Rizal

Biography Sketch of Rizal

Date of Birth: June 19, 1861 Rizal's Full Name: Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda. He was born in Calamba, a small agricultural lakeshore town nestling at the foot of Mt Makiling as it slopes down to Laguna de Bay. He was baptised on June 22, 1861 as Jose Rizal Mercado by the parish priest. Fr Rufino Collantes, with Fr Pedro Casanas as the godfather (ninong). The name "Jose" was chosen by his mother who was a devotee to St Joseph.

June 19, 1861

Date of birth of Jose Rizal

Denial of Human Rights to the Filipinos

During the 19th century, the Spaniards struggled to secure respect and recognition of human rights. However the Filipinos could not understand why the Spaniards who fought for the sacred rights of men would deny them of the same right. *Sinibaldo de Mas*, a Spanish economist and diplomat to the Phils, sympathized with the Filipinos and said; " Why do we fall into an anomaly , such as combining our claim for liberty for ourselves, and our wish to impose our laws on remote peoples? Why do we deny to others the benefits which we desire for our fatherlands? Rizal also voiced the respect and recognition of human rights as essential in promoting harmony among peoples; " ...Liberty, rights, and love distinct races around the same standard, one aspiration, one destiny'.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)

the country's agency in-charge of historical matters, prescribes the passage of FIFTY(50) YEARS before a person is declared as a hero If the person is still being admired after that period and his ideas were still invoked and appreciated, he has passed the test of time and deserves to be called a hero

Ventura de los Reyes

the first Filipino representative, and one of the signatories of the 1812 Spanish Constitution

Old Juancho

He acquired formal lessons in Latin and Spanish, where he excelled in all subjects. Rizal also learned drawing and painting skills under a local painter named? he later referred to himself as a fashionable painter

Manuel de Quintos

Rizal's maternal great-great grandfather - he was a Chinese mestizo, a lawyer from Lingayen Pangasinan. His wife Regina Ursua(Ochoa) was of Japanese ancestry. Their daughter Brigida married Lorenzo Alberto, an engineer. Lorenzo's mother belonged to a professionally prominent family from Baliuag, Bulacan. Lorenzo himself was wealthy and had considerable investments in two American companies. They had 5 children, including Teodora, Rizal's mother

Rizal's Secret Mission

Rizal's motivation to go to Spain was not just to continue his studies medicine, but to keenly observe the life and culture, language and customs, industries and commerce, government and laws of the European nations in preparation to liberate his oppressed countrymen from the yoke off Spanish colonial rule. Before his secret departure he sent a telegram to his parents in Calamba and another to his sweetheart Leonora Rivera, all delivered shortly after he sailed away

Paciano

Rizal's only brother, was his second father to him for his wise counsel and advise. In his letter to Blumentritt dated June 28, 1888 , he described his brother as " the most noble of Filipinos, though an Indio, more generous and noble than all Spaniards put together". Paciano joined the General Aguinaldo's revolutionary forces and rose to the ranks of the Major General. He died a bachelor in 1930 at the age of 79.

Brief History of Rizal Law

Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the Rizal Bill. It was co-authored by Jose P. Laurel. The said law was met with opposition from the Catholic Church because it would violate the freedom of conscience and religion. During the 1955 Senatorial Election, the Church charged Recto with being a communist and an anti-Catholic. Groups such as the Catholic Action of the Phils, the Congregation of the Mission, the Knights of Columbus and The Catholic Teacher's Guild organized the opposition to the bill. They were countered by the Veteranos de la Revoluccion, Alagad ni Rizal, the Freemasons, and the Knights of Rizal. In the Senate, the only opposition only comes from Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo, Mariano Jesus Cuenco and Decoroso Rosales.

Indulto Para Comerciar/Indulto de Comercio

a privilege given to the Alcalde Mayores to monopolize domestic trade, control prices and business practices. They brought goods from the natives at a cheap rate and sold these goods back to the natives in times of scarcity but in a higher price. ❖ Due to floods of complaints by more responsible officials in Spain, a decree was issued in 1844 which abolished the said privilege and fixed the salary of the Alcalde Mayor at 1,500, provided only lawyers or persons with 2 years of legal experience were qualified for the said position. In 1866, the judicial and executive duties of the civil officials were permanently separated.

