Chapter 1

Jose Rizal : Life, Works, and Writings

Chapter 1: Advent of a National Hero

• June 19, 1861 – birth date of Jose Rizal • Born in Calamba, Laguna Province.

• June 22, 1861 – baptismal of Rizal • nickname “Pepe” • the greatest Filipino hero and peerless
genius.

• Father Rufino Collantes - baptized Rizal.

• Father Pedro Casañas - Rizal‟s godfather.

• Mariano Herbosa – nephew of Casañas and will marry Lucia.

• “Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y AlonzoRealonda”• Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery –the

governor general of the Philippines whenRizal was born.

Meanings of name
• Jose - was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint SanJose (St. Joseph)

• Protacio - from Gervacio P. which come from a Christian calendar

• Mercado- adopted in 1731 by Domigo Lamco (the paternal great- great-grandfather of Jose
Rizal) which the Spanish term mercado means „market‟ in English

• Rizal - from the word „Ricial‟ in Spanish means a field where wheat, cut while stillgreen,
sprouts again

• Alonzo- old surname of his mother

• Realonda - it was used by Doña Teodora from the surname of her godmother based on the
culture.

Rizal’s Parents

Francisco Mercado Rizal - Born on May 11, 1818

Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado yAlejandra II- Born in Biñan, Laguna

• June 28, 1848, he married Teodora the youngest of the 13 children of Cirila Alejandro and
Juan Mercado.
Teodora Alonzo Realonda• Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda yQuintos • Born on November 9,
1827 • Rizal‟s first teacher • second child of LorenzoAlonso and Brigida de Quintos • went to
College of Sta. Rosa.

• Domingo Lameo – great-great grandfather– A Chinese immigrant from Chang chow “China‟s
City of Spring”, he was married to Ines De la Rosa.

• 1731 – he adopt the name „Mercado‟ meaning market.

• Francisco Mercado – Domingo Lameo‟s son.

• Juan Mercado – Francisco‟s son, married to Cirila Alejandro.

• Francisco Mercado – Rizal‟s father (son of Juan Mercado).

Ancestry Maternal Side

• Lakan Dula – descendant.

• Eugenio Ursua – great-great grandfather of Rizal – he was married to Benigna.

• Regina – daughter of Eugenio, married to Manuel De Quintos.

• Brigida – daughter of Regina, married to Lorenzo Alberto, mother of Narcisa, Teodora,

Gregorio, Jose and Manuel• Rizal – “racial”; meaning “new pasture” and “green field”.

Chapter 2

Childhood Years in Calamba

OBJECTIVES To be able to know what events in his life made him love his nation and fight for
freedom.To know what he achieved in a young age. To be able to know the childhood years of
Jose Rizal in Calamba

Jose Rizal grew up in a happy home, ruled by good parents, bubbling with joy, and sanctified by
God’s blessings. His native town is Calamba. Its scenic beauties and industrious, hospitable, and
friendly folks impressed him during his childhood years and profoundly affected his mind and
character.

Calamba, the Hero’s Town. Calamba was a hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican
Order, which also owned all the lands around it.
House of Jose Rizal in Calamba

Earliest Childhood Memories- The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in
the family garden when he was three years old. Because he was a sick child, he was given the
tenderest care by his parents. His father built a little nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in
the day time. Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By nightfall, his mother
gathered all the children at the house to pray the Angelus. Another memory of his infancy was
the nocturnal walk in the town. The maid took him for a walk in the moonlight by the river.

The Hero’s First Sorrow Jose loved most the little Concha (Concepcion). He was a year older
than Concha. He played with her and from her he learned the sweetness of a sisterly
love. Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she was three years old. Jose, who
was very fond of her, cried bitterly at losing her. “When I was four years old, I lost my little
sister Concha, and then for the first time I shed tears caused by love and grief”

Devoted Son of the Church at the age of three, he began to take part in the family prayers. His
mother was a devout Catholic, taught him the Catholic prayers, when he was five years old, he
was able to read haltingly the Spanish family Bible.

Father Leoncio Lopez- he is the town priest. Jose Rizal used to visit him and listen to his
stimulating opinions on current events and sound philosophy of life.

Pilgrimage to Antipolo On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage
to Antipolo, in order to fulfill his mother’s vow which was made when Jose was born. It was the
first trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay. After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose
and his father went to Manila. It was the first time Jose saw Manila. They visited Saturnina, who
was then a boarding student at La Concordia College in Sta. Ana.

Artistic Talents Since early childhood Rizal revealed his God-given talent for art. At the age of
five, he began to make sketches with his pencil and to mold in clay and wax objects. “All right
laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of me!”

First Poem by Rizal. Rizal possessed a God-given gift for literature. Since early boyhood he had
scribbled verses on loose sheets of paper and on the textbooks of his sisters. His mother who was
a lover of literature, noticed his poetic inclination and encouraged him to write poetry. At the age
of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled Sa Aking mga Kababata (To
My Fellow Children).

TO MY FELLOW CHILDREN Whenever people of a country truly love The language which by
heav’n they were taught to use That country also surely liberty pursue As does the bird which
soars to freer space above. For language is the final judge and referee Upon the people in the
land where it holds sway; To make our human race resembles in this way The other living beings
born in liberty.

Whoever knows not how to love his native tongue Is worse than any beast or evil smelling fish.
To make our language richer ought to be our wish The same as any mother loves to feed her
young. Tagalog and the Latin language are the same And English and Castilian and the angels’
tongue; And God, whose watchful care o’er all is flung, Has given us His blessing in the speech
we claim, Our mother tongue, like all the highest that we know Had alphabet and letters of its
very own; But these were lost --- by furious waves were overthrown Like bancas in the stormy
sea, long years ago.

