Rizal’s Life:

FAMILY, CHILDHOOD,
AND EARLY EDUCATION
Overview
Don Francisco Mercado The Childhood of a Phenom
Doña Teodoro Alonso Education in Calamba
Jose’s Siblings Education in Biñan
The Surname Rizal
Rizal’s Birth
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso
Realonda
Born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna
Seventh of 11 children born to a relatively well-off
family in a Dominican-owned tenant land
Lived and died during the Spanish colonial era in the
Philippines
At a young age, he showed inclinations to the arts with
his pencil drawings, sketches, and moldings of clay
Later in his childhood, he showed special talent in
painting and sculpture, and additionally, he wrote a
Tagalog play
 Rizal’s Ancestry
Domingo Lamco Ines de la Rosa Eugenio Ursua Benigna

Francisco Mercado Bernarda Monicha Regina Manuel de Quintos

Juan Mercado Cirila Alejandra Brigida Quintos Lorenzo Alberto Alonso

Francisco Mercado Rizal Teodora Alonso Realonda

Don Francisco Mercado
Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado
Jose’s father, was a productive farmer from
Biñan, Laguna
Nicknamed “Tiniente Kiko” when he became
tiniente gobernadorcillo (lieutenant governor)
in Calamba
FAMILY LINEAGE
His great grandfather is Domingo Lam-co, a pro-poor or maka-masa Chinese
immigrant businessman who married Ines de la Rosa, a sophisticated Chinese
mestiza of Manila.
Francisco, one of their two children married Bernarda Monicha.
Francisco and Bernarda’s son, Juan Mercado became the gobernadorcillo (town
mayor) of Biñan, Laguna. He married Cirila Alejandra and had 12 children, the
youngest being Jose Rizal’s father, Francisco.
Don Francisco Mercado
Born on May 11, 1818, in Biñan, Laguna
Lost his father at eight years old
Pursued education, studied Latin and
Philosophy at the College of San Jose in
Manila
Met Teodora Alonso, a student in the College
of Santa Rosa
Married Teodora Alonso on June 28, 1848
Settled in Calamba, granted lease of a rice
farm in Dominican-owned haciendas
Doña Teodora Alonso
Jose Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonso Quintos
Realonda, also known as “Lolay”
Born on November 8, 1826, in Santa Cruz, Manila
(disputed records)
Educated at the College of Santa Rosa in Manila

Encouraged her children to love arts, literature, and music

Sent her children to colleges in Manila, emphasizing education

Ran sugar and flour mills, operated a small store in Calamba

Sold home-made ham, sausages, jams, jellies, and many others
Pioneering in business, predated certain industries like meat-processing in
Pampanga and ube jam production
Doña Teodora Alonso
FAMILY LINEAGE
It is believed that Doña Teodora’s family
descended from Lakandula, the last native king
of Tondo
Great grandfather was Eugenio Ursua (of
Japanese descent married a Filipina, Benigna.
Their daughter, Regina, married a Filipino-
Chinese lawyer of Pangasinan, Manuel de
Quintos.
Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a Spanish-Filipino
mestizo partnered with Brigida Quintos. They
had five children, second is Teodora

Alonsos adopted the surname Realonda through the Claveria decree of 1849
Teodora Alonso became Teodora Alonso Quintos Realonda
Jose’s Siblings
Jose’s Siblings
SATURNINA RIZAL (1850 - 1913)
Eldest child of Don Francisco and Teodora Alonso. Married Manuel Timoteo
Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas.

PACIANO RIZAL (1851 - 1930)

Second child, closest and oldest brother of Jose. Studied at San Jose College
in Manila; became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.

NARCISA RIZAL (1852 - 1939)

Narcisa “Sisa” was a mucisian and an educator. She married Antonio Lopez.

OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855 - 1887)

Olympia “Ypia,” the fourth of the Rizal children, married Silvestre Ubaldo, a
telegraph operator who hailed from Manila.
Jose’s Siblings
LUCIA RIZAL (1857 - 1919)
Lucia married Mariano Herbosa, who was the nephew of Fr. Casanas, Jose
Rizal’s godfather. Herbosa died of cholera, he was denied of Christian burial
being the brother-in-law of Rizal.

MARIA RIZAL (1859 - 1945)

Maria “Biang” married a man from Laguna, Daniel Faustino Cruz.

CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862 - 1865)

Concepcion “Concha,” Jose’s younger sister, died at the age of 3 when she
fell severely ill. Her death was Rizal’s first sorrow in life.
Jose’s Siblings
JOSEFA RIZAL (1865 - 1945)
Her nickname was “Panggoy”. She was epilectic and died a spinster at the
age of 80. She became a member of Katipunan.

