Jose Rizal

Date of Birth: June 19, 1861

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: December 30, 1896

Biography

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda, widely known as José Rizal, was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and revolutionary. Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Rizal became a key figure in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonization. He was a polymath with expertise in various fields including medicine, literature, and the arts. His most famous works, “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” played a crucial role in inspiring the movement for Philippine independence. Rizal’s activism and prolific writing led to his arrest and execution on December 30, 1896, making him a martyr for Filipino independence.

5 Interesting Facts about Jose Rizal

1. José Rizal was a polyglot who could speak 22 languages.

2. He earned a degree in Medicine from the Universidad Central de Madrid.

3. Rizal was also an accomplished artist, sculptor, and farmer.

4. His novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” were banned in the Philippines by Spanish authorities.

5. Rizal founded the civic organization La Liga Filipina, which aimed for peaceful reform.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jose Rizal

1. “The youth is the hope of our future.”

2. “He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.”

3. “There can be no tyrants where there are no slaves.”

4. “It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal.”

5. “I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome it—and forget not those who have fallen during the night.”