Fernando Primo de Rivera

a two term governor general from (1880- 1883) and (1897-1898). He enriched himself by accepting bribes from gambling casinos which allowed to operate

Tribute / Taxes

another privilege enjoyed by the Alcalde Mayors where a certain percentage was collected from the total amount of taxes imposed on the provinces. They often exacted more tributes than required by law and pocketed the excess collections ❖ One tribute is equivalent to 8 reales or one peso and may be paid in money or in kind like rice, honey, corn, etc. ❖ In 1851, it was increased to 12 reales or 1 ½ tribute. eventually it was replaced by cedula tax, which served as personal identity paper which described and contained the information of the bearing including his name ❖ exempted from paying the tribute include the governadorcillos, cabezas and their families, government employees, soldiers with distinguished service, native chieftains, choir members , sacristans, porters of the church

Rayadillo

Students wore the uniform called " hemp-fabric trousers" and striped cotton coat, which was called?

Education at Ateneo

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - Rizal's first favourite novel, which left a deep impression on his young mind. Universal History by Cesar Cantu - Rizal persuaded his father to purchase this costly set of historical work that was a great aid in his studies and for winning prizes in Ateneo. Travels in the Philippines - written by Dr Feogor Jagor a German scientist-traveller who visited the Phils in 1859-1860. It presented his keen observation about the defects of the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines and his prophesy about the end of Spanish domination and the coming of the Americans.

June 12, 1956

The bill was enacted on?

The death of Concepcion

at the young age of 3 became Rizal's first sorrow: " I lost my little Concha, and then for the first time I shed tears because of love and grief"

Maladministration of Justice

" Justice delayed, justice denied ". The courts of justice were notoriously corrupt; the Spanish judges, fiscals(prosecuting attorneys) and court officials were inept and oftentimes ignorant of the law. Justice was slow, costly and partial; Wealth, social prestige and color of the skin were preponderant factors in winning the case in court. Rizal himself and his family were among the victims of the Spanish injustices: ❑ imprisonment of Dona Teodora in 1871 and in 1891 ❑ Rizal 's deportation to Dapitan in 1892 without a fair trial ❑ banishment of Paciano and his brother in laws in the different parts of the country without due process of law.

Rafael de Izquierdo

(1871-1873) a boastful and ruthless official who ignited the anger of the Filipinos by executing the 3 priests, Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora Feb 13, 1872

Valeriano Weyler

(1888-1891) known as "Butcher of Cuba"; he arrived as a poor man and returned to Spain a millionaire. He received bribes and gift of diamonds for his wife from wealthy Chinese who evaded the anti-Chinese laws. It was during his tenure when he ordered the persecution of Rizal's family and the tenants of the Dominican estates in Calamba

Camilo de Polavieja

(1896-1897) an able and ruthless governor who ordered the execution of Rizal

Polo y Servicios

(Forced Labor) It started in 1580 when native Indios and mestizos from 16-60 years old were forced to work for 40 days every year(In 1884 it was reduced to 15 days) The polistas were made to work in the construction of bridges, roads, churches and convents. Others were sent to forest to cut trees or work in the mines; assigned as rowers of Spanish Galleons, or conscripted in the military. Forced labor caused decline of communities and agricultural production which led to famine, starvation and death.

Mi Primera Inspiracion

(My first inspiration)- first poem written by Rizal in 1874 while in Ateneo. It was dedicated by Rizal to Doña Teodora on his birthday. The poem was full of ecstasy and joy after the release of her mother from prison

Domingo Lamco

- Rizal's great-great paternal grandfather that adopted the surname" Mercado" in 1732. He was married to Ines De La Rosa, a Chinese Mestiza. Lamco he was a full bloodied Chinese merchant from Fukien city of Changkow, hence a Spanish surname "Mercado" was fitting. It was also adopted to free the younger generation from the prejudices those with Chinese names Lamco's family migrated from the Parian to Binan, Laguna and became tenants in the vast Dominican estate(hacienda). Lamco's only son, Francisco (Rizal's great grandfather) was a keen witted and liberal man, became a well-to-do and was appointed as municipal captain(gobernadorcillo) of Binan in 1783. He married Bernada Monicha, also a Chinese mestiza, and they were blessed with 2 children, Juan and Clemente. Like his father, Juan was also elected as gobernadorcillo. He married Cirila Alejandra, another Chinese Mestisa, they had 14 children, including Rizal's father, Francisco.

