Summary
Highlights
Jose Rizal, born the seventh of eleven children, had a notably large head, which caused difficulties during his birth and later became a subject of teasing. His family, though middle-class, was educated and fostered his early love for books. His mother, Donya Teodora, who was college-educated and an expert in mathematics, played a crucial role in his intellectual development, teaching him prayer and moral principles. Rizal displayed remarkable giftedness, reading and writing before the age of two, and penned his famous poem 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata' at eight, emphasizing love for one's native language. His older brother, Paciano, was a significant influence, understanding Rizal's youthful interests and supporting his endeavors. Rizal's early childhood memoirs, 'Memorias de un Estudiante de Manila,' capture these formative years.
In 1891, Rizal arrived in Hong Kong, where his family, including Paciano and Don Francisco, reunited with him. Rizal, witnessing his family's suffering due to Spanish oppression, decided to establish 'La Liga Filipina' in the Philippines. Its aim was to unite Filipinos into a single body, emphasizing that nationhood begins with individuals. Andres Bonifacio and other key figures of the Philippine Revolution became members. Fearing Rizal's growing influence, the Spanish deported him to Dapitan, a remote area, for various reasons: his dedication of 'El Filibusterismo' to the Gomburza, anti-friar pamphlets found in his luggage, his ideas discouraging youth education, and his anti-religious writings. The underlying motive was to prevent him from organizing and influencing the burgeoning nationalist movements in Manila.
Rizal's pursuit of knowledge led him to Ateneo Municipal in Manila, but his family faced a significant challenge in 1872 when his mother, Donya Teodora, was falsely accused of poisoning her sister-in-law. Despite a lack of evidence, she was imprisoned, an event that deeply affected the 11-year-old Rizal and fueled his later nationalist sentiments, inspiring elements in his novels. The execution of the Gomburza priests further radicalized Paciano, who witnessed it firsthand and later advised Rizal to change his surname to Rizal from Mercado to avoid suspicion. Rizal excelled academically in Ateneo, starting from the last seat and rising to the top. When his mother's eyesight deteriorated, he transferred to UST to study medicine, as Ateneo did not offer the course. Though studying medicine, his passion for writing persisted, winning an award for his play 'El Consejo de los dioses.' This victory, however, was met with discrimination from the Spanish, who refused to applaud an 'indio'.
Recognizing the injustices, Paciano convinced Rizal to study abroad in Europe to continue his education and become a doctor, a plan they kept secret from their parents. On March 3, 1882, Rizal secretly departed for Madrid, deeply saddening his family, especially his father. While in Europe, Rizal penned his first propaganda piece, 'Amor Patrio' (Love of Country), for 'Diariong Tagalog' in Manila. This work urged Filipinos to love their homeland. The 'Ilustrados' in Spain, educated Filipinos like Rizal, were pursuing professions like law, medicine, or priesthood. Rizal chose medicine, driven by a desire to heal his countrymen amidst epidemics where priests offered only prayers. In Madrid, Filipino artists Juan Luna and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo won gold and silver medals, respectively, showcasing Filipino talent on a global stage. Rizal delivered a congratulatory speech, asserting that 'genius knows no country,' a sentiment that pleased liberals in Spain but angered Spanish friars in the Philippines, marking Rizal as a dangerous individual.
By 1884, Rizal had earned degrees in medicine and philosophy. During this time, he often distanced himself from his Filipino friends in Madrid. An incident in 1884, where a professor promoting academic freedom was excommunicated, sparked student protests and arrests, serving as a backdrop to the early ideas for his novel. That same year, a propaganda piece from Hong Kong about a friar's misdeeds inspired him to write the skeleton of what would become 'Noli Me Tángere.' His mother, upon hearing of his controversial speeches, expressed concern about the dangers of knowledge, to which Rizal responded by affirming his commitment to his writings as his only weapon. Rizal moved to France to train under renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Louis de Wecker. He formed friendships with foreign intellectuals, including Ferdinand Blumentritt, a Czech Filipinologist, who became his 'soulmate.' Rizal began writing 'Noli Me Tángere' in various European cities, drawing inspiration from the oppression he witnessed in the Philippines and the colonial subjugation of other nations. Financial struggles nearly prevented its printing, but with help from Paciano and Maximo Viola, 2,000 copies were published.
