NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Learning Module 01
The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Learning Packet 03

Rizal’s Life: Family,

Childhood, and Early
Education

48
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Learning Packet 03

Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood, and Early

Education
Introduction
This learning packet will deal with the life of Jose Rizal. To understand and appreciate
the life of Dr. Jose Rizal, it is important to know his life, childhood, family, and his
early education. This course packet also will tackle the people around him, events, and
their influences on Rizal’s early life.

Objectives
At the end of the learning packet, you are expected
1. Identify people, events influence on Rizal’s early education.
2. to analyze Rizal’s family, childhood and early education, and
3. Evaluate the contributions of the people and events and their influence on
Rizal’s early life.
Learning Management System
The link of the Google Classroom to be used by the class shall be provided. Likewise,
links of other learning materials stored using the Google Drive shall be shared. In the
event that a commercial LMS will be made available by the College/University, links
shall be refreshed/updated and also be shared.

Duration
 Topic 01: Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood, and Early Education = 3 hours (2 hours
self-directed learning with practical exercises and 1 hour assessment)

Delivery Mode
The learning packet will be delivered online, both synchronous and
asynchronous.

Assessment with Rubrics

Essay questions will be used to assess the student learning. The following rubrics will
be used in checking the responses of the students.

Quality of Writing (5 points)

Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner
5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point

Piece was written in Piece was written in Piece had little style Piece had no style
an extraordinary an interesting style and voice. Give some and voice. Gives no
style and voice. Very and voice, somewhat information but information and very
informative and well poorly organized poorly organized.
organized
Grammar, Usages and Mechanics (5 points)

49
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner

5 points 4 points 3 points 1 point

Virtually, no Few spelling and A number of So many spelling,

spelling, punctuation errors spelling, punctuation punctuation and
punctuation or with minor or grammatical grammatical errors
grammatical errors. grammatical errors. errors. that they interfere
with the meaning.
TOTAL = 10 points

Requirement with Rubrics

Illustrated timeline will serve as your assessment activity at the end of this
learning packet. Be guided by the following rubric as your guide while creating the
illustrated timeline.

CATEGORY Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner

(41-50 points) (31-40 points) (20-30 points) (20 or below)
Content/Facts Facts were Facts were Facts were Facts were
(15 points) accurate for all accurate for accurate for often inaccurate
events reported almost all most (-75%) of for events
on the timeline. events on the the events reported on the
timeline reported on the timeline.
timeline
Graphics All graphics are All graphics are Some graphics Several
(15 points) effective and effective but are effective graphics are not
balanced with there appear to and their use is effective.
text used. be too few or balanced with
too many text used.
Readability The overall The overall The timeline is The timeline is
(10 points) appearance of appearance of relatively difficult to read.
the timeline is the timeline is readable.
pleasing and somewhat
easy to read. pleasing and
easy to read.
Requirements The timeline The timeline The timeline The timeline
(10 points) contained at contained at contained at contained 5
least 10 events least 8-9 events least 6-7 events events and
related to the related to the related to the fewer.
topic being topics being topic being
studied. studied. studied.

A biographical essay will also be required as an assignment. The following rubrics

will be used in checking both.

50
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Quality of Writing (25 points)

Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner
(21-25 pts.) (16-20pts.) (11-15pts.) (0-10pts.)

Piece was written in Piece was written in Piece had little style Piece had no style and
an extraordinary an interesting style and voice. Give some voice. Gives no
style and voice. Very and voice, somewhat information but information and very
informative and well poorly organized poorly organized.
organized
Grammar, Usages and Mechanics (25 points)

Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner

(21-25 pts.) (16-20pts.) (11-15pts.) (0-10pts.)

Virtually, no Accomplished (4pts.) Capable (3pts.) Beginner (1 pts.)

spelling, Few spelling and A number of spelling, So many spelling,
punctuation or punctuation errors punctuation or punctuation and
grammatical errors. with minor grammatical errors. grammatical errors
grammatical errors. that they interfere
with the meaning.

