ose Rizal was a Filipino poet, nationalist, and physician.

In the late 1800’s,

he wrote about the political situation in his country and criticized the
colonization of his nation by Spain. One of his essays became widely
known as “The Cry of Pugad Lawin,” which is often interpreted as a cry
for independence. Jose Rizal became a hero to many Filipinos because
they identified with his patriotism and idealism.

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Rizal’s Early Life

Jose Rizal was born on December 30, 1881, in Calamba, Laguna,
Philippines. His father, Gregorio Rizal, was a Spanish military officer who
had been stationed in the Philippines.

Jose’s mother, Marcela Sarmiento de la Cruz, was a Filipina of Chinese

descent.

The Rizals were a wealthy family and Jose grew up in a privileged

environment. He was educated at the University of Santo Tomas in
Manila and at the University of Madrid in Spain.

In 1902, Rizal returned to the Philippines and took up a teaching post at

the Ateneo de Manila University. In 1906 he wrote his famous essay
“Nationalism” which criticised Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.
Two years later he published his novel “Noli Me Tangere”. This was
followed by “El Filibusterismo” (1909), “El Presidente Don Manuel Luna”
(1910), “Los Armas de La Libertad” (1911) and “Patria Independiente”
(1912). In 1913 he was arrested for his involvement in a nationalist
conspiracy and spent six years