JOSE RIZAL

• Physician (ophthalmic surgeon) • Poet• Dramatist• Essayist• Novelist• Historian• Architect• Painter•
Sculptor• Educator• Linguist• Musician• Naturalist• Ethnologist• Surveyor• Engineer• Farmer•
Magician• Businessman• Geographer• Cartographer• Bibliophile• Philologist• Grammarian• Folklorist•
Philosopher• Translator• Inventor• Magician• Humourist• Satirist• Polemicist• Sportsman• Traveller•
Prophet• MARTYR and HERO

Facts about Jose Rizal

Born on June 19, 1861, (moonlit night of Wednesday), Calamba, Laguna

Baptized on June 22 by Fr. Rufino Collantes while the godfather was Fr. Pedro Casanas

named after the Christian Saint “Joseph”, “San Jose”

Lt. Gen. Jose Lemery was the governor-general at the time of his birth

Seventh of the eleven children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Theodora Alonso Realonda

He was the only member of their family who used their surname Rizal

Rizal came from Spanish “racial” which means green Pasteur or green field

Rizal’s Ancestry

Father side

Domingo Lamco (Domingo Mercado) and Ines dela Rosa

Francisco Mercado and Cirila Bernacha

Juan Mercado and Cirila Alejandro

FRANCISCO MERCADO

Mother side

LAKANDULA

Eugenio Ursua and Benigna

Regina and Manuel de Quintos

Brigida and Lorenzo Alberto Alonso

THEODORA ALONSO

Rizal’s Parents

FRANCISCO MERCADO RIZAL

Born on May 11, 1818 in Binan, Laguna

Studied latin and philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila

Became a tenant-farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda

Hardworking and independent-minded man (less talk, more action)

Died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80.

Rizal called him “ a model of fathers”

THEODORA ALONSO REALONDA

Born on November 8, 1826 in Manila

Educated at the College of Santa Rosa

Remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent, business ability and fortitude of
spartan women

Before her death on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85, the government offered her a life pension which
she didn’t accept.

Rizal said that she was a woman of more than ordinary culture; knows literature, spanish, rhetoric and
a mathematician

Francisco and Theodora were married on June 28, 1848 then settled on Calamba where they engaged
in farming and business.

They reared a big family.

11 CHILDREN (2 boys and 9 girls)

RIZAL CHILDREN

1. SATURNINA – oldest; “Neneng”; married Manuel Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batanga

2. PACIANO – confidant of Rizal; joined the revolution; retired tohis farm in Los Banos; had 2 children
with his mistress Severina Decena. Rizal regarded him as the “most noble of Filipinos”

3. Narcisa – Sisa; married Antonio Lopez, a school teacher of Morong

4. OLIMPIA – Ypia; married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila

5. LUCIA – married Mariano Herbosa, nephew of Fr. Casanas. Herbosa died of cholera and denied a
Christian burial

6. MARIA – Biang; married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna

7. JOSE – Pepe; lived with Josephine Bracken during his exile in Dapitan. Had a son “Francisco” who died
few hours after birth

8. 8. CONCEPCION – Concha; died of sickness at the age of 3. Her death was Rizal’s first sorrow

9. 9. JOSEFA – Panggoy; died an old maid at the age of 80.

10. 10. TRINIDAD – Trining; died also an old maid in 1951 at the age of 83.

11. 11. SOLEDAD – youngest; Choleng; married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba

12. keyword: SPNOLM-JCJTS

IS RIZAL FAMILY AFFLUENT?

their house was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba

2-storey building (adobe stones, hard woods, roofed with red tiles

behind their house were poultry and a big garden

Farming and stock raising (livelihood)

Belonged to the principalia

managed a general goods store, small flour mill and home-made ham press

owned a carriage and private library (largest in Calamba)

Children were sent to colleges in Manila

HOME LIFE OF THE RIZALS

 Rizal family is simple and contented

 They are intimately close with each other
 Rizal called his sisters senorita or senora or dona
 Rizal’s parents were strict
 The family hear mass every Sundays and Christian holidays
 Prayed together at home especially the angelus
 Given time to play in the azotea or in the garden with other children

CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA

CALAMBA

Cradle of the national hero

named after a big native jar

Hacienda town owned by the Dominican Order

South: Mt. Makiling

East: Laguna de bay

North: mountain shrine of Antipolo

1876: Rizal was 15 years old and a student in Ateneo de Manila

- wrote a poem “Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo” (In Memory of My Town)

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Rizal

– Frail, sickly and undersized child

- His father built a nipa cottage in the garden

- An old woman was employed as aya

- His mother taught him the catholic prayers

- Called as “Manong Jose”

- Used to visit Fr. Leoncio, the parish priest

June 6, 1868 (pilgrimage to Antipolo)

- First trip of Jose across Laguna de bay and first pilgrimage to Antipolo
- After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father went to Manila to visit his sister
Saturnina

STORY OF THE MOTH

“A MARTYR TO ITS ILLUSSIONS”

TO SACRIFICE ONE’S LIFE FOR IT IS WORTHWHILE

ARTISTIC TALENTS

At the age of 5, he began to make sketches with his pencil and mould in clay and wax

He made a religious banner during the town fiesta

He loved to ride on a spirited ponyand take long walks with his dog “Usman”

First poem of Jose Rizal

- His mother, Theodora, encouraged him to write poems

- At the age of 8, he wrote a poem in the native language entitled

“Sa aking mga Kababata” (To My Fellow Children)

- The poem revealed his earliest nationalistic sentiments

First Drama by Rizal

- He wrote a tagalog comedy which was stagedin a Calamba festival

- A gobernadorcillo from Paete purchased the manuscript for P2

RIZAL AS BOY MAGICIAN

- Learned various tricks

- Read many books on magic and attended the performances of the famous magicians of the world

- He revealed his wide knowledge of magic in El Filibusterismo

- He also gained knowledge on manipulatinmg marionettes

Lakeshore Reveries

- Used to meditate the unhappy situation of his country

- At a young age, he was aware of the injustices and cruelties experienced by his fellows

- He made a vow that he will avenge all the victims

WHAT COULD BE THE INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD?

1. HEREDITARY INFLUENCE

- Inherent qualities from his ancestors and parents

2. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE

- favorable surroundings stimulated his talents

3. AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE

- predestined to be the pride and glory of his nation

EARLY EDUCATION IN CALAMBA

Rizal had his early education in Calamba and Binan

4R’s – Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic and Religion with memory method

Teodora Alonso

= Rizal’s mother was his first teacher

Tutors

1. Maestro Celestino

2. Maestro Lucas Padua

3. Leon Monroy (former classmate of Rizal’s father)

In Binan, Laguna

- Rizal was accompanied by his brother Paciano

- He lodged to his aunt’s house

- The night when they arrived, Rizal was already homesick. He went sightseeing with his cousin, Leandro

Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz

- Teacher of Jose Rizal in Binan

First School Brawl

- Jose met the school bully, Pedro, and they wrestled in the classroom
- After that, Andres Salandanan challenged him to an arm-wrestling match

Question: Was Rizal quarrelsome in nature?

END OF SCHOOLING

Saturnina sent a letter to Rizal informing the latter that a steamer, Talim, would take him to Calamba
(1870) Arturo Camps, a friend of his father, took care of him

Factors that Awakened Rizal’s Nationalism

MARTYRDOM OF THE GOMBURZA

INJUSTICE TO HERO’S MOTHER

Chapter 4 Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila(1872-1877)

Ateneo Municipal

- College under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits

- Bitter rival of the Dominican-owned San Juan de Letran

- Formerly known as EscuelaPia (Charity School), a school for poor boys in Manila which was established
by the city gov’t in 1817

- known today as Ateneo de Manila

Rizal Enters Ateneo

June 10, 1872

Jose with Paciano went to Manila to take the examinations at San Juan de Letran. Gladly, he passed
yet his father changed mind and decided to send Jose to Ateneo instead.

Upon their return to Manila, Jose matriculated at Ateneo Municipal. Fr. MaginFerrando, the college
registrar, refused to admit him for 2 reasons:

- late registration

- sickly and undersized for his age

However, upon the intercession of Manuel Xerxes Burgos, the nephew of Fr. Burgos, he was
reluctantly admitted at Ateneo. He adpted the surname Rizal because the family name, “Mercado” had
come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities since Paciano Mercado was known to them as Jose
Burgos’ favorite student and friend.

Rizal boarded outside Intramuros which was owned by Titay who owed the Rizal family an amount of
P300.

