Glenn Mark M.

Idea BSEE 2A

 Surprising Facts:
HE INTRODUCED THE LETTER “K” TO PHILIPPINE ORTHOGRAPHY

Jose Rizal promoted the use of the letter “K” to replace “C” and “Q” in Tagalog
orthography (spelling system). Rizal found that this letter–which he adopted from the
German spelling system–is crucial for the Tagalog language because the Spanish “C”
and “Q” can create confusion.

 Interesting Facts
3 ANIMAL SPECIES NAMED AFTER HIM

Three animals which he collected when he was in exile in Dapital were later
named after him — abogonia rizalie, a type of small beetle; Drago Rizalie, a species of
dragonfly; and Racoforus Rizalie, a species of toad.

 Troubling Facts
RIZAL ANTI-CHINESE SENTIMENT

Other than campaigning against Spanish oppression, Rizal would also end up
fighting what he perceived to be the Chinese exploitation of his countrymen. He viewed
the Chinese primarily as unscrupulous traders and businessmen who liked to take
advantage of Filipinos for profit even if it meant kowtowing to the Spanish.

Rizal’s dislike for the Chinese could be seen in his letter to his mother, in which
he complained of being embroiled in a lawsuit with a Chinese and promised never to buy
any products from him, and from his novel El Filibusterismo, where he portrayed the
character of Quiroga (who was reportedly based on a real Chinese businessman) as a
shrewd and cunning individual.