Rizal Autobiography

DR JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO ALONZO Y REALONDA * was born June 19 1861 and died December 30 1896 * Father: Francisco Mercado; Mother: Teodora Alonso * was 7th among 11 children * age 9 was sent to Binan for a formal Schooling * age 11 he went to Manila to study in Letran. Being a late-comer he was denied admission * Rizal then went to Ateneo and was later accepted * on March 23 1877, age 16 he received the degree bachiller en artes at that time the equivalent of a HS Diploma. * at age 17 he was enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas (DOMINICAN) as a Medical Student while also enrolled at Ateneo Municipal de Manila (JESUITS) to become an Agrunensor y Perito Tasador de Tierras (LAND SURVEYOR) * at Ateneo, he learned JUSTICE, EQUALITY & FAIRNESS

RIZAL'S TRAVEL IN EUROPE
SPAIN:
* age 21 after graduating from his Medical Course from UST, he boarded Salvadora on May 3, 1882 for Singapore * Nov 3 1882, he enrolled himself at the Universidad Central de Madrid, in 2 courses: MEDICINE & PHILOSOPHY and LETTERS. June 21 1884, he completed his Degree in Medicine. Was given the Degree of Licentiate in Medicine. * he was a member of the MASONIC ACACIA LODGE. * on JUNE 25 1884, he delivered a toasting speech, the BRINDIS, in honor of the 2 FILIPINO PAINTERS: Felix Resurrection Hidalgo ( Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho/ Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace) and Juan Luna (Spolarium)
FRANCE:
* he worked as an Assistant to a French opthalmologist, Dr. Louis de Weckert
GERMANY:
* he left Paris for Heidelberg and worked at the University of Heidelberg Eye Clinic with Dr. Otto Becker * JULY 31 1886, Rizal sent his first letter to Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt * on FEBRUARY 21 1887, he finished writing Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and was helped by Maximo Viola. The manuscript came into production on MARCH 1887.
FIRST HOMECOMING: * went back to the Phils in 1887 for 3 reasons: i. Operate on his mother's eye ii. Know the effects of Noli Me Tangere iii. Anxious to see Leonor Rivera * Rizal est. an eye clinic, operated his mother and treated patients in Calamba. He also build a Gymnasium and taught fencing * He started to write the beginnings of his 2nd Novel El Filibusterismo * After 6 Mons, he went back to states again
TRAVELING AGAIN: * On February 3, 1888 he boarded Zapiro for Hong Kong. * He then went to Japan and stayed for 1 month and a half. He stayed with the spanish legation and met O-Sei-San. * He travelled again and went to America
RIZAL REVISITS EUROPE: * Rizal stayed with Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, an exile from the Phils * He met Gertrude Beckett, whom he had a brief romance with * In the course of his research to write a brief history of the Phils (to show that Filipinos had a culture long before the coming of the Spaniards), Rizal came a cross a book called Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas by Antonio Morga * On DEC 11 1888, he went Spain and meet Marcelo H. del Pilar and Mariano Ponce and on Dec 30 of the same year, he became the President of Asociacion La Solidaridad, a patriotic society in Europe and Rizal wrote articles for the newspaper La Solidaridad. * He also had a romance Nelly Bousted, who allegedly rejected his marriage proposal for his failure to convert to Protestantism * Finished the El Filibusterismo in 1891. Was again in financial distress but a friend helped him again, Valentin Ventura. The book was at last printed on September 18, 1891
RIZAL IN HONGKONG: * he tried to established an Borneo Project & La Liga Filipina
SECOND COMING: * On June 26, 1892, he arrived in Manila. Had a lot of interviews with Gov-Gen Eulogio Despujol.
ARREST, IMPRISONMENT & DEPORTATION: * He was imprisoned in Fort Santiago * was accused of writing, publishing and circulating seditious materials damaging to the friars, the civil governments and Spain. * was exiled to Dapitan (July 17 1892 - July 31 1896) * lived with Josephine Bracken who was his Commonwealth wife * KKK (Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangan Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) founded by Andres Bonifacio * went to Spain for Cuba but was later intercepted by Gov Gen Despujol. He was imprisoned in a fortress called Monjuich. * On November 3 1896 he was back in Manila
TRIAL, JUDGEMENT AND EXECUTION: * Rizals charges were: i. The Presidency of Katipunan ii. Writings purportedly advocating separation from Spain * Rizals recommendations were: i. Rizals immediate trial ii. Imprisonment iii. Indemnity of one million pesos to the state, attachment of his properties, and iv. His defense by a military officer instead of a civilian lawyer * was accompanied by Luis Taviel de Andrade and Jesuits Fathers Estanislao March & Jose Vilaclara. * Rizals request upon execution: i. Refused to be blindfolded ii. Preferred to Stand than to Kneel iii. Asked to have his head spared * Rizals last uttered words were "Consummatum est!" (It is finished) * Was only 35 years old. And it was 7:03 in the morning of Dec 30 1896
AFTER A HUNDRED YEARS: * A monument was unveiled at Plaza Santander, Plaza Avenida Filipinas in Madrid on December 5 1996