Jose Rizal

José Rizal |

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Born | José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

June 19, 1861[1]

Calamba, Laguna,[1] |

Died | December 30, 1896 (aged 35)[2]

Bagumbayan, Manila[2] |

Cause of death | execution by firing squad |

Monuments | Rizal Park, Manila

Calamba City, Laguna |

Nationality | Filipino |

Other names | Pepe[3][4] |

Alma mater | Ateneo Municipal de Manila,University of Santo Tomas,Universidad Central de Madrid,University of Paris, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg |

Organization | La Solidaridad, La Liga Filipina |

Religion | Roman Catholicism |

Spouse(s) | Josephine Bracken (1896)

[5] |

Children | Francísco Rizal y Bracken (who died after birth) |

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José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda[6] (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896), is the most venerated and acclaimed patriot in the Philippines recognized for his unselfish and non-violent contributions to the historical and social transformations in the country.[7] He is one of thenational heroes of the Philippines regarded by the National Heroes Committee, together with Andres Bonifacio.[7] He was the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era that led to his execution on December 30, 1896, now celebrated as Rizal Day, a national holiday in the country.

Rizal was born to a wealthy family in Calamba, Laguna and was the seventh of eleven children. He attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, earning a Bachelor of Arts diploma and studied medicine at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid in Madrid, Spain, earning the degree of Licentiate in Medicine, making him eligible to practice medicine. He also attended theUniversity of Paris and earned a second doctorate at the University of Heidelberg.

Rizal was a polymath; besides medicine, he was also an artist who dabbled in painting, sketching, sculpting and woodcarving. He was a prolificpoet, essayist,...