JOSE RIZAL: THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO

2007-11-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

The life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal are being studied in the Philippines as part of the educational college curriculum considering the fact that he is the Philippine national hero.

His full name was Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda. He was born near midnight of Wednesday of June 19, 1861 in the Rizal Family of Calamba, Laguna. The baby boy was baptized by Rev. Rufino Collantes in the Catholic Church of Calamba on June 22, 1861 three days after his birth. He was named "Jose" by his pious mother in honor of St. Joseph. The name "Protacio" was part of his first name which was taken from the almanac in consideration of the day of his birth. "Mercado" was the family name which was later changed to "Rizal" due to the societal need of that time, just like the middle name "Alonzo" which was changed to "Realonda".

Jose Rizal was known for his two great novels "NOLI ME TANGERE", treated by Gregorio Zaide (author of the book "Jose Rizal's Life, Works, and Writings") as the WORK OF THE HEART and "EL FILIBUSTERISMO" as the WORK OF THE HEAD. These novels enlightened the Filipinos of the abuses during the Spanish Colonization that brought them indolence, thus, emphasized the NEED TO BE EDUCATED.

HE WAS NOT AGAINST SPAIN, the central government at that time, he was just fighting against the abuses of bad government officials or politicians who used their political positions for self-gratification.

HE WAS NOT AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. He just fought in writing against the bad friars who used the church for their self-interest.

The study of his life has lots of intrigues which was just normal in a society where free expressions are respected. What is important now is the learnings we could get in terms of principles in loving own country so we could be heroes in our own little ways. Jose Rizal was not perfect as a human being, but his life, works, and writings are indeed worthy to be studied - things that brought him to a pedestal where he is considered as the NATIONAL HERO OF THE PHILIPPINES.

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