Chapter 2 Childhood Years in Calamba Biñan

 Calamba, the Hero’s Town

 Calamba was an hacienda town which belonged to the
Dominican Order, which also owned all the lands around
it. It is a picturesque town nestling on a verdant plain
covered with irrigated ricefields and sugar-lands.
 Mount Makiling
 Laguna de Bay • An inland lake of songs and emerald waters beneath the
canopy of azure skies.
 Island of Talim
 Antipolo • Famous mountain shrine of the miraculous Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage.
Earliest Childhood Memories
 The first memory of Rizal was his happy days in the family garden when he was 3 years
old. •
 Second childhood memory of Rizal was the daily Angelus Prayer. • Third childhood
memory was the nocturnal walk in the town, when there was a moon.
 The Hero’s First Sorrow
o In 1865, Concha (Concepcion) died of sickness at the age of three. Devoted
Son of the Church
 At the age of three, he began to take part in the family prayers.
 When he was five years old, he was able to read haltingly the Spanish family Bible.
 He loved to go to church, to pray, to take part in novenas, and to join the religious
processions.
 He was so seriously devout that he was launghingly called Manong Jose by the
Hermanos and Hermanas Terceras.
 The scholarly Father Leoncio Lopez, the town priest that he used to visit and listen to
his stimulating opinions on current events and sound philosophy of life.
 Jose learned to write and read thru a private tutor Maestro Celestino and the second
Maestro Lucas Padua.
 Leon Monroy a former classmate of Rizal’s Father became the boy’s tutor
 Pilgrimage to Antipolo
o On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to
Antipolo, in order to fulfill his mother’s vow which was made when Jose was
born.
o After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father went to
Manila. They visited Saturnina, who was then a boarding student at La
Concordia College in Santa Ana.
 Artistic Talent
o Since early childhood Rizal revealed his God- given talent for art.
o At the age of five, he began to make sketches with his pencil and to mould in
clay and wax objects which attracted his fancy.
 First Poem by Rizal
o Since early boyhood he had scribbled verses on loose sheets of paper and on
the textbooks of his sisters.
 o At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled Sa
Aking Mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children)
 Rizal as Boy Magician
o Since early manhood Rizal had been interested in magic. He learned various
tricks such as making a coin appear or disappear in his fingers and making a
handkerchief vanish in thin air.
o He entertained his town folks with magic-lantern exhibitions.
o He also gained skill in manipulating marionettes (puppet show).
o In later years when he attained manhood, he continued his keen predilection for
magic. He read many books on magic and attended the performances of the
famous magicians of the world.
o In chapter XVII and XVIII of his second novel, El Filibusterismo (Treason), he
revealed his wide knowledge of magic.
 Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood
1. Heredity Influence:
 Malayan ancestors- love for freedom, innate desire to travel and
indomitable courage.
 Chinese ancestors- serious nature, frugality, patience and love for
children.
 Spanish ancestors- elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult and
gallanty to ladies.
 Father- Profound sense of respect, the love for work and the
habit of independent thinking.
 Mother- religious nature, the spirit of self- sacrifice and the
passion for arts and literature.
2. Environmental Influences:
 The scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the
Rizal family- inborn artistic and literary talents of Jose Rizal.
 The religious atmosphere at his home- religious nature.
 Brother, Paciano- love for freedom and justice.
 Sisters- courteous and kind to women.
 Aya (Nurse Maid)- interest in folklore and legends. • Tito Jose
Alberto- artistic ability.
 Tito Manuel- frail walking and wrestling.
 Tito Gregorio- voracious reading of good books.
 Father Leoncio Lopez- love for scholarship and intellectual
honesty. • Sorrows in his family- character, enabling him to resist
blows of adversity in late years.
3. Aid of Divine Providence:
 God- versatile gifts of a genius, the vibrant spirit of nationalism
and the valiant heart to sacrifice for a noble cause.
 Biñan Laguna
o First Teacher in Biñan of Pepe Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz
o Pepe lived in a small hut about 30 meters from the home of the aunt.
o Jose used to wear a sinamay shirt,woven by the skilled hands of the women of
Batangas.
 o Jose challenged Pedro to a fight
o First Painting lesson by a painter Juancho
 Injustice to Hero’s Mother
o Before June of 1872,tragedy struck the Rizal family.Dona Teodora was suddenly
arrested on a malicious charge that she and her brother.
o Jose Alberto wife was poison
o Jose Alberto ,a rich Binan ilustrado ,had just returned from a business trip in
Europe.
o After arresting Dona Teodora, the sadistic Spanish Lieutenant forced her to walk
from Calamba to Santa Cruz a distance of 50 kilometers.
Activity 2:
1. How do you describe Jose Rizal’s Childhood in Calamba?
2. What can you say about the childhood memories of Rizal?
3. Did Riza have a happy childhood?
4. How do you feel about the childhood year of Rizal?
5. What are the events that influenced Rizal’s early life?
Answer the following:

