For his heroism, several monuments have been put in place to honor and his legacy. A statue was put up to remember him in his native Calamba, . A model of his childhood home also serves as a museum in the said city. Rizal’s 155th birth anniversary commemorated in Luneta Park By Abbie Escarilla Former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Sunday, June 19, led activities to remember the 155th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, the ’ national hero.

According to a radio report, members of the Knights of Rizal joined officials from Manila’s local government during commemoration rites held at the historic Luneta Park.

On June 19, 1861, Rizal was born José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda to parents Francisco Mercado Rizal at Teodora Alonso Realonda in Calamba, Laguna.

After traveling to Belgium and Spain, Rizal became a journalist, poet, activist, and doctor. He also founded La Liga Filipina, a group which advanced social reform during the final years of the Spanish regime in the Philippines. For his involvement with the league, Rizal was deported by the Spaniards to Dapitan in 1892.

Four years later, Rizal was arrested for involvement with the Katipunan, which led the Filipino rebellion against the Spanish colonizers in 1896. He was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan, which is now Luneta Park in Manila. sector during the commemoration rites. She will give the inspirational message during the short but meaningful program that will follow. Domingo Falcasantos, head of the Knights of Rizal-Zamboanga chapter will open the program, while Knights of Rizal member Joseph Wee will deliver the closing remarks. The Zamboanga City High School-main choir will lead the doxology and singing of national anthem as well as take charge of the musical interlude. The June 19 event seeks to recognize the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal. Born on June 19, 1861, Rizal was a nationalist, novelist, physician, a poet, and a prominent advocate for reforms during the Spanish colonial era. He is also considered as one of the greatest heroes of the Philippines. Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896, and his martyrdom is commemorated as a national holiday. — Sheila Covarrubias

155th Rizal’s Birth Anniversary Fete Set

Saturday, 18 June 2016 11:35

The City Government in partnership with the Order of the Knights of Rizal-Zamboanga City Chapter will spearhead the commemoration of the 155th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal on Sunday, June 19. Themed “Rizalism: The Emergence of Peace, Solidarity and Good Governance”, the activity will kick off at 8am with a flag raising ceremony to be followed by the floral offering at the in front of City Hall. Mayor Beng Climaco will lead city and national government officials, non-government organizations, academe and police and military 155th birthday ni Rizal, ginunita sa Maynila By Bombo Dennis Jamito Pinangunahan ni dating pangulo at ngayon ay Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada ang ilang aktibidad kaugnay ng paggunita ng ika-155 taong kaarawan ni Dr. Jose Rizal. Katuwang ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Maynila ang mga kinatawan ng Knights of Rizal. Kabilang sa isinagawa kanina ang pag-aalay ng bulaklak at maikling programa ng pagkilala sa kinikilalang pambansang bayani. Si Rizal ay ipinanganak noong Hunyo 19, 1861 sa Calamba, Laguna. Ang kaniyang mga magulang ay sina Francisco Mercado Rizal at Teodora Alonso Realonda. Habang napangasawa niya ang banyagang si Josephine Bracken noong 1896. Bilang pagkilala sa mga naiambag ni Rizal sa bansa, itinayo para sa kaniyang ala-ala ang ilang bantayog sa loob at labas ng Pilipinas. Pangunahin na rito ang kaniyang monumento sa Luneta kung saan siya binaril sa utos ng gobyernong Espanyol. Nagtayo rin ng bantayog sa tinubuan niyang lugar sa Calamba, Laguna. Habang ang kauna-unahang simbolo ng pagkilala kay Rizal ay matatagpuan naman bayan ng Daet, Camarines Norte. Jose Rizal in romantic Heidelberg: His thoughts on women

By: Ramon M. Roda 03:03 AM June 13th, 2016

BRONZE statue of Jose Rizal at Wilhelmsfeld

JOSE Rizal, whose 155th birth anniversary the nation will commemorate on June 19, was 25 years old when he arrived in Heidelberg in southwestern Germany on Feb. 3, 1886.

Heidelberg was one of the best places that Rizal visited during his one-and-a half year sojourn in Germany so much so that barely two days after his arrival here, he immediately fell in love with the historic and romantic city.

Henry W. Longfellow described Heidelberg as “a very beautiful place,” while numerous poets “have sung praises of the city and the castle ruins, and have turned Heidelberg into the quintessence of the German Romantic Period.”

