Life and Works of Rizal

Republic of the Philippines
MARINDUQUE STATE COLLEGE

School of Business and Management
Santa Cruz Campus Annex
Pag-asa, Santa Cruz, Marinduque
INTRODUCTION
Life and works of Rizal
JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan
race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the
seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were
educated and belonged to distinguished families. His father, Francisco Mercado
Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a model of fathers," came from
Bian, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and
accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother," was born in
Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila.
At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to
read and write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his
family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of
clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of
which revolves on the love of ones language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he
obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent" from the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the
University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading to the
degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course
on March 21, 1877 and passed the Surveyors examination on May 21, 1878; but
because of his age, 17, he was not granted license to practice the profession until
December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo
Tomas but had to stop in his studies when he felt that the Filipino students were
being discriminated upon by their Dominican tutors.
On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain where he continued his studies at the
Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was
conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on June 19,1885, at the age of
24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "excellent."
Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22
languages. These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek,
Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish,
Tagalog, and other native dialects. A versatile genius, he was an architect, artists,
businessman, cartoonists, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer,
historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist,
novelist, ophthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor,
sociologist, and theologian. He was an expert swordsman and a good shot.
In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and at the same
time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism,
published, while in Europe, several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary
tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel
exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in
Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morgas SUCCESSOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS
with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a civilization worthy to be proud
of even long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on September 18,
1991, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a sequel to the NOLI and more
revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in Ghent.
Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and
clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself,
his relatives and countrymen into trouble with the Spanish officials of the country.
VISION: MSC a premier College in the region along the fields of Instruction, Research, Extension and Production.
MISSION: To provide quality, responsive and dynamic leadership in the areas of Education, Technology, Engineering, Environment,
Agriculture, Fisheries, Culture, Arts and Sciences in order to empower GOD fearing individuals who are innovators and protectors for the
sustainable development of the province and the country as a whole.
As a consequence, he and those who had contacts with him, were shadowed; the
authorities were not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin him
down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892
on a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia
who arrive with him from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged
in agriculture, fishing and business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he
conducted classes- taught his pupils the English and Spanish languages, the arts.
The sciences, vocational courses including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and
painting, as well as the art of self defense; he did some researches and collected
specimens; he entered into correspondence with renowned men of letters and
sciences abroad; and with the help of his pupils, he contracted water dam and a
relief map of Mindanao- both considered remarkable engineering feats.
His sincerity and friendliness won for him the trust and confidence of even those
assigned to guard him; his good manners and warm personality were found
irresistible by women of all races with whom he had personal contacts; his
intelligence and humility gained for him the respect and admiration of prominent
men of other nations; while his undaunted courage and determination to uplift the
welfare of his people were feared by his enemies. When the Philippine Revolution
started on August 26, 1896, his enemies lost no time in pressing him down. They
were able to enlist witnesses that linked him with the revolt and these were never
allowed to be confronted by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986, to the date of his
execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he wrote an
untitled poem, now known as "Ultimo Adios" which is considered a masterpiece and
a living document expressing not only the heros great love of country but also that
of all Filipinos. After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of
forming illegal association. In the cold morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man
whose 35 years of life had been packed with varied activities which proved that the
Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was
shot at Bagumbayan Field.
Rizal as to Compare with other Asian heroes
Rizal and Sun Yat sen -- Sun Yat-sen has been attributed as the 'Father of the
Chinese Revolution' but this may not be totally acceptable. To regard Sun as solely
responsible for the making of the Chinese Revolution was but a fantastic inflation by
hagiographers. It unfairly neglects the work of other revolutionaries like Huang
Hsing who were also decisive in creating the Chinese Republic. Again, Sun has been
termed 'an idealist rather than a statesman, an easy prey to any plausible new
ideas.' Some went to the extreme to say that Sun had nothing to do with the actual
work of overthrowing the monarchy because the revolution was finished when he
reached China. To accept this last view would mean a total rejection of the
significance of Sun in the revolutionary movement and in the history of modern
China. Yet this criticism was again not based on historical fact. For it is true that he
was away when the Wuchang rising broke out. But well before the outbreak of the
revolution, it was Sun that spread the revolutionary idea and urged for the support
of the revolution. Even during the revolution, he sought for the neutrality of the
Powers. Other contributing factors -- The other causes which contributed to the
collapse of the Manchu rule in which Sun played little or no part need to be
scrutinized. The Chinese revolutionary movement in general started well before
Sun's advocacy. People of different walks of life had perceived the decadence of the
Manchu rule and the threat of foreign imperialism. Intellectuals, especially, yearned
for either reforms or revolution in place of the Manchu dynasty. They knew the
essential difference between an ethnic dynasty and the concept of modern
nationalism.
Anti-Manchu feelings were also facilitated by the constitutional movement starting

