What's new

Closed 8 Mind-Boggling Myths About Jose Rizal

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jeanh

Guest
You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. needs no introduction. He is, after all, the country’s quintessential patriotic hero. And unlike other forgotten superstars of the Revolution, Jose Rizal’s influence has gone beyond our boring history textbooks. In fact, you can literally touch, smell, taste, and see Jose Rizal nowadays. From Rizal Bakery to Jose Rizal University, our national hero’s popularity is as clear as daylight.

Ironically, Rizal’s fame was also his greatest downfall.In the words of award-winning historian Ambeth Ocampo, “Rizal is everywhere yet he is nowhere”. For those who dislike memorization, Rizal has turned into one of the most boring, overrated, and, therefore, obsolete characters in You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..

But Rizal was just any ordinary Pinoy: He fell in love, got heartbroken, and fell in love again. It is through these stories that people can finally give a face to the otherwise trite Jose Rizal. However, along with this simplicity also came the enigma even more intriguing than any Hollywood legend. Here are just eight of the most insane myths andYou do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. that have plagued Jose Rizal’s name over the years:



Myth # 8: Jose Rizal wrote “Sa aking mga Kabata”
sa-aking-mga-kabata-jose-rizal-myth.jpg
The hearsay: In 1869, the then eight-year-old Jose Rizal wrote his first Tagalog poem. Entitled “Sa aking mga Kabata” (“To My Fellow Children”), it soon immortalized the line “ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa hayop at malansang isda” (he who loves not his own language is worse than a beast and a stinking fish).



Fact check: To this day, no manuscript linking Rizal to the poem has been identified yet. And let’s admit it, Rizal was probably too busy playing with his dog and siblings to even thought of making a poem mentioning the word “kalayaan” (freedom). In the first place, Rizal was already 21 years old when he first encountered such word. In addition to that, the poem was only published ten years after Rizal’s death, leading historians into questioning its authenticity. Poets Herminigildo Cruz and Gabriel Beato Francisco have since been linked to the poem but so far, the case of the lost author remains an open mystery.



Myth # 7: Jose Rizal was a straight A+ student
jose-rizal-as-student-in-manila-188x300.jpg

The hearsay: Jose Rizal sailed through high school (Ateneo Municipal) and college (University of Santo Tomas) with straight “excellent” grades.



Fact check: Rizal may have possessed multiple intelligence but in terms of grades, his performance was anything but jaw-dropping. In Ateneo Municipal, for instance, Rizal graduated with a grade of sobresaliente. It might appear that he’s at the top of his class but actually, he got the awardalong with eight other classmates.

You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. He had a few “passing remarks” probably because of the negative atmosphere in his school or the subjects were just too dry for him. [Image source: pusoseattlephc.onl/#forbidden#]



Myth # 6: Jose Rizal is a fake hero
jose-rizal-is-not-a-hero-300x300.jpg
The hearsay: Jose Rizal was not the hero and patriot we all think he is.



Fact check: Bonifacio trumping Rizal as the national hero? Not likely. Still, the rumors about Rizal being a strong opponent of the Philippine Revolution continue to spread. Historian You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.revealed that Rizal, although forced to describe the revolution as “absurd” during his trial, had always been supportive of the Katipunan. In fact, policeman Martin Constantino testified on September 9, 1896 that Rizal was poised to be the Supreme Head as soon as the country have claimed independence from Spain. Jose Rizal also praised the Revolution in his farewell poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios”. [Image source: stellify.net]



Myth # 5: Jose Rizal was a foreign spy
jose-rizal-myth-german-spy-277x300.jpg

The hearsay: Jose Rizal was involved either to a German or French espionage.



Fact check: Rizal didn’t have the same charisma as James Bond’s but nonetheless, German authorities still suspected him as a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. It all started when a chief of police visited Rizal in his Berlin apartment and asked for his passport. Turns out, Rizal was being investigated for his questionable behavior. If you didn’t know Rizal at that point, you would surely suspect him as a spy: He was fluent in several European languages and wandered throughout the country to learn more about its culture. Later, he was also accused of being a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. (France and Germany had conflicts back then) but eventually, both allegations were proven false. [Image source: eyespypei.com ]



Myth # 4: Jose Rizal was gay
You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.

The hearsay: Jose Rizal was gay–the reason why You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Yes, Josephine Bracken had a miscarriage but that kid was not Rizal’s either. Rumor has it that Josephine was raped by her own father so the dead child was just a product of an incest.



Fact check: In his 1884 diary, Rizal wrote a very intriguing “I am gay”. But there was nothing homosexual about it–after all, ‘gay’ can also mean ‘bright and lively’. On the other hand, the rumor about Rizal’s ‘fake child’ is more of an urban legend possibly started by bored–and ill-informed–students. Or maybe its because Rizal was close to her mother, successful in his every pursuit, and very keen on his looks—traits of a stereotypical closeted homosexual. But malicious gossips aside, Rizal was justYou do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.–somebody who knows a lot about grooming, fashion, and culture. No more, no less. [Image source: lifefuntastique.phc.onl/#forbidden# ]



Myth # 3: Jose Rizal survived his execution
jose-rizal-myths.jpg



The hearsay: After his execution in Bagumbayan, Jose Rizal allegedly rose from the dead due to a divine miracle.



Fact check: If there’s anyone willing to buy this story, that would be the Rizalistas. But how did this rumor started? According to Prof. Ambeth Ocampo, a document from the National Archives reveals a bizarre incident that happened on March 29, 1897. Rizal’s remains purportedly disappeared on the way to the Paco cemetery. It was replaced by a mysterious “white cock” who then flew towards Cavite. Whether the story was used by rebels to recruit more people or was actually based on true events is still unknown. [Image source: linasgallery.phc.onl/#forbidden#]



Myth # 2: Jose Rizal was the father of Adolf Hitler
jose-rizal-as-father-of-adolf-hitler-myth.jpg
Like father, like son?

The hearsay: While visiting Austria in May 1887, Rizal allegedly had a one-night stand with an Austrian prostitute. Dr. Maximo Viola, Rizal’s companion, wrote about this event in one of his diary entries. Adolf Hitler, also an Austrian, was born not long after the passionate encounter. Go figure.



Fact check: The original story goes something like this: Rizal impregnated some unidentified girl while studying in Heidelberg, University. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. In other words, the myth suggests that not only Hitler was German but was also born a delayed baby. Viola’s diary have proven both assumptions as false but what really happened that night in Austria leaves something for our imagination. [Image source: sinosipepephc.onl/#forbidden#]



Myth # 1: Jose Rizal was the real ‘Jack the Ripper’
jose-rizal-as-jack-the-ripper1.jpg
The hearsay: Jose Rizal and Jack the Ripper–both with initials “J.R.”–are one and the same person.



Fact check: Before anything else, let’s examine the facts that started it all: On May 24, 1888, Rizal was in London’s British Library to copy the book “Sucesos de las islas Filipinas” by hand. During this time, Jack the Ripper began to terrorize the Whitechapel district, killing more than 5 victims in the end. Rizal then left London to publish the book in January 1889–exactly the same time when the murders stopped.

Due to the intricate method used in the killings, the murderer has been suspected to be a surgeon or someone equipped with medical knowledge. Jose Rizal, as we all know, was also a doctor. Was this coincidence? The story seems plausible but with no tangible proof and tons of speculations surrounding the case, it will likely remain an interesting legend.
 

Attachments

Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Back
Top