TOTAL = 50 points

Readings
The learning packet requires reading about the life of the Jose Rizal and his family in a
Dominican-owned land in Calamba, Laguna, where Rizal grew up during the Spanish
colonial era in the Philippines. Included in the required reading are his childhood
memories, his early education in Binan and Ateneo Municipal. These readings are very
significant in analyzing Rizal’s family life, his childhood experiences as well as his
experiences during his early education. The readings will also be crucial in evaluating
the people and events and their influences on Rizal during his childhood.

51
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Introduction

Dr. Jose Rizal is the best example of a many-splendored

genius, who was relegated as the greatest hero of our nation.
He was gifted by the God with so many unique talents. He
was even ranked with world’s great geniuses. Above and
beyond his versatility, Rizal was a hero and political martyr
who devoted his entire life for the freedom of his oppressed
people.

The hero had many memories with his family, where he

grew up with a happy home, nurtured by good parents,
loved by his siblings, and sanctified by God’s blessings.

His town, Calamba, also became a fitting cradle for a great

hero. The beauty of it, and the industrious, hospitable and
friendly folks, impressed the hero during his childhood and
deeply affected his mind and his character. Indeed, the
happiest period of his life was consumed in this lakeshore
town.

The hero’s early education took place in Calamba and

Binan. He received a typical schooling given to a son of an
ilustrado family, which was characterized by the four R’s –
reading, writing, arithmetic and religion. There was a strict
and rigid instruction where knowledge where forcefully
infused into the minds of the pupils by tedious memory
method aided by whipping from teachers. Despite with all
these defects in the system of elementary education, the
hero was able to acquire necessary preparatory instructions
for college, both in Manila and abroad.

His formal education started when he studied in a Binan

school under Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. Rizal, in
spite of the fact that he was bullied, was able to prove his
supremacy in his class. He experienced to challenge a
classmate and be challenged to a fight. Understandably,
these were part of his childish behavior.

Pre-Assessment
Answer the following briefly:

52
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

1. Why was Rizal very well taken cared of by his

parents when he was young?  Answer the pre-
2. Who was his first tutor? What did he learn from this assessment
tutor? honestly.
3. Was his Binan schooling prepared him for higher
level of education?

Lesson Proper

 Review.
One of the policy-supported programs of the government
during the 19th century Philippines was education system.
The education system, especially the primary education,
then, was defective.

In our discussion, we will be able to see the education

system provided for primary level of education as it is
contextualized in Rizal’s experiences during his early
childhood education.

 Activity.
Ask the students to recall their classroom experiences
during their kindergarten or primary days (Grades 1-3). Ask
some of them to narrate.

 Processing of the Activity.

These questions will serve as your guide, as you go through
the lesson:
1. Describe both Don Francisco and Dona Teodora. As you go through the
lesson, be guided by
What did Rizal inherit from them? the questions
2. How did the surname Mercado and Rizal originate? provided. Answering
them leads to
Where did the surname Realonda come from?
understanding of the
3. Narrate some childhood memories of Rizal. lesson.
4. Describe the relationship Rizal had with his sisters
and only brother?
5. From whom did Rizal learn the basic of reading and
writing? Why did his parents hire private tutors?
6. What did Dona Teodora want Rizal to learn from the
Story of the Moth? What did he actually learn?
7. How did his education in Binan prepare him in his
study in Manila?

53
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

 Brief Lesson.