from 1905. Constitutionalists gathered together to debate and discuss vital current
and political issues. They became the people who resisted Manchu re-centralisation
program and seceded from Manchu rule immediately after the Wuchang Uprising.
The political, social and economic problems which coalesced with the railway
controversy in 1910 and 1911 also produced a revolutionary atmosphere conducive
to insurrections. The Railway Protection Clubs' movement became the focal point of
anti-Manchu rule. The re-allocation of troops into Szechuan, leaving Hunan and
Hupei militarily semi-empty, finally provided the revolutionary spark.
Rizal and Mahatma Ghandi - Mahatma Gandhi and Indian Freedom

MovementMahatma Gandhi was an important part of Indian independence
movement even when he was not in the country. He noticed the political
condition of the country while he was still in South Africa and urged his
countrymen to observe non-violence and remain truthful in order to achieve
freedom from the British.
Rizal and Mother Teresa - mother Teresa of Calcutta, the champion of poor and
needy was beatified on 19th October 2003 by Pope John Paul II, after she died
in 1997. After her death, Mother Teresa came to be regarded as a saint of the
Roman Catholic Church and her beatification was the first step on her path to
sainthood. The ceremony of the beatification of this Macedonian nun who
dedicated her life to humanity, took place in Rome leading to an immense
increase in her popularity and peoples belief in her vocation.
Rizal s Social and poltical Ideas
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 peoples social knowledge.
man in society; influential factors in human life;racial problems;social
constant;social justice;social ideal;poverty and wealth; reforms;youth and
greatness;history and progress; future Philippines.
The above dealt with mans 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 mans conscience; mans 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 mans 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 Rizals guide in his continuous effort to
make over his be
In Rizals 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 rulers method of governing the country which resulted in:
the bondage and slavery of the conquered ;
the Spanish governments requirement of forced labor and force military service
upon the n natives; the abuse of power by means of exploitation; the government
ruling that any complaint against the authorities was criminal; andMaking the
people ignorant, destitute and fanatic, thus discouraging the formation of a national
sentiment.
Rizals 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.loved Philippines.
Rizals Novels
Noli Me Tangere - Having completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisostomo
Ibarra comes back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his honor, Captain
Tiago throws a get-together party, which is attended by friars and other prominent
figures. In an unfortunate incident, former curate Father Dmaso belittles and
slanders Ibarra. But Ibarra brushes off the insult and takes no offense; he instead
politely excuses himself and leaves the party because of an allegedly important task
The day after the humbling party, Ibarra goes to see Mara Clara, his love interest,
a beautiful daughter of Captain Tiago and an affluent resident of Binondo, Manila.
Their long-standing love is clearly manifested in this meeting, and Mara Clara
cannot help but reread the letters her sweetheart had written her before he went to
Europe. Before Ibarra left for San Diego, Lieutenant Guevara, a guardia civil,
reveals to him the incidents preceding the death of his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, a
rich hacendero of the town.
According to the Lieutenant, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic, in
addition to being a filibusteran allegation brought forth by Father Dmaso
because of Don Rafael's non-participation in the Sacraments, such as Confession
and Mass. Father Dmaso's animosity against Ibarra's father is aggravated by
another incident when Don Rafael helped out on a fight between a tax collector and
a student fighting, and the former's death was blamed on him, although it was not
deliberate. Suddenly, all of those who thought ill of him surfaced with additional