It’s no secret that Heidelberg, one of the prettiest and best preserved towns in Germany, “is a jewel among Germany’s travel destinations.” During springtime, fragrant flowers can be seen in abundance and in At the same time, it is also one of the strongest research universities bloom in both the public gardens, plazas, squares, in private lots and in all of Europe gaining a reputation as a “Royal residence of intellect” along the cool banks of the Neckar River and the entire University among scholars.

THREE-STORY Baroque building of the University of Heidelberg founded in 1386 town. A bell tower and a clock tower rising above its curving roofs of the three-story Baroque building and two elegant gateways with curving Truly, the picturesque scenery of the countryside and the quaint roofline that served as decorations are the highlights of this ancient features and romantic surroundings make Heidelberg a favorite place university. for artists, poets, writers, researchers and tourists. In front of the edifice is the Lion Fountain. ‘Alte Universitat’ Did Rizal study in Heidelberg? Some Rizal biographers, Rizalists and One of the most visited landmarks is the University of Heidelberg, people from media have claimed that Rizal enrolled at the University Germany’s oldest university founded in 1386. Eye Clinic and finished his ophthalmological studies at this university during his three month stay in Heidelberg in 1886. The university is named Ruperto Carola, after the two founders Ruprecht and Karl Fiedrick, and is said to be the third university after It should be noted that Rizal did not study at the University of Praque and Vienna to be found in the whole German-speaking part of Heidelberg, “Rizal probably was just an observer or oidor. “He could Central Europe. not have enrolled as a student because he had no official passport to present,” according to Dr. Eufronio Alip, a noted Rizal scholar. Rizal, therefore, just attended lectures and conferences in During my one month sojourn in Germany, I visited Heidelberg with ophthalmology under Dr Javier Galezousky and Dr. Otto Becker, my German benefactor, the Bernd Friedrich family and their English- director of the “Augen Klinic.” speaking son as my guide and interpreter.

Attending some lessons, or sitting in some lectures as guest student After a walking tour of Germany’s oldest university, I had the could be very possible. opportunity to visit the registrar’s office through the kind assistance of the couple. I requested to see Jose Rizal’s name among those According to a report, “Although Becker might have taught at Ruperto enrolled in the university in 1886. Carola University, Heidelberg, no documentary evidence shows that Dr. Rizal, indeed, studied in said university.” The elderly genial lady after having ascertained that I was a Rizal professor from University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, welcomed our Another Rizalist mentioned that “one who is learning German, staying group and led us to the records section. about three months in Heidelberg and three months in Wilhelmsfeld, could not possibly be expected to enroll in said university where the I was shown a list of related materials in their computer files and was medium of instruction could only be German, and graduate in told that Jose Rizal’s name did not exist as a student in any of its Medicine from such institution of higher learning within a few months.” faculties for the year mentioned.

No records I further inquired about Rizal’s academic records at the University Eye Clinic. She further looked through the old records checking on all possible sources with no success.

PANORAMIC view of the old section of Heidelberg town with ruins of the medieval castle PHOTOS BY RAMON M. RODA Rizal “expressed his high regards and admiration of the German womanhood.” However, upon noticing my concern and the many questions I asked about Dr. Rizal through my English-speaking interpreter, she “. . . The German woman is serious, studious and diligent, and they do instructed our group to visit the University library and the University- not pay much attention to their clothes nor to jewels,” he wrote. “They Eye Clinic (Augen Klinic) for more information about our national hero. go everywhere walking so nimbly or faster than men, carrying their books, their baskets, without minding anyone and only their own Due to time constraints and our planned itinerary to Wilhelmsfeld, I business…. barely had the time to tour the library and research on Rizal’s academic records and his activities. “If our sister María had been educated in Germany, she would have been notable, because German women are active and somewhat However, the lady librarian handed this writer a photocopy of some masculine. They are not afraid of men. They are more concerned with books on Jose Rizal in their library. the substance than with appearances. Until now I have not heard women quarreling, which in Madrid is the daily bread.” One title was “Rizal: Theme and variations. Dedicated to Dr. Jose Rizal’s centennial by the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo “It is a pity that there in our country the principal adornment of all Tomas, the Catholic University of the Philippines in its 350th women almost always consists of clothes and finery rather than of anniversary, (Manila, Philippines, Novel 1961. Summer Cultural knowledge. In our provinces, women still preserve a virtue that Series 8.” compensates for their little instruction—the virtue of industry and tenderness. In no woman in Europe have I found the latter virtue in The visit to the library proved rewarding, despite not having such a high degree as among the women there. accomplished our mission. “If these qualities that nature gives to the women there were exalted It’s not every day that one gets the chance and opportunity to have by intellectual qualities, as it happens in Europe, the Filipino family access to and research in the library of Germany’s oldest university. has nothing to envy the European.

