Rizal in Focus

The Many-Sided Personality

Filipinos and foreigners alike have paid tribute to Jose Rizal claiming that his place of honor in history is secure. It was his Austrian bosom friend, Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, rector of the Imperial Atheneum of Leitmeritz, who said "Rizal was the greatest product of the Philippines and his coming to the world was like the appearance of a rare comet, whose rare brilliance appears only every other century." Another German friend, Dr. Adolf B. Meyer, director of the Dresden Museum who admired his all around knowledge and ability, remarked "Rizal’s many-sidedness was stupendous." Our own Dr. Camilo Osias pointed to him as the "versatile genius."

His precocity since early boyhood turned into versatility in later years. Being curious and inquisitive, he developed a rare facility of mastering varied subjects and occupations.

Actor
Rizal acted as a character in one of Juan Luna’s paintings and acted in school dramas.

Agriculturist
Rizal had farms in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte (1892-1896) where he planted lanzones, coconuts and other fruit-bearing trees.

Ambassador Of Good Will
His friendliness, goodwill and cultural associations with friends entitled him as one.

Animal Lover
As a small boy, Rizal loved animals including birds, fish, insects, and other specimens of animal life. Fowls, rabbits, dogs, horses, and cats constituted his favorites. As much as possible, he did not wish fowls to be killed even for food, and showed displeasure in being asked to eat the cooked animal. The family garden in Calamba abounded with insects galore and birds native to the Calamba environs. He wrote about and sketched animals of the places he had toured.

Anthropologist
He made researches on the physical and social make up of man.

Archeologist
Rizal studied monuments and antique currency everywhere he went. He drew most of the monuments he saw.

Ascetic
Rizal always practiced self-discipline wherever he went.

Book lover
He had a big library and brought many books abroad.

Botanist
Rizal maintained a garden in Dapitan where he planted and experimented on plants of all kinds

Businessman
He had a partner in Dapitan in the Abaca business there (1892-1896).

Cartographer
He drew maps of Dapitan, The Philippines and other places he visited.

Chess Player
He played chess and bear several Germans and European friends and acquaintances.

Citizen of the world
His extensive travels and multitude of friends in Europe, Middle East and Asia made him one.

Commentator
Rizal always expresses and published his personal opinion.

Conchologist
He had a good shell collection in Dapitan. An American conchologist praised him.

Educator
Rizal taught in his special school in Dapitan.

Ethnologist
In his travels, Rizal was able to compare different races and he noted the differences.

Father of community school
He proposed college in Hong Kong and his special school in Dapitan made him a father of community schools.

Fencer
He fenced with Europeans and Juan Luna and other friends in Europe.

Freemason abroad
He was member of La Solidaridad Lodge in Spain.

Horticulture and farmer
He experimented on and cultivated plants in Dapitan.

Historian
His annotation of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas entitled him as one.

Humorist
There are many humorous incidents in the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Ichthyologist
He collected 38 new varieties of fish in Dapitan.

Japanophile
His admiration of Japanese traits and his knowledge of her language proved he was one.

Journalist
He authored the published many articles in Spanish and English and London.

Laboratory worker
He was employed in the clinic of Dr. L. Wecker in Paris.

Linguist
He spoke over 20 foreign languages.

Lover of truth
He chided Spanish writers for not writing the truth about the Filipinos. He was always truthful since boyhood.

Musicians
He played the flute and composed pieces of music and cultivated music appreciation.

Mythologist
Rizal used mythology in his Noli and Fili.

Nationalist
He gave full expression of the native spirit strengthened by world civilization and loved and defended everything Filipino.

Newspaperman
He wrote and published articles in many publications and was one of the organizers of the La Solidaridad.

Ophthalmologist
He graduated in an ophthalmologic college in Spain.

Orientalist
Rizal admired the special characteristic and beauties of Oriental countries peoples.

Pharmacologist
Rizal treasured and popularized the usefulness and preparation of cures for treatment of his patients.

Philologist
Rizal loved of learning and literature is unequalled.

Philosopher
Rizal not only loved wisdom but also regulated his life and enjoyed calmness of the life at all time

Physical culturist
Rizal maintained a good health by exercising all parts of his body and eating proper foods

Physicians
He treated several patients afflicted not only with eye diseases.

Plant lover
As a child, Rizal spend most of his time in the family garden which was planted with fruit trees,

Shrubs and decorative trees. His diaries contained detailed description and sketches of plants, flowers and fruits he saw in the places he visited. He wrote poems on flower he like very much as his poems To the Flowers of Heidelberg.

Poet
Rizal wrote over 35 poems including his famous Ultimo Adios.

Politician
Although Rizal did not engage in Politics, he exposed the evils of the political activities of the Spaniards in the Philippines through his writing.

Polyglot
Rizal spoke and wrote in 20 languages.

Proofreader
In Germany, He worked as a part-time proofreader of his livelihood.

Propagandist
As a reformer, Rizal encourages the recommendation of improving the government entities and discourage abuses publishing articles.

Public relation man
He worked for better cooperation of rulers and subjects in his country.

Reformer
He published the modern methods of government administration, so changes could be made.

Researcher
Being a wide reader, he compared the old and new practices in life.

Revolutionist
Rizal encouraged reforms, discouraged old, impractical usage, and desired new and useful laws to benefit his countrymen. He desired changes for the better.

Rhetorician
Rizal has always practiced the art of persuasive and impressive speaking and writing.

Rural reconstruction worker
He practiced rural reconstruction work in Dapitan in 1894 and succeeded.

Sanitary engineer
His construction of a water system in Dapitan exemplified this practice by Rizal.

Scientist
Rizal’s practice of many sciences here and abroad made him noted scientist.

Sculptor
His works of his father and of Father Guerrico, S. J. typified his sculptural ability.

Sharp shooter
He could hit a target 20 meters away.

Sinologist
Rizal’s ancestry and his ability to speak Chinese made him one.

Sociologist
In Rizal’s study of Philippines social problems, he always encouraged and introduced solutions.

Sodalist
He always joined fraternities, associations and brotherhood, for self-improvement.

Sportsman
He engaged from a surveying class at the Ateneo after passing his A. B. there.

Tourist
He was considered the foremost tourist due to his extensive travels.

Traveler
He traveled around the world three times.

Tuberculosis expert
For having cured himself of this disease, he became and was recognized as an expert.

Youth leader
He considered the youth as "the hope of his Fatherland."

Zoologist
He was fond of pets. He researched later on their physiology, classification and habits.