Rizal's Literary Works in Ateneo

1. Al Niño Jesus ( To The Child Jesus) 2. La Virgen Maria ( To the Virgin Mary)

Meaning and Concept of a Hero

1. Heroes are just ordinary human beings; they are made and were never born as such. 2. Heroes are not born saints and many of them were not exactly saintly 3. Heroes' achievements outweighed his weaknesses, frailties and shortcomings as ordinary individuals. 4. No one becomes a hero overnight 5. Heroes are those who have concept of a nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation's freedom 6. A hero thinks of the future especially the future generations

Rizal (RA 1425)

An Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, Colleges and Universities Courses on the Life, Works, and Writings of Jose Rizal, Particularly His Novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. CONTENT OF THE LAW Section 1 mandated that the students were to read the novels as they were written in Spanish. Section 2 mandated the schools to have the adequate number of copies in their libraries Section 3 ordered the Board of National Education to publish the works in major Philippine Languages. POLICY STATEMENT OF THE LAW: ▪ There is a need for a rededication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died ▪ In honouring our heroes, especially our national hero and patriot, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, we remember special fondness and devotion their lived and works that shaped our national character ▪ The life, works and writings of Rizal , particularly his two novels, Noli and El Fili, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism

Maestro Celestino, Lucas Paduca and Leon Monroy

As his parents grew older, private tutors were employed for Jose, namely,

Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz

At the age of 9 he was sent to study in Biñan for one and a half years under?

June 22, 1861

Baptismal of Rizal as Jose Rizal Mercado

Gov Gen Carlos Ma de la Torre of 1869

In 1869, the Spanish liberals had taken over the government and sent BLANK as the new governor general to the Phils. This benevolent governor was able to show his liberal disposition in running the affairs of the colonial government by introducing series of reforms, such as revocation of press censorship and the abolition of flogging as a form of punishment. He even lived simply within his means and broke the tradition by openly mingling with the indios, mestizos and Spaniards and treating them equally. His administration as a result gave the Filipinos a taste of liberal regime and thus inspired the Filipino middle class to continue their campaign their reforms under the Spanish colonial rule

The Class in Physics

In the Chapter 8 of his El Fili entitled " BLANK", Rizal illustrated the obsolete teaching of subjects in natural sciences, where microscopes were just displayed for the visitors to see, but not for the students to touch.

Rizals two prize winning works during his UST days

La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)- written in 1879 as Rizal's entry to a literary contest sponsored by the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila - the poem evoked ideas of freedom and independence for one nation and one people. His prize was a silver quilt (pen), featheredshaped and decorated with a gold ribbon. El Consejo De los Dioses ( The Council of Gods)- an allegory written by Rizal in 1890 in commemoration of the 400th death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes, Spain's greatest poet and writer of Don Quixote. It was open for students and professionals alike, and for Spaniards and Indios. It was based on Greek Classics which presented a discussion who among the Olympian gods and goddess as to who the greatest was Homer, Virgil or Cervantes. Rizal won again the first prize. His prize was a gold ring on which engraved the bust of Cervantes. But because he was an Indio, the Spanish community in Manila was against the decision of the board of judges.

Rizal's Literary Works in Ateneo

Por La Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through education the country receives light)- expressed the potential benefits derived from educating the masses. It emphasized that "Learning infuses truth and discipline brings peace, glory and tranquillity to the nation" Alianza Intima Entre La Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good Education)- in this poem, Rizal explained the concept that faith and belief in truth and love of God are discovered in dedicated study and cultivation of the mind The academic excellence of Rizal and his literary prowess qualified him for membership in two exclusive societies in Ateneo: Academy of Spanish Literature and Academy of Natural Sciences

From his father

Rizal inherited a sense of dignity and self respect, love of work, seriousness and selfpossession

From his mother

Rizal inherited the religious nature, the temperament of a poet, the passion of art and literature and the dreamer and bravery for sacrifice

Ateneo Municipal

Rizal went to BLANK from 1872-1877 where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, equivalent to a highschool diploma, with highest honors. (Excellent). It entitled him to enter in any university. It was during his Ateneo days where he used the surname "Rizal" instead of Mercado to avoid the wrath and suspicion of the Spanish Authorities.

