The Life and Works of Rizal GE 219

Lesson 8: Rizal, the Polymath

Lesson Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Identify the different disciplines and interests of Jose Rizal.
2. Relate how learning new skills and exploring new fields can benefit the welfare of
the community and the country.

Polymath /ˈpälēˌmaTH/ (Cambridge Dictionary)

- a person who knows a lot about many different subjects

Introduction
Rizal was a true scholar in all aspects. He enjoyed learning from different fields,
whether the arts or the sciences. He never limited his capacity to learn; he emphasized the
importance of education for Filipinos. This lesson aims to highlight Rizal’s education and other
fields that he explored as a scholar.

Rizal’s Many-sided Personality

“Rizal was the greatest product of the Philippines and his coming to the world was like
the appearance of a rare comet, whose rare brilliance appears only every century.”
~ Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt
“Rizal’s many-sidedness was stupendous.”
~ Dr. Adolf B. Meyer
“Versatile genius.”
~ Dr. Camilo Osias
His cleverness since early boyhood turned into versatility in later years. Being curious
and inquisitive, he developed a rare facility of mastering varied talents, skills, subjects and
occupations.

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Rizal’s A-Z Interests, Skills, and Talents

Well-documented studies show that Dr. Jose Rizal was a polymath, with the ability to
master various skills and subjects.
ACTOR
He acted as a character in one of Juan Luna’s paintings and acted in school dramas.
ANTHROPOLOGIST
He researched the physical and social makeup 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.
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 (18892-1896). One of the profitable
business ventures was the hemp industry. He engaged in business in partnership with Ramon
Carreon on May 14, 1893, a Dapitan Merchant who had profitable business ventures in
the fishing, copra, and hemp industries. He invited his relatives 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.
DRAMATIST
He acted in school dramas.
ECONOMIST
He knew how to allot his scarce resources.

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EDUCATOR
Rizal taught in his special school in Dapitan. His exile in Dapitan gave him the
opportunity to put into practice his educational ideas. In 1893, he established a school which
existed until the end of his exile in July 1896. It began with three pupils and in the course of
time the enrollment increased to 16 and later 21. In his letter to Blumentritt on March 13,
Rizal said that he had 16 pupils in his school and these pupils did not pay any tuition.
ESSAYIST
Reminiscence of a Student in Manila (his first essay)
The Philippines a Century Hence (an essay prophesying the downfall of Spain in Asia)
ETHNOLOGIST
In his travels, Rizal was able to compare different races and he noted the differences.
He became a member of the 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?” –
Jose Rizal
FARMER
His total land holdings reached 70 hectares containing 6,000 hemp plants, 1,000
coconut trees, and numerous fruit trees, sugarcane, corn, coffee, and cacao.
He devoted his time to agriculture and was able to buy about 16 hectares 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.”
~ Jose Rizal
FENCER
He fenced with Europeans, Juan Luna and other friends in Europe. Fencing is a sport
practiced only by the illustrados inteligencia at that time.
FREEMASON ABROAD
He was a member of La Solidaridad Lodge in Spain.
GEOGRAPHER
Some of Rizal’s geographical work:
Title: Relief Map of Mindanao
Remarks: Made in Dapitan Church Plaza by the end of 1892

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Title: Pacific Ocean Spheres of Influence

Remarks: Made during the administration of Pres. Benjamin Harrison.
Mentioned by Rizal in his article “The Philippines a 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

Remarks: Mentioned in Memoirs de un Estudiante de Manila in 1872.

Title: Plan of the Waterworks in Dapitan

Remarks: Made with Father Sanchez in Dapitan, 1895.

Title: Sketch of the Lumanao Hill Where Jewels Were Found

Remarks: Owned by Ateneo, Made in 1895.
GRAMMARIAN
“Estudios sobre la lengua tagala” (Studies on the Tagalog language) A grammar book
that he made a birthday gift for his former instructor, Father Sanchez who visited Rizal in
Dapitan.
HISTORIAN
His annotation of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas entitled him as one.
HORTICULTURIST
He experimented on and cultivated plants in Dapitan.
HUMORIST
There are many humorous incidents in the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
ICHTHYOLOGIST
He collected 38 new varieties of fish in Dapitan.
JAPANOPHIL
His admiration of Japanese traits and his knowledge of her language proved he was
one.
JOURNALIST
He authored and published many articles in Spanish and English in London.

