Pepe Alas posted: " We are always taught about José Rizal's diffidence when it comes to his height. But how come Marcelo H. del Pilar didn't seem to mind about his? After all, he seemed to be shorter than Rizal by a few inches, as evidenced by this famous photo of theirs (l" EL FILIPINISMO
We are always taught about José Rizal's diffidence when it comes to his height. But how come Marcelo H. del Pilar didn't seem to mind about his? After all, he seemed to be shorter than Rizal by a few inches, as evidenced by this famous photo of theirs (left) together with fellow propagandist Mariano Ponce. Which brings the seated man to our attention. Just imagine how tall Ponce would have stood if he didn't use a chair (see photo at right, edited by Louis Ilo); Rizal and del Pilar would be gaping their heads up at him! Now I understand why he used Tigbalang as his nom de guerre.
I first started writing about this as early as 2016. Unfortunately, I had no evidence. But earlier today, Ambeth Ocampo published in his Facebook page his latest discovery about Rizal's height, thus confirming what I have been doubting all these years:
Eureka!!
There has always been a debate about José Rizal's height, with many people insisting, without evidence, that the hero stood at four feet eleven inches. This was even used in the Ayala Museum, since changed at my insistence.
The 4-11 club would not buy my method of measuring Rizal's extant clothing in the National Historical Commission to estimate his height at around five feet two inches.
Well, this evening, without my looking for it, the definitive proof for the 5-2 side cropped up while I was filing my scans of Rizal manuscripts.
In one of his notebooks, RIZAL HIMSELF said that at 19 years old and four days old he stood at one meter 61 centimeters. That translates to 5.28 feet or almost 5'3"!
Oh, serendipity is one of the thrills of research!!
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