Happy birthday to my second favorite hero behind Batman — Jose P. Rizal!

No, seriously, I am a fan of Pepe because of the way he influenced the Filipino revolution against the Spanish. I believe bloodshed was inevitable as the Spanish wasn’t going to easily give up a colony rich in resources if the natives asked nicely. There was going to be some sort of fighting and killing, and while that is unfortunate, it’s also the reality of things.

But Rizal’s non-violent protest in the form of his written works, most notably Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo have inspired locals that indeed the Spanish abuse needs to stop immediately.

Dude was also a polymath, which is the fancy word for smart boi. He was also a playa with the ladies.

So happy birthday, Pepe! Thank you for what you’ve done for your motherland!