Jose Rizal: A Biographical Sketch

JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba,
Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged to
distinguished families.
His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a model of fathers," came from Bian, Laguna; while
his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother,"
was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and
write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and
by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of
ones language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent" from the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas, while at the same
time took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21,
1877 and passed the Surveyors examination on May 21, 1878; but because of his age, 17, he was not granted license to practice the
profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop in his studies
when he felt that the Filipino students were being discriminated upon by their Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain
where he continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was conferred the
degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on June 19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade
of "excellent."
Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English,
French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other native
dialects. A versatile genius, he was an architect, artists, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer,
historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist,
psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian.
He was an expert swordsman and a good shot. In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and at the same
time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with
highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the
arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morgas SUCCESSOS DE LAS
ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the
Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on September 18, 1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a sequel to the NOLI and
more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in Ghent. Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by
the civil and clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his relatives and countrymen into
trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. As a consequence, he and those who had contacts with him, were shadowed; the
authorities were not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from
July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him
from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and business; he maintained and operated a
hospital; he conducted classes- taught his pupils the English and Spanish languages, the arts.
The sciences, vocational courses including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and painting, as well as the art of self defense; he did
some researches and collected specimens; he entered into correspondence with renowned men of letters and sciences abroad; and
with the help of his pupils, he constructed water dam and a relief map of Mindanao - both considered remarkable engineering feats.
His sincerity and friendliness won for him the trust and confidence of even those assigned to guard him; his good manners and warm
personality were found irresistible by women of all races with whom he had personal contacts; his intelligence and humility gained
for him the respect and admiration of prominent men of other nations; while his undaunted courage and determination to uplift the
welfare of his people were feared by his enemies.
When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, his enemies lost no time in pressing him down. They were able to enlist
witnesses that linked him with the revolt and these were never allowed to be confronted by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986, to
the date of his execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem, now known as
"Ultimo Adios" which is considered a masterpiece and a living document expressing not only the heros great love of country but
also that of all Filipinos. After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal association. In the cold
morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years of life had been packed with varied activities which proved that the
Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was shot at Bagumbayan Field.
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Indolence (laziness or slothfulness) is a stereotype and a racial slur. The use of a term like this implies that
everyone in the islands is lazy. That is obviously not the case; such a term cannot be tagged onto an entire culture
or nation.
Clearly, there are lazy Filipinos. There are industrious Filipinos. There are lazy people and industrious people from
every culture. It is absurd and wrong to categorize a whole people this way.As what I read, Rizal described the people
in the tropical and non-tropical countries. In tropical areas, the people there do not work a lot when its hot especially at
noon time. It is because they have to rest because of the suns heat. For instance, we students, whenever the air or the
weather is some warm, the tendency for this thing is we want to sleep. On the other hand, countries have four seasons
have to work much during spring and fall. It is because they cannot easily work on summer (because of excessive heat)
and on winter. Thus, the total work all in all is almost the same! We as human being must adopt to our environment
whatever its conditions. Therefore, being indolent (as they say) during hot conditions is reasonable.

I can prove without the text in the book that Filipinos in those days (Spaniards and pre-colonial period) were NOT
indolent. This can be verified through Banaues Rice Terraces, Filipinos at the dawn (before the sunrise) are ready to
start planting and keeping their vegetables and harvests. At the coming of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, he noticed the
people have enough supply of food, very generous, energetic and industrious.

When the Spaniards came to our lands, they burned many houses, eradicated some goods and resources, killed many
Filipinos, and stop our economic and commercial cycle. They controlled almost all farms and villages. Many areas were
become unpopulated. Almost two thirds of the populations were declined. Many boys especially the teenagers were
asked to do the Polo y Servicios. Farms were left uncultivated and encomienda was implemented. Only the friars and
Spanish officials could benefit- from high taxes to church offerings. To be able to start a business and work, the
permissions from the administrators was required, and not all were granted. For that, many Filipinos gave up their work,
lands, and even their life. They viewed their life hopeless and they thought themselves as inferiors. Gambling grown up
because all of their sacrifices and works were not enough. They trusted fortune to make their status quite good. Some
of these are sabongs or cock fighting and even today exists! Another obnoxious is the friars told the people: THE RICH
MAN WILL NOT GO TO HEAVEN. What kind of deception is that! They corrupted and controlled the minds of the
innocent people. Also, aside from this, education for all was not granted. The reforms, programs the government should
take in to action were only a dream. How bad or worst are these!!!

Today, the indolence and hopeless mentality stays toward the masses. Many corrupt officials, unsettled reforms,
poverty, misdistribution of money and taxes, poor tenancy, illiteracy, slow progress, etc. are still there! HISTORY TRULY
REPEATS ITSELF. Thats the importance of education and studying or past. IF THESE TRAITS AND SYSTEM CONTINUE,
THEN AS HISTORY SAYS, WE WIL SUFFER AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!

Education and complete analysis of this facts is very important, not only this days, but also to the next generation.

Truly that article is excellent in describing our situation and delighting everyone who reads it. I learned a lot from this
essay. I hope many people will read this beautiful work of art.

I expect that you will be satisfied for what Ive mentioned. I hope this reaction paper is complete and in details.

Thats all, Gracias por leer a mis comentarios!
(Thanks for reading my comments.)
This letter, written by Rizal in response to the request of M.H. del Pilar, while he was
residing in Paris, was about the courageous actions of twenty young women of Malolos.
This is the story; During the time of Governor-General Weyler, twenty young women of
Malolos petitioned the governor-general to open a night school so they can study Spanish
under Teodoro Sandiko. Upon knowing this, a friar, Fr. Felipe Garcia, expressed
disapproval of the idea. Due to this, the governor-general turned down them petition.
However, still determined, the young women bravely continued their purpose. This caused
a great stir in the political and social scene, not only in the Philippines but also in Europe.
In the letter, Rizal tackled the many evils of the friars. They, who introduced us to
Christianity, are also those that wreaks on it sanctity. Those that taught us to leave a life of
simplicity are those who live a life of vanity and extravagance. They taught us that going to
heaven would be easier if we were not rich are those that make themselves as wealthy as
possible. Those that taught us service are those that accept bribery. What an example
they made. If what they do are of Gods will, then it would be better to turn our back on
that god. Rizal also pointed out that living a God oriented life is not by saying endless
prayers and novenas but by living on our own reason, the reason god intended for us. ...