Rizal’s Childhood

Years in Calamba
Rizal 101
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonso y Realonda
● Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines
and pride of the Malayan race.

● He was born on June 19,1861, between eleven and

twelve in the evening, a few days before the full moon
in Calamba.

● His mother almost died during the delivery

because of his big head.

● The name Calamba was describe as the cradle of the

genius.
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonso y Realonda

● On June 22,1861 Rizal was baptized by Fr. Rufino Collantes,

while Fr. Pedro Casanas stood as Rizal’s godfather.

● His name “Jose” was chosen by his mother who was a devotee
of the Christian saint San Jose (St. Joseph).

● Jose Rizal was the seventh of the eleven children of Francisco

Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda.
 01
Rizal’s Ancestry
 Rizal’s Ancestry

● Rizal was a product of the mixture of

races. In his veins flowed the blood of both
East and West – Negrito, Indonesian,
Malay, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.

● Predominantly, he was a Malayan and was

a magnificent specimen of Asian
manhood.
 Rizal’s Ancestry

● Rizal came from a mixture of races, his paternal

ascendant was Domingo Lamco, a full-blooded
Chinese. He married a wealthy Chinese mestiza,
Ines de la Rosa.

● Domingo Lamco adopted the surname Mercado,

which means “market” in keeping the
gubernatorial decree of Narciso Claveria on
the use of Spanish surnames.
● The real name surname of the Rizal Family was
Mercado, which was adopted in 1731 by Domingo
Lamco (the paternal great-great-grandfather of
Jose Rizal) who was a full-blooded Chinese.
Rizal’s family acquired a second surname –
Rizal – which was given by a Spanish alcalde
mayor (provincial governor) of Laguna, who
was a family friend.
 Rizal’s Ancestry

● Rizal was the son of a prosperous

landowner, sugar and rice planter of
Chinese-Filipino descent, Francisco
Mercado. Jose Rizal’s father was a well-
educated farmer who studied Latin and
philosophy at the Colegio de San Jose in
Manila.
 Rizal’s Ancestry
● Teodora Alonso, mother of Jose Rizal, was the
second daughter of Brigida de Quintos (Narcisa,
Teodora, Gregorio, Manuel, and Jose), who was
the daughter of Manuel de Quintos of an affluent
family in Pangasinan and of Regina Ursua of the
Ursua family.

● Teodora Alonso was one of the most highly

educated women in the Philippines at that
time.
 Rizal’s Ancestry
● As a student of Colegio de Santa Rosa, she
had a business and literary sense far ahead
of her time. She was a gifted woman with
insights into literature, art, music, and other
forms of Filipino culture. She was a poet and
wrote in the Tagalog language.

● Teodora Alonso was of Ilocano-Tagalog-

Chinese-Spanish descent, possibly having
even a little Japanese blood. The Alonso
family was a distinguished one.
The Siblings

Narcisa
1
2
Saturnina
Paciano
4

Olympia
The Siblings

Jose
5
6
Lucia
Maria

Conception
The Siblings

Josefa 10

Trinidad 11

Solidad
 02
The Early Childhood
of Jose Rizal
The Early Childhood of
Rizal
● Rizal loved Calamba with all his heart and
soul. In 1876, when he was 15 years old and
was a student in Ateneo de Manila, when he
remembered his hometown. He wrote a poem
titled Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory
of My Town)

● Rizal as a child was frail, sickly, and

undersized that is why he was given the
tenderest care by his parents.
 The Early Childhood of
Rizal
● By nightfall, Rizal related, his mother gathered all
the children at the house to pray the Angelus.

● Jose loved most the little Concha

(Conception). He was year older than Concha.
He played with her and from her he learned the
sweetness of sisterly love.

● Concha died of sickness when she was only

three years old.
The Early Childhood of
Rizal
● Rizal grew up a good Catholic.

● At the age of 3 when he started to take part in the

family prayers and he learned the alphabet from his
mother.

