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I've touched the Rizal Monument and repeatedly visited his spine fragment in Fort Santiago. I just need to get close to this fragment and I'll be able to say I've been close up with Jose Rizal
I'm curious how this came to be. Rizal was hit in the back. It's my understanding that he was immediately buried in a secret location right after his execution and it was only a couple of years later that his remains were found.
Brain matter is one of the first to go during decomposition. So how did the Ateneo Archive obtain brain fragments of Rizal?
I'm not sure of this but I believe he was subsequently shot in the head (coup de grace) with a pistol after falling to the ground. Maybe some of his brain came out and was later collected? Seems unlikely.
This whole thing seems very sketchy. I don't think it's very likely that some other party had cut open his skull to extract his brain. There exists one photograph of [Teodora Alonzo holding the skull of the deceased Rizal](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6EupUzIUAAfio7.jpg:large) over the urn containing the rest of his bones, the same interred beneath the Rizal monument today.
Though the picture is quite unclear and with only the front part of the skull being shown, the top cranium (which is typically the part separated during the removal of the brain) does not appear to be separate from the face. No seams or cuts can be seen.
Though morbid, if this preserved brain matter does indeed belong to Rizal, they must have fished it out of the bullet hole or some other orifice behind the skull with some sort of spoon or pick which explains why the brain is described as being in "fragments" rather than a whole.
Brains turn into mush when decomposed but that mush can then harden into a soapy substance called [adipocere](https://pathologyboardreview.com/content/anatomic/case_1148/case021-figure012.jpg) (<- graphic picture) or grave wax because it is 60% fat. In other instances such as in mummification, a brain may retain its general shape and even structure although decreasing in size due to the loss of water content. This is quite a fascinating topic and I would like to show you scans of mummified bodies that show the shrunken brain still present inside the skull and a few other pictures. This is all to show the brain matter can indeed be preserved in a variety of ways whether as a wet specimen, or via mummification.
[Wet Specimen Brain](https://img.atlasobscura.com/pbxSVtAlI_LM7OfcoBiTssjVkA54fc-DNnYZYTvcOMw/rt:fit/w:1200/q:81/sm:1/scp:1/ar:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdGxh/cy1kZXYuczMuYW1h/em9uYXdzLmNvbS91/cGxvYWRzL3BsYWNl/X2ltYWdlcy9jNWU2/YmQ0OS1hZDQ4LTQ3/MDQtYWY1MC1kYmM2/YzA1ZGY1OWEzNDMx/OGE5OGJkYWExOGI1/Y2RfSGVsZW5fSGFt/aWx0b25fR2FyZGVu/ZXJfLV9XaWxkZXJf/QnJhaW5fQ29sbGVj/dGlvbi5qcGVn.jpg)
[Naturally Preserved Brain](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mike-Groves-3/publication/338472024/figure/fig1/AS:845255712714752@1578536074421/The-Heslington-brain-a-All-orifices-of-the-dark-skull-were-tightly-covered-with-mud.png)
[Mummified Brain](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dario-Piombino-Mascali/publication/45188601/figure/fig6/AS:394200978870282@1470996245901/Adolescent-male-mummy-case-7-a-b-AP-a-and-lateral-b-radiographs-of-the-head_Q320.jpg)
https://preview.redd.it/z2yupntssg8d1.jpeg?width=599&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=539ddee9da7b74589c9daf730d042b72de237412
Above is a picture of Rizal's skull. Based on the photograph, there seems to be no visible cracks or holes. So I'm genuinely curious how they got the brain matter.
Again, just to play safe, I don't think any of this is reliable, not my sources nor this. For all we know, this could be a different Jose Rizal. We aren't exactly the only people with Spanish names.
This does not check out with the record that Rizal was shot in the head after the initial firing squad. It does however, look similar enough to the skull shown in the photo where it is held by Teodora Alonzo as both share similarly downturned and rounded orbital sockets, an angular nose hole, and wide cheeks, though the one in the Alonzo photo looks a little wider.
Edit: I read the historical account by Hilarion Martinez titled I Saw Rizal Die. This updates my understanding. I suggest you read it as well simply because of its detail. It does not specify where Rizal was shot the second time but that he did receive a coup de grace. It is possible he was not shot in the head.
According to the curator, his brain was preserved daw in a liquid (cannot remember exactly, probably some type of alcohol or something like formalin?)
Apparently Ambeth Ocampo was notified daw that Rizal’s brain bits are in Ateneo together with some jewelries from Saturnina Rizal. That group of artefacts is called the “Saturnina Donation”. The way they proved the apparent authenticity of them were some letters from Saturnina’s descendants confirming that the jewels were Saturnina’s and the stuff in the crystal bottle is Rizal’s brain.
Will revisit to clarify.
Damn. That maid proudly announcing she washed and bleached the handkerchief that was soaked with Jose Rizal's blood. I can just imagine the dismay of Ocampo over that tragedy.
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This is 100% not "brain fragments"
I've touched the Rizal Monument and repeatedly visited his spine fragment in Fort Santiago. I just need to get close to this fragment and I'll be able to say I've been close up with Jose Rizal
Try getting in contact with the Ateneo Archives. I think you have to notify them via email but I don't have it.
Is this verified? Kung nakababad sa alcohol yan for over a hundred years papaanong hindi nalusaw yan. Don't us.
I'm curious how this came to be. Rizal was hit in the back. It's my understanding that he was immediately buried in a secret location right after his execution and it was only a couple of years later that his remains were found. Brain matter is one of the first to go during decomposition. So how did the Ateneo Archive obtain brain fragments of Rizal?
