10 Sobresaliente Moments of Dr. Jose Rizal

Happy 150th Birthday to you, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (is it correct?)

How would you imagine if such a person having an age of 150 still alive and kicking? A sesquicentenarian person could never ever live especially in today's generation where millions and millions of wrath and dishonesty are presently served. Dr. Jose Rizal might become the Filipino's version of the Dalai Lama, for some words of pushy wisdom and enlightenment to be heard by the today's youth who had abolished the true essence of education, responsibility and dignity.

I still remember how my former college professor introduced to us the real Dr. Jose Rizal. I only knew him in three ideas: he was our National Hero, he was at the P1.00 coin (during my heydays, there is still a P1.00 coin, bigger than today and has a picture of Dr. Jose Rizal), and a province east of Metro Manila was named after him. These were the ideas that I had when I was still in my elementary days. High school came when we learnt the two novels of the greatest hero, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. I delightedly and delectably loved the story of Noli Me Tangere because of the colorful characters, not with El Filibusterismo. Then I learnt about Rizal Avenue, Rizal High School, Rizal Cement and even Jose Rizal University in Mandaluyong. Everything here in the Philippines was about Rizal. As what my first statement said, I only knew the whole of him when I entered college, thanks to my professor in my Rizal subject (it was Republic Act 1425, stating that the life, works and death of Dr. Jose Rizal should be included in the curriculum of the public and private high schools and colleges). We had learned his childhood days, adolescent stage, overseas studying, love life and of course, his greatest battles against the Spanish regime. For me, that's sobresaliente!

Here in my post, I would like to give the ten (10) sobresaliente moments that Dr. Jose Rizal taught me, and probably taught you, and better yet, taught each and every Filipinos. These are only my thoughts and ideas so it is all up to you if you want to agree or not.

Dr. Rizal's famous quote about loving our own language

1. BEING A POLYGLOT - As far as I know, Rizal has a mind of a genius in any aspect. And being a genius, could you imagine that he could speak 22 different foreign languages. He could speak of course in Filipino, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Sanskrit (a language in India), Portuguese, Japanese, Hebrew, Malayan, Catalan (a native dialect in Spain, somewhat a mixture of French and Spanish), Latin and so much more. He wrote an essay in French, poem in Spanish and in Tagalog, learnt and talked Japanese for a special someone and he even said his last words as what Jesus Christ said, which is in Latin - consummatum est - it is finished! Nevertheless, he gave us a powerful quote in which each and every Filipino should possess and love the national language: "Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, ay mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda." Now that's sobresaliente!

The Triumph of Science Over Death

2. NOT JUST A DOCTOR - Dr. Jose Rizal, as his name suggests, was a licensed ophthalmologist. He held his clinic in Hong Kong, just a short lived. He even made an operation to his mother's failed eyes, in which according to history, went successful. But not only as an ophthalmologist, Dr. Jose Rizal was known for. He was also known to be a writer, we could never have the two greatest novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which the students in high school are now studying. He was also a journalist, having a pseudonym of Laong Laan and Dimasalang in their newspaper La Solidaridad. Dr. Rizal was also a sculptor, renowned for his work The Triumph of Science over Death. And he was also a painter, educator, farmer, historian, and playwright. And aside from those jobs, he had expertise in architecture, cartography, economics, ethnology, anthropology, sociology, dramatics, martial arts, fencing and pistol shooting. He was not only a plain doctor, but a globally-competitive individual. That's sobresaliente!

Dr. Rizal and his first love, Leonor Rivera

3. BEING A LOVER BOY IS NOT ABOUT THE LOOKS BUT THE WORDS - Physically speaking, Dr. Jose Rizal haven't had anything of a matinee idol, a dashing debonair or a "crush ng bayan." He has a height of a small boy (think of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, hahaha!), a dark-to-fair skin complexion, a wavy hair, and a not so smiling face. But he has a mouth of flowery languages and phrases that some petite, gorgeous and beautiful women have fallen for him quickly and easily. From his whole span of love life, he had nine women whom they had affectionately or secretly affectionately in loved with the National Hero. His very first love, Leonor Rivera (who happens to be his first cousin), was his greatest and undisputed love. He was deeply in pain when he knew, while on his studies in Madrid, a news about the marriage of Leonor to an Englishman named Henry Kipping. Because of the saddened situation, he inspired Leonor Rivera as Maria Clara in his novel Noli Me Tangere. He was also engaged in a "mutual understanding" kind of relationship with Segunda Katigbak. I imagine whenever Dr. Rizal was being asked by his friend on how he and Segunda were doing. He might answer, "we're just friends!" He also got engaged with other beautiful women not only in our native land but in other countries: Leonor Valenzuela, a Filipina (I wonder if he was thinking of Leonor Rivera) Gertrude Beckett, a British; Nelly Boustead, also a British with an Iberian descent; Seiko Usui, a Japanese; Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, a Spanish; Suzanna Jacoby, a Belgian and his last love before his tragic death, Josephine Bracken, an Irish. As what his love life presents to us, it is really reachable and everybody can experience to love and to be loved, despite of your physical and emotional stability. I'm not saying that Dr. Rizal has no looks of a perfect Adonis, but come to think of it, why would you love a man who has the best asset but no-brainer which is in return, you would be having a lot of trouble and a repentance in the end. Makes sense, right? Sobresaliente!

