ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on representations of the figure of Filipino nationalist José Rizal, who was executed by the Spanish authorities in 1896 for his connection to the revolution that led to Philippine independence. Spanish representations in several recent exhibitions are explored in contrast to his portrayal in memorial sites in the Philippines. In his native country, José Rizal is frequently referred to as the ‘First Filipino’ and considered a national hero, as well as a martyr who died for his country. In contrast to these representations, Rizal was ‘Hispanised’ in the Spanish exhibitions, which portray him as a bridge between Spain and the Philippines, an author who wrote in Spanish. This relatively quiet, conflict-free image acts as a symbol of the re-connections and shared traces between Spain and the Philippines, which, in turn, serves a Spanish political strategy of establishing links between Spain and the Philippines in the twenty-first century.