● At 6 years old, while learning to read and write, he

already showed inclinations to be an artist and he
astounded his family and relatives by his pencil
drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay.
The Early Childhood of
Rizal
● At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa
Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which
revolves on the love of one’s language.

● After writing his first poem, Rizal, wrote his

first dramatic work, a Tagalog comedy said
to be staged in a Calamba festival and was
delightfully applauded by the audience.
 INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S
BOYHOOD
● Malayan Ancestors - love for freedom,
desire to travel indomitable courage.
● Chinese Ancestors - serious nature,
frugality, patience, love for children.
● Spanish Ancestors - elegance of bearing,
sensitivity to insult, gallantry to ladies.
● Father - sense of self-respect, love for work,
habit of independent thinking.
● Mother - religious nature, spirit of self-
sacrifice, passion for arts and literature.
 Rizal’s
Early Education
The Hero’s First Teachers
● Doña Teodora, his mother, was his first teacher.

● As Jose grew older, his parents employed private tutors to give

him lessons at home.

● Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the

hero’s tutor in Spanish and Latin. Unfortunately, he did not live
long.

● After Monroy’s death, Rizal’s parents decided to send him to a

private school in Biñan.
● June 1869, Paciano accompanied Rizal to Biñan to continue his
studies.

● The next day, Paciano brought rizal to the school of Maestro

Justiniano Aquino Cruz, his older brother's former teacher.

● Rizal’s first day of class in the school was not easy. The
maestro asked him if he knows how to speak Latin or Spanish,
but in response, he only knew a little of the languages. As a
result, one of his classmates named Pedro, the son of the
maestro, laughed at him.

● In the afternoon, Jose met the bully, Pedro. He was angry for
making fun of him during his conversation with the teacher so
he challenged Pedro to a fight; Jose who learned the art of
wrestling from his athletic Tio Manuel defeated the bully.
Then he became popular.
Martyrdom of GomBurZa
● On the night of January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino and Spanish
mestizo workers and soldiers rose in mutiny in Cavite because of the
abolition of their usual privileges including exemption from tribute
and polo y servicio (forced labor) by the Governor General Rafael
de Izquierdo.

● The Spanish authorities, in order to liquidate Fathers Mariano Gomez,

Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, leaders of the secular
movement to Filipinize the Philippine parishes, and their supporters
magnified the failed mutiny into a ‘revolt’ for the Philippine
Independence.

● February 17, 1872 – Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and

Jacinto Zamora were implicated and executed by the order of
Governor General Izquierdo.
Martyrdom of GomBurZa

● Paciano, enraged by the execution of Burgos, his beloved

friend, teacher, and housemate, quit his studies at the College
of San Jose and returned to Calamba, where he told the heroic
story of Burgos to Rizal, who was then eleven years old.

● The martyrdom of the 3 priests inspired Rizal to fight the evils

of Spanish tyranny.
Scholastic Triumphs
at Ateneo de Manila
● Jose was sent to Manila four months after the Martyrdom of
GomBurZa and with Doña Teodora still in prison. He studied in the
Ateneo Municipal, a college under the supervision of the Spanish
Jesuits.

● Ateneo Municipal - Bitter rival of the Dominican-owned College of

San Juan de Letran.

● Formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity School) – a school for poor boys
in Manila established in 1817.

● In 1859, name was changed to Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits

and later became the Ateneo de Manila.
Rizal Enters the Ateneo
● June 10, 1872 – Jose, accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila to take
the entrance examinations on Christian Doctrine, arithmetic, and
reading at College of San Juan de Letran, and passed them. His father
was the first one who wished him to study at Letran but he changed his
mind and decided to send Jose at Ateneo instead.

● Father Magin Fernando – college registrar of Ateneo Municipal,

refused to admit Jose because: (1) he was late for registration and
(2) he was sickly and undersized for his age (11 years old).