4. A THOMASIAN AND AN ATENISTA - Yes, Dr. Jose Rizal enrolled and studied at these two greatest universities we have here in the Philippines. He studied his elementary days in Ateneo Municipal de Manila, which was now known as Ateneo de Manila University presently located in Quezon City. Before his execution as his last walk, he glanced at the Ateneo, which was still located inside Intramuros and said, "I've spent my glory days of my youth there!" Now, the university named their main library after the greatest alumnus, the Rizal Library. Then he had his college at the quadricentennial, Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, studying medicine specializing in ophthalmology. He wasn't able to finish his studies in the said university because of a circumstance their family had that's why he needed to sail west to Madrid, Spain. Though Dr. Rizal's culture of a Tomasino is only short lived, he was still part of their history. What would other universities feel and take if our National Hero became their alumni. As what probably could La Salle and U.P. have told to the two, "nauna lang kayo!" Just kidding.

5. LOVING HIS SIBLINGS - Dr. Jose Rizal was the seventh in all of the children of Don Francisco Mercado and Doña Teodora Alonso. In the brood, they were only two boys and nine girls: Saturnina, the eldest sister; Paciano, the eldest brother; Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Concepcion (who died at the tender age of 7), Josephina, Trinidad and Soledad. He was deeply in love with the care his sisters give to him. And also, he idolized his older brother Paciano, in which he was the one who gave Rizal as his surname as he will study further in Spain. They did everything for the sake of their parents, a value of a Filipino family had ever since. Maybe they could have arguments and misunderstandings, but because of faith and love inside of their homes, they finished it with kisses and hugs. How we wish, we could be like the Rizal siblings!

Dr. Rizal with his friends in Europe

6. LOVING HIS FRIENDS - Aside from his siblings, he has the best of his friends in his whole span of his beautiful life. There were time he got into trouble, as a little boy but deeper within, a friendship has started and it made him a loyal one. He became friends with Ferdinand Blumentritt, Juan Luna, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Pardo de Tavera, Marcelo H. del Pilar and so much more. He gained so much friends when he went to Spain, which all of them were all his contemporaries. With it, Dr. Rizal was not bragging of his achievements or whatever he has towards his friends, he actually humbled himself and making friends not because of what he have but because of the idea of making new and best friends.

Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo fantastic covers

7. THE RISE AND RISE OF NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO - An account in history told us that while he was doing Noli Me Tangere, he was handling the piece de resistance of Francisco Balagtas, entitled Florante at Laura. And also, since he was considered as a bookworm, he used the idea of racial discrimination and segregation from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. After reading, he brought up to his mind of making a story that was about the true anthology of Spanish regime in the Philippines. And that's how Noli Me Tangere was born. Because of his inner thoughts and angst, he created the characters of Crisostomo Ibarra, Maria Clara, Pari Damaso, Kapitan Tiago, Elias, Pilosopo Tasyo, Doña Victorina de Espadaña, Sisa, Basilio, Crispin, Pari Sibyla, Pari Salvi and many more. Each of the characters that he created has their own kind of story and attitude. And the characters has deployed what Filipinos were during the Spanish occupation. The Filipino was represented by Crisostomo Ibarra as a standout wanting for a change in the society of the Philippines. Sisa, who was a mother-turned-insane woman, and her sons Basilio and Crispin represented the victim of the harsh punishments of the Spanish priests and governors. Maria Clara represented a woman who was became the output of a victim of sexually thirst friars. Doña Victorina represented a woman who wished to have a better life ahead marrying a Spaniard. But that Spaniard was not really a rich person, making Doña Victorina a social climber, and a follower of an incorrect culture. After the death of Maria Clara (she actually committed suicide after putting herself inside the convent), the story unfold into El Filibusterismo, turning the name Crisostomo Ibarra to Simoun. He became a jeweller and a member of a syndicate, which is the truth is, he did it for a revenge against the Spanish friars. Honestly, I didn't follow the trend of the story of El Filibusterismo, mainly because my Filipino teacher in my fourth year did not exactly teach us the story. But, Dr. Rizal's prowess in writing became an eye opener not only to him, but also to the whole Philippines, who are tirelessly wanting to have a freedom against the Spaniards during their heydays.