Chapter 3: Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872 -1877)

 Ateneo Municipal A college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits Bitter rival of
the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran Escuela Pia (Charity School) A
school for poor boys in Manila Established by the city government in 1817 Ateneo de
Manila Acquired prestige as an excellent college for boys
 Rizal Enters the Ateneo Father Magin Ferrando, who was the school registrar, refused to
admit him for two reasons:
 He was late for registration
 He was sickly and undersized for his age However, upon the intercession of Manuel
Xerez Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo
which was located at Intramuros, outside the walls of Manila.
 4 months after the matyrdom of GOM- BUR-ZA and with Dona Teodora still in prison,
Jose, who had celebrated his 11th birthday, was sent in Manila.
 This college was bitter rival of dominican- owned College of San Juan De Letran
 It was Formerly the Escuela Pia (charity School) a school for poor boys in Manila which
was established by the city government in 1817 
 When the Jesuits, who had been expelled from the Philippines in 1768, returned to
Manila in 1859, they were given the management of Escuela Pia, whose changed to
Ateneo de Municipal later it became the ATENEO DE MANILA
 Rizal Enters the Ateneo The school he take entrance exam before he enter Ateneo de
Manila
o Christian Doctrine
o Arithmetic
o Reading at the College of San Juan De Letran
 Father Magin Ferrando the college registrar refused to admit him for 2 reasons 1.He was
late for registration 2.He was sickly and Undersized for his age.
 Jose was the first of his family to adopt the surname “Rizal”.
 Paciano had used “Mercado” as his surname a the College of San Jose and he was
known to the authorities as Father Favorite student and Confidant.
o Ateneo was located in Intramuros w/in the walls of Manila. He first boarded
outside intramuros, on Caraballo St. 25 mins walk from the college.
o it was owned by a spinster name Titay who owned the Rizal family the amt. of
300
 Jesuit System of Education The system of education given by the jesuits in Ateneo was
more advanced than that of other colleges in that period. Student Trained in
CHARACTER:
o Rigid
o Discipline
o And religious instruction
 physical culture
 humanities
 scientific studies
 agriculture
 commerce
 mechanics
 surveying
 Students were divided into two groups:
o The Roman Empire - consisting of the internos (boarders)
o Carthaginian Empire - composed of the externos (non-boarders) Ranks Best student
- emperor Second best - tribune Third best - decurion Fourth best - centurion Fifth-
best – standard-bearer
 Red for the Romans and Blue for the Carthaginians “Upon the first defeat,
the banner of the losing party was transferred to the left side of the room.
Upon the second, it was placed in an inferior position on the right side. Upon
the third, the inclined flag was placed on the left. Upon the fourth, the flag
was reversed and returned to the right. Upon the fifth, the reversed flag was
placed on the left. Upon the sixth, the banner was changed with a figure of a
donkey.” Uniform
 hemp-fabric trousers
 stripped cotton coat The coat material was called rayadillo, which
later became popular for it was adopted as the uniform for Filipino
troops during the days of the First Philippine Republic

