Bonifacio, Rizal, and Aguinaldo, those three without a doubt are great heroes, all their deeds and

decisions in the past affect us even now in the contemporary world. As I was asked by my professor, if to
those three whom I favor personally the most as a hero? I can say without any second thought that it is
Dr. José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. Why? There are three reasons I think is reasonable
and shall try to convey on all of you. Let me first summarize his educational background, though maybe
some or many of you will disagree with me and will say education is irrelevant to being a hero.

Dr. Jose Rizal already knows the alphabet at the age of three by the help of his mom, aunt, and uncle as
what Craig (1909) stated and could already according to many historians write and read at the age of 5,
then studied Spanish and Latin language in Biñan Latin school for two years. Studies for short-term in
San Juan de Letran College and later enrolled in Ateneo Municipal de Manila where he got the land
surveyor's and assessor's degree and bachelor’s degree in arts with highest honor. Rizal also takes
ophthalmology at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery to help his mother’s illness but did not
complete it as according to Craig “he became politically isolated by adversaries among the faculty and
clergy who demanded that he assimilate to their system.” and Philosophy at the University of Santo
Tomas. Rizal travels in Europe to get a better education according to Craig stealthily and there
specifically in Madrid he got his Medicine license and got a specialization in eyes at the University of
Heidelberg. According to Ciello Fernando, Jose Rizal is a polymath, a man of many professions. He was
an ophthalmologist, farmer, historian, painter, journalist, playwright, novelist, engineer, and educator.
He also had varying degrees of expertise in economics, ethnology, sociology, anthropology, architecture,
cartography, martial arts, dramatics, fencing, and pistol shooting.

Second his reputations and famous literary works. Dr. Jose Rizal really is a prodigious man as he did build
his reputation through his own talents and learnings, maybe a little of his family background.
Throughout his antagonism with the Spanish government, he avoided aggression instead use only his
talent and influence in writing to convey lessons of patriotism to the local Filipino people. He wrote
according to Mark DeStephano, only two novels Noli me tangere (1887) which summarize the type
of cancer so terrible that could not bear to be touched,  He believed that his homeland was similarly
afflicted (Patricia Bauer) and El filibusterismo (1891) a sequel to the former, which established his
reputation as the leading spokesman of the Philippine reform movement (Britannica). Rizal composed
abundant number of poems since his young age, from his first poem Sa Aking Mga Kabata (“To my
fellow children”), which he allegedly wrote at the age of eight (Ambeth Ocampo) and his last Mi último
adiós in where he portray his last farewell and feelings to not just his family but also to us Filipinos. Dr.
Jose Rizal demonstrated his literary talent through this impeccable writings cross the world, which
always drives mine or maybe all of our morale ups.

Third, his relevant impact to the world. Dr. Jose Rizal is not only known here in the Philippines rather in
many different part of the world.
 Rizal Monument in Madrid, Spain
 Jose Rizal Square in Jinjiang, China
 Rizal Statue in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany
 Jose Rizal bust in Prague, Czech Republic
 Dr. Jose Rizal Monument in Chicago, USA
 Jose Rizal Monument in Rome, Italy
 Rizal Bust at Hibiya Park, Tokyo
 Dr. Jose Rizal’s Bust in Montreal, Canada
 Jose Rizal Park and Bridge in Seattle, USA
 Dr. Jose Rizal Plaque in London
 Rizal Monument in Carson, California
 Jose P. Rizal Monument in Honolulu, Hawaii
 Rizal Marker in Hong Kong
 Place Jose Rizal in Paris, France
 Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal’s bust in Sydney, Australia
 Rizal Monument in Singapore
(https://outoftownblog.com/jose-rizal-monuments/)

Relevant to what I had said to the second paragraph, he’s known world wide because of his talent and
writings as what (Ravin, Tracy MD) stated “Jose Rizal (1861-1896) is one of the most revered figures in
Philippine history. He was a multifaceted intellectual and a political activist, best known for his political
writings that inspired the Philippine revolution and ultimately led to his execution by the Spanish
colonizers.”

A hero for me is someone who’ll not only protect but someone who will also enlighten my ignorance in
this world, someone who want me to also qualified a hero and that is for me Dr. José Protacio Rizal
Mercado y Alonso Realonda.