José Rizal: A Complete Biography

José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda — known simply as José Rizal — is the Philippines’ National Hero. A polymath, reformist, and martyr, Rizal’s life embodied the Filipino struggle for dignity and independence under Spanish colonial rule.

More than just a writer of revolutionary novels, he was a doctor, scientist, educator, and patriot whose words inspired a generation to fight for freedom. This biography explores his life, from humble beginnings in Calamba to his execution in Bagumbayan, and his lasting legacy.

Early life and family background

Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, to a middle-class family of 11 children. His father, Francisco Mercado, was a farmer-scholar, and his mother, Teodora Alonso Realonda, was well-educated and instilled in Rizal a love for learning. From his mother, he learned to read and write at the age of three.

Even in his youth, Rizal showed signs of brilliance. At age 8, he wrote a poem titled Sa Aking Mga Kabata (“To My Fellow Youth”), emphasizing the importance of loving one’s native language — a theme that would later echo in his works and speeches.

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Education in the Philippines

Rizal’s early education began in Calamba and later in Biñan, where he studied under Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. At age 11, he enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila (now Ateneo de Manila University). He excelled in academics, consistently achieving the highest honors.

In 1877, at just 16 years old, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with the grade of sobresaliente (excellent). He then pursued medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), focusing on ophthalmology to treat his mother’s failing eyesight. However, Rizal was dissatisfied with the racial discrimination he faced at UST and soon decided to continue his education abroad.

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Education and life abroad

In 1882, Rizal sailed to Spain to study at the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he earned degrees in Medicine and Philosophy & Letters. But Rizal’s education went far beyond Spain. He traveled extensively through France, Germany, Belgium, and England, where he mastered languages (he eventually spoke more than 20) and immersed himself in European culture and intellectual circles.

During this period, Rizal became active in the Propaganda Movement, joining fellow Filipino reformists in seeking greater rights and freedoms for the Philippines under Spanish rule.

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Works and writings

Rizal’s most enduring contributions came through his writings, which exposed the injustices of colonial rule.

Novels

• Noli Me Tangere (1887) — A novel that satirized the abuses of the friars and exposed social injustices in Philippine society.
  
• El Filibusterismo (1891) — A darker sequel, depicting the futility of reform and the growing call for revolution.
  

Essays and articles

Rizal wrote influential essays like The Philippines a Century Hence and The Indolence of the Filipinos, published in La Solidaridad, a reformist newspaper in Spain. His Letter to the Young Women of Malolos championed women’s rights and education.

Poetry

Rizal also expressed his patriotism through poetry, with works like To the Filipino Youth and Mi Último Adiós (“My Last Farewell”), written on the eve of his execution.

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Rizal as a scientist, artist, and educator

Beyond politics and literature, Rizal was a polymath:

• Doctor: He specialized in ophthalmology and successfully treated patients’ eyesight.
  
• Scientist: In Dapitan, he studied flora, fauna, and even discovered species of plants and animals.
  
• Artist: Rizal was skilled in sketching, sculpting, and painting.
  
• Educator: While exiled in Dapitan, he established a school for boys and taught civic virtues, science, and the value of hard work.
  

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Exile in Dapitan

In 1892, Rizal returned to the Philippines and founded La Liga Filipina, a reformist civic organization. Shortly after, Spanish authorities arrested him and exiled him to Dapitan in Mindanao.

Despite his isolation, Rizal made remarkable contributions:

• Built a water system for the town
  
• Practiced medicine for locals
  
• Conducted scientific research
  
• Taught students free of charge
  

His exile became a period of productivity and service to the Filipino people.

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Arrest, trial, and execution

In 1896, amid growing revolutionary unrest, Rizal was falsely implicated in the Katipunan uprising. Although he had no direct role in the armed revolt, Spanish authorities arrested him.

After a mock trial, Rizal was convicted of sedition and rebellion. On December 30, 1896, he was executed by firing squad at Bagumbayan (Luneta Park, Manila). His final poem, Mi Último Adiós, smuggled out of his cell, became an immortal testament of love for his country.

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Legacy and national hero

Rizal’s martyrdom ignited the flames of the Philippine Revolution. Leaders like Andrés Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo drew inspiration from his writings and sacrifice.

Today, Rizal is honored as the national hero of the Philippines (although no official government proclamation has ever been made to this effect):

• Rizal Day (December 30) is a national holiday.
  
• Monuments to Rizal stand not only in the Philippines but also in Madrid, Wilhelmsfeld (Germany), Hong Kong, and other cities worldwide.
  
• His works remain central to Filipino education, shaping national identity.
  

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Conclusion

José Rizal’s life was brief, but his influence is eternal. A doctor who healed the blind, a writer who opened his people’s eyes, and a patriot who gave his life for freedom — Rizal remains the embodiment of Filipino nationalism.

His call for reform, justice, and dignity continues to resonate not only in the Philippines but across the world, reminding us that the pen, indeed, can be mightier than the sword.