FACTS ABOUT RIZAL
Jose Rizal:
Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda
Nationalist, writer, reformist, polymath, patriot
Born:
June 19, 1861, Calamba
Died:
December 30, 1896 (35 years old), Rizal Park, Manila
Parents:
Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso Realonda
Siblings:
Paciano Rizal
Concepcion Mercado
Saturnina Hidalgo
Trinidad Mercado
Narcisa Mercado
Maria Mercado
Josefina Mercado
Lucia Mercado
Olympia Mercado
Soledad Mercado
-7th child by his parents
-grew up in a wealthy family, a child prodigy
-learned the alphabet at the age of 3
-can read and write by 5
-graduated at Ateneo Municiapal de Manila at 16
-enrolled as a medical student at the University of Santo Tomas in 1878, yet he left due to
discrimination against Filipinos in 1882
-In May 1882, he left the Philippines for Spain against his parents' permission
-He joins the propaganda movement- the first Philippines’ nationalistic movement
-He received his medical degree at 23
-at the age of 24, he get another degree in Philosophy and letters
-during his time in spain, he mastered multiple languages
-first book published in Germany 1887 titled “ Noli Me Tangere”- Touch Me Not.
-1891, he published the “El Filibusterismo”- The Hand of Greed.
-July 17, 1892, he was exiled to Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte by the Spanish government.
DURING HIS EXILE IN DAPITAN
-He practiced medicine by treating common illnesses and eye problems
-He taught young students about arts, sports, sciences, and vocational courses
-He built water systems and constructed a relief map of Mindanao
-He did research and gathered species of local flora and fauna
-he was executed by firing squad in Manila, found guilty of conspiracy, sedition, and rebellion
FIRST LOVE:
Segunda Katigbak
How they met
 Rizal met Katigbak when he was 16 years old and visited his grandmother with his friend
Mariano Katigbak, Segunda's brother.
 They became close, and Rizal described her as having "eloquent eyes and an enchanting
smile".
 However, Katigbak was already engaged to Manuel Luz Y Metra, a wealthy man from
Lipa.
Why they didn't end up together
 Rizal couldn't confess his true feelings.
 Rizal later wrote about the incident, saying, "Ended, at an early house, my first
love!".
What's known about Katigbak?
 She came from a wealthy clan in Lipa.
 She was a close friend of Rizal's sister, Olympia Mercado.
 She and Luz had 12 children, but only nine survived.
Where to learn more about Katigbak
 You can learn more about the Luz-Katigbak family at the Casa de Segunda in Lipa City.
GREATEST LOVE
Leonor Rivera
How they met:
 Rivera and Rizal met in Manila when she was 14 years old.
 They became childhood sweethearts and "lover by correspondence".
 Their letters to each other inspired Rizal during his studies in Europe.
How their relationship ended:
 Rivera's mother disapproved of Rizal and her relationship.
 Rizal's father, Francisco Mercado, forbade Rizal from seeing Rivera to protect the
Rivera family.
How Rivera was affected:
 Rivera suffered greatly after Rizal's departure and often fell ill due to insomnia.
LAW WIFE:
Josephine Bracken
 She was the common wife of Rizal during his exile in Dapitan.
 Hours before Rizal's execution on December 30, 1896, the couple were allegedly
married at Fort Santiago following Rizal's alleged reconciliation with the Catholic
Church.
Other women in Rizal's life:
1. Segunda Katigbak, his first love
2. Leonor Valenzuela, his next-door neighbor
3. Consuelo Ortega Y Rey
4. Seiko Usui
5. Gertrude Beckett
6. Suzanne Jacoby
7. Nellie Boustead
8. Josephine Bracken