José Rizal

José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896),

Last days

In 1896, the Katipunan, a patriotic secret society, launched a revolution. Rizal had been given leave by the colonial government to serve in Cuba as a volunteer to minister to victims of yellow fever.

Related Topics:
1896 - Katipunan - Yellow fever

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He was arrested en route, imprisoned in Barcelona, and returned to stand trial. He was implicated by association with members of the Katipunan and tried before a court-martial for rebellion, sedition, and establishing an illegal association. During his internment, he had many opportunities to escape but refused to do so. Rizal was convicted of all three accusations and sentenced to death.

Related Topics:
Tried - Rebellion - Sedition - Establishing an illegal association - Death

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With his execution nearing, he wrote his last poem, "Mi Último Adiós" (My Last Farewell), which played a role in later events. In the early morning, he attended two Masses and was finally allowed to marry his fiancée and lover, Josephine Bracken at 5:30 am, after having been denied a marriage license the year before. He was executed by firing squad in Bagumbayan Field (now Rizal Park) in Manila) some two hours later. His body was buried in a secret grave in Paco Cemetery, registered as a suicide.

Related Topics:
Mi Último Adiós - Masses - Josephine Bracken - Executed - Firing squad - Bagumbayan Field - Paco - Suicide

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A statue is present now at the place where he fell, designed by the Swiss Richard Kissling of the famed "William Tell" sculpture, with the inscription "I want to show to those who deprive people the right to love of country, that when we know how to sacrifice ourselves for our duties and convictions, death does not matter if one dies for those one loves – for his country and for others dear to him".

Related Topics:
Richard Kissling - Andres Bonifacio - Emilio Aguinaldo - Mohandas Gandhi - Rabindranath Tagore - India - Sun Yat-sen - China - 1860s

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The USS Rizal (DD-174) destroyer was named in his honor.

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