The Importance of the Jose Rizal Subject

RA 1425 and other Rizal laws

The Rizal Bill became the Republic Act No. 1425, known as the ‘Rizal Law’. The full name of the law is “An Act
to Include in the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, Colleges and Universities Courses on the Life,
Works and Writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his Novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, authorizing the
printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.

The first section of the law concerns mandating the students to read Rizal’s novels. The last two sections
involve making Rizal’s writings accessible to the general public—they require the schools to have a sufficient
number of copies in their libraries and mandate the publication of the works in major Philippine languages.

However, the transition from being a bill to becoming a republic act was not easy as the proposal was met
with intense opposition particularly from the Catholic Church.

The then senator Claro M. Recto—the main proponent of the Rizal Bill—was even dubbed as a communist
and an anti-Catholic principally because of the issue. Catholic schools threatened to stop operation if the
bill was passed, though Recto calmly countered the threat, stating that if that happened, then the schools
would be nationalized.

Even when threatened afterward to be punished in future elections, Recto remained undeterred.

As regards the suggestion to use instead the expurgated (edited) version of Rizal’s novels as mandatory
readings, Recto explained his firm support for the unexpurgated version, exclaiming:

“The people who would eliminate the books of Rizal from the schools would blot out from our minds the
memory of the national hero. This is not a fight against Recto but a fight against Rizal.”

José Rizal
José Rizal called for peaceful reform of Spain's colonial rule in the Philippines. After his 1896 execution, he
became an icon for the nationalist movement.

Hours before the death of Rizal

At 6:30 a.m. of December 30, 1896, Jose Rizal—who was in black suit and black bowler hat, tied elbow to
elbow—began his slow walk to Bagumbayan.

He walked along with his defense lawyer, Andrade, and two Jesuit priests, March and Vilaclara. In front of
them were the advance guard of armed soldiers and behind them were another group of military men.

The sound of a trumpet signaled the start of Jose Rizal’s death march and the muffled sound of drums
served as the musical score of the walk.

Many had eagerly lined the streets early in that morning. Some were sympathetic to him, others—especially
the Spaniards—wanted nothing less than to see him die.

There were those who observed that Rizal kept keenly looking around and “it was believed that his family or
the Katipuneros would make a last-minute effort to spring him from the trap.

Rizal yelled Christ’s two last words “Consummatum est!” (It is finished!) as he simultaneously exerted a final
effort to twist his bullet-pierced body halfway around. Facing the sky, Jose Rizal fell on the ground dead at
exactly 7:03 in the morning of December 30, 1896.

“Consummatum est!” - Latin words, meaning it is finished. A phrase used in some of the higher degrees of
the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Jose Rizal: A Filipino Icon

Jose Rizal was a Filipino patriot, physician, and writer who inspired the Philippine revolution against Spanish
colonialism.
Early Life
On June 19, 1861, José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born in Calamba in the Philippines'
Laguna Province. A brilliant student who became proficient in multiple languages, José Rizal studied
medicine in Manila. In 1882, he traveled to Spain to complete his medical degree.

Jose Rizal Family

Jose Rizal’s thirteen-member-family consisted of his father Francisco Mercado II, his mother Teodora Alonso
Realonda, himself, nine sisters and one brother. Jose Rizal came from a wealthy family in Calamba, Laguna,
and Considered one of the largest families in those times, the 13-member-family consisted of his father
Francisco Mercado II, his mother Teodora Alonso Realonda, himself, nine sisters and one brother.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, one of the 11 children of Francisco
Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Morales Alonso y Quintos. He later adopted a shorter
version of his name, Jose Rizal. His family was very prosperous.

He enrolled at Ateneo de Municipal de Manila and graduated with a degree in Land Surveying and
Assessment in 1877. He had a deep interest in arts and thus he went to the Faculty of Arts and Letters for a
degree in Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas.

His mother was becoming blind during this time and the young man decided to specialize in ophthalmology
in order to help her. He enrolled at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at University of Santo Tomas in 1878 for
this purpose.

He went to Spain to continue his studies and enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid from where he
earned his degree in medicine in 1884. He completed another degree in Philosophy and Letters from the
same institute the next year.

He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and went to France to further his knowledge of ophthalmology at
the University of Heidelberg. He completed his eye specialization in 1887 under the tutelage of the famous
professor Otto Becker.

Later Life
In 1887, while studying medicine in the Universidad Central de Madrid, he wrote the novel ‘Noli Me
Tangere’. He harshly criticized the Spanish colonial rule in Philippines and wrote of the injustices and
brutalities suffered by the native people. His novel was banned by the government due to its scathing
contents.

He had been exposed to the problematic life under the Spanish government and was aware of the
difficulties experienced by the Filipinos. He became the leader of the reform movement of Filipino students
in Spain and wrote several articles and essays in the Spanish newspaper ‘La Solidaridad’.

He believed that Philippines was struggling with the twin problems of corrupt friars and bad government.
Ideas of progressive ideals, peaceful reforms, individual rights and rights for the Filipino people formed the
foundation of his writings.

The main focus of the reforms he advocated were freedom of assembly and speech, representation in the
legislature, equal rights before the law for both Filipinos and Spanish, and that the Philippines be a province
of Spain. However, the colonial authorities did not favor these reforms.

