Learning Module for College A.Y.

2021-2022 RIZAL’S LIFE AND

WORKS
1 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS
1st Semester of Academic Year 2021-2022
Module 6-Week 10

CHAPTER 3: RIZAL’S LIFE: FAMILY, CHILDHOOD AND EARLY EDUCATION

Learning Objectives:
a. Examine Dr. Jose P. Rizal's life, family, childhood, and early education.
b. Describe the efforts, diligence and determination of Dr. Jose P. Rizal to achieve excellence in his early education.
c. Compare and contrast Dr. Jose P. Rizal's family and the family of the present generation.
d. Participate actively in class discussion of the qualities and virtues of Rizal that are worth imitating as a student/citizen.
e. Identify the people and events and their influence in the early life of Rizal; and
f. Glean from Dr. Jose P. Rizal's experience the traits that would later on define his character
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DR. JOSE P. RIZAL
* Greatest Malayan who ever lived - the title he earned for the wisdom and sacrifices for the country; up to this day, no Asian
has surpassed Rizal's ingenuity and extreme intelligence.

* Dr. Austin Craig was the first to trace Rizal's family roots and discover his Chinese ancestry.

* Dr. Jose P. Rizal was a 9th generation patrilineal descendant of a Chinese immigrant and business tycoon Don Domingo
Lamco (Chinese name: Pinyin Ke Yinan) of Laguna was his great-great grandfather.

* Don Domingo Lamco - is originally from Amoy, China who came to the Philippines in the mid-17th century. This is where he
met his wife, Inez de la Rosa daughter of Agustin Chinco an immigrant of trader from Chuanchow.

* To avoid the conflict and hostility of the Spanish authorities; Lamco dropped his surname and adopted that of the Spanish
which is “Mercado” which means market and started businesses of the clan, and became a successful entrepreneur.

* June 1697, Mercado was baptized in the Catholic church of Manila's Parian Chinese ghetto and moved to Biñan Laguna.

* He was 35 years old that time and he became a Chinese community leader; his son named Francisco Mercado and grandson
named Juan Mercado married Chinese Mestizas and served as distinguished mayor of Biñan Laguna.

* Juan's wife, Cirila Alejandra was the daughter of an immigrant trader and Mercado's baptismal godson Siong-co. They are
the parents of Rizal's father.

* Rizal's father was born, they transferred to Calamba and have a house built with stones - a first stone house in the whole town.

* Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Paciano was identified with one of the martyred priests, Jose Burgos so the family changed their surname
from Mercado to Rizal.

* Recent genealogical findings revealed that Rizal also had Spanish, Japanese, and Negrito ancestry.

* Teodora (Rizal's mother) great grandfather, Eugenio Ursua was a descendant of Japanese settlers.

* Eugenio Ursua married a Filipino named Benigna and their union produced Regina Ursua.

* Atty. Manuel de Quintos, a Sangley mestizo from Pangasinan married Regina and their daughter is named Brigida.
Brigida married a half-caste Spaniard named Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo. They are the parents of Teodora and Rizal's
grandparents.

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DR. AUSTIN CRAIG TRACING RIZAL'S FAMILY LINEAGE

Prepared by: VANESA D. MANZON

Father's Family Lineage Mother's Family Lineage

Don Domingo Lamco
(Pinyin Ke Yinan) Eugenio Ursua
Chinese Settler Japanese Settler
daughter of Married to
Married to

Benigna
Agustin
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Daughter

Francisco Mercado Juan Mercado Married to

Married to
daughter of
Cirila Alejandro Daughter

Son

Rizal's Father Don Married to

Francisco
Daughter

* Rizal family belongs to the “Principalia” an aristocratic town of distinguished families.

* They rented from the Dominican Order, they harvested rice, corn, and sugarcane. Also, they raise pigs, chickens and turkeys.
* Doña Teodora managed a grocery store and operated a small flour mill.
* Rizal's parents were able to build a large stone house which was situated near the town church; own a carriage as a status
symbol of “ilustrados” and a private library consisting of 1000 volumes.
* Their children were studying in colleges in Manila. They participated in all social and religious affairs in the community. They
were gracious and hospitable to all visitors and guest during town fiestas and other holidays.
* The Rizal family had simple and happy life; they were intimately close
* The parents never spoiled them; they were strict and trained their children to love God, to behave well, to be obedient and to
respect people.
* When got into mischief, they were given good spanking because they believed that “spare the rod and spoil the child”.
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THE HERO'S FATHER

Don Francisco Mercado Rizal
(1818-1898)

* was born in Biñan, Laguna.

