LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (1861–1896) Filipino nationalist and polymath during the tail end of the Spanish
colonial period of the Philippines. He is tagged as the national hero (pambansang bayani) of the Filipino people. An
ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal became a writer and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement, which
advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain. Jose Rizal wrote about the discrimination that accompanied Spain's
colonial rule of his country.

June 19, 1861- The birth or José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda in town of Calamba in Laguna province.

1870- Jose begins school under the instruction of Justiniano Aquin Cruz at just nine years of age.

1871- Rizal 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 Rizal begins to go to school at St. Tomas University in Manila where he studies philosophy. And in November same
year 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.

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.

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.