Jose Rizal Life and Travels Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, wrote many political

pieces which expressed the feelings of many about the Spanish colonization and the potential for a democracy. The following timeline follows Rizal throughout his life. The Jose Rizal timeline begins with his birth and early life.

1848 - Jose Rizals mom, Teodora Morales Alonso-Realonda y Quintos, and dad, Francisco Rizal-Mercado y Alejandra, marry on June 28th. 1861 - On June 19th Jose Rizal is born to become the seventh child born to his parents. Three days later Rizal was christened with the name Jose Protasio Rizal-Mercado y Alonso-Realonda. 1870 - Jose begins school under the instruction of Justiniano Aquin Cruz at just nine years of age. 1871 - Jose continues his education under the instruction of Lucas Padua. 1872 - Rizal is examined by those in charge of college entrance to St. Tomas University in Manila; he enters the school system as a scholar. 1875 - Rizal enters the Ateneo as a boarder at just 14 years of age. 1876 - At the age of 15, Rizal receives a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Ateneo de Manila. He not only receives this degree, but receives it with the highest honors possible. 1877 - In June Jose begins to go to school at St. Tomas University in Manila where he studies philosophy.

Writing Career No Jose Rizal biography would be complete without details of how his career developed.

1877 - In November Rizal writes a poem and receives recognition for his writing from the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country, also known as Amigos del Pals. The

recognition comes in the form of a diploma of merit and honorable mention. 1878 - In June Rizal decides to switch gears in his educational pursuits and transfers into the medical courses at St. Tomas University. During this time he also writes an additional two poems that win him further recognition. 1880 - At the age of 19 Rizal writes another poem for a competition where he should have won first prize. However, he was not given this prize due to discrimination. 1880 - In December Rizal produces his first Operetta called On the Banks of the Pasig. 1881 - Rizal creates the commemorative medal in wax for the Royal Economic Society of Friends centennial celebration.

Emigrating

1882 - In May Rizal gets money from his brother and travels secretly from Manila to Spain aboard a French ship and railroad entering Spain at the Port Bou. 1882 - In June St. Tomas University realizes Rizal is nowhere to be found and threatens to take land away from his father who is a tenant even though his father has no idea of his whereabouts. 1882 - June 15 Rizal makes his arrival in Barcelona and begins to study again in Madrid in October of that same year. 1886 - Rizal receives a degree in medicine from the Central University of Madrid at the age of 24. He then becomes an assistant to Dr. L. de Wecker and visits many universities in Berlin, Leipzig, and Heidelberg in the country of Germany.

Fame... Then Death and Legacy

1887 - Rizal finishes his first novel titled Noli Me Tangere while staying in Berlin. He then travels to Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. 1887 - On July 3 Rizal leaves from Mersailles in Italy and arrives in Manila on August 5th. He travels to nearby areas escorted by a Spanish Lieutenant.

1888 - In February Rizal leaves Spain and sets sail for Hong Kong in Japan. He continued to travel practice medicine and write. 1896 - In August Rizal was detained aboard a ship traveling back to Spain. Rizal was charged with treason, sedition, and the formation of illegal societies. He was held in a dungeon where he penned his last piece of writing called My Last Farewell. He also wrote an address to Filipino insurgents to lay down their arms against the Spanish. The address was never made public, but was added to the list of charges against him. 1896 - On December 27 he was condemned to death in a Spanish court and he was shot on December 30th 1896 and buried in a secret grave. 1912 - On December 30th the ashes of Rizal were transferred to the Rizal Mausoleum and December 30th is declared a national holiday in honor of his memory.