REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES (Decree of December 20,1898) In recognition of the aspirations of the Filipino nation and in proclaiming its noble and patriotic sentiments, I hereby decree. Article 1. In memory of the Filipino patriots, Dr. Jose Rizal and the other victims of the past Spanish domination, I declare the 30th of December as a national day of mourning. Article 2. On account of this, all national flags shall be hoisted at half-mast from 12:00 noon on December 29, as a sign of mourning. Article 3. All offices of the Revolutionary Government shall be closed during the whole day of December 30. Given in Malolos, December 20,1898 (Signed) EMILIO AGUINALDO The truth it was General Aguinaldo, and not the second Philippines Commission headed by Civil Governor Taft, who first recognized Dr. Jose Rizal as "national day of mourning" in memory of Rizal and other victims of Spanish tyranny. Full text of these decree in two languages, Tagalog and Spanish, appeared in the government organ, El Heraldo dela Revolution on December 25,1898.
It is interesting to recall that the first celebration of Rizal Day in the Philippines was held in Manila on December 30,1898, under the sponsorship of the Club Filipino. This was In pursuance of General Aguinaldo’s Decree of December 20,1898. On the same date (December 30, 1898), the patriotic town of Daet in Camarines Norte, likewise celebrated Rizal Day, the festivities being climaxed by the unveiling of the Rizal monument, which was constructed at the expense of the town folks. This was the first monument ever created in the Philippines-and still exists today.
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Historians and laymen can produce many reasons why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. Below are some of the most frequently cited ones.
Nobility and Dignity What set Rizal apart from the others were his methods. Instead of relaying on the sword, he relied on the might of the pen. Using this method he was able to produce novels and poems that touched the Filipino’s soul. Without resorting to violence, he made Filipinos realize the oppression they were going through under the Spaniards. In his poems he also made it clear how important it was to love one’s country. It was a noble approach and something unique. Instead of raising arms, he embedded in the Filipino an idea. Unlike warriors, an idea cannot be killed. It is this reason why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. Showing the Filipino Potential Rizal was a brilliant writer and poet. He was able to speak several languages and highly skilled. He was able to use his intelligence to set forth his beliefs and opinions clearly. As such, he was able to show his countrymen and the world what the Filipino could be capable of. By becoming a novelist, engineer, writer etc Rizal showed that there was no limit to the ability of the Filipino. Fighting for Freedom Through his works, Rizal was able to revolutionize the way that the Filipino thought. That is another reason why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. Even without making rousing speeches or bold declarations, he was able to stir the people’s inner spirit. He showed that without killing another man, one can fight oppression. He also demonstrated how the power of the pen could be stronger than the sword. He also showed how someone could bring about change without resorting to violence. A Reformist Rizal was also different from the other revolutionaries in other ways. He didn’t just want freedom for the people. He wanted reforms. Through his works he wanted to show how important it was for the Philippines to be civilized. The reason why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines is because he looked far beyond overthrowing the Spaniards. He was interested in the long term situation of the country. Dying for His Country Even though he carried no arms, Rizal was very brave and courageous. He used his pen to expose the hypocrisy of the Spanish authorities. He was not afraid of the authorities even when they threatened him with execution. In the end, his written works cost him his life. But he knew that his death was not in vain. The man knew that while they could kill his mortal body, the idea of freedom was forever in the minds of the people. It was a concept that would burn in the minds of every man. As long as the ideal was burning in the heart, the death of Rizal would only be in the physical sense. In spirit, he was in every individual. The ideals that he fought for are still alive today. There are many challenges facing the Filipino. But the reasons why Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines continues to inspire the Filipino to march on. The Relevance of Dr. José Rizal for Today’s Filipino & Filipino American Youth By Steven Raga4/22/2015 DELIVERED AT THE 5 CORNERS LIBRARY IN JERSEY CITY, NJ ON DECEMBER 20 ,2008. DR. JOSE RIZAL ESSAY AND ORATORICAL CONTEST 2008 – UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF RIZAL, NJ CHAPTER AND LADIES FOR RIZAL, NJ CHAPTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL OF NEW YORK The Relevance of Dr. José Rizal for Today’s Filipino & Filipino American Youth By Steven Raga “Knowledge is the heritage of mankind, but only the courageous inherit it[1]”. Those were the words