In Excelsis

"JOSE P. RIZAL (1861-1896), National Hero of the Philippines, was an Asian Renaissance Man. His era, marked by worldwide social and political sturggles for emancipation, began with the birth of Russian playwright Anton Checkov, german composer Gustav Mahler, and Polish pianist-statesman Ignace Paderewski in 1860. Rizal was the most senior among his generation of Asia's internationally acclaimed thinkers and statesman who include Rabindranath Tagore, Sun Yat Sen, and Mahatma Gandhi. The beautiful pictures and simple narrative of this book pay homage to the achievements of a great human being. A multitude of historical works about Rizal, conflicting conjectures, family lore, legendary claims and memorabilia have been crafted into an ennobling series of articles. They introduce a great Filipino to a new generation seeking to comprehend the Asia-Pacific saga. Rizal lived only 35 years, during which he showed unusually enlightened understand of his times as well as the future of his people and their neighbors in the region. Rizal championed a nationalism for Asia founded on education of the masses and human rights--always aware that the "slaves of today" can become the "tyrants of tomorrow." His poignant poem, wirtten prior to facing the colonizer's firing squad, was recited by Indonesian soldiers of independence before going into battle. Rizal's brilliant life is timeless testimony to the power of the pen, the conviction of conscience, and the enduring quest for true freedom and peace."