ALL ABOUT RIZAL
I am a Kapampangan
(from the province of Pampanga, Philippines) who had the chance to visit the place
where our National Hero was imprisoned before his execution.
Let me
share my experiences and let me start with sharing a little bit of my learning about history that I just recently really appreciated as I visited Rizal's Shrine.
Who is Rizal?
 |
| self-portrait of Rizal |
Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado
Y Realonda is the Philippine National Hero. He is the youngest son of Francisco
Rizal Mercado y Alendro and Donya Teodora Alonso Realonda y Quintos. He has nine
sisters and one brother. He was born in June
19, 1861 at Calamba Laguna. He's the author of the famous "El
Filibusterismo” and "Noli Me Tangere." He’s a writer, an ophthalmologist
by profession and according to my research he’s a member of the Filipino
Propaganda Movement that advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain.
Where did Rizal first learned to
read?
Are you thinking of a school
name? Well, if that's the case according to my prof your answer is incorrect. My
college professor (who's a certified Rizalian) in RIZAL subject logically asked
us that question and why we're all busy thinking that all our given answers (all
schools we've learned he attended even their house) are correct but she keeps
on saying our given answers are incorrect that made us all confused. At the end
of that awesome discussions she gave us the right logical simple answer.
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| Donya Teodora holding Rizal's skull |
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| Letter of Donya Teodora to Governor Heneral Camilo de Polavieja pleading pardon for his son (December 29, 1896) |
Did you know that Rizal first
learned to read at age of 5 and only 3 years of age when he learned the alphabet?
Can you believe that? Yes, that's how smart and genius he is and that's how
great his first teacher is and that’s his own mother Donya Teodora.
What and when is Rizal Day? Why
we, Filipinos is celebrating this day?
RIZAL
DAY
is a Philippine national holiday commemorating the life and works of
José Rizal, the Pinoy's hero. We are
celebrating it every December 30. It is the anniversary of Rizal's 1896
execution at Bagumbayan (present-day Rizal Park) in Manila.
Why did our hero was executed?
 |
| Rizal's execution at Bagumbayan, Manila, December 30,1896 |
Jose Rizal was sentenced to execution by a firing squad on December 30, 1896 wherein he was convicted on the grounds of rebellion, sedition and organizing an illicit organization conspiring against the government.
FORT SANTIAGO. What is this
historical place?
 |
| The Fort |
The fort is one of the most important historical sites in
Manila, Philippines. Several lives were lost in its prisons during
the Spanish Colonial Period and World War. Also, before Jose
Rizal's execution in 1896 he was imprisoned here.
DUNGEON. What is this famous
killer place that is called as the "Hole of
Death"?
 |
| DUNGEON "Hole of Death" |
Dungeon is the most nightmare place
here in fort were almost thousands of revolutionists were imprisoned here. They
were tortured Inside wherein they died because it was full of rotting water and
infested with rats, snakes, and all kinds of vermin. Having but a small hole
for air to enter, everyone (revolutionist) packed inside as many as 170 at a
time died of asphyxiation overnight.
RIZAL SHRINE. What's inside Rizal
Shrine?
 |
| Rizal's grave visited by family and friends. |
The Rizal Shrine museum
displays a lot of memorabilia of our hero in their collection such as his personal
letters, poems, sketches, novels, clothes etc. and the fort features, embedded
onto the ground in bronze, his footsteps representing his final walk from his
cell to the location of the actual execution.
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| Rizal's Clothes |
 |
| "Mi Ultimo Adios" |
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| A piece of Rizal's vertebra where the bullet hit him during execution |
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| Rizal's Fencing Vest and Fencing Foils |
HOW'S MY EXPERIENCE IN VISITING RIZAL’S
SHRINE (Intramuros)?
Last December 28, 2018, I was very
happy to finally visit and witnessed all the above-mentioned historical places
of our hero. When I was in grade school and high school we have history then on
college we have a particular subject RIZAL so we are obliged to listen to our
teacher's discussions and memorized those historical places, dates and Rizal's poems
and also read his famous novels "Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo",
honestly speaking I wasn't that interested that time and I was like memorizing those
historical places and dates because I just need to have a good grades but now
when I had the chance to visit that place where Rizal was executed I was really
"amazed" and feeling truly proud of our hero. Every old pictures, every
old sketches, every old letters, the clothes he wore when he was executed, his
poems for her love ones and for his country, all his memorabilias made me feel
how great our hero is and made me truly believe that he was once existed and
live like us as a simple person who has a very loving family.
Two Famous Novel:
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| "Noli Me Tangere" |
 |
| "El Filibusterismo" |
His wax figure gave me goosebumps! It looks real!
Rizal's Sketch
 |
| Rizal's Wax Figure |
 |
| Leonor Rivera |
 |
| His Sister (Saturnina) |
 |
| Self-portrait Sketch |
How's important to visit THE FORT
SANTIAGO and RIZAL'S SHRINE?
I am truly honored to visit this
historical place and witnessed some of the historical memorabilias of our hero.
I would like then to suggest to those parents and school to better bring their
children or students to those historical places so that they will really learn
and understand and feel clearly who is our hero. They will surely and clearly better
understand and much appreciate history especially our hero. I, myself a proud Filipino
is encouraging all Filipinos or other nationality to come and visit FORT
SANTIAGO as well and feel Rizal's love towards our country.
Readers, I want to end this Article with the following simple questions that you can answer with your comment if you are interested.
1. Are you a Filipino? By blood? or by heart?
2. Do you live here in the Philippines?
3. Have you visited one of the Historical Places
in the Philippines? Where and When? RIZAL SHRINE? FORT SANTIAGO? RIZAL PARK? Can
you share your experience/s?
4. How much do you know our Philippine National
Hero?
5. Who is your hero in life?
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