echoed by an old priest to Crisostomo Ibarra in Dr. José Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere. Courage is a constant ingredient in the writings and life example of Dr. Rizal. Without the essential trait of courage, it matters little what natural abilities were granted to you; or what education and skills you’ve acquired. Courage is the not potential, but rather the application of it. In the past, and the present, the Filipino youth have used their courage to follow the example of Dr. José Rizal. They have done not just what Dr. Rizal would have wanted of them to do, but they have done what he did do. Speaking on the youth, President Diosdado Macapagal stated that the “Filipino youth headed by José Rizal and Andres Bonifacio brought the downfall of Spanish totalitarian power. It was the Filipino youth in Bataan and Corregidor and their comrades in the underground movement all over the country who braved forward and vanquished the Japanese military despot[2].” This trend follows through into the anti-Marcos movements in the 60’s and 70’s[3], EDSA I, EDSA II, and the current campaign for human rights advocacy. In the United States, the footprint of the past generations of Filipino youth can be seen through the many advances in labor rights[4], immigrant rights, and the present campaign for Filipino WWII veterans’ equity. The youth is forever the next chapter in our story as a Filipino people. However, in our attempt to prove ourselves as Filipinos and as human beings, we are in a constant struggle with teaching the next generation that they cannot simply write our next chapter, but make the words worth reading. Dr. José Rizal knew how to do this. During his arbitrary detention in Dapitan, he devoted his energy to a select group of youth to which he had taught practical lessons for real world situations. The seemingly uncomplicated admissions process was at the same time, difficult as any. You could have been the smartest, richest, most qualified applicant and still not receive admission. Likewise, you could have been the most ignorant, most poor, most unqualified applicant and not receive admission as well. Dr. Rizal did not test the applicant in the subjects of Math, Science, Language, nor History, but the essential characteristic needed to excel in those subjects and in life. Dr. José Rizal tested courage. Nearing dusk, he would walk with the applicant through the woods and when the student wasn’t looking, left his walking stick behind. When the two returned to school and it was already dark, he would ask the boy to retrieve his walking stick – seemingly forgetting it in the woods. As the boy ventured into the darkness, the other students of Dr. Rizal were already positioned hiding behind the trees and bushes then proceeding to make sounds and light effects that were intended to terrify the boy. If the boy was too frightened and did not retrieve Dr. Rizal’s walking stick, he was not allowed admission. However, if the applicant showed courage, self-assurance & self-determination, and retrieved the walking stick successfully, he was admitted to Dr. Rizal’s school[5]. We merely have to analyze the purpose of Dr. Rizal’s policy to understand what he felt the youth needed to possess. “It had everything to do with Rizal’s concept of education[6]” and how courage leads to the youth’s motivation toward tomorrow. “Rizal’s philosophy of education, therefore, centers on the provision of proper motivation in order to bolster the great social forces that make education a success, to create in the youth an innate desire to cultivate his intelligence and give him life eternal[7]”. There are those who have labeled Dr. José Rizal nothing more than an “American-Sponsored Hero”[8], but we must acknowledge that this man was our hero before Admiral Dewey even entered into Manila Bay. We did not need the Americans to tell us that Dr. Rizal is a prime role model for the youth, we already knew it as fact. So what’s the relevance of Dr. Rizal to today’s youth? Well, who could be more relevant? We need not look at his lessons taught to his students, but merely in his very example as a student at the Central University of Madrid. Dr. Rizal is our shining illustration not just of an Overseas Filipino student or Filipino student, but even higher – a Filipino. In the United States, there a several all-Filipino/Filipino American youth/student run organizations that aim to mirror his example, most notably the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue Inc. (FIND) and the Sandiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth. FIND is a Filipino student organization that has come a long way from the Filipino Student Bulletin[9] nearly a full century ago. They hold national conferences that aim to educate the youth and student population on Filipino/Filipino American history, culture and current events. The necessary task of taking the 1st step on educating 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th generation Filipino Americans on parts of themselves they might have never known, is a task Dr. Rizal did not have to face. With Sandiwa, it is obvious the youthful spirit of Dr. Rizal serves them as inspiration. They are composed of Filipino Americans and Filipino immigrant youth & student community leaders. One cannot help but notice they are doing exactly what