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LABORATORY WORKER
He was employed in the clinic of Dr. Weckert and Dr. Becker in Paris.
LINGUIST
He spoke over 20 languages.
LOVER OF TRUTH
He reprimanded Spanish writers for not writing the truth about the Filipinos.
MATHEMATICIAN
During his exile, he taught arithmetic to young boys in Dapitan.
MUSICIAN
He played the flute, composed pieces of music and cultivated music appreciation.
MYTHOLOGIST
He used mythology in his Noli and Fili.
NATIONALIST
He gave full expression of the native spirit strengthened by world civilization and loved
and defended everything Filipino.
OPHTHALMOLOGIST
He graduated in an ophthalmologic college in Spain.
ORIENTALIST
He admired the special characteristics and beauties of Oriental countries' peoples.
PHARMACOLOGIST
He treasured and popularized the usefulness and preparation of cures for
the treatment of his patients.
PHILOLOGIST
He loved learning and literature is unequalled.
PHILOSOPHER
He regulated his life and enjoyed the calmness of the lie at all time.
PHYSICAL CULTURIST:
He maintained good health by exercising all parts of his body and eating proper foods.

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PHYSICIANS
He treated several patients afflicted not only with eye sickness. POET: He wrote over
35 poems.
POLITICIAN
He exposed the evils of the political activities of the Spaniards in the Philippines
through his writing.
POLYGLOT
He wrote and spoke in 20 languages.
PROOFREADER
He worked part-time in Germany.
PROPAGANDIST
He encouraged the recommendation of improving government entities and
discouraged abuses by publishing articles.
REFORMER
He published his modern methods of government administration, so changes could
be made.
RESEARCHER
Being a wide reader, he compared the old and new practices in life.
REVOLUTIONIST
He encouraged reforms, discouraged old, impractical usage and desired new and
useful law to benefit his countrymen. He desired changes for the better.
RHETORICIAN
He always practiced the art of persuasive and impressive speaking and writing.
RURAL RECONSTRUCTION WORKER
He practiced rural reconstruction work in Dapitan in 1894 and succeeded.
SANITARY ENGINEER
He constructed a water system in Dapitan.
SCIENTIST
His practice of many sciences here and abroad made him a noted scientist.
SCULPTOR
He's a skillful sculptor.

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SHARPSHOOTER
He could hit a target of 20 m away.
SINOLOGIST
His ancestry and ability to speak made him one.
SOCIOLOGIST
He encouraged and introduced solutions based on his study on Philippines social
problems.
SODALIST
He always joined fraternities, associations, and brotherhoods for self-improvement.
SURVEYOR
He engaged in a surveying class at Ateneo.
TOURIST
He was considered due to his extensive travels
TRAVELER
He traveled around the world three times.
YOUTH LEADER
He considered the youth as “The Hope of His Fatherland”.
ZOOLOGIST
He was fond of pets. He researched later their physiology, classification, and habits

Jose Rizal’s diverse skills greatly benefited his community and country in multiple ways:

SKILLS CONTRIBUTION
Medicine Rizal’s expertise as an ophthalmologist provided medical care
to those in need, especially the poor. His medical practices and
treatments helped improve community health, especially
during his exile in Dapitan (1892-1896).
Literature His novels, "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," exposed
social injustices and inspired the Filipino nationalist
movement. These works were instrumental in raising
awareness and uniting Filipinos against colonial rule.
Language Proficiency Being fluent in multiple languages enabled Rizal to
communicate his ideas effectively and build networks with
reformists and intellectuals worldwide and it broadened the
reach and impact of his advocacy.

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Education Advocacy He promoted the establishment of schools and provided

scholarships during his exile in Dapitan. This emphasized the
importance of education in uplifting the nation.
Scientific Endeavors His studies in agriculture and environmental science led to the
introduction of modern agricultural techniques, which
improved local farming practices and productivity.
Engineering Rizal designed a water system for Dapitan during his exile,
Contributions enhancing the town’s sanitation and public health.
Art and Culture Through his art, Rizal promoted Filipino culture and identity.
His works inspired pride and unity among Filipinos.

José Rizal's diverse skills—from medicine and literature to languages and art—
empowered him to make significant contributions to Philippine society. His literary works
inspired national consciousness and his medical expertise improved community health. His
excellence in various fields made him a renowned individual whose talents united and
uplifted the nation, driving the push for independence and reform.