CHAPTER 16
Rizal from the Various Perspectives
By: Sharmaine Cayabyab
Justine Blu Delfin
Various titles have been attributed to Rizal. Among the most common
ones are the First Filipino which was coined by Leon Ma. Guerrero in his
book of the same title. Rizal was also called the Great Malayan because
of his race. Austin Craig, one of the first biographers of the hero, called
Rizal, a Philippine Patriot. To many Filipinos, he was a great exemplar, a
model Filipino. To most of them, he was the only national hero of the
Philippines. This concept was taught to them at an early age and it
ignored the fact that there were other heroes who worked and died for
the nation.
There were even some people who consider Rizal in the realm of the
supernatural, calling him a Tagalog Christ or a saint.
The "Loves" of Rizal
Rizal was known to have many female acquaintances and
his biographies narrate quite a number of romantic episodes.
The better known ones were with Segunda Katigbak, Leonor
Valenzuela, Vicenta Ybardaloza, Leonor Rivera, Consuelo
Ortiga, Nelly Boustead, Suzanne Jacoby, Usui Seiko, Gertrude
Beckett, and Josephine Bracken.
Was Rizal Deserving to be the
National Hero?
Regarding the issue that other heroes like As for Aguinaldo, issues about his life needs to
Andres Bonifacio or Emilio Aguinaldo be be discussed and deliberated thoroughly. It
enshrined instead as the national hero, Jose was true that he led the country towards
Rizal is not the only national hero of the independence in 1898. However the republic
Philippines. Other national heroes include which he helped create eventually succumbed
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini, to bickering within his government which
Marcelo H. Del Pilar and all those who helped eventually to its downfall.
guide the Philippines to being a nation-state.
The Filipino
Introduction
"Hamlet"
Like the Shakespearean character, Rizal had
contradictions at times he favored revolution and at
times stuck to Reforms. This was because he was
considering his options to have a revolution means to
have blood in his hands. On the other hand, the quest for
reforms may be hopeless. He hopes for reforms but
despairs when not obtaining these. He predicts a
revolution but fears it’s coming.
Was Rizal an American-
made Hero?
One serious allegation against Rizal was that he was an
American-sponsored hero. Unfortunately, many Filipinos
subscribed to this belief. They believed that Rizal rever
favored revolution or independence for the Philippines;
that he favored instead a quiet evolutionary process that
involves education. This approach according to some
writers suited the Americans well and they promoted the
cult of Rizal.
Rizal Elevated to the
Supernatural?
While most Filipinos appreciate Rizal's heroism and consider him as
one of the country's heroes, there are some Filipinos who see him at a
higher level. Groups like the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or the
Philippine Independent Church considered him as one of its saints.
The founder of this sect, Isabelo de los Reyes advocated the
"canonization" of Rizal, along with the three martyred priests of 1872,
Fathers Mariano Gomes, Jacinto Zamora and Jose Burgos as saints.
On September 24, 1903, less than a year after the foundation of the
church, Rizal as well as the three priests were canonized as saints.
The Foreign View
Introduction
of Rizal
Beyond the Philippines, people of other countries saw Rizal
as an inspiration and a good example, Southeast Asian
peoples saw Rizal as an exemplar of the Malayan race. In
Indonesia and Malaysia not a few people were named after
Rizal. During the centenary of Rizals martyrdom in 1996
the then Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar
Ibrahim called Rizal as "a renaissance man, pointing to his
virtue of continuous self improvement.
Introduction
THE STORY OF THE
RIZAL MONUMENTS
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
• A monument is a structure built to honor a hero or to commomerate a historical
event.
• The first monument in his honor was built in Daet, Camarines Norte in 1898 by fellow
masons and was inaugurated on December 30, the second anniversary of his
martyrdom.
• The monument bore the words "Morga" on the other side, relating to the author of
the Sucesos en las Islas Filipinas which Rizal annotated.
• On the other sides of the monument are titles of Rizal's novels, the Noli Me Tangere
and the El Filibusterismo.
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
• The first monument in the city of Manila was constructed at the
corner of Azcarraga Street (now Claro M. Recto) and Rizal
Avenue in 1910.
• Funds for the structure were taken from the proceeds of the
Philippine Carnival.
• This monument was later transferred to San Lazaro Park in
1918.
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
• On September 28, 1901 the Philippine Commission passed Act No.
243, granting the use of public land in Luneta for the erection of a
statue of Rizal and stating that the funds for the construction
should come from public subscription.
• A monument committee was formed consisting of Teodoro R.
Yangco, Mariano Limjap, Paciano Rizal, Pascual H. Poblete, Juan
Tuason, Maximino Paterno, Ramon Genato, Dr Ariston Bautista
and Tomas G. del Rosario was formed.
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
• There were 40 entries in the competition of which ten were
chosen as finalists.
• The design of the Italian Carlos Nicoli entitled "Al Martir de
Bagumbayan" won the first prize amounting to ₱5,000.
• The second prize went to Richard Kissling of Switzerland with his
entry "Motto Stella". Kissling won ₱2,000.
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The models or display at the Marble Hall of the
Some of the scale models of the entries to the contest
Ayuntamiento Building in Intramuros
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
Nicoli's Al Martir de Bagumbayan Kissling's Motto Stella
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
Meanwhile, Rizal's remains were taken by the
Knights of Rizal from his sister Narcisa's house in
Binondo in an elaborate procession and taken to
the Sala Marmol (Marble Hall) of the
Ayuntamiento Building in Intramuros on
December 29, 1912.
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
• Nicoli's design however was not implemented allegedly because
he was not able to raise the sufficient funds to guarantee that he
could build his monument.
• It was decided instead that the design by Richard Kissling should
be implemented.
• The monument was inaugurated on December 30, 1913. The
monument then became an important landmark. Since Rizal's
remains were buried at its base it is actually a shrine to the hero
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The Sculptor Richard Kissling
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
In 1961, in commemoration of the birth centenary of Rizal, a
stainless steel pylon designed by Architect Juan Nakpil was built
around the obelisk raising its height to a hundred feet. Many
objected to the addition to the monument and it was discreetly
removed. It was transferred to the boundary of Parañaque and
Pasay City along Roxas Boulevard where it remained until the
1980s
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
The monument of Rizal with The monument of Rizal in the
The monument of Rizal now
Juan Nakpil's steel pylon 1930's
Introduction
Historical Side
Story
Introduction
Jose Rizal,
According to his
sister Trinidad
The Story of the Rizal
Introduction
Monuments
• Of the eleven children of Francisco Rizal-Mercado and Teodora
Alonso Realonda including Dr. Jose Rizal himself, one is still
living-the 10 child.
• The eighth child of nine daughters, she is Trinidad Rizal, 69
years old, single, second to the youngest and Rizal's junior by
eight years.
Historical Side
Introduction
Story
Trinidad Mercado Rizal
Thank You