Jose Rizal Key Points:

Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born Francisco Mercado,
on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. The seventh of eleven Rizal’s father, was a
children born to a relatively well-off family in a Dominican- wealthy farmer who
leased lands from the
owned tenant land in Calamba, Laguna. He was baptized in Dominican friars
the Catholic Church of his town on June 22, aged three days
Teodora Alonso.
old, by the parish priest, Father Rufino Collantes, who was
Rizal’s mother, who
a Batangueno. belonged to one of
the wealthiest families
in Manila.
In his early childhood, Jose had mastered the alphabet and
learned to write and read. His early readings included the Jose Rizal was the
Spanish version of the Vulgate Bible. At a young age, he seventh among the
eleven children of
already showed inclinations to the arts. He amazed his Francisco Mercado
family by his special drawings, sketches, and moldings of and Teodora Alonso.
clay. Later in his childhood, he showed special talent in
painting and sculpture. Definition of Terms:

Ilustrado. A term
Don Francisco Mercado which literally means
Jose’s father, Francisco Mercado Rizal was a productive ”enlightened ones” or
farmer from Binan, Laguna. In his early manhood, they the Filipinos educated
in Europe
moved to Calamba after the death of his parents, and became
a tenant-farmer of the Dominican owned hacienda. Don Principalia. Wealthy,
Francisco Mercado is hardworking, independent-minded pure blooded natives
said to have
man who talked less and work more, dynamic gentleman, descended from the
strong in body and valiant in spirit. kadatoan class

Chinese mestizo. A
Don Francisco’s great grandfather was Domingo Lam-co, a person of mixed
learned pro poor, Chinese immigrant businessman who Chinese and Filipino
ancestry.
married a sophisticated Chinese mestiza of Manila named
Ines de la Rosa. One of their two children, Francisco (also)
resided in Binan and married Bernarda Monicha. Francisco
and Bernarda’s son, Juan Mercado, became the
gobernadorcillo (town mayor) of Binan, Laguna. He
married Cirila Alejandra, and they had 12 children, the
youngest being Jose Rizal’s father, Francisco.

Don Francisco was born on May 11, 1818 in Binan, Laguna.

He took Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in

54
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Manila, where he met and fell in love with Teodora Alonso,

a student in the College of Santa Rosa. Married on June 28,
1848, they settled down in Calamba, where they were
granted lease of a rice farm in the Dominican –owned
hacienda.

Dona Teodora Alonso

Jose’s mother, Dona Teodora Alonzo Quintos Realonda also
known as “Lolay” was an educated and highly cultured
woman from Sta. Cruz, Manila, born on November 8, 1826
in Santa Cruz Manila. Dona Lolay was educated at the
College of Santa Rosa, a respected school for girls in
Manila. She was usually described as a diligent business-
minded woman, very graceful but courageous, well-
mannered, religious, and well-read. Very dignified, she
disliked gossip and vulgar conversation. Possessing refined
culture and literary talents, she influenced her children to
love the arts, literature, and music. Herself an educated
woman, Lolay, sent her children to colleges in Manila. To
help in the economy of the family, she ran sugar and flour
mills and a small store in their house, selling home-made
ham, sausages, jams, jellies, and many others.

It is believed that Dona Teodora’s family descended from

Lakandula, the last native king of Tondo. Lolay’s great-
grandfather was Eugenio Ursua (of Japanese descent) who
married a Filipina named Benigna. Regina, their daughter,
married a Filipino-Chinese lawyer of Pangasinan, Manuel
de Quintos. Lorenzo Albert Alonzo, a well-off Spanish-
Filipino mestizo of Binan, took as his “significant others”
Brigida Quintos, daughter of Manuel and Regina Quintos.
The Lorenzo-Brigida union produced five children, the
second of them was Jose Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonso
Quintos. Jose Rizal described Dona Teodora as “a woman
of more than ordinary culture”

Through the Claveria decree of 1849 which changed the

Filipino native surnames, the Alonso adopted the surname
Realonda, Rizal’s mother thus became Teodora Alonso
Quintos Realonda.

