The Life and Works of Rizal

By Marisse T. Sonido Philippine Daily Inquirer (Editor’s Note: The following is excerpted from the first-prize-winning essay in the PreMYo Rizal Nationwide Essay Writing Contest for high schools sponsored by Binhi English Literacy Foundation and MyRizal150. The author is a third-year student at Assumption Antipolo.) Doctora Doña Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña. Even her name has pomp and frills. Meet Rizal’s effusive and self-proclaimed doña from “Noli Me Tangere”… As amusing as I found her, I soon realized that her character had a greater purpose than to provide a satirical image of a vain woman. Like any character of Rizal’s, I realized she was meant to teach us something about our society … I understood how Rizal used Victorina (to show us) our own flaws… From the very start, it was easy to see that Doña Victorina was all about appearances. She was described as wearing European dresses, her hair curly and her face heavily made up. Her appearance was an indication not just of her

Rizal Park (Luneta) is not only a place of historical significance, or a shrine to view and appreciate, but also an avenue of commerce and entertainment.  Here are some of the things people can buy at very reasonable prices.  Click on the images for an enlarged view.   For more pictures, visit the Photo Gallery.

For people living a great distance from the country's capital, probably the only view that comes to mind at the mention of the Luneta (Rizal Park) is the monument.  This is probably because the monument is the single most photographed portion of the entire vicinity.  Here's a virtual tour of Rizal Park, the way the Manileños enjoy it.  Click on the images for an enlarged view.  Upon entering the park, a welcome message reads: Mabuhay!  Welcome to Rizal Park, the Philippines' premier National Park.  Named after our great national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, it is a showcase of our country's heritage and culture.  Rizal park is also the Kilometer Zero to the best of the Philippine Islands and destinations.  Rizal park is our park - your park.  Help us in maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of its surroundings and in promoting security, peace and order for a truly enjoyable stay.  Maraming salamat po! For what it's worth, the entire area IS clean, s

Two long columns of Filipino heroes run the length of Rizal Park.  Here are a few of them.  Click on the image captions for an enlarged view: Apolinario Mabini   Overcoming extreme poverty and a crippling paralysis, he became known as the Brain of the Philippine Revolution.  He was one of the chief advisers of President Emilio Aguinaldo and served as a foreign minister and President of the cabinet.  He staunchly stood for Philippine independence and was exiled to Guam for his refusal to swear allegiance to the United States. Datu Ache   A Tausug chieftain, who commanded Sultan Bongsu's force of warriors in repelling an armada of 80 ships with 600 Spaniards and 3,000 Christian Filipino allies led by Governor Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera on January 4, 1638. Datu Taupan Also known as Panglima Taupan, he was the leader of the Sama Balanguigui of Zamobanga, Basilan and Tonquil islands. He fought for the independence of his people against Spanish incursions an

By Ronald S. Lim NOT ONLY is the Rizal Monument a reminder of Rizal's heroism — it also marks his final resting place. MANILA, Philippines — the year draws to a close, so does the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. One of the final activities commemorating Rizal’s birth sesquicentennial was Ambeth Ocampo’s lecture called “Doble Kara: Rizal in Art and Monument”. “Doble Kara” is Ocampo’s last lecture of the year, as well as the concluding installment in the “History Comes Alive!” series held at the Ayala Museum. “Doble Kara” revisits the origins of the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park. From its origins in Switzerland, to the history of the land it stands on, Ocampo looks at the many strange ways that Rizal is represented in our art and history. With more than a hundred monuments of the national hero to be found all over the country, there have been several representations of Rizal – from the usual depictions of him wearing

Here is a collection of photographs of Rizal Park taken at night.  Click on the pictures for a larger view: These busts of Filipino heroes runs along the length of the paved portion of the park. With dancing fountains on display every night, Rizal Park is a favorite place to hang out and have fun at evenings. Dancing fountains illuminate Luneta at night, and enliven the atmosphere with jovial music. These dancing fountains run in sync with lights and popular music. With artistic light displays, the expanding spray of water serves as a canvas on which moving images are projected. The world-famous Rizal monument is also the place where Jose Rizal's remains lie The Rizal monument, made grander with bright lights at night. On each side of the Rizal Park, there are rows of food stalls and vendors that sell practically anything from food to souvenirs to photographs and playthings.

The Rizalistas are a group of people who worship Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, as a divine being and deity.   Similar to other religious groups, the Rizalistas have different sects whose beliefs may vary, but nonetheless share the same faith in Jose Rizal.   These sects have different founders, founded on different dates, and are scattered in different parts of the archipelago.    Some of the registered groups of Rizalistas today include: Espiritual Pilipino Catholic Church Samahan ng Tatlong Persona Solo Dios Iglesia Sagrada Filipina Ciudad Mistica de Dios Watawat ng Lahi Adamista Bathalismo And many others… These individual sects each have their own chapters all over the country and even abroad.   Some of them are found primarily in Laguna, in the town of Calamba, and in Quezon Province at the foot of Mount Banahaw. Parallels: Jesus Christ and Jose Rizal Rizalistas believe that there are apparent paral

Makamisa During the Sanctus Veus, Sanctus Fortis, Capitana Barang nudged the fat woman next to her, the one lying on the floor, leading the prayers. "Mana Sebia… Mana Sebia!" Capitana Barang exclaimed, interrupting Sebia’s prayers. "Santus talis..." murmured Mana Sebia "…serere nobis!" rubbing her eyes and making the sign of the cross across her chest. "Mana Sebia... Mana Sebia did you see it?" Capitana Barang asked with alarm. "See what?" Mona Sebia replied, half-awake. "Our parish priest, Padre Agaton! Ay! he pushed the missal." "Look!" Mana Sebia yawned, her mouth wide open, revealing teeth blackened by buyo. She raised her head and got up, jolting herself awake. Now wide awake, Mana Sebia knelt to see the proceedings better. She saw nothing. Being short, she could not see anything, except the flickering candles set on two ciriales in front of the Nuestra Señora — serious, morena and symmetrical