Father José Bech

Rizal's first Professor whom he described as "a tall man, thin, with a body slightly bent forward, with hurried walk, an ascetic, severe and inspired face, small, deep-sunken eyes, a sharp Grecian nose, with thin lips forming an arc whose ends turned toward his chin". This priest was a bit crazy, so that one should not be surprised to find him sometimes disgusted and ill-humored; other times he played like a child

Doña Teodora

Rizal's first teacher

The end of the Galleon Trade and The Opening of the Philippines to World Trade in 1834

The expansion of Philippine trade and the opening of the ports of Iloilo, Cebu, Sual in Pangasinan, and Zamboanga outside Manila stimulated foreign demands for Philippine products and encouraged agricultural production in the Philippines. Effects: ❑ Traditional Philippine exports increased with the rapid development and production of cash crops such as sugar from Iloilo and Negros, tobacco from Ilocos, Abaca from Bicol, indigo and rice from Panay Island /Central Luzon, and coffee from Batangas

The Rise of the Middle Class

The main beneficiaries of the emerging cash crop, free trade and commercialization of Philippine agriculture and economic expansion were the Spanish and Chinese mestizos who became capitalists and middlemen. With enhanced wealth, it facilitated greater educational advantages among their children and with contact with foreign newcomers and new ideas, the new breeds of illustrados started to question the abuses of the governor and demanded social reforms

Racial Discrimination among the Indios

While Christianity was propagated in the Phils under the egalitarian concept of brotherhood of all men under God the Father, the Spanish authorities and friars did not follow its own teachings. Newly converted natives were not treated as brother Christians, but inferior human beings on the account of their brown skin and flat noses, thus undeserving of the rights and privileges enjoyed by the white Spaniards. The term "Indio" referring to the brown Filipinos means uneducated, uncivilized or savage". Racial discrimination was prevalent in the government offices, in the courts of justice, in the armed forces, in the social circles, even in the education institutions and ecclesiastical hierarchy

The Union of Church and State

With the spread of Christianity as one of the most important of Spain's motive, the friars were used by the government as instrument of colonial control. The Archbishop of Manila shared the extensive powers of the civil authorities, including the Governor General. Under him were the bishops in charge of the dioceses, and below the bishops were the priests who took care of the parishes. The term of office of the Church officials was not limitless. They became more powerful during the 19th Century political instability in Spain, as the political control in the colony yielded in their hands. Political authority was usually placed in the hands of a parish priest, making him both a religious and state representative of the town. Frailocracia - " government of friars". As a result, the conflict between church and state resulted from the intrigues and jealousies between the friars and civil officials. Even the tenure of higher officials at times depended on the will of the friars. The religious corporations acquired vast tracks of hacienda and enriched their coffers at the expense of the people's ignorance. The religious orders became the rightful owners of land after securing royal titles for the properties, thus causing agrarian unrest as the Filipino tenants viewed the friars as usurpers of their ancestral lands

Don Francisco Mercado Rizal

born in Binan Laguna. He studied Latin and Philosopy at the College of San Jose in Manila - Rizal described his father as a " model of all fathers", strong constitution , rather tall the short, of serious and reflective men and with prominent forehead and large dark eyes"

Doña Teodora Alonzo Mercado Rizal

born in Meisik, Sta. Cruz Manila. She studied at the College of Sta. Rosa in Manila, a prominent school for girls She was described by Rizal as a "woman not of ordinary culture. She knows literature and speaks better Spanish that I do. She even corrected my poems and gave me wise advise when I was studying rhetoric. She was my mathematician" It was from his mother and maternal side that Rizal inherited his literary talent. His maternal aunt was a well known poetess in Vigan.

the Roman Empire

composed of the internos (boarding students)

the Carthaginian Empire

comprised the externos (nonboarding students)

General Emilio Aguinaldo

first issued a decree on December 30, 1898 which declared the 30TH day of December as a National Day of Mourning in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other victims of the revolution. ▪ Such declaration did not specifically declare Rizal as a National Hero, but it was a tribute to his heroism

The Story of Moth

from " The Children's Stories"(El Amigo de los Ninos) It tells about a mother moth who warned its offspring of the danger of going near the lamp's flame. The advise was not heeded and the little moth was burned by the blue flame. The moth's daring and its attraction to the dazzling light left a deep impression on Rizal's idealism, one must suffer any consequence if one is to succeed. Is it the search for light worth dying for? Rizal's responsibility to himself and his countrymen is guided by the " Lamp of Reason"

