Jose Rizal was a Filipino patriot, writer, and reformer widely regarded as the Philippines’ national hero. He was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, and died in Manila on December 30, 1896. The Spanish colonial authorities executed him for his involvement in the Philippine Revolution.
Jose Rizal Age
Jose Rizal was 35 years old when he died by firing squad on December 30, 1896, in Manila, Philippines. If he were alive today, he would be 160 years old, as he was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines.
Jose Rizal Biography
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda |
| Nickname | Pepe |
| Birth date | June 19, 1861 |
| Birthplace | Calamba, Laguna, Philippines |
| Death date | December 30, 1896 |
| Death place | Bagumbayan (now Luneta), Manila, Philippines |
| Cause of death | Firing squad |
| Burial place | Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Ethnicity | Mestizo (Chinese, Malay, Spanish) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic (later became a freemason) |
| Education | Ateneo Municipal de Manila, University of Santo Tomas, Universidad Central de Madrid, University of Paris, University of Heidelberg |
| Profession | Writer, doctor, educator, linguist, scientist, artist, engineer, historian, philosopher, poet, propagandist, and reformist |
| Languages | Filipino, Spanish, English, French, German, Latin, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Malay, Dutch, Swedish, and Russian |
| Awards | Order of the Knights of Rizal, Order of National Artists of the Philippines, Order of Lakandula |
Jose Rizal Career
Jose Rizal, a master of letters and a beacon for the Philippines, penned the seminal novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” sparking a revolution with his poignant narratives of Spanish colonial oppression. His legacy as “The First Filipino” is cemented by his heartfelt “Mi Ultimo Adios” and insightful essays like “La Indolencia de los Filipinos.”
A true polymath, Rizal was not only a writer but also a gifted ophthalmologist, a passionate educator, a polyglot fluent in over 20 languages, a meticulous scientist, a creative artist, an innovative engineer, a dedicated historian, and a philosopher committed to human rights.
As a reformist, Rizal was at the forefront of the Propaganda Movement, striving for political and social betterment in the Philippines through peaceful advocacy. He founded “La Solidaridad,” a newspaper championing reform, and led “La Liga Filipina,” fostering unity and cooperation among Filipinos. His multifaceted contributions continue to inspire change and progress.
Jose Rizal Family
Jose Rizal came from a wealthy and prominent family in Calamba, Laguna. His parents were Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda, who were educated and well-respected in their community. He had ten siblings, namely:
- Saturnina Rizal (1850–1913), eldest sister, married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo
- Paciano Rizal (1851–1930), only brother, became a general in the Philippine Revolution
- Narcisa Rizal (1852–1939), the third sister, married Antonio Lopez
- Olympia Rizal (1855–1877), the fourth sister, married Silvestre Ubaldo
- Lucia Rizal (1857–1919), the fifth sister, married Mariano Herbosa
- Maria Rizal (1859–1945), the sixth sister, married Daniel Faustino Cruz
- Jose Rizal (1861–1896), the seventh child and national hero of the Philippines
- Concepcion Rizal (1862–1865), the eighth child, died at the age of three
- Josefa Rizal (1865–1945), the ninth child, remained single and joined the Katipunan
- Trinidad Rizal (1868–1951), the tenth child, remained single and joined the Katipunan
- Soledad Rizal (1870–1929), youngest sister, married Pantaleon Quintero
Jose Rizal never married, but he had several romantic relationships with different women, such as:
- Segunda Katigbak, his first love and childhood friend
- Leonor Valenzuela, his neighbor and pen pal
- Leonor Rivera, his cousin and fiancee
- Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, the daughter of the Spanish consul in Manila
- O-Sei San, a Japanese woman he met in Tokyo
- Gertrude Beckett, an English woman he met in London
- Nelly Boustead, a French woman he met in Paris
- Suzanne Jacoby, a Belgian woman he met in Brussels
- Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman he adopted as his wife and mother of his stillborn son
Jose Rizal Story
Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero, was a man of many talents. Born in 1861, he was not only a writer whose works rallied the nation for independence but also a skilled doctor, a polyglot, and an educator. His peaceful advocacy for Filipino rights through writings and reforms led to his execution in 1896, igniting the Philippine Revolution. Today, Rizal’s legacy is a symbol of Filipino unity and freedom.