complaints. He was imprisoned, and just when the matter was almost settled, he
got sick and died in jail. Still not content with what he had done, Father Dmaso
arranged for Don Rafael's corpse to be dug up and transferred from the Catholic
cemetery to the Chinese cemetery, because he thought it inappropriate to allow a
heretic such as Don Rafael a Catholic burial ground. Unfortunately, it was raining
and because of the bothersome weight of the cadaver, the men in charge of the
burial decided to throw the corpse into the lake.[1]
Revenge was not in Ibarra's plans; instead he carries through his father's plan of
putting up a school, since he believes that education would pave the way to his
country's progress (all over the novel the author refers to both Spain and the
Philippines as two different countries which form part of a same nation or family,
being Spain the mother and the Philippines the daughter). During the inauguration
of the school, Ibarra would have been killed in a sabotage had Elasa mysterious
man who had warned Ibarra earlier of a plot to assassinate himnot saved him.
Instead the hired killer met an unfortunate incident and died. The sequence of
events proved to be too traumatic for Mara Clara who got seriously ill but was
luckily cured by the medicine Ibarra sent her
After the inauguration, Ibarra hosts a luncheon during which Father Dmaso,
uninvited and gate-crashing the luncheon, again insults him. Ibarra ignores the
priest's insolence, but when the latter slanders the memory of his dead father, he is
no longer able to restrain himself and lunges at Father Dmaso, prepared to stab
the latter for his impudence. As a consequence, Dmaso excommunicates Ibarra.
Father Dmaso takes this opportunity to persuade the already-hesitant father of
Mara Clara to forbid his daughter from marrying Ibarra. The friar wishes Mara
Clara to marry a Peninsular named Linares who just arrived from Spain.
With the help of the Captain-General, Ibarra's excommunication is nullified and the
Archbishop decides to accept him as a member of the Church once again. But, as
fate would have it, some incident of which Ibarra had known nothing about is
blamed on him, and he is wrongly arrested and imprisoned. But the accusation
against him is overruled because during the litigation that followed, nobody could
testify that he was indeed involved. Unfortunately, his letter to Mara Clara
somehow gets into the hands of the jury and is manipulated such that it then
becomes evidence against him.
Meanwhile, in Captain Tiago's residence, a party is being held to announce the

upcoming wedding of Mara Clara and Linares. Ibarra, with the help of Elas, takes
this opportunity and escapes from prison. But before leaving, Ibarra talks to Mara
Clara and accuses her of betraying him, thinking that she gave the letter he wrote
her to the jury. Mara Clara explains to Ibarra that she will never conspire against
him but that she was forced to surrender Ibarra's letter to her in exchange for the
letters written by her mother even before she, Mara Clara, was born. The letters
were from her mother, Pa Alba, to Father Dmaso alluding to their unborn child;
and that she, Mara Clara, is therefore not the daughter of Captain Tiago, but of
Father Dmaso.
Afterwards, Ibarra and Elas board a boat and flee the place. Elas instructs Ibarra
to lie down and the former covers the latter with grass to conceal the latter's
presence. As luck would have it, they are spotted by their enemies. Elas thinks he
could outsmart them and jumps into the water. The guards rain shots on the
person in the water, all the while not knowing that they are aiming at the wrong
man.
Mara Clara, thinking that Ibarra has been killed in the shooting incident, is greatly
overcome with grief. Robbed of hope and severely disillusioned, she asks Father
Dmaso to confine her into a nunnery. Father Dmaso reluctantly agrees when
Mara Clara threatens to take her own life. demanding, "the nunnery or death!"[2]
Unbeknownst to her, Ibarra is still alive and able to escape. It was Elas who has
taken the shots. It is Christmas Eve when Elias wakes up in the forest, gravely
wounded and barely alive. It is in this forest that Elias finds Basilio and his lifeless
mother, Sisa.
El Filibusterismo - Thirteen years after he left the Philippines, Juan Crisostomo