Frailocracia

government of friars

Fr. Jose Villaclara

he advised Rizal to stop communing with muses and focused on practical studies such as philosophy and natural sciences

1.Saturnina 2. Paciano 3. Narcisa 4. Olympia 5.Lucia 6. Maria 7. Jose 8. Concepcion 9. Josefa 10. Trinidad 11. Soledad

order of Rizal's siblings

Augusto Saez

he studied painting under BLANK, a famous Spanish painter and under Romualdo de Jesus, a noted Filipino sculptor. - he carved the Image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of Batikuling, a hardwood, using a pocket knife. - he also made the image of the Sacred Heart as a gift to his Jesuit Professor Fr. Leonart. (During his final hours in Fort Santiago in 1896, it was presented to him by his Jesuit mentor Fr. Villaclara)

Rizal

his second Spanish surname after Mercado, was derived from the Spanish word riccial which means "green field." This surname was given to his family by an alcalde mayor (provincial governor) in Laguna. The family preffered to keep Mercado as the family surname, except for Jose who used Rizal for his matriculation in Ateneo Municipal. As he recounted to Dr. Blumentritt, "I am the only Rizal because my parents, relatives, sisters, and my brother have always preferred our old surname Mercado."

11 Children (9 girls, 2 boys)

how many children did don francisco and don teodora have?

Nationalism

is an important element in considering heroism. This means that the person must identify himself with the nation and would be willing to sacrifice for its benefits

January 22, 1809

it issued a decree granting all Spanish colonies a direct representation in the Spanish Cortes

Bandala System

it was instituted by Governor General Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera during the first half of the 17th century. ✓ this refers to assignment of annual quotas to each province for the compulsory sale of product to the government. ✓ Due to lack of funds, the government issued promissory note in exchange for the goods. Non-payment on the part of the government meant confiscation of products

Calamba

named after a big jar, was an inspiring setting: its scenic beauty gave Rizal the right impetus for his poetic and artistic creativity. Its share of unhappiness also shaped his noble and heroic spirit

Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez

one of Rizal's best professors, " a model of uprightness, earnestness, and devotion to the progress of his pupils; and such was his zeal that I, who scarcely spoke middling Spanish, was able after a short time to write it fairly well." With his aid Rizal studied mathematics, rhetoric, and Greek to some advantage. • He was fondly called a "dark spirit," and the students nicknamed him Paniki, which is a kind of ba

Archbishop Martinez

ordered the tolling of the bells of the Manila Cathedral as a final salute to the martyred priests fighting for the rights of the native clergy. While the bells were being tolled, the crowd spontaneously knelt in prayer and the Spaniards thought this was a signal of attack from the sympathizers. The execution of GOMBURZA eventually hastened the growth of Filipino nationalism

social structure

peninsulares, friars, spanish officials - top Insulares, Creoles, Mestizos, favoured Natives - middle indios - bottom

Mi Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo

poem written by Rizal during his Ateneo days that gave honor to his beloved hometown... It was in this atmosphere that Rizal learned the early values of love, affection and loyalty which blossomed in his mature years and won him for his admiration of his people

Indio

referring to the brown Filipinos means uneducated, uncivilized or savage"

Rafael de Izquierdo

replaced Gov Gen dela Torre in 1871, he immediately disregarded liberal measures; he abolished the exemption privilege of the arsenal workers and engineer corps from paying tributes and forced labor. ➢ As an expression of protests, on the night of January 21, 1872, about 200 Filipino soldiers and arsenal workers in Cavite mutinied under the leadership of Sergeant Lamadrid. ➢ They were able to kill their Spanish officers, but the mutiny was suppressed. ➢ Lamadrid and the 41 mutineers were executed in Bagumbayan.

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda

rizal's fullname

Senator Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo

said ▪" As a vast majority of our people are, at the same time, Catholic and Filipino citizens. As such, they have two great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves are not conflicting loves. They are harmonious affections, like the love of his father and for his mother. ▪This is the basis of my stand. Let us not create a conflict between nationalism and religion, between government and the Church.