Dr. Rizal and his compatriots would be doing if they were still breathing. The Sandiwa youth, who are spreading the word about the effects of policies toward the Filipino population from within the policy puppeteer-nation, is exactly what the Solidaridad and Dr. Rizal’s Propaganda Movement intended to do within Spain. However these days, the spread of information through email, blogs, youtube, facebook and such is preferred over the good old newspaper. “Through Rizal, the Filipinos were exposed to ideas unknown in their colonial experience, such as the essential equality of all men and races, the inviolability of individual rights, human worth, and dignity, the popular basis of political authority, and faith in social progress through reason and enlightenment[10].” Following Dr. Rizal’s example, this new generation of Filipinos in the United States is opening their eyes to the daunting task on what they need to accomplish when the brightening torch is eventually passed. However, in the youth’s attempt to open their eyes, they realize they wear a blindfold. They untie the blindfold, only to realize the room is dark. They light a candle, only to realize the room empty and locked. Pepe[11] smirks at us and whispers “Now why would I leave my walking stick in a dark, locked room? You know I did not leave anything here.” Dr. Rizal left his walking stick in a beautiful land where in 2008; those who produce the nation’s food go hungry. Where in 2008, those who build beautiful architectural structures that reach the heavens, lay there head down at night on a bag of garbage. Where in 2008, sons and daughters are raising themselves because their mothers are abroad raising strangers they have never met and will never meet. In this sense, Filipinos in America are Dr. Rizal’s walking stick, and the next generation must ensure we are retrieved. The same priest that spoke to Ibarra about courage also dropped another piece of valuable advice, which is what to do with that courage. He stated “They come in search of gold; go to their country to look for that other gold which we lack. Remember, however, all that glitters is not gold[12]. This idea, which is echoed in Emilio Jacinto’s Liwanag at Dilimmight be more crucial today than it was when it was written. They say it was simpler then. It was in your face – home and abroad; exploiter and exploited; right and wrong. However today, the youth in the Philippines grow up at home, but their intentions are abroad. If they actually reach the “greener grass” of living in an adopted land, to their surprise, their intentions are at home. But no matter where they reside, they are exploited, which touches on the very core of our purposes abroad. We came in search of the gold we lacked, some of us found it, but most of us forgot to return. Remittances do not count. Summer condos in Makati and Fort Bonifacio don’t either. So like Dr. Rizal’s school applicants, the youth are forced to use their courage and choose between right and wrong, because whether they are prepared or not, they are being tested. Their courage is tested everyday when equity is denied to our Filipino WWII veterans. Their courage is tested everyday when exploitation and degradation welcome our Filipina domestic workers. Their courage is tested everyday when the NYPD, JCPD, LAPD, SFPD, and the OPD systematically target our Filipino youth in cities across America. Sentosa Recruitment Agency, H&M department stores, ABC television, the United States Government, the Philippine Government; the list goes on – but so do we. Every second they hide another walking stick for the next generation of Filipino youth to find; 25 hours a day, 8 days a week, 13 months a year – no matter where in the globe they might reside. Many of our own parents affirm they are afforded a higher “standard of living” here in the United States than if they stayed in the Philippines. What would Dr. Rizal say? He would wait for us to get arrive in the driveway of our house, whose price-tag could feed the internally displaced families in Mindanao. He would wait for us to get out of our car, whose price-tag could feed the starving families in Payatas and Smokey Mountain. He would wait for us to change out of the clothes whose price-tags could pay for the gas of frustrated jeepney and taxi drivers who can no longer afford its rising prices. He would wait for us until we are well and ready, then put the mirror in front of our face in hopes that we can reflect the truth that a nation abroad, is not a nation at all; that this is not a higher quality of life, just a higher quality of death. Today’s Filipino and Filipino American youth must understand Dr. José Rizal’s vision since the salted roots of our problems are the same and after 112 years after his premature departure from our ranks, we as a people are still waiting to for his walking stick to return. The only question is if this next generation of Filipino and Filipino Americans have the courage to find it. Luckily, for us all – the answer is always – is always ‘Yes’. “Hold high the brow serene, O Youth, where now you stand; Let the bright sheen, Of your grace be seen, Fair hope of my fatherland![13]” – Dr. José Rizal to the Filipino Youth (A La Juventud Filipina). 1879. [1] Rizal, José. Noli Me Tangere (Lacson-Lacsin translation). University of Hawai’I Press. 1997. Page 52.
