SUMMARY : THE LIFE OF
JOSE RIZAL
BY : MS. M
VOCABULARY
Chinese Mestizo – a person of mixed Chinese and Filipino ancestry
Principalia - the ruling and usually educated upper class in Spanish colonial Philippines
Bachiller en Artes – Bachelor of Arts degree bestowed by colleges or universities
Spanish Cortes – Spain’s lawmaking or legislative body
Ilustrado – a term which literally means enlightened one’s or the Filipinos educated in
Europe
Masonry – fraternal organization which strives for moral betterment
RIZAL’S FAMILY
Rizal’s father, Francisco Mercado, was a wealthy farmer who leased lands from the
Dominican Friars. Francisco’s earliest ancestors were Ziang-co and Zun-nio, who later
gave birth to Lamco. Lamco is said to have come from the district of Fujian in Southern
China and migrated to the Philippines in the late 1600s.
In 1697, Lamco was baptized in Binondo, adopting Domingo as his first name. He married
Ines dela Rosa of a known entrepreneurial family in Binondo. Domingo and Ines later
settled in the state of San Isidro Labrador, owned by the Dominicans. In 1731, they had a
son whom they named Francisco Mercado.
The surname “Mercado” which means Market, was a common surname adopted by
many Chinese merchants at that time.
RIZAL’S FAMILY
Francisco Mercado became one of the richest in Binan and owned the largest herd of
carabaos. He was also active in local politics and was elected as captain del pueblo in
1783. He had a son named Juan Mercado who was elected as captain del pueblo in
1808, 1813 and 1823.
Juan Mercado married to Cirila Alejandra, a native of Binan. They had 13 children,
including Francisco Engracio, the father of Jose Rizal.
Following Governor Narciso Claveria’s decree, in 1849, which ordered the Filipinos to
adopt Spanish surnames, Francisco Engracio Mercado added the surname ‘Rizal”, from
the word “ricial” meaning “green field”, as he later settled in the town of Calamba as a
farmer.
RIZAL’S FAMILY
Francisco Engracio had a good education that started in a Latin school in Binan.
Francisco married Teodora Alonso, in 1848.
Teodora Alonso, belonged to one of the wealthiest families in Manila. His father was a
member of the Spanish Cortes. And Alonso, was described as a woman of more than
ordinary culture. She was a mathematician and has read many books.
Because of Francisco and Teodora’s industry and hard work, their family became a
prominent member of the principalia class in the town of Calamba.
RIZAL’S FAMILY
Jose Rizal is the seventh among the eleven children of Francisco Mercado and Teodora
Alonso.
Rizal was affectionate to all his siblings. However, his relation with his only brother Paciano,
was more than that of an older brother. Paciano became Rizal’s second father. Rizal
highly respected him and valued all his advice.
It was Paciano who convinced Rizal to pursue his studies in Europe. And later decided to
join the Katipunan and fight for independence.
Paciano retired to his home in Los Banos and led a quiet life until his death in 1930.
CHILDHOOD AND EARLY EDUCATION
Rizal had good memories of childhood in Calamba. His childhood was full of love
and care shown to him by his parents and siblings.
As a young boy, Rizal demonstrated intelligence and learned easily.
His first teacher was Dona Teodora who also taught him how to pray.
At three, he learned the Alphabet, showed great interest in reading and enjoyed
staying in the library with his mother.
CHILDHOOD AND EARLY EDUCATION
Just like other children from the principalia class, Rizal experienced education under
private tutors.
Private tutors were, Maestro Celestino, Maestro Lucas Padua and Leon Monroy, who
honed his skills in basic latin, reading and writing.
At the age of nine, Rizal left Calamba with his brother to study in Binan.
In Binan, he excelled in Latin and Spanish. He also had painting lessons. And his leisure
hours were mostly spent in Juancho’s studio, where he was given free lessons in painting
and drawing. Juancho is an old painter, father in law of Justiniano Aquino Cruz, Pacianos
teacher.
STUDENT IN MANILA
Rizal was sent by his father to Ateneo Municipal, formerly known as Escuela Pia, for a six
year program, Bachiller en Artes.
He use the name Jose Rizal instead of Jose Mercado. Paciano feared that Rizal might run
into trouble if it was known openly that they were brothers, since Paciano was known to
have links to Jose Burgos, one of the leaders of the secularization movement and one of
the three priests executed.
