EXECUTION OF RIZAL

(December 30, 1896)

In Calamba, Laguna, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was born on June 19, 1861. He passed
away at the young age of 36 as a result of his agitation for reforms in the
Philippines, which were ruled by Spanish colonial rulers. On December 30, 1896,
he was put to death at Manila's Bagumbayan district (now known as Luneta).
However, the Filipino people were deeply affected by his death. Las Islas
Filipinas (now known as the Philippines), governed by the Spanish from 1565 to
1898, was overthrown. Rizal’s execution not only affected the Filipinos that time
but also the whole Filipino populace as it is what led to the sparking of a
revolution in the nation which is what also led the nation to independence. As a
result, the nation was founded because of Rizal. The Filipinos recognizes his
death for his heroism as they celebrate Rizal Day every December 30. The
celebration of Rizal Day dates back to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's declaration from
December 20, 1898, which designated December 30 as both the anniversary of
Jose Rizal's passing and "a National Day of Mourning" for Rizal along with the
other victims of the Spanish dominion over its three centuries of reign. Rizal’s
Execution is one the most significant event that happened in the Philippine history
which changed the whole population of the Filipinos to this day.