CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
I. Background of the Study
Most of the Filipino citizens have known Rizal as our National hero. They know
his life, educations, travels, works, achievements, struggles and even his execution.
However, this is not the ending of Rizal’s story. After his death, his remains pass through
different places and troubles before it come to its final resting place.
There are rumors that his remains were buried in Paco Cemetery without a coffin
and proper burial rights before being recovered by his family. There are also papers
discovered in his clothes when his body was retrieved and it is believed that the letters for
his family. After the recovery, his body was placed in an urn and his sister Narcisa keep it
in her house. On the other hand, the Rizalistas believed that after the execution of Dr.
Jose Rizal, he allegedly rose from the dead due to a divine miracle. But, in 1911,
Americans and Filipinos, transferred his body to where it lies now - Luneta Park. Now,
the body of Rizal rests under his monument named Motto Stella or The Guiding Star,
created by Richard Kissling - an artist from Switzerland.
This research will elaborate these rumors that can be subjected in proving its
validity and clear confusions about this topic.
II. Introduction
Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine National hero, lived a short –life for his love in his
country. He dedicated his life for the Filipinos, to free them in the Spanish colonization.
He was proficient in atleast 10 languages.
Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born in June 19, 1861 at
their house in Calamba, Laguna. His parents were Francisco Mercado and Doña Teodora
Realonda, he was their 7th child and his siblings were Saturnina (the eldest), Pacaiano
(only bortohter), Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Concepcion, Josefa and Trinidad.

Rizal’s early education was in Calamba and Biñan where he studied reading,
writing, arithmetic and religion. He was known for being an intelligent student in any
school that he entered, not only in the Philippines but also outside the country. He
obtained his bachelor’s degree with highest honors in 1876 at Jesuit-run Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. At University of Santo Tomas he studied medicine but had to stop
because of the discrimination of Dominican tutors to the Filipino students. He went to
Madrid Universidad Central de Madrid and in 1885 he finished his course in Philosophy
and Letters with the grade of “Excellent”. He took graduate studies in Paris, France and
Heidelberg, Germany. In his spare time, he had painting and sculpting lesson.

Rizal is known for his works especially in writing. While travelling abroad, he
wrote Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, novels tackling about the lives of the
Filipinos’ under the Dominican Friars and Spaniards. It was his way to revolt against the
Spanish regime and call out the attention of their leaders. But the consequences of his
actions was his imprisonment and which led to death.
III. Statement of the Problems
The study aims to answer the following questions:
1. What are the routes travelled by Rizal’s remains?
2. Who are the people involved in burial, recovery and re-enactment of entombment
of the remains of Rizal?
3. Where is/are the final resting place/s of the remains of Rizal?

IV. Hypothesis
The remains of Dr. Jose P. Rizal lies in Motto Stella, Luneta Park, Manila.

V. Significance of the Study

The study will be a great help to the following individual:
Students. This will serve as a source of knowledge regarding the execution
and death of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. It also provides additional
information about the paths travelled by Rizal after his death until
his burial.
Teachers. The study will give suggestions of what would possibly be a part
of their lessons to their students. Furthermore, in cases of
confusion, this serves a reference for more accurate details.
Citizens. The study will help the citizens to sympathize the death of Rizal
that may result to a burning patriotism and nationalism.
Other Researchers. This will be a guide to them for further researching about Rizal’s
life and works and will serve as a reference for their study.

VI. Scope and Limitations

This research focuses on the journey of his remains until the burial of his body at
the Luneta Park, Manila. In addition, the execution and the re-enactment of his
entombment will be discussed in this paper. Moreover, this also limits to the
Filipino readers that want to make their knowledge more profound about the death
and the happenings of Rizal’s remains.

VII. Definition of Terms

 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter describes how researchers gathered the necessary and applicable data and
information that will be used in the entire study to answer the problems in Chapter 1. It also
shows the procedure of data collection and instruments used; it also discusses the type of
research used, and the research method.
Research Method
CHAPTER IV
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
 CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION