CHAPTER 2:

CHILDHOOD YEARS IN
CALAMBA

CORONO, JANINE BIANCA D.

BSTM3B
 Calamba, The Hero's
Town
•Calamba was hacienda town which belonged to the
Dominican Order, which also owned all the lands around it.

01
• A few kilometers to the south looms is the legendary Mount Makiling in
somnolent grandeur.
•Beyond this mountain is the province of Batangas.
• East of the town is the Laguna de Bay.
• In the middle lake towers is the storied island of Talim and beyond it towards
north is the distant Antipolo, famous mountain shrine of the miraculous Lady of
Peace and Good Voyage.
•Rizal loved Calamba with all his heart and soul. Rizal was a student in
the Ateneo de Manila in 1876 when he was 15years old, he
remembered his beloved town.
Earliest Childhood
Memories
• The first memory of Rizal was his
happy days in the family garden when
he was 3 years old.
• Second childhood memory of Rizal
was the daily Angelus Prayer.
• Third childhood memory was the
nocturnal walk in the town, when there
was a moon.
The Hero's First Sorrow

• Their parents taught them to love one another, to behave properly in front of
elders, to be truthful and religious, and to help one another.
• Of his sisters, Jose loved most little Concha (Concepcion).
• He was one year older than Concha.
• He played with her, and from her, he learned the sweetness of brotherly love.
•Unfortunately, In 1865, Concha (Concepcion) died of sickness at the age of
three.
Devoted Son of the Church

•At the age of three, he began to take part in

the family prayers.
•When he was five years old, he was able to
read haltingly the Spanish family Bible.
•One of the men he respected in Calamba
during his boyhood was the scholarly Father
Leoncio Lopez, the town priest.
 Pilgrimage to Antipolo.
• On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on
a pilgrimage to Antipolo, in order to fulfill his mother’s vow
which was made when Jose was born.

• After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose

and his father went to Manila. They visited Saturnina, who
was then a boarding student at La Concordia College in Santa
Ana.
 Artistic Talents
• Since early childhood Rizal revealed his God- given
talent for art.

• At the age of five, he began to make sketches with his

pencil and to mould in clay and wax objects which
attracted his fancy.
The First Poem by Rizal.

• At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his

first poem in the native language
entitled To My Fellow Children
First Drama by Rizal

After writing the poem To My Fellow Children.

Jose write his first dramatic work, which was a
Tagalog comedy. It was staged in a festival in
Calamba, and was later sold to a gobernadorcillo
from Paete for two pesos.
Rizal as Boy Magician

• Since early manhood Rizal had been

interested in magic. He learned various tricks
such as making a coin appear or disappear in
his fingers
Lakeshore Reveries

During the twilight hours of summer time Rizal,

accompanied by his pet dog, used to meditated at the
shore of Laguna de bay on the said conditions of his
oppressed people.
Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood

Hereditary Influences – according to biological science, there are inherent

qualities which a person inherits from his ancestors and parents.

- From Malayan ancestors

- From Chinese ancestors
- From Spanish ancestors
- Rizal inherited from his father
- From his mother
Environmental Influence – According to pshychologist, environment, as
well as hereditary, affects the nature of a person.

- Liked Rizal was affected in what his family and environment influence
and teach him to be a good son and develop his talent and ability.
- Religious atmosphere at home
*The youngest uncle named Jose Alberto took care of teaching regular
lessons to Rizal
*His uncle Manuel is a athletic man
*The last uncle, Gregorio (book lover) a scholar, instilled into the mind of
the boy the love for education.
3. Aid of Divine Providence – Greater than hereditary and environment in the
fate of man is the aid of Divine Providence

– a person may have everything in life

– brains, wealth, and power but without Divine providence
- he cannot attain greatness in the annals of the nation.
- Rizal was providentially destined to be the pride and glory of his nation.
- GOD has endowed with him the versatile gifts of genius, the vibrant spirits of
nationalist and the valiant heart.
- Thus, Rizal was fated to be a hero, the greatest Malayan race ever produced.