JOSE RIZAL
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso
Realonda, or simply Jose Rizal is a
WHO'S DR
name known by many. He is
remembered mainly as the author of
two famous novels, Noli Me Tangere
JOSE and El Filibusterismo. He was also
known as the Filipino who sacrificed his
RIZAL?
life for his beloved compatriots and
country. People know him as a doctor,
specifically, an ophthalmologist, as he
has "Dr." in his name in every
elementary textbook. People remember
him for that. Some only know how he
lived his 35 years of life before the
Spaniards executed him in 1896.
Rizal's story is crucial to recognize
where his optimism and ideas in
fighting for independence came. His
experiences and learnings throughout
his life made an impact on it. Leon Ma.
Guerrero's book entitled The First
Filipino: A Biography of Jose Rizal
opens the eyes of the Filipino nation
about Rizal. This essay will focus on the
work created by Guerrero. This work
also provides description,
Front page interpretation, and criticism.
Works and Life
of Rizal: Where
He Awakened
the Filipinos
For Rizal, the pen was mightier than the
sword and he proved that. He was very
vocal of his opinions against the Spaniards
and through Rizal’s writings, Noli Me
Tángere (Touch Me Not) and El
filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), he
exposed the corruption and malpractices of
government officials and the Spanish friars.
Because of that, he became the enemy of
the state.
In July 1892, he was exiled without trial to
Dapitan, Mindanao for allegedly instigating
sedition. There Rizal built a school, a
hospital and a water supply system, and
taught and engaged in farming and
horticulture. Then from November 3 to
December 29, 1896, Jose Rizal was held in
Fort Santiago in Manila, where he was
sentenced to death for allegedly supporting
a brewing revolution against Spanish rule.
The martyrdom of Rizal was the point that
led him to his demise by a firing squad of
Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army at the
Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta or
Rizal Park. The works and life of Rizal may
have ended his life but it began a new life
for the Filipino nation. The Jose Rizal
history, truly, is something worth
remembering.
 José Protacio
Rizal Mercado
y Alonso
Realonda “I don't see why I
should bow my
head when I could
hold it high, or
Birthdate: June 19,
place it in the
1861
hands of my
Birth Place: Calamba
Laguna enemies when I
Baptismal date: June can defeat them.”
22, 1861 - Jose Rizal
Death Anniversary:
December 30, 1869 Members:
Jayroe Tagamtam
Jazmin Danessa Tabion
Mark Ben Miravalles
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