Happy 148th Birthday, Dr. Jose Rizal!
Jose Rizal
Today marks the 148th birthday our beloved national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
Happy Birthday, idol! 
Well, since we all know that Rizal was the most well-known advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era and there is a Philippine holiday called Rizal Day every December 30 in commemoration of his martyrdom, let me just share to you some trivia about him:
- Complete legal name: Dr. Jose Protacio Alonso Realonda Mercado Rizal.
- He was born on a moonlit night between eleven and twelve on June 19, 1861.
- Paciano Mercado was the only brother of Jose Rizal.
- At 16, Rizal experienced his first romance. He fell in love to Segunda Katigbak, a sister of his friend Mariano.
- Filipino writer Jose Rizal could read and write at age 2, and grew up to speak more than 20 languages, including Latin, Greek, German, French and Chinese. What were his last words? “Consummatum est!” (“It is done!”)
- Rizal never advocated Philippine independence. Most of his writing was done in Europe, where he resided between 1882 and 1892.
- Aside from being a novelist and hero, Rizal was also a poet, linguist and medical doctor.
- Jose Rizal’s “doctor” title does not refer to a doctorate as most people tend to think. For some reason, he was not able to take the examination that would have qualified him for a doctorate. Rizal did have a licentiate in medicine and so was allowed to practice in the profession.
- Though reputedly known as a playboy because he has a long string of girlfriends, he was the only member of the propaganda movement who did not regularly visit brothels.
- Rizal had farms in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte (1892-1896) where he planted lanzones, coconuts and other fruit-bearing trees.
- There is a Rizalista cult in the Philippines who believe that Rizal is the second coming of Christ. They are now awaiting for his third coming.
- There are three animal species named after Rizal as he used to collect these animals while exiled in Dapitan. Among them were the Draco Rizal (Wandolleck), a specie of flying dragon; Rachophorous Rizali (Boetger), a unknown specie of toad; and Apogonia Rizali (Heller), a small beetle.
- Monuments in Rizal’s honor were not only erected here in the Philippines. He also have monuments in Madrid (Spain), Wilhelmsfeld (Germany) Fujian (China) and at Molina district, Lima, Peru.
- There is also a tribute to Jose Rizal in Cavenagh Bridge in Singapore.
- Three films depicting the life of Rizal were also made. Albert Martinez played Rizal in the movie titled “Rizal sa Dapitan” in 1997. Cesar Montano portrayed the national hero in the film entitled “Jose Rizal” in 1998. Joel Torre also played the role in 2000 in a docu-film called “Bayaning Third World.”
There you have it folks, listed above are the reasons why this hero is still rocking up to this era! So, the next time you see his monument, think about the things he did for our country and how he influenced the world.
Cheers,
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snow, i sent you an email, sayang me pakimkim pa naman hahaha
.-= reyna elena´s last blog ..Part 2- Al Jazeera asks: Has the Philippines National Police taken on the role of judge, jury and executioner, all in the name of keeping the peace? =-.
idol ko rin to! kaya lang, namatay na at lahat, ganun pa rin bansa natin. ay sus…
.-= elmot´s last blog ..I Can’t Understand Why Politicians Say the Darndest Things? =-.
sana hindi masayang ang ginawa niya at nang iba pa nating mga bayani
.-= Roy´s last blog ..We should be proud of our heroes =-.
galing ni rizal. sana hindi mabaliwala ang dati ay ipinaglaban niya.
tnx sa trivia…na refresh ang napag-aralan ko sa history.
.-= eliment´s last blog ..Walang pamagat =-.
Happy bday mr. greatman… hehe, may program pa sa school namin to celebrate Rizal’s bday.. ^__^
BTW, ang haba naman ng name nya… LOL
.-= Kelvin Servigon´s last blog ..Having Fun with Canon EOS 1000D =-.
Hey, I’ve added you into my links.
Bertday pala ni idol! In our present times, we still have other Rizals out there. When the right moment comes, they will come out and fight the same cancer Rizal fought.
.-= Rob Angeles´s last blog ..Will CrowdEye Be The Next Search Engine Gorilla =-.
nice post and good website friend….thanks
bday na pala ni idol..kaso nasan na nga ba ang mga pinaglaban ni rizal nuong nabubuhay pa sya..mukang wala na yatang nagpapatuloy ng mga ipinaglalaban nya nuon
Dami ngang lugar sa atin Rizal ang panagalan. Mukha namang walang nangyari sa mga sinulat niya. ganito pa rin tayo. May mag kurakot pa rin sa gobyerno.Lumala pa. Lalo dito kay Gloria.
.-= fatherlyours´s last blog ..Bicol Express =-.
Interesting tidbits about Rizal, but I’m more interested in his love life, haha. He’s one genius – knows a lot. Too sad his life ended fighting for our country’s cause.
.-= Gem´s last blog ..How Did I Become a Full Time Freelancer? =-.
Happy Birthday, JPR!
i almost forgot it’s pepe’s birthday! belated happy birthday bro!
.-= Badong´s last blog ..On Having Mild ADHD =-.
nice trivia, snow! some of these I don’t know or I have forgotten. thanks!
.-= Reesie´s last blog ..On Board With The New Mexico Rail Runner =-.
Belated Happy Birthday
.-= Zorlone´s last blog ..Top Ten Emerging Influential Bloggers 2009 =-.
Happy b-day my favorit hero!
I wish I am as intelligent as you!
I know your rule in that revolution was not as ha tapang as Bonifacio AS THEY told me.
But Noli and El feli are as just the same as the Itak at Baril ni Bonifacio.
MABUHAY KA DR. JOSE RIZAL!
.-= darbs´s last blog ..Extra judicial killing, the beginning as seen on video =-.
close kayo? ahehe! napapasyal lang!
.-= itot54joni´s last blog ..Three Men And A Baby Ghost Video And Picture =-.
maka jose rizal ka pala… hehe.
Mas maganda sana kung hindi in-impose ng mga foreigner na siya ang maging National Hero. Repormista kasi sya at hindi rebolusyonaryo. Mas gusto ito ng mga foreigner kasi alam nila na kung susundin ng mga tao ang yapak ni Rizal ay hindi maghihimagsik ang mga tao. Mas maganda sana kung tayo mismong mga Pilipino ang pumili ng ating sariling national hero.
eh sino nman ang gusto mo? apolinario mabini?
I think i need to back to my history subject.. All I thought his birthday is December 30, amf….hehehehe
he’s my favorite hero, but i really didn’t know na last friday was his bday. hahhaa..
Nice Blog DEAR BLOGGERY keep it Up : )
heypi berdey pepe
Long Live Jose Rizal. I really admire this guy. Anyway, great informative post. Thanks.
Nino Natividad
you know what, idol ko rin talaga ‘to si Rizal..ang galing nya kasi eh..pinapakilala ko na nga siya sa anak ko ngayon pa lang eh..:)
.-= melody´s last blog ..The wonders of words =-.