Francisco

Jose Rizal's father was Francisco Rizal Mercado. He was born on May 11, 1818 in Binan, Laguna where he became a municipal mayor in 1783. He was so popular in the town where he was always being invited as special guess in fiestas, baptisms and weddings. Francisco has other 13 siblings whom he was the youngest. Francisco's father was Juan Mercado and his mother was Cirila Alejandro. He married Teodora Alonzo and had eleven children, our national hero is one of them.  Francisco died on January 5, 1898. 

Teodora

Rizal's mother was Teodora Morales Alonzo who did not originally from Laguna. She was a resident of Sta. Cruz, Manila. She was born on November 9, 1827. Tedoroa was Rizal's first teacher. She used to teach him the alphabet when Rizal was just 3 years old. Teodora's early intervention with his son's development lead to his wit and great knowledge. 

She married Franciso when she was 20 years old. The couple moved to Calamba and made agricultural business there. Because her good management of the business and its finances, the couple have it prosper. They were able to established other business as well. 

Rizal was the only child that became a doctor (opthalmology) and her mother was his first patient. 

She died on August 16, 1911. 

Francisco Balagtas 

Who Was He?

• Francisco Balagtas was a great Filipino poet
• The renowned literature, Florante at Laura is his famous work
• His other works are Mahomet at ConstanzaBayaseto at Dorsalica and Rodolfo at Rosamunda
• From his name, we derived the Balagtasan (or poetry duel)
• He lost his love, Celia. 

He was the forth and youngest child of Juan Balagtas and Juana de la Cruz. He was born on April 2, 1788 in Panginay, Bigaa, in the Province of Bulacan. 

Because of his wit and intellect, he was able to finish Theology and Philosophy in Colegio de San Jose. He learned to write poetry and his first teacher in writing is Dr. Mariano Pilapil and learned to write poetry from Jose dela Cruz (Huseng Sisw), one of the most prominent of Tonda at that time. 

In 1835, Balagtas moved to Pandacan, Manila where he met the love of his life, Leonora Rivera, who was referred to as “Celia” and “Mar” in his work, Florante at Laura. And it was her who gave Balagtas great inspiration to write. 

In was not easy for him to be with “Celia,” he was accused and imprisoned by his rival, prominent Mariano Kapule. While in prison, he got inspiration to write Florante at Laura. His work described his oppressed situation in society and failed romance. 

   

In 1838, he was released from prison, and settled in Balanga, Bataan in 1840, where he became associate to the Just of the Peace. He also held office as court translator. On July 22, 1842 he married Juana Tiambeng and had eleven children. 

 In 1856, he became Major Lieutenant. Because of another unfortunate event, he was accused that he order a housemaid’s head to be shaved, he was convicted and imprisoned in Bataan.  Upon serving several years in jail, he was again freed in 1860. He continued to write interesting poems and carried on his job as translator of Spanish documents. In February 20, 1862, he died. He was 74 years old. 

To immortalize Francisco Balagtas' legacy, landmarks were raised that includes:

• The Balagtas Elementary School was established to honor him. The school was located in Sta. Cruz, Manila. 
• In Pandacan, Manila, there’s also Plaza Balagtas to commemorate his contribution. 
• In Manila, there are a lots of streets named after characters of Florante at Laura. 
• His birthplace Bigaa was renamed to Balagtas to give honor to him. 
• Museums, monuments and many historical markers were buill to honor his name.

His literary works are:

Ang Orosman at Zafira, Mahomet at Constanza, Almanzor y Rosalina, Clara Belmori, Abdol yMiserena, Auredato y Astrone, Bayaseto at Dorsalica, Rodolfo at Rosamunda, Florante at Laura, Nudo Gordiano, La India Elegante y El Negrito Amante.

Gomburza 

The martyrdom of Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora - collectively known as GOMBURZA culminated in February 17, 1872.

Champions of the secularization movement, the priest was the common denominator in the lives of Gomez, Burgos and Zamora. Burgos wrote the Manifesto a la Noble Nacion Espanol (Manifest to the Noble Country of Spain) which attacked the friars who attempted to downgrade the Filipino clergy. Gomez organized a large number of Filipino priests in his archdiocese to raise funds to defend the cause of secularization. Zamora, on one occasion, celebrated with two other Filipino Priests, a high mass scheduled to be said by Franciscan friars. Such an acts was condemned since Filipino Priests often serve as assistants to Spanish friars. Except for Gomez who was in Cavite, Burgos and Zamora were arrested in Manila on the night of January 21 while the mutiny at Fort San Felipe was still ranging. Obviously, it was not on the basis of evidence of their participation in the mutiny that they were arrested. Their active espousal of the rights of the Filipino clergy was the real reason for their arrest and eventual execution.

