To Josephine

Josephine Bracken

Rizal wrote this poem for Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman who went to Dapitan to have her father George Taufer treated for an eye problem.

Our Mother Tongue

Rizal wrote the original version of this poem in Tagalog when he was just eight years old. Rizal’s most famous quote, “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda.” is from this poem. 

Rizal Park

Jose Rizal Park, which is popularly known as Luneta, is located at the heart of the city of Manila at the northern part of Roxas Boulevard.

Jose Rizal Family

Jose Rizal’s thirteen-member-family consisted of his father Francisco Mercado II, his mother Teodora Alonso Realonda, himself, nine sisters and one brother.