Senator Jose P. Laurel

said " Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as in a mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then we would become conscious as a people and so we learn to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self reliance, self-respect, and freedom''

Senator Claro M. Recto

said " Rizal did not pretend to teach religion when he wrote those books. He aimed at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos, national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism and if references were made by him in the course of his narration to certain religious practices in the Philippines. In those days, and to the conduct and behavior of erring minister of the church, it was because he portrayed faithfully the general situation in the Philippines as it then existed"

4Rs(Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Religion)

the typical schooling given to a student from a family of Illustrado

Jose

was based on Doña Teodora's patron saint, Saint Joseph. Back then, as it is today, it was the practice of Catholics to name a newly born infant after a saint. In fact, a lot of Rizal's relatives were named BLANK

Protasio

was taken from the calendar of the Catholic names. In the celebration of Rizal's first death anniversary at the Quiapo church, a banner with greetings for Rizal revealed his complete baptismal name

Realonda

was the adopted surname of Doña Teodora from the Spanish surnames approved by the Spanish government in 1849

Mercado

was the first Spanish surname used by Rizal's Family. It was first adopted by Domingo Lam-co, Rizal's great-great-grandfather, a Chinese from Fukien. He arrived in Manila in 1760. After converting to Christianity, he decided to settle in the country for good. He chose Mercado (which literally means "market" in Spanish) as his Christian surname because it suited his line of work. Like most Chinese immigrants in the country, Lam-co was a local merchant.

Alonzo

was the surname of Rizal's grandfather on his mother's side, Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo, a prominent Spanish Filipino mestizo from Biñan, Laguna

Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora

were accused of alleged conspiracy and rebellion and were sentenced to death by garrote on February 17, 1872

Josefa and Trinidad

were both spinsters( he called them Senoritas) and died as old maid at the age of 80 and 83, respectively

Rufino Collantes and Pedro Casanas

who baptised rizal

1891

year he dedicated his second Novel El Fli to the three executed priests

1871

year that Doña Teodora was sent to jail on false accusation of complicity in an attempted murder filed by her brother Jose Alejandro's wife

1994

year that President Fidel V. Ramos ordered the Department of Education Culture and Sports to fully implement the law as there had been reports that it still not been fully implemented

February 17, 1872

year that The Cavite Mutiny and the Martyrdom of Gomburza happened

Rizal At the University of Sto. Tomas: (1877-1882)

• After graduating at the Ateneo, Rizal enrolled in courses in Philosophy and letters at the University of Sto. Tomas and took up vocational courses in agriculture and surveying at the Ateneo. • Doña Teodora, afraid of what had happened to the Gomburza priest, opposed his son's decision to pursue higher studies in Manila, because "if he gets to know more, the Spaniards would cut his head." • At 17, he finished his surveying course but the degree of Perito agrimensor (expert surveyor)and the license to practice was only conferred to him when he was 21. • He finally decided to take up medicine, with the advised of Fr Pablo Ramon, after a year of taking Philosophy and Letters because he wanted to treat the failing eyesight of her mother. • The prevailing racial discrimination was among his greatest resentments during his student days in UST.

Definition of a Hero

▪ " An admirable leader towering over his peers, who serves a noble cause, possessing exceptional talent, distinguished valor, exercising an influenced over the life of his people in a remarkable event" - National Historical Institute. ▪ "A hero must, during extreme stress and difficulties, project himself by his own fortitude, by his own sacrifices to be the inspiration of his countrymen in leading them to their rightful destiny. He must exhibit self-denial and abandon his personal interests to place those of his country before any other".

Secularization Controversy

❑ The appointment of regular clergy( those belonging to monastic order) over the secular priests for parish assignments created conflict on visitation rights by the diocese. ❑The regulars resisted being placed under two superiors, the head of their religious order and the Bishop as the head of the diocese. ❑ The explusion of theJesuits from the Philippines in 1768 due to such conflict resulted to the shortage of priests in the country. ❑ The Royal Decree of 1774 ordered the secularization of parishes and encourages more natives to enter priesthood, which at that time was the best option to gain status and economic affluence. More Fillipino secular priests were given parishes of their own. ❑ However, the return of the Jesuits in 1859 and the implementation of the policy of desecularization directly affected the native seculars • The Filipino seculars reacted with resentment at the injustices and discrimination they were subjected to. • Hence the secularization controversy transformed into a Filipinization issue, which sharpened their awareness of their separate national identity which their parishioners also became conscious about. • Among the strong supporters of the secularization movement were Archbishop Gregorio Meliton Martinez, Frs. Pedro Pelaez, Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora. • Archbishop Martinez warned the Spanish Regent of the discrimination of Filipino priest as a ground for anti-Spanish sentiments.