Rafael Izquierdo, who ordered the arrest of the priests, wanted to humiliate them. First he requested Archbishop Meliton Martinez to unfrock the priests. The Archbishop refused, believing the priests were innocent of the charges of treason. Instead, he ordered the toiling of the bells as one last salute to the martyred clerics.

Izquierdo made the execution a public spectacle to strike terror in the minds of the restive populace. On February 17, the day of execution, Filipinos from all parts of Manila as well as the neighboring provinces gathered at Bagumbayan (now part of Rizal Park) where the priests would be garroted. Most of them believed the priests were not guilty. So, as they passed them, they fell on their knees and bared their heads as a sign of their reverence and respect.

Their hideous garrote may have snuffed out the lives of the three but it did not kill-in fact, it nurtured the flames of the fight for freedom from the Spanish colonizers.

Hermano Pule 

Hermano Pule  was born on July 22, 1815 in Lukban, Quezon. His parents were Pablo de la Cruz and Juana Andrea. He was also called Apolinario de la Cruz.

He worked in an orphanage of the San Juan de Dio Hospita in Manila, and sold perfumes to churches to people to make a living.

Hermano Pule was a religious man. He tried to join religious organizations but he was never accepted. When he returned to Lukban in 1840, he founded the Confradia de San Jose, a religious organization which encouraged members to freely worship God according to their own ways. Many from Quezon (Then called Tayabas), Laguna and Batangas joined the organization.

The priest of Lukban, Manuel Sancho was angered and accused Apolinario, now known as Hermano Pule, of heresy and filibusterism. The priest also wanted to disband the organization.

The government banned the group but its members went on meeting every 19th of each month. In September of 1841, the priest even broke up one meeting of the Confrodia in Majayjay, Laguna. Some of the members were arrested. Hermano Pule was in Manila then. He decided to hide in Bay, Laguna. Later he established a headquarters in Sariaya, Quezon.

In Sariaya, they were attacked by the troops of the government. Hermano Pule and his members decided to go up to mountainous place of Alitaw.

The initial battles were won by the group of Hermano Pule. In the end with no ammunition, their camp was finally overrun in October of 1841. Hermano Pule was captured and executed in November 1841. He was decapitated and his head was skewered by a bamboo pole and displayed at the outskirt of Majayjay to serve as a warning to would-be rebels. 

Francisco Balagtas

Francisco Balagtas (Abril 2, 1788—Pebrero 20, 1862) who is more famously called Francisco Baltazar. He is considered as one of the greatest Filipino poet. Florante at Laura is his masterpiece that inspired and touched the heart and soul of the reader. 

He was born in Panginay, a small town in Bigaa, Bulacan (now called Balagtas) on Abril 2, 1788. He was the youngest among the four children of Juan Baltazar and Juana dela Cruz. 

He was just eleven years years when he was brought to Tondo, Manila. Because of his nature of being hardworking, Balagtas became a helper of Donya Trining, a rich relative of his. Because of his dedication and dedication to his job, Donya Trining was very fond  of him. Donya Trining sent him to Colegio de San Juan de Letran at Colegio de San Jose to finish his study. In 1812  he finished his law degree, Canones, Gramatica Castilla, Gramatica Latin, Pisika, Doctrina Cristiana, Humanidades, Teologia at Pilosopia at the age 24. 

Francisco Baltazar was called as "Prinsipe ng mga Manunulang Pilipino" and considered as  "Filipino William Shakespeare."

He learned to write poems from Jose dela Cruz (Huseng Sisiw) who was the famous poet in Tondo, Manila. Jose dela Cruz was a great inspiration for Balagtas to write good poems and masterpices. And Balagtas later became well-known and celebrated poet in the field of literature.

Francisco Balagtas's Literature Works:

• Florante at Laura
• Alamansor at Rosalinda 
• La India elegante y el negrito amante
•  Nudo gordeano 
• Rodolfo at Rosemonda 
• Don Nuño at Selinda 
• Claus (translated into Tagalog from Latin) 
• Bayaceto at Dorslica 
• Clara Belmore 
• Abdol at Misereanan 
• Orosmán at Zafira 
• Auredato at Astrome 
• Mahomet at Constanza 

In 1835, he moved to Pandakan, and here he met Maria Asuncion Rivera. She was beautiful lady that became an inspiration for Balagtas. She was nicknamed "Selya" and MAR of Balagtas in his masterpice Florante at Laura.

Mariano Kapule is his rival of the love for Maria Asuncion Rivera. Nanong Capule used his influence and money to defeat Balagtas. Caoule brought Balagtas to prison and there he wrote Florante at Laura.

He imprisoned again because of the accusation of the lady, that Balagtas cut her hair. He was released in 1860. He continued to write comedy, songs at choirs. 

