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REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

(Decree of December 20,1898)

In recognition of the aspirations of the Filipino nation and in proclaiming its noble and patriotic sentiments, I hereby decree.

Article 1. In memory of the Filipino patriots, Dr. Jose Rizal and the other victims of the past Spanish domination, I declare the 30th of December as a national day of mourning.

Article 2. On account of this, all national flags shall be hoisted at half-mast from 12:00 noon on December 29, as a sign of mourning.

Article 3. All offices of the Revolutionary Government shall be closed during the whole day of December 30.

Given in Malolos, December 20,1898

(Signed) EMILIO AGUINALDO

The truth it was General Aguinaldo, and not the second Philippines Commission headed by Civil Governor Taft, who first recognized Dr. Jose Rizal as "national day of mourning" in memory of Rizal and other victims of Spanish tyranny. Full text of these decree in two languages, Tagalog and Spanish, appeared in the government organ, El Heraldo dela Revolution on December 25,1898.

It is interesting to recall that the first celebration of Rizal Day in the Philippines was held in Manila on December 30,1898, under the sponsorship of the Club Filipino. This was In pursuance of General Aguinaldo’s Decree of December 20,1898. On the same date (December 30, 1898), the patriotic town of Daet in Camarines Norte, likewise celebrated Rizal Day, the festivities being climaxed by the unveiling of the Rizal monument, which was constructed at the expense of the townfolks. This was the first monument ever created in the Philippines-and still exists today.

Did you Know?

·         When in Europe, Rizal often had to go on without food. Sometimes his funds took too long to arrive and he would run out of money. He often went out during mealtime and cursed his misfortunes, and then went back home with a straight face. He was too proud to let his landlady know he didn't have any money for food, and when he got back everyone assumed he had already eaten.

·         Jose Rizal's sisters once suspected that Josephine Bracken, his love interest in Dapitan, was a spy from Spain.

·         There is some speculation that Rizal's mother could have been the illegitimate child of  Lorenzo Alberto Alonso and Brigida Quintos.

·         In 1895, Jose had a run-in with a Chinese who owned a small store -- a disagreement that ended with a lawsuit. This angered Rizal so much that he told his mother that he would never again buy anything from the Chinese. Interestingly enough, Rizal was also part Chinese.

·         At age 2, Jose could already read and write. He grew up to speak and write 22 different languages including Japanese, English, German, Latin, Spanish, French, Chinese, English, etc.

·         During his exile in Dapitan, Jose Rizal won the lottery. He used half of the money he won to buy some land, and sent the rest of it to his father.

·         Rizal's first poem, “Sa Aking Mga Kababata," was written when he was 7 years old.

·         To compensate for his small stature, Rizal turned to weight lifting to enhance his physique. Barbells made from cement were found in his home in Dapitan.

·         Rizal remained calm on the day he was executed. A Spanish surgeon took his pulse moments before he was sent to his death and found it within normal range.

·         Several monuments erected in honor of Jose Rizal can be found all over the world in places such as Madrid, Spain; Wilhelmsfeld, Germany; Jinjiang, Fujian, China; Chicago, Cherry Hill Township, San Diego, Seattle, U.S.A.; Mexico City, Mexico; Lima, Peru; Litomerice, Czech Republic; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

·         There is a Dr. Jose Rizal Park in  1008 12th Avenue South, Seattle, Washington. It covers a generous land area of 9.6 acres (39,000 m²).

·         Jose Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) is the most translated Filipino poem. Originally written in Spanish, the historical verse is now rendered in 38 other languages.

·         In Madrid, Spain, there is a replica of Rizal's famous Luneta monument.