WOMEN IN RIZALS LIFE

JULIA met at a river in Dampalit, Los Baos, Laguna; first woman to catch Rizal's eyes
SEGUNDA KATIGBAK - At 16, first love of Jose Rizal from Lipa, Batangas; sister of Rizal's
friend, Mariano Katigbak; close friend of Olympia, Rizal's sister; already engaged to Manuel
Luz; considered puppy love of Jose Rizal.

MISS L - (some sources: MARGARITA ALMEDA GOMEZ and some sources: JACINTA (some
sources, VICENTA) YBARDALOZA - From Pakil, Laguna; after several visits, Jose Rizal
stopped pursuing her because of Segunda's sweet memories and his father was against her
family.
LEONOR VALENZUELA - aka Orang. As a sophomore student at the University of Santo
Tomas, Jose Rizal sent love letters in invisible ink made from a mixture of water and table salt
that can be read by heating over a lamp or a candle to allow the words to surface; neighbor of
Jose Rizal in Intramuros; daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela; an
elegant and graceful, tall girl from Pagsanjan, Laguna.

LEONOR RIVERA - aka Taimis. As a third year student at the University of Santo Tomas;
longest love for 11 years although others say 8; Rizal's cousin from Camiling, Tarlac; Leonor's
mother disapproved Rizal who was known to be a filibustero and kept all of Rizal's letters for
Leonor while he was away, and was persuaded to marry the English Engineer, Charles Henry
Kipping; Leonor Rivera was the inspiration for the Maria Clara character in Noli Me
Tangereand El Filibusterismo.
CONSUELO ORTIGA Y REY (some sources: Y PEREZ) - As a student at the Universidad
Central de Madrid in 1882; daughter of former Civil Governor (City Mayor) of Manila, Don Pablo
Ortiga y Rey; Jose Rizal did not pursue for two reasons because he was still engaged to Leonor
Rivera at that time and he did not want to ruin his friendship with Eduardo de Lete who also had
an affection with the girl
O-SEI SAN KIYO - aka Seiko Usui. At Azabu district, Tokyo, Japan in 1888; ; a Japanese
samurais daughter; Jose Rizal was her first love; taught Jose Rizal the Japanese art of painting
"Su-mie"; also helped in improving his language.
GERTRUDE BECKETT - aka Gettie. At London, Paris in May 1888; eldest daughter of Mr. &
Mrs. Beckett; a buxom young lady with blue eyes and brown hair; fell in love with Rizal; he gave
her a carving which he made in memory of their short relationship.

NELLIE (some sources: NELLY) BOUSTEAD - the prettier and younger daughter of Mr.
Eduardo Boustead; Rizal's marriage proposal failed because he did not want to convert to
Protestantism and Nelly's mother did not approve of Rizal, as she had no desire to entrust her
daughter to a man who was wanting in wealth and persecuted in his own country.
SUZANNE JACOBY (some sources: SUSANNE JACOBE) - At Brussels, Belgium in January
1888; niece of his landlord; fell in love with Rizal and wept when he left for Madrid in July 1890.
PASTORA NECESARIO CARREON - aka Inday Torak. At Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
where Jose Rizal was exiled.

JOSEPHINE LEOPOLDINE BRACKEN - last love of Jose Rizal; adopted daughter of George
Taufer from HongKong, married to Jose Rizal (disputed by most historians). Lived together
and in early 1896 they were expecting a baby. Unfortunately, Josephine had to go into
premature labor after Rizal played a prank and frightened her. A little boy of eight months was
born, who lived for only three hours. Rizal named him Francisco in honor of his father, and
buried the child in Dapitan.
Jos Protasio Mercado Rizal y Alonso Realonda or popularly known as Jos Rizal (June 19,
1861 December 30, 1896) was a nationalist during the tail end of the Spanish colonial
period of the Philippines. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal became a writer and a key
member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement which advocated political reforms for the colony
under Spain. He was executed by the Spanish colonial government for the crime
of rebellion after an anti-colonial revolution, inspired in part by his writings, broke out. Though he
was not actively involved in its planning or conduct, he ultimately approved of its goals which
eventually led to Philippine independence. He is widely considered one of the greatest heroes of
the Philippines, and is implied by Philippine law to be one of the national heroes. He was the
author of the novels Noli Me Tngere, and El Filibusterismo, and a number of poems and
essays.

The Mercado - Rizal Family

The Rizals is considered one of the biggest families during their time. Domingo Lam-co, the
family's paternal ascendant was a full-blooded Chinese who came to the Philippines from Amoy,
China in the closing years of the 17th century and married a Chinese half-breed by the name of
Ines de la Rosa.
Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had also traces of Japanese, Spanish,
Malay and Even Negrito blood aside from Chinese.

Jose Rizal came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, Francisco Mercado II and
Teodora Alonso Realonda, and nine sisters and one brother.

FRANCISCO MERCADO (1818-1898)

Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in
Bian, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.

TEODORA ALONSO (1827-1913)

Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She
studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman, courteous,
religious, hard-working and well-read. She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14,
1827 and died in 1913 in Manila.

SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-1913)

Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan,
Batangas.

PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930)

Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College in Manila; became
a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.

NARCISA RIZAL (1852-1939)

The third child. married Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal; a teacher and musician.

OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887)

The fourth child. Married Silvestre Ubaldo; died in 1887 from childbirth.

LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919)

The fifth child. Married Matriano Herbosa.

MARIA RIZAL (1859-1945)

The sixth child. Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Bian, Laguna.

JOSE RIZAL (1861-1896)

The second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the Spaniards on December
30,1896.

CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865)

The eight child. Died at the age of three.

JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-1945)

The ninth child. An epileptic, died a spinster.

TRINIDAD RIZAL (1868-1951)

The tenth child. Died a spinster and the last of the family to die.

SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929)

The youngest child married Pantaleon Quintero.