Cua, Rosemarie L.

Tour 4B
List down 10 concepts or ideas (places, events, peoples, theories, etc.) that are significant in
studying Rizal’s life and works. Explain each item and relate their significance in Philippine
society.

1. Noli Me Tangere - Is a novel written by Rizal which is significant in understanding the

political struggle that became much of his life’s work. Noli is a love story on one level
but is also a commentary on the oppression of the Filipino people during Spanish
colonial occupation. In modern Filipino society Noli is studied in schools so that the
sacrifices made by those fighting for independence are never forgotten and the political
freedoms enjoyed today are appreciated.

2. Rizal park - Is a place in Manila, also known as luneta park, is a historical park in the
Philippines, formerly known as bagumbayan in the era of colonialism under the
spaniards. It’s a very popular meeting place for local Filipinos and visited by both
Filipinos and foreigners. By naming the park after Rizal and including a monument
dedicated to him inside the park the authorities have ensured that future generations of
the Filipinos are reminded of the sacrifices made by Rizal for all Filipinos.

3. The triumph of science over death - Is a clay sculputure made by Jose Rizal as a gift to
his friend ferdinand blumentritt. It currently resides at Fort Santiago. The sculpture
symbolises not only the ignorance of humans in the past but also the positive
contribution that science can make in transforming modern society. The statue is a
reminder to all Filipinos of the importance of science in improving our everyday lives. As
evidence of this the statue is used as a motif by the Philippine College of Surgeons.

4. Fort Santiago - Is one of the most important historical sites in Manila and the
Philippines. Several lives were lost in its prisons during the Spanish Colonial Period and
World War II. José Rizal, , one of the Philippine national heroes, was imprisoned here
before his execution in 1896. The Rizal Shrine museum displays memorabilia of the hero
in their collection and the fort features, embedded onto the ground in bronze, his
footsteps representing his final walk from his cell to the location of the actual execution.
Jose Rizal is sacrificed his life for our country and this important place will be remain a
place of remembrance and history to the Philippines society.
5. He worked as an "ophthalmologist" in Hong Kong where he was in self-inposed exile for
1 year. This story of Rizal relates to our Philippine society because it is an early example
of where exile was needed to protect themselves from the authorities. In our recent
history past presidents and influential members of Philippine society have fled the
country due to their beliefs or standing up to the authorities at that time.

6. A la juventud filipina - Was written by Rizal when he was only eighteen years old, and
was dedicated to the Filipino youth which he describes as "the fair hope of my
motherland. In the poem Rizal praises the benefits that Spain had bestowed upon the
Philippines. Rizal had frequently depicted the renowned Spanish explorers, generals and
kings in the most patriotic manner. He had pictured education (brought to the
Philippines by Spain) as "the breath of life instilling charming virtue". He had written of
one of his Spanish teachers as having brought "the light of the eternal splendor". In this
poem, however, it is the Filipino youth who are the protagonists, whose "prodigious
genius" making use of that education to build the future, was the "bella esperanza de la
patria mia" (beautiful hope of the motherland). Spain, with "pious and wise hand"
offered a "crown's resplendent band, offers to the sons of this Indian land." This work of
Rizal is important to the youth of the Philippines and therefore to the country’s future.
The youth are the future and Rizal understood the importance in communicating with
them.

7. The Propaganda Movement - Was the first filipino nationalist movement and targeted
the Spanish government and public, but as an elite movement failed to engage with the
wider Filipino population. However, its overall failure, the movement generated a
political consciousness that fed into the nationalist revolution and the struggle for
independence that followed. It is possible to relate this movement to modern Philippine
society because in the same way that Jose Rizal assisted the movement with his writing
so he influenced modern writers of today to stand up against injustice and repression.

8. ATENEO - Dr, Jose Rizal attended this university where he studied the arts and science,
he was active in many activities there showing his talent and academic mind. He
belonged to a class composed of Spaniards, mestizos and Filipinos. During his 4th year in
Ateneo he received 5 medals and graduated as sobresaliente then he received a degree
in bachelor of arts, with highest honors. Rizal’s studies at ateneo were important in how
they shaped his thoughts which would lead to the work at activism during his later life.
Filipinos are reminded of the importance of academic study in defining individual
thinking that guides us in our adult life.
9. Josephine bracken - Was the common-law wife of Philippine national hero José Rizal,
Josephine is live in Hongkong and before Jose Rizal’s execution they married in fort
Santiago but the marriage is disputed because they have no records then after Rizal died
Josephine went back to hongkong where she died of tuberculosis. His wife and their
relationship is significant to modern day Philippine Society because of the influence she
had on shaping Jose Rizal’s thinking. In recent history many wives of past presidents
have also influenced their husband’s in similar ways.

10. Gomburza - Three Filipino Catholic priests Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamora, were executed, and when Jose Rizal become the country’s national hero he
dedicate his novel el filibuterismo to them as a memorial. Because Jose Rizal and other
Filipinos sympathised for the three priests who was executed. This is related to the
Philippine people and wider society because in the history of the Philippines there is
acknowledgement even today of the deep hurt caused in what they did to the three
priests. By keeping their story and history alive today, they continue to be remembered
and their lives commemorated.