In 1891, his second novel ‘El Filibusterismo’ was published as a sequel to his first novel. The novel dealt with
dark and violent themes that were considerably different from the theme of its predecessor. The novel
profoundly impacted the Philippine society’s views about national identity and was banned in some parts
of the country for its portrayal of the Spanish government’s corruption.
He returned to Philippines in 1892 as he felt he needed to be in the country to effectively bring about
reforms. He formed a civic movement called La Liga Filipina which campaigned for social reforms through
peaceful and legal means.

By the early 1890s the government had branded Rizal an enemy of the State in spite of the fact that he
advocated peaceful reforms; the authorities were angry with his novels and writings which had exposed the
corruption of the Spanish Colonial government. He was exiled to Dapitan in July 1892.
In Dapitan he continued his reform work by building a school for young boys, a hospital and a water supply
system. He also taught farming and worked on agricultural projects using abaca, a plant used for making
rope.

In 1895, Cuba was engulfed by an epidemic of yellow fever and Rizal volunteered to serve as an army
doctor. His request was accepted by the Governor-General Ramon Blanco.

By August 1896, a secret society Katipunan started a violent revolution. Even though Rizal was in no way
associated with the revolution, he was arrested enroute to Cuba.

He was sent back to Manila where he was tried for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy and convicted of all
these charges.

Major Works
Jose Rizal was a national hero of the Philippines who exposed the corruptions and wrongdoings of the
Spanish colonial government through his writings. He was an advocate of peaceful reforms and founded
the progressive organization ‘La Liga Filipina’ which was considered a threat by the Spanish authorities and
ultimately led to his arrest.

Personal Life & Legacy

He had been involved with numerous women including Gertrude Beckett, Nelly Boustead, Seiko Usui and
Leonor Rivera.

He had a civil marriage with an Irish woman from Hong Kong named Josephine Bracken. The couple had
one son, born prematurely, who died soon after birth.

He was a polymath with the exceptional ability to master several subjects and skills. He was a doctor, writer,
poet, artist, farmer, educator, and historian. He also had considerable knowledge in the fields of
economics, anthropology, dramatics and sociology. He could speak 22 languages.

He was arrested in October 1896 and convicted on charges of sedition, conspiracy and rebellion. He was
sentenced to death. His execution was carried out on December 30, 1896 by a squad of Filipino soldiers of
the Spanish Army.

Facts About Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal was a talented artist and was skilled in sculpting, painting, and sketching. He even used his artistic
abilities to create political cartoons that criticized the Spanish colonial government.

Rizal was a polyglot, proficient in several languages, including Spanish, English, French, German, and
Chinese. This linguistic talent allowed him to communicate with people from various backgrounds and
cultures.

Rizal was an advocate for women's rights and believed in gender equality. He supported women's
education and empowerment, and his writings reflected his progressive views on gender roles in society.

Rizal was an accomplished fencer and marksman. He excelled in these sports and even won various
fencing competitions during his time in Europe.

Rizal’s Lineage
The Rizal paternal ascendant was Domingo Lam-co, a full-blooded Chinese who lived in Amoy, China and
arrived in the Philippines in the closing years of the 17th century. Domingo Lam-co was married to a Chinese
half-breed named Ines de la Rosa. The Mercado-Rizal family had also Japanese, Spanish, Malay and
Negrito blood aside from their Chinese blood.

Rizal’s Parents
Jose Rizal’s father Francisco was the youngest of 13 children of Juan and Cirila Mercado. He was born in
Binan, Laguna, studied in San Jose College of Manila and died in Manila.

Teodora, the mother of Jose Rizal, was a business-minded, religious and hardworking individual who was
born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827. She was the second child of Brijida de Quintos and
Lorenzo Alonso. Teodora had Spanish and Japanese ancestors while the father of Teodora was a half
Spaniard engineer known as Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo. She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. Teodora
died in Manila in 1913.

The parents of Jose Rizal were both farmers who were granted by the Dominicans with the lease of a
hacienda together with a rice farm.

Rizal-Family-Tree

The Rizals is considered one of the biggest families during their time. Domingo Lam-co, the family’s paternal
ascendant was a full-blooded Chinese who came to the Philippines from Amoy, China in the closing years
of the 17th century and married a Chinese half-breed by the name of Ines de la Rosa.

Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had also traces of Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Even
Negrito blood aside from Chinese.

Jose Rizal came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, Francisco Mercado II and Teodora
Alonso Realonda, and nine sisters and one brother.

Father: Francisco Mercado II (1818-1898)

Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offspring’s of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in Biñan,
Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.

Mother: Teodora Alonso Realonda (1827-1913)

Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She studied at the
Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman, courteous, religious, hard-working and well-
read. She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in Manila.

1. Saturnina Rizal (1850-1913) - Saturnina was the eldest child of Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso
Realonda. She was married to Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. It was Doña Saturnina who
published Pascual Poblete’s translation in Tagalog language of the Noli Me Tangere in 1909.

2. Paciano Rizal (1851-1930) - Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College
in Manila; became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.

3. Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939) - Narcisa is the third child and was married to Antonio Lopez, a teacher and
musician from Morong, Rizal. Like a doting sister, Narcisa was very close to Rizal and could recite all of Rizal’s
poems from memory.

4. Olympia Rizal (1855-1887) - Olympia was married to Silvestre Ubaldo, who was a telegraph operator from
Manila. Olympia unfortunately died in 1887 from childbirth.

5. Lucia Rizal (1857-1919) - Lucia was the fifth child and was married to Matriano Herbosa. One important
fact to know is that Lucia’s daughter, Delfina, was the first wife of Gen. Salvador Natividad and Delfina
helped Marcela Agoncillo to make the first Philippine flag in Hong Kong.

6. Maria Rizal (1859-1945) - Maria was the sixth child in the family. She married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan,
Laguna.

7. Jose Rizal (1861-1896) - The second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the Spaniards on
December 30, 1896. The death of Jose Rizal on December 30, 1896 came right after a kangaroo trial
convicted him on all three charges of rebellion, sedition and conspiracy.

December 30th is the death anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal. The death of Jose Rizal came right after a
kangaroo trial convicted him on all three charges of rebellion, sedition and conspiracy. He was guided to
his cell in Fort Santiago where he spent his last 24 hours right after the conviction. At 6:00 AM of December
29, 1896, Captain Rafael Dominguez read Jose Rizal’s death sentence and declared that he will be shot at
7:00 AM of the next day in Bagumbayan.

At 8:00 PM of the same day, Jose Rizal had his last supper and informed Captain Dominguez that he had
forgiven his enemies including the military judges that condemned him to die. Rizal heard mass at 3:00 in the
morning of December 30, 1896, had confession before taking the Holy Communion. He took his last
breakfast at 5:30 AM of December 30, 1896 and even had the time to write two letters one for his family
while the other letter was for his brother Paciano. This was also the time when his wife, Josephine Bracken
and his sister Josefa arrived and bade farewell to Rizal.

Rizal who was dressed in a black suit was a few meters behind his advance guards while moving to his
slaughter place and was accompanied by Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade, two Jesuit priests and more soldiers
behind him. The atmosphere was just like any execution by musketry by which the sound of the drums
occupied the air. Rizal looked at the sky while walking and mentioned how beautiful that day was.

Rizal was told to stand on a grassy lawn between two lam posts in the Bagumbayan field, looking towards
the Manila Bay. He requested the firing squad commander to shoot him facing the firing squad but was
ordered to turn his back against the squad of Filipino soldiers of the Spanish army. A backup force of regular
Spanish Army troops were on standby to shoot the executioners should they fail to obey the orders of the
commander.

Jose Rizal’s execution was carried out when the command “Fuego” was heard and Rizal made an effort to
face the firing squad but his bullet riddled body turned to the right and his face directed to the morning sun.
Rizal exactly died at 7:03 AM and his last words before he died were those said by Jesus Christ:
“consummatum est,” which means, “It is finished.”

Jose Rizal was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila but no identification was placed in his grave. His
sister Narcisa tried to look in every grave site and found freshly turned soil at the Paco cemetery, assuming
the burial site as the area where Rizal was buried. She gave a gift to the site caretaker so as to mark the
grave with RPJ — the initials of Rizal in reverse.

8. Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865) - Concepcion (nicknamed “Concha”) did not live long to see Rizal’s
martyrdom. She died early at the age of three.

9. Josefa Rizal (1865-1945) - The ninth child. An epileptic died a spinster. Josefa Rizal was nicknamed
Panggoy in the family. Despite suffering from epilepsy, she joined and was an active member of the
Katipunan. She died a spinster. (Spinster – means unmarried woman).

10. Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951) - The tenth child. Died a spinster and the last of the family to die. Josefa and
Trinidad were together living. Like Josefa, Trinidad also became a member of the Katipunan and died a
spinster, as well. Rizal’s elegy, Mi Ultimo Adios, was in the safekeeping of Trinidad.

11. Soledad Rizal (1870-1929) - Soledad, the youngest child in the family, was married to Pantaleon
Quintero. She was a teacher and was considered as the best educated among the sisters of Rizal.

Fast Facts: José Rizal

Known For: National hero of the Philippines for his key role inspiring the Philippine Revolution against colonial
Spain

Also Known As: José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

Born: June 19, 1861, at Calamba, Laguna

Parents: Francisco Rizal Mercado and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos

Place of death: Bagumbayan, Manila

Cause of Death: Execution

Founder/Co-Founder: La Liga Filipina

Education: Ateneo Municipal de Manila; studied medicine at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila;
medicine and philosophy at the Universidad Central de Madrid; ophthalmology at the University of Paris
and the University of Heidelberg

Published Works: Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo

Spouse: Josephine Bracken (married two hours before his death)

Children: Francísco Rizal y Bracken

Notable Quote: "On this battlefield man has no better weapon than his intelligence, no other force but his
heart."

All the girls Rizal loved before

https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/8/30/ballet-manila-brings-in-dancers-from-russia-for-giselle-1134

It can only be with true passion that one can conquer and accomplish what Filipino hero Jose Rizal had in
his thirty-five-year life. He stopped at nothing when it came to expressing his love not just for his country but
also his women. His travels across the Philippines and the world swayed him into multifarious relationships
that colored almost half his life. There are nine women on record. It’s not to say that all those relationships
were serious, but he did pursue when he wanted to pursue, cared, at least, and displayed his attentiveness
and charm unapologetically.

