A recent commemoration in Lapu-Lapu City has reignited discussions about the enduring legacy and the surprising amount of misinformation surrounding Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero. The event marked the 129th anniversary of his martyrdom on December 30, 2025.
Mr. Garry Lao of the Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Commission extended the invitation for the ceremony. The author, representing the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, attended and met officials including Lone District Rep. Junard Chan, a fellow member of the Order of the Knights of Rizal.
The Original Target of Fake News
Long before the term "fake news" became commonplace, Dr. Jose Rizal was its primary victim. During his lifetime, Spanish friars aggressively smeared his reputation, labeling him with a litany of accusations. They called him a scoundrel, philanderer, heretic, subversive, troublemaker, traitor, and a dangerous saboteur.
Even after his execution, debates about his heroism persisted. One prominent theory suggests that the American colonial regime in the early 1900s actively promoted Rizal as a hero. The motive, according to this narrative, was to steer Filipinos towards peaceful dissent, as exemplified by Rizal's writings, rather than the armed rebellion championed by Andres Bonifacio. This effort famously co-opted the phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword." This promotion occurred after the devastating Philippine-American War, which claimed over 250,000 Filipino lives.
Unraveling Bizarre Urban Legends
Beyond historical debate, Rizal's life has spawned several outlandish conspiracy theories and urban legends that continue to circulate.
One particularly sensational claim posits that Rizal was the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. Proponents point to circumstantial links: Rizal was in London in 1888 when the Ripper murders occurred, his surgical skills as an ophthalmologist could theoretically allow for the mutilations, and both share the initials "J.R."
However, this theory collapses under scrutiny. Witness descriptions placed Jack the Ripper's height between 5'5" and 5'8", while historical records show Rizal stood at just 4'11". More fundamentally, the brutal, violent nature of the crimes is completely at odds with Rizal's documented composure and his philosophical rejection of armed revolution.
The Hitler Connection and Other Tall Tales
Another bizarre legend asserts that Rizal was the biological brother of Adolf Hitler. This stems from Rizal's 1887 visit to Vienna. A diary entry from his friend, Maximo Viola, mentions Rizal spending time with a Viennese woman. Later, unfounded speculation identified this woman as Klara Polzl, Hitler's mother.
The timeline alone debunks this myth. Adolf Hitler was born in April 1889, two years after Rizal's visit. There is no credible evidence or DNA confirmation to suggest any familial link between the Filipino intellectual and the German dictator; in fact, Hitler's ancestry has been traced to Jewish roots.
These rumors, while false, have ironically contributed to Rizal's larger-than-life stature. They affirm the old adage that all publicity, whether good or bad, keeps a figure in the public consciousness. Over a century after his death, Jose Rizal remains a complex figure—a revered hero, a historical puzzle, and a persistent subject of fascination and fabrication.