Jesuit System of Education

- More advanced than any other colleges in that priod

- Trained the students with rigid discipline and religious instruction

- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts, agriculture, commerce, mechanics and surveying

- Students hear mass in the morning and classes were opened and closed with prayers

Students were divided into 2:

A. Roman Empire – consists of the internos (boarders) – red banner

B. Carthaginian Empire – consists of the externos (non-boarders) – blue banner

Positions:

EMPEROR

TRIBUNE

DECURION

CENTURION

STANDARD-BEARER

Challenge: asking questions – 3 mistakes, one loses his position

Uniform: rayadillo, later became famous for it was adopted as the uniform of Filipino troops during the
days of the 1st Philippine Republic

Rizal’s 1st Year (1872-1873)

Jose Bech – first professor of Rizal

Rizal was an externo, at the end of the line since he was a newcomer. But at the end of the month, he
became an emperor and was given a prize – a religious picture
Rizal took private lessons in Spanish at Santa Maria Isabel College during noon recesses. (P3 for those
extra Spanish lessons but it is money well spent.)

He didn’t try hard enough in his studies on the next half of the year because there he resented remarks
of his professor. He placed second at the end of the year although his grades were all excellent.

Summer Vacation (1873)

He returned to Calamba but didn’t enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison. Without telling
his father, he went to Santa Cruz and visited his mother.

Rizal went back to Manila and this time he boarded inside Intramuros owned by an old widow, Dona
Pepay.

2nd Year in Ateneo (1873-1874)

Rizal became the emperor, awarded with a gold medal

He had new classmates from Binan, who had been his classmates also in the school of Maestro
Justiniano.

Prophecy of Mother’s Release

Dona Teodora had a dream and Rizal interpreted that saying that she would be released from prison in 3
months’ time. The prophecy actually came true just like the story of Joseph in the bible.

Teenage Interest in Reading

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas – Rizal’s first favorite novel

He was impressed by Edmond Dantes heroism and adventures

Universal History by Cesar Cantu – historical work

Travels in the Philippines by Feodor Jagor – Rizal was impressed in the book because of a) Jagor’s
observations of the defects of Spanish colonization and b) Jagor’s prophecy that Spain would lose the
Philippines and that America would come to succeed her as colonizer.

3rd Year in Ateneo (1874-1875)

Rizal was happy to see his mother again as a free woman

He still had excellent grades but he only won a medal in Latin. He was beaten in Spanish by a naturally-
speaking Spaniard.

4th Year in Ateneo 1875-1876)

Rizal became an interno

Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez inspired Rizal to write poetry and to study harder. Rizal considered him
his best professor in Ateneo. He described Fr. Sanchez as “a model of uprightness, earnestness and a
love for the advancement of his pupils.” He topped all his clasmates and won 5 medals at the end of
school term

Last Year in Ateneo (1876-1877)

Rizal excelled in all his subjects. The most brillianAtenean of his time, truly the “pride of the Jesuits”

Commencement Day – March 23, 1877

Rizal was only 16 years old then, received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors.

Before the graduation, he fervently prayed at the chapel and said “ I commended my life to the Virgin so
that when I should step into that world, which inspired me with so much terror, she would protect me.”

CHAPTER 5 STUDY OF MEDICINE INTHE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS(1877-82)

1. At the end of Rizal in Ateneo he preparedfor university studies

2. The planned Rizal entering university was opposed by his mother because they have a lot of knowledge has
threatened the life of Rizal.

3. Despite the objections of his mother tookwith Paciano Rizal in Manila to study.

4. In April 1877 enrolled to study RizalUniversity of Santo Tomas.

5. The first thing he took courses arephilosophy Y Letra follows fruits ofreasons:

1. This is the wish of his fathers

2. Before the definitive course you want

6. Padre Pablo Ramon SJ - The Rizal asked his advice should be courses in UST.

7. In the first semester of 1877-78 Rizal also attended courses

peritus surveyor
inAteneo.

8. In the second Semester of the same yearreceived by Rizal's letter Ramon SJFather Paul advises him
to takeMedicine. Rizal took the course becauseof his desire to cure his mother.

9. There Rizal relationship with thefollowing women:

1. Miss L. - a woman who was alwaysvisiting Calamba Rizal at night during theholiday he returned from
Maniladisappointed with Segunda Katigbak.