1. Segunda Katigbak
First love never dies they say—unless your first love is already engaged to be married when you meet. Then
you have to let it go really fast. Such was the case of Jose Rizal and Segunda Katigbak, a Batangueña,
whom Rizal met when he was only a 16-year-old boy.

They met when the young hero visited his grandmother with his friend, Mariano Katigbak, Segunda’s
brother. The Katigbaks were close to Rizal’s grandmother, and coincidentally, Segunda was at the
grandma’s house when Rizal and Mariano arrived. It was attraction at first sight. Segunda was also a close
friend of Rizal’s sister, Olympia, whom he visited every week at the La Concordia College. The two became
very close. However, Segunda was already engaged to be married to a man who lived in her town, and
Rizal had to stop pursuing her.

Rizal wrote about the incident years later, “Ended, at an early house, my first love! My virgin heart will always
mourn the reckless step it took on the flower-decked abyss. My illusions will return, yes, but indifferent,
uncertain, ready for the first betrayal on the path of love.”

2. Leonor Valenzuela
Leonor “Orang” Valenzuela, Rizal’s second object of affection, is literally the girl-next-door. They met when
Rizal was a sophomore medical student at the University of Santo Tomas, during which time he also lived at
Doña Concha Leyva’s boarding house in Intramuros, Manila. Orang, who was then 14 years old, was his
neighbor.

During the courtship, Rizal was said to have sent Leonor private and secret love letters, which he wrote using
invisible ink made with water and salt—he was adept in chemistry, too. To read the letters, Orang had to
heat the letter over a candle or a lamp. (How did we get from this intricate, labored way of courting
someone to pressing that heart icon on Instagram? Just wondering.) Rizal also frequented the Valenzuelas’
home, which was a hang out place of the students in the area.

There are, however, documents that may serve as proof that Rizal’s efforts were not effective. Some
accounts say he was courting Leonor Valenzuela and and his second cousin Leonor Rivera at the same
time—thus the need for invisible letters. (Still, we need to appreciate the effort that went with it.) Rivera
apparently knew of this and gave way to Rivera’s attraction for Rizal. When Rizal left for Spain in 1882, it was
said that he did say goodbye to Orang, but kept in touch with the help of Rizal’s close friend, Jose
“Chenggoy” Cecilio.

3. Leonor Rivera
Leanor Rivera and Jose Rizal lived the tragedies of Shakespeare’s poems.

They met when Rizal was 18 and Leonor was 13, at the boarding house of Rizal’s uncle in Intramuros, Manila.
Leonor was Rizal’s second cousin.

It was a perfect love story in the beginning: he, the intelligent charmer, and she, the beautiful student who
had a beautiful singing voice and was a talented piano player. Soon, they fell in love. But as tragic love
stories go, they were besieged by obstacles. Leonor’s parents highly disapproved of their relationship as
they were wary of Rizal being a “filibuster.” In his letters, Rizal called Leonor “Taimis” to hide her identity.

Before leaving for Europe in 1882, Rizal said that he had found the woman he wanted to marry. But even his
brother, Paciano Rizal, disagreed with the idea, saying that it would be unfair to Leonor if he were to leave
her behind after getting married.

But their love—as young loves are—wanted to go against all that stood in the way. Although they did not
get married, they tried to continue sending each other love letters, a lot of which were intercepted and
kept hidden by Leonor’s mother. In 1890, Leonor wrote a letter to Rizal saying that she was engaged to be
married to a British engineer named Henry Kipping. That same year, the wedding pushed through.

Upon the coercion of her mother, Leonor burned Rizal’s letters to her—but it was said she kept the ashes of
those letters. A story goes that she hid some of these ashes in the hem of her wedding gown.

But their dark romance didn’t end there.

In 1893, Leonor died during second childbirth. Documents show that when Rizal heard of the news through
his sister, Narcisa, he didn’t speak for a few days. It is believed that Rizal immortalized Leonor through the
character Maria Clara in Noli Me Tangere. Like we said, it’s a Shakespearean kind of dark—and no love
story is more intense than the one that lost the battle with circumstances.

4. Consuelo Ortega Y Rey

Consuelo Ortega Y Rey was the daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga Y Rey, who was Mayor of Manila when Maria
dela Torre was the governor. While Rizal was in Madrid, he would hang out at Don Pablo’s house, which
became a place where Filipino students would often get together. Through one of these gatherings, Rizal
met Consuelo.

He showed affection towards Consuelo but was not serious in his pursuit as he was still engaged to Leonor
Rivera at the time. Yes, he loved the company of women, but during that brief period, he too was lonely
and yearning for the physical void left by Leonor.

Although most accounts say the dalliance didn’t turn serious, Rizal wrote a poem for her, entitled, “A La
Señorita C.O.y.P.” Of course, these days, when you write a poem for someone, that’s like a marriage
proposal. In the end, Consuelo got engaged to Rizal’s friend, Eduardo de Lete. It is said that Eduardo’s love
for Consuelo was also the reason Rizal didn’t pursue the mestiza. Or maybe, in modern parlance, theirs was
a classic case of a rebound fling.