55
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal’s Siblings

Jose Rizal’s siblings:
Rizal was affectionate to all his siblings.
Saturnina Rizal, the
Saturnina Rizal (1850-1913) is the eldest child of Don eldest sibling, also
tutured Pepe to read
Francisco and Teodora Alonso. She and her mother provided the alphabet
the little Jose with good basic education that by the age of
three, Pepe (Jose Rizal’s nickname) already knew alphabet. Paciano Rizal, the
only brother whom
Rizal regarded as his
Paciano Rizal (1851-1930), Jose’s only brother, was born on second father.
March 7, 1851 in Calamba, Laguna. He was fondly Narcisa Rizal, helped
addressed by his siblings as Nor Paciano, short for “Senor financing Rizal’s
Paciano.” The 10-year older brother of Jose studied at San studies in Europe,
even pawning her
Jose College in Manila, became a farmer, and later a general jewelry and peddling
of the Philippine Revolution. her clothes if needed

Olympia Rizal, Jose

Rizal’s relationship with his only brother, Paciano was more loved to teach her,
than that of an older brother. Paciano became Rizal’s second sometimes good-
humoredly describing
father. Rizal highly respected him and valued all his advice.
her as his stout sister.
It was Paciano who accompanied Rizal when he first went
to school in Binan. It was also him who convinced Rizal to Lucia Rizal, the fifth
sibling, along her
pursue his studies in Europe. husband, was
charged of inciting the
After Jose’s execution in December 1896, Paciano joined Calamba townsfolk
not to pay land rent
the Katipuneros in Cavite unde General Emilio Agiunaldo. and causing unrest.
As a Katipunero, Paciano was commissioned as general of
the revolutionary forces and elected as secretary of finance Maria Rizal, it was to
her whom Jose talked
in the Department Government of Central Luzon. After the about wanting to
revolution, Paciano retired to his home in Los Banos and led marry Josephine
Bracken when the
a quiet life until his death in 1930.
majority of the Rizal
family was apparently
Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939) her nickname is Sisa, was the not amenable to the
idea.
third child in the family. Narcisa like Saturnina helped
financing Rizal’s studies in Europe, even pawning her Concepcion Rizal,
jewelry and peddling her clothes if needed. It was said she died at the age of
three which gave
could recite from memory almost all of the poems of our Jose his first sorrow in
national hero. life.

Olympia Rizal, (1855-1887) was the fourth child in the

Rizal family. Jose loved to teach her, sometimes good-

56
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

humoredly describing her as his stout sister. Jose’s first love, Josefa Rizal, one of
Segunda Katigbak, was Olympia’s schoolmate at the La the original 29 women
admitted to the
Concordia College. Rizal confided to Olympia, about Katipunan along with
Segunda, and the sister willingly served as the mediator Gregoria de Jesus,
wife of Andres
between the two teenage lovers. Bonifacio

Lucia Rizal (1857-1919) was the fifth child in the family. Trinidad Rizal,
historically, she
She married Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, Laguna. became the custodian
Charged of inciting the Calamba townsfolk not to pay land of Rizal’s last and
rent and causing, unrest, the couple was once ordered to be greatest poem.
deported along with some Rizal family members. Lucia’s Soledad Rizal, was the
husband died during the cholera epidemic in May 1889 and youngest child of the
was refused a catholic burial for not going to confession Rizal family. Being a
teacher, she was
since his marriage to Lucia. arguably the best
educated among
Rizal’s sisters.
Maria Rizal (1859-1945) was 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 12, 1891, Jose had also brought up to Maria his
plan of establishing a Filipino colony in North British
Borneo. In his letter dated December 28, 1891, Jose wrote
to Maria, “I’m told that your children are very pretty.”

Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865) also called Concha by her

siblings, 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
he. Jose played games and shared children’s stories with her,
and from her he felt the beauty of sisterly love at a young
age.

Josefa Rizal (1865-1945) her pet-name was Panggoy, she

was the ninth child in the family. Panggoy died a spinster.
Among Jose’s letters to Josefa, the one dated October 26,
1893 was perhaps the most fascinating. Written in English,
the letter addressed Josefa as “Miss Josephine Rizal.” After
Jose’s martyrdom, the epileptic Josefa joined the Katipunan
and was even supposed to have been elected the president of
its women section. She was one of the original 29 women

57
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

admitted to the Katipunan along with Gregoria de Jesus,

wife of Andres Bonifacio. They safeguarded the secret
papers and documents of the society and danced and sang
during sessions so that civil guards would think that the
meetings were just harmless social gatherings.

