Meet Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero

Rizal wrote two novels that rankled Spanish colonial rulers, who executed him at age 35

Last updated: December 30, 2021 | 22:42

2 MIN READ

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HERO: José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda is a novelist who inspired the Philippine nationalist movement.

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JAILED, EXECUTED: He was jailed and eventually executed at age 35, after writing 2 novels that incensed the Spanish colonial rulers, and inspiring a non-violent movement toward reforms.

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There are monuments dedicated to Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, in different countries, including 2 in China and 1 in Japan.

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Today, the sun never sets on monuments dedicated to Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, found in many places on the planet.

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The Philippine flag is placed at half mast at Rizal Park on Thursday morning (December 30, 2021) marking the sacrifice of national hero Jose Rizal at Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896.

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While in Europe, Rizal committed himself to the reform of Spanish rule in his home country, through peaceful means.

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WRITER: Rizal was a passionate writer. He published his first novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch me Not/The Social Cancer, 1887), in Berlin. Noli highlighted the evils of Spanish rule in his homeland. A statue and park is dedicated to Jose Rizal near Heidelberg (left), in Germany, as well as in Prague, Czech Republic.

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POLYGLOT: Dr Jose Rizal learnt several languages — Arabic, Hebrew, Filipino, Ilokano, Bisayan, Subanon, Chinese, Latin, Spanish, Greek, English, French, German, Malay, Sanskrit, Dutch, Japanese, Catalan, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian — according to historians.

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NOVELIST: While in Europe, Rizal wrote two novels, which the Spanish colonial government found subversive. His novels had been turned into a number of period movies.

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CURRENCY: Rizal's face is etched on Philippine 1-peso coins, as well as 1-peso and 2-peso bills (now both demonetised).

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RIZAL'S FRIGATE: The naval ship BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) is the lead ship of her class of guided missile frigates of the Philippine Navy. Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and launched in 2019, the 108-metre vessel is the first purpose-built frigate of the service.

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