Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Pambansang Bayani ng Pilipinas
Ika-19 ng Hunyo, 1861 - Ika-30 ng Disiyembre, 1896
(Philippines''''
National hero)
(June 19,1861 - December 30, 1896)Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda, the
Philippines'''' National hero was born in Calamba,
Laguna on June 19, 1861 to Franciso Mercado Rizal
and Teodora Alonzo Realonda.
With his mother as his first teacher, he began his early education at
home and continued it in Binan, Laguna. He finished Bachiler en Atrtes
at Ateneo de Manila on March 23, 1876 with the highest honors. In 1877
he took up medicine at the University of Sto. Tomas and surveying at Ateneo.He
finished both medicine and philosophy in 1885 at the Central University
of Madrid. In Europe he took graduate studies in Paris and Heidelberg.He
learned to read and write different languages including Greek and Latin.
Rizal''''s two books the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo made him
a marked man for the Spanish friars. These books exposed the cruelties
of the friars in the Philippines, the defects of the Spanish administration,and
the vices of the clergy.
He returned to the Philippines in June 1892 and on July 3 of the
same year, he founded La Liga Filipina, aimed to unite Filipinos and promote
progress through commerce, industry and agriculture.
On July 6, 1892 he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago and on July 14, he
was exiled to Dapitan where he stayed for four years, treating the sick
and guiding the people in openning up the school and making the place safe
and beautiful.
Rizal was arrested on September 3 on his way to Cuba to serve as volunteer
surgeon and sent back to the Philippines. On November 3 he was jailed for
the second time in Fort Santiago.
On December 26, 1896 after a mock trial, Rizal was sentenced to die,alleged
for spreading the ideals of the revolution. He was shot at Bagumbayan,
now known as Luneta in Manila on December 30, 1896; a man of many accomplishments:a
polyglot, a novelist, a poet, a scholar, a scientist, a doctor, a painter,an
educator, and a reformer. Before his end came, he left to his countryhis
greatest patriotic poem, Mi Ultimo A dios (My Last Farewell) to serve as
inspiration to succeeding generations.
Today, among the many things that Rizal is most famous for is his very
famous proverb:
"Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling Wika ay higit pa ang amoy
sa bulok at mabahong isda".
("Anyone who does not love his own native language smells worst than
a rotten and odorous fish." ) which is aptly described by singer/songwriter
FLORANTE in his immortal song:
"AKO''''Y ISANG
*PINOY:" (I am a Filipino)
Download
"Ako''''y isang Pinoy"
* Pinoy is an acronym for Pilipino (in Pinoy language) or Filipino(in
English) which is widely used by Filipinos of today to describe themselves.