CHAPTER I

ADVENT OF NATIONAL
HERO
DR. JOSE RIZAL
 Example of a many splendored hero
 Ranked with the words geniuses, physician,
poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian,
architect, painter, sculptor, educator, linguist,
musician, naturalist, ethnologist, surveyor,
engineer, farmer, businessman, economist,
folklorist, philosopher, translator, inventor,
magician, humorist, satirist, sportsman,
traveler, and prophet a HERO and a
POLOTICAL MARTYR who sacrificed his life for
the REDEMPTION OF HIS PEOPLE.
THE BIRTH OF NATIONAL HERO
 Born on the moonlit night of Wednesday
between 11:00 and midnight of June 19,
1861 in Calamba, Laguna

 Baptized in June 22 by Fr. Rufino Collantes,

a Batangueno

 His Godfather was Fr. Pedro Casanas

RIZAL’s PARENTS
FRANCISCO MERCADO RIZAL (1818-1898)
- born in Binan, Laguna on May 11, 1818
- Studied Latin & philosophy in College of San
Jose
- After his parent’s death, he moved to
Calamba and became tenant-farmer of the
Dominican-owned hacienda
- Hardy and independent minded, talked less
and worked more, strong in body and spirit
- Died on January 5, 1898 (80 yrs old)
- Rizal called him “A MODEL OF FATHERS”
DONA TEODORA ALONZO REALONDA (1826-1911)
 - born in Manila on November 8, 1926; studied in
College of Sta. Rosa
 - Possessed refine culture, literary talented,
business ability and fortitude, spoke Spanish,
mathematician, wide reader
 - Died in Manila on August 16, 1911
 - 85 years old
SURNAME RIZAL
MERCADO – was adopted in 1731 by
DOMINGO LAMCO (the paternal
great-great grandfather of Rizal)

RIZAL – was given by Spanish Alcalde

Mayor of Laguna – a family friend.
- A Spanish word which means a
FIELD where wheat, cut while still
green, sprouts again.
THE RIZAL HOME
-Two-storey stone house, rectangular in
shape, built of adobe stones and hard
woods and roofed with red tiles;
Dr. Rafael Palma described it as follows:
The house was high and even sumptuous,
a solid and massive earthquake 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.
- Behind the house were the poultry yard
full of turkeys and chickens and a big
garden of tropical trees – atis, balimbing,
chico, macopa, papaya, santol, tampoy,
etc.
Family Background
(Genealogy)
Genealogical Graph of:
 Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro
 Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos
 Siblings of Jose Rizal
A GOOD MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY
- Rizal family belong to the PRINCIPALIA, a
town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines
- Rented farm from Dominican Order;
harvested rice, corn and sugar cane; raised
pigs, chickens and turkeys
- Dona Teodora managed general good
store and operated a small flour-mill and
home-made ham press.
- Able to build a large stone house; owned a
carriage and a private library
- Able to send all their children to colleges in
Manila
HOME LIFE OF THE RIZAL

- Simple, contended and happy life

- Close family ties; children were loved but
not spoiled
- Strict parents, believe in the maxim “spare
the rod and spoiled the child”; children
were trained to love God, behave well, to
be obedient and respectful
- Religious; attend Sunday mass, pray
together at home the Angelus and rosary.
CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA
CALAMBA, the HERO’s Town-
 Hacienda town which belong to the DOMINICAN ORDER

 Nestling on a verdant plain covered with rice fields/sugar-

lands

 To the south looms the legendary Mount Makiling

 East of the town is the Laguna de Bay; In the middle of

the lake is the island of Talim

 At the north is the distant Antipolo, famous mountain

shrine of the miraculous Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage.

 UN RECUERDO A MI PUEBLO (1876) – Wrote this poem

when he was only 15 yrs old/student at Ateneo de Manila
EARLIEST CHILDHOOD
MEMORIES
 Aya (nursemaid) employed to care for the frail, sickly and
undersized Rizal

 At the aged of three (3) he watched from nipa hut the

culiauan, maya, maria, capra, martin, pipit and other birds
with wonder and joy to their twilight songs.

 Angelus prayer

 Happy moonlit night at Azotea where the Aya related to

the Rizal Children many stories about fairies. These stories
aroused in Rizal enduring interest in Legends and Folklores.

 Nocturnal moonlit walk in the town and by the river

FIRST SORROW
 Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she was only
three years old

DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH

 Grew up a good Catholic
 At age 3, he began to take part in family prayers
and at age 5 he began to read haltingly Spanish
family bible.
 Went to church, pray and take part in novenas and
join religious processions
 Rizal used to visit esteemed and respected Father
Leoncio Lopez, Calamba priest and listen to the
latter’s stimulating opinions on current events and
sound philosophy of life.
PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO
 On June 6, 1868 – Rizal and his father left Calamba
for Antipolo to fulfill his mother’s vow which was
made when Jose was born

 Describing the experience of crossing Laguna de

Bay in a casco he said “ With what pleasure I saw
the sunrise; for the first time I saw how the luminous
rays shone, producing a brilliant effect on the
raffled surface of the wide lake”

 Ontheir way back they visited Saturnina in Manila

who was then a boarding student at La Concordia
College in Sta. Ana.
THE STORY OF THE MOTH
 The young moth did not heed the repeated
warning of the old moth not to get so close to the
light which to the young moth was so beautiful
and attractive, and so the young moth met its
death by burning itself by reason of curiosity and
attraction to the luminous light.