Francisco Balagtas lived and died with his wife, Juana Tiambing and eleven children  on February 20, 1862 at the age of 74.

Epifanio delos Santos

He was the first Filipino member of the Spanish Royal Academy in Madrid.

Epifanio delos Santos y Cristobal was born on April 7, 1871, in Malabon, Rizal, the only son of Escolastico de los Santos and Antonia Cristobal. His father was an educated and wealthy hacendero, and ardent student of history and a product of Ateneo de Manila his mother attended school at the Colegio de la Consolacion, and was a finished player of the harp and other musical instrument.

Emilio Jacinto

Emilio Jacinto was born in Trozo, Manila on December 15, 1875. His parents are Mariano Jacinto at Josefa Dizon.
He was known as Utak ng Katipunan (Brain of Katipunan). He wrote the Kartilya ng Katipunan and poems such as “Sa Mga Kababayan”,ang “Pahayag”at ang “A La Patria”.
He was the official editor of Kalayaan, the news release of Katipunan.
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On August 30, 1896, Katipunan was captured by Spanish garrison in San Juan del Monte.

Gregorio del Pilar 

Gregorio del Pilar  was born on November 14, 1875 and he was one of the youngest generals, and perhaps the youngest soldier to fight in the Philippine Revolutionary Forces when the Philippine Revolution happened during the Philippine – American War. He is most known for his successful assault on the Spanish barracks of Cazadores in the municipality of Paombong and his last stand at the Battle of Tirad Pass. Because of his youth, he became known as the "Boy General

Born on November 14, 1875 to Fernando H. del Pilar and Felipa Sempio of Bulacan, Bulacan, the fifth among six siblings.[2] He was the nephew of propagandist Marcelo H. del Pilar and Toribio H. del Pilar, who was exiled in Guam for his involvement in the 1872 Cavite Mutiny.

"Goyong", as he was casually known, studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1896, at the age of 20. When the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule broke out in August under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio, del Pilar joined the insurgency. He distinguished himself as a field commander while fighting Spanish garrisons in Bulacan.

Gregoria de Jesus

Gregoria was born in Kaloocan on May 15, 1875. Her parents were Jesus de Jesus who was a carpenter and served as gobernadorsillo while her mother was Baltazara Alvarez Francisco.

She married Andres Bonifacio in a Roman Catholic rites at the Binondo Church in 1894 and in another set of rites in the Katipunan in July 1893, the same time when the women’s chapter of the Katipunan was formed. Together with Marina Dizon, Josefa Rizal, Angelica Lopez, Delfina Herbosa and Benita Rodriguez, they were initiated as Katipunan members. She adopted the name Lakambini.

Apolinario Mabini

Apolinario Mabini  was born on July 23, 1864 in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas. He was the second of eight

siblings of  Dionisia Maranan and Inocencio Mabini. His mother was a market vendor while his father is a simple farmer in the province. He suffered illness (polio) that led to his paralysis. Being a poor is not a hindrance for him, he earned a degree in teaching in 1887 and finished law in 1894. He became a full-pledge lawyer in 1895. 

Despite of his situation, he never quit school but became persuasive to finish his education. He became a good writer, lawyer and Filipino patriot. He was also a political philosopher and revolutionary. He inscribed the constitution for the first Philippine Republic of 1899-1901 and became the first prime minister in 1899.  He has been dubbed as the “Brains of the Revolution.” He was also named as "the Sublime Paralytic" because he was paralyzed by polio.  One of his famous work is his Decalogue for Filipinos.  

Apolinario Mabini became one of Aguinaldo’s advisers during the Filipino-American war. He turned out to be an inspiration for Filipinos who fought the war.  He suggested to make renovation of changing the current form of dictatorial government to revolutionary one. He structured the political systems, he instituted organizations of barangays, municipalities, and provinces, and he formed the  judiciary and the development of police forces of the country, and formulated army rules and policies. He is the prime minister when the revolutionary convened at Malolos, Bulacan. And because of this he was called the “Brain of the Revolution”. 

With Mabini's talent in writing, he continued to publish articles to plead for reforms while in hiding. On September 10, 1899, he was captured by the Americans. He was released on  September 23, 1900 and lived in Nagtahan, Manila. And worked as a writer for a local newspaper. Because of his sharp word in his articles, specifically the El Semil de Alejandro" in "El Liberal", the Americans became furious and exiled him to Guam on January 5, 1901. 

Because of his powerful patriotism and strong intent to serve his countrymen, he returned to the Philippines and forced to take his oath of allegiance to the United States on February 26, 1903. 

Apolinario Mabini contracted cholera and died in Nagtahan, Manila on May 13,1903 at just the youthful age of 39.