Republic of the Philippines

Bohol Island State University

Clarin Campus
Poblacion Norte, Clarin, Bohol

Life, Works and Writings of Rizal

Name: Nova C. Tampon Date: 08/29/24

Course&Year: BTLEd- HE3

Assignment: Research about the life of Rizal including the talent and skill

RIZAL’S LIFE
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda, born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba,
Laguna, was a Filipino nationalist, polymath, and the most prominent advocate for reforms in
the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He was the seventh of eleven children in a
prosperous and educated family.
Rizal was a brilliant student, excelling in academics from a young age. He studied at the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila and the University of Santo Tomas before pursuing further studies in
Spain. He earned degrees in Medicine and Philosophy and Letters at the Universidad Central de
Madrid. Rizal further specialized in ophthalmology in Paris and Heidelberg to treat his mother’s
failing eyesight.
Aside from his medical career, Rizal was a gifted writer. His novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo exposed the abuses of the Spanish authorities and the clergy in the Philippines,
which fueled the growing nationalist movement. He was also a skilled linguist, artist, and
educator.
Rizal’s advocacy for peaceful reform, rather than revolution, led to his arrest by the Spanish
authorities. On December 30, 1896, he was executed by a firing squad in Manila, becoming a
martyr and symbol of Filipino resistance against colonial oppression.
Rizal's legacy endures as the Philippines' national hero, celebrated for his intellect, patriotism,
and dedication to the cause of Filipino freedom.

RIZAL’S TALENT AND SKILLS A-Z

Actor - He acted as a character in one of Juan Luna’s paintings and acted in school
dramas.
Anthropologist - He made researches on the physical and social make up
of man.
Archeologist - Rizal studied monuments and antique currency everywhere
he went. He drew most of the monuments he saw.
Book lover – He had a big library and brought many books abroad.- A favorite
pastime in Madrid. He stayed at home and read until midnight- This the Dao tree where
Dr. Jose Rizal himself planted and nurtured. (Picture of Dao Tree)
Botanist – Rizal maintained a garden in Dapitan where he planted and experimented
on plants of all kinds.
Businessman – He had a partner in Dapitan in the Abaca business there(1892-1896).
One of his profitable business venture was the hemp industry. Rizal engaged in
business in partnership with Ramon Carreon on May 14, 1893, a Dapitan Merchant
which has a profitable business ventures in fishing, copra, and hemp industries. He
invited his relative Saturnina and Hidalgo to come to Mindanao for some business
opportunities.
Cartographer - He drew maps of Dapitan, the Philippines and other places he
visited.
Chess Player - He played chess and bear several Germans and
European friends and acquaintances.
Commentator - Rizal always expresses and publishes his personal opinion.
Economist – He knew how to allot his scarce resources.
Educator – Rizal taught in his special school in Dapitan.
Essayist – Reminiscence of a Student in Manila (his first essay) - The Philippines a
Century Hence (prophesied the downfall of Spainin Asia)
Ethnologist – In his travels, Rizal was able to compare different races and he noted
the differences.- He became a member of Berlin Ethnological and Anthropological
Society while under the patronage of the famous pathologist Rudolf Virchow.
“What moral right has the white man to look down on the men who have similar
thoughts, studies and abilities as they just because their skin is brown or their nose is
flat?”
Farmer – His total land holdings reached 70 hectares containing 6,000hemp plants,
1,000 coconut trees, and numerous fruit trees, sugarcane, corn, coffee and
cacao.- He devoted his time to agriculture and was able to bought about 16hectares of
land in Talisay. There he was able to plant cacao, fruit trees, sugarcane, corn and
coconuts. – “We cannot all be doctors; it is necessary that there would be some to
cultivate the soil.”
Fencer – He fenced with Europeans and Juan Luna and other friends in Europe.
Fencing – a sport practiced at that time only by the llustradosInteligencia
Freemason abroad - He was member of La Solidaridad Lodge in Spain.
Geographer
Title: Relief map of Mindanao
Remarks: Made in Dapitan church plaza by the end of 1892
Title: Pacific Ocean spheres of influence
Remarks: Made during the administration of Pres. Benjamin Harrison.
Mentioned by Rizal in his Article “The Philippines Century Hence”, made in London in
1889.
Title: Plan for modern college (front and side views)
Remarks: Owned by Dr. L. L. R, apparently in Paris, 1872
Title: The lake district of central Luzon

