The document discusses the family background and education of Jose Rizal. It details that Rizal came from a wealthy landowning family in Calamba, Laguna. He had an excellent education, studying in the Philippines, Spain, France, and Germany. He obtained degrees in medicine and philosophy. The document also discusses Rizal's writings that criticized the Spanish colonial government and Catholic Church, and how this led to his persecution, exile, and eventual execution by the Spanish.

1. Maxene Sophia T. Jao

2. The Mercado family were landowners who rented their plots from
Dominican friars. To explain their wealth in much more specific
detail, the roots of the family could be traced to their principalia
beginnings.
They were considered nobility that were promptly exempted from
tax and given government positions.
Rizal's paternal grandfather, Juan Mercado, and paternal great-
grandfather, Francisco Mercado, served terms as their town's
capitan del pueblo which explained their affluent status.
The family moved to Calamba where Francisco Engracio Mercado
rented plots from the friars to grow different crops and built an
orchard with assistance from his wife Teodora. Later, his family
would become one of the richest in Calamba.

3. Originating from a wealthy family, Rizal was able to enjoy quality
education from Ateneo Municipal de Manila, the University of
Santo Tomas, the Universidad Central de Madrid, the University of
Paris, and the University of Heidelberg.
Much before college though, Rizal's first teacher was his mother.
She encouraged him to write poetry. His tutors later taught him
Spanish and Latin. Later, he was enrolled in a private school located
in Biñan, Laguna for formal education.
When Rizal entered Ateneo, he explored different creative interests
such as novels, poetry, clay modeling, painting, and drawing. He
also earned outstanding grades in subjects ranging from philosophy
to science.

4. Yet, he encountered a slight problem before he could enroll in the
private institution of Ateneo -- his relation to Paciano Mercado.
Paciano Mercado, his brother, was an outspoken dissenter of the
Spanish colonial government and the Catholic church and a
supporter of the revolutionary movement.
Because of this reputation, Jose Rizal had to be disassociated from
his brother for his own security and to allow him to move freely.
This was achieved by using the surname Rizal instead of Mercado.
Rizal was able to complete a degree in Land Surveying and
Assessing in Ateneo Municipal de Manila. Then, he opted to pursue
philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas.

5. Upon learning of his mother's imminent blindness, Jose Rizal
shifted to a medical degree specializing in ophthalmology at the
same university.
Due to the discrimination of the faculty towards Filipino students
and their persistent inculcation of their system, he withdrew from
the university and left for Europe, unbeknownst to his parents.
Paciano assisted him in his travel to Europe by sending him a
monthly allowance of 50 pesos, then later 35 pesos. Paciano was
also served as his eyes and ears on the Philippine ground as he
regularly updated Rizal regarding the family and the country.

6. It was at the Universidad Central de Madrid where Rizal earned his
degree in Medicine and his degree in Philosophy. Later, he studied
at the University of Paris. Finally, he pursued his specialization in
ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg.
In 1887, he completed his specialization course and published his
novel, Noli me Tangere -- a condemnation of the abuses of the
Spanish colonial government and the Catholic friars towards
Filipinos.
His return to the Philippines was met with a severe accusation of
encouraging rebellion from the Governor General. He was absolved
of these charges, but he would be closely observed by the Spanish
government.

7. Despite his concerning addition within the watch list of the Spanish
government, Jose Rizal persevered with his condemnation of the
oppressive society by publishing a sequel to Noli me Tangere, titled
El Filibusterismo in 1891.
The subsequent return to the Philippines in 1892 greeted him with
an order of arrest by the Spanish government on the count of the
same former charges, namely encouraging rebellion and being a
subsversive.
Rizal was later exiled to Dapitan.
The Spanish government observed how these novels
mirrored the Philippine society under the colonial rule
and how these could encourage Filipinos to overthrow
their rule.

8. As he removed himself from it, he asked the Governor General
Blanco to allow him to aid in the medical efforts to suppress the
Yellow Fever in Cuba.
Yet, on his travel to Cuba, he was arrested as the friars managed to
have Blanco replaced by Camilo de Polavieja.
Given Rizal's peaceful approach to reforms, it was no
surprise how he denounced and removed himself from
the revolution as it developed to be violent.
On the counts of inciting rebellion and his association to the
Katipunan, Rizal was found guilty and sentenced to death by firing
squad. His execution was on December 30, 1896, in Bagumbayan.

9. Even before his unjust death, Rizal was looked up to by people
including the Katipunan who saw him as their hero. They
espoused his principles and embraced them in their pursuit of
independence.
Consequently, Rizal's death further and greatly stimulated the
Katipunan's rebellion against the Spaniards, albeit resolving to
employ an armed approach compared to Rizal's peaceful approach.
Intensified by Rizal's death, Andres Bonifacio declared Philippine
independence on August 23, 1896.

10. Unfortunately, the lack of firearms within the Katipunan proved to
be ineffective against the Spaniards' firepower. Aguinaldo's men,
however, were successful in resisting the Spaniards and even took
control of a few towns.
A power struggle between the two revolutionaries became
Aguinaldo's downfall, resulting in his death as ordered by the
elected President, Emilio Aguinaldo., on the counts of sedition and
treason.
Under Aguinaldo's leadership, the Philippines allied with the
United States during their war with Spain. On June 12, 1989, the
Philippines finally gained its independence. Unfairly, the US did
not recognize the Philippine government which led to the PH-US
war. On July 04, 1946, the Philippines gained its independence
once again.

11. Andrés Bonifacio. (n.d.). Library of Congress. https://loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/bonifacio.html
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Bonifacio Cry of Pugadlawin 1896. (n.d.). [Photograph]. Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation. https://philippinefolklifemuseum.org/collection/andres-bonifacio/
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