[2] Macapagal, Diosdado. Democracy in the Philippines. Manila, Philippines. 1966. Page 188 [3] Tilman, Robert O. The Philippines in 1960: A Difficult Decade Begins. Asian Survey, Vol. 11, No.2, A Survey of Aisa in 1970: Part II (Feb., 1971), pp. 139-148. [4] San Juan, Epifanio. From Exile to Diaspora. Versions of the Filipino Experience in the United States. Ugnayan Para sa Makabayang Kamulatan //9UPMK),Inc. Quezon City, Philippines. 1998. [5] Trillana, Pablo. The Loves of Rizal and Other Essays on Philippine History Art and Public Policy. New Day Publishers. Quezon City, Philippines. 2000. Page 72. [6] Id. [7] www.knightsofrizal.org/?page_id=178 . (Last accessed December 12, 2008). [8] Constantino, Renato. Dissent and Counter-Consciousness [8th Edition]. Quezon City, Philippines. 1996. [9] Cordova, Fred. Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans [3rd Printing]. Demonstration Project for Asian Americans. United States. 1999. [10] Fisher, Marguerite J. José Rizal: Asian Apostle of Racial Equalitarianism. The Journal of Modern History, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Sep., 1956), pp. 259-265. [11] Pepe was a nickname for Dr. José Rizal. [12] Supra Note 1 at Page 52. [13] Rizal, José. Selected Writings of Rizal. 1999. Philosophies in Life
PHILOSOPHY may be defined as the study and pursuit of facts which deal with the ultimate reality or causes of things as they affect life. The philosophy of a country like the Philippines is made up of the intricate and composite interrelationship of the life histories of its people; in other word, the philosophy of our nation would be strange and undefinable if we do not delve into the past tied up with the notable life experiences of the representative personalities of our nation. Being one of the prominent representatives of Filipino personalities, Jose Rizal is a fit subject whose life philosophy deserves to be recognized. Having been a victim of Spanish brutality early in his life in Calamba, Rizal had thus already formed the nucleus of an unfavorable opinion of Castillian imperialistic administration of his country and people. Pitiful social conditions existed in the Philippines as late as three centuries after his conquest in Spain, with agriculture, commerce, communications and education languishing under its most backward state. It was because of this social malady that social evils like inferiority complex, cowardice, timidity and false pride pervaded nationally and contributed to the decay of social life. This stimulated and shaped Rizal’s life phylosophy to be to contain if not eliminate these social ills. Educational Philosophy Rizal’s concept of the importance of education is clearly enunciated in his work entitled Instruction wherein he sought improvements in the schools and in the methods of teaching. He maintained that the backwardness of his country during the Spanish ear was not due to the Filipinos’ indifference, apathy or indolence as claimed by the rulers, but to the neglect of the Spanish authorities in the islands. For Rizal, the mission of education is to elevate the country to the highest seat of glory and to develop the people’s mentality. Since education is the foundation of society and a prerequisite for social progress, Rizal claimed that only through education could the country be saved from domination. Rizal’s philosophy of education, therefore, centers on the provision of proper motivation in order to bolster the great social forces that make education a success, to create in the youth an innate desire to cultivate his intelligence and give him life eternal. Religious Philosophy Rizal grew up nurtured by a closely-knit Catholic family, was educated in the foremost Catholic schools of the period in the elementary, secondary and college levels; logically, therefore, he should have been a propagator of strictly Catholic traditions. However, in later life, he developed a life philosophy of a different nature, a philosophy of a different Catholic practice intermingled with the use of Truth and Reason. Why the change? It could have been the result of contemporary contact, companionship, observation, research and the possession of an independent spirit.Being a critical observer, a profound thinker and a zealous reformer, Rizal did not agree with the prevailing Christian propagation of the Faith by fire and sword. This is shown in his Annotation of Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. Rizal did not believe in the Catholic dogma that salvation was only for Catholics and that outside Christianity, salvation was not possible even if Catholics composed only a small minority of the world’s religious groups. Nor did he believe in the Catholic observation of fasting as a sacrifice, nor in the sale of such religious items as the cross, medals, rosaries and the like in order to propagate the Faith and raise church funds. He also lambasted the superstitious beliefs propagated by the priests in