1. Make an autobiography of Dr.

Jose Rizal

Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, the national hero of the Philippines was born on June 19, 1861,
in Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of eleven children. His father, Don Francisco Mercado Rizal is
an industrious farmer from Biñan, Laguna. While his mother, Doña Teodora Realonda, was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz,
Manila. At the age of three, he learned the alphabet from his mother and at five, while learning to read and write, he
showed inclinations to be an artist. At the age eight, he wrote a Tagalog poem, “Sa Aking Mga Kababata,” which the
theme revolves on the love of one’s language.

In 1877, at age of sixteen, he obtained Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ateneo Municipal. In the same year, he
enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at University of Santo Tomas. He finished the latter course on March 21, 1877 and
passed the Surveyor’s examination on May 21, 1878. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas
but had to stop in his studies when he felt that the Filipino students were being discriminated by their Dominican tutors.
On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain where he continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21,
1884, at twenty-three, he has conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on June 19, 1885 at twenty-four, he
finished his course in Philosophy and Letters. Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered
twenty- two languages.

In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and educate his countrymen, Rizal published
several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies while in Europe. His daring book “Noli Me Tangere,” a
satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy was published in Berlin in March 1887. In
1890 he reprinted Morga’s “Successos de las Islas Filipinas” in Paris, with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a
civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on the Philippine soil. On September 18, 1891,
his second novel, “El Filibusterismo”, a sequel to Noli Me Tangere had more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was
printed in Ghent. Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials, it led
himself, his relatives and countrymen into trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. The authorities were not only
finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to
July 15, 1892 on a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrived with him from
Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and business.

He did some researches, constructed water dam and a relief map of Mindanao that were both considered
remarkable engineering feats. When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, his enemies lost no time in
pressing him down. They were able to enlist witnesses that linked him with the revolt and these were never allowed to be
confronted by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986, to the date of his execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago.
In his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem, now known as "Ultimo Adios" which is a living document expressing not only
the hero’s great love of country but also that of all Filipinos. After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and
of forming illegal association. In December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years of life had been packed with varied
activities which proved that the Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was shot at
Bagumbayan Field.

2. What was Rizal contribution to the world?

Rizal’s contribution is the word nation. Nation can be defined as people living in the same land with the same language,
the same identity, the same ethnicity and the same culture. If we will stick at this definition of nation then we don’t have a
concept of nation but Rizal define nation as people living with love for each other, means brotherhood. Another
contribution of him is how he defends Filipinos by means of writing books/articles (La Indolencia de los Filipinos, Antonio’s
Morga Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo) about the true nature of Filipino and the
identities of Filipinos as well. Through these writings, he inspired Filipinos to fight for our Independence, to gain freedom,
especially from the Spaniards because of the atrocities and slavery committed to them. He serves as the bridge to unite
all people in the archipelago especially after his death. His other contributions are education reform. Rizal always
considered education as a medicine or something that could cure the problems of Colonial Philippines. He believed in
education that is free from political and religious control. He asserted that reform cannot be achieved if there is no suitable
education, a liberal one available to Filipinos. Rizal believed that even modest education, no matter how rudimentary it
might be, if it is the right education for the people, the result would be enough to awaken their ideas of perfection and
progress and eventually, change would follow. Other contributions he made was building irrigations (during his exile in
Dapitan), science (his discovery of the species Draco Rizali etc.). And lastly, he is one of the reasons why we have our
sovereignty today.

3. Who is Rizal today? And why?

Dr. Jose P. Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. He was the one who led the Filipinos to start a revolution against
the Spanish Government to attain freedom and to gain control of the country. He is well-known for being a propagandist
and his way of fighting the Spanish Government through his writing by revealing the inhumane manipulation of the
Spanish Government in the Philippines.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal's death on December 31, 1896, changed the Philippines. The Filipinos were truly affected by his death in
a sense that they were urged to start a revolution against the Spanish government to gain control of the Philippines.
Yearly, there is a commemoration of his death called Rizal Day. This is the day where Filipinos remember his death and
his sacrifice for the country. He greatly influenced the Filipino people because of what he did for the country. Most of the
Filipino people started to strive really hard for their education to have a successful life. Dr. Jose P. Rizal's concept of the
importance of education is clearly shown in his work entitled Instruction wherein he sought improvements in the schools
and in the methods of teaching. He knows that the backwardness of his country during the Spanish era was not due to the
Filipinos’ indifference, apathy or indolence as claimed by the rulers, but to the neglect of the Spanish authorities in the
islands. For Rizal, the mission of education is to elevate the country to the highest seat of glory and to develop the
people’s mentality. Since education is the foundation of society and a prerequisite for social progress, Rizal claimed that
only through education could the country be saved from domination. Rizal’s philosophy of education, therefore, centers on
the provision of proper motivation in order to bolster the great social forces that make education a success, to create in
the youth an innate desire to cultivate his intelligence and give him life eternal.

5. Who is Rizal in your own perspective?

In my own perspective, Rizal our national hero is a symbol of true greatness. His good works, sacrifices and dedication
represent only the kind of bravery he has inside him and how much love he has for his fellowmen. Rizal taught us many
lessons that remain relevant to issues we face today. He emphasized the importance of education, and that children are
the hope of our nation and that we should invest in them. Dr. Jose Rizal has influenced me to strive really hard in life.
Education is the important key to this success. Living his principles will get me somewhere in this life. Remembering his
principles teaches me how to be like him in a way that he made a difference for the country. He taught us to love our own
language and love the culture that makes us unique. He showed us how the pen is truly mightier than the sword, finding
power in his writing instead of resorting to arms during the revolution. It is because of our heroes like Rizal, who have
sacrificed their lives for this country, that every Filipino should do their part in building the Philippines in a way they
envisioned it would be - independently strong and free from all forms of violence and corruption. It makes me proud
knowing other countries as well recognize Rizal’s works and relevance in shaping history. As part of today’s youth, Rizal’s
life inspires us to have more courage as change makers and to spread more positivity as influencers. Rizal was a great
teacher and his wisdom brought him many opportunities and advantage that makes him overall a great leader.