I was informed that the library is “Germany’s most frequently used “For this reason, now that you are still young and you have time to library, and it is currently placed first in a ranking of Germany’s best learn, it is necessary that you study by reading and reading libraries. The University Library’s stocks exceeded one million in 1934. attentively. It is a pity that you allow yourself to be dominated by Today, it holds about 3.2 million books, about 500,000 other media laziness when it takes so little effort to shake it off. It is enough to form such as microfilms.” only the habit of study and later everything goes by itself.”

Rizal on German women

On the way back to the University campus, this writer had a glimpse of German women on their way to their classes.

The scene reminded me of Rizal’s letter while he was in Germany dated March 11, 1886 and addressed to his sister Trinidad. The Largest Memorial to Jose Rizal We attended a simple unveiling of the historical marker ceremonies in the world also attended by local officials. Earlier that year, a life-size monument was also unveiled in Sydney,Australia, and attended by members of By Renato Perdon the Filipino community and invited Australian officials. Sydney, Australia June 19, 2016 Many are asking the questions why and what is the reason or relevance of Rizal to Australia, aside from the fact that it is a home to (In commemoration of the 155th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal we are more than 200,000 Filipino migrants, and the country is a close ally of posting this short piece to remind Filipinos all over the world about Australia, in fact, a recent military cooperation agreement has been this magnificent memorial that can be visited when they are back in recently signed between Australia and the Philippines. the Philippines, - RPerdon) They stand above the reproaches and recriminations of ordinary life, and are blessed with true immortality. When at their appointed time, they die, we feel that all of us have died with them, but, also, that by their death we have been saved and shall live again, in freedom, peace and greatness.’

For the benefits of non-Filipinos, we are lifting from Celso Al. Carunungan’s Jose Rizal: Random Impressions which appeared as preface to Understanding Jose Rizal by Renato Perdon. Read through and the reader will discover how Rizal is treated in the league of Asian greatest men like Nehru, Gandhi, Tagore and Sun Yat-sen. Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt, the noted German ethnologist, thinks of The great Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno, who was Rizal’s Rizal as ‘the greatest son of the Philippines, whose advent to this contemporary, called him the ‘Christ of the Malay race.’ Dr. Frank world was like the appearance of a rare comet, whose extraordinary Laubach, eminent American author and evangelist, further expounds brilliance is seen only once in two hundred years.’ on this impression by saying that ‘Rizal may be likened to Christ in three ways: a) both carried sorrow in their hearts since childhood till death, both since the age of eleven; 2) the more one studies them the more one likes them and loves them; and 3) their cause will never die.’

Also, the renowned Filipino diplomat and biographer of Rizal, Leon Ma. Guerrero, believes that the present idolatry of Rizal in the Philippines stems from the fact that ‘we reserve our highest homage and deepest love for Christ-like victims whose mission is to consummate, by their tragic ‘failure’, the redemption of our nation. an environment in which the very word politics can scarcely be said to have existed, his life bears a close parallel to Sun Yat-sen.

Today, however, as Coates says further, ‘Rizal stands with Tagore, Gandhi and Sun Yat-sen as one who remoulded the thinking of a In 1961, W. Averill Harriman said that ‘Rizal was a man from whom all continent. His entire political life, both in thought and action resembles men who love freedom can take inspiration. He has earned a place in that of Gandhi in its application or morality to politics, the fundamental the distinguished company of such great names as Jefferson and belief that violence breeds violence and that no good can come of it, Benjamin Franklin.’ At the same time, John F. Kennedy expressed his and his profound understanding of the power of truth. In his artistic hope that ‘all men may find inspiration in the still vibrant example of life, the comparison is Tagore–poet, dramatist, composer, artist, Rizal’s courageous life.’ educator, reformer; while in his ability to instill into his countrymen new and unheard of political ideas–of freedom and individual rights–in Dr. Jose Rizal, the symbol of ideal leadership today

