October 6, 2009
Hero
By all accounts, Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal was a polymath, a Renaissance man—he was an ophthalmologist, writer, sculptor and painter, and could speak at least ten languages. He was an avid sportsman too—fencing, pistol shooting and martial arts. Economics, anthropology, architecture, cartography, sociology—the man practiced almost everything. When he was exiled to Dapitan in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, he designed and built a small hospital and a water supply system, and opened a small school and taught agriculture. This statue of him stands outside the Rizal Shrine inside Fort Santiago in the old walled city of Intramuros. It's kind of deceiving because it makes Rizal look so tall when he was all of 59 inches (150 cm) in height. But with brains like that, who cares about his height? Definitely not any of his Filipino, Spanish, Japanese, British, Belgian or Irish girlfriends.
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26 comments:
Talk about your over-achiever! And you're right. Height has nothing to do with ability, does it?
totally agreed with you.
My Bangkok Through My Eyes!
You got a Posty: I want to give 15 postcards :)
I have traveled all over the country, and did you know that there is a Rizal statue in every municipality facing the municipal hall? With one or two exceptions though. I have seen one town where their "national hero statue" is strangely, a tahong (green mussel). :D
he's our national hero indeed. ^0^
in paris i think, there's a street named after him...
I love to read history through your blog!
Sounds like he was a Casanova, too? How did he learn so many languages?
heheheh a renaissance man and a casanova =)
Leif, maybe he learned them from his girlfriends. Sounds like an intriguing man!
I'm amazed how people in pre-industrial societies could do so many things.... I'm beginning to think slower lifestyle and no information bombing we receive each minute through media/internet/..... helped them achieve excellence in many things.
bel hommage, et puis les petits hommes ont fait beaucoup dans le monde entier. Une vie bien remplie
tribute, and then the little men have done much in the world. A busy life
i had been to dapitan once, and saw everything that he built. it was awe-inspiring. rizal was a great man.
He sounds like an extremely smart and industrious man. Even in exile he continued to be productive. No wonder he is a National Hero.
Absolutely amazing gentleman! What a mind he must have had. I can see why he would have statues erected in his honor!
And I can see why there might be girls waiting wherever he might be found...
Beautiful sculpture, too!
The world needs more like him, today.
From looking at the statue, he was a very handsome man despite his height. I would have towered over him!
Great statue, I think he deserves every each one he gets.
This is a great sculpture, it shows dedication and strength.
It's a beautiful sculpture, he was so talent!I'm always enchanted for these stories about fabulous human beings!
Léia
He had so talented that I can see why so many women liked him!
Wow, girlfriends from all over the world. This is probably his secret to learn all these languages. ;) I totally agree with you, brain power is sexy! Thank you for introducing this gentleman to me.
He looks heroic!
Very impressive list of accomplishments. Seems like he was able to achieve everything he tried.
Wow. He sounds like an incredible character. Some people do live life to the fullest.
Absolutely amazing! With towering achievements like that who cares about physical height?
For me, his greatest unpublished achievement was non-violent resistance against the occupying Spaniards, although he was killed in a firing squad for that.
I remember touring Fort Santiago a few times as a kid, and I loved going to Rizal Park. Yes he was truly a renaissance man and a national hero!
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