Outside Manila, the University of Southern Philippines is probably the only institution that has acquired a rich collection of memorabilia owned by our national hero, Jose P Rizal.

The university has in its possession the original checkered winter coat of the hero and a winter overcoat. Other Rizal belonging which include two evening white shirts, checkered winter pants, winter vest, cotton blue-striped summer pants, a cotton collarless white shirt, an undershirt, cotton shirt cuffs, two pairs of socks and horse-riding breeches.

How USP got hold of these items is a story in itself.

On February 11, 1951, Dofia Trinidad, kizal's sister came to USP with a promise to donate the personal belongings of her brother. The reason why she came to visit USP was the fact that former USP Vice President Escolastico Duterte's wife, Concepcion is the daughter of Mariano Herbosa and Lucia Rizal, the sister of Jose and Trinidad. The blood relations between the two prompted Trinidad to give to her niece the cherished possessions of our national hero. A few months later, she died of old age.

To this day, the donated original items are proudly displayed to the public at the University of Southern Philippines' Museum. A legacy of the hero to the Filipino people.