Keko, it is the the sad reality of history. Only the ones that are well versed in history will know these historical figures, Rizal for example.
Spaniards are not the only ones; there are even Americans that do not even know the Louisianna Purchase , or the complete list of American Presidents.
In defense to Chicogon, though, I have worked closely with Spanish professors in Mexico as well as in Spain in my research and publication on Filipino National Evolution, which was part of my History Major Dissertation.
Jose Rizal is quite well known in Spanish higher education. The professors, the history students, the political scientists etc know him, but the average everday Spaniards that have no backing or understanding in colonial history will not known him.
I think it is important to expound on their importance, for individuals like these were pivotal in national consciousness.
Rizal's popularity in Spain began in the late 1880s when he published works in La Solidaridad, even making passionate followers of his works. Rizal was so well known in the intellectual community in his day that he had followers and readers from Brussels, Netherlands, Germany (Heidelburg), France, Britain, Portugal and of course in Spain.
It was only after Rizal's death and after the loss of the Philippines to the United States that Spain really did awaken. The defeat of the Spanish Empire to the United States in the Spanish-American War in 1898 was the motivating factor that led to the political awakening in Spain, the development of a parliamentary democracy and a move from the aristocratc parliamentary form that was set in place by Bourbon Kings.
I believe it was His Majesty King Alfonso XIII that said after Madrid defeat to America, "Dios Mio..el imperio español ha terminado. ha terminado."
(My God, the Spanish Empire is dead. It is over)
It was only after Spain's defeat that it followed the course of governmental remodeling. Since the loss of Her American colonies in the early 19th century, Spain was in a spiral downward and was incapable of preventing further revolutions in its last remaining colonies in Cuba, Puerto Rico, y Las Filipinas because Spain's communication channel was weak. That and the reign of the previous king, His Majesty King Alfonso XII was quite the conservative King. By the time the progressive King Alfonso XIII took the throne, it was already too late. Revolution in Cuba erupted, and even the Loyal Philippines rose up in dissension. The Philippines' eruption into revolution signaled the end for Spain's once mighty Global Empire.
History. Things happen for a reason. For a greater good.
I am impressed you know a lot about the history of Spain.
when the dictatorship Francisco Franco dead in 1975 was when the model that Rizal thought was applied.
As well was the year when Spain left the rest of colonies that still had to join in the future in the EU.