* He studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila
* Moved to Calamba after his parent's death.
* Became a tenant farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda.
* He was hardworking, and independent-minded who talked less but worked more and valiant in spirit.

Jose Rizal described his father in his diary;

“My father was a model of fathers had given us an education commensurate with our small fortune; and through thrift he was
able to build a stone house; erect a little nipa house in the middle of our orchard the shade of some trees and others.”

THE HERO'S MOTHER

Doña Teodora Alonso Y Realonda
(1826-1911)

* was born in Meisik, Sta. Cruz Manila.

* She studied at Colegio de Sta. Rosa in Manila
Prepared
* A woman of refined culture and character, with exemplary literary by: VANESA
talents, the fortitudeD.ofMANZON
a spartan
woman and with business ability, she managed their store.

Jose Rizal described his mother in his diary;

“My mother is a woman of more than ordinary culture; she knows literature and speaks Spanish better than I. She even
corrected my poems and gave me wise advises when I was studying rhetoric. She is a mathematician and has read many
books”
 Learning Module for College A.Y. 2021-2022 RIZAL’S LIFE AND
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3 Both parents greatly influenced Rizal as shown in his character. “From his father he inherited a profound sense of
dignity and self-respect, seriousness and from his mother the dreamer and bravery for sacrifices and her literary prowess”.

Don Francisco Mercado Rizal and Doña Teodora Alonso Y Realonda were blessed with eleven (11) children: two (2)
boys and nine (9) girls.

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RIZAL SIBLINGS
1. Saturnina (1850-1913) - eldest; nickname “Neneng”,
* She was married to Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanauan Batangas. (Rizal sent frequent correspondence while the latter
was in Europe)
* Children:
- Alfredo married to Aurora Tiaoqui
- Adela married to Jose Ver
- Abelardo
- Amelia and Augusto who both died young
* In 1909, Saturnina published Pascual Poblete's Tagalog translation of NoliPrepared by: VANESA D. MANZON
Me Tangere

2. Paciano (1851-1930) - second child; Rizal's confidant and the one who convinced him to study in Europe without
parent permission
* He studied Latin under maestro Justiniano Cruz attending the Colegio de San Jose in Manila.
* He lived and worked with Fr. Jose A. Burgos
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* He was in charge of sending money and budget, and constantly advised his brother Jose Rizal through letters while in
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Europe.
* He became an ally of the Katipunan
* He became a general in the revolutionary army during the 1900's
* After Rizal's execution in December 1896 in Bagumbayan, he joined the Philippine Revolution and became a combat
general
* He returned to his farm in Los Baños, where he lived as a gentleman, a farmer and died at the age of 79

3. Narcisa (1852-1939) - third child; nickname “Sisa”,

* She was married to Antonio Lopez (Nephew of Father Leoncio Lopez)
* She was a musician and an educator from Pueblo de Morong (former name of Rizal Province)
* Children:
- Emilio
- Angelica married to Benito Abreu
- Antonio married to Natividad Arguelles
- Isabel, Francisco, Arsenio, and Fidela all whom died young
* She could recite from memory almost all poems of Jose Rizal

4. Olimpia (1855-1887) - nickname “Ypia”,

* She was married to Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator of Manila
* Children:
- Aristeo married to Leonarda Limjap
- Cesario and another boy; both died young
* She died while giving birth in 1887

5. Lucia (1857-1919) - she was married to Mariano Herbosa (nephew of Father Casañas) of Calamba Laguna
* Children:
- Delfina married to General Salvador Natividad (Delfina helped Marcella Agoncillo in making the first Philippine Flag
in Hongkong)
- Concepcion
- Patrocinio married to Jose Battalones
- Teodisio married to Lucina Vitingco
- Estanislao, Paz, Victoria and Jose.
* Her husband, Herbosa died of Cholera and was denied of Christian burial being the brother-in-law of Rizal

6. Maria (1852-1939) - nickname “Biang”,

* She was married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna
* Children:
- Encarnacion married to Rosendo Banaad
- Mauricio married to Concepcion Arguelles
- Petrona, Paz, Prudencio, who all died young.

7. Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Realonda (1861-1896) - nickname “Pepe”,

* The greatest Filipino hero, and peerless genius
* He was a Filipino nationalist and polymath
* Ophthalmologist, a writer, and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement which advocated political
reforms for the colony under Spain
* 1872-1877 - studied high school at Ateneo Municipal de Manila and graduated with honors
* 1878 - took up Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas while studying surveying at the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. Prepared by: VANESA D. MANZON
* 1879 - enrolled in College of Medicine at UST
* 1884 - he started to write his first novel entitled “Noli Me Tangere”
* June 21, 1884 - received the degree in Licentiate in Medicine from the Universidad Central de Madrid.
* June 19, 1885 - received the degree in Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters and completed studies, Doctor of
Medicine.
* 1886 - he studied Ophthalmology at the University of Leipzig.
 Learning Module for College A.Y. 2021-2022 RIZAL’S LIFE AND
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* February 21, 1887 - completed the novel Noli Me Tangere
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* March 1887 - published the Noli Me Tangere in Berlin, Germany with the financial support of Dr. Maximo Viola.
* 1890, published his edition of Morga's Sucesos in Paris, France and published “The Indolence of the Filipinos”
* September 18, 1891 - moved to Brussels, Belgium to published his 2nd novel, El Filibusterismo with assistance of
Valentin Ventura and Jose Ma. Basa.
* 1892 - founded La Liga Filipina in Tondo, Manila
* July 7, 1892 - Andres Bonifacio founded KKK to secure independence from Spanish rule.
* In 1892-1896 - Rizal lived in Dapitan to serve in various capacity
* December 30, 1896 - Had a common law relationship with Josephine Bracken, an Irish girl from Hong Kong. He had a
son and died a few hours after death and named him Francisco after his father.
* Rizal was executed for the crime of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish rule, inspired in part
by his writings, broke out.
* Though he is not actively involved in its planning or conduct, he ultimately approved of its goals which eventually led
to the Philippine Independence.
* Executed by a Firing squad at 7:30 in the morning at the Bagumbayan Field. He was buried at the Paco Cemetery after
execution - widely considered as one of the greatest heroes of the Philippines

8. Concepcion (1862-1865) - nickname “Concha”,

* Died at the age of 3; her death was Rizal's first sorrow in life

9. Josefa (1865-1945) - nickname “Panggoy”

* She was epileptic and died spinster at the age of 80
* She became a member of Katipunan

10. Trinidad (1868-1951) - nickname “Trining”,

* Last of the siblings to survive and died as spinster too; died at the age of 83.
* She became a member of the Katipunan
* Caretaker of “Mi Ultimo Adios”

11. Soledad (1870-1929) – youngest; nickname “Choleng”

* She was married to Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba
* Children:
- Trinitario married to Maria San Mateo then married Bernabe Malvar (Son of General Miguel Malvar)
- Luisa married to Jose Arguelles
- Serafin and Felix who died young
* She became a teacher, said to have been “the best educated” among Rizal’s sisters.
* 1929- passed away at the age of 59
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THE BIRTH OF RIZAL

> Jose P. Rizal; the 7th of the Rizal family

> June 19, 1861 - was born Wednesday between 11;00 and 12:00 midnight in the town of Calamba, province of Laguna,
Philippines
> His mother almost died during her delivery because Jose's head was big.
> June 22, 1861 - he was baptized in the Catholic Church in Calamba by Father Rufino Collantes
> Rizal recounted: “My coming out in this vale of tears would have cost my mother her life, had she not vowed to the
Virginia of Antipolo to take me to her sanctuary by the way of pilgrimage”
> Father Collantes was impressed by the big head of Rizal and told them “Take good care of this child, for someday he
will become a great man”. Prepared by: VANESA D. MANZON
> “Jose” was chosen by his mother in honor of San Jose (St. Joseph) whose feast was March 19.
> His complete name was Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonzo Y Realonda.
> The name “Protacio” was taken from the Catholic calendar which was practice during the Spanish time, that when a child
is born, s/he is named after saint of the day.
> The surname “Mercado” which means market in English; was adopted in 1731 by his paternal great-grandfather, Domingo
Lamco - a full blooded Chinese merchant
 Learning Module for College A.Y. 2021-2022 RIZAL’S LIFE AND
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> Surname Rizal was given by Don Francisco which is closer to the Spanish word Racial which means “luntiang bukirin”
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related to his work as hacienda owner/farmer.
> Alonzo was the surname of Rizal's mother and Realonda was used by Doña Teodora which is the surname of her godmother.
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JOSE RIZAL'S CHILDHOOD YEARS

> He could remember the tenderest care of his mother because he was frail, sickly and undersized boy.
> At the age of 3, he enjoyed watching in the garden; like watching the insects, maya, culiawan, maria capra, pipit, martin and
other birds.
> He listened “with excitement and wonder” to their twilight songs and sound.
> Another childhood memory was the daily praying of Angelus of 6:00 pm in their altar.
> At the “azotea” on a moonlight night, the “aya” (nursemaid) would tell stories about fairies, legends, tales of buried treasures
and other fabulous stories.
> The aya would threaten him if he would not eat his supper, about aswang, tikbalang, nuno or the turbaned Bombay will come
to take him away
> At the age of 3 - join religious processions, and novena in the church
> At the age of 5 - he was able to read the Spanish Bible with help of his mother.
> Nearly 7 - his father took him for a pilgrimage to Antipolo in order to fulfill his mother's vows which was made when he was
born.
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THE HERO'S FIRST SORROW

