Jose Del Castillo
Rizal and José Martí: Two Writers Who Died for Their Nations
They never met. One died in the Philippines, one in Cuba. In 1895 and 1896, the Spanish Empire killed them both.
Who Was José Rizal?
Jose Rizal was a 19th-century Filipino doctor, novelist, and polymath who spoke 22 languages, wrote two novels that collapsed a colonial empire, and was executed at 35. Here's everything you need to know — and why you should care.
Noli Me Tangere vs. El Filibusterismo: What Changed Between the Two Novels — and Why It Matters
Rizal wrote two novels. The first exposed a colonial society to itself. The second asked what happens when it refuses to change. They are not a story and its sequel — they are a before and after.
Rizal in Dapitan: Four Years the Spanish Government Meant as Punishment
Spain exiled Rizal to Dapitan to silence him. In four years, he built a water system, opened a school, performed surgeries, discovered new species, and fell in love. Spain, instead, gave him a laboratory.
Rizal’s Trial and Execution
The Spanish colonial government needed three things from the trial of José Rizal: speed, the appearance of legality, and a guilty verdict. They got all three. What they did not anticipate was what the execution would do to the country they were trying to pacify.
Poems and Literary Works of Jose Rizal
Explore the poems and literary works of Jose Rizal and discover how his writing shaped Filipino identity and the nation’s awakening.
The Propaganda Movement: How Filipinos Tried to Reform an Empire With Words
In the late 1880s, Filipino intellectuals in Spain tried to persuade a colonial empire to treat their country fairly. They had newspapers, essays, and the belief that reason could move institutions. They were wrong. But what they built changed everything.
Rizal in Europe: The Years That Made the Novelist
He left the Philippines in secret in 1882, twenty years old. He returned five years later carrying the manuscript of Noli Me Tangere. What happened in between turned a gifted student into a writer who toppled an empire.
El Filibusterismo: Summary Per Chapter
A highly detailed chapter-by-chapter summary of José Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, covering all major events and storylines without analysis.
Jose Rizal’s Last Words
Explore José Rizal’s last words through his final poem, letters, and reported statements before his execution, revealing his courage and love for the Philippines.
Religion and Everyday Practice in 19th-Century Filipino Life
Explore the religious customs, devotions, and everyday practices that shaped Filipino life and community identity during José Rizal’s time.
Rizal’s Student Life at the University of Santo Tomas
Explore Rizal’s student life at UST, from academic rigor to discrimination, friendships, and the early awakening of his reformist ideals.
