Life and works of Rizal JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan

race, wasborn on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged to distinguishedfamilies. His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a modelof fathers," came from Bian, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highlycultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother," was born inM e i s i c , S t a . C r u z , M a n i l a . At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and write,he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by hispencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalogpoem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of ones language. In1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent"from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters atthe University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21, 1877and passed the Surveyors examination on May 21, 1878; but because of his age, 17, he wasnot granted license to practice the profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled inmedicine at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop in his studies when he felt that theF i l i p i n o s t u d e n t s w e r e b e i n g d i s c r i m i n a t e d u p o n b y t h e i r D o m i n i c a n t u t o r s . On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain where he continued his studies at the Universidad Centralde Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was conferred the degree of Licentiate inMedicine and on June 19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "excellent." Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, hemastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German,Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish,T a g a l o g , a n d o t h e r n a t i v e d i a l e c t s . A v e r s a t i l e g e n i u s , h e w a s a n a r c h i t e c t , a r t i s t s , businessman, cartoonists, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, ophthalmic surgeon,poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian. He was ane x p e r t s w o r d s m a n a n d a g o o d s h o t . In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and at the same time educatehis countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe,several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daringbook, NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morgas SUCCESSOSDE LAS

ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a civilizationworthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on September 1 8 , 1 9 9 1 , E L F I L I B U S T E R I S M O , h i s s e c o n d n o v e l a n d a s e quel to the NOLI and morer e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d t r a g i c t h a n t h e l a t t e r , w a s p r i n t e d i n G h e n t .

Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials,Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his relatives and countrymeninto trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. As a consequence, he and those who hadc o n t a c t s w i t h h i m , w e r e s h a d o w e d ; t h e a u t h o r i t i e s w e r e n o t o n l y f i n d i n g f a u l t s b u t e v e n 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 arrive with him from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engagedin agriculture, fishing and business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he conductedclasses- taught his pupils the English and Spanish languages, the arts. The sciences, vocationalcourses including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and painting, as well as the art of self defense; he did some researches and collected specimens; he entered into correspondencew i t h r e n o w n e d m e n o f l e t t e r s a n d s c i e n c e s a b r o a d ; a n d w i t h t h e h e l p o f h i s p u p i l s , h e contracted water dam and a relief map of Mindanao- both considered remarkable engineeringfeats.His sincerity and friendliness won for him the trust and confidence of even those assigned toguard him; his good manners and warm personality were found irresistible by women of al lraces with whom he had personal contacts; his intelligence and humility gained for him therespect and admiration of prominent men of other nations; while his undaunted courage andd e t e r m i n a t i o n t o u p l i f t t h e w e l f a r e o f h i s p e o p l e w e r e f e a r e d b y h i s e n e m i e s . W h e n t h e 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, hewas again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem, now knownas "Ultimo Adios" which is considered a masterpiece and a living document expressing not onlythe heros great love of country but also that of all Filipinos. After a mock trial, he was convictedof rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal association. In the cold morning of December 30,1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years of life had been packed with varied activities which provedthat the Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was shotat Bagumbayan Field. Rizal as to Compare with other Asian heroes Rizal and Sun Yat sen

-- Sun Yat-sen has been attributed as the 'Father of the ChineseRevolution' but this may not be totally acceptable. To regard Sun as solely responsible for themaking of the Chinese Revolution was but a fantastic inflation by hagiographers. It unfairlyneglects the work of other revolutionaries like Huang Hsing who were also decisive in creatingthe Chinese Republic. Again, Sun has been termed 'an idealist rather than a statesman, an easy prey to any plausible new ideas.' Some went to the extreme to say that Sun had nothing todo with the actual work of overthrowing the monarchy because the revolution was finished whenhe reached China. To accept this last view would mean a total rejection of the significance of Sun in the revolutionary movement and in the history of modern China. Yet this criticism wasagain not based on historical fact. For it is true that he was away when the Wuchang risingb r o k e o u t . B u t w e l l b e f o r e t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , i t w a s S u n t h a t s p r e a d t h e revolutionary idea and urged for the support of the revolution. Even during the revolution, hesought for the neutrality of the Powers. Other contributing factors -- The other causes which

contributed to the collapse of the Manchu rule in which Sun played little or no part need to bes c r u t i n i z e d . T h e C h i n e s e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t i n g e n e r a l s t a r t e d w e l l b e f o r e S u n ' s advocacy. People of different walks of life had perceived the decadence of the Manchu rule andt h e t h r e a t o f f o r e i g n i m p e r i a l i s m . I n t e l l e c t u a l s , e s p e c i a l l y , y e a r n e d f o r e i t h e r r e f o r m s o r revolution in place of the Manchu dynasty. They knew the essential difference between ane t h n i c d y n a s t y a n d t h e c o n c e p t o f m o d e r n n a t i o n a l i s m . Anti-Manchu feelings were also facilitated by the constitutional movement starting from 1905.Constitutionalists gathered together to debate and discuss vital current and political issues.They became the people who resisted Manchu recentralisation program and seceded fromM a n c h u r u l e i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e W u c h a n g U p r i s i n g . The political, social and economic problems which coalesced with the railway controversy in1910 and 1911 also produced a revolutionary atmosphere conducive to insurrections. TheRailway Protection Clubs' movement became the focal point of anti-Manchu rule. The reallocation of troops into Szechuan, leaving Hunan and Hupei militarily semiempty, finallyprovided the revolutionary spark. Rizal and Mahatma Ghandi - Mahatma Gandhi and Indian Freedom MovementMahatma Gandhi was an important part of Indian independence movement even when he was not inthe country. He noticed the political condition of the country while he was still in South Africaand urged his countrymen to observe non-violence and remain truthful in order to achievefreedom from the British. Rizal and Mother Teresa

- mother Teresa of Calcutta, the champion of poor and needy wasbeatified on 19th October 2003 by Pope John Paul II, after she died in 1997. After her death, Mother Teresa came to be regarded as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church andh e r b e a t i f i c a t i o n w a s t h e f i r s t s t e p o n h e r p a t h t o s a i n t h o o d . T h e c e r e m o n y o f t h e beatification of this Macedonian nun who dedicated her life to humanity, took place in Romeleading to an immense increase in her popularity and peoples belief in her vocation. Rizal s Social and poltical Ideas That body of knowledge relating to society including the wisdom which man's experience insociety has taught him is social philosophy. The facts dealt with are principles involved in nationbuilding and not individual social problems. The subject matter of this social philosophy coversthe problems of the whole race, with every problem having a distinct solution to bolster thep e o p l e s s o c i a l k n o w l e d g e . man in society; influe n t i a l f a c t o r s i n h u m a n l i f e ; r a c i a l p r o b l e m s ; s o c i a l c o n s t a n t ; s o c i a l justice; social ideal;poverty and wealth; reforms;youth and greatness;history and progress; futurePhilippines.The above dealt with mans evolution and his environment, explaining for the most part humanbehavior and capacities like his will to live; his desire to possess happiness; the change of hismentality; the role of virtuous women in the guidance of great men; the need for elevating andinspiring mission; the duties and dictates of mans conscience; mans need of practicinggratitude; the necessity for consulting reliable peop le; his need for experience; his ability to