● Manuel Xerez Burgos – nephew of Father Burgos; upon his

intercession, Jose Rizal was admitted at Ateneo.

● Jose used Rizal instead of Mercado because the name “Mercado”

had come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
Jesuit System of Education
● The system of education given by the Jesuits in the Ateneo
was more advanced than that of other colleges in that
period.

● Jesuit trained the character of the student by rigid

discipline, humanities, and religious instruction.

● Students were divided into two groups: Roman Empire –

consisting of the internos (boarders) with red banners;
and Carthaginian Empire – composed of the externos
(non-boarders) with blue banners.
● Fr. Jose Bech – first professor of Rizal.

● Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class since he was a

newcomer and knows little Spanish. He was an externo and
was assigned to Carthaginians. At the end of the month, he
became emperor of his Empire. He was the brightest pupil
in the whole class.

● To improve his Spanish, Rizal took private lessons in Santa

Isabel College and paid 3 pesos for extra Spanish lessons.

● He placed 2nd at the end of the year, although all his grades
were still marked Excellent.
● June 1876 – last year of Rizal in Ateneo.

● The most brilliant Atenean of his time, “the pride of the

Jesuits”.

● Obtained highest grades in all subjects.

● Excellent scholastic records from 1872-1877.

● March 23, 1877 – Commencement Day. 16 year old Rizal

received from his Alma Mater the degree of Bachelor of
Arts with highest honors.
Extra-Curricular Activities
● An emperor inside the classroom and campus leader
outside.

● Member of Academy of Spanish Literature and the

Academy of Natural Sciences.

● Studied painting under the famous Spanish painter

Agustin Saez.

● Studied sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, noted

Filipino sculptor.

● Engaged in gymnastics and fencing.

 ● Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of
batikuling (Philippine hardwood).

● Father Lleonart requested him to carve an image of the

Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ateneo students placed the image
on the door of the dormitory and remained there for many
years.

● Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) – first poem

he wrote for his mother’s birthday.

● Religious Poems of Rizal - Al Niño Jesus (To the Child

Jesus) – a brief ode; written in 1875 when he was 14 years
old. A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary).
First Romance of Rizal
● 16 years old - Rizal experienced his first romance.

● Segunda Katigba - a pretty 14 years old Batangueña from

Lipa; sister of his friend Mariano Katigbak.

● His sister Olimpia was a close friend of Segunda in La

Concordia College.

● Segunda was already engaged to Manuel Luz. His first

romance was ruined by his own shyness and reserve.

● Segunda returned to Lipa and later married Manuel Luz. Rizal

remained in Calamba, a frustrated lover, cherishing nostalgic
memories of lost love.
● Rizal arrived by steamer in his hometown. His mother did
not recognize him at first, due to her failing eyesight. He
was saddened to find out about his mother’s growing
blindness.

● His sisters gaily welcomed him, teasing about Segunda,

for they knew of his romance through Olimpia.

● That night he demonstrated his skills in fencing to his

family.
Rizal’s Higher
Education
Rizal 101
Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas
● After graduating with the highest honors from the Ateneo, Rizal
had to go to the University of Santo Tomas for higher studies.

● The Bachelor of Arts course during Spanish times was

equivalent only to the high school and junior college courses
today. It merely qualified its graduate to enter a university.

● Doña Teodora opposed the idea of sending Rizal to UST to

pursue higher education because she knew what happened to
Gom-Bur-Za and the Spaniards might cut off his head if he
gets to know more. Rizal was surprised by his mother’s
opposition, who was a woman of education and culture. Despite
his mother’s tears, Don Francisco told Paciano to accompany
Rizal to Manila.
Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas
● In April 1877, Rizal who was then 16 years old, matriculated in the
University of Santo Tomas.

● He enrolled in UST taking up Philosophy and Letter for two

reasons: (1) his father liked it and (2) he was “still uncertain as to
what career to pursue”

● He asked the advice of Father Pablo Ramon (Rector of the Ateneo) on

what career to choose but the Father Rector was in Mindanao so he
was unable to advice Rizal.

