Overview
This lecture covers the life and works of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, focusing on his family background, education, travels, major writings, reform advocacy, exile, trial, and execution.
Family Background and Early Life
- Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, to Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso.
- He was the seventh of eleven children in a prosperous, educated family.
- Rizal's ancestry included Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino roots, reflecting the multicultural heritage of the Philippines.
- The Mercado-Rizal family played active roles in society and local politics.
- Rizal's early environment in Calamba fostered his love for nature and the arts.
- His brother Paciano was a mentor, supporting Rizal's education and later his reform efforts.
Childhood and Early Education
- Rizal learned the alphabet at age three, taught by his mother.
- He had private tutors in Latin, Spanish, reading, and writing before formal schooling.
- At age nine, he studied in Biñan under Justiniano Aquino Cruz, excelling in Spanish and Latin.
- Rizal was also skilled in painting and drawing, mentored by Juancho, an old painter.
Higher Education in the Philippines
- Rizal attended Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1872, using the surname "Rizal" for safety.
- He excelled academically, graduating as "emperor" (top student) and earning a Bachiller en Artes in 1877.
- He studied Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and took Medicine to help his ailing mother.
- Rizal faced discrimination at UST, prompting his decision to study abroad.
Studies and Activities Abroad
- Rizal traveled to Spain in 1882 and enrolled at Universidad Central de Madrid for Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.
- He pursued further studies in France and Germany, specializing in ophthalmology.
- While in Europe, he joined Filipino expatriate groups and the Propaganda Movement advocating reforms.
- Rizal became active in Masonry and befriended leading European scholars.
Literary and Reform Contributions
- Rizal wrote "Noli Me Tangere" (1887) and "El Filibusterismo" (1891), exposing abuses of Spanish rule and the friar system.
- His essays in La Solidaridad, like "El Amor Patrio," "Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos," and "Filipinas Dentro de Cien Años," promoted reform and national consciousness.
- He annotated Morga’s "Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas" to highlight pre-colonial Filipino civilization.
Exile, Trial, and Execution
- Rizal founded La Liga Filipina in 1892 to promote peaceful reforms but was arrested and exiled to Dapitan, Mindanao.
- In Dapitan, he practiced medicine, taught students, and led community development projects.
- Accused of inciting rebellion due to his writings, Rizal was tried, found guilty of sedition, and executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896.
- He wrote his farewell poem "Mi Último Adiós" on the eve of his death, cementing his legacy as a martyr for Philippine independence.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Ilustrados — educated Filipino class advocating reform during Spanish rule.
- Propaganda Movement — campaign for political reforms by Filipinos in Spain.
- La Liga Filipina — civic organization established by Rizal to promote reforms.
- Sedition — conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against authority.
- Dapitan — town in Mindanao where Rizal was exiled.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Answer module-assigned reflection questions about Rizal's family influence, education, and the impacts of his writings on Philippine society.
- Enumerate at least ten poems or articles by Rizal and identify their topics and purposes.