LESSON 3
RIZAL’S LIFE
J.RIZAL | 1st Semester
5. Lucia (1857 -1919) -later married
RIZAL’S FAMILY Mariano Herbosaof Calamba.
◎ Jose Rizal was born in Calamba on 6. Maria (1859 -1945) -later
June 19, 1861 on a Wednesday between married Daniel Faustino Cruz of
11-12 midnight. Biñan, Laguna.
7. Concepcion (1862 -1865) -died
◎ His parents' names are Francisco at the age of three which
Mercado (father) and Teodora Alonso caused Rizal to shed tears for
y Realonda(er). the first time.
8. Josefa (1865 -1945) -unmarried;
◎ He is the seventh child of the family. headed the women chapter of
He has nine sisters and a brother. the Katipunan; epileptic; died a
spinster.
◎ The names of Rizal's siblings are as 9. Trinidad (1868 -1951) -
follows: unmarried; member of the
1. Saturnina (1850 -1913) -eldest women chapter of the
child; later married to Manuel Katipunan; last member of the
Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. Rizal family to die.
2. Paciano(1851 -1930) -Rizal's only 10. Soledad (1870 -1929) -youngest
brother; supported Rizal's child; married Pantaleon
ambition to study abroad; Quintero of Calamba
translated some of Jose Rizal's
writing into Tagalog Rizal had a privileged background. He
3. Narcisa (1852 -1939) -third child was born into a well-off family.
in a family; worked as a teacher ◎ His mother had more than average
and a musician; she later education. She was taught by her
married Antonio Lopez, a father Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, who was
teacher from Morong a deputy for the Philippines in the
4. Olimpia(1855 -1887) -fourth Cortes.
child; later married Silvestre
Ubaldo, a telegraph operator ◎ She was also taught by her brother
from Manila; died while giving Jose who studied in Europe, spoke 4
birth languages, and was a knight in the
Order of Isabella the Catholic.
LESSON 3
RIZAL’S LIFE
J.RIZAL | 1st Semester
◎ Her grandfather, Manuel de Quintos, injustice to the Rizal family when his
was a well-known lawyer in Manila. mother Teodora was arrested.
◎ Jose Alberto (Rizal's uncle) arrived
◎ Rizal's father came from generations from Europe but found his house in
of merchants, as apparent in their Binan empty as a result of his wife's
surname, Mercado. irresponsible actions. Upon finding his
wife, he threatened to divorce her, but
◎ However, since there were many Rizal's er Teodora, convinced him not
Mercados unrelated to Rizal's family, a to.
provincial governor who added the
surname “Rizal” to the family name. ◎ Alberto's wife reappeared a few
days, and with a help of a lieutenant of
◎ “Rizal” means “a field where wheat, the civil guard, accused her husband
cut while still green, sprouts again.” of poisoning, and also accused
Teodora (Rizal's mother) of being an
◎ Rizal's grandfather Juan Mercado accomplice.
served as a Mayor of Biñan, Laguna.
◎ Rizal's mother was imprisoned by Mr.
◎ Rizal's father decided to move to Antonio Vivenciodel Rosario (mayor of
Calamba and invested in agriculture. the town). During her trial, Teodora was
He cultivated lands leased by the tricked to admit to the crime with the
Dominicans and became one of the promise that she will be released to be
wealthiest men in the town, and was with her children.
able to own stone houses and send his
children to school in Manila. ◎ The Rizal family sought help from the
famous lawyers of Manila (Francisco
◎ Rizal's father is described as de Marcaida and Manuel Marzan) to
independent minded and a dynamic defend Teodora. It was only when the
gentlemen where Jose might have case reached the Supreme Court that
inherited his “free soul”. Mayor del Rosario asked for pardon.
Teodora was released after two and a
One of the key events in his family life half years.
that has influenced Rizal's view on
abuse of power and authority is the
LESSON 3
RIZAL’S LIFE
J.RIZAL | 1st Semester
Rizal traveled to Manila and marveled
RIZAL’S CHILDHOOD
at the beauty of the place
As a child, Rizal spent a lot of time in
◎ Together with his father, he traveled
nature making careful observations
to Manila on June 6, 1868 and through
that sparked his creativity.
the Laguna lake for the first time.
◎ Jose Rizal had a nanny who would
often tell Rizal stories of ghosts,
◎ Rizal marveled at Pasig Cainta,
dwarves, and evil spirits (aswangs) to
Taytay, Antipolo, Manila, and Santa
get him to eat supper.
Ana which they passed through when
they visited his sister Saturnina who
◎ He and his siblings were also told
was staying as a boarding student at
about the legend of Maria Makiling and
La Concordia
other tales which sparked young Rizal's
creativity and imagination.
◎ Rizal was a creative young child, he
wrote a poem, Sa Aking Mga Kababata
Rizal's childhood was grounded on
at the age of eight
religious belief.
◎ Teodora, his mother taught him
RIZAL’S EARLY EDUCATION
humble prayers which he recited
fervently to God. Rizal's first teacher was his mother.
◎ She taught him how to read and
◎ Every day, Teodora also made sure pray.
Rizal and his siblings recite the rosary
together. ◎ She taught him values which he
carried on until later in his life.
◎ Rizal carried on his religious beliefs
and practices until later on in his life. Rizal's parents provided him with an
adequate education.
Rizal experienced grief as a young ◎ His parents sought and paid private
child.. tutors for Rizal, the first one was
◎ When he was four years old, his Maestro Celestino and the second one
younger sister Concha died and for the was Maestro Lucas Padua.
first time, Rizal cried.
◎ His father, Francisco Mercado, paid
his old classmate, Leon Monroy to live
LESSON 3
RIZAL’S LIFE
J.RIZAL | 1st Semester
in their house to teach Rizal Latin and earlier. Remembering his wrestling
Spanish. However it did not last long as training from his uncle, he defeated
Monroy died five months later. the bigger boy and earned the respect
of his classmates.
Leaving his family so he could study
in Biñanwas very painful for the ◎ One afternoon, Rizal was also
young Rizal. challenged by another classmate,
◎ Following the death of Monroy, Rizal Andres Salandanan, to an arm
left to study in Biñan, his father's wrestling match which Rizal lost which
hometown, and is 1-1.5 hours away nearly cost him a cracked skull when
from Calamba. he hit the sidewalk where they fought.
Rizal had difficulty adjusting to his ◎ His teacher's father, Juancho, an old
new school and his classmates. painter lived beside his house. Rizal
◎ Rizal's first teacher was Justiniano discovered then that he had an
Aquino Cruz. He described him as a inclination for the arts.
severe disciplinarian, and their classes
were conducted inside his house, in a Rizal longed for his family and his
nipa hut only 30 meters away from hometown.
Rizal's aunt. ◎ Rizal longed for his family and his
hometown, Calamba, which he grew
◎ Rizal recalled that during his first up in. He went back from time to town
day, he was assigned a seat in the and each time was delighted at the
class and was asked by his teacher if sight of their home.
he knows Spanish and Latin to which
he both replied “a little, sir”. The whole
class teased him, especially Pedro who
was one of the biggest boys in the
class.
◎ He challenged Pedro to a fight as
retaliation to the latter's remarks
