Comprehensive Study Notes on the Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Republic Act 1425: The Rizal Law

Republic Act $1425$, commonly known as the Rizal Law, is an official act mandated to include the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges, and universities within the Philippines. The act specifically emphasizes the inclusion of his two most prominent novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Furthermore, the law authorizes the printing and distribution of these works for educational and other diverse purposes.

According to Ferdinand Blumentritt, the Noli Me Tangere is described as an "aklat sa dugo ng puso," or a book written in the blood of the heart. Within its pages, the national hero shaped his soul and spirit with the explicit intention of awakening the dormant consciousness of his fellow countrymen. The study of this law and Rizal's works is essential to understanding the identity and history of the Filipino people.

The Lineage and Family of Jose Rizal

The family of Jose Rizal was composed of his parents and ten siblings. His father was Francisco Mercado Rizal, and his mother was Teodora Alonzo Realonda. The siblings, in order, included Saturnina Rizal, Paciano Rizal, Narcisa Rizal, Olympia Rizal, Lucia Rizal, Maria Rizal, Jose Rizal himself, Concepcion Rizal, Josefa Rizal, Trinidad Rizal, and Soledad Rizal.

Etymology and Identity of Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda

The full name of the Philippine national hero carries significant historical and personal meanings. He was named Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda. The name Jose was chosen by his mother to honor San Jose, a patron saint. The name Protacio was derived from the patron saint listed on the calendar for the specific date of his birth.

The surname Rizal was adapted from the Spanish word "Recial," which translates to a green field or a fertile field of cultivation. The name Mercado, which was the original surname of his father's side, means market. Finally, Alonzo Realonda represents the original maiden surname of his mother, Doña Teodora Alonzo Realonda. This naming convention reflects the cultural and religious traditions of the era.

Romantic Relationships and Interests of Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal's romantic life featured several notable women. His first love and "puppy love" was Segunda Katigbak from Lipa, Batangas, though she was already engaged to Manuel Luz. He was also involved with Leonor Valenzuela, a tall girl from Pagsanjan to whom he sent love letters written in invisible ink; however, she later left for Spain. Leonor Rivera, whom he called "Taimis," was his cousin from Tarlac and remained his longest love for a period of $11$ years, serving as the primary inspiration for the character Maria Clara.

During his travels, he encountered Consuelo Ortiga, the daughter of a Civil Governor, but he refrained from pursuing her seriously because he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera and a friend of his also had feelings for her. In Japan, he met O-Sei San Kiyo, the daughter of a samurai, who helped him improve his Nihonggo and taught him the art of Japanese painting. In London, he had a short relationship with Gertrude "Gettie" Beckett, the daughter of his landlord, who was characterized by her blue eyes and brown hair.

In Biarritz in $1891$, he had a brief romantic interest in Adelina Boustead, though he faced difficulties with her father. He later proposed marriage to her sister, Nellie Boustead, but the union did not occur because Rizal refused to convert to Protestantism and Nellie's mother disapproved of him. In Belgium, he met Suzanne Jacoby, the niece of his landlord, who was deeply saddened by his departure for Madrid. While in exile in Zamboanga, he became engaged to Pastora Necesario Carreon, also known as "Inday Torak," though their relationship ended sadly. Finally, he married Josephine Bracken, with whom he had a son, though he remained private regarding the details of their child.

Biographical Facts and Intellectual Achievements

Jose Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna, on June $19$, $1861$. He demonstrated exceptional intellectual abilities from a very young age, as he could read and write by the age of $2$. At the age of $7$, he wrote his first poem, titled "Sa Aking mga Kababata" (To My Fellow Youth). He was a polyglot who mastered a total of $22$ languages and dialects, including Hebrew, Filipino, Ilokano, Bisayan, Subanon, Chinese, Latin, Spanish, Greek, English, French, German, Arabic, Malay, Sanskrit, Dutch, Japanese, Catalan, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Russian.

Despite his intellectual stature, Rizal was physically small for his age, which led to him being bullied by a student named Pedro at the school of Maestro Justiniano Cruz. Using lessons in wrestling taught to him by his Uncle Miguel, Rizal challenged Pedro to a fistfight and won, which increased his popularity. Rizal is recognized globally as a "Renaissance man," defined as a well-educated person who excels in many fields. His expertise spanned anthropology, ethnology, economics, sociology, education, architecture, engineering, sculpture, painting, playwriting, novelist, history, journalism, farming, drama, ophthalmology, martial arts, and cartography.

In his scientific and medical career, Rizal specialized in ophthalmology at Heidelberg in $1887$ at the age of $25$ under Professor Otto Becker. He utilized the newly invented ophthalmoscope, created by Hermann von Helmholtz, and eventually operated on his own mother's eyes. His scientific contributions are further evidenced by three animal species named in his honor: the Draco Rizali (a flying dragon), the Rachophorous Rizali (a species of toad), and the Apogonia Rizali (a beetle species). In his personal life, an anecdote from Madrid in $1882$ reveals that he once did not take a bath for $136$ days, from mid-August to the end of December, because of the cold weather and the need to conserve limited funds.

Additionally, Rizal was known to participate in the lottery. He won one-third of a grand prize, totaling $Php\,18,000.00$, with ticket number $9736$. He distributed this wealth by giving a portion to his father and a friend in Hong Kong, while using the remainder to purchase agricultural lands in Talisay. His literary legacy includes "Mi Ultimo Adios" (My Last Farewell), which is the most translated Filipino poem, having been rendered in $38$ languages from its original Spanish.

Historical Context and Writing of Noli Me Tangere

Jose Rizal was $24$ years old when he began writing Noli Me Tangere in Madrid, Spain. The writing process for the novel spanned three different countries. The first part was written in Madrid, Spain. The second part was continued in Paris, France. The final quarter of the manuscript was completed in Berlin, Germany. The entire novel was finished on Monday, February $21$, $1887$, at exactly $11:30$ PM.

The writing of Noli Me Tangere was significantly influenced by two major literary works: "The Wandering Jew" by Eugene Sue and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe. During the publication process, Rizal faced severe financial difficulties because his brother had not yet sent funds. He practiced extreme frugality to save money for printing. Ultimately, Dr. Maximo Viola assisted him by lending him $Php\,300.00$ to cover the costs.

The manuscript was printed at Imprenta Lette, where an initial run of $2000$ copies was produced. During the revolution in $1945$, the original manuscript was hidden inside a wall and covered with cement for protection. Later, the Philippine government purchased the manuscript for a sum of $Php\,25,000.00$. The publication of this novel, along with El Filibusterismo (published in Ghent, Belgium, in $1891$), was instrumental in stirring the consciousness of the Filipino people to revolt against Spanish colonial rule.