 Magician- Since early childhood Rizal had been interested in magic. When he
attained manhood, he continued his keen predilection for magic. In chapter XVII and
XVIII of his second novel, El Filibusterismo, he revealed his wide knowledge in magic.
 Mythologist- Rizal used mythology in his Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
novels.
 Newspaperman- He wrote and published articles in many publications and was one
of the organizers. Of the La Solidaridad.
 Novelist – Noli Me Tangere – El Filibusterismo
 Ophthalmologist – He graduated in an ophthalmologic college in Spain. – His
mother who lost her eyesight in 1887, encouraged him to take advanced training in
ophthalmology. Rizal is famous for this profession a practicing ophthalmologist and that
he was able to cure his own mother’s cataract. Rizal was known to have trained under
prominent European ophthalmologists- Otto Becker and Louis de Wecker. He did
practice the professional backed in his hometown in Calamba Laguna, while he was in
Hong Kong and while in exile at Dapitan.
He apprenticed under Dr. Louis de Wecker, a famous eye surgeon who can set in
position crossed eyes in two minutes.

 Orientalist- Rizal admired the special characteristics and beauties of Oriental

countries peoples.
 Painter-
Title: Saturnina Rizal
Material: Oil
Remarks: Now in Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago

Title: Dapitan church curtains

Material: Oil
Remarks: Made in Dapitan, 1894

Title: A painting on a pair of mother-of Pearl

Material: Oil
Remarks: Shells painted by Rizal in Dapitan and given as a gift to Doña Leon or
Valenzuela and later passed into the hands of Doña Margarita Valenzuela
Title: Spanish coat of arms
Material: Water color
Remarks: Done during a fiesta of San Rafael in Calamba in 1867

Title: Allegory on a pair of porcelain bases of the new year celebration

Material: Oil
Remarks: Made in Berlin in 1886

Title: Christ crucified

Material: Crayon
Remarks: 1875

Since early childhood, Rizal revealed his God-given talent for art. At the age of five, he
began to make sketches with his pencil and to mold in clay and wax objects.

 Philosopher- Rizal not only loved wisdom but also regulated his life and enjoyed
calmness of the life at all time.
 Physical culturist- Rizal maintained a good health by exercising all parts of his body
and eating proper foods.
 Physician- He treated several patients afflicted not only with eye diseases.
 Plant lover- As a child, Rizal spend most of his time in the family garden which was
planted with fruit trees, shrubs and decorative trees. His diaries contained detailed
description and sketches of plants, flowers and fruits he saw in the places he visited.
 Poet- Rizal wrote over 35 poems including his famous Mi Ultimo Adios, To The
Philippines, Our Mother Tongue, Memories of My town, Hymn to Labor, Kundiman, A
Poem That Has No Title, Song of Maria Clara, To the Philippines Youth, To Josephine,
Education Gives Luster to the Motherland, To the Virgin Mary, Sa Aking mga Kabata
and others. O The first poem rizal wrote during his days in the ateneo was his sculptural
ability.
 Sharp shooter- He could hit a target 20 meters away.
 Rizal impressed his Jesuit professor in the Ateneo with his artistic skill. He carved an
image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of Batikuling(Philippine hardwood) with his pocket
knife.
 Sociologist- In Rizal’s study of Philippines social problems, he always encouraged
and introduced solutions.
 Sodalist- He always joined fraternities, associations and brotherhood, for self-
improvement.

 Translator - Christmas message (Hebrew to Spanish)

William Tell and Andersen Fairy Tales (German to Tagalog)
The Rights of Man (French to Tagalog) – Zend-Avesta (Arabic to Spanish)
 Traveler- He traveled around the world three times.
 Tuberculosis expert- For having cured himself of this disease, he became and was
recognized as an expert.
 Universalist- Rizal was the product of the very first synthesis between the
civilizations of the East and the West. In his person embodied the ideals of the both.
 Writer
Sa Aking Mga Kababata
To the Filipino Youth
The untitled Last Farewell
 Youth leader- He considered the youth as “the hope of his Fatherland.”
 Zoologist - He was fond of pets. He researched later on their physiology,
classification and habits.
A regular contributor of specimens of reptiles, mammals, birds, fish, insects,
crustaceans and other invertebrates to the Dresden museum.
When he was an exile in Dapitan, he collected different kinds of species of animals.
Among there were the Draco Rizali (Wandolleck), a specie of flying dragon;
Rachophorous Rizali (Boetger), a hithertho unknown specie of toad; and Apogonia
Rizali (Heller), a small beetle, which were later named after him.