THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL (HIST100)

José Rizal Life Timeline

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Jose 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.

YEAR EVENT/OCCURENCE
I. 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.

On June 19th José Rizal is born to become the seventh child born to his parents. Three
1861 days later Rizal was christened with the name Jose Protasio Rizal-Mercado y Alonso-
Realonda.

1870 José begins school under the instruction of Justiniano Aquino 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.

II. 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.

YEAR EVENT/OCCURENCE
III. Emigrating
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THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL (HIST100)

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.

IV. 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.

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