The Book Jose Rizal Gave His Wife Before He Was Killed is on View at the National Museum

The National Museum of the Philippines is giving us a late holiday treat. To commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal’s 123rd death anniversary, the museum has opened for public viewing the national hero’s personal copy of De La Imitacion de Cristo y Menoscprecio del Mundo (The Imitation of Christ), a Christian devotional book.

This is the very book he gave to his wife Josephine Bracken before he was executed in Luneta on December 30, 1896.

It includes a handwritten note from Rizal for his wife, which reads “To my dear and unhappy wife, Josephine Bracken.”

The book is more than a century old, making conservation practices crucial to ensuring its survival. As such, the page is only shown during two occasions in the year—around Rizal’s birthday (June 19) and Rizal’s death anniversary (December 30). It's a rare chance to take a closer look at our national hero’s life.

The book is available for public viewing from December 26 to 29, 2019 and January 2 to 5, 2020.