Jose Rizal Biography
Jose Rizal Biography
Jose Rizal Biography
UPDATD: JUL 16, 2019 · ORIGINAL: APR 1, 2014
NAM
José Rizal called for peaceful reform of Spain's
José Rizal colonial rule in the Philippines. After his 1896
OCCUPATION execution, he became an icon for the nationalist
Poet, Journalist, movement.
Doctor
IRTH DAT Synopsis
June 19, 1861
José Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Philippines. While
DATH DAT living in Europe, Rizal wrote about the discrimination that accompanied
December 30, Spain's colonial rule of his country. He returned to the Philippines in
1896 1892, but was exiled due to his desire for reform. Although he
supported peaceful change, Rizal was convicted of sedition and
DUCATION
executed on December 30, 1896, at age 35.
University of
Madrid, Early Life
University of
Heidelberg, On June 19, 1861, José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was
University of born in Calamba in the Philippines' Laguna Province. A brilliant student
Santo Tomas who became proficient in multiple languages, José Rizal studied
medicine in Manila. In 1882, he traveled to Spain to complete his
PLAC OF IRTH medical degree.
Calamba, Laguna
Province, Writing and Reform
Philippines
PLAC OF DATH
Manila,
Philippines
AKA
José Rizal While in Europe, José Rizal became part of the Propaganda Movement,
José Rizal While in Europe, José Rizal became part of the Propaganda Movement,
FULL NAM connecting with other Filipinos who wanted reform. He also wrote his
José Protasio first novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not/The Social Cancer), a work
Rizal Mercado y that detailed the dark aspects of Spain's colonial rule in the Philippines,
with particular focus on the role of Catholic friars. The book was banned
Alonso Realonda
in the Philippines, though copies were smuggled in. Because of this
novel, Rizal's return to the Philippines in 1887 was cut short when he
was targeted by police.
Rizal returned to Europe and continued to write, releasing his follow-up novel, El Filibusterismo (The Reign
of Greed) in 1891. He also published articles in La Solidaridad, a paper aligned with the Propaganda
Movement. The reforms Rizal advocated for did not include independence—he called for equal treatment
of Filipinos, limiting the power of Spanish friars and representation for the Philippines in the Spanish
Cortes (Spain's parliament).
Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892, feeling he needed to be in the country to effect change. Although
the reform society he founded, the Liga Filipino (Philippine League), supported non-violent action, Rizal
was still exiled to Dapitan, on the island of Mindanao. During the four years Rizal was in exile, he practiced
medicine and took on students.
In 1895, Rizal asked for permission to travel to Cuba as an army doctor. His request was approved, but in
August 1896, Katipunan, a nationalist Filipino society founded by Andres Bonifacio, revolted. Though he
had no ties to the group, and disapproved of its violent methods, Rizal was arrested shortly thereafter.
After a show trial, Rizal was convicted of sedition and sentenced to death by firing squad. Rizal's public
execution was carried out in Manila on December 30, 1896, when he was 35 years old. His execution
created more opposition to Spanish rule.
Spain's control of the Philippines ended in 1898, though the country did not gain lasting independence
until after World War II. Rizal remains a nationalist icon in the Philippines for helping the country take its
first steps toward independence.
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Citation Information
Article Title
José Rizal Biography
Author
Biography.com Editors
Weite Name
The Biography.com website
URL
https://www.biography.com/political-figure/josé-rizal
Acce Date
August 21, 2019
Puliher
A&E Television Networks
Lat Updated
July 16, 2019
Original Pulihed Date
April 1, 2014