Ibarra (the main character from Noli Me Tangere) returned as Simoun, a rich
jeweler sporting a beard and blue-tinted glasses, and a confidant of the Governor-
General of the Philippines Captain-General. Abandoning his idealism, he becomes a
cynical saboteur, the titular Filibuster (military)|filibustero, seeking revenge against
the Spanish Philippines system responsible for his misfortunes by plotting a
revolution. Simoun insinuates himself into Manila high society and influences every
decision of the Captain-General to mismanage the countrys affairs so that a
revolution will break out. He cynically sides with the upper classes, encouraging
them to commit abuses against the masses so that the latter would be encouraged
to revolt against the oppressive Spanish colonial regime. This time, he does not
attempt to fight the authorities through legal means, but through violent revolution
using the masses. Simoun has reasons for instigating a revolution. First is to rescue
Mara Clara from the convent and second, to get rid of ills and evils of Philippine
society. His true identity is discovered by a now grown-up Basilio while visiting the
grave of his mother, Sisa, as Simoun was digging near the grave site for his buried
treasures. Simoun spares Basilios life and asks him to join in his planned revolution
against the government, egging him on by bringing up the tragic misfortunes of the
latter's family. Basilio declines the offer as he still hopes that the countrys
condition will improve.
Basilio, at this point, is a graduating student of medicine at the Ateneo de Manila