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
cooking stove, 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.” Like Josefa,
Paciano, and two nieces, Trinidad joined the Katipunan after
Jose’s death

Soledad Rizal
(1870-19290 Also called Choleng, was the youngest child
of the Rizal family. Being a teacher, she was arguably the
best educated among Rizal’s sisters. In his long and meaty
letter to Choleng dated June 6, 1890, Jose told her sister that
he was proud of her for becoming a teacher. He thus
counseled her to be a model of virtues and good qualities for
the one who should be better than the persons who need her
learning. Rizal nonetheless used the topic as leverage in
somewhat rebuking her sister for getting married to
Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba without their parent’s
consent.

The Surname Rizal

The real surname of the Rizal family was Mercado, which
was adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco, the paternal great-
great grandfather of Jose Rizal.
Domingo Lamco
Domingo Lamco is a Chinese merchant and immigrant from was the paternal
the Fukien City of Changchow, who arrived in Manila about great, great
grandfather of Jose
1690. He adopted the name “Mercado” which means Rizal.
“market,” as recommended by his friends. But Jose’sfather,

58
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Francisco, who eventually became primarily a farmer, He was a Chinese

adopted the surname “Rizal” originally “Ricial,” which merchant from
Fukien City of
means “the green of young growth” or “green fields.” The
Changchow.
name was suggested by a provincial governor who was a
friend of the family. The new name, however, caused He adopted the
confusion in the commercial affairs of the family. Don surname Mercado
on 1731. The
Francisco thus settled on the name “Rizal Mercado” as a
surname Mercado
compromise, and often just used his more known surname means “market.”
“Mercado”

The Birth of Jose Rizal

Dona Teodora was said to have suffered the greatest pain June 19, 1861-birth of
during the delivery of her seventh child, Jose. Dona Teodora Jose Rizal

labored for a long time. Her pain was attributed to the fact June 22, 1861- his
that Jose’s head was bigger compare to other babies. The christening.
baby was born on June 19, 1861. He was baptized three days The name Jose was
after his birth on June 22 by Father Rufino Collantes, a taken from Christian
Batangueno. His godfather was Father Pedro Casanas, a saint San Jose.
native of Calamba and close friend of Rizal family. His Fr. Pedro Casanas
name Jose was chosen by his mother who was devotee of was the godfather
the Christian saints San Jose.
Fr. Rufino Collantes
baptized Rizal.
Father Collantes was amazed by the baby’s big head. During
He told the family to
the christening ceremony, he mentioned to the family
take good care of the
members, “take good care of the child, for someday he will baby for someday he
become a great man.” will become a great
man.

The Childhood memories of Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal’s first memory, in his infancy, was his happy days Rizal’s Childhood
memories:
in their family garden when he was three years old. Their
courtyard contained tropical fruit trees, poultry yard, a  his happy days in
carriage house, and a stable for the ponies, Because the their family
garden when he
young Pepe was weak, sickly, and undersized, he was given was three years
the fondest care by his parents, so his father built a nipa old
cottage for Pepe to play in the daytime.  the nocturnal
walk in the town,
especially when
Memory of his infancy included the nocturnal walk in the there was a
moon
town, especially when there was a moon, Jose also recalled
 “aya” relating to
the “aya” relating to the Rizal children some fabulous the Rizal children
stories, like those about the fairies, tales of buried treasures, some fabulous
stories, like those

59
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

and trees blooming with diamonds. about the fairies,

tales of buried
treasures, and
Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer in trees blooming
their home. Rizal recorded in his memoir that by nightfall, with diamonds.
his mother would gather all the children in their home to  the daily Angelus
prayer in their
pray the Angelus. At the early age of three, he started to take home
a part in the family prayers.

