Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ greatest national hero, was a man of strong convictions who gave his life for the nationalist cause. Rizal fought for peaceful reforms in his own country while the Philippines was under Spanish colonial power. Rizal was a complex personality who was a competent doctor, writer, and artist who could draw, paint, sculpt, and carve in addition to being a nationalist. He was a brilliant writer and poet who, through his expressive works, pushed nationalists to pursue both peaceful reforms and violent confrontations if needed. He was raised in a family that valued education and encouraged him to study hard and learn about a wide range of topics. Even as a child, he was known to possess radical ideas about political freedom and individual rights, which were frowned upon by the authorities. He became involved in the Propaganda Movement, where he joined other Filipinos who wanted reforms, as a well-traveled man. In a work that was forbidden in the Philippines, he also wrote about the dark sides of Spanish control. He was deported from his homeland despite being a proponent of peaceful reforms, and later convicted of sedition and put to death. The assassination of this young nationalist fueled Filipino nationalism even more.
Childhood and Adolescence
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was one of Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Morales Alonso y Quintos’ eleven children. Jose Rizal, a shortened variant of his name, was afterwards adopted. His family had a lot of money.
In 1877, he enrolled in the Ateneo de Manila and earned a degree in Land Surveying and Assessment. He had a strong interest in the arts, therefore he enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas’ Faculty of Arts and Letters to pursue a degree in Philosophy.
During this time, his mother was going blind, so the young guy decided to pursue a career in ophthalmology in order to assist her. In 1878, he enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas’ Faculty of Medical Sciences for this reason.
He moved to Spain to further his education and enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he received his medical degree in 1884. The following year, he earned a second bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Letters from the same institution.
He had an insatiable quest for study and proceeded to the University of Heidelberg in Heidelberg, France, to expand his ophthalmology skills. In 1887, he finished his eye specialization under the guidance of renowned professor Otto Becker.
A Later Years
He penned the novel ‘Noli Me Tangere’ in 1887 while studying medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He was a strong critic of Spanish colonial power in the Philippines, writing of the injustices and brutalities that the native people had to endure. Because of its scathing content, his novel was banned by the government.
He had been exposed to the tumultuous existence under the Spanish administration and was well aware of the Filipinos’ plight. He became a leader in the Filipino student reform movement in Spain, and he published several articles and essays in the Spanish journal ‘La Solidaridad.’
He believed the Philippines was beset by two problems: corrupt friars and a dysfunctional government. His thoughts were founded on progressive principles, peaceful changes, individual liberties, and rights for the Filipino people.
Freedom of assembly and speech, representation in the legislature, equal rights before the law for both Filipinos and Spaniards, and the Philippines becoming a province of Spain were among the primary reforms he sought. The colonial authorities, on the other hand, were not in favor of these measures.
As a sequel to his first novel, ‘El Filibusterismo,’ he released his second novel in 1891. The novel dealt with dark and violent topics, which were in stark contrast to the previous novel’s theme.
The novel had a significant impact on Philippine society’s perceptions of national identity, and it was banned in some sections of the country due to its depiction of Spanish government corruption.
In 1892, he returned to the Philippines because he believed he needed to be there to effectively implement changes. He founded the La Liga Filipina civic movement, which advocated for social improvements through peaceful and legal means.
Despite the fact that he favored peaceful reforms, the government had labeled Rizal an enemy of the state by the early 1890s; the authorities were enraged by his books and essays that revealed the corruption of the Spanish Colonial authority. In July 1892, he was deported to Dapitan.
He continued his reform efforts in Dapitan by constructing a school for young boys, a hospital, and a water supply system. He also taught farming and worked on agricultural projects that involved the utilization of abaca, a plant that is used to make rope.
When a yellow fever epidemic struck Cuba in 1895, Rizal volunteered to serve as an army doctor. The Governor-General, Ramon Blanco, agreed to his request.
Katipunan, a secret club, began a violent revolt in August 1896. Rizal was detained en route to Cuba, despite the fact that he had no connection to the revolution.
He was returned to Manila and prosecuted for insurrection, sedition, and conspiracy, all of which he was found guilty of.
His Major Projects
Jose Rizal was a Filipino national hero who used his writings to expose the Spanish colonial government’s corruption and wrongdoings. He was a proponent of peaceful reforms and the founder of the progressive organization ‘La Liga Filipina,’ which the Spanish authorities saw as a threat, leading to his detention.
Personal History and Legacy
Gertrude Beckett, Nelly Boustead, Seiko Usui, and Leonor Rivera were among the women with whom he had affairs.
He married Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman from Hong Kong, in a civil ceremony. The couple had one child, who was born prematurely and died soon after.
He was a polymath who possessed a rare capacity to grasp a wide range of disciplines and talents. He was a doctor, poet, artist, farmer, educator, and historian, among other things. He was also well-versed in the subjects of economics, anthropology, theatre, and sociology. He could communicate in 22 different languages.
In October 1896, he was arrested and convicted of sedition, conspiracy, and insurrection. He was given the death penalty. On December 30, 1896, he was executed by a squad of Filipino troops from the Spanish Army.
Estimated Net worth
Jose is one of the wealthiest novelists and one of the most well-known. Jose Rizal’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
A street named for this great national hero may be found in almost every town and city in the Philippines.