the church and in the schools. All of these and a lot more are evidences of Rizal’s religious philosophy. Political Philosophy In Rizal’s political view, a conquered country like the Philippines should not be taken advantage of but rather should be developed, civilized, educated and trained in the science of self-government. He bitterly assailed and criticized in publications the apparent backwardness of the Spanish ruler’s method of governing the country which resulted in: 1. the bondage and slavery of the conquered; 2. the Spanish government’s requirement of forced labor and force military service upon the natives; 3. the abuse of power by means of exploitation; 4. the government ruling that any complaint against the authorities was criminal; and 5. Making the people ignorant, destitute and fanatic, thus discouraging the formation of a national sentiment. Rizal’s guiding political philosophy proved to be the study and application of reforms, the extension of human rights, the training for self government and the arousing of spirit of discontent over oppression, brutality, inhumanity, sensitiveness and self love. Ethical Philosophy The study of human behavior as to whether it is good or bad or whether it is right or wrong is that science upon which Rizal’s ethical philosophy was based. The fact that the Philippines was under Spanish domination during Rizal’s time led him to subordinate his philosophy to moral problems. This trend was much more needed at that time because the Spaniards and the Filipinos had different and sometimes conflicting morals. The moral status of the Philippines during this period was one with a lack of freedom, one with predominance of foreign masters, one with an imposition of foreign religious worship, devotion, homage and racial habits. This led to moral confusion among the people, what with justice being stifled, limited or curtailed and the people not enjoying any individual rights. To bolster his ethical philosophy, Dr. Rizal had recognized not only the forces of good and evil, but also the tendencies towards good and evil. As a result, he made use of the practical method of appealing to the better nature of the conquerors and of offering useful methods of solving the moral problems of the conquered. To support his ethical philosophy in life, Rizal: 1. censured the friars for abusing the advantage of their position as spiritual leaders and the ignorance and fanaticism of the natives; 2. counseled the Filipinos not to resent a defect attributed to them but to accept same as reasonable and just; 3. advised the masses that the object of marriage was the happiness and love of the couple and not financial gain; 4. censured the priests who preached greed and wrong morality; and 5. advised every one that love and respect for parents must be strictly observed. Social Philosophy That body of knowledge relating to society including the wisdom which man's experience in society has taught him is social philosophy. The facts dealt with are principles involved in nation building and not individual social problems. The subject matter of this social philosophy covers the problems of the whole race, with every problem having a distinct solution to bolster the people’s social knowledge. Rizal’s social philosophy dealt with: 1. man in society; 2. influential factors in human life; 3. racial problems; 4. social constant; 5. social justice; 6. social ideal; 7. poverty and wealth; 8. reforms; 9. youth and greatness; 10. history and progress; 11. future Philippines. The above dealt with man’s evolution and his environment, explaining for the most part human behavior and capacities like his will to live; his desire to possess happiness; the change of his mentality; the role of virtuous women in the guidance of great men; the need for elevating and inspiring mission; the duties and dictates of man’s conscience; man’s need of practicing gratitude; the necessity for consulting reliable people; his need for experience; his ability to deny; the importance of deliberation; the voluntary offer of man’s abilities and possibilities; the ability to think, aspire and strive to rise; and the proper use of hearth, brain and spirit-all of these combining to enhance the intricacies, beauty and values of human nature. All of the above served as Rizal’s guide in his continuous effort to make over his beloved Philippines. Dr. José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896, Bagumbayan), was a Filipino polymath, nationalist and the most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is considered a national hero of the Philippines, and the anniversary of Rizal’s death is commemorated as a Philippine holiday called Rizal Day. Rizal’s 1896 military trial and execution made him a martyr of the Philippine Revolution. The seventh of eleven children born to a wealthy family in the town of Calamba, Laguna, Rizal attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, earning a Bachelor of