José Rizal was a Filipino polymath, nationalist and revolutionary who was executed by the Spanish colonial government. He was an ophthalmologist by profession but also a writer who advocated for political reforms in the Philippines through his writings. Some of his most famous works that inspired anti-colonial revolution were Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. He is considered a national hero in the Philippines.

1. Josefino T. Larena CPS,MPA,KCR

2. José Protasio
Mercado Rizal
y Alonso
Realonda or
popularly
known
as José Rizal

3. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal
became a writer and a key member of the
Filipino Propaganda Movement which
advocated political reforms for the colony
under Spain. He was executed by the
Spanish colonial government for the crime
of rebellion after an anti-colonial revolution,
inspired in part by his writings, broke out.

4.  Noli Me Tángere  El Filibusterismo

5.  1. There are three animals
named after Rizal. These
species of animals were the
ones he collected while he
was an exile in Dapitan and
include Apogonia Rizali
(Heller), a type of small
beetle; Draco Rizali
(Wandolleck), a species of
flying dragon; and
Rachophorous Rizali
(Boetger), a species of toad.

6.  2. Contrary to popular belief, the
Rizal monument in Luneta was
not made by a Filipino artist. The
design was the work of Swiss
sculptor named Richard Kissling
who won second prize in an art
competition that was held in 1907
to find the best scale model for the
future Rizal monument. The first
prize went to Italian sculptor Carlo
Nicoli of Carrara but for some
reason, the contract to build the
monument was given to the
second-prize winner.

7. 3. Rizal cured
himself of
tuberculosis, and was
later recognized as
a tuberculosis expert.

8.  4. He was already a terrific
sculptor even at a very young
age. In fact, Rizal carved a 9-
inch statuette of the Sacred
Heart out of batikuling wood
when he was only 14 years old.
The Jesuit fathers brought this
statuette in Fort Santiago when
they visited Rizal in December
1896. Aside from wood
sculptures, Rizal also carved
40 amazing masterpieces out
of plaster, terra-cotta, wax, and
clay.

9. 5. When he was studying in Spain, Rizal
had to pawn a ring owned by his sister
Saturnina just to pay for his exams. But he
didn’t want his family to get worried, so he
only mentioned his victories and excellent
grades in the letters addressed to his
family.

10. 6. According to Faustino “Tinong” Alfon,
Rizal’s former cook in Dapitan, our
national hero’s favorite fruits were
lanzones and mangoes. His meals back
then usually consisted of three kinds
of ulam. Rizal’s breakfast, on the other
hand, was usually comprised of hot
chocolate, rice, and sardinas
secas, commonly known now as
simply tuyo.

11.  7. Rizal once sent a love
letter written in invisible
ink to Leonor Valenzuela, a tall
girl from Pagsanjan. The
message could only be
deciphered if you put the letter
over a lamp or candle. Leonor
Valenzuela was one of Rizal’s
first sweethearts.
Unfortunately, they parted
ways when Rizal had to leave
for Spain.

12. 8.Nickname of Rizal during Spanish Era
“Dimasalang”
Nickname sa La Solidaridad “Laong- Laan

13. 9. Rizal's first favorite novel/book:
-Count of Monte Cristo

14. 10. Rizal's favorite flower: Santan

15.  The said drawing, entitled “The
baptism of two brothers,” was
inspired by the German cartoon
“Max and Moritz” and was made
by Rizal to entertain the children
of his landlord, Pastor Ulmer.
The original copy is now
preserved in the National Library
of the Philippines.

17. Ginisang Mungo with Tinapa Photo courtesy of Century
Park Hotel

18. Suman and Manga

21.  Rizal was widely featured in
cigarette wrappers. Most of
these wrappers, made with Art
Deco or Art Nouveau designs,
were produced in Binondo
during the turn-of-the-century.
An old cigarette label, Las
Delicias, even went to the
extreme by featuring Rizal
smoking a cigar.

22.  Entitled “La curacion de los
hechizados” (The treatment and
cure of the bewitched), this
lesser-known work of Rizal
explores the psychological
treatment for kulam and even
explained that witches were not
always women who are old or
ugly.
 He also discussed the difference
between hiloanon of the Visayas,
who gives poison to her victims,
and the manggagaway, the
‘traditional’ witch who uses rag
doll and pins. Also Read:
Philippine Mythology Deities

23. Rizal was inspired to name his place of
exile in Dapitan, Zamboanga as " Mi
Retiro"

24.  Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law,
mandates all educational institutions in the
Philippines to offer courses about José Rizal. 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 measure was
strongly opposed by the Roman Catholic Church in
the Philippines due to the anti-clerical themes in
Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo.

25.  Senator Claro M. Recto was the main
proponent of the Rizal Bill. He sought to
sponsor the bill at Congress. However, this
was met with stiff opposition from the Catholic
Church. During the 1955 Senate election, the
church charged Recto with being a
communist and an anti-Catholic. After Recto's
election, the Church continued to oppose the
bill mandating the reading of Rizal's novels
Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo,
claiming it would violate freedom of
conscience and religion

27. MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH