Journey: Important Figures in Rizal's Life

Doña Teodora, Jose Rizal’s mother, had the greatest influence on his personal growth. She was the one who first opened his eyes and heart to the world around him. His mother was his first teacher, she taught him how to read and, as a result, to appreciate reading as a way of learning and spending one’s time meaningfully. Moreover, Rizal learned to value time as life’s most valuable gift as Doña Teodora taught him to never waste a single moment of it. Indeed, Doña Teodora had taught Rizal numerous life lessons, including generosity, the importance of self-improvement, the value of hard-earned money, and most significantly, obedience.

Paciano Rizal is a lesser-known figure who is frequently recognized as Jose Rizal's older brother. Paciano was tasked with overseeing the education of his younger brother, Jose Rizal. He brought Rizal to Biñan to study, accompanied him to Manila, and enrolled him at the Ateneo Municipal. At this period, Paciano provided for all of Rizal's needs as a student. Unfortunately, Rizal's education in Europe to further his medical studies had left Paciano with heavy responsibilities, such as informing their parents of Rizal's true intention of leaving the Philippines and, most notably, carrying the burden of working hard to find means to finance his brother's expenses while studying abroad.

Jose Rizal's correspondence with Ferdinand Blumentritt was a defining moment in his life. Blumentritt introduced Rizal to well-known intellectuals and scholars in Europe. He eventually became Rizal's mentor, defender, and avid supporter. It was also through him that Rizal met Dr. Reinhold Rost, who assisted Rizal in obtaining permission to utilize the British Museum's library, which led to Rizal discovering Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas by Antonio de Morga, which he annotated in order to rewrite Philippine history.

Jose Rizal's last lover was Josephine Bracken. In connection with Rizal's rumored retraction, she is a rather controversial figure in Rizal's life. The connection between Rizal, the lonely exile, and Josephine has blossomed into a relationship. However, Rizal’s sisters accused her of being a spy for the Spaniards. Rizal and Josephine were unable to marry because Rizal was a mason, which was another contentious event. This is related to Rizal's rumored retraction, as the only way to marry was if Rizal retracted everything he had said and written against the church.

Jose Rizal had formed a friendship with Maximo Viola, who later became the patron of Rizal's first novel, Noli Me Tangere. Likewise, Viola was also active in the Propaganda Movement. In addition, he accepted Rizal’s invitation to join him on tour to Europe. Rizal was concerned about his financial incapacity to publish Noli Me Tangere at the time, and he considered abandoning his plan to publish the novel by destroying the manuscript. Viola, convinced of the novel’s importance and purpose, funded its publication, with an initial print of 2000 copies. Rizal sent hum the galley proofs and the first published copy as a token of his gratitude.

During the revolutionary period, Valentin Ventura was a reformist who helped fund the publication of Jose Rizal's second novel, El Filibusterismo. Rizal had the opportunity to meet and become friends with Valentin during his time in Paris. It was at this period that Valentin got the opportunity to listen to Rizal's thoughts, which he greatly admired. When the publication of El Filibusterismo was suspended owing to a lack of funding, he offered his money to support the publication of the second novel. Rizal handed him the original manuscript of the novel as a token of his gratitude after it was published and distributed.

Jose Basa, popularly known as the "Ismagler ng Himagsikang Filipino, " was a reformer and agitator who attracted the attention of Spanish colonial authorities. In addition, he became the distributor of the liberal newspaper and was a member of the Comite de Reformadores (Committee of Reformers), along with Fr. José Burgos. Jose Rizal and Jose Basa formed a great connection when the first editions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were smuggled into the Philippines. Basa's efforts were instrumental in bringing the newspaper La Solidaridad and Rizal's two novels to the country, which awakened Filipinos to current events at that time.