A POINT OF AWARENESS By Preciosa S. Soliven (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 30, 2014 - 12:00am

One time, Professor Jose David Lapuz, an international lecturer, a noted foreign policy expert, andRizalista la Vanguardia, was invited to give a speech on the life of Dr. Jose Rizal for our O.B. Montessori Professional High School and college students. The professor stood tall and elegantly poised in his lavender blue linen suit with the Rizalista emblem. In the Philippines and in all Filipino communities around the globe, every year, over 10,000 speeches are said in Rizal’s honour. More than a thousand monuments to him dot the towns and cities of We record here how Professor Lapuz captured the full attention of the the Philippines; and every main thoroughfare in the young students. entire Philippines Republic—from Metro Manila to the smallest municipality—is named after Rizal. Thus, Reverend Laubach says Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Filipinos that Rizal is ‘honoured with more monuments than any other man of the 19th century, whose heroism is unexcelled in all history.’ From 1896, the year of the death of Dr. Jose Rizal up to now, the third millennium, we have not yet produced a Filipino who can equal the ‘Rizal the man,’ writes Austin Coates, ‘stands among those few who are companion to no particular epoch or continent, who belong to the extraordinary greatness, as well as the spectacular eminence of Rizal. world, and whose lives have a universal message.’ That is why I am so pleased as I passed by the statue of our great national hero in your quadrangle.

I also noted Benigno Aquino’s bust which had the inscription – “The Filipino is worth dying for.” Ninoy is probably one of the greatest Filipinos of his generation – a noble man, a martyr, and an eminent Filipino. Of course, the whole life of Rizal is a monument to education. I Rafael Palma was 11 or 12 years old when he witnessed the consider Rizal one of the most highly educated heroes in Philippine execution of Dr. Jose Rizal. This inspired him to write “Biografia de History. Rizal is number one in education, number one in eminence. It Rizal.” Later, Rafael Palma became the president of the University of is only right that he be called “Pambansang bayani ng sambayanang the Philippines and later founded the Partido Nationalista. Don Rafael Pilipino” (the national hero of the Filipinos). Palma was also considered one of our great Filipinos.

Jose Rizal, ‘Una Perla Del Ombre’ (Pearl of a Man) Palma said, “Finding his country inert, disunited, voiceless and unconscious of its own miseries, Rizal galvanized it, united it and Jose Rizal’s friend, Don Trinidad Herminigildo Pardo de Tavera, inspired in it sentiments of solidarity, self-respect and dignity.” Thus, Doctor of Medicine and scholar of the 19th century said, “Rizal Rizal did not only excel in his studies, his mental accomplishments, cultivated all his qualities in order not to perfect them, but he practiced but he used this to inspire the Filipino nation to grow in dignity and them in order to bring about the moral betterment of the race. Rizal self-respect. possessed a great mental caliber and he, therefore, demonstrated that the Filipino race was able to give birth to individuals endowed Rizal lived loving the Philippines virtuously, disinterestedly and with with the highest attributes, who could be considered an honor to the profound religiosity. Virtuously, meaning with virtues of character. human race. Remember that during this time, the Filipinos were Disinterestedly or unselfishly means thinking of others before himself. considered second-class citizens. They were widely discriminated by the oppressive friars and were called Las Indias or Los Indios!” His life became his best poem, better than “Ultimo Adios,” which is climaxed by the epigrammatic dramatic act of fearlessly facing the Rizal proved that although he was not white, he was of the brown firing squad. With very great honor and with very great dignity, he race, did not have an aquiline nose, and his parents were not faced the firing squad. He acted with courage, in spite of his fear – Spaniards – he excelled! He surpassed all students of Ateneo de this is the true meaning of valor. In spite of your fear, you do your duty Manila high school, where he took the course Bachelier in Artes. He because foremost in your thoughts is the honor of the country not the graduated summa cum laude. From his first year until he finished, his “self.” grades were all flat one or 100 percent. A Filipino Indio, Rizal was not tall, was not extraordinary, nor was he physically well built. But from Poverty is also the basis of terrorism the shoulder up, he was extraordinary, even until he studied at Universidad de Santo Tomas. Rizal has been dead for a long time now, 117 years to be exact. Still, we see the injustice in our country, as well as the widespread poverty. Before, Filipinos were always considered stupid, lazy, and lacked Because of that poverty, there is injustice and oppression. dignity. Well, Jose Rizal proved the opposite of all these qualities. He showed the finest characteristics of the race, and was called “Una When you go to Mindanao, you see the most poverty stricken areas in Perla del Ombre” or Pearl of a Man. our country. It is sad since Mindanao is a “paradise.” If this is fully developed, this could feed another 60 more million Filipinos. That is The true meaning of valor how rich Mindanao is. But what do we see in Mindanao? Poverty and deprivation. So, what We need the Concept of a Nation – This is where the word Rizal said still applies. During Jose Rizal’s time, the oppression came Nationalism comes from, “the advocacy of the interest of a nation.” from the political structure. Now, we have a constitutional and liberal Nationalism is “the advocacy, the promotion, the persevering pursuit democracy, but we still have poverty because of economic of what is good for the nation.” misplanning. This poverty will produce oppression, injustice and a great amount of unhappiness. Thus, Rizal’s dream has not yet First, we should relate ourselves to a nation advancing the interests, materialized. the good, and the welfare of our nation, which we call Nationalism. Then, we relate that nation to other nations, which we call When we look at the miserable conditions of the great majority of our internationalism. So, step by step – the Self, the Family the Nation country, we feel self conscious. If you have so much and see the rest and then the Family of Nations under the auspices of an Almighty of your countrymen have so little, you feel guilty. God.

