Lecture Notes on

PI 100: The Life, Works and Writings of Rizal

RIZAL’S
EARLY LIFE
LESSON 6
Prepared by: Romeo G. Punelas, Jr. LPT
LESSON OUTCOMES
 Topic outline
LESSON PROPER

❑Rizal’s Family

❑Childhood at Calamba

❑Influnces on the Hero’s Boyhood

 Moonlit night of June 19, 1861, a
Wednesday, a man from a lakeshore
town of Calamba, province of
Laguna was born.
Later, the Virgin of Antipolo
newborn baby was baptized on the
parish church of Calamba with the
efforts of Batangas-native priest,
Father Rufino Collantes.
The boy was named, “Jose” by his
mother who was also a devotee of
the Christian saint, San Jose (Saint
Joseph).
RIZAL’S PARENTS
FRANCISCO MERCADO
 FRANCISCO MERCADO
Francisco Mercado, Rizal’s father was born on May 11,
1818 in Biñan, Laguna.
He studied Latin and Philosophy at Colegio de San Jose .
At the age of eight, he lost his father and grew up
manhood under the care of his mother.
He married on June 28, 1848 and settled in Calamba,
Laguna (Dominican-owned hacienda) where he became a
“Tiniente Gobernadorcillo” of the town.
Personally, he chose Don Leon Monroy to be Rizal’s
tutor in Spanish and Latin. After several months, he bought
Rizal a set of “Universal History” by Cesar Cantu during his
son’s studies in Ateneo Municipal de Manila . During Rizal’s
vacation in 1881, he made a life-size wood sculpture of
Francisco.
He died on January 5, 1898 in Manila.
TEODORA ALONSO
 TEODORA ALONSO
Rizal’s mother Teodora Alonso was born on
November 8, 1826 in Sta. Cruz, Manila. She studied in
Colegio de Santa Rosa in Intramuros. She taught Rizal
Spanish, poem composition, and Catholic prayers (at the
age of three).
She allowed Rizal to read “Vulgate Bible” at the age
of five. On the other hand, she was against on Rizal’s
education in Manila (1872) and abroad (1882). She was
imprisoned two times but regularly visited by Rizal
during that time with high grades in Ateneo Municipal
de Manila. Rizal cured her eye problem twice (1887 and
1895).
When Rizal was sentenced to death, she pleaded to
the Governor General but to no avail. After such
decades after his son’s death she refused the lifetime
pension offered by Americans (1906).
Died in Manila on August 16, 1911.
 Saturnina
The eldest among the siblings,
Saturnina (1850-1913), known as
“Neneng” helped to educate Rizal
at the age of 3. She studied in La
Concordia College She married
Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanauan,
Batangas and helped Rizal to have
sufficient money on his study
aboard (1882) and financed
Rizal’s expenses through 100
peso allowance (1885). After
Rizal’s death in 1896, she
published Tagalog translation of
Pascual Poblete’s Noli Me
Tangere in 1909.
Paciano
The “sidekick” of Rizal, known as
“Uto” Paciano (1851-1930) in the
family. He was a student from and
became friends with Jose Burgos
Colegio de San Jose . He was
responsible for Jose’s use of
surname “Rizal”. He also financed
Rizal’s studies from 365 pesos to
50 pesos, down to 35 pesos before
he became a general of Philippine
Revolution in 1896 and Finance
secretary of Department
Government of Central Luzon
(1897).
Narcissa
Narcisa (1852 -1939), the third
among the children was known
for her pawning of jewels to
finance Rizal’s studies abroad
after marrying Antonio Lopez,
teacher and musician from
Morong (son/nephew of Fray
Leoncio Lopez). She
accompanied Rizal and
Josephine Bracken to Manila
after the Dapitan exile that was
why some historians consider
her as the “Hospitable Sister of
Rizal.”
 Olympia
Olympia or “Ypia” (1855-1887) was
a schoolmate of Segunda Katigbak
in La Concordia College and the
sister whom Rizal “loved to tease.”
She married Silvestre Ubaldo, a
Manila Telegraph operator. Ypia
and Silvestre mentioned the
Cholera outbreak in Bulacan (1882)
to Rizal. Because of Rizal’s request
to Padre Faura (1885), the couple
was transferred to Manila before
she died because of hemorrhage in
September 1887.
Lucia
Lucia (1857-1919) who married
Mariano Herbosa (nephew of
Father Pedro Casañas) who died of
Cholera (1889) and denied for
Christian burial because of being a
brother-in-law of Rizal. She joined
their family reunion in Hong Kong
(1891) before she accompanied
Rizal on his second home-coming
but her luggage was caught by
Spaniards with anti-friar leaflets
(July, 1892).
Maria
Maria (1859-1945) was whom
Rizal talked about his plan to
marry Josephine and his plan
to establish a colony in Sabah.
She married Daniel Faustino
Cruz of Binan , the parents of
Mauricio (Rizal’s favorite
nephew and became his
student). She also considered
as the “Most beautiful sister
of Rizal.”
 Concepcion
Concepcion or Concha (1862-
1865) the eight among the
siblings whom Rizal played
games and shared children
stories, died only when three
years of age. Rizal’s first
taste of sorrow in life was
because of her.
Josefa
Josefa (1865-1945), also known
as “Panggoy” was praised by
Rizal for being interested in
learning English grammar. After
several years, became one of
the first 29
female members of Katipunan.
She died as an old maid.
Trinidad
Trinidad (1868-1951) also
known as “Trining” was
scolded by Rizal, by being lazy
on her studies. She visited
Rizal with their mother in
Dapitan (1895) and visited
Rizal a day before the
execution and gave her an
alcohol cooking stove from
the Tavera Family in France.
She became a Katipunan
member after Rizal was
executed. She died as an old
maid and the last of the family
 Soledad
The last child of Teodora and Francisco
was Soledad (1870-1929), also known as
“Choleng.” A controversial sister of Rizal
because of an issue that she was a child
of Saturnina, the eldest children of the
family. She married Pantaleon Quintero of
Calamba that was why she was scolded by
Rizal of getting married without parental
consent. According to Rizal’s
descendants, she was the most educated
sister of Rizal (being a teacher). She had
five children with Pantaleon and one of
them was Amelia who married Bernabe,
son of Gen. Miguel Malvar.
Rizal’s Genealogy
“The house was high and even sumptuous, a solid and
massive earthquakes-proof structure with sliding shell
windows. Thick walls of lime and stone bounded the first
floor; the second floor was made entirely of wood except
for the roof, which was of red tile, in the style of the
buildings in Manila at that time… At the back there was
an azotea and a wide, deep cistern to hold rain water for
home use.”
-Dr. Rafael Palma, Rizal Biographer
• The real surname of Rizal family was
Mercado which was adopted by Domingo
Lamco in 1731. The family acquired the
second surname “Rizal” , which was given by
the Spanish Alcalde Mayor of Laguna that
time “Rizal” from the word “Ricial” means
the Spanish Alcalde Mayor of Laguna that
time. Rizal from the word Ricial means
“green pasteur.”

