June 19, 1861:
- José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines, to a prosperous family of Chinese-Filipino ancestry.
1872:
- The Cavite Mutiny, an uprising by Filipino soldiers and workers, took place in Cavite. Rizal's older brother, Paciano, was implicated, leading to José Rizal's increased awareness of Spanish oppression in the Philippines.
1877:
- Rizal enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal in Manila and excelled in his studies. He demonstrated exceptional academic performance, earning top marks and excelling in various subjects, including literature, philosophy, and science.
1882:
- Rizal graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ateneo Municipal and enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas to study medicine.
1884:
- Rizal wrote his first novel, "Noli Me Tangere," which depicted the social and political injustices of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.
1886:
- "Noli Me Tangere" was published in Europe and caused controversy, leading to accusations of subversion against Rizal. He temporarily left the Philippines to avoid persecution and traveled to Europe.
1887-1888:
- Rizal traveled extensively throughout Europe, meeting with Filipino expatriates and other prominent intellectuals. He also published his second novel, "El Filibusterismo," which further exposed the abuses of Spanish colonial rule.
1892:
- Rizal returned to the Philippines with the aim of establishing La Liga Filipina, a civic organization promoting reforms within the Spanish colonial system.
July 6, 1892:
- Rizal was arrested and deported to Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao, due to Spanish authorities' suspicion of his involvement in revolutionary activities.
1896:
- The Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule erupted. While Rizal had advocated for reform rather than revolution, he was implicated and accused of being the mastermind behind the uprising.
December 30, 1896:
- José Rizal was executed by firing squad at Bagumbayan Field (now Rizal Park) in Manila. His martyrdom transformed him into a national hero and symbol of the Filipino people's struggle for freedom and independence.
Throughout his life, José Rizal dedicated himself to the pursuit of knowledge, social justice, and the empowerment of the Filipino people. His writings and actions inspired the nation and played a crucial role in the development of Filipino nationalism and subsequent movements for independence.