> Rizal's family were bounded together by ties of love and care. Thus, he loved most his little sister, especially Concha
(Concepcion) who was next to him.
> Unfortunately, Concha died at the age of three and for the first time he shed tears for love and grief - which said to be his first
sorrow.
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THE STORY OF THE MOTH

Once upon a time, an old moth had warned her daughter against the flame, so beautiful, so inviting, yet fatal and deceitful for it
destroyed whoever came too close. She herself said, she was once tempted by it; she had barely escaped with half-burnt wings.
The frightened young moth promised to obey, but was soon asking herself: “now why should my mother try to give me such a
scare? Why should I close my eyes to such a pretty sight? These old people are such a coward! They think every fly is an
elephant, any old dwarf a giant. What harm can it to me, whatever she says, if I come near the flame, as long as I am careful?
What I am, a little silly? What a story I shall have for other girls if I, being very careful of course, take a closer look.”
No sooner said that done, and the silly little moth went fluttering around the flame. At first, she only felt pleasantly warm; this
encouraged her and she flew closer and closer until at last, dazzled by flame, fell and perished in it.
As she put me to bed, my mother said: “See to it that you do not behave like the young moth. Don't be disobedient, or you may
get burned as it did. “I do not know whether I answered or not.”

> Of all the stories Rizal's mother had told, this is the most memorable that made the profoundest imprint on him.
> It revealed to Rizal that the things until then are unknown. That moth were not longer for him, insignificant insect.
>That moth communicates and warn just like his mother.
> Moth grown dazzling and more attractive and circled the flames then later on, burnt itself.
> The tragic fate of the moth left a deep impact on Rizal's mind, and just like it, he was fated to die as a martyr for a noble
ideal.

Prepared by: VANESA D. MANZON

 Learning Module for College A.Y. 2021-2022 RIZAL’S LIFE AND
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RIZAL'S MENTORS

1. Doña Teodora - his mother is his first teacher; barely 3 years old, Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother. He was taught
how to read and write in Spanish.
2. Maestro Celestino - 1st private tutor
3. Maestro Lucas Padua - 2nd private tutor
4. Leon Monroy - former classmate of Rizal's father, became his tutor; he instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin - he died five
months later.
5. Uncle Manuel Alberto – seeing Rizal frail body, concerned himself with the physical development of his young nephew and
taught the latter love for the open air and developed in him a great admiration for the beauty of nature.
6. Uncle Gregorio – a scholar, instilled into the mind of the boy for education, advising Rizal “work hard and perform every task
very carefully; learn to be swift as well as thorough; be independent in thinking and make visual pictures of everything”.

> Rizal possessed a God-given talent for literature which was noticed by his mother; due to his poetic inclination, she encouraged
Rizal to write poetry.
> At the age of 8 - Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled: “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” - To My Fellow Children
> “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” - reveals Rizal's earliest nationalist sentiment. In poetic verses, he proudly proclaimed that a people
who truly love their native language will surely strive for liberty like “the bird which soars to freer space above” and the
Tagalog is the equal of Latin, English, Spanish and any other language

7. Father Leoncio Lopez - fostered Rizal's love for the scholarship and intellectual honesty; an old parish priest of Calamba
>At an early age, Rizal was already exposed to the injustices and brutalities of Spanish authority in particular the Guardia Civil
who were supposed to protect the people from harm.
> He writes and related to it and this awakened to fight tyranny.
> Rizal loved for his sisters that he usually wrote letters for them, emphasize women and their righteous place in the society

Reference:
Life and Works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal (Michael C. Pangilinan……. et.al.,)

QUIZ 3 (Write your answers in ½ sheet of paper, including your Complete Name, Subject, Subject Teacher and
Course/Year)

Direction: Answer the following questions. (10 Points each)

 Enumerate and explain briefly the importance and similarities of your family and parents to Rizal’s family and
parents.
 Explain the important lesson that we can learn from “The Story of the Moth” particularly in dealings with our
parents’ advice and reminders.

Rubrics
POINT
S
Originality (not copy-paste answer) 10
Content and Organization 10

Prepared by: VANESA D. MANZON

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Prepared by: VANESA D. MANZON