A manga about Jose Rizal is released in time for his 157th birthday

The story about our National Hero Jose Rizal has been depicted in manga — that's Japanese comics for those not in the know — and plans have for it to be released today, his 157th birthday. 

A Davao based company Creative Connections & Commons announced the awesome news on its Facebook page. It additionally also translated the Japanese manga into English.

The page posted a photo of a manga version and in the caption wrote, " FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JAPAN!  The world of Japanese comics pays homage to the quintessential Filipino, Jose Rizal!"

The manga project is a collaboration between two Japanese creatives; Ryo Konno did the illustrations while Takahiro Matsui wrote the story.

Its first volume will be available online at 4:00 p.m. today.

Rizal was a true multi-hyphenate; he was a doctor, a novelist, a painter, and a poet. He bloodlessly fought against the Spanish colonizers and started the nonviolent-reform society, The Liga Filipina. He was executed by the Spaniards by a firing squad for the crime of rebellion. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News