 Rizal justified such noble death (died martyr to its

illusions) asserting that “to sacrifice one’s life for it
(ideal), is worthwhile.

 Like that young moth, he was fated to die a martyr

(in search for light – education, reforms for his
country/people)
ARTISTIC TALENT
 At
age 5, made sketches with his pencil,
mould clay and wax objects

 He painted in oil colors a new banner that

delighted the crowd – it’s better than the
original
FIRST POEM BY RIZAL
 Hismother – lover of literature encourage
Rizal to write poetry

 At age of 8, he wrote his poem in the

native language entitled “Sa Aking Mga
Kababata”. This poem reveals Rizal’s
earliest nationalist sentiment and
proclaimed that people who love the
native language will strive for liberty.
Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang Kaya ang marapat pagyamaning
umiibig kusa
Sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng Na tulad sa inang tunay na
langit, nagpala.
Sanglang kalayaan nasa ring
masapit Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa
Katulad ng ibong nasa Latin
himpapawid. Sa Ingles, Kastila at salitang anghel,
Sapagka’t ang Poong maalam
Pagka’t ang salita’y isang tumingin
kahatulan Ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay
Sa bayan, sa nayo’t mga kaharian, sa atin.
At ang isang tao’y katulad,
kabagay Ang salita nati’y huwad din sa iba
Ng alin mang likha noong Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,
kalayaan. Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng
sigwa
Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong
salita una.
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang
isda,
 Whenever people of a country truly love
The language which by heav’n they were taught to use,
That country also surely liberty pursues.
As does the bird which soars to freer space above.
For language is the final judge and referee
Upon the people in the land where it holds sway;
In truth our human race resembles in this way
The other living beings born in liberty.
Whoever knows not how to live his native tongue
Is worse than any beast or evil smelling fish.
To make our language richer ought to be our wish
The same as any mother loves to feed her young.
Tagalog and the Latin language are the same
And English and Castilian and the angels’ tongue,
And God, whose watchful care o’er all is flung,
Has given us His blessing in the speech we claim.
Our mother tongue, like all the highest that we know
Had alphabet and letters of its very own;
But these were lost — by furious waves were overthrown
Like bancas in the stormy sea, long years ago.
 FIRST DRAMA BY RIZAL
 Tagalogcomedy applauded in Calamba festival
the manuscript of which was bought by
gobernadorcillo from Paete, Laguna for P2.00. It
was shown also during Paete’s fiesta.
RIZAL AS BOY MAGICIAN
 Making coin appear and disappear in his
fingers
 Handkerchief vanishing in the air
 Magic-lantern exhibition – lamp casting its
shadow on a white screen
 Twisted his fingers into shapes, making their
enlarged shadows on the screen resemble
certain animals/persons
 Manipulated marionettes (puppet shows)
 Read books on magic and attended
performance of great magicians
LAKESHORES REVERIES
 With his pet dog (Usman) used to meditate at
Laguna de Bay asking what might be over on the
other side of the waves.
 Thinking of the Guardia Civil caning and injuring
unarmed and peace loving villagers whose only act
was not having taken off their hats and vowed while
passing in front of the former.
 No restraint put upon Spanish brutality committed
daily
 “In view of these injustices and cruelties, although yet
a child, my imagination was awakened and I made
a vow dedicating myself someday to avenge the
many victims.”… (letter to Mariano Ponce)
INFLUENCE ON THE HEROE’S
BOYHOOD

1. HEREDITARY INFLUENCE
Malayan Ancestors – love for freedom; innate
desire to travel and his indomitable courage.

Chinese – patience, frugality,

2. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE

 Scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful

garden of the Rizal family stimulated Rizal’s inborn
artistic and literary talents.
 Religious atmosphere at home – fortified his religious
nature
 Paciano – instilled in his mind the love for freedom
and justice
 From his sisters – he learned courtesy and kindness
to women
 Fairytales told by his Aya – awakened his interest in
folklore and legends
 Tio Jose Alberto who studied for 11 years in British
School in Calcutta, India/ traveled to Europe –
inspired him to develop his artistic ability
 Tio Manuel – husky and athletic – encouraged him
to develop his frail body through exercise, walking,
wrestling
 Tio Gregorio – book lover – intensified Rizal’s
voracious reading of good books
 Fr. Leoncio Lopez – fostered Rizal’s love for
scholarship and intellectual honesty
 Death of Concha (1865), imprisonment of his
mother in 1871-74 – strengthened his character
 Spanish abuses, cruelties, brutal acts of guardia civil
and the alcalde, tortures on innocent Filipinos and
execution of GOMBURZA (1872) awakened his
patriotism
3. AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE

God endowed him with versatile gifts of a

genius, vibrant spirit of nationalistic and valiant
heart for a noble cause.