MODULE 5: Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Early Education
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Identify the important events during Rizal’s childhood that influenced the formation of his
character,
2. Discuss the family background of Rizal, childhood, and early education; and
3. Correlate the experiences of Rizal as a student and student in new generation.
LESSON
RIZAL’S ANCESTRY
Don Francisco Engracio Mercado Rizal
(1818-1898)
Born in Biñan, Laguna on May 11, 1818
Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila
Moved to Calamba during his early manhood following his
parent’s death, and became a tenant-farmer of the Dominican-
owned hacienda.
A resilient and independent-minded man, he talked less and
worked more; he was strong in body and valiant in spirit from
whom Jose inherited his free soul
Became a tiniente gobernadorcillo (lieutenant governor) and thus
nicknamed Tiniente Kiko
The youngest among the thirteen (13) children
Died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80
Rizal affectionately called him a “model of fathers” in his student memoirs.
Doña Teodora Alonso Quintos Realonda
(1827-1911)
Born in Manila on November 09, 1827
Also known as Lolay
She was educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well-known
college for girls in the city
A remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent,
business ability and fortitude of Spartan women.
Rizal lovingly said of her mother: “My mother is a woman of more
than ordinary culture; she knows literature and speaks Spanish better
than I. She corrected my poems and gave me good advice when I was
studying rhetoric. She is a mathematician and has read many books.”
Died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85
THE SURNAME RIZAL
The real surname of the Rizal family was Mercado, which was adopted in 1731 by
Domingo Lam-Co, 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.
In Spanish, Rizal means “a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again.”
Jose was the only one in his family who used the named Rizal.
“My family never paid much attention [to our
second surname Rizal, but now I had to use it, thus
giving me the appearance of an illegitimate
child!”
- Rizal in his student memoirs
SIBLINGS OF RIZAL
Saturnina
(1850-1913)
Oldest of the Rizal children, nicknamed Neneng
She married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas.
Paciano
(1851-1930)
Older brother and confidant 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 Baños 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
Narcisa
(1852-1939)
Her pet name was Sisa
She married Antonio Lopez who is the nephew of Father Leoncio
Lopez, a school teacher of Morong, Rizal.
Olimpia
(1855-1887)
Her nickname was Ypia
She married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila
Lucia
(1857-1919)
She married Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, Laguna 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. Jose Rizal.
Maria
(1859-1945)
Her nickname was Biang
She married Daniel Faustino Cruz of in Biñan, Laguna
Jose
(1861-1896)
The greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius
His nickname was Pepe
During his exile in Dapitan, he lived with Josephine Bracken, and
Irish girl from Hong Kong, they had a son by her, but the baby boy
died a few hours after birth; Jose named the baby Francisco after
his father and buried him in Dapitan.
Concepcion
(1862-1865)
Her nickname was Concha
Died of sickness at the age of three
Her death was Rizal’s first sorrow in life: “When I was four
years old,” he said, “I lost my little sister Concha, and then for
the first time I shed tears caused by love and grief…”
Josefa
(1865-1945)
Her nickname was Panggoy
Died an old maid in 1945 at the age of 80
Trinidad
(1868-1951)
Her pet name was Trining
Also died an old maid in 1951 at the age of 83
Soledad
(1870-1929)
Youngest of the Rizal children
Her pet name was Choleng
Married Panteleon Quintero of Calamba, Laguna
THE RIZAL HOME (Outside)
(Inside)
HOME LIFE OF THE RIZALS
The good and middle-class family
Principalia – a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines, where Rizal’s family belonged to.
They were one of the distinguished families in Calamba.
Rizal’s parents were able to live well by the dint of honest and hard work and frugal living.
From the farms, which were rented from the Dominican Order, they harvested rice, corn,
and sugarcane. They raised pigs, chickens, and turkeys in their backyard.
Doña Teodora managed a general goods store and operated a small flour-mill and a home-
made ham press.
They owned a carriage, which was a status symbol of the illustrados in Spanish Philippines
and a private library (the largest in Calamba) which consisted of more than 1,000 volumes.
THE BIRTH OF A HERO
Born on Wednesday, June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna; his mother almost died during the
delivery because of his big head
Seventh child of the eleven children (2 boys and 9 girls)
Baptized on June 22, 1861 (when he was three days old) in the Catholic church of his town
by the parish priest Father Rufino Collantes who was a Batangueño
Father Pedro Casanas was his godfather, native of Calamba and a close friend of the Rizal
family.
At the time of his birth, the governor-general of the Philippines was Lieutenant-General
Jose Lemery.
CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA
Calamba, Laguna was the natal town of Rizal; Calamba was named after a big native jar
which was a hacienda town belonging to the Dominican order (who also owned all the
lands around it).
Happiest period of Rizal’s life was spent in this lakeshore town with picturesque scenes
covered with irrigated rice fields and sugar lands; a few kilometers to the south looms of
the legendary Mt. Makiling and beyond this mountain is the province of Batangas while
east of the town is the Laguna de Bay.
Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) was a poem written by Rizal in 1876
when he was 15 years old and a student of Ateneo de Manila.
EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
The first memory of Rizal was his happy days in the family garden when he was 3 years
old. He was given the tenderest care by his parents because he was frail, sickly, and
undersized.
His father built a little nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in the daytime. He watched
from the cottage, the culiauan, maya, maria capra, & martin pitpit and other birds and
listened with “wonder and joy” to the twilight songs.
