RIZAL

1. **Early Life**:

- Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines, José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo
Realonda was the seventh of eleven children.

- He came from a wealthy and educated family, with his parents being Francisco Mercado and Teodora
Alonzo.

2. **Education**:

- Rizal began his early education under his mother's tutelage before attending the Ateneo Municipal de
Manila, where he excelled in academics and received numerous awards.

- He later pursued higher education at the University of Santo Tomas for a degree in medicine and
later transferred to the Universidad Central de Madrid in Spain.

3. **Nationalism and Activism**:

- While in Europe, Rizal was exposed to liberal and nationalist ideas, which fueled his desire for social
reform and independence for the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule.

- He joined Filipino nationalist organizations such as the Propaganda Movement, advocating for
political and social reforms through peaceful means.

4. **Literary Works**:

- Rizal was a prolific writer and intellectual, expressing his nationalist sentiments through his novels,
essays, poems, and other literary works.

- His two most famous novels, "Noli Me Tangere" (Touch Me Not) and "El Filibusterismo" (The
Filibuster), criticized Spanish colonial abuses and corruption, and served as catalysts for the Philippine
revolution against Spain.

- Rizal also wrote essays and articles addressing various social, political, and cultural issues in the
Philippines and abroad, such as "Mi Último Adiós" (My Last Farewell) and "Filipinas dentro de cien años"
(The Philippines a Century Hence).
5. **Exile and Execution**:

- Rizal's writings and activism drew the ire of Spanish authorities, leading to his exile to Dapitan, a
remote town in Mindanao, Philippines.

- Despite being in exile, Rizal continued his advocacy for reforms, engaging in various projects such as
agriculture, education, and healthcare.

- In 1896, Rizal was implicated in the Philippine Revolution and arrested by Spanish authorities. He was
tried and convicted of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy, and subsequently executed by firing squad on
December 30, 1896, in Manila.

6. **Legacy**:

- José Rizal is regarded as a national hero of the Philippines, celebrated for his intellectual
contributions, patriotism, and sacrifice.

- His life and works inspired generations of Filipinos to fight for freedom, justice, and democracy, and
continue to be studied and revered in the Philippines and around the world.

These are some key points highlighting the significant aspects of José Rizal's life and contributions to
Philippine history and literature.