NIKO JHON T.

ESCUETA

BPE 3-1

I. INTRODUCTION

No self-respecting town in the country is without a statue of the man, or does not
have a major street named after him. Reverence for thinker Dr Jose Rizal, who died a
martyr at age 35 in the last years of Spanish rule, has spanned a century and spread to
foreign lands. Born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba in Laguna Province, Rizal
was to live a short but eventful life till 1896. He had initially studied ophthalmology to
cure his mother’s eye condition; he was also a physician, naturalist, botanist, engineer,
linguist, sculptor, musician, composer, poet, dramatist, novelist, reformist, thinker, and
writer.

Rizal’s two novels – Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The
Filibusterer) – were written and published in Europe at the time he led a movement for
political reforms. The novels were deemed incendiary by powerful friars. He was exiled
to Dapitan, Mindanao, for four years after returning from Europe. There he set up a
school, fixed up the waterworks, and wrote music. He also won the heart of Josephine
Bracken, an Irish woman who had accompanied her foster father to his eye operation.
Their brief seaside romance was marred only by a stillborn son.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

While we do not live in such tumultuous times as Rizal's, it is important to keep

distractions away from every workday. Rizal was so focused on the work that he did not
allow loved ones or even his own preferences or emotions come in the way.

III. TIMELINE OF RIZAL’S LIFE

José Rizal Life Timeline

José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, wrote many political pieces which
expressed the feelings of many about the Spanish colonization and the potential for a
democracy. The following timeline follows Rizal's biography throughout his life.

José Rizal's Early Life

1848

José Rizal’s mom, Teodora Morales Alonso-Realonda y Quintos, and dad, Francisco
Rizal-Mercado y Alejandra, marry on June 28th.
1861

On June 19th José Rizal is born to become the seventh child born to his parents. Three
days later Rizal was christened with the name Jose Protasio Rizal-Mercado y Alonso-
Realonda.

1870

José begins school under the instruction of Justiniano Aquin Cruz at just nine years of
age.

1871

José continues his education under the instruction of Lucas Padua.

1872

Rizal is examined by those in charge of college entrance to St. Tomas University in

Manila; he enters the school system as a scholar.

1875

Rizal enters the Ateneo as a boarder at just 14 years of age.

1876

At the age of 15, Rizal receives a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Ateneo de Manila.
He not only receives this degree, but receives it with the highest honors possible.

1877

In June José begins to go to school at St. Tomas University in Manila where he

studies philosophy.

Writing Career

1877

In November Rizal writes a poem and receives recognition for his writing from the Royal
Economic Society of Friends of the Country, also known as Amigos del Pals. The
recognition comes in the form of a diploma of merit and honorable mention.

1878

In June Rizal decides to switch gears in his educational pursuits and transfers into the
medical courses at St. Tomas University. During this time he also writes an additional
two poems that win him further recognition.

1880

At the age of 19 Rizal writes another poem for a competition where he should have won
first prize. However, he was not given this prize due to discrimination.

In December Rizal produces his first Operetta called On the Banks of the Pasig.
1881

Rizal creates the commemorative medal in wax for the Royal Economic Society of
Friends centennial celebration.

Emigrating

1882

In May Rizal gets money from his brother and travels secretly from Manila to Spain
aboard a French ship and railroad entering Spain at the Port Bou.

In June St. Tomas University realizes Rizal is nowhere to be found and threatens to
take land away from his father who is a tenant even though his father has no idea of his
whereabouts.

June 15 Rizal makes his arrival in Barcelona and begins to study again in Madrid in
October of that same year.

1886

Rizal receives a degree in medicine from the Central University of Madrid at the age of
23. He then becomes an assistant to Dr. L. de Wecker and visits many universities in
Berlin, Leipzig, and Heidelberg in the country of Germany.

Fame... Then Death and Legacy

1887

Rizal finishes his first novel titled Noli Me Tangere while staying in Berlin. The novel
offends Catholic officials and Rizal is deemed to be a troublemaker

He then travels to Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.

On July 3 Rizal leaves from Mersailles in Italy and arrives in Manila on August 5th. He
travels to nearby areas escorted by a Spanish Lieutenant.

1888

In February Rizal leaves Spain and sets sail for Hong Kong in Japan. He continued to
travel practice medicine and write.

1892

In August Rizal was detained aboard a ship traveling back to Spain. Rizal was charged
with treason, sedition, and the formation of illegal societies. He was sent to an island
and held.

He taught for four years while being held.

He met a girl named Josephine Bracken who he wanted to marry but the church refused
to give him a license to marry.

He penned his last piece of writing called My Last Farewell and wrote an address to
Filipino insurgents to lay down their arms against the Spanish. The address was never
made public, but was added to the list of charges against him.
1896

His request to go to Cuba was approved. On the way to Cuba he was arrested and
charged with conspiracy and sedition.

On December 27 he was condemned to death in a Spanish court

On December 30th he was permitted to marry Josephine two hours before he was shot
by a firing squad.

He was buried in a secret grave.

1912

On December 30th the ashes of Rizal were transferred to the Rizal Mausoleum and
December 30th is declared a national holiday in honor of his memory.

José Rizal's life and works were critical to those from the Philippines who were looking
for an end to Spanish colonization.

IV. REFERENCES

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/answers/biography/jose-rizal-life-timeline.html

https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/asia-pacific/philippines/historical-
highlights/jose-rizal

https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/jose-rizal