First Drama by Rizal. Rizal, who was eight years old, wrote his first dramatic work which was in
Tagalog comedy. It is said that it was staged in a Calamba festival and was delightfully
applauded by the audience.

Rizal as Boy Magician Since early manhood Rizal had been interested in magic. With his
dexterous hands, he learned various tricks. He entertained his town folks with magic-lantern
exhibitions. In later years when he attained manhood, he continued his keen predilection for
magic. He read many books on magic and attended the performances of the famous magicians of
the world.

Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood

1. Hereditary Influence
2. Environmental Influence
3. Aid of Divine Providence

Hereditary Influence. From his Malayan ancestors, Rizal inherited his love for freedom, his
innate desire to travel, and his indomitable courage. From his Chinese ancestors, he derived his
serious nature, frugality, patience, and love for children. From his Spanish ancestors, he got his
elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to ladies. From his father, he inherited a
profound sense of self-respect, the love for work, and the habit of independent thinking. And
from his mother, he inherited his religious nature, the spirit of self-sacrifice, and the passion for
arts and literature.

Environmental Influence. The scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the Rizal
family stimulated the inborn artistic and literary talents of Jose Rizal. The religious atmosphere
at his home fortified his religious nature. His brother, Paciano, instilled in his mind the love for
freedom and justice. From his sisters, he learned to be courteous and kind to women. His three
uncles, inspired him to develop his artistic ability, to develop his frail body and intensified his
voracious reading of good books.
Father Leoncio Lopez, fostered Rizal’s love for scholarship and intellectual honesty. The death
of his sister Concha and the imprisonment of his mother, contributed to strengthen his character,
enabling him to resist blows of adversity in later years. The Spanish cruelties and abuses
awakened his spirit of patriotrism and inspired him to consecrate his life and talents to redeem
his oppressed people.

Aid of Divine Providence. Rizal was providentially destined to be the pride and glory of his
nation. God had endowed him with the versatile gifts of a genius, the vibrant spirit of a
nationalist, and the valiant heart to sacrifice for a noble cause.

Chapter 3

Rizal’s Early Education in Calamba and Biñan Teaching was characterized by four R’s :

READING

WRITING

ARITHMETIC

RELIGION

Education in spanish era: Primary level to the tertiary level of education. Schools focused on the
Christian Doctrines. Separate school for boys and girls. Wealthy Filipino or the ilustrados were
accommodated in the schools.

The Hero’s First Teacher. The first teacher of rizal was her mother. A remarkable woman of
good character and fine culture Rizal at the age of 3 leared the alphabet and prayers. Doña
Teodora dicovered Jose’s talent for poetry and encourage him to write.

Private tutors of rizal. Maestro Celestino was Jose’s first private tutor. Maestro Lucas Padua was
second private tutor. Maestro Leon Monroy became the hero’s tutor in spanish and latin. he was
the clasmate of Don Francisco (died 5 months later).

Private tutors of rizal

Uncle Jose Alberto – gave wise direction in the studies of Jose.

Uncle Gregorio – instilled into the mind of Jose the love for education. Work hard and perform
every task very carefully; learn to be swift as well as thorough; be independent is thinking; and
make visual pictures of everything.

Tio Manuel Alberto- seeing Jose was frail in nature, concerned himself with the physical
development of his nephew. He also taught Jose to love for open air and admiration for the
beauty of nature. When Don Leon died; Jose’s parents decided to send him to a private school in
Biñan.

Jose Goes to Biñan June 1869 – Jose goes to Biñan with Paciano.

First day in Biñan school

School of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz – formal teacher Rizal Described his Maestro as tall,
thin, long necked, sharp-nosed, with a body slightly bent forward.

First school Brawl

Pedro (teachers son) (bully) – wrestling.

Andres Saladan- arm wrestling.

Painting lessons in Biñan. Near the school was the house of an old painter, Father inlaw of the
school teacher.

Daily life in Biñan Jose’s Daily Routine: Hears mass at 4 a.m or studies lesson before going to
mass. Goes to orchard to look for a mabolo to eat. Breakfast. Goes to class at 10a.m. Lunch
break.Goes back to school at 2p.m. Goes home at 5p.m. Studies lesson and draws a little. Has
supper. Prays again. Plays in the street if moon is bright. Sleeps.

Best Student in School Jose surpassed his classmates in spanish, latin and other subjects. His
older classmates were jealous and squealed to the teacher whenever he had fights. Jose usually
receives five to six blows.

Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za.

January 20 1872- Cavite mutiny February 17 1872- Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and
Jacinto Zamora were implicated and executed Leaders of Secular movement. To filipinize the
Philippine parishes.

They inspired Rizal to fight the evils of spanish tyranny. Later in 1891, Rizal dedicated his
second novel elfilibusterismo, to GomBurZa.

Injustice to Hero’s Mother In 1872, Doña Teodora was arrested on malicious charge that she
aided his brother Jose Alberto in trying to poison his wife Jose Alberto planned to divorce his
wife because of her infidelity Jose Alberto’s wife connived with the Spanish lieutenant of
guardia civil and filed a case againts Rizal’s mother.
Injustice to Hero’s Mother. Antonio Vivencio del Rosario-Gobernadorcillio of Calamba, helped
the lieutenant arrest Doña Teodora. 50 kilometers -Doña Teodora was made to walk from
calamba to the provincial prison in Santa Cruz.