● First-year Term (1877-78) – Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics,

Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.

● Ateneo Rector’s advice – study medicine; reason: to be able to

cure his mother’s growing blindness.
Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo
● While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the
vocational course leading to the title of “perito agrimensor” (expert
surveyor).

● Colleges for boys in Manila offered vocational courses in

agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and surveying.

● He excelled in all subjects in the surveying course obtaining gold medals

in agriculture and topography.

● At the age of 17, he passed the final examination in the surveying

course, but he could not be granted the title as surveyor because he was
below age.

● Because of his loyalty to Ateneo, he continued to participate actively in

the Ateneo’s extra-curricular activities.
Romances with Other Girls
“Miss L”
Describing her as:

● Fair with seductive and attractive eyes.

● Romance died a natural death.

● 2 Reasons for his change of heart:

(1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart
and;
(2) his father did not like the family of “Miss L”.
Romances with Other Girls
Leonor Valenzuela
● Daughter of the next-door neighbors of Doña Concha Leyva (her house
is where Rizal boarded).

● Tall girl with a regal bearing.

● Pet name: Orang.

● Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible ink. This ink consisted of
common table salt and water. He taught Orang the secret of reading
any note written in the invisible ink by heating it over a candle or lamp
so that the words may appear.
Romances with Other Girls
Leonor Rivera
● Rizal’s cousin from Camiling. Born in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11,
1867.

● A student of La Concordia College where Rizal’s youngest sister,

Soledad was then studying.

● Frail, pretty girl “tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes”.

● They became engaged.

● In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as “Taimis”, in order to

camouflage their intimate relationship from their parents and friends.
“To the Filipino Youth”
● Liceo Artisco-Literano (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila –
society of literary men and artists; held a literary contest.

● At the age of 18, Rizal submitted his poem entitled A La Juventud

Filipina (To the Filipino Youth).

● The Board of Judges – composed of Spaniards; gave the first prize to

Rizal which consisted of a silver pen, feather-shaped and
decorated with a gold ribbon.

● Reasons why Rizal’s poem was a classic in Philippine Literature:

(1) it was the first great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose
merit was recognized by Spanish literary authorities and

(2) it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the
Filipinos were the “fair hope of the Fatherland”.
“The Council of the Gods”
● Artistic-Literary Lyceum – opened another literary contest for both
Filipino and Spaniards to commemorate the fourth centennial of
the death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and famous
author of Don Quixote.

● Rizal submitted an allegorical drama entitled El Consejo de los Dioses

(The Council of the Gods) and he received the first prize, a gold ring
on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes.

● For the first time in history, a nineteen-year old Filipino medical

student at that – excelled in a national literary contest, defeating
several Spanish writers of his time in Manila.
Champion of Filipino Students
● Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students in their fights against
the arrogant Spanish students, who insultingly called their brown
classmates “Indio, chongo!” In retaliation, the Filipino students
called them “Kastila, bangus!”.

● In 1880 - Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in the

University of Santo Tomas called “Compaňerismo” (Comradeship),
whose members were called “Companions of Jehu,” after the valiant
Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans.

● Fierce encounter near the Escolta in Manila where Rizal was wounded
on the head, and tenderly washed and dressed by Leonor Rivera in his
boarding house “Casa Tomasina”.
Unhappy Days at the UST
● He was unhappy at this Dominican institution of higher learning
because (1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him; (2) the
Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the
Spaniards, and (3) the method of instruction was obsolete and
repressive.

● Rizal, the most brilliant graduate of Ateneo, failed to win high scholastic
honors.

● After finishing the fourth year of his medical course, Rizal decided
to study in Spain. He could no longer endure the rampant bigotry,
discrimination, and hostility in the University of Santo Tomas.

● He did not seek his parent’s permission and blessings to go

abroad; and even his beloved Leonor.