Hero’s last Christmas in 1896 far from merry
By Ambeth R. OcampoOf the many references to Christmas in the five-volume compilation of Jose Rizal’s correspondence, the formal but surly letter dated Dec. 25, 1896, stands out.
Of the many references to Christmas in the five-volume compilation of Jose Rizal’s correspondence, the formal but surly letter dated Dec. 25, 1896, stands out.
IN 1892, Jose Rizal began a new novel in Tagalog. He realized that in order to reach a wider readership in his country, he had to write in his native tongue. During this time of exile in Hong Kong, his elder brother, Paciano, had completed a translation of the “Noli Me Tangere” from the original [...]
Waiting for execution is not the best of times. Jose Rizal distracted himself from depression and self-pity by scribbling. But where are these papers today? Nobody knows. During his last meeting with his mother and sisters, he pointed to a small alcohol stove on his desk and whispered to one of his sisters, in English [...]
(Editor’s Note: The author chairs Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of History.) Once a year, the Emilio Aguinaldo Mansion in Kawit, Cavite, becomes the focal point of the nation’s memory. In this house, Philippine independence from Spain was declared on June 12, 1898. That historic event left us with two symbols of the Philippines—the national [...]