5. Seiko Usui
In many of his diary entries, Rizal wrote about how he was charmed by Japan’s beauty, cleanliness, and
peace and order. But if there was one thing that almost kept him in the country where cherry blossoms
bloom most beautiful, it was a woman named Seiko Usui, affectionately called O-Sei-San.

It was in 1888. Rizal had just arrived in Japan from Hongkong upon an invitation to take a job offer at the
Spanish Legation. One day, while he was in the office grounds, he saw O-Sei-San walk past the legation’s
gate and was immediately enthralled by her beauty. With the help of a Japanese gardener, he asked to
be introduced to the woman who captured his eyes—and the gardener acquiesced. Rizal spoke little
Japanese at the time, so the gardener had to serve as a translator. However, a few minutes into the
conversation, they both found O-Sei-San spoke English and French, which was a relief as Rizal spoke both
languages. When the language barrier broke, they started to build a relationship.

As days went by, O-Sei-San taught Rizal the ways of the Japanese. They went gallivanting, visiting museums,
galleries, and universities. They talked about the arts and culture, switching their language from French to
English and back as they pleased. Their love was childlike and spirited. According to many accounts, Rizal
was ready to move to Japan, stay with O-Sei-San, and live a peaceful life with his love.

Unfortunately for this relationship, country-saving duties would call and he had to leave Japan for San
Francisco. He never saw O-Sei-San again. Their affair lasted for around two months. It’s shorter than an
average season of a Netflix series, but you know Rizal and his intensity.
6. Gertrude Beckett
In the same year he began and ended his relations with O-Sei-San, our JR, then 27, went to London and met
a woman named Gertrude Beckett, the eldest daughter of his landlord. Gertrude showered Rizal with all the
love and attention of a girl who is hopelessly in love. She even assisted Rizal as he finished some of his
popular sculptures, “Prometheus Bound,” “The Triumph of Death over Life,” and “The Triumph of Science
over Death.” He called her Gettie, she called him Pettie. But all documents lead to say one thing: the
feelings weren’t mutually shared.

In 1889, Rizal left London, and left Gettie a composite carving of the heads of the Beckett sisters. Marcelo
del Pilar, Rizal’s friend, said Rizal left London to move away from Gertrude, whose idea of their relationship
was more than what it really was—the most tormenting kind: an unrequited love.

7. Suzanne Jacoby
Maybe Rizal was repulsed with the idea of having an idle mind. With all the loneliness and anxiety from the
turmoil of his country and family, he was even able to fill his resting moments learning new things—like flirting
with women. When he arrived in Belgium in 1890, he lived at a boarding house that was run by two sisters
whose last name was Jacoby. The sisters had a niece named Suzanne. You probably can guess now what
happens with Rizal and his caretaker’s kin. If it’s not a neighbor, it’s a caretaker’s kin. Are we seeing a trend
here? Obviously the guy is too busy to explore beyond a one-kilometer radius.

The relationship was probably a fling, too, as Rizal made no mention of Suzanne when he wrote letters to his
friends about his stay in Belgium. Rizal left the country in August that year. Suzanne was heartbroken. Rizal
continued writing El Filibusterismo, writing for La Solidaridad, and worrying about his family back home. It
was said that Suzanne wrote Rizal letters. Rizal may have replied once. In 1891, Rizal went back to Belgium—
not for Suzanne—but to finish writing El Filibusterismo. He stayed for a few months, left, and never returned.
Maybe she got the point after that.

8. Nellie Boustead
Remember that famous time when Antonio Luna and Jose Rizal almost got into a duel because of a girl?
The girl in the middle of that madness was Nellie Boustead. Rizal and Nellie met in Biarritz, where Nellie’s
wealthy family hosted Rizal’s stay at their residence on the French Riviera. Before Biarritz, Rizal already made
friends with the Boustead family a few years back, and even played fencing with Nellie and her sister.

During his stay at the beautiful Biarritz vacation home, Rizal learned of Leonor Rivera’s engagement and
thought of pursuing a romantic relationship with Nellie, who was classy, educated, cheerful, and athletic.
After strengthening their relationship, Rizal wrote letters to his friends, telling them about his intention to marry
her. They were all supportive, including Antonio Luna.

Although they seemed like the ideal couple, marriage for Rizal was still not meant to be. First, Nellie’s mother
did not think Rizal had the resources to be a good provider for her daughter. Second, Nellie wanted Rizal to
convert to Protestantism. Rizal refused. But their friendship must have been strong enough because they
ended up being friends after all the drama.

Before Rizal left Paris in 1891, Nellie wrote him a letter: “Now that you are leaving I wish you a happy trip and
may you triumph in your undertakings, and above all, may the Lord look down on you with favor and guide
your way giving you much blessings, and may your learn to enjoy! My remembrance will accompany you
as also my prayers.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you become friends with your ex.

9. Josephine Bracken
Josephine Bracken was the woman who stayed with Rizal until his execution in 1896. She was also, allegedly,
the woman whom Rizal married. However, accounts of their marriage have been much-debated over the
years.

