Dr. José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. He was the seventh of eleven children born to Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso, both of whom were well-educated and belonged to the principalia, the educated and elite class during the Spanish colonial era.

From an early age, Rizal showed exceptional intelligence and a passion for learning. He learned to read and write by the age of five. He received his early education in Biñan and later moved to Manila, where he attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He graduated with honors and earned a Bachelor of Arts at the age of 16. He then studied at the University of Santo Tomas, taking courses in Philosophy and Letters and Medicine, although he experienced discrimination from Spanish professors.

In 1882, Rizal traveled to Europe to pursue higher education. He studied at the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he earned degrees in Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. He continued his studies in Paris and Heidelberg, Germany, where he also trained as an ophthalmologist.

While in Europe, Rizal became deeply involved in the Propaganda Movement, a campaign for peaceful reform in the Philippines. He wrote two famous novels: "Noli Me Tangere" (1887) and "El Filibusterismo" (1891). These works exposed the corruption and abuse of Spanish officials and clergy in the Philippines and inspired a sense of nationalism among Filipinos.

Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892 and established La Liga Filipina, a non-violent reform movement. Because of this, he was arrested by Spanish authorities and exiled to Dapitan, in Mindanao, where he spent four years teaching, practicing medicine, and working on community development projects.

In 1896, as the Philippine Revolution began, Rizal was accused of involvement in the uprising, despite his calls for peaceful reform. He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. On December 30, 1896, he was executed by firing squad in Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park, Manila).

Dr. José Rizal is remembered as a national hero of the Philippines. His writings, advocacy for peaceful reform, and ultimate sacrifice inspired the Filipino people's fight for independence. His legacy continues to live on as a symbol of courage, intelligence, and love for country.