During this time, Ateneo Municipal was known to offer best education for boys. It was
being managed by priests and known for its rigid discipline and religious instruction that
trained student’s character.
STUDENT IN MANILA
At the start, Rizal lagged behind his classmates but because of his perseverance and
seriousness in studies, he became the emperor, a title given to the most outstanding
student in the class.
Rizal graduated with a degree of Bachiller en Artes, with the highest honors.
After finishing Bachiller en Artes, Rizal was sent by Don Francisco to the University of Sto.
Tomas
He attended Philosophy and Letters and took up vocational course that gave him the title
perito agrimensor ( expert surveyor ).
STUDENT IN MANILA
In his second year, Rizal shifted his course to Medicine after learning about his
mother’s failing eyesight.
Rizal’s academic performance in UST was not as impressive as that in Ateneo. He
was a good student, but not as gifted as he was in Arts and Letters.
In 1882, Rizal and Paciano made a secret pact – Rizal would go to Europe to
complete his medical studies and prepare himself for the great task of liberating
the country from Spanish Tyranny.
RIZAL IN EUROPE
On May 3, 1882 – Rizal left the Philippines for Spain.
He was only 22 when he first travel abroad. He was very eager an d excited to learn new
things and interact with foreign nationals.
Rizal reached Barcelona on June 16, 1882. His classmates in Ateneo organized a welcome
party for him.
In Barcelona he was able to write an essay entitled El Amor Patrio ( Love of Country ),
which was published on August 20, 1882 in Diariong Tagalog where he used the pen
name Laong Laan.
After summer vacation, Rizal decided to move in Madrid where he enrolled in Medicine
and Philosophy and Letters at the Universidad Central de Madrid on November 3, 1882.
RIZAL IN EUROPE
Rizal was awarded with the degree and title of Licentiate in Medicine for passing the
medical examinations in June 1884.
With this title, Rizal was able to practice Medicine.
He continued enrolling in courses that would led to a Doctorate in Medicine but the
degree was not given to him because he failed to pay the fee required to defend his
thesis. Rizal was already feeling the effect of the difficult economic situation in Calamba.
His family faced financial problems brought about by low crop production.
RIZAL IN EUROPE
Rizal made time for meeting fellow Filipinos in Madrid, the Circulo Hispano – Filipino,
composed of Ilustrados ( enlightened ones ).
It was in Madrid, were Rizal was able to write the first half of his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
Rizal join Masonry too and became Master Mason in November 15, 1890. He was
impressed with the mason’s view about knowledge and reasoning and how they value
brotherhood.
In Madrid, Rizal met and became attracted to Consuelo, Don Pablo’s daughter, the
former City Mayor of Manila. However, Rizal did not pursue her because of his
commitment to Leonor Rivera. And because his friend Eduardo de Lete, was also in love
with Consuelo.
A poem entitled Senorita was written by Rizal for Consuela.
RIZAL IN EUROPE
Rizal specialized in ophthalmology and trained under the leading opthalmologists in
Europe.
Rizal also travelled and stayed in Germany , worked and made friends with German
historians, anthropologists and ophthalmologists.
It was in Berlin, where he finished Noli Me Tangere which was published on March 21, 1887.
After 5 years in Europe, Rizal went back to Calamba and spent time with the members of
his family.
RIZAL’S SECOND TRIP TO EUROPE
Rizal was very busy opening a medical clinic and curing the sick in Calamba, however it
was cut short because he was targeted by the friars who were portrayed negatively in his
novel Noli Me Tangere. He left the country for the second time on February 16, 1888.
In his second trip, he became more active in the Propaganda movement with fellow
illustrados like Marcelo del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna and many more.
Rizal became pre occupied with writing articles and essays which were published in the
Propaganda Movement’s newspaper, La Solidaridad.
RIZAL’S SECOND TRIP TO EUROPE
The propaganda movements campaigned for reforms such as:
* for the Philippines to be made a province of Spain so that native Filipinos would have
equal rights accorded to Spaniards.
* representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes
* secularization of parishes.
Among Rizal’s intellectual works in Europe :
* Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (before Spaniards came, Filipinos already had a culture)
* Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipinos)
* Filipinas Dentro de Cien Anos (The Philippines a Century Hence)
RIZAL’S SECOND TRIP TO EUROPE
By July 1891, while in Brussels, Rizal completed his second novel, El Filibusterismo.
