Childhood Years in

Calamba
CHAPTER 2
BADWAL, SUKHWINDER K.
OBJECTIVES

 To be able to know the childhood

years of Jose Rizal in Calamba
 To know what he achieved in a
young age
 To be able to know what events in his
life made him love his nation and
fight for freedom.
 Jose
Rizal grew up in a happy home, ruled
by good parents, bubbling with joy, and
sanctified by God’s blessings.
 Hisnative town is Calamba. Its scenic
beauties and industrious, hospitable, and
friendly folks impressed him during his
childhood years and profoundly affected
his mind and character.
Calamba, the Hero’s Town

 Calamba was a hacienda town which

belonged to the Dominican Order, which
also owned all the lands around it.
House of Jose Rizal in Calamba
Earliest Childhood Memories
 The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy
days in the family garden when he was three years old.
Because he was a sick child, he was given the
tenderest care by his parents. His father built a little nipa
cottage in the garden for him to play in the day time.
 Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus
prayer. By nightfall, his mother gathered all the children
at the house to pray the Angelus.
 Another memory of his infancy was the nocturnal walk
in the town. The maid took him for a walk in the
moonlight by the river.
The Hero’s First Sorrow

 Jose loved most the little Concha (Concepcion).

He was a year older than Concha. He played
with her and from her he learned the sweetness
of a sisterly love.
 Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865
when she was three years old. Jose, who was
very fond of her, cried bitterly at losing her.
“When I was four years old, I lost my little sister
Concha, and then for the first time I shed tears
caused by love and grief…”
Devoted Son of the Church

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

the family prayers. His mother was a devout
Catholic, taught him the Catholic prayers, when
he was five years old, he was able to read
haltingly the Spanish family Bible.
 Father Leoncio Lopez- he is the town priest. Jose
Rizal used to visit him and listen to his stimulating
opinions on current events and sound
philosophy of life.
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.
 It was the first trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay.
After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of
Antipolo, Jose and his father went to Manila. It
was the first time Jose saw Manila. They visited
Saturnina, who was then a boarding student at
La Concordia College in Sta. 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 mold in clay and wax
objects.
“All right laugh at me now!
Someday when I die,
people will make
monuments and images
of me!”
First Poem by Rizal

 Rizal possessed a God-given gift for literature.

Since early boyhood he had scribbled verses on
loose sheets of paper and on the textbooks of
his sisters. His mother who was a lover of
literature, noticed his poetic inclination and
encouraged him to write poetry.
 At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem in
the native language entitled Sa Aking mga
Kababata (To My Fellow Children).
TO MY FELLOW CHILDREN

 Whenever people of a country truly love

The language which by heav’n they were taught to use
That country also surely liberty pursue
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;
To make our human race resembles in this way
The other living beings born in liberty.
Whoever knows not how to love 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

 Rizal, who was eight years old, wrote his

first dramatic work which was in Tagalog
comedy. It is said that it was staged in a
Calamba festival and was delightfully
applauded by the audience.
Rizal as Boy Magician

 Since early manhood Rizal had been interested

in magic. With his dexterous hands, he learned
various tricks. He entertained his town folks with
magic-lantern exhibitions.
 In later years when he attained manhood, he
continued his keen predilection for magic. He
read many books on magic and attended the
performances of the famous magicians of the
world.
Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood

1. Hereditary Influence
2. Environmental Influence
3. Aid of Divine Providence
Hereditary Influence
 From his Malayan ancestors, Rizal inherited his love for freedom,
his innate desire to travel, and his indomitable courage.
 From his Chinese ancestors, he derived his serious nature,
frugality, patience, and love for children.
 From his Spanish ancestors, he got his elegance of bearing,
sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to ladies.
 From his father, he inherited a profound sense of self-respect, the
love for work, and the habit of independent thinking.
 And from his mother, he inherited his religious nature, the spirit of
self-sacrifice, and the passion for arts and literature.
Environmental Influence
 The scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden
of the Rizal family stimulated the inborn artistic and literary
talents of Jose Rizal.
 The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his religious
nature.
 His brother, Paciano, instilled in his mind the love for
freedom and justice. From his sisters, he learned to be
courteous and kind to women.
 His three uncles, inspired him to develop his artistic ability,
to develop his frail body and intensified his voracious
reading of good books.
 Father Leoncio Lopez, fostered Rizal’s love for
scholarship and intellectual honesty.
 The death of his sister Concha and the
imprisonment of his mother, contributed to
strengthen his character, enabling him to resist
blows of adversity in later years.
 The Spanish cruelties and abuses awakened his
spirit of patriotrism and inspired him to
consecrate his life and talents to redeem his
oppressed people.
Aid of Divine Providence

 Rizalwas providentially destined to be the

pride and glory of his nation. God had
endowed him with the versatile gifts of a
genius, the vibrant spirit of a nationalist,
and the valiant heart to sacrifice for a
noble cause.