Rizal, the Polymath

Rizal as a Polymath
• Rizal is considered as a polymath by professionals
and that means he knows and excels in a lot of
things. He enjoyed learning from different
fields,whether from arts or science. He never
limited his capacity to learn; he emphasized the
importance of education for the Filipinos. This
lesson aims to highlight. Rizal's education, as well
as other fields that he explored as a scholar.
Rizal's Talents and Skills
• Rizal as a Medical Doctor - as we all know, Rizal
studied and became an ophthalmologist with the
aim to cure his mother's failing eyesight. He was
trained by two renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Louis
de Wecker and Otto Becker in which he later
worked for. He treated several patients afflicted not
only with eye diseases. He became and was
recognized as a tuberculosis expert for having
cured himself of this disease.

• Rizal as an Architect and as an Engineer - in the

last 4 years of Jose Rizal before his exile in Dapitan,
he also became as an architect and an engineer
• Rizal as an Horticulture and a Farmer - Rizal had
farms where he planted fruit-bearing trees and
harvested it's fruits. He experimented on and
cultivated plants in Dapitan.

• Rizal as an Educator - He established a school

where he taught arithmetic, writing, geography and
history to young boys in Dapitan.

• Rizal as Scientist - Rizal’s practice of many sciences

here and abroad made him noted scientist.
• Rizal as Zoologist - He was fond of pets. He
researched later on their physiology, classification
and habits.
• Rizal as an Artist - Rizal was a cartographer.He
drew maps of Dapitan, the Philippines and other
places he visited. He was also a sculptor. His works
of his father and of Father Guerrico, S. J. typified his
sculptural ability. During his school days, Rizal also
plays as one of the character from Juan Luna’s
paintings. Musically, he played flute and composed
pieces of music and cultivated music appreciation.

• Rizal as a Polyglot - Rizal spoke and wrote in 22

languages.
Works of Rizal
1. Noli Me Tangere (Novel) - This is a novel written by
Jose Rizal which was published in 1887. The title, "Noli
Me Tangere," is Latin for "Touch Me Not."

2. El Filibusterismo (Novel) - Also known as "The Reign

of Greed," this is the sequel to "Noli Me Tangere."
Published in 1891, it continues the narrative of the first
novel and delves deeper into the issues of social
injustice and exploitation.

3. Mi Último Adiós (Poem) - Translated as "My Last

Farewell," this is a poem written by Rizal on the eve of
his execution on December 30, 1896.
• Rizal as a Writer - he authored and published many
articles in Spanish, English and London. He wrote
and published articles in many publications and was
one of the organizers of the La Solidaridad. Rizal
also wrote over 35 poems including the famous Mi
Ultimo Adios. In Germany, He worked as a part-
time proofreader of his livelihood
4. La Indolencia de los Filipinos (Essay) - Translated
as "The Indolence of the Filipinos," this is an essay
written by Rizal to explain the alleged "indolence" or
laziness of the Filipino people as perceived by the
Spanish colonizers.

5. Sa mga Kabataan ng Malolos (Letter) - Translated

as "To the Young Women of Malolos," this is a letter
written by Rizal in 1889.

6. The Motherland (Poem) - This poem expresses

Rizal's deep love and devotion to his homeland, the
Philippines.
7. The Diaries of José Rizal - The diaries cover various
periods of Rizal’s life, including his travels in Europe,
his academic pursuits, and his reflections on the
conditions of the Philippines under Spanish rule.

8. Goodbye Letter to Leonor - Nothing is more

heartbreaking than seeing your childhood love be
married to someone else. In his farewell poem
entitled ‘Goodbye to Leonor,’ Rizal expressed his
agony and grief upon knowing that his childhood
sweetheart Leonor Rivera tied the knot with Henry
Kipping, a British railway engineer.
9. Kundiman - A kundiman traditionally refers to a
love song where a man serenades the woman he
loves. For scholars, this word was derived from the
Tagalog phrase “Kung Hindi man” (if it should not be
so) which suggests that people put their faith in a
Higher Being who decides whether or not something
is meant for them.