Did You Know That . . . . .

Rizal is practically part of our everyday life. Many streets in the Philippines are named after him and almost every town plaza has his statue wearing the familiar overcoat. His picture is also imprinted in the most circulated currency, the one-peso coin.

But do we really know Rizal that well?

Check out some interesting facts about him:

Jose Rizal could write and read at age two and mastered to speak 22 languages including Latin, Spanish, German, French, English, Chinese and Japanese, Catalan.

Jose Rizal wrote his very first poem entitled “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” (To My Childhood Friends) at age seven.

Jose Rizal is one of the few recognized “Renaissance Man” in the world. A Renaissance man is a well-educated person and one who excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields.

Rizal, a man of medium height and small built, was a great lover. He was romantically involved to numerous women of different nationalities, which include Gertrude Becket, Nelly Bousted, Usui Seiko, Segunda Katigbak, Leonor Rivera, Leonor Valenzuela, Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, Suzanna Jacoby, and Josephine Bracken.

Referred to as a versatile genius for his all-around knowledge and ability, his many-sided personality includes novelist, ophthalmic surgeon, architect, educator, artist/painter, sculptor, historian, economist, journalist, businessman, cartoonist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, inventor, musician, mythologist, nationalist, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sociologist, sportsman and theologian.

Among other numerous academic achievements, Rizal passed the Surveyor Licensure Examination on May 21, 1878, but because of his age, 17, he was not granted the license to practice the profession until Dec. 30, 1881.

Rizal was married to Josephine Bracken-even without church blessings (the priest wanted a retraction from Rizal as a precondition before marrying them). Josephine later gave birth prematurely to a stillborn baby.

A Swiss sculptor named Richard Kissling created the Rizal monument in Luneta. The site is guarded 24 hours a day 7 days a week by ceremonial soldiers known as Kabalyeros de Rizal.

On December 26, 1896, after a trial, Rizal was sentenced to die, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition, and of forming illegal association. On the eve of his execution while confined in Fort Santiago, Rizal wrote a poemMi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) and hid it inside the gas burner and gave the gas burner to his sister Trinidad and his wife Josephine.

He was executed on December 30, 1896 at the age of 35 by a firing squad at Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta Park in Manila.