José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (Spanish: [xoˈse riˈsal, -ˈθal], Tagalog: [hoˈse ɾiˈsal]; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered a national hero (pambansang bayani) of the Philippines. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal became a writer and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement, which advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain.
José Rizal | |
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Rizal c. 1890s | |
| Born | José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda June 19, 1861 Calamba, Laguna, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish Empire |
| Died | December 30, 1896 (aged 35) Bagumbayan, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish Empire |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Resting place | Rizal Monument, Manila |
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| Other names | Pepe, Jose (nicknames) |
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| Organization(s) | La Solidaridad, La Liga Filipina |
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| Movement | Propaganda Movement |
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He was executed by the Spanish colonial government for the crime of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution broke out; it was inspired by his writings. Though he was not actively involved in its planning or conduct, he ultimately approved of its goals which eventually resulted in Philippine independence.
Rizal is widely considered one of the greatest heroes of the Philippines and has been recommended to be so honored by an officially empaneled National Heroes Committee. However, no law, executive order or proclamation has been enacted or issued officially proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as a national hero. He wrote the novels Noli Me Tángere (1887) and El filibusterismo (1891), which together are taken as a national epic, in addition to numerous poems and essays.