Heritage

Discover the enduring impact of Jose Rizal through this website, as partial fulfillment for ENCE_4A. Explore his biography, family, philosophies, works, and the Rizal Law.

Biography

Basic Biography/Background Stuff

Family

Information about Rizal's Family

Philosophies

Rizal's Philosophical Views

Works

Life and Works of Rizal

Rizal Law

Information about Rizal Law

Biography

Basic Biography/Background Stuff

José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines, to a wealthy family.
Rizal pursued higher education in Europe, studying in Madrid, Paris, and Heidelberg, where he obtained degrees in medicine and philosophy.
Rizal was a prolific writer and poet. His most famous works include "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," which criticized Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.
Jose Rizal
Rizal was a prominent advocate for Philippine independence and social reforms. He used his writings to expose the abuses of the Spanish colonial government.
His activism led to his exile in Dapitan, where he continued his medical practice and contributed to community development. Later arrested, tried, and executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896, at the age of 35.
Rizal's martyrdom fueled the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule. He is considered a national hero and his writings continue to inspire Filipinos in their quest for freedom and justice.

Family

Information about Rizal's Family

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Francisco Mercado

Don Francisco Rizal Mercado was born on May 11, 1818 and was the youngest of his 13 siblings. Mercado was a well respected man in their home town of Calamba in which citizens made him their "cabeza de barangay" (head of town.) He was of part Chinese descent, having been related to a Chinese entrepreneur by the name of Domingo Lamco. Mercado died shortly after Rizal in the home of his daughter, Narcisa Rizal in Binondo, Manila on January 5, 1898.

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Teodora Alonso

Dona Teodora Alonso was born on November 14, 1827 in Santa Cruz Manila. Her parents were Lorenzo Alonso, a municipal captain and Brijida de Quintos, an educated housewife and had four other siblings. It is said that her great grandfather, Eugenio Ursua was of Japanese ancestry making her of Japanese descent. When Teodora was 20 years old, she married Francisco Mercado, a native from Binan, Laguna. Together they prospered in Calamba after involving themselves in business and agriculture. She was known to be a hardworking, intelligent, business-minded woman. She died in 1913 in Manila.

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Saturnina Hidalgo

Saturnina Mercado Rizal Hidalgo was born in 1818 and was the eldest sister of Jose Rizal. She had five children together with husband Manuel T. Hidalgo and died the same year as her mother in 1913.

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Paciano Rizal

General Paciano Mercado Rizal aka "Lolo Ciano" was the only brother of Jose Rizal. He was born in 1851 and studied in Binan later attending school at the Colegio de San Jose in Manila. After the execution of his brother, he joined in the Philippine Revolution where he rose up to the ranks of a General. He later married Severina Decena of Los Banos and had two children of which one died at an early age. Paciano passed away in 1930.

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Narcisa Lopez

Narcisa Rizal Lopez was born in 1852 and was the one who found the unmarked grave of her brother, Jose in the abandoned Old Paco Cemetery. Narcisa married Antonio Lopez who was a teacher and musician from Morong, Rizal. She died in 1938.

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Olympia Ubaldo

Olympia Rizal Ubaldo was born in 1855. She married Silvestre Ubaldo and together they had three children. She died in 1887 when she was only 32 years old.

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Lucia Herbosa

Lucia Rizal Herbosa was born in 1857. She married Mariano Herbosa and had five children together. In 1889 Mariano died due to an epidemic but was denied a Christian burial. This was due to the fact that he was the brother-in-law of Jose Rizal. This showed the beginning of the persecution of the Rizal family by Spanish friars. Lucia died in 1919.

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Maria Cruz

Maria Cruz Rizal was born in 1855. She married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna and together they had five children. Mauricio Cruz, one of Maria's children, became a student of Jose Rizal in Dapitan and was known to be one of his uncle's favorites. Maria was a known recipient of many of Jose's letters during his lifetime. Maria died in 1945.

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Concepcion Rizal

Concepcion Rizal was born in 1862. Concepcion did not live very long as she died at the age of three in 1865.

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Josefa Rizal

Josefa Rizal was born in 1865. She was unmarried and lived together with her sister Trinidad until death. Josefa was said to have suffered from epilepsy. She died in 1945.

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Trinidad Rizal

Trinidad Rizal was born in 1868. She remained unmarried and lived together with her sister Josefa. Trinidad was the one who received an alcohol lamp from her brother Jose, in which he secretly hid the "Last Farewell" better known as "Mi Ultimos Adios," a poem Rizal wrote on the eve of his death in 1896. Trinidad died in 1951, outliving all her siblings.

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Soledad Quintero

Soledad Rizal Quintero was born in 1870 making her the youngest of the Rizal siblings. She married Pantaleon Quintero and together they had five children. Soledad died in 1929.

Philosophies

Rizal's Philosophical Views

Works

Life and Works of Rizal

Noli Me Tangere

The novel introduces Crisostomo Ibarra, a young and idealistic Filipino who returns to his homeland after completing his education in Europe after seven years. Going back to his home country, his eyes unfolded at the harsh realities his fellow countrymen experience under the Spanish rule.

The novel further explores the power struggle between the rich and the poor, the exploitation of the lower class and pervasive abuse of power. Appalled by such atrocities, Ibarra devised a plan to take revenge on the Spanish friars. The ending of the novel? Well, it’s up to you to find out.

El Filibusterismo

The sequel to Rizal’s Noli me Tángere, 13 years after that prison escape, we now follow Ibarra disguised as Simoun, a wealthy jeweller here in El Filibusterismo (translated as The Reign of the Greed). In the second novel, Simoun tries to operate within the system, blending within the higher ups and forming ties with the enemies while gathering strength with his newfound allies.

His plan was clear and carefully devised, but an unexpected turn of events made an impact into the trajectory of his plan. Just like its prequel, El Filibusterismo is one of the celebrated written works of Jose Rizal, playing a significant role in igniting the flames of nationalism among the Filipinos. Trivia: Jose Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the GOMBURZA, the three martyr Filipino priests who were accused of subversion and were executed in the garrote.