The Life of Jose Rizal

Lesson 3
 Introduction
Studying Rizal’s biography, therefore, will lead
to a better understanding of how Rizal’s
devoted his life in shaping the Filipino
character. This chapter will cover how Rizal’s
life and how he became an important hero in
the Philippines.
 Vocabulary
• Bachiller en Artes- Bachelor of Arts degree bestowed by
colleges or university
• Spanish cortes- Spain’s lawmaking or legislative body
• Ilustrado- a term which literally means “enlightened ones”
or the Filipinos educated in Europe
• Masonry- fraternal organization which strives for moral
betterment.
Rizal’s Family
Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861 in the town of
Calamba, province of Laguna. On the southern
part of the town lies the majestic Maria Makiling,
and on the other side is the lake called Laguna De
Bay. The wonders of creation that surrounded Rizal
made him love nature from an early age. His
students memoirs show how his love of nature
influenced his appreciation of the Arts and Sciences.
The Rizal paternal ascendant was Domingo
Lam-co, a full-blooded Chinese who lived in
Amoy, China and arrived in the Philippines in
the closing years of the 17th century. Domingo
Lam-co was married to a Chinese half-breed
named Ines de la Rosa. The Mercado-Rizal
family had also Japanese, Spanish, Malay and
Negrito blood aside from their Chinese blood.
 Francisco Mercado
Rizal’s father was a wealthy farmer who leased lands from
the Dominican friars. Francisco’s earliest ancestors were
Siang- co and Zun-nio, who later gave birth to Lam-co.
Lam-co is said to have come from the district of Fujian in
southern China and migrated to the Philippines in the late
1600’s. In 1697, he was baptized in Binondo, adopting
“Domingo” as his first name.
 Francisco Mercado
He married Ines de la Rosa of a known entrepreneurial
family in Binondo. They later settled in the estate of San
Isidro, Labrador, owned by the Dominicans. In 1731, they
had a son whom they named Francisco Mercado. The
surname, “Mercado”, which means “market”, was a
common surname adopted by many Chinese merchants at
that time.
 Francisco Mercado
Juan Mercado married Cirila Alejandra, a native of Biñan.
They had children, including Franciso Engracio, the father
of Jose Rizal. Following Governor Claveria’s decree in 1849
which ordered the Filipinos to adopt Spanish surnames.
Francisco Engracio Mercado added the surname “Rizal”,
from the word “ricial” meaning “green field”, as he later
settled in the town of Calamba as a farmer.
 Francisco Mercado
Juan Mercado married Cirila Alejandra, a native of Biñan.
They had children, including Franciso Engracio, the father
of Jose Rizal. Following Governor Claveria’s decree in 1849
which ordered the Filipinos to adopt Spanish surnames.
Francisco Engracio Mercado added the surname “Rizal”,
from the word “ricial” meaning “green field”, as he later
settled in the town of Calamba as a farmer.
 Teodora Alonso
She belonged to one of the wealthiest families in Manila.
Teodora’ s father was a member of the Spanish Cortes, was
educated at the College of Sta. Rosa. Rizal described her as
“a woman of more than ordinary culture” and that she is
“a mathematician and has read many books”. Their house
was among the first concrete houses to be built in the
town.
 Saturnina Rizal
She (1850-1913) is the eldest child of Don Francisco
and Teodora Alonso. Saturnina had always been a
loving ‘Ate’ Neneng to Jose. When their mother was
imprisoned, Saturnina brought the young Jose to
Tanauan during the summer vacation of 1873 just to
cheer up the sad little brother.
 Paciano Mercado Rizal
Jose’s only brother, was born on March 7, 1851 in
Calamba, Laguna. He was fondly addressed by his
siblings as ‘Ñor Paciano,’ short for ‘Señor Paciano’.
The 10-year older brother of Jose studied at San Jose
College in Manila, became a farmer, and later a
general of the Philippine Revolution.
 Narcisa Rizal
Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939) or simply ‘Sisa’ was the
third child in the family. Later in history, Narcisa (like
Saturnina) would help in financing Jose Rizal’s
studies in Europe, even pawning her jewelry and
peddling her clothes if needed. It was said she could
recite from memory almost all of the poems of our
national hero.
 Lucia Rizal Herbosa
Olympia Rizal (1855-1887) is the fourth child
in the Rizal family. Jose loved to tease her,
sometimes good-humoredly describing her as
his stout sister. Jose’s first love, Segunda
Katigbak, was Olympia’s schoolmate at the La
Concordia College.