Josephine was the adopted daughter of one George Taufer, whom she lived with in Hongkong for years
before she needed to seek help from an ophthalmologist due to George’s blindness. They then sought the
help of Jose Rizal, who was already exiled in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte at the time. Rizal and
Josephine fell in love and in a month made the announcement that they wanted to get married. But just
like the other Rizal great loves, this one was once again complicated. No priest would marry the two, for
reasons that are still unclear—but perhaps it was because of Rizal’s status in politics. Without a legal paper,
Rizal and Josephine lived together, and had a son, who died a few hours after birth. Rizal named his son
after his father, Francisco.

Up to this day, there is no legal proof that Josephine and Rizal ever got married.

In retrospect, maybe Rizal was not meant for a long commitment, like marriage—with all his travels and
freedom-fighting obligations. Maybe heroes can only be alone with their thoughts. Left alone, they will
naturally think too much, and thinking for an entire country, we assume, can be exhausting. Maybe Rizal just
always needed a companion.

But if there’s one thing his dalliances and longings and pursuits remind us, it is that heroes are humans, too.
Humans have needs. And he did die for our country. He gets a pass—even when he was a master in
ghosting.

Novels and Essays

 Noli Me Tángere, novel, 1887

 El Filibusterismo, (novel, 1891), sequel to Noli Me Tángere

 Alin Mang Lahi (“Whate’er the Race”), a Kundiman attributed to Dr. Jose Rizal - Not many Filipinos
know that Rizal composed kundimans. One was “Alin Mang Lahi”, which was first introduced to the
publc by Antonio Molina for coloratura soprano with piano and orchestra accompaniment. The
version used here was sung by Conching Rosal.

 The Friars and the Filipinos (Unfinished) - Spanish friars were central to the colonization of the
Philippines, spreading Catholicism and Western ideals. They converted around 2 million Filipinos to
Catholicism and influenced land ownership, often to the detriment of local agriculturists due to high
rents and unwillingness to sell lands.

 Toast to Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo (Speech, 1884), given at Restaurante Ingles, Madrid - In 1884,
José Rizal delivered a speech at Restaurante Inglés in Madrid, Spain, to honor the achievements of
Filipino painters Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo. Luna had won the gold medal for his painting "El
Spoliarium," while Hidalgo received a silver medal for "Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho" at
the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes de Madrid

 The Diaries of José Rizal

 Rizal’s Letters is a compendium of Dr. Jose Rizal’s letters to his family members, Blumentritt, Fr. Pablo
Pastells and other reformers “Come se gobiernan las Filipinas” (Governing the Philippine islands)- This
compendium provides valuable insights into his thoughts, ideas, and the socio-political context of his
time. One notable piece within this collection is “Come se gobiernan las Filipinas” (Governing the
Philippine Islands), which discusses the governance and administration of the Philippines under
Spanish rule.

 Filipinas dentro de cien años essay, 1889–90 (The Philippines a Century Hence) - “Filipinas dentro de
cien años” (The Philippines a Century Hence) is a socio-political essay written by José Rizal. It was
published in four parts from September 1889 to January 1890 in the Filipino fortnightly review La
Solidaridad. In this essay, Rizal examines the past and present conditions of the Philippines under
Spanish rule and predicts the future of the country. He discusses the potential for reforms, the
possibility of independence, and the socio-political changes that could occur over the next century.
Rizal emphasizes the need for education, self-governance, and national identity among Filipinos.

 La Indolencia de los Filipinos, essay, 1890 (The indolence of Filipinos) - La Indolencia de los Filipinos is
a socio-political essay written by José Rizal in response to the accusation of Indio or Malay
indolence. It was published in La solidaridad in Madrid in 18901

 Makamisa unfinished novel - Makamisa (English: After Mass) is an unfinished novel written by Filipino
patriot and writer José Rizal. The original manuscript was found by historian Ambeth Ocampo in 1987
while going through a 245-page collection of papers. This draft is written in pure, vernacular
Lagueño Tagalog and has no written direct signature or date of inscription.
  Sa Mga Kababaihang Taga Malolos, essay, 1889, To the Young Women of Malolos - “To the Women
of Malolos” was originally written in Tagalog. Rizal penned this writing when he was in London, in
response to the request of Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Ang “Sa Mga Kababaihang Taga Malolos” ay isang liham na isinulat ni Dr. José Rizal noong Pebrero
22, 1889. Ito ay tugon sa kahilingan ng mga kababaihan ng Malolos, Bulacan na magbukas ng
isang paaralan upang matuto ng wikang Kastila, na kanilang matagumpay na naipaglaban sa
harap ng pamahalaang kolonyal ng Espanya.

 Annotations to Antonio de Moragas, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (essay, 1889, Events in the
Philippine Islands) - Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas is a significant historical work
that was annotated by José Rizal in 1889. Rizal’s annotations aimed to correct the biases and
inaccuracies presented by Morga, providing a Filipino perspective on the events described.

Poetry

 A La Juventud Filipina (English translation: To The Philippine Youth) - “A La Juventud Filipina” (To The
Philippine Youth) is a poem written by José Rizal in 1879. It celebrates the potential and promise of
the Filipino youth, urging them to aspire for greatness and contribute to the nation’s progress.