If you want to learn more about Jose Rizal and his life and works, you can check out these resources and links:
- The Official Repository of Jose Rizal’s Works website contains digital copies of Rizal’s writings, images, and artifacts.
- The Life and Works of Rizal website provides a comprehensive and interactive biography of Rizal, quizzes, games, and videos.
- The Rizal Park and Shrine a historic and cultural park in Manila, commemorates Rizal’s life and death and houses his monument and museum.
- The Rizal’s Ancestral Home, a heritage site in Calamba, Laguna, preserves the house where Rizal was born and raised and displays his memorabilia and artworks.
- The Rizal’s Dapitan is a historical and cultural site in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, that showcases where Rizal lived in exile and established his school and projects.
- Rizal’s Fort Santiago iSantiago musical and military site in Manila marks the place where Rizal was imprisoned and wrote his final poem before his execution.
FAQ
Q: Who is Jose Rizal?
A: Jose Rizal was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and reformer widely regarded as the Philippines’ national hero. He wrote the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which exposed the abuses and injustices of the Spanish colonial regime in the Philippines. The Spanish colonial authorities executed him for his involvement in the Philippine Revolution.
Q: What is Jose Rizal’s full name?
A: The full name of Jose Rizal was Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. He was also known by his nickname Pepe.
Q: When and where was Jose Rizal born and died?
A: Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. He died on December 30, 1896, in Bagumbayan (now Luneta), Manila, Philippines.
Q: What did Jose Rizal study and where?
A: Jose Rizal studied medicine, philosophy, history, and languages in various institutions in the Philippines and abroad. He attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he graduated with honors. He then studied medicine and philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas but did not finish his degree. He continued his studies in Europe, earning his medical doctorate from the Universidad Central de Madrid. He studied ophthalmology, anthropology, and history at the University of Paris and Heidelberg.
Q: Why is Jose Rizal considered the national hero of the Philippines?
A: Jose Rizal is considered the Philippines’ national hero because his writings and activities inspired the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino nationalist movement. He advocated for the rights and dignity of the Filipinos and exposed the corruption and oppression of the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. He also founded a school, a newspaper, and a civic organization that aimed to improve the conditions and unity of the Filipino people.
Q: How did Jose Rizal die, and where was he buried?
A: Jose Rizal died by firing squad on December 30, 1896, in Bagumbayan (now Luneta), Manila, Philippines. The Spanish colonial authorities executed him for the crime of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution broke out. He is buried at the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines.
Q: What are Jose Rizal’s famous works?
A: The famous works of Jose Rizal are his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which together are taken as a national epic, in addition to numerous poems and essays. Some of his other notable works are Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), a poem he wrote before his execution, and La Indolencia de los Filipinos (The Indolence of the Filipinos), an essay that analyzed the causes and effects of colonialism on the Filipino people.
Q: Who are Jose Rizal’s family and romantic partners?
A: Jose Rizal came from a wealthy and prominent family in Calamba, Laguna. His parents were Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda, who were educated and well-respected in their community. He had ten siblings: Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Jose, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad, and Soledad. Jose Rizal never married, but he had several romantic relationships with different women, such as Segunda Katigbak, Leonor Valenzuela, Leonor Rivera, Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, O-Sei San, Gertrude Beckett, Nelly Boustead, Suzanne Jacoby, and Josephine Bracken.
Q: What are the awards and honors given to Jose Rizal?
A: Jose Rizal received several awards and honors for his contributions to the Philippines and the world. He was conferred the Order of the Knights of Rizal, the highest civic honor in the Philippines. He was also declared a National Artist of the Philippines, the highest recognition given to Filipino artists. He was also awarded the Order of Lakandula, the highest honor the Philippine government gave foreign dignitaries and citizens.