 Olympia Rizal
Olympia Rizal (1855-1887) is the fourth child in the Rizal
family. Jose loved to tease her, sometimes good-humoredly
describing her as his stout sister. Jose’s first love, Segunda
Katigbak, was Olympia’s schoolmate at the La Concordia
College. Rizal confided to Olympia (also spelled ‘Olimpia’)
about Segunda, and the sister willingly served as the
mediator between the two teenage lover.
 Maria Rizal Cruz
Maria Rizal (1859-1945) is the sixth child in the family. It
was to her whom Jose talked about wanting to marry
Josephine Bracken when the majority of the Rizal family
was apparently not amenable to the idea. In his letter dated
December 28, 1891, Jose Rizal wrote to her sister Maria,
“I’m told that your children are very pretty.”
 Concepcion Rizal
Also called ‘Concha’ by her siblings, Concepcion Rizal
(1862-1865) was the eight child of the Rizal family. She
died at the age of three. Of his sisters, it was said that the
young Pepe loved most little Concha who was a year
younger than him. Jose played games and shared children
stories with her, and from her he felt the beauty of sisterly
love at young age.
 Josefa Rizal
Josefa Rizal’s nickname is Panggoy (1865-1945). She’s the
ninth child in the family. Panggoy died a spinster. fter Jose’s
martyrdom, the epileptic Josefa joined the Katipunan and
was even said to have been elected the president of its
women section. She was one of the original 29 women
admitted to the Katipunan along with Gregoria de Jesus,
wife of Andres Bonifacio.
 Trinidad Rizal
Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951) or ‘Trining’ was the tenth child.
Historically, she became the custodian of Rizal’s last and greatest
poem. Right before Jose’s execution, Trinidad and their mother
visited him in the Fort Santiago prison cell. As they were leaving,
Jose handed over to Trining an alcohol lamp, a gift from the Pardo
de Taveras, whispering to her in a language which the guards could
not understand, “There is something in it.” That ‘something’ was
Rizal’s elegy now known as “Mi Ultimo Adios.”
 Soledad Rizal
Also called ‘Choleng,’ Soledad Rizal (1870-1929) was the youngest
child of the Rizal family. Being a teacher, she was arguably the best
educated among Rizal’s sisters. Rizal nonetheless used the topic as
leverage in somewhat rebuking her sister for getting married to
Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba without their parents’ consent.
“Because of you,” he wrote, “the peace of our family has been
disturbed.” Choleng’s union with Pantaleon, nonetheless resulted in
Rizal family’s becoming connected by affinity to Miguel Malvar.
 Childhood and
Early Education
Lesson 4
Rizal had good memories of childhood in Calamba.
As a family, they prayed together during the Angelus.
There were times when they would stay in the
garden exchanging stories. It was in the garden
where he learned to appreciate nature. Due to his
poor health, Rizal had a personal servant who, after
the daily Angelus, would tell him legends and
fairytales. These stories made him become interested
in myths and folklores.
As a young boy, Rizal demonstrated intelligence and
learned easily. His first teacher was Doña Teodora
who taught him how to pray. He was only three years
old when he learned the alphabet. At a very young
age, he already showed a great interest in reading
books. Eventually, Doña Teodora would notice
Rizal’s skills in poetry. She would ask him to write
verses. Later, she felt the need for a private tutor for
the young Rizal.
His first private tutor was Maestro Celestino
followed by Maestro Lucas Padua. But it was
Leon Monroy, his third tutor, who honed his
skills in basic Latin, reading and writing. This
home education from private tutors prepared
Rizal to formal schooling which he first
experienced in Biñan.
At the age of nine, Rizal left Calamba with
his brother to study Biñan. Before leaving
his brother in Carromata, Paciano
introduced Rizal to the teacher Justiniano
Aquino Cruz, who was also Paciano’s
former teacher.
In Biñan, he excelled in Latin and Spanish.
He also had painting lessons under
Maestro Cruz’s father-in-law, Juancho, an
old painter. Rizal’s leisure hours were
mostly spent in Juancho’s studio where he
was given free lessons in painting and
drawing.
After receiving a letter from his sister,
Saturnina, Rizal returned to Calamba on
December 17, 1870 after one and a half
year of schooling in Biñan. He went home
on board the steamship Talim and he was
accompanied by Arturo Camps, a
Frenchman and friend of his father.