RIZAL: EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, a town in
the Philippines that was then under Spanish colonial rule. His full name was José Protacio Rizal Mercado
y Alonzo Realonda.

Early Life:

1. Family Background: Rizal came from a well-educated and prosperous family. His father, Francisco
Mercado, was a farmer and a businessman, while his mother, Teodora Alonzo, was a highly educated
woman and a key influence on his intellectual development.

2. Multilingualism: Rizal was exposed to a multilingual environment, learning several languages from an
early age, including Tagalog, Spanish, and other regional dialects. This linguistic diversity greatly
influenced his later writings.

Education:

1. Early Education: Rizal's first formal education was under the guidance of his mother. He began learning
the alphabet and basic reading and writing at home. Later, he attended a local school in Biñan, Laguna.

2. Ateneo Municipal de Manila: In 1872, he was sent to Manila to attend the Ateneo Municipal de
Manila, a Jesuit-run school. This was a significant period in his education, where he excelled in various
subjects and acquired a strong foundation in the Spanish language and European arts and sciences.

3. University of Santo Tomas: Rizal initially enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas to pursue higher
education in philosophy and letters. However, due to racial discrimination, he left and continued his
studies in Europe.

4. Study in Europe: Rizal traveled to Europe, where he continued his education at the Universidad Central
de Madrid, and then at the Universidad de Heidelberg in Germany. He studied medicine and specialized
in ophthalmology.

Jose Rizal's early life and education played a pivotal role in shaping his views, knowledge, and patriotism.
He used his knowledge and writings to advocate for reforms and independence from Spanish colonial
rule in the Philippines.