 El Canto Del Viajero (English translation: Song of the Wanderer) - “Song of the Wanderer” is the
English translations of José Rizal’s poem “El Canto del Viajero.” In this poem, Rizal captures the
feelings of loneliness and aimlessness that a traveler experiences. Here’s a brief excerpt. The poem
beautifully illustrates the wanderer’s life, comparing it to a dry leaf carried by the wind.

 Briayle Crismarl – unknown

 Canto de María Clara (English translation: Song of Maria Clara) - The “Song of Maria Clara” is a
poem from José Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere. It reflects Maria Clara’s deep love for her native land
and the bittersweet emotions tied to patriotism and sacrifice.

 Himno Al Trabajo (Dalit sa Paggawa) - Himno al trabajo (Filipino: Dalit sa Paggawa; English: "Hymn to
Labor") is a poem written by Dr. José Rizal. The poem was requested by his friends from Lipa,
Batangas, in January 1888 in reaction to the Becerra Law, and to address the hardships of Lipeños
(people from Lipa).

 Felicitación [Felicitation (English Translation)] - This poem is the English translation of Rizal’s Spanish
poem entitled ‘Felicitation.’ It was one of the many poems he wrote while studying at the Ateneo.
Rizal wrote this poem in 1875 (when he was 14 years old) through the encouragement of Fr.
Sanchez.

 Kundiman (Tagalog) [Kundiman (English Translation) - Kundiman is a traditional Filipino love song;
often used by a young man to serenade the woman he loves. José Rizal, the national hero of the
Philippines, wrote a poem titled “Kundiman” in Tagalog on September 12, 1891. In this poem, Rizal
expressed his deep love for his Motherland.

 Me Piden Versos (English translation: They Ask Me for Verses!) - “They Ask Me for Verses” is a poem
by José Rizal, originally written in Spanish as “Me Piden Versos.” This poem reflects Rizal’s feelings of
sadness and frustration about being asked to write verses while feeling emotionally stifled and
oppressed by the Spanish colonial rule.

 Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - is a Spanish poem that is believed to have been written
by Jose Rizal when he was nine years old. There are claims, however, that this poem was actually
written by his nephew, Antonio Lopez-Rizal (Narcisa’s son) because of the seeming likeness in
handwriting of the two Rizals.

 “Mi Retiro” (translated to “My Retreat”) - is a poem written by José Rizal during his exile in Dapitan
from 1892 to 1896. The poem reflects his serene and contemplative life during this period. Rizal
describes the peaceful surroundings of his retreat, the simplicity of his living conditions, and his
reflections on nature and solitude.
  “Mi Último Adiós” (My Last Farewell) - is a poignant poem written by José Rizal, the national hero of
the Philippines, just before his execution in 1896. The poem expresses his love for his country and his
willingness to die for its freedom.

 Por La Educación (Recibe Lustre La Patria) “Education Gives Luster to Motherland” - is a poem by
José Rizal, originally written in Spanish as “Por La Educación (Recibe Lustre La Patria).” In this poem,
Rizal emphasizes the transformative power of education in elevating a nation and its people. He
believed that education is essential for the progress and welfare of a country, as it instills virtues,
fosters knowledge, and promotes societal growth.

 “Sa Sanggol na si Jesus” translates to “To the Child Jesus” in English. This phrase is often associated
with a poem written by José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. The poem, written in Spanish
as “A la Virgen María,” reflects Rizal’s deep religious faith and his admiration for the innocence and
purity of the Child Jesus.

 A Mi Musa (English translation: To My Muse) - Response stopped

 Sent by Copilot:
 “To My Muse” (originally “A Mi Musa”) - is a poem by José Rizal, a prominent Filipino nationalist and
revolutionary. The poem reflects Rizal’s feelings of disillusionment and his shift from romanticism to a
more practical and socially conscious approach to poetry

 “Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo” (Memories of My Town) - is a nostalgic poem written by José Rizal in 1876
when he was just 15 years old. In this poem, Rizal fondly recalls his childhood memories in his
hometown of Calamba, Laguna. He describes the natural beauty of the place, the warmth and
hospitality of its people, and the simple joys of his early years.

 “A Man in Dapitan” - is an essay by José Rizal that highlights his experiences during his exile in
Dapitan, a town in the Philippines. Rizal was exiled there from 1892 to 1896, and during this time, he
made significant contributions to the community.