When Concha died of sickness in 1865, Jose mournfully

Concha died of
wept at losing her. He later wrote in his memoir, “When I sickness in 1865
was four years old, I lost my little sister Concha, and then
for the first time I shed tears caused by love and grief”

At the age of five, the young Pepe learned to read the

Spanish family bible, which he would refer to later in his Rizal learned to read
the Spanish family
writings. Rizal himself remarked that perhaps the education bible at the age of five
he received since his earliest infancy was what had shaped
his habits.

As a child, Rizal loved to go to the chapel, pray, participate

in novenas, and join religious processions. In Calamba, one
Rizal loved to go to
of the men he esteemed and respected was scholarly the chapel, pray,
Catholic priest Leoncio Lopez, the town priest. He used to participate in
visit him and listen to his inspiring opinions on current novenas, and join
religious processions.
events and thorough life views. Also, at the age of five, Pepe
started to make pencil sketches and molds in clay and wax
objects, which attracted his fancy. When he was about six He used to visit the
scholarly Catholic
years old, his sister once laughed at him for spending much priest Leoncio Lopez
time making clay and wax images. Initially keeping silent, to listen to his
inspiring opinions on
he then prophetically told them “All right laugh at me now! current events and
Someday when I die, people will make monuments and thorough life views.
images of me.”

When Jose was seven years old, his father provided him the
exciting experience of riding a “casco” (a flat-bottomed boat
with a roof) on their way to a pilgrimage in Antipolo. The
pilgrimage was to fulfill the vow made by Jose’s mother to
take him to the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo should she
and her child survive the ordeal of delivery, which nearly
caused her life. From Antipolo, Jose and his father
proceeded to Manila to visit his sister Saturnina who was at

60
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

the time studying at the La Concordia College in Sta. Mesa.

As a gift, the child Jose received a pony from his father

(Bantug & Ventura, 1997, p.23) As a child, he loved to ride
the pony or take long walks in the meadow and lakeshore
with his black dog named “Usman.”

Dona Teodora encouraged Jose to love the arts, literature,

and the classics. Before he was eight years old, he had
written a drama, some sources say a Tagalog comedy which Before he was eight
was performed at a local festival and for which the years old, he had
written a drama, some
municipal captain rewarded him with two pesos, it was sources say a
staged in Calamba festival and that it was a gobernadorcillo Tagalog comedy
from Paete who purchased the manuscript for two pesos. which was performed
at a local festival and
for which the
Contrary to the “former” common knowledge however, municipal captain
Rizal did not write the Filipino poem “Sa Aking Mga rewarded him with
two pesos
Kababata/Kabata” (To My Fellow Children). The poem was
previously believed to be Rizal’s first written poem at the
age of eight and was said to have been published
posthumously many years after Rizal’s death. However,
Jose had a preserved correspondence (letters) with his
brother Paciano admitting that he (Jose) had only
encountered the word “kalayaan” when he was already 21
years old. The term “kalayaan” was used not just once in the
poem “Sa Aking Kababata/Kabata.”
The young Rizal was
The young Rizal was also interested in magic. He read many also interested in
books on magic. He learned different tricks, such as making magic.
a coin disappear and making a handkerchief vanish in thin
air. Rizal’s maternal
uncles who influenced
Some other influences of Rizal’s childhood involved in three him:
Tiyo Jose Alberto,
uncles: his Tiyo Jose Alberto to who inspired him to twho inspired him to
cultivate his artistic ability; his Tiyo Manuel who cultivate his artistic
ability
encouraged him to fortify his frail body through physical
Tiyo Manuel, who
exercises; and his Tiyo Gregorio who intensified Rizal’s encouraged him to
avidness to read good books. fortify his frail body.
Tiyo Gregorio, who
intensified Rizal’s
The Story of the Moth avidness to read good
To impart essential life lesson. Dona Teodora held regularly books.