University Ateneo Municipal de Manila. After the death of his mother, Sisa, and the
disappearance of his younger brother, Crispn, Basilio heeded the advice of the
dying boatman, Elas, and traveled to Manila to study. Basilio was adopted by
Captain Tiago after Mara Clara entered the convent. With Captain Tiagos help,
Basilio was able to go to Colegio de San Juan de Letrn where, at first, he is
frowned upon by his peers and teachers not only because of the color of his skin
but also because of his shabby appearance which he also experience at Ateneo.
Captain Tiagos confessor, Father Irene is making Captain Tiagos health worse by
giving him opium even as Basilio tries hard to prevent Captain Tiago from smoking
it. He and other students want to establish a Spanish language academy so that
they can learn to speak and write Spanish language in the Philippines Spanish
despite the opposition from the Dominican Order Dominican friars of the University
of Santo Tomas|Universidad de Santo Tomas. With the help of a reluctant Father
Irene as their mediator and Don Custodios decision, the academy is established;
however they will only serve as caretakers of the school not as the teachers.
Dejected and defeated, they hold a mock celebration at a pancitera while a spy for
the friars witnesses the proceedings.
Simoun, for his part, keeps in close contact with the bandit group of Kabesang
Tales, a former cabeza de barangay who suffered misfortunes at the hands of the
friars. Once a farmer owning a prosperous sugarcane plantation and a cabeza de
barangay (barangay head), he was forced to give everything to the greedy and
unscrupulous Spanish friars. His son, Tano, who became a civil guard was captured
by bandits; his daughter Jul had to work as a maid to get enough ransom money
for his freedom; and his father, Tandang Selo, suffered a stroke and became mute.
Before joining the bandits, Tales took Simouns revolver while Simoun was staying
at his house for the night. As payment, Tales leaves a locket that once belonged to
Mara Clara. To further strengthen the revolution, Simoun has Quiroga, a China|
Chinese man hoping to be appointed consul to the Philippines, smuggle weapons
into the country using Quirogas bazaar as a front. Simoun wishes to attack during
a stage play with all of his enemies in attendance. He, however, abruptly aborts the
attack when he learns from Basilio that Mara Clara had died earlier that day in the
convent.
A few days after the mock celebration by the students, the people are agitated
when disturbing posters are found displayed around the city. The authorities accuse
the students present at the pancitera of agitation and disturbing peace and has
them arrested. Basilio, although not present at the mock celebration, is also
arrested. Captain Tiago dies after learning of the incident and as stated in his will
forged by Father Irene, all his possessions are given to the Church, leaving nothing
for Basilio. Basilio is left in prison as the other students are released. A high official
tries to intervene for the release of Basilio but the Captain-General, bearing
grudges against the high official, coerces him to tender his resignation. Jul,
Basilios girlfriend and the daughter of Kabesang Tales, tries to ask Father
Camorras help upon the advice of an elder woman. Instead of helping Jul,
however, Father Camorra tries to rape her as he has long-hidden desires for Jul.
Jul, rather than submit to the will of the friar, jumps over the balcony to her death.
Basilio is soon released with the help of Simoun. Basilio, now a changed man, and
after hearing about Jul's suicide, finally joins Simouns revolution. Simoun then
tells Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gmez and Juanito, Basilios hunch-
backed classmate. His plan was to conceal an explosive inside a pomegranate-
styled Kerosene lamp|lamp that Simoun will give to the newlyweds as a gift during
the wedding reception. The reception will take place at the former home of the late
Captain Tiago, which was now filled with explosives planted by Simoun. According
to Simoun, the lamp will stay lighted for only 20 minutes before it flickers; if
someone attempts to turn the wick, it will explode and kill everyoneimportant
members of civil society and the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines|Church
hierarchyinside the house. Basilio has a change of heart and attempts to warn the
people inside, including Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita.
Simoun leaves the reception early as planned and leaves a note behind;
Initially thinking that it was simply a bad joke by those left behind, Father Salv
recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it was indeed Ibarras. As people
begin to panic, the lamp flickers. Father Irene tries to turn the wick up when
Isagani, due to his undying love for Paulita, bursts in the room and throws the lamp
into the river, sabotaging Simoun's plans. He escapes by diving into the river as
guards chase after him. He later regrets his impulsive action because he had
contradicted his own belief that he loved his nation more than Paulita and that the
explosion and revolution could have fulfilled his ideals for Filipino society.
Simoun, now unmasked as the perpetrator of the attempted arson and failed
revolution, becomes a fugitive. Wounded and exhausted after he was shot by the
pursuing Guardia Civil soldiers, he seeks shelter at the home of Father Florentino,
Isaganis uncle, and comes under the care of Doctor Tiburcio de Espadaa, the
husband of Doa Victorina, who was also hiding at the house. Simoun takes poison
in order for him not to be captured alive by the authorities. Before he dies, he
reveals his real identity to Father Florentino while they exchange thoughts about
the failure of his revolution and why God forsook him. Father Florentino opines that
God did not forsake him and that his plans were not for the greater good but for
personal gain. Simoun, finally accepting Father Florentinos explanation, squeezes
his hand and dies. Father Florentino then takes Simouns remaining jewels and
throws them into the sea, hoping that they would not be used by the greedy, and
that when the time came that it would be used for the greater good, when the
nation would be finally deserving liberty for themselves, the sea would reveal the
treasures.

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Republic of the Philippines

MARINDUQUE STATE COLLEGE

Life and works of Rizal

Rizal as to Compare with other Asian heroes

Anti-Manchu feelings were also facilitated by the constitutional movement starting

Rizal and Mahatma Ghandi - Mahatma Gandhi and Indian Freedom

Rizal s Social and poltical Ideas

in the science of self-government.

He bitterly assailed and criticized in publications the apparent backwardness of the

Rizals guiding political philosophy proved to be the study and application of

Meanwhile, in Captain Tiago's residence, a party is being held to announce the

El Filibusterismo - Thirteen years after he left the Philippines, Juan Crisostomo

Basilio, at this point, is a graduating student of medicine at the Ateneo de Manila

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