1. He was a polymath: Rizal wasn't just a writer, he was also a doctor, an ophthalmologist, a sculptor, a painter, a linguist, and a botanist.
2. He was a talented artist: Rizal's artistic skills were evident in his sketches, paintings, and sculptures. He even created a self-portrait that is now considered a national treasure in the Philippines.
3. He was a skilled linguist: He was fluent in 22 languages, including Tagalog, Spanish, English, German, French, and Arabic.
4. He was exiled twice: Rizal was exiled to Dapitan, Mindanao, for his writings critical of Spanish rule. He was later executed in Manila.
5. He was a symbol of Filipino nationalism: Rizal's novels, *Noli Me Tangere* and *El Filibusterismo*, are considered foundational works of Philippine literature and helped to spark the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule.