- Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes - The Phils.
Experienced first period of representalion in the Corles from 1810-
1813. - The 1" Philippine delegate -Ventura Delos Reyes, took active
part in framing of the Constitution of 1812 - Another achievement of
Delos Reyes was the abolition of the galleon trade - Abolition of the
representation in the Spanish Cortez in 1837 worsened the
Philippines condition, because there were no means by which the
Filipinos could exposed the anomalies perpetrated by the colonial
officials. The Spanish Cortes was abolished to hide the corruption
and abuse happening in the Philippines thus our country was poorly
represented and resulted various atrocities of the Spanish
colonizers. Jose Rizal, M.H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena launched
the Propaganda Movement, which paved way for the Philippine
Revolution of 1896. Human Rights Denied to Filipinos The Filipinos
were denied of basic human rights such as freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom of
At the age of 3, he began to take part in the family prayers. When
he was five years old, he was able to read haltingly the family bible.
Instability of Colonial Administration Frequent changes of Spanish
government owing to bitter struggles between the forces of
despotism and liberalism This brought about frequent periodic shifts
in colonial policies and periodic rigodon of colonial officials (such as
from 1935-1897, the Phils. Was ruled by 50 governors general). The
frequent change colonial hampered the economic and political
development of the Phils.
With nostalgic feeling, he also remembered the happy moonlit
nights at the azotea after the rosary. The Aya, related stories to
Rizal children many stories about fairies; tales of buried treasure
and trees with blooming diamonds, and other fabulous stories.
Sometimes, when he did not like to take his supper, the aya would
threaten him that the aswang, the nuno, the tikbalang, or a terrible
bearded Bombay would come to take him away if he would not eat
his supper
Earliest Childhood Memories - The first memory of Rizal, in his
infancy, was his happy days in the family garden. - Because he was
frail, sickly, and undersized child, he was given the most tender care
by his parents. His father built a nipa cottage in the garden for him
to play in the daytime.
Calamba, “Cradle of a Genius" • Rizal loved Calamba with all his
heart and soul. In 1876, when he was 15 years old and was a
student in Ateneo, he remembered his beloved town. Accordingly,
he wrote a poem Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo ( In Memory of My Town)
- No Equality Before the Law - Spaniards considered themselves as
the highest in the social hierarchy and the Spanish penal code was
stricter with Filipinos, this made their court hearings unfair and it
was impossible to win a case especially if you live under poor
conditions. Spaniards--because of their social standing and skin
color were able to get away with crimes while Filipinos had their
penalties. Maladministration of Justice Given the unequal treatment
of Filipinos in the court, justice was often denied because justice
delayed is justice denied. Justice was almost impossible to get grip
on because it was costly and slow. Judges were mostly ignorant and
inept. Filipinos also didn't have any means to access it.
Of his sisters, Jose loved most little Concha. He was one year older
than Concha. He played with her, and from her, he learned the
sweetness of brotherly love. . Unfortunately. Concha died of
sickness in 1865 when she was 3 years old. • Jose, who was very
fond of her, cried bitterly to lose her.
The Phillipines of Rizal's Times During the times of Rizal, the sinister
shadows of Spain's decadence darkened Philippine skies, The
Filipino people agonized beneath the yoke of Spanish misrule, for
they were unfortunate victims of the evils of an unjust, bigoted and
deteriorating colonial power.
- Hacienda owned by the Friars - Friars were among the wealthiest
landlords for they own the best agricultural tracts of land before. -
The rural folks that have been in the said land became tenants and
resulted in a bloody dispute among the friars and the Filipino people
which in retaliation, the friars raised their rentals which made them
even wealthier Guardia Civil The Guardia Civil was instituted by the
royal decree to maintain peace and order whoever in opposition to
that role, they were infamous for abuse, rape, and other various
atrocities. This was manifested with Elias in Noli Me Tangere
Young Rizal was a religious boy. A scion of a Catholic clan, born and
bred in a wholesome atmosphere of Catholicism, and possessed of
an inborn spirit, Rizal grew up a good Catholic.
. Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By
nightfall, Rizal related, his mother gathered all the children at the
house to pray the Angelus.
Racial Discrimination Racism was prevalent in the Spanish colonial
era. Dark skinned Filipinos were called "indios" and also considered
as the lowest ranking in the social hierarchy, uneducated, and
treated Indifferently Jose Rizal was also a profound victim of racism:
he was also heavily discriminated This is also the reason why
Spaniards considered Filipinas as inferior because of their dark skin.
Dona Victorina from Noli me Tangere embodied the poisonous
thinking ol while supremacy because she hated her face and wanted
to marry a white Spaniard to raise her social status.
There were 3 uncles, brothers of his mother, who played a great
part in the early education of Rizal. Uncle Gregorio was a lover of
books. He instilled into the mind of his nephew a great love for
books. He taught him to work hard, to think for himself, and to
observe life keenly.
AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE Greater than the heredity and
environmental in the fate of man is the aid of Divine Providence. A
person may have everything in life -- brains, wealth, and power --
but, without the Aid of Divine Providence, he cannot attain
greatness of the nation. 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.
Influences on Hero's Boyhood • In the lives of all men there are
influences which cause some to be great and others not. In the case
of Rizal, he had all favorable influences, which no other child in our
country enjoyed. Hereditary Influence According to biological
science, there are inherent qualities which a person inherits from his
ancestors and parents.
- Uncle Manuel was a big, strong, and husky man. He looked after
the physical training of his sickly and weak nephew. He encourage
Rizal to learn swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other sports, so that
in later years Rizal's, frail body acquired agility, endurance, and
strength.
- Before he was eight years old, he wrote a Tagalog drama. This
drama was stages in Calamba in connection with the town fiesta. -
During the twilight hours of summertime, Rizal, accompanied by his
dog, used to meditate at the shore of Laguna de Bay on the sad
conditions of his oppressed people. Young that he was, he grieved
deeply over the unhappy situation of his beloved fatherland. The
Spanish misdeeds awakened in his boyish heart a great
determination to fight tyranny.
From his Malayan ancestors Rizal, evidently, 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 selfrespect, the love for work, and the
habit of independent thinking. From his mother • He inherited his
religious nature, the spirit of self-sacrifice, and the passion for arts
and literature.
• After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his
father went to Manila. • Jose's first teacher was his mother. • At the
age of 3, Jose learned the alphabet and prayers from her. Seeing
Rizal had a talent for poetry, she encouraged him to write poems.
She gave her all her love and all that she learned in college.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE According to psychologists,
environment, as well as heredity, affects the nature of a person.
Environmental influence includes places, associates, and events.
The scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the
Rizal family stimulated the inborn artist and literary talents of Jose
Rizal.
PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left
for Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo, in order to fulfill his
mother's vow which was made when Rizal was born. • It was the
first trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay and his pilgrimage to Antipolo.
• Jose had a soul of a genuine artist. Rather an introvert child, with a
skinny physique and sad dark eyes, he found great joy looking at
the blooming flowers, the ripening fruits, the dancing waves of the
lake, and the milky clouds in the sky; and the listening to the songs
of the birds, the chirpings of the cicadas, and the murmurings of the
breezes.
• He loved to ride on a spirited pony ( which his father bought for
him) or take long walks in the meadows for him) or take long walks
in the meadows and lakeshore with his big black dog named Usman.
• In his room, he kept many statuettes which he made out of clay
and wax. • At one time, his sisters teased him: "Ute, what are you
doing with so many statuettes?"| He replied: “ Don't you know that
people will erect monument and statues in my honor for the future?"
THE STORY OF THE MOTH. Of the story told by Dona Teodora to
Jose, it was that of the young moth made the profoundest
impression on him. The tragic fate of the young moth, which died a
martyr to its illusions, left a deep impress on Rizal's mind.
PRODIGY OF THE PEN Not only was little Jose skilled in brush, chisel,
and pen-knife, but also in pen. He was born poet. His mother
encouraged him to write poetry. At an early age when children
usually begin to learn ABC, he was already writing poems. • The first
known poem that he wrote was a Tagalog poem entitled Sa Aking
Mga Kababata • (To My Fellow Children).
Artistic Talents • Since early childhood Rizal revealed his God-given
talents for the arts.
• Uncle Jose, who had been educated at Calcutta, India, was the
youngest brother of Dona Teodora. He encouraged his nephew to
paint, sketch, and sculpture sculpture of Rizal as m Rizal student.
The power of science over death
• He drew sketches and pictures on his books of his sisters, for
which reason he was scolded by his mother. • He carved figures of
animals and persons out of wood. Even before he learned to read,
he could already sketch pictures of birds, flowers, fruits, rivers,
mountains, animals and persons.
The Rizal children God blessed the marriage of Francisco Mercado
Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda with eleven children - two boys
and nine girls.
1. Saturnina (1850-1913) oldest of the Rizal children, nicknamed
Neneng; > she married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas
2. Paciano (1851-1930) >older brother and confident of Jose Rizal;
after his younger brother's execution, he joined the Philippine
Revolution and became a combat general: after the revolution, he
retired to his farm in Los Banos, where he lived as a gentleman
farmer and died on April 13, 1930, an old bachelor aged 79. He had
two children by his mistress (Severina Decena) - a boy and a girl.