• “Rizal family had simple, contented and

happy life. Don Francisco and Doña Teodora
loved their children but they never spoiled
following the concept of “Spare the rod and
spoil the child.”
-Zaide
 Earliest Childhood Memories
• The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his
happy days in the family garden.
• Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus
prayer. By nightfall, Rizal related, his mother
gathered all the children at the house to pray the
Angelus.
• With nostalgic feeling, he also remembered the
happy moonlit nights at the azotea after the rosary.
• Another memory of his infancy was the nocturnal
walk in the town, especially when there was a moon.
 Earliest Childhood Memories
• He became interested in literature at the age of eight he
allegedly wrote his first poem “Sa Aking mga Kabata.”
After that, he wrote a Tagalog drama or play that
presented in Calamba Fiesta. That was why, a of Paete,
Gobernadorcillo Laguna purchased the manuscript for
two pesos and brought to his home town to be staged.
• In terms of artistic talents, Rizal on his childhood showed
several scenarios: he painted in oil colors the new
banner for fiesta because the original one was spoiled
and on an anecdote, he created a clay and wax figure of
him then his sisters laughed at him. He philosophically
answered that someday, many people will make many
statues of him in different places in the Philippines.
 Earliest Childhood Memories
• On this moment also, Rizal heard the story
of the moth from the book El Amigo de los
Niños that was told by his mother.
• Likewise, the tragic fate of the young moth
which “died a martyr to its illusions” left a
deep impress on Rizal’s mind. Based on the
analysis of Gregorio Zaide, Rizal justified
such noble death, asserting that “to sacrifice
one’s life for it,” meaning for an ideal, is
“worthwhile.”
 Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood
Gregorio Zaide pondered that there were three influences that affects the hero’s boyhood:

1. In speaking of hereditary influence, Rizal inherited his love for freedom, desire
to travel and indomitable courage from his Malay ancestors. His serious nature,
frugality, patience and love for children were from his Chinese ancestry. Lastly,
his Spanish ancestry might influenced his being elegance of bearing, sensitivity
to insult and gallantry to ladies.

2. When it comes to environmental influences, he was influenced by his uncles

Jose Alberto in sketching, sculpture and painting; Gregorio in the aspect of
reading; and Manuel in the field of martial arts. Other than, his brother Paciano
instilled his mind the love for freedom and justice and the concept of
scholarship and intellectual honesty was taught by Father Leoncio Lopez.

3. The Divine Providence aid of gave Rizal a chance to be the pride and glory of
his nation DESTINy
References: Printed Materials:

Castañeda, S.P.C., Ornos, P.S., et al. (2013). Jose Rizal; The martyr and national
hero (2013 Edition).Mutya Publishing House, Inc. Malabon City.
Mañebog, J.DG., Placio, P.B., et al. (2014). Jose Rizal; Biography, legacies, love
life, and Collaborations with other heroes. Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
Malabon City
Zaide, G.F. & Zaide, S.M. (1994). Jose Rizal; Life, works, and writings of a geniu
s, writer, scientist and national hero (Second Edition). All Nations
Publishing Co. Inc. Quezon City.

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYXl5SrnIVw