José Rizal
Mi Último Adiós
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not a sparknotes, nor a cliffnotes
This is a retelling. The story is still told—completely. You walk with the characters, feel what they feel, discover what they discover. The meaning arrives because you experienced it, not because someone explained a summary.
Read this, then read the original. The prose will illuminate—you'll notice what makes the author that author, because you're no longer fighting to follow the story.
Read the original first, then read this. Something will click. You'll want to go back.
Either way, the door opens inward.
Essential Life Skills You'll Learn
Critical thinking and analysis
Understanding human nature
Cultural and historical context
Literary appreciation
These skills are woven throughout the analysis, helping you see how classic literature provides practical guidance for navigating today's complex world.
Written on the eve of his execution, José Rizal’s farewell poem is a meditation on love of country, sacrifice, and the dignity of choosing one’s principles over safety. This edition uses an English translation of the original Spanish text. It has become one of the Philippines’ most enduring works of patriotism and moral courage.
Related Resources
Table of Contents
About José Rizal
Published 1896
José Rizal (1861–1896) was a Filipino polymath, nationalist, and the foremost advocate for reform in the Philippines during Spanish colonial rule. Born in Calamba, Laguna, he was the seventh of eleven children in a prosperous family. A true Renaissance man, Rizal earned degrees in medicine and philosophy, spoke over twenty languages, and excelled as a novelist, poet, sculptor, painter, and ophthalmologist.
His two novels—Noli Me Tángere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891)—exposed the corruption and abuses of Spanish friars and colonial administrators, galvanizing Filipino national consciousness. Written in Spanish to reach educated Filipinos and Europeans alike, these works were banned by colonial authorities but circulated underground, inspiring the revolutionary movement.
Rizal spent much of his adult life in exile across Europe, where he continued writing, practicing medicine (he specialized in ophthalmology and operated on his own mother's eyes), and organizing the reform movement. He founded La Liga Filipina in 1892 to advocate for peaceful reform, but was arrested and exiled to Dapitan in Mindanao.
When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896, Rizal—despite opposing armed revolt—was arrested, tried by military court, and convicted of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy. He was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896, at age 35. The night before his death, he wrote "Mi Último Adiós" and smuggled it out hidden in an alcohol lamp.
Rizal's execution transformed him into a martyr and intensified the revolution. Today he is the Philippines' national hero, and December 30 is observed as Rizal Day. His life demonstrates how intellectual courage and moral clarity can shake empires—and how one person's willingness to die for their principles can ignite a nation's fight for freedom.
Why This Author Matters Today
José Rizal's insights into human nature, social constraints, and the search for authenticity remain powerfully relevant. Their work helps us understand the timeless tensions between individual desire and social expectation, making them an essential guide for navigating modern life's complexities.
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