3. Narcisa (1852-1939) ►her pet name was Sisa she married
Antonio Lopez (nephew of Father Leoncio Lopez) sa school teacher
of Morong
4. Olimpia (1855-1887) Ypia was her pet name she married Silvestre
Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila.
5. Lucia (1857-1919) she married Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who
was a nephew of Father Casanas Herbosa died of cholera in 1889
and was denied Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law of
Dr. Rizal
6. Maria (18591945) Biang was her nickname ✓she married Daniel
Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna.
7. Jose (1861-1896) the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius
his nickname was Pepe during his exile in Dapitan he lived with
Josephine Bracken, Irish girl from Hong Kong he had a son by her,
but this baby-boy died a few hours after birth Rizal named him
"Francisco" after his father and buried him in Dapitan.
8. Concepcion (1862-1865) her pet name was Concha she died of
sickness at the age of 3 ✓her death was Rizal's first sorrow in life.
9. Josefa (18651945) her pet name was Panggoy ✓ she died an old
maid at the age of 80.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951) ✓ Trining was her pet name ✓ she died
also an old maid in 1951 at aged 83.
11. Soledad (1870-1929) youngest of the Rizal children her pet
name was Choleng she married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba.
Rizal was the seventh of the eleven children of Francisco Mercado
Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda. Francisco Mercado and Teodora
Alonso married on June 28, 1848.
MOTHER Dona Teodora (18261911), the hero's mother, was born in
Manila on November 8, 1826 She was educated at the College of
Santa Rosa, a well-known college for girls in the city.
Father Francisco Mercado Rizal (18181898) He was born on Binan,
Laguna, on May 11, 1818 He studied Latin and Philosophy at the
College of San Jose in Manila. In early manhood, following his
parent's death, he moved to Calamba and became a tenantfarmer
of the Dominicanowned hacienda.
FATHER He was a hardy and independentminded man, who talked
less and worked more, and was strong in body and valiant in spirit.
>He died in Manila on January 5, 1898, at the age of 80. Rizal called
him "a model of fathers."
Advent of a National Hero He was born on the moonlit night of
Wednesday, June 19, 1861 in the town of Calamba, Laguna His
mother almost died during the delivery because of his big head. He
was baptized in the Catholic church of his town on June 22, by the
parish priest, Father Rufino Collantes, who was a Batangueno.
She was a remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary
talent, business ability and the fortitude of Spartan women. She died
in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85.
✓ His godfather (ninong) was Father Pedro Casanas, a native of
Calamba and close friend of the Rizal family. His name "Jose" was
chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint San
Jose. During the christening ceremony Father Collantes was
impressed by the baby's big head and told the members of the
family: "Take good care of this child, for someday he will become a
great man."
MOTHERS SIDE One of the daughters of Attorney Quintos and
Regina was Brigida, who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a
prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo of Binan. • Their children were
Narcisa, Teodora (Rizal's mother), Gregorio, Manuel and Jose.
In addition to farming and stock rising, Dona Teodora managed a
general goods store and operated a small flour-mill and a
homemade ham press. They owned a carriage, which was a status
symbol of the illustrados in Spanish Philippines and a private library
which consisted of more than 1,000 volumes. They sent their
children to the colleges in Manila They were gracious hosts to all
visitors and guest-friars, Spanish officials, and Filipino friends during
the town fiestas and other holidays.
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.
The Rizal Home’
Beyond comparison -Love of courty - Knowledge -Perseverance -
Integrity -Simplicity -Humility -Courage
FATHER'S SIDE • They had a son named Franisco Mercado, who
reside in Binan and married a ChineseFilipino mestiza, Cirila
Bernarcha, and was elected gobernadorcillo (municipal mayor) One
of Francisco Mercado and Cirila Bernacha son, Juan Mercado (Rizal's
grandfather) , married Cirila Alejandro, a Chinese-Filipino mestiza.
Like his father he was elected Gobernadorcillo of Binan. • Capitan
Juan and Capitana Cirila had thirteen children, the youngest being
Francisco Mercado, Rizal's father.
MOTHERS SIDE -It is said that Dona Teodora's family descended
from Lakan-Dula, the last native of Tondo. -Her great-grand father
was Eugenio Ursua (of Japanese ancestry) who married a Filipina
named Benigna (surname unknown). -Their daughter, Regina,
married Manuel de Quintos, a Filipino- Chinese lawyer from
Pangasinan.