List of Poems of José Rizal (Poems of Rizal)

1. Sa Aking mga Kabata (written by Rizal at the age of 8, dealing with the theme of love for one’s
language)
2. To the Virgin Mary
3. Education Gives Luster to the Motherland
4. To Josephine
5. To the Philippines Youth
6. Song of Maria Clara
7. A Poem that has No Title
8. Kundiman
9. Hymn to Labor
10. Memories of my Town
11. Our Mother Tongue
12. To the Philippines
13. Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Goodbye – Last Poem of Rizal)
14. “Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed,
15. Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost,
16. With gladness I give you my Life, sad and repressed;
17. And where it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best,
18. I would still give it to you for your welfare at most.” – from Mi Ultimo Adios by José Rizal

No. Name of the Poem Short Description

1 “Mi Último Adiós” Farewell poem expressing love for the Philippines.
2 “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” Emphasis on education and native language pride.
3 “A La Juventud Filipina” Call to Filipino youth to embrace culture and progress.
4 “Himno Al Trabajo” Praises labor’s value and societal contribution.
5 “A Las Flores De Heidelberg” Reflects on home while in Heidelberg, Germany.
6 “Kundiman” Explores love and devotion to the homeland.
7 “A Las Mujeres” Tribute to women and their roles in society.
No. Name of the Poem Short Description
8 “To The Philippine Youth” Encourages youth to contribute to the nation.
9 “To the Virgin Mary” Devotional poem seeking the Virgin Mary’s intercession.
10 “In Memory of My Town” Nostalgic reflection on Rizal’s hometown.
11 “A Cada Caballero Español” Satirical critique of Spanish arrogance toward Filipinos.
12 “To the Philippines” Yearning for the nation’s liberation from oppression.
13 “Our Mother Tongue” Emphasizes the importance of preserving native language.
14 “To My Muse” Dedication to a muse or source of inspiration.
15 “A Poem That Has No Title” Metapoetic exploration of title-less poetry.
16 “Elevación” Contemplation on the fleeting nature of life.
17 “A Las Estrellas” Philosophical exploration of the universe’s mysteries.
18 “Me Piden Versos” Playful response to requests for poetry.
19 “A Un Abanico” Romantic poem addressed to a fan or accessory.
20 “Por La Educación Recibe Lustre la Patria” Emphasis on education’s role in the nation’s light.
21 “A Las Flores” Acknowledgment of the symbolism of flowers.
22 “El Canto Del Viajero” Captures the traveler’s spirit and excitement.
23 “A Las Profundas Cavernas” Metaphorical journey into the depths of the mind.
24 “¡Sálve!” A religious poem praising Mary.
25 “A La Virgen Maria” Tribute to the Virgin Mary.
26 “A La Señorita C.O. y R.” Tribute to a friend’s virtues and character.
27 “A España” Reflection on Spain’s colonization of the Philippines.
28 “Himno a Talisay” Hymn honoring the town of Talisay.
29 “A La Juventud Española” Address to Spanish youth advocating for reforms.
30 “A Rizal” Tribute poem by Fernando M. Guerrero.
31 “A Francisco Balagtas” A homage to the Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas.
32 “A La Agricultura” Praises the value of agriculture in society.
33 “Don Crisostomo Ibarra” Poem reflecting on the character from Noli Me Tangere.
34 “To the Rising Generation” Calls on the new generation to carry on the fight.
35 “A Lágrimas y Risas” Contrast between tears and laughter in life.
36 “A Villamor” Commemorates the death of Fr. Vicente García Villamor.
37 “Epistolario Rizalino” A collection of Rizal’s correspondence.

Plays

 El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of Gods) - is a play written in Spanish by Filipino writer and
national hero José Rizal, first published in 1880 in Manila by the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila in
1880, and later by La Solidaridad in 1883.

 El Consejo de los Dioses El Consejo de los Dioses (English Translation: The Council of the Gods)- is a
play written in Spanish by Filipino writer and national hero José Rizal, first published in 1880 in Manila
by the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila in 1880, and later by La Solidaridad in 1883. El Consejo de
los Dioses was written by Rizal when he was only nineteen years old, and reveals the humanistic
education of the Philippines at the time and his answer to scholasticism.

 “Junto Al Pasig” (Along the Pasig) - is a one-act play written by José Rizal in 1880. The play is a
melodrama that depicts a debate between a young boy named Leonido and Satan over questions
of faith and religion. Leonido defends his Christian faith against Satan’s attempts to sway him,
arguing that there is only one true God.

 “San Eustaquio, Mártir” (Saint Eustace, the Martyr) - is a play written by José Rizal, the national hero of
the Philippines. This work is one of his lesser-known pieces compared to his famous novels, Noli Me
 Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The play was translated into English and published under the title "Saint
Eustachius, Martyr.

Sculptures

 “The Triumph of Science over Death,” also known as “Scientia,” - is a clay

sculpture created by José Rizal in 1890 as a gift to his friend Ferdinand
Blumentritt. The sculpture depicts a young, nude woman with flowing hair,
standing on a skull while holding a torch. The woman symbolizes the
enlightenment that science brings to humanity, overcoming the darkness and
ignorance of the past, represented by the skull.

Paintings

Saturnina Rizal in oil now being displayed in Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago

Dapitan church curtains in oil made in Dapitan in 1984.

An oil painting on a pair of mother-of-pearl shells painted in Dapitan

and given as a token to Doña Leonor Valenzuela and later
passed on to Doña Margarita Valenzuela

Water color painting of the Spanish coat of arms done during

San Rafael fiesta in Calamba in 1867

Allegory on a pair of porcelain bases of the new year

celebration in oil painted in Berlin in 1886
Crayon painting of Christ crucified done in 1875

Crayon painting of Immaculate Conception made in Manila, 1974

Crayon painting of Portrait of Morayta made in Barcelona, 1885