Arts. He enrolled in Medicine and Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas and then traveled alone to Madrid, Spain, where he continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid, earning the degree of Licentiate in Medicine. He attended the University of Paris and earned a second doctorate at the University of Heidelberg. Rizal was a polyglot conversant in at least ten languages. He was a prolific poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent, and novelist whose most famous works were his two novels, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. These are social commentaries on the Philippines that formed the nucleus of literature that inspired dissent among peaceful reformists and spurred the militancy of armed revolutionaries against the Spanish colonial authorities. As a political figure, Jose Rizal was the founder of La Liga Filipina, a civic organization that subsequently gave birth to the Katipunan led by Andrés Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo. He was a proponent of institutional reforms by peaceful means rather than by violent revolution. The general consensus among Rizal scholars, however, attributed his martyred death as the catalyst that precipitated the Philippine Revolution. Chronology of Events1848, June 28 Rizal’s parents married in Kalamba, La Laguna: Francisco Rizal-Mercado y Alejandra (born in Biñan, April 18, 1818) and Teodora Morales Alonso-Realonda y Quintos (born in Sta. Cruz, Manila, November 14, 1827)
1861, June 19 Rizal born, their seventh child 1861, June 22 Christened as José Protasio Rizal-Mercado y Alonso-Realonda 1870, age 9 In school at Biñan under Master Justiniano Aquin Cruz 1871, age 10 In Kalamba public school under Master Lucas Padua 1872, June 10, age 11 Examined in San Juan de Letran college, Manila, which, during the Spanish time, as part of Sto. Tomás University, controlled entrance to all higher institutions 1872, June 26 Entered the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, then a public school, as a day scholar 1875, June 16, age 14 Became a boarder in the Ateneo 1876, March 23, age 15 Received the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, with highest honors, from Ateneo de Manila 1877, June Entered Sto. Tomás University in the Philosophy course 1877, November 29 Awarded diploma of honorable mention and merit by the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country, Amigos del País, for the prize poem 1878, June, age 16 Matriculated in the medical course. Won Liceo Artistico-Literario prize, in poetical competition for “Indians and Mestizos”, with the poem “To the Philippine Youth” Wounded in the back for not saluting a Guardia Civil lieutenant whom he had not seen. The authorities ignored his complaint 1880, April 23, age 19 Received Licco Artístico-Literariodiploma of honorable mention for the allegory, “The Council of the Gods”, in competition open to “Spaniards, mestizos and Indians”. Unjustly deprived of the first prize 1880, December 8 Operetta “On the Banks of the Pasig” produced 1881, age 20 Submitted winning wax model design for commemorative medal for the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country centennial 1882, May 3, age 21 Secretly left Manila taking a French mail steamer at Singapore for Marseilles and entering Spain at Port Bou by railroad. His brother, Paciano Mercado, furnished the money 1882, June Absence noted at Sto. Tomás University, which owned the Kalamba estate. Rizal’s father was compelled to prove that he had no knowledge of his son’s plan in order to hold the land on which he was the University’s tenant 1882, June 15 Arrived in Barcelona 1882, October 3 Began studies in Madrid 1886 Received degree of Licentiate in Medicine with honors from Central University of Madrid on June 19 at the age of 24 - Clinical assistant to Dr. L. de Wecker, a Paris oculist. - Visited Universities of Heidelberg, Leipzig, and Berlin 1887, Feb. 21, age 26 Finished the novel Noli Me Tangere in Berlin - Traveled in Austria, Switzerland and Italy 1887, July 3 Sailed from Marseilles 1887, August 5 Arrived in Manila. Traveled in nearby provinces with a Spanish lieutenant, detailed by the Governor-General, as escort 1888, Feb Sailed for Japan via Hong Kong 1888, Feb. 28 to April 13, age 27 A guest at the Spanish Legation, Tokyo, and traveling in Japan 1888, April-May Traveling in the United States 1888, May 24 In London, studying in the British Museum to edit Morga’s 1609 Philippine History 1889, March, age 28 In Paris, publishing Morga’s History. Published “The Philippines A Century Hence” in La Solidaridad, a Filipino fortnightly review, first of Barcelona and later of Madrid 1890, February to July, age 29 In Belgium finished El Filibusterismo which is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere. – Published “The Indolence of the Filipino” in La Solidaridad 1890, August 4 Returned to Madrid to confer with his countrymen on the Philippine situation, then constantly growing worse 1891, January 27 Left Madrid for France 1891, November, age 30 Arranging for a Filipino agricultural colony in British North Borneo - Practiced medicine in Hong Kong 1892, June 26, age 31 Returned to Manila under Governor-General Despujol’s safe conduct pass - Organized a mutual aid economic society: La Liga Filipina on July 3. 