europe, Rizal decided to return to the Philippines in
the hopes of establishing peaceful reforms and campaigning for the rights and
welfare of the Filipino people.
He was well aware of the political and social situations of his homeland and thought
that his presence may contribute to positive change.
Returning for the following reasons:
A desire to personally examine and appraise the social and political circumstances
in the Philippines.
Belief in the possibility of peaceful reforms through legal approaches rather than
military resistance.
A desire to work in science and medicine in the Philippines.
He is concerned about his family being victimized by Spanish authorities while he is
away.
La Liga Filipina's establishment:
Soon after his return, Rizal established the La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League), a
reformist organization focused on uniting Filipinos for mutual assistance and the
common good.
The Liga fought for reforms in the Spanish colonial rule and the abolition of
injustices.
Exile and Arrest:
The Liga Filipina and Rizal's reformist actions aroused the attention of Spanish
officials, who perceived him as a threat to their power.
He was caught in July 1892 and sent to Dapitan, Mindanao, where he would be
exiled. He stayed in Dapitan for over four years, during which time he was involved in
a variety of academic and charitable initiatives.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
WORKS OF RIZAL
Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, was a prolific writer, poet, essayist, and novelist.
His writings cover a wide range of subjects, from social and political concerns to love,
history, and national identity.
Noli Me Tangere\
"Noli Me Tangere" was written in the late nineteenth century, while the Philippines
was under Spanish colonial government. Dr. Jose Rizal, a Filipino scholar and activist,
was motivated to write the novel in reaction to the social injustices and abuses he
witnessed in the Philippines.
Rizal began writing the novel in 1884 while living in Berlin, Germany. He continued to
work on it while studying at Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld.
The manuscript was transferred to the Philippines, where it was given to Rizal's friend
Maximo Viola for safety. It was finished in 1886.
Rizal opted to have the work published in Berlin, Germany, rather than the
Philippines, due to concerns about censorship and possible repercussions from
Spanish authorities.
Wilhelm Gronau's Berlin-based printing press printed "Noli Me Tangere" in 1887. Rizal
funded the novel's publishing with his own money.
El Filibusterismo
\"El Filibusterismo" is the sequel to Jose Rizal's first novel, "Noli Me Tangere," and it
continues the story of the Filipino people's hardships and ambitions under Spanish
colonial control.
After "Noli Me Tangere" was published in 1887, Rizal was motivated to create a
sequel that would further explore the themes of colonial mistreatment, social
injustice, and the yearning for reform.
Rizal's travels and education abroad, as well as his views of the Philippines
throughout his travels and studies abroad, spurred his determination to continue his
literary and political involvement.
Rizal began writing on "El Filibusterismo" while in London from 1888 to 1889. He
planned it to be a straight continuation of the previous novel, but it evolved into a
more intense and hostile work.
In 1891, the novel was completed in Ghent, Belgium.
"El Filibusterismo" was published in 1891 and disseminated in the Philippines and
among Filipino expats. Spanish colonial authorities were alarmed by the radical
themes and revolutionary aspirations depicted in "El Filibusterismo."
The novel was banned and anybody caught with it risked legal consequences.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
WORKS OF RIZAL
Mi Último Adiós (My Last Farewell)
Rizal's farewell poetry was written on the eve of his execution in 1896. It reflects his
affection for the Philippines and his desire for the country to be free of oppression.
El Filibusterismo
The Indolence of the Filipinos (La Indolencia de los Filipinos):
It is an 1889 essay that concerns the alleged indolence of Filipinos under Spanish
rule. Rizal disproves the notion of Filipino laziness, attributing it to a variety of social,
economic, and political issues.
Filipinas Dentro de Cien Años (The Philippines Within a Century):
This essay, written in 1889, is a response to an essay contest on the topic "What Will
the Philippines Be Like Within a Century?" Rizal's essay portrays a Philippines that has
overcome Spanish oppression and is progressing towards progress and
enlightenment.
Letter to the Young Women Malolos:
This letter, written in 1889, is a response to the courageous ladies of Malolos,
Bulacan, who had petitioned for permission to operate a night school. Rizal
applauds and supports their dedication to knowledge and enlightenment.
The Philippines a Century Hence (Filipinas Dentro de Cien Años):
This article, published in 1889, analyzes Rizal's view of the Philippines' future and the
possible influence of numerous causes on the country's development.
These writings show Rizal's strong love for his homeland, as well as his dedication to
advocating for social justice, reform in politics, and Philippine independence from
Spanish colonial control. His ideas and beliefs remain an important element of Philippine
literature and history.
REFERENCE
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no1425/
https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/articles/rizals-education/
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2
65463
https://www.joserizal.com/
https://archium.ateneo.edu/history-faculty-pubs/43/
https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=3b320667437b-41ed-a536-1699ba3b3649
https://econ.upd.edu.ph/perse/?p=7208
https://j-isc.org/life-of-jose-rizal/