"Improved and now it's very presentable, I also appreciate the Brgy employees who are cleaning and guarding the place, especially to students making out in the dark corner of the plaza and some naughty students that may destroy the place"

Rigor Acla

"The Philippines was a Spanish colony from 1571 to 1898. The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 320 years.
José Rizal was a Filipino revolutionary and independence activist, and an inspiration for the nationalist movement. He was also a journalist, physician, inventor, translator, businessman, educator, and writer. Along with Ramon Magsaysay, he is revered as one of the founding fathers of the Philippines. He was born in Calamba, Philippines, on June 19, 1861, and died in Manila on December 30, 1896.

Rizal went to Spain to study medicine. He also briefly studied German and French, and attended the University of Paris and the University of Berlin. There, he was recognized by many European scholars. By this time, he was fluent in several languages, speaking and writing the others at a rudimentary level. Qualified as a doctor at the age of 25, he was a genius with a deep understanding of pharmacy and demonstrated exceptional talent in diverse fields, including sociology, economics, history, anthropology, mathematics, architecture, and literature.

However, his experiences in Europe awakened the contradictions of colonial rule among upper-class youth. The discrimination he experienced abroad awakened his national and revolutionary consciousness, fueling his yearning for reform and liberation for the Philippines.
Rizal spearheaded the Enlightenment Movement by publishing "To My Compatriots," a letter to his compatriots living in Spain, urging them to refrain from gambling and laziness and to be recognized as honest and industrious people.

He also published a book praising the legitimacy of Spanish colonial rule as having brought civilization to the "lazy and barbaric" Filipinos (Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, "Successes of the Philippines") and a novel (Noli Me Tángere, "Don't Touch Me") that exposed the true nature of colonialism, in which Spanish colonial officials, planters, and clergy distorted the Filipinos' image as foolish to justify colonial rule. The novel sharply criticized the contradictions of colonial rule and vividly depicted Spain's privileges for its own citizens and discrimination against the colonized Filipinos.

This essay, written by a young student from the colony, quickly spread among the open and liberal Spanish cultural community, Madrid's intellectuals, and students, shaping public opinion against Spanish colonial rule. Ultimately, he was exiled by order of the Spanish government and repatriated to the Philippines.

Following his forced exile, he abandoned his dream of becoming a doctor and embarked on a full-fledged revolutionary and independence movement. Rizal demanded democratic reforms of colonial rule from the Spanish government, while simultaneously fighting alongside the Filipino people for self-government. Unlike the armed independence movement of his contemporary, Andres Bonifacio, he pursued a pacifist independence movement.

The Spanish government subsequently arrested Rizal on charges of being behind the armed independence movement. At his trial in Manila, he defended himself without a lawyer, but was ultimately acquitted. He was transferred to the Fort Santiago prison in Intramuros and imprisoned. He was executed by firing squad in Manila on December 30, 1896, on charges of treason, incitement to rebellion, and conspiracy to rebel under military law.
To prevent his body from being used as a catalyst for the independence movement, his remains were buried secretly, and to this day, the whereabouts of his remains remain unknown.
Rizal's death sparked the Filipino people's desire for independence, and he is revered as the father of independence.

Calamba, located in the heart of Laguna Province, is home to the Rizal Shrine, the restored birthplace of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, and a museum commemorating his life and achievements. These sites are significant historical sites, offering insight into Rizal's upbringing and the Philippine independence movement. Parks honoring Jose Rizal are also readily available throughout the Philippines."

Danny Hyun

"It was packed with lots of students here and there from friends hanging out to students practicing dancing on one side. There were lots of seats as for the view it is nice."

Sugoi Tots