61
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

storytelling sessions with the young Rizal. Dona Teodora

loved to read to Pepe stories from the book Amigo de los Story of the Moth
taught obedience
Ninos (The Children’s Friend). One day, she scolded his son especially, to elders.
for making drawings on the pages of the story book. To
For young Rizal, the
teach the value of obedience to one’s parents, she afterward young moth died a
read him a story in it. martyr to its illusion.

Rizal learned from the

Lolay chose the story about a daughter moth who was story that “to sacrifice
warned by her mother against going too near a lamp flame. one’s life for an ideal
Though the young moth promised to comply, she later is worthwhile.
succumbed to the pull of the light’s mysterious charm,
believing that nothing bad would happen if she approached
it with caution. The moth then flew close to the flame.
Feeling comforting warmth at first, she drew closer and
closer, bit by bit, until she flew too close enough to the flame
and perished.

Incidentally, Pepe was watching a similar incident while he

was listening to the story telling. Like a live enactment, a
moth was fluttering too near to the flame of the oil lamp on
their table. Not merely acting out, it did fall dead as a
consequence. Both moths in the two tales paid the price of
getting near the fatal light.

Many years later, Rizal himself felt that the moths’ tale
could serve as an allegory of his own destiny.

Education in Calamba
The familiar statement that Dona Teodora was Rizal’s first
teacher is not just a sort of “venerating” his mother who
sacrificed a lot for our hero. It was actually a technical truth. Dona Teodora was
In his memoirs, Rizal wrote, “My mother taught me how to Rizal’s first teacher.

read and to say humble prayers which I raised fervently to He was also
God.” In Rizal’s time, seldom would one see a highly mentored by his sister
Saturnina and his
educated woman of fine culture, like Dona Teodora who had three uncles, namely;
the capacity to teach Spanish, reading, poetry, and values Tio Jose Alberto, Tio
through rare story books Lolay, indeed, was the first teacher Gregorio and Tio
Manuel.
of the hero teaching him Spanish, correcting his composed
poems, and coaching him in rhetoric. On her lap, Jose
learned the alphabet and Catholic prayers at the age of three,

62
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

and learned to read and write at age of 5.

Aside from his mother, Jose’s sister Saturnina and three

maternal uncles also mentored him. His uncle Jose Alberto
taught him painting, sketching, and sculpture. Uncle To further enhanced
Gregorio influenced him to further love reading. Uncle what Rizal had
Manuel, for his part, developed Rizal’s physical skills in learned, his parents
also hired private
martial arts, like wrestling. tutors, such as,
Maestro Celestino,
To further enhance what Rizal had learned, private tutors Maestro Lucas
Padua, and Maestro
were hired to give him lessons at home. Thus, Maestro Leon Monroy, who
Celestino tutored him, and Maestro Lucas Padua later died five months later.
succeeded Celestino. Afterward, a former classmate of Don
Francisco, Leon Monroy, lived at the Rizal home to become
the boy’s tutor in Spanish and Latin. Sadly, Monroy died
five months later.

Education in Binan
Rizal was subsequently sent to a private school in Binan. In
June 1869, his brother Paciano brought him to the school of
Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. The school was in the In June 1869, Rizal
was brought to school
teacher’s house, a small nipa house near the home of Jose’s
in Binan. It was the
aunt where he stayed. In Rizal’s own words, his teacher school of Maestro
“knew by the heart the grammars by Nebrija and Gainza.” Justiniano Aquino
Cruz.
During Rizal’s first day at the Binan school, the teacher
asked him: “Do you know Spanish?” “A little, sir,” replied He challenged Pedro,
Rizal. “Do you know Latin?” “A little, sir,” the bully son of the
teacher, to a fight and
beat him.
Because of this, his classmates, especially the teacher’s son
Pedro, laughed at new comer. So later in that day, Jose He was challenged by
Andres Salandanan to
challenged the bully Pedro to a fight. Having learned
an arm wrestling and
wrestling from his Uncle Manuel, the younger and smaller he was beaten.
Jose defeated his tormenter. After the class, he had an arm-
wrestling match with his classmate Andres Salandanan. In
that match, however, Jose lost and even almost cracked his
head on the sidewalk. In the following days, Jose was said
to have some other fights with Binan boys.