A mother and a child

8. THE GAMU-GAMO STORY - If you watched the biopic of Dr. Jose Rizal, entitled as namesake, José Rizal, then you watched a part of the movie of his mother telling the story of a little moth playing near the fire. His mother, Doña Teodora Alonzo, told him a story of being obedient to mother by telling the story of the mother moth and the little moth. The mother was telling her child not to go near a fire because it might cause him death. But the little moth did not understand and follow its mother, so it tried to go closer and closer to the fire. Apparently, an accident happened to the little moth because its wing had caught by the fire of a candle, which brought him to its death. While Dr. Rizal's mother was storytelling, he was actually looking at their "gasera" and saw the same and actual burning of the little moth. What is the moral of the lesson? Be obedient to your parents. I always hear this from a radio show that why do our parents always commend us what to do and what not to do. They said that it is not about the good for us, but they want us not to commit the mistakes that they did during their youthful days. So as a child, we should follow them for us not to do the same thing again. If you could put the story of the moth in realization, probably the mother moth tried also to play near the fire, but she knew she might get caught or had accident so she didn't pursue. The little moth did not comprehend to the mother moth, so what happened to him was the result of disobedience. Dr. Rizal, as what his life suggests and portrays, was an example of a good boy. He truly loves his parents, especially his mother, and he obeys them wholeheartedly. That is why his life became courageous and of course, beautiful!

9. HAVING A JOY OF TRAVELLING - Dr. Rizal had a remarkable journeys in his life. His first attempt to have travel was when he went to Biñan just to study. Then he went to Manila also to study his high school and college education. Afterwards, he ventured to his first travel abroad. Before arriving to Spain using a ship (according to some accounts, he was actually having seasickness during the whole trip), he went first to Singapore, then Sri Lanka, then Yemen, then Marseilles in France, then going to Barcelona plying a train. After so, he went to different places in Europe such as Germany, where he wrote his novel Noli Me Tangere; in Belgium and he wrote there his second novel, El Filibusterismo; England, Japan, Hong Kong (which was still under the British rule), and so much more. Indeed, he actually tasted freedom of travelling but at the side of it, he felt seasickness, homesickness and of course, aloofness towards other people. But with other accounts, he actually made friends while on board of their ship and gained many knowledge about the places he had been to. Dr. Rizal was actually having a bundle of joy of travelling because he was not only doing it for the sake of his education but to learn how to live independently and knowledgeably-gained.

The most heroic, courageous and brave move of Dr. Jose Rizal

10. READY AT DEATH - After everything that happened to him, he was being pointed as one of the leaders of the revolt against the Spanish government because of the publication of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, exiled in Dapitan, charged and jailed in Fort Santiago and the darkest of all, sentenced to death by means of firing squad at Bagumbayan. I read an article about his execution and I was truly inspired by him (of course, I do not want to be executed!) because he did not sense of being nervous or afraid upon his death. His pulse rate and blood pressure was in a normal state and it seemed that he did not portray a scared and shattered person leading towards his final destination. Maybe he was really ready at death, because he knew exactly that it was for the country that he loved so much and not because of his personal interests and favors. I was shocked, after watching the biopic of Dr. Jose Rizal, that after the fires from the soldiers, he was also given a mercy shot, that way the Spanish police and government officials knew that he was really executed well. It was a viva for the Spanish people but loss to the Filipino. At 35, he faced death because of charges and disillusionment, but for Dr. Rizal, at 35, he gained so much popularity. Maybe during that time, they knew that it is their excitement and gain but after years and years, decades and decades, a century thereafter, Dr. Jose Rizal's treasures of revolution and brilliance had been adapted, learnt, valued and of course, impersonated by millions and millions of Filipinos worldwide. So he was really ready at death, because after all, he might be idolized by many millions in the forefront. Remember, all of us, whether rich or poor, famous or neglected, man or woman, "may ngipin o wala," we're all getting to our final destination, and that's death.

Sobresaliente! That's how we can describe Dr. Jose Rizal! He was really good, speechless felt. His gorgeous works are really our treasure that our grandchildren can still have. Hopefully we could have the values of Dr. Jose Rizal from any aspects because it is not about his name who is important here, but the values he has from his family, his works, his life and his death that we should inculcate in our minds and spirits.

I do hope that our parents, our teachers, our superiors could say to each one of us, Sobresaliente!!!

Happy birthday, Lolo Jose!!!

Toodles!!!