The
Philippines and the entire Filipino people of the world will celebrate the sesquicentennial of Jose Rizal on June 20, 2011. Since the actual birthday of Jose Rizal will fall on Sunday, June 19, 2011, President Benigno S. Aquino III, by virtue of Proclamation No.154 he signed on April 26, 2011; declared June 20, 2011, as a special non-working holiday throughout the
Philippines to observe Rizal’s birthday. President Aquino made the declaration “to give the Filipinos the opportunity to commemorate Rizal’s patriotic deeds and sacrifices for the country, rekindle their admiration and respect for him, and to celebrate this milestone with appropriate ceremonies.” Normally, Rizal’s birthday is just observed as a local holiday of Calamba,
Laguna, Philippines, Rizal’s hometown.
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, or Jose Rizal for brevity, was born on
June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. He was the 7th child of Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos. He earned his BS degree at Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He went to
University of
Santo Tomas,
Manila,
Philippines, and pursued his studies at Universidad Central de Madrid,
Madrid,
Spain, where he completed and earned his degree in
Licentiate in Medicine. He also studied at
University of
Paris,
Paris,
France, and earned his second doctorate at
University of
Heidelberg (known now as
Ohio University),
Ohio,
United States of America. “He was a prolific poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent, and novelist.” His
most famous works were Noli me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Flilibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) that he wrote in Spanish. These two books were the ones that awakened the minds and hearts of our ancestors and incited them to rise up against Spain. Also, “Jose Rizal was the founder of La Liga Filipina, a civic organization that gave birth to the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo.”
Jose Rizal was sentenced to death by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines and was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896, at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta, Manila, Philippines) at the age of 35. Around the site where he was executed, the Filipino people built and dedicated his monument to symbolize the Filipinos' high respect and honor for his
martyrdom and patriotism. Until now, it is constantly guarded by the ceremonial soldiers known as the
Caballeros de Rizal (Knights of Rizal).
Thank you Jose Rizal for your zealous loyalty and love for our motherland. We just hope that the entire Filipino people and our future generations will continue to remember you, together with the rest of our heroes and heroines, with great esteem and recognition that you all properly deserve.
We, the Dugong Pinoy International, wish to remember you and celebrate your birthday with mammoth pride, honor, and deference. Doctor Jose Rizal, feliz cumpleaños a tí! (Happy Birthday to you!) We love you. May you continue to rest in peace in heaven.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang bayan nating mahal! Mabuhay ang lahing Pilipino!
References:
1. Wikipedia
2. Official Gazette of the Philippines
Jose Rizal was sentenced to death by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines and was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896, at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta, Manila, Philippines) at the age of 35. Around the site where he was executed, the Filipino people built and dedicated his monument to symbolize the Filipinos' high respect and honor for his martyrdom and patriotism. Until now, it is constantly guarded by the ceremonial soldiers known as the Caballeros de Rizal (Knights of Rizal).
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