2 Leonora Valenzuela - neighbors of Rizal'srented house. It sent a letter to him byinvisible ink.
3.Leonor Rivera - Rizal's cousin and son ofhis rented house. In their correspondenceis used by Leonor
name
Taimis.
10.Rizal was the victim of an officialSpanish in 1878. Rizal was beaten by thesword behind these officials.

11.In 1879, Rizal will participate inthe contest of Liceo artistico-literario. Slaton has won the first prize
forhis poem wrote titled
A La JuventudFilipina.
The contest is only for Filipinos
12.In 1880, Rizal will participate inthe contest of Liceo artistico-literarioabout the honors as the 400th
year of thedeath of Miguel de Cervantes. Slatonmade his article titled
El Consejo de losDioses
has won the first reward. Thecontest is open to Filipino and Spanish.
13.Champion of Students - Rizal werebuilt an organization thattinatagwag
Compañerismo
the purpose to
14. Defend themselves against the insults oftheir classmates Spanish.

1. It was not fun Rizal UST result ofthe following factors;

Angry at her teacher UST

2. Underestimate students Filipinos ofSpanish

3. Old-fashioned system of teaching in UST

THE WORLD OF RIZAL’S TIME

 Rizal’s birthday: June 19, 1861 (151 years ago)

 American Civil War (1861-65) was raging over the issue of Negro Slavery.
 April 1862: Napoleon III of the 2nd French Empire conquered Mexico.
 Italians drove out the Austrians and French Armies from Italy.
 Prussians (German Kingdom) defeated France and established the German Empire on January
1871.
 Flowering of the Western Imperialism: England emerged as the world’s leading imperialist
power (1837-1901).
 British people acquired the island of Hong Kong.
 1859: imposed her rule over the subcontinent of India.

Conquered Burma.

 Other lands in Asia: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Aden, Malaysia, Singapore, and Egypt.
 South Pacific: Australia and New Zealand.
 France conquered Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
 1853: America re-opened Japan to the world, ending Japan’s 214-year isolation. This
modernized the country by freely accepting Western Influences.
 Germany was late in the scramble for Colonies.
  1885: proclaimed the Carolines (Yap Island) and Palaus as their own despite of the presence of 2
Spanish ships
 This enraged Spain who claimed sovereignty over these islands by virtue of discovery
 Relationship of these 2 nations became critical
 To avert an actual clash, these 2 countries submitted their concerns to Pope Leo XIII
 Pope Leo favored Spain but granted 2 concessions to Germany
 Germany has the right to trade in the disputed Archipelagoes
 Germany has the right to establish a coaling station in Yap for the German Navy.
 Spain, during this colonial ventures, was stagnating as a world power
 She lost her rich colonies in Latin America: Paraguay (1811), Argentina (1816), Chile (1817),
Colombia and Ecuador (1819)
 Lost the Central American Countries: Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatamela, El Slavador, Nicaragua --
- (1821), Venezuela (1822), Peru (1824), Bolivia and Uruguay (1825)
 But continued colonizing: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines
 Filipinos agonized the evil and unjust colonial power of Spain:

INSTABILITY OF COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

 In Spain: struggles between the forces of despotism (single entity rules with absolute power/
one power/ one master)and liberalism
 Political instability in Spain affected Philippine affairs: brought frequent periodic shifts in
colonial policies and officials
 CORRUPT OFFICIALS (Gov. Generals)
 Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-73): executed Frs. Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, Jacinto Zamora
(1872)
 Gen. Fernando Primo de Rivera: enriched himself by accepting bribes from gambling casinos in
Manila
 Gen. Valeriano Weyler
 Arrived in Manila a poor man and returned to Spain a millionaire
 Received huge bribes and gifts of diamonds from wealthy Chinese who evaded the anti-Chinese
law.
 Gen. Camilo de Polavieja: executed Rizal
 After Spain’s loss of colonies in Latin America:
 Numerous job-seekers and penniless Spaniards came to the Philippines
 They became judges, provincial executives, army officers, and government employees.
 They were either relatives or protégés of civil officials and friars.
 Mostly ignorant, they conducted themselves with arrogance because of their alien white skin
and tall noses.
 They became rich by illegal means or by marrying the heiresses of rich Filipino families.
 NO PHILIPPINE REPRESENTATION IN THE SPANISH CORTES

 To win the support of her overseas colonies during the Napoleonic Invasion, Spain granted locals
from their colonies representation in the Cortes, thus Spanish parliament government.
 Philippines experienced her first period of representation in the Cortes from 1810-1813.
 However, the second (1820-23) and third (1834-37) periods were less fruitful because the
Philippine delegates were not energetic and devoted in parliamentary work.
 The representation of the overseas colonies (including the Philippines) was abolished in 1837.
Since then, the Philippine conditions worsened because there was no means by which the
Filipino people could expose the anomalies perpetrated by the colonial officials.
 Result: Propaganda Movement that led to Philippine Revolution (1896) was launched.