I quote from the Bible, “Those to whom much is given, much is Today, nation destroys another nation. You destroy a civilization so expected.” Thus if you have a social conscience, you start asking, your country will win. If you win, you become a super power but you why is this happening to our Mother Filipinas? What have I not done destroy the concept of “International Brotherhood”. We won’t be that I can do? This should be asked by all Filipinos. considered a “Family of Nations” since in a Family of Nations, we are EQUAL – nation-states possessing sovereignty and national The youth is the hope of the Fatherland jurisdiction. We may be a poor, developing country, but we are the equal of the United States as far as the International Law is As Filipinos, we should do a lot more. This may seem unfair to tell you concerned. since you are still young and still studying, but let me tell you, when you study very well, you do not waste your time and you live up to the Rizal is a great Internationalist as well as a Nationalist. Being a dreams of your parents and your teachers – you are also doing a lot nationalist does not mean Rizal is anti-foreigner or he won’t go to for your country. You cannot be soldiers or public officials yet, but your other countries. The more he traveled abroad, the more he became serious dedication to your studies is an act for the good of the country profoundly a Filipino by interrelating with other nations and cultures. since you become the educated youth. We should not become a closed nationalist, so that we become a Fascistic nationalist. We should be open to a larger world so that we Rizal said, “The youth is the hope of the fatherland.” What he actually become Cosmopolitan Internationalist even as we are nationalistic. wanted to say is, “The educated youth is the hope of the fatherland.” This is the life of Jose Rizal. With education, you can equip yourself with solid knowledge that will elevate you to accomplish your noble purpose. Therefore, without The desperate search for true leaders today education, the youth is not the hope, but becomes the curse of the nation. What is a true leader? A leader originates and does not imitate. A leader keeps his eyes on the distant horizon and sees what an Sambayanang Filipino ordinary person does not. This is the evidence of his leadership. He does not accept the status quo, but instead challenges it. They follow He was neither fair skinned nor mestizo, like our actor politicians, yet their genius not just the party line. he had a great following among the foreign and local intellectuals as well as the down trodden. Jose Rizal set the pattern of an extraordinary leader. He possessed a great mental caliber that prodded him to enhance his education all The Kingdom of God is like a merchant who searches for a precious over Europe. This, combined with a high sense morality and pearl. When he found one of great value, he sells everything that he unselfishness, he found the Filipinos disunited, voiceless, and not has to buy it (Matthew 13:45-16). In the same way a true leader will ever aware of their miseries. Especially eloquent in Spanish, although have to sacrifice much to bring God’s Kingdom to us. familiar with German and French, he wrote and spoke profusely, exhorting the Filipinos to fight peacefully for justice.