TRINIDAD RIZAL (1868 - 1951)

Her nickname was “Trining”. She was the last of the Rizal children to survive
and died as spinster too at the age of 83.

SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870 - 1929)

Soledad “Choleng” was the youngest of the Rizal children. Her husband,
Pantaleon Quintero, hailed from Calamba.
The Surname Rizal
Jose and Paciano's surname could have been "Lamco" if not for a historical shift.
Their paternal great-great grandfather, Chinese merchant Domingo Lamco,
adopted the name "Mercado" (meaning "market"). But Jose's father, Francisco,
adopted the surname "Rizal” (originally “Ricial” meaning "green of young growth" or
"green fields").
However, the name "Rizal" caused confusion in family commerce. Don Francisco
settled on “Rizal Mercado, and often used “Mercado”.
Paciano used "Mercado" during his time at the College of San Jose. But due to
links with Father Burgos, Paciano suggested Jose use "Rizal" for safety.
By 1891, the Rizal surname gained prominence. Jose embraced the name,
symbolizing persecution and family unity.
Rizal’s Birth
Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, Father Rufino Collantes
Wednesday, between 11:00 and 12:00 - The parish priest who baptized Rizal
midnight in the town of Calamba,
Father Pedro Casanas
province of Laguna, Philippines
- Rizal’s godfather, and was a close
Doña Teodora was said to have
family friend
suffered the greatest pain during
delivery of her seventh child, Jose Rizal's mother named him after St.
He was baptized three days later on Joseph, to whom she was ardently
June 22, in the Catholic Church in devoted
Calamba
The Childhood of a Phenom
His parents employed an “aya”
(nursemaid) who looked after his
comfort. His aya told him a lot of
stories about the fairies, asuang, the
nuno, and the tikbalang.
Memory of his infancy included the
nocturnal walk in town
Another memory is the daily Angelus
prayer in their home. By nightfall, his
mother would gather all the children to
pray the Angelus.
The death of his sister, Concha, in 1865
brought Rizal his first sorrow.
At the age of five, he was able to read
the Spanish bible with the help of his
mother. He also started to make pencil
sketches and mold in clay and wax
objects.
Jose and his father went on a
pilgrimage to Antipolo on June 6, 1868
so that they could fulfill his mother's
vow, which she made when Jose was
born.
He had a black dog named Usman.
The Childhood of a Phenom
Un Cuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of Other Influences of Rizal’s childhood
My Town) - a poem about Rizal’s Tio Jose Alberto - inspired him to
beloved town written by Rizal in 1876 cultivate his artistic ability.
when he was 15 years old and was a Tio Manuel - encouraged him to
student in the Ateneo de Manila. mortify his frail body through physical
Sa Aking Mga Kabata (To My Fellow exercises.
Children) - Rizal’s first poem in native Tio Gregorio - intensified Rizal’s
language at the age of eight, it reveals avidness to read good books.
Rizal’s earliest nationalist settlement.
The Story of The Moth
One day, she scolded his son for making drawings on the pages of the
story book. To teach the value of obedience to one’s parents, she
afterward read him a story in it.
Lolay chose the story about a daughter moth who was warned by her
mother against going too near a lamp flame.
Many years later, Rizal himself felt that the moths’ tale could serve as an
allegory of his own destiny.
Education in Calamba
Doña Teodora, more than a sacrificing mother, was Rizal's first teacher.
At age three, Rizal learned the alphabet and prayers; by age five, he could read
and write.
Sister Saturnina and three maternal uncles mentored Rizal.
Uncle Jose Alberto taught painting, sketching, and sculpture.
Uncle Gregorio influenced Rizal's love for reading.
Uncle Manuel developed Rizal's martial arts skills, including wrestling.
Maestro Celestino - Rizal’s first tutor
Maestro Lucas Padua - second tutor
Maestro Leon Monroy - a former classmate of Don Francisco, tutored Rizal in
Spanish and Latin. He died five months later.
Education in Biñan
Paciano brought Rizal to Maestro Cruz's school in June 1869.
Maestro Justiniano Cruz - He had the reward and punishment method of
teaching; he used corporal punishment to inculcate discipline to his students.
Had scuffles with Biñan boys. Despite that, Rizal excelled academically in Spanish,
Latin, and other subjects.
Received whippings and blows on the open palm for his scuffles.
Jose also took painting lessons in Binan, and was taught by an old painter named
Juancho, his school teacher's father-in-law.
Rizal informed his father he had learned everything in Biñan.
Don Francisco scolded him but, upon confirmation from Maestro Cruz, decided to
send Rizal to a school in Manila.
Thank You for
listening!