JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONZO REALONDA – full name of Dr. Jose Rizal.

Born: June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. 12 children in their family; he’s the 7th.

Francisco Engacio Rizal Mercado Y Alejandro – his father and considered as “model of fathers”.Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda Y Quintos – his mother and considered as “love and prudent mother”Domingo Lam-co & Ines dela Rosa – Rizal’s Chinese grandparents on his paternal side.

To follow Governor Claveria ’s order regarding to amendments of Pilipino surnames in 1849 and in order to avoid race discrimination as well, “Lam-co” was changed to a Spanish surname “Mercado” which means “market”. They chose “Mercado” because they were known as businessmen in Biňan, Laguna.

Although Rizal’s grandfather was a businessman, Rizal’s father was a farmer. He belonged to Hacienda Dominicana in Calamba, Laguna.

The Spanish surname “Rizal” was also attached to their names which means “green farm”.

MILESTONES: 3 years old (1864) – he learned the abakada from his mother. She

noticed the extraordinary brightness and wisdom of her child regardless of lacking of books.

8 years old – he wrote the tagalog poem “Sa Aking Kabata”. 9 years old – Rizal was brought to Biňan and studied under the

guidance of Father Justiniano Aquino Cruz, but after few months he advised him to transfer to Manila because he already taught everything he knew to Rizal.

11 year old (January 20, 1872) – he went to Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He demonstrated an extraordinary and admirable knowledge and got all the highest honors and noted as “sobresaliente” (excellent) in all academics.

16 years old – In this school, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. In March 21, 1877, he also went to University of Sto. Tomas and

studied Philosophy & Letters and Science, while farming and medicine were in Ateneo.

May 21, 1878 – he passed the surveyor’s examination. In May 3/5, 1882, he sailed to Europe to continue his studies in

Universidad Central de Madrid. 23 years old (June 21, 1884) – he conferred the degree of Licentiate in

Medicine.

In 1884, Rizal started to study English. He already knew how to speak French because he already studied it in the Philippines. He also studied how to speak Aleman and Italian. So Rizal was considered as a linguist.

According to Retana, Rizal has wrote the first half of Noli Me Tangere in Madrid 1884; fourth part in France and another part in Alemanya. It was printed in Berlin and published 2000 copies.

June 19, 1885 – he finished his Philosophy and Letters with an average of “excellent”.

March, 1887 – Noli Me Tangere was published in Berlin.

Dr. Maximo Viola – from San Miguel, Bulacan – sponsored the book in 300 pesos.

1890, he reprinted Morga’s Successos dela Islas Filipinas in Paris. Whereas, El Filibusterismo was followed after Noli Me Tangere and

published in Ghent, Belgium in September 18, 1891. He mastered 22 languages.

La Liga Filipina – this was conceptualized by Rizal in July 3, 1892 while he was in Hongkong. It was secretly established and aimed to have amendments on the governance in the Philippines through their peaceful ways and not through war.

- It was defined as peaceful, pacific and civic organization design to secure reforms for the Philippines.

He arrived to the Philippines in August, 1887 but left in February 3, 1888 to avoid the anger of their conquerors due to his publication of the Noli Me Tangere.

He also returned June 26, 1892 to Manila. In July 6-15, 1892, he was imprisoned to Dapitan ordered by Captain-

General Despujol on charged that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia. In Dapitan, Rizal established a small school having 14 children.

He requested to serve in hospitals in Cuba. He sent a letter to Captain-General Blanco to verify that he never joined

the rebellion. But before the end of 1896, he was arrested and returned him to the Philippines.

August 26, 1896 – Philippine Revolution started. November 3, 1896 - Rizal was again imprisoned in Fort Santiago,

depended his self in front of the military court, but found guilty and ordered to shot in Bagumbayan.

December 29, 1896 – Rizal wrote his Mi Ultimo Adios (Last Farewell), considered as a masterpiece and a living document expressing not only the hero’s great love for country but also for Filipinos.

December 30, 1896 – Rizal was shot and died in Bagumbayan which nowadays is called “Laguna”/ “Rizal Park”.