1892, July 6 Ordered deported to Dapitan, but the decree and charges were kept secret from him. - Taught school and conducted a hospital during his exile, patients coming from China coast ports for treatment. Fees thus earned were used to beautify the town. Arranged a water system and had the plaza lighted 1896, August 1, age 35 Left Dapitan en route to Spain as a volunteer surgeon for the Cuban yellow fever hospitals. Carried letters of recommendation from Governor-General Blanco 1896, August 7 to September 3 On Spanish cruiser Castilla in Manila Bay - Sailed for Spain on Spanish mail steamer and just after leaving Port Said was confined to his cabin as a prisoner on cabled order from Manila. (Rizal’s enemies to secure the appointment of a governor-general subservient to them, the servile Polavieja had purchased Governor-General Blanco’s promotion.) 1896, October 6 Placed in Montjuich Castle dungeon on his arrival in Barcelona and the same day re-embarked for Manila. Friends and countrymen in London by cable made an unsuccessful effort for a Habeas Corpuswrit at Singapore. On arrival in Manila was placed in Fort Santiago dungeon 1896, December 3 Charged with treason, sedition and forming illegal societies, the prosecution arguing that he was responsible for the deeds of those who read his writings - During his imprisonment Rizal began to formulate in his mind his greatest poem who others later entitle, “My Last Farewell.”(later concealed in an alcohol cooking lamp) December 12 Rizal appears in a courtroom where the judges made no effort to check those who cry out for his death 1896, December 15 Wrote an address to insurgent Filipinos to lay down their arms because their insurrection was at that time hopeless. Address not made public but added to the charges against him 1896, December 27 Formally condemned to death by a Spanish court martial - Pi y Margall, who had been president of the Spanish Republic, pleaded with the Prime Minister for Rizal’s life, but the Queen Regent could not forgive his having referred in one of his writings to the murder by, and suicide of, her relative, Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria. 1896, December 29 Completes and puts into writing “My Last Farewell.” He conceals the poem in an alcohol heating apparatus and gives it to his family. He may have also concealed another copy of the same poem in one of his shoes but, if so, it is lost in decomposition in his burial 1896, December 30, age 35 years, 6 months, 11 days Roman Catholic sources allege that Rizal marries Josephine Bracken in his Fort Santiago death cell to Josephine Bracken; she is Irish, the adopted daughter of a blind American who came to Dapitan from Hong Kong for treatment. - Shot on the Luneta, Manila, at 7:03 a.m., and buried in a secret grave in Paco Cemetery. (Entry of his death was made in the Paco Church Register among suicides.) 1897, January Commemorated by Spanish Free-masons who dedicated a tablet to his memory, in their Grand Lodge hall in Madrid, as a martyr to Liberty 1898, August Filipinos who placed over it in Paco cemetery, a cross inscribed simply “December 30, 1896″, sought his grave, immediately after the American capture of Manila. Since his death his countrymen had never spoken his name, but all references had been to “The Dead” 1898, December 20 President Aguinaldo, of the Philippine Revolutionary Government, proclaimed December 30th as a day of national mourning 1898, December 30 Filipinos held Memorial services at which time American soldiers on duty carried their arms reversed 1911, June 19 Birth semi-centennial observed in all public schools by an act of the Philippine Legislature 1912, December 30 Rizal’s ashes transferred to the Rizal Mausoleum on the Luneta with impressive public ceremonies Source: Order of the Knights of Rizal Dr. José Rizal’s name in life as well as death has posed a challenge. It made an impact in European intellectual circles, transformed into an institution, and became a legend to many faithful disciples. Ferdinand Blumentritt, Karl Ullmer, Reinhold Rost, Pablo Pastells, Louis de Wicker, Feodor Jagor, and Rudolf Virchow were icons with whom Rizal closely identified as he grew into manhood in search of Western science and learning. Calamba, Leitmeritz, Heidelberg, Madrid, Barcelona, Hongkong, Paris, London, Berlin, Singapore, Dapitan, and Manila were places historically associated with him. Generations of foreign and Filipino writers and scholars have written about Rizal, eulogizing him in hortatory manner and weaving new and elaborate interpretations.