An aya (nurse maid), a kind old woman, was employed to look after him. She related many
stories about fairies, tales of buried treasure and trees blowing with diamonds and other
fabulous tales which aroused Rizal’s interest in legends and folklore. The aya would
threaten Rizal with asuang, nuno, tigbalang, or a terrible bearded and turbaned Bombay
would come to take him away if he would not eat his supper. Rizal enjoyed the nocturnal
walk in the town esp. when there was a moon with his aya by the river.
He recalls their daily Angelus prayer and the happy moonlit nights at the azotea after the
nightly Rosary.
DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH
Young Rizal is a religious boy. He grew up a good Catholic.
At the age of 3, he began to take part in the family prayer. His mother taught him the
Catholic Prayers. At 5 years old, he was able to read the Spanish Family Bible.
He was so seriously devout that he was laughingly called Manong Jose by the Hermanos
& Hermanas Terceras.
Father Leoncio Lopez, town priest, was one of the men he esteemed & respected in
Calamba during his boyhood.
PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO
On June 06, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo.
This was the first trip of Rizal across Laguna de Bay and his first pilgrimage to Antipolo.
They rode in a casco (barge). He was awed by “The magnificence of the water expanse and
the silence of the night”.
After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father went to Manila
and visited Saturnina, who was then a boarding student at La Concordia College in Santa
Ana.
THE STORY OF THE MOTH
The story of the moth and the flame was told to Rizal by his mother on a night when her
mother was teaching him how to read a book entitled “The Children’s Friend” (El Amigos
de los Niños).
His mother grew impatient of his poor reading and lack of focus and always straying his
eyes on the flame of the lamp and the cheerful moths surrounding it. Knowing his interest
to stories, his mother decided to stop teaching him and instead read him an interesting story.
Upon hearing the story, it gave a deep impression on Rizal. However, it’s not the story’s
moral that truly struck him, he actually envied the moths and their fate and considered that
the light was so fine a thing that it was worth dying for.
ARTISTIC AND LITERARY TALENTS
At age 5, he started making sketches with his pencil and mold in clay and wax object.
A religious banner was always used during fiesta and it was ruined so Rizal painted in oil
colors a new banner that delighted the town folks.
Jose had the soul of a genuine artist. When he was 6 years old, his sisters laughed at him
for spending so much time making images rather than participating in their games. He told
them “All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and
images of me!”
At age 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled “Sa Aking Mga Kabata”
(To My Fellow Children). He wrote it in an appeal to our people to love our national
language.
Also at age 8, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog Comedy. It was
staged in a Calamba festival. A gobernadorcillo from Paete purchased the manuscript for 2
pesos.
LAKESHORE REVERIES
Rizal used to meditate at the shore of Laguna de Bay, accompanied by his pet dog, on the
sad conditions of his oppressed people.
He wrote to his friend, Mariano Ponce: “In view of these injustices and cruelties, although
yet a child, my imagination was awakened and I made a vow dedicating myself someday
to avenge the many victims. With this idea in my mind, I studied, and this is seen in all my
writings. Someday God will give me the opportunity to fulfill my promise.”
INFLUENCES IN THE HERO’S BOYHOOD
Hereditary Influence: inherent qualities which a person inherits from his ancestors and
parents
Environmental Influence: environment, as well as heredity, affects the nature of a person;
includes places, associates, & events
Aid of Divine Providence - a person cannot attain greatness in the annals of the nation
despite having everything life (brains, wealth, and power) without this
RIZAL’s EARLY EDUCATION
The Hero’s First Teacher
Doña Teodora, his mother, was his first teacher.
Private tutors: Maestro Celestino (first tutor) and Maestro Lucas Padua (second tutor).
Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the hero’s tutor in Spanish and
Latin
Jose Goes to Biñan
After Monroy’s death, Rizal’s parents decided to send him to a private school in Biñan. On
June 1869, Jose left Calamba for Biñan with Paciano. Their mode of transportation was a
carromata and Rizal lodges at his aunt’s house.
First Day in Biñan School
Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz was the owner and teacher of the school.
Rizal described Maestro Justiniano as “tall, thin, long-necked, and sharp-nosed with a body
slightly bent forward.”
First School Brawl
Jose challenged Pedro to a fight and he won having learned the art of wrestling from his
athletic Tio Manuel.
Andres Salandaan challenged Rizal to an arm-wrestling match. Jose, having the weaker
arm, lost and nearly cracked his head on sidewalk.
Painting Lessons in Biñan
Old Juancho, father-in-law of the school teacher, freely gave Jose painting lessons.
Jose Rizal and his classmate Jose Guevarra became apprentices of the old painter.
Daily Life in Biñan
He led a methodical life, almost Spartan in simplicity
Best Student in School
Jose surpassed his classmates in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects.
Some of his older classmates were jealous of his intellectual superiority
End of Biñan Schooling
Jose left Biñan after one and a half year of schooling on December 17, riding the steamer
Talim for Calamba. On board was a Frenchman Arturo Camps who was a friend of his
father and who took care of him during his trip.
“It seemed that I had presentiment that I would never come back so that I went very often
and sadly to the chapel of Virgin of Peace; gathered little stones as a souvenir, made paper
fishes, went to the river, and readied everything for my departure. I bade my friends and
teacher farewell, with pleasant and profound sadness.”