Students Divided into 2 groups

o Roman Empire (Red) consisting of the Internos (Boarders)
o Carthaginian Empire(Blue)
o consisting of Externos (non-boarders)
o Each Empires Had its Ranks
 Empire (the Best Students)
 Tribune (second Best)
 Decurion (third best)
  Centurion (fourth Best)
 Standard Bearer(fifth Best)
 Rizal’s time wore uniform Consisted of Hemp-fabric trousers and striped cotton coat.
The coat material was called rayadillo which become late famous for it adopted as
the uniform for Filipino troops during the days of the first Philippine Republic
 Rizal’s first Year in Ateneo Fr. Jose Bech The first professor of rizal at Ateneo de
Manila. He described as a tali, tin man, with a body slightly bent forward, harried
walk, an ascetic face, severe inspired, small deep sunken eyes, a sharp nose that
was almost greek, thin lips forming an arc whose ends fell toward chin. Belonged to
the Carthaginians in which he was an externo
o Became the “emperor” at the end of the month
o Took private lessons in Santa Isabel College during the noon recesses to
improve his Spanish, which was actually P3 per session
o Placed second at the end of the year
 scdwe
 Prophecy of Mothers Release
o Rizal has no time to visit her mother in provincial jail.
o Rizal cheer up his mother by scholastic triumphs in Ateneo and with funny
tales about his professors and his fellow students
o Donya Teodora told her son about her dream the previous night.
 Teenage Interest in Reading
o The first romantic Novel of rizal was “ The Count of Monte Cristo by
alexander Dumas.
o Rizal read romantic interest with deep interest. He read both fiction and non
fiction.
o He persuaded his father to buy him costly set of Cesar Cantu’s historical
works was great aid in his studies and enabled him to win more prizes at
ateneo.
 Travel in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor a German scientist- traveller who
visited Philippines in 1859-1860. He impressed in this book because:
1. Jagors keen observation of the defects of the Spanish Colonization
2. His prophecy that someday Spain would lose Philippines and that America
would come o succeed her as colonizer.
 Third year at Ateneo Rizal returned to the ateneo for his junior year
o His mother was arrived and joyously told him that she was free released in prison
o Despite of family happiness, did not make excellent showing in his studies as in
the previous years but his grade remained excellent
o He failed to win the in Spanish because his spoken spanish was not fluently
sonorous. He was beaten by a spaniard who, naturally, speak spanish fluently
and with right accentuation.
 Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-1976)
o Became an interno on June 16, 1875 Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez - one of his
professors - a great educator and scholar - inspired the young Rizal to study harder
and to write poetry - became and admirer and friend of the great Calamba lad -
considered by Rizal as his best professor in Ateneo - “model of uprightness,
earnestness, and love for the advancement of his pupils”
 o Topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the
school term
 Last Year in Ateneo (1876-1877)
o The most brilliant Atenean of his time • “The pride of the Jesuits”
o Obtained the highest grades in all subjects—philosophy, physics, biology, chemistry,
languages, mineralogy, etc.
 Graduation with Highest Honors Rizal graduated at the head of his class. His scholastic
records at the Ateneo from 1872-1877 were as follows:
o 1872-1873
 Arithmetic – EXCELLENT
 Latin I – EXCELLENT
 Spanish I – EXCELLENT
 Greek I - EXCELLENT
o 1873-1874
 Latin 2 – EXCELLENT
 Spanish 2 – EXCELLENT
 Greek 2 – EXCELLENT
 Universal Geography – EXCELLENT
o 1874-1875
 Latin 3 – EXCELLENT
 Spanish 3 – EXCELLENT
 Greek 3 – EXCELLENT
 Universal History – EXCELLENT
 History of Spain and the Philippines – EXCELLENT
 Arithmetic and Algebra – EXCELLENT
o 1875-1876
 Rhetoric and Poetry – EXCELLENT
 French I – EXCELLENT
 Geometry and Trigonometry – EXCELLENT
o 1876-1877
 Philosophy I – EXCELLENT
 Mineralogy & Chemistry – EXCELLENT
 Philosophy 2 – EXCELLENT
 Physics – EXCELLENT
 Botany & Zoology - EXCELLENT
o Received from his Alma Mater, the Ateneo Municipal the degree of Bachelor of Arts,
with highest honors

Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo

 An “emperor” inside the classroom, a campus leader outside
 An active member, later secretary, of a religious society, the Marian Congregation
 Devoted to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the college patroness
 Member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences
o Continued to solicit Father Sanchez’ help in improving his poetry
o Devoted his spare time to fine arts - Studied painting under the famous Spanish
painter, Agustin Saez - Studied sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus
o Engaged in gymnastics and fencing under his sports-minded Tio Manuel
 Sculptural Works in Ateneo
 o Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood)
with his pocket knife
o Requested by Father Lleonart, who was impressed by his sculptural talent, to carve
him an image of the Sacred heart of Jesus - Placed at the door of the dormitory of
the Ateneo boarding students - Reminded all the Ateneans the greatest alumnus of
their Alma Mater, Dr. Jose Rizal - Played a significant part in Rizal’s last hours at Fort
Santiago
 Anecdotes on Rizal, the Atenean Felix M. Roxas - Revealed the hero’s resignation to pain
and forgiveness Manuel Xerex Burgos - Illustrated Rizal’s predilection to help the helpless at
the risk of his own life.

Activity 3:
1. How do you describe Jose Rizal’s extra-curricular activities in Ateneo?
2. What are the reason of Fr. Martin what he refuse to admit Rizal in Ateneo?
3. What coat materials used in Ateneo students uniform under the Jesuit order?
4. What are the dramatic work of Rizal in Ateneo?

Reference:
Zaide, Gregorio F. and Sonia M. Zaide. JOSE RIZAL: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius,
Writer, Scientist and National Hero (2nd ed.) Philippines: All- Nations Publishing Co., Inc. 2014