Rizal might not have won all his brawls but he, nevertheless,
beat all Binan boys academically in Spanish, Latin, and

63
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

many other subjects. After sometime, Jose told his father Maestro Cruz,
that he had already learned all there was to be taught in confirmed that Jose
Binan. Don Francisco firmly scolded Jose and hustled him had finished already all
back to the school. Maestro Cruz, Jose’s teacher in Binan, the needed curricular
works.
later confirmed, however, that Jose had indeed finished
already all the needed curricular works. So, despite his
Despite his wife’s
wife’s reluctance, Don Francisco then decided to send Jose
reluctance, Don
to a school in Manila. Francisco then
decided to send Jose
 Enhancement Activity. to a school in Manila.
Write an essay about the impact of family, childhood and
early education of Rizal to his success as a person and as a
hero.

 Generalization.
As synthesis, the students would reflect on this:
“Parents knows best” is a very common maxim. Does it
apply to Don Francisco and Dona Teodora, as parents to
Jose Rizal?

 Application.
As an application, answer what is being asked of you;
Compare and contrast the primary education during Rizal’s
time and during your time.

Learning Packet Discussion Forum

The teacher will divide the class in the desired number of
small groups. Each group will elect its moderator.

In a breakout room, the students in each group will make a

stand on whether Rizal wrote the poem “Sa Aking mga
Kabata” or not. Let them make justification on their stand.
It will be reported in the main room afterwards.

Post-Assessment
Answer the following briefly:
1. Why was Rizal very well taken-cared of by his
parents when he was young?
2. Who was his first tutor? What did he learn from this
tutor?
3. Was his Binan schooling prepared him for higher
level of education?

64
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Activity Sheet

ACTIVITY 1.

Make an ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE of Rizal’s childhood and early education. Be

guided by the appropriate rubrics provided above.

65
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

ACTIVITY 2

Complete the chart below.

Significant People of the life of Relation Contribution to Jose Rizal’s

Jose Rizal life

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

66
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Assessment

Answer the following questions. Be guided by the rubrics provided above.

1. During the christening ceremony of Rizal, Fr. Rufino Collantes mentioned told
the members of his family who were present his parents: “Take good care of
this child, for someday he will become a great man.” Do you think his parents
adhered to the priest?
2. Describe his relationship with
a. His sisters
b. His Kuya Paciano
3. Prove: Rizal is the young moth and the young moth is Rizal.
4. How did Rizal’s parents, especially his mother, prepare him for formal
schooling?
5. In spite of the fact that Rizal reign supreme in his class in Binan, he became
involved in some troubles or mischiefs. Did those make his less of a good
boy?

67
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Assignment

Make a BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY that compares your early childhood education

with Rizal’s own. Be guided by appropriate rubrics provided above.

68
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

References

Manebog, Jensen DG, et al. Life and Works of Rizal: Biography, Writings, and
Legacies of our Bayani. Mutya Publishing House, Inc. Malabon City, 2018.

Zaide, Gregorio F. and Sonia M. Zaide, Jose Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings of a
Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National Hero. ALL-NATIONS Publishing Co.,
Inc. Quezon City, 2nd Edition

69
 NGEC- Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Learner’s Feedback Form

Name of Student:
Program :
Year Level : Section :
Faculty :
Schedule :

Learning Packet : Number : Title :

How do you feel about the topic or concept presented?

□ I completely get it. □ I’m struggling.
□ I’ve almost got it. □ I’m lost.

In what particular portion of this learning packet, you feel that you are struggling or
lost?

Did you raise your concern to you instructor? □ Yes □ No

If Yes, what did he/she do to help you?

If No, state your reason?

To further improve this learning packet, what part do you think should be enhanced?

How do you want it to be enhanced?

70