Chapter 2
Childhood Years in Calamba
Objectives:
• To be able to know the childhood years of Jose Rizal in
Calamba
• To know what he achieved in young age
• To be able to know what events in his life made him love
his nation and fight for freedom
CALAMBA
• Also called “The Hero’s Town”.
• Calamba was a hacienda town which belonged to the
Dominican Order, which also owned all the lands around
it.
House of Rizal in Calamba
Earliest Childhood Memories
• Rizal's earliest memory, at three years old, was of joyful
days in the family garden. Despite his fragile health, his
parents provided him with a special nipa hut in the
garden for him to play during the day.
• One of his childhood recollections involved the regular
practice of saying the Angelus prayer. As dusk settled in,
his mother would assemble all the children in the house
for this evening prayer.
• Another memory of his infancy was the nocturnal walk in
the town. The maid took him for a walk the moonlight
river.
• Jose Rizal had a joyful upbringing with loving parents
and divine blessings.
• Calamba, his hometown, with its scenic beauty and
welcoming, hardworking people, left a deep impression
on his young mind, shaping his character.
Jose Rizal Childhood experience
• His father built him a small Nipa Hut.
• He was also served an Aya to attend him. Jose Rizal
and his Aya shared a lot of stories about folklores,
myths, legends.
• He also experiences playing alone and just watch the
birds singing on the tress.
(Birds: Culiauan, Maya, Maria Capra, and the Pipit)
The Hero’s First Sorrow
• Jose Rizal loved most the little Concha (Conception). He
was a year older than Concha. He played with her and
from her he learned the sweetness of sisterly love
• 1865- Concepcion Died; this is the first sorrow of Jose
Rizal. Unfortunately, Concepcion died because of
sickness when she was three years old.
Devoted Son of the Church
• At three, Jose Rizal joined family prayers, taught by his
devout Catholic mother. By age five, he could read from
the Spanish family Bible, though with some difficulty.
• Father Leoncio Lopez, the town priest, was frequented
by Jose Rizal, who sought his guidance and wisdom on
current events and life's philosophy.
Pilgrimage to Antipolo
• On June 6, 1868, Jose Rizal and his father departed
from Calamba on a journey to Antipolo, with the purpose
of fulfilling his mother's vow, which had been made when
Jose was born.
• Jose Rizal took his first journey across Laguna de Bay.
After they prayed at the Virgin of Antipolo's shrine, Jose
and his dad traveled to Manila. It was Jose's first-time
visiting Manila. They went to see Saturnina, who was
studying at La Concordia College in Sta. Ana at the time.
The Story of the Moth
• Of the story told by Dona Teodora to Jose Rizal, It was
that of the young moth made the profoundest impression
on him.
Artistic Talents
• From a young age, Rizal displayed his innate artistic
talent. At the tender age of five, he started creating
sketches with his pencil and shaping objects from clay
and wax.
First Poem by Jose Rizal
• Since early Boyhood he had scribbled verses on loose
sheets of paper and on the textbooks of his sisters. His
mother who was a lover of literature, noticed his poetic
inclination and encouraged him to write poetry.
• At the age of eight, Jose Rizal wrote his first poem in the
native language entitled “Sa aking mga Kababata” (To
my fellow Children).
• In 1876 when he was 15 years old, he wrote a poem
“Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of my Town)
First Drama by Jose Rizal
• At the age of eight, young Jose Rizal composed his
initial dramatic piece, a Tagalog comedy. This play was
reportedly performed during a Calamba Festival and
received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Rizal as Boy Magician
• From a young age, Jose Rizal had a fascination with the
art of magic. He honed his skillful hands in mastering a
variety of tricks and delighted the people in his town with
enchanting magic lantern presentations.
• As he grew older and entered adulthood, he maintained
his strong passion for magic. He immersed himself in
extensive reading about magic and eagerly witnessed
the performances of renowned magicians from around
the globe.
Influence on the Hero’s Boyhood
1. Hereditary Influence
• From his Malayan ancestors, Rizal 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 self-
respect, the love for work, and the habit of independent
thinking.
• And from his mother, he inherited his religious nature,
the spirit of self sacrifice, and the passion for arts and
literature
2. Environmental Influence
• The scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful
garden of the Rizal family stimulated the inborn artistic
and literary talents of Jose Rizal.
• The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his
religious nature.
• His brother, Paciano, instilled in his mind the love for
freedom and justice. From his sisters, he learned to be
courteous and kind to women.
• His three uncles, inspired him to develop his artistic
ability, to develop his frail body and intensified his
voracious reading of good books.
Rizal’s Uncles
1. Gregorio Alberto
• Taught him to work hard, to think himself and observe
life keenly
2. Jose
• Educated in Calcutta, India
• Taught him to sketch, paint, and sculpture
3. Manuel
• Taught him Swimming, Fencing, Wrestling, and other
sports.
3. Aid of Divine Providence
• Jose Rizal was meant to be a source of pride and honor
for his country. He had special talents like a genius, a
strong love for his nation, and a brave heart willing to
make sacrifices for important reasons, all given to him by
God.
