RIZAL'S BIRTH, THE CHILDHOOD OF A PHENOM

It was said that Dona Teodora suffered the greatest pain while giving birth to her seventh child,
Jose. His sister Narcisa was only nine years old when her mother gave birth to her brother. She
recalled that her mother suffered from the pain where she labored for a long time. The cause of
the pain was later confirmed that it was because Rizal's head was bigger than normal.

He was born in Calamba but his parents decided to transfer and build a home in Laguna in
1848. Calamba was derived from the word kalan-banga which means "clay stove" and "water
jar".

Rizal wrote a poem about his adoration of Laguna's scenic beauty which he wrote at Ateneo de
Manila in 1876 titled Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In memory of my town).

The massive stone house in Calamba was the birthplace of Rizal - a rectangular two-story
building, built of adobe stones and solid wood with sliding capiz windows, and the ground floor
was made of lime and stone, second floor of hardwood, except for the roof which was made of
red tiles. There was an azotea and a water reservoir at the back. Its architectural style and
proximity to the church imply Rizal family's wealth and political influence.

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A phenom is someone who is exceptionally talented or admired, especially during Rizal's

childhood.

His first memory as a three-year-old child was his happy days at their family garden. It contained
tropical fruit trees, a poultry yard, a carriage house, and a stable for ponies. Since he was a
weak, sickly, and undersized kid, his parent's attention was all into him, his father would build a
nipa cottage for him to play in the daytime. Rizal's memory includes nocturnal walks in the town,
especially when there's a moon. He also recalled the nursemaid telling them stories about
fairies, tales of buried treasure, and trees blooming with diamonds.

He also recalled the daily Angelus prayer in their home, when the night falls his mother would
gather all the children in their home to pray the Angelus. When his little sister Concha died of
sickness in 1865, he wrote in his memoir that it was the first time he shed tears caused by love
and grief.

Young Rizal learned to speak the Spanish family bible at the age of five, which he would later
refer in his writings. He also added that the education he received at a very young age is what
shaped his habits. He loves to go to the chapel, pray, participate in novenas, and join religious
processions. The town priest in Calamba, Leoncio Lopez was one of the men young pepe
admired and respected. He used to visit him and listen to his inspiring opinions on current
events and life views. He also started sketching with pencils, mold clay, and wax objects. His
sisters once laughed at him for spending time making clay and wax figures, he then told them
"All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of
me."
Rizal was seven years old when he was riding a casco (a flat-bottomed boat with a roof) with
his father on their way to a pilgrimage in Antipolo. It was to fulfill his mother's vow to take him to
the Shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo after surviving the ordeal of her delivery which nearly caused
her life. Rizal and his father then proceeded to Manila to visit his sister Saturnina who was
currently studying at the La Concordia College in Sta. Ana.

He received a pony named "Alipato" from his father. He loves riding his pony together with his
black dog named "Usman", taking long walks in the meadows and lakeshore.

His mother influenced him to love arts, literature, and the classics. Right before he turned eight,
he had written a drama which was performed at a local festival, and eventually, he was given a
two-pesos-reward by the municipal captain.

In contrast with the common facts, Rizal did not write the Filipino poem "Sa aking mga
kababata/kabata" who first appeared in the book Kung Sino ang kumatha ng Florante by
Hermenigildo Cruz in 1909, it was believed that he wrote this poem when he was about eight
years old. However, his brother Paciano admitted that Rizal only encountered the word
"kalayaan" when he was already 21 years old. The term kalayaan was used not only once in the
poem.

The young Rizal was also interested in magic, he read many books and learned different tricks
such as making a coin disappear and making a handkerchief vanish into thin air. Rizal's
childhood was influenced by his three uncles; Tio Jose Alberto who inspired him to cultivate his
artistic ability, his Tio Manuel who encourage him to fortify his frail body through physical
exercises, and his Tio Gregorio who intensifies his avidness in reading books.

QUIZ

1. What is a phenom? (someone who is exceptionally talented or admired)

2. At what age did Rizal start sketching with pencils, mold clay, and wax objects? (5 years
old)
3. What did Rizal tell his sisters after they laughed at him for spending too much time
making wax and clay figures? (All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die,
people will make monuments and images of me.)
4. Calamba was derived from the word? (also include the meaning of the word) (
kalan-banga which means "clay stove" and "water jar".)
5. What is the title of the poem that he wrote in 1876 at Ateneo de Manila? (Un Recuerdo
A Mi Pueblo)
6. In what year did his parents decide to move to Laguna? (1848)
7. Who was the town priest Rizal admired and respected? (Leoncio Lopez)
8. A flat-bottomed boat with a roof (casco)