After four years in Europe, Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1887, carrying his most powerful weapon: 'Noli Me Tángere.' The book's circulation was severely restricted by the Spanish, who banned it and threatened anyone found with a copy. Rizal aimed to awaken Filipinos from their perceived apathy. His return was also motivated by his love for Leonor Rivera, his cousin and longtime sweetheart. Rizal was a romantic, often expressing his affections through art. His first love was Segunda Katigbak, whom he met through his sister Olympia. His early romantic letters and descriptions of her reveal his emotional nature. Though he loved Segunda, she was already engaged. Later, while studying in Manila, he courted two Leonors: Leonor Rivera, with whom he became engaged, and Leonor Valenzuela. While traveling, he met other women like Gertrude Beck in London, Suzanne in Brussels, and Osei-san in Japan. However, his most significant relationship was with Leonor Rivera, whose mother intercepted their letters due to fears of Rizal's anti-friar sentiments, eventually leading Rivera to marry a British engineer.
Devastated by the loss of Leonor Rivera, Rizal considered marrying Nelly Boustead, an intellectual who resonated with him, but he refused to convert to Protestantism. In Hong Kong, while practicing as an ophthalmologist, he met Josephine Bracken, an Irish girl, whom he informally married. Rizal's family, however, distrusted Josephine, suspecting her of being a friar's spy due to her companion, Manuela Orlac, being close to the friars. Despite their struggles, Rizal and Josephine lived a simple life in Dapitan, where Rizal was exiled, and they had a child who tragically died. The injustices continued to fuel Rizal's activism. Upon his return to the Philippines after 'Noli Me Tángere's' publication, his townmates in Calamba sought his help against increased rent from the friars. Rizal defended them, leading to a temporary victory, but the friars retaliated by appealing the decision, leading to his family's displacement and the burning of their home. Rizal expressed his bitterness to Ferdinand Blumentritt, vowing revenge. These escalating abuses spurred Rizal to contribute to 'La Solidaridad' under the pseudonym 'Laon Laan,' where he criticized the Spanish government and church.
Rizal's article 'Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos' (On the Indolence of the Filipinos) refuted claims that Filipinos were lazy, attributing any perceived laziness to the tropical climate and lack of motivation due to Spanish exploitation. He highlighted the disparity between the hard work of Filipinos and the benefit reaped by the colonizers. Inspired by the '20 Women of Malolos' who successfully petitioned to open a Spanish-language school, Rizal wrote to them, urging them to educate themselves and recognize that 'ignorance is slavery.' Four years after 'Noli Me Tángere,' Rizal completed 'El Filibusterismo,' despite immense financial difficulties and depression, almost throwing away his manuscript. His struggles were evident within the manuscript itself, as he started writing on both sides of the paper due to scarcity. Rizal realized that simply criticizing the friars was not enough; the core issue was the colonial system itself. He urged for unity and a return to the Philippines to fight for change.
Rizal's exile in Dapitan was initially lonely, but he quickly adapted, becoming an active member of the community. He used his lottery winnings to buy land, building a dam, hospital, and school, demonstrating his capabilities as a public servant. His exile was strict, with visitors requiring an 'illness' as a pretext to see him. Pio Valenzuela, a Katipunan member, famously feigned blindness to meet Rizal and discuss the revolution. In 1895, Rizal volunteered to serve as a doctor in Cuba, then experiencing a revolution. While some saw this as betrayal, others believed he intended to learn about revolutions. However, en route to Cuba, the Philippine Revolution erupted, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. Back in the Philippines, Rizal was sent to Fort Santiago. Many Katipuneros, including Paciano, were tortured for their involvement. On December 26, 1896, Rizal was tried for rebellion and illegal organization. He maintained his innocence, asserting his only aim was to enlighten his countrymen. Despite his defense, he was sentenced to death. Rizal's stance on revolution was often ambivalent; while he initially advocated for reforms and then peaceful separation, he believed a revolution needed thorough preparation. Historians argue that Filipinos were inspired not by reading his Spanish novels, but by his courage in standing up against the Spanish with his writings. On the eve of his execution, he wrote his 'Mi Último Adiós,' a powerful poem translated by Andres Bonifacio, which served as a beacon of inspiration for the revolutionaries. Rizal's life demonstrated the enduring power of the pen, an idea that could not be killed, and his vision was the education and enlightenment of his people to achieve true freedom.