Jose Rizal was a man of exceptional talent and intelligence. He was considered a
Universal Genius.
1.)
Jose Rizal could write and read at age two and grew
up to speak 22 languages including Latin, Spanish, Catalan, German,
French, English, Chinese and Japanese.
2.) Three animal species were named after Rizal;
Draco rizali, a species of flying dragon, Rachophorous rizali, a species of toad and Apogonia rizali, a beetle species.
3.)
Rizal is one of the few recognized “Renaissance
man” in the world. A Renaissance man is a well educated person and one
who excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields.
4.) He mastered various skills and subjects. He was an
ophthalmologist, novelist, educator, farmer, historian, playwright,
sculptor, painter and journalist.
5.)
Jose Rizal was a fine architect, cartographer,
economist, ethnologist, anthropologist, sociologist, dramatist, martial
artist and an expert in fencing and pistol shooting.
6.)
Rizal, a polyglot conversant, was a prolific essayist, diarist, correspondent, diarist, novelist and poet.
7.)
Jose Rizal graduated in
Ateneo Municipal de Manila as one of the nine students in his class declared as “sobresaliente” or “outstanding”.
8.) Considering that he lived during the latter part of the 19th
century where the only means of long distance travel is by ship, he can
be considered a very well traveled man. He traveled extensively and had
been to the United States, Spain, Great Britain, France, Austria,
Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy, Singapore, Borneo,
Hong Kong, China and Japan. Not even a millionaire today could afford
the numerous and extensive travels of Jose Rizal during his time.
9.) Rizal, a man of medium height and small built, was a great lover.
He was romantically involved to numerous women of different
nationalities which include
Gertrude Becket,
Nelly Bousted,
Usui Seiko,
Segunda Katigbak,
Leonora Rivera,
Leonor Valenzuela,
Consuelo Ortiga y Rey,
Suzanna Jacoby, and
Josephine Bracken.
10.)
Jose Rizal wrote his very first poem entitled “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” (To My Childhood Friends) at age seven.
11.) Rizal’s most famous quotation:
“Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda”. (He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and smelly fish).
12.) Quite unusual for a man about to be executed, but his pulse
proved to be normal when the Spanish surgeon general requested to take
his pulse moments before Rizal’s execution.
13.) Bizarre it may seems but there is a religious sect, the Rizalista – members of Cruzado, claims that
Jose Rizal is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
14.) It sounds absurd but there are people who are spreading statements that
Adolf Hitler of Germany and
Mao Zedong of China were sons of
Jose Rizal. This is absolutely a hoax.
15.) Monuments in honor of
Jose Rizal were erected
in various parts of the world like Madrid, Spain; Wilhelmsfeld, Germany;
Jinjiang, Fujian, China; Chicago, Cherry Hill Township, San Diego,
Seattle, U.S.A.; Mexico City, Mexico; Lima, Peru; Litomerice, Czech
Republic; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