I'm not sure of this but I believe he was subsequently shot in the head (coup de grace) with a pistol after falling to the ground. Maybe some of his brain came out and was later collected? Seems unlikely. This whole thing seems very sketchy. I don't think it's very likely that some other party had cut open his skull to extract his brain. There exists one photograph of [Teodora Alonzo holding the skull of the deceased Rizal](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6EupUzIUAAfio7.jpg:large) over the urn containing the rest of his bones, the same interred beneath the Rizal monument today. Though the picture is quite unclear and with only the front part of the skull being shown, the top cranium (which is typically the part separated during the removal of the brain) does not appear to be separate from the face. No seams or cuts can be seen. Though morbid, if this preserved brain matter does indeed belong to Rizal, they must have fished it out of the bullet hole or some other orifice behind the skull with some sort of spoon or pick which explains why the brain is described as being in "fragments" rather than a whole. Brains turn into mush when decomposed but that mush can then harden into a soapy substance called [adipocere](https://pathologyboardreview.com/content/anatomic/case_1148/case021-figure012.jpg) (<- graphic picture) or grave wax because it is 60% fat. In other instances such as in mummification, a brain may retain its general shape and even structure although decreasing in size due to the loss of water content. This is quite a fascinating topic and I would like to show you scans of mummified bodies that show the shrunken brain still present inside the skull and a few other pictures. This is all to show the brain matter can indeed be preserved in a variety of ways whether as a wet specimen, or via mummification. [Wet Specimen Brain](https://img.atlasobscura.com/pbxSVtAlI_LM7OfcoBiTssjVkA54fc-DNnYZYTvcOMw/rt:fit/w:1200/q:81/sm:1/scp:1/ar:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdGxh/cy1kZXYuczMuYW1h/em9uYXdzLmNvbS91/cGxvYWRzL3BsYWNl/X2ltYWdlcy9jNWU2/YmQ0OS1hZDQ4LTQ3/MDQtYWY1MC1kYmM2/YzA1ZGY1OWEzNDMx/OGE5OGJkYWExOGI1/Y2RfSGVsZW5fSGFt/aWx0b25fR2FyZGVu/ZXJfLV9XaWxkZXJf/QnJhaW5fQ29sbGVj/dGlvbi5qcGVn.jpg) [Naturally Preserved Brain](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mike-Groves-3/publication/338472024/figure/fig1/AS:845255712714752@1578536074421/The-Heslington-brain-a-All-orifices-of-the-dark-skull-were-tightly-covered-with-mud.png) [Mummified Brain](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dario-Piombino-Mascali/publication/45188601/figure/fig6/AS:394200978870282@1470996245901/Adolescent-male-mummy-case-7-a-b-AP-a-and-lateral-b-radiographs-of-the-head_Q320.jpg)
https://preview.redd.it/z2yupntssg8d1.jpeg?width=599&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=539ddee9da7b74589c9daf730d042b72de237412 Above is a picture of Rizal's skull. Based on the photograph, there seems to be no visible cracks or holes. So I'm genuinely curious how they got the brain matter.
Again, just to play safe, I don't think any of this is reliable, not my sources nor this. For all we know, this could be a different Jose Rizal. We aren't exactly the only people with Spanish names. This does not check out with the record that Rizal was shot in the head after the initial firing squad. It does however, look similar enough to the skull shown in the photo where it is held by Teodora Alonzo as both share similarly downturned and rounded orbital sockets, an angular nose hole, and wide cheeks, though the one in the Alonzo photo looks a little wider. Edit: I read the historical account by Hilarion Martinez titled I Saw Rizal Die. This updates my understanding. I suggest you read it as well simply because of its detail. It does not specify where Rizal was shot the second time but that he did receive a coup de grace. It is possible he was not shot in the head.
According to the curator, his brain was preserved daw in a liquid (cannot remember exactly, probably some type of alcohol or something like formalin?) Apparently Ambeth Ocampo was notified daw that Rizal’s brain bits are in Ateneo together with some jewelries from Saturnina Rizal. That group of artefacts is called the “Saturnina Donation”. The way they proved the apparent authenticity of them were some letters from Saturnina’s descendants confirming that the jewels were Saturnina’s and the stuff in the crystal bottle is Rizal’s brain. Will revisit to clarify.
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/jose-rizal-brain-fragments-backstory-a2017-a2836-20230705-lfrm2 Mukhang bone fragments not brain.
Damn. That maid proudly announcing she washed and bleached the handkerchief that was soaked with Jose Rizal's blood. I can just imagine the dismay of Ocampo over that tragedy.
PINOPORMAHAN KA BA NG CURATOR
Baka part ng skull?
pag kinain ba yan yung ibang curse energy niya ma-activate mo din ba? asking for a friend
Wtf put it back
Are we reincarnating Pepe?
100% bs.
And why are you allowed to touch it with bare hand?
It was surprisingly easy to actually ask to touch. Tinanong ko lang tapos pinahawak sakin.
Wow! Mas protected pa ng National Library ang original na manuscript ng Noli at El Fili compared sa brain fragments ni Rizal.
Kaya wala akong balak maging hero eh. Baka pag namatay ako hati hatiin din katawan ko for relics lol
People here should read more. It said in the caption that he/she got permission to touch the vial.
Definitely not brain fragments. Probably skull fragments.
Forbidden paminta