In 1892, Rizal decided to return to Philippines, thinking that the real struggle was in his
homeland, despite the warnings and his family’s disapproval.
He arrived on the Philippines on June 26, 1892.
He visited his friends in Central Luzon and encouraged them to join the La Liga Filipina, a
socio – civic organization that Rizal established on July 3, 1892.
Rizal was arrested and brought to Fort Santiago on July 6, 1892 days after Liga’s formation.
He was charged with bringing with him poor friars, a satire against the rich Dominican
Friars and their accumulation of wealth which was against their vow of poverty.
EXILE IN DAPITAN
Rizal arrived in Dapitan on board the steamer Cebu on July 17, 1892.
It was headed by Captain Ricardo Carnicero, who became a friend of Rizal during his
exile.
The quiet place of Dapitan became Rizal’s home from 1892 to 1896.
Here he practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies and continued his artistic pursuits in
sculpture, painting, sketching and writing poetry.
He established school for boys and promoted community development projects.
He engaged himself in farming and commerce and even invented a wooden machine
for making bricks.
EXILE IN DAPITAN
Relative to Rizal’s project to beautify and improve Dapitan, he made a big relief map of
Mindanao in the plaza and used it to teach geography.
Assisted by his pupils, Rizal also constructed a water system to supply town with water for
drinking and irrigation.
He also helped the people in putting up lampposts at every corner of the town.
Having heard of Rizal’s fame as an ophthalmologist, George Taufer from Hongkong with
his adopted daughter Josephine Bracken travelled to Dapitan to see him as Taufer was
suffering from eye ailment.
EXILE IN DAPITAN
Josephine and Rizal fell in love with each other and they lived as husband and wife.
They were denied with the Sacrament of Marriage by Father Obach. Due to Rizal’s refusal
to retract his statements against the church and to accept his conditions.
On the eve of June 21, 1896, Dr. Pio Valenzuela visited Rizal in Dapitan and informed him
about the founding of Katipunan and the planned revolution.
Rizal objected to it, citing the importance of a well – planned movement with sufficient
arms.
Rizal had been sending letters to Governor General Blanco, asking for a review of his case
in replace of him volunteering to serve as a surgeon under the Spanish army fighting in the
Cuban Revolution.
EXILE IN DAPITAN
On July 30, 1896, Rizal’s request was granted to go to Cubva.
The next day, he left for Manila on board the steamer Espana.
And on September 3, 1896, he boarded the steamer Isla de Panay, which would bring him
to Barcelona.
Upon arriving at the fort, however Governor General Despujol told him that there was an
order to ship him back to Manila.
On November 3, 1896, Rizal arrived in Manila and was immediately brought to Fort
Santiago.
TRIAL AND EXECUTION
November 20, 1896- - preliminary investigation of Rizal’s case began.
He was accused of being the main organizer of the revolution by having proliferated the
ideas of rebellion and of founding illegal organizations.
Rizal pleaded not guilty, and even wrote a manifesto appealing to the revolutionaries to
discontinue the uprising.
Rizal’s lawyer Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade tried his best to save Rizal, however on December
26, 1896, the trial ended and the sentenced was read.
Jos Rizal found guilty and sentenced to death by firing squad.
TRIAL AND EXECUTION
On December 28, 1896, Governor General Camilo de Polavieja signed the court decision
and decreed that Rizal be executed by firing squad at 7:00am of December 30.
Rizal on his remaining days, composed his longest poem, Mi Ultimo Adios, which was
about his farewell to the Filipino people.
His family visited him, and he gave away all his remaining possessions , including a gas
lamp to his sister Trinidad and murmured softly in English, “there is something inside”. Trining
and his sister would extract the lamp the copy of Rizal’s last poem.
At 6:30 in the morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal walked to Bagumbayan . Orders were
given and shots were fired. Rizal died offering his life to his country and its freedom.
CONCLUSION
The lesson covered the important stages of Rizal’s life – from his family history to
his memorable childhood in Calamba and his first taste of education. The lesson
also showed how Rizal ideas and works were influenced by his education in
Manila and later in Europe. His active participation in the propaganda
movement made him one of the most known reformist. Rizal’s writings and
alleged involvement in the Philippine revolution of 1896 were used by the Spanish
colonial government to justify his public execution.