HUMAN RIGHTS ARE DENIED

 Result of no Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes

 Freedom for Filipinos was denied

NO EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW

 Teachings of the Spanish Missionaries: “All men, irrespective of color and race, are equal before
God.”
 Spanish colonial authorities, who were Christians, did not implement Christ’s precept of
brotherhood of all men.
 Brown-skinned Filipinos are inferior beings: subjects to be exploited
 Brown Filipinos and white Spaniards may be equal before God, but not before the law and
certainly not in practice.

MALADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

 Justice was costly, partial, and slow. Poor Filipinos had no access to the courts because they
could not afford the heavy expenses of litigation.
 Wealth, social, prestige, and color of skin were preponderant factors in winning a case in court.
 Justice delayed is justice denied: Juan de la Cruz (1886-1898) – 12 yrs.
 Suspect for murder without preliminary investigation and proper trial
 Jailed in Cavite for 12 years. In 1898, the Americans came and found him in jail still awaiting
trial.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

 Spaniards called the brown-skinned and flat-nosed Filipinos “INDIOS” (Indians)

 Filipinos dubbed the Spaniards as “BANGUS” (Milkfish)
 A Spaniard, no matter how stupid he was, always enjoyed political and social prestige and
superiority.
 Fr. Jose Burgos:
  Complained the Spanish misconception that a man’s merit depended on the pigment of his skin
 Complained of the lack of opportunities for educated young Filipinos to rise in the service of God
and country

FRAILOCRACY

 Spanish political philosophy: union of Church and State

 “Government of friars”
 Augustinians, Dominicans, Franciscans controlled the religious and educational life of the
Philippines: they acquire tremendous political power, influence, and riches.
 A friar’s recommendation is heard by the governor general and provincial officials. He could
send a patriotic Filipino to jailor denounce him as a filibustero (traitor)
 These friars were portrayed by Rizal in his novels as Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi

FORCED LABOR

 “POLO:” forced labor imposed on Filipinos in the construction of infrastructures and public
works
 “Falla:” sum of money paid to government to be exempted from the polo.
 ABUSES:
 FIRST: Spanish residents, contrary to law, were not recruited for “polo”
 SECOND: Laborers received only a part of their supposed original stipend. Worse, they got
nothing.
 People who pay taxes are compelled to work gratis.
 THIRD: this caused inconvenience and suffering because common laborers are disturbed from
their work in farms, shops, and labors are far from homes and towns.

HACIENDAS OWNED BY THE FRIARS

 Spanish friars were the richest landlords for they owned the best haciendas (agricultural lands)
in the Philippines.
 The rural folks became tenants.
 They resented the loss of their lands which belonged to their ancestors since pre-Spanish times
 The friars were recognized as legal owners of said lands because they obtained royal titles of
ownership from the Spanish Crown.
 Rizal, whose family and relatives were tenants of a land, tried to initiate agrarian reform.
 Rizal’s advocacy ignited the wrath of the friars, who retaliated by raising rentals of the lands.
 Friar ownership of the productive lands contributed to the economic stagnation of the
Philippines.
 Essay of Rizal: “INDOLENCE (lack of concern) OF FILIPINOS”: Deceptions made by friars making
the local folks believe that plantations are prospering because they were under their care.

GUARDIA CIVIL (Constabulary)

 Supposed to maintain peace and order in the society
 Service: to suppress bandits in the provinces
 They don’t observe their duty: maltreating innocent people, looting their livelihoods, raping
women
 Rizal directed his stinging satire against the hatred Guardia Civil, through Elias in Noli Me
Tangere.
 Exposed Guardia Civil as ruthless: disturbing peace & persecuting honest men
 He proposed to improve the military organization by having it composed of good men who have
good education and principles; men who are conscious of the limitations of authority and
power.