Constituting a major attraction to Rizal specialists and students are his knick-knacks, memorabilia, and original letters to his large family. His parents were Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso y Quintos; he had nine sisters and an older brother and their relationship was close. His slow and circuitously written letters—ninetythree of which are in the library—fortunately came into the possession of Eugenio H. López, Sr. through the intermediary of Alfonso T. Ongpin. Written between 1876 and 1896, the letters came to light when they were offered to the National Library for half a million pesos, a fabulous sum at that time. It took the Philippine National Historical Society a long time to translate and publish them, the translation itself bearing ample evidence of careful scholarship and fidelity. The letters reveal Rizal’s multi-faceted traits, personal habits, and deep sense of filial piety. They also reveal his intimate thoughts and passion to acquire Western science and learning that he hoped to share with his people. A dominant theme surfaces: the determination to devote his life for the welfare and dignity of the indios. In a moment of reflection, Rizal could not resist pondering the role that his parents had in the formation of his probing intellect and unique personality. The family belonged by heritage to the principalia elite of the well- tempered mind and spirit. This socioeconomic background had an impact on Rizal’s mind and character. Rizal did not hesitate to dispense advice to his sisters and to the women of Malolos. He made a valiant attempt to write in English to the former, perhaps in anticipation of the advent of the North American power. In later years, he favored the study of English. He also showed partiality to his younger sisters and proffered them sage advice, telling Trinidad “…that it would not be bad, if besides these, we do good, tell the truth, avoid all kinds of abuses whatever they are, this I believe….” To Soledad he wrote, “When you commit a fault, do not think of an excuse for it, but of correcting it and not repeating it.” The second-half of the twentieth century saw a significant increase in the serious study of Rizal. The painstaking work that deserves high praise is Rafael Palma’s Biografia de Rizal, Manila, 1949, a moving historical portrait of the national hero. Broadly conceived and elegant in style and craftsmanship is Leon Ma. Guerrero’s The First Filipino, Manila, 1963. The daunting task of work on Rizal’s life and career was successfully met by Austin Coates in Rizal, Philippine Nationalist and Martyr, Hongkong, 1968. Ricardo Pascual’s Rizal, Beyond the Grave, Manila, 1950, vehemently refutes Rizal’s retraction and Asuncion Lopez Bantug’s Lolo Jose: an intimate portrait of Rizal,Manila, 1982, extols inestimable appreciation of her grandfather. No Filipino belonging to the last quarter of the nineteenth century had studied Philippine history and culture with more meticulous care and genuine devotion than Rizal himself. What is remarkable is that he turned his cascading energies into scholarship. Aside from his two immortal novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, he undertook to annotate the 1609 Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas by Antonio de Morga, which kept him many months doing full-time work at the British Museum. In the Lopez Library is a copy of the 1890 edition of the Sucesos that Rizal gave to his bosom friend, Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera. In the prologue, Ferdinand Blumentritt wrote, “With the reprinting, you have erected a monumentum aere perinius [a perennial monument] to the name of Rizal.” In historical essay, “Dentro de Cien Años and Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos,” Rizal observed that as a colony of Spain, The Philippines is depopulated, impoverished and retarded, astounded by the metamorphosis with no confidence in her part, still without faith in her present and without any flattering hope in the future. He went on to write, They [Filipinos] declined, degrading themselves in their own eyes. They became ashamed of what was their own and they began to admire and praise whatever foreign and incomprehensible; their spirit was damaged and it surrendered. In another passage, he wrote, The country is poor, it is going through a great financial crisis, and everybody points with fingers to persons who cause the evil and yet no one dares to lay their hands on them. These words are worth pondering today. Dr. José Rizal, chief apostle of liberty, freedom, and independence, has remained the greatest illustrious son of modern Philippines. |
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