RIZALlife, works & writings

Lesson 3: SALSILAH AND CHILDHOOD OF JOSE RIZAL

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the topic session the students are

expected to;

1. Understand the early days of Dr. Jose Rizal

2. Analyze the situation surrounding the local
and world scenarios during Rizal’s time
3. Create and recreate the quest for family life
values system like Rizal family

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. Drawing kit
2. Old magazine or newspaper

TOPIC PRESENTATION

A. SALSILAH OF JOSE RIZAL

i. RIZAL’S PARENTS: Francisco Mercado Rizal & Teodora Alonso Realonda

ii. THE RIZAL CHILDREN: (2 boys and 9 girls)
1. SATURNINA (1850 – 1913) – eldest/ nickname: Neneng
2. PACIANO (1851-1930) – older brother
i. Second father to Jose
ii. He immortalized him in Noli Me Tangere as Pilosopong Tasyo
3. NARCISA (1852-1939) – nickname: SIsa/ School Teacher
4. OLIMPIA (1855-1887) – nickname: Ypia
5. LUCIA (1857-1919) –her husband was denied of Christian burial because of Rizal
6. MARIA (1859-1945) – nickname: Biang
7. JOSE (1861-1896)– nickname: Pepe
8. CONCEPCION (1862-1865) – nickname: Concha/ died of sickness at the age of 3
9. JOSEFA (1865-1945) – nickname: Panggoy/ died an old maid at the age of 80
10. TRINIDAD (1868-1951) – nickname: Trining/ died an old maid at the age of 83
11. SOLEDAD (1870-1929) – nickname: Choleng

Doña or Señora (if married) & Señorita (if single)

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iii. RIZAL’S ANCESTRY

1.
Domingo Lameo
i.
Rizal’s great-great grandfather on his father side: Chinese Immigrant
ii.
Married a Chinese Christian Girl: Ines de la Rosa
iii.
Assumed the surname “Mercado” because he was a merchant
1.
Francisco Mercado: their son
1.
Married a Chinese-Filipino: Cirila Bernacha
i.
Juan Mercado: their son/ Rizal’s grandfather
1. Married a Chinese-Filipino: Cirila Alejandro
2.
Had 13 children
1. Francisco Mercado: youngest/ Rizal’s
father
iv. THE SURNAME RIZAL
1. The real surname of Rizal was Mercado
2. Rizal”, was given by a Spanish alcalde mayor (provincial governor) of Laguna, who was a
family friend.
3. Rizal in Spanish: “a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again”

v. THE RIZAL HOME

1. Was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during Spanish times.
2. By day, it hummed with the noises of children at play and the songs of the birds in the
garden.
3. By night, it echoed with the dulcet notes of family prayers.

vi. A GOOD AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY.

1. The Rizal family belonged to the principalia, a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines.
2. From the farms, which were rented from the Dominicans, they harvested rice, corn, and
sugarcane. They raised pigs, chickens, and turkeys in their backyard.
3. In addition to farming and stockraising, they managed a general good store and
operated a small flour-mill and a home-made ham press.
4. They owned a carriage, which was a status symbol of the ilustrados (“learned”/
“enlightened”). They also have a private library.
5. They sent their children to the Colleges in Manila.

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ix. HOME LIFE OF THE RIZALS

1. Whenever the children, including Jose, got into mischief, they were given a sound
spanking.
2. They believed in the maxim: “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
3. Every day, the Rizals heard Mass. They pray the Angelus, Rosary before sleeping.
4. After the family prayers, all children kissed the hands of their parents.

2. CHILDHOOD OF RIZAL

A. CALAMBA, THE HERO’S TOWN

1. Birth town/ childhood town: shaped Rizal’s mind and character

i.
South: Mount Makiling (beyond the mountain: Batangas)
ii.
East: Laguna de Bay
iii.
North: Antipolo
2.
Calamba was owned by the Dominican Order
3.
Poem: “In memory of my Town”

B. EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

bi. Happy days in the family garden

i.
He was frail and undersized child: was given the tenderest care by his parents
ii.
A kind old woman was employed as an aya (nurse maid) to look after his
comfort
iii.
He was left alone to muse on the beauties of nature or to play by himself
4.
Daily Angelus Prayer
5.
Nights at the azotea after the nightly Rosary

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i.
Imaginary tales told by the aya aroused in Rizal an enduring interest in legends
and folklore
ii.
Aya: threat of terrible tales if supper is not eaten
6.
Nocturnal walk in the town

C. THE HERO’S FIRST SORROW

7.
Jose was closely attached to Concha (Concepcion)
8.
Jose was a year older than Concha. He learned the sweetness of sisterly love from her.
9.
Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness when he was only 3 years old. He cried for the
first time: caused by love and grief.
10.
This was Jose’s first sorrow.

D. DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH

11.
5 y.o.: was able to read the family’s Spanish Bible
12. Fr. Leoncio Lopez: a Filipino priest. Jose listens to his stimulating opinions on current
events and sound philosophy of life.

E. PILGRAMAGE TO ANTIPOLO: 7 y.o.

13.
To fulfill his mother’s vow when Jose was born
14.
Crossed Laguna de Bay: first lake voyage
15.
Did not sleep the whole night: awed by the Pasig River and the silence of the night.
Experienced his first sunrise
16.
Went to Manila afterwards to visit: Saturnina, eldest sister. Jose’ first glimpse of Manila.

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F. THE STORY OF THE MOTH: fable of the young moth and the old one

Story told by her Mother: Made the profoundest impression on him

17.
She was teaching Jose to read in Spanish: El Amigo de los Ninos (The Children’s Friend)
when everyone was asleep.
18.
She was her ultimate critique in his poetical compositions.
19.
Jose marveled how her mother sounded good in reading her Spanish phrases.
20.
Jose watched a cheerful flame and moths encircling it when he paid little attention to
reading.
21.
Mother told Jose a story when she noticed that he was not interested anymore in
reading.
22.
The word ‘story’ promised something new and wonderful on Jose. Jose was full of
curiosity and wonder.
23.
Warning of the old moth. Jose did not notice how her mother’s story ended he was
fixated on how the moth died because of its attraction to the flame. For Jose, it died a
martyr to its illusions.
24.
Mother’s advice: don’t behave like the young moth. Don’t be disobedient, or you may
get burnt as it did.
25.
For Jose: Moths know how to warn younger moths. They advised like her mother. The
light for Rizal seemed to be more beautiful.
26.
Noble death: sacrificing one’s life for the light. It is something worthwhile.

G. AS BOY MAGICIAN/ PERFORMER

27.
Making a coin appear or disappear in his fingers and making a handkerchief vanish in
thin air
28.
Magic lantern exhibitions: lamp casting its shadow on a white screen. He twisted his
fingers into fantastic shapes, making their enlarged shadows on the screen resemble
certain animals and persons.
29.
Puppet shows: manipulating marionettes

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LAKESHORE REVERIES

30.
“meditations” at the shore of Laguna with his dog (Usman) on the sad conditions of his
oppressed people
31.
Guardia Civil: everyday in his town, unarmed villagers are always injured. Villager’s only
fault: not taking his hat off and not bowing.
32.
There was no restraint put upon brutality
33.
He always asks himself: if people live the same way across the lake
34. Jose grieved deeply over the unhappy situation of his beloved fatherland.
35.
The Spanish misdeeds awakened in his boyish heart a great determination to fight
tyranny.
36.
With these injustices, Jose made a vow dedicating himself in studies to avenge the many
victims of his hometown. (same idea was written to his friend, Mariano Ponce)

H. INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD

37.
HEREDITARY
i. Malayan Ancestors: love for freedom, desire to travel, and courage.
ii. Chinese Ancestors: serious nature, frugality, patience, and love for children.
iii. Spanish Ancestors: elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to
ladies.
iv. Father: profound sense of self-respect, love for work, habit of independent
thinking.
v. Mother: religious nature, spirit of self-sacrifice, and passion for arts and
literature.
38.
ENVIRONMENTAL
i. Scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the Rizal family
stimulated the inborn artistic and literary talents of Jose.
ii. The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his religious nature.
iii. Paciano: love for freedom and justice
iv. Sisters: courteous and kind to women
v. Fairy tales told by his aya: awakened his interest in folklore and legends.
vi. Tio Jose Alberto: who had studied for 11 years in a British School in Calcutta,
India, and had travelled in Europe inspired him to develop his artistic ability.

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vii. Tio Manuel: a husky and atheletic man, encouraged him to develop his frail
body by means of physical exercises, including horse riding, walking, and
wrestling.
viii. Tio Gregorio: a book lover, intensified his voracious reading of good books.
ix. Fr. Leoncio Lopez, fostered Rizal’s love for scholarship and intellectual honesty.
x. Sorrows:
1. Death of Concha and the imprisonment of his mother, contributed to
strengthen his character, enabling him to resist blows of adversity in
later years.
2. Spanish abuses and cruelties, the brutal acts of the Guardia Civil and the
alcalde, the unjust tortures inflicted on innocent Filipinos, and the
Execution of the Gom-Bur-Za, awakened his spirit of patriotism and
inspired him to consecrate his life and talents to redeem his oppressed
people.

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EXERCISE 3: Discuss the following (100-300 words only)

I. Submit to the CANVAS Assignment link Lesson 3:

1. Discuss the following (100-300 words only)

 Do you believe that family has a great role in the child character, values and attitudes?
How?

2. Can you cite any particular practices that you have in your family which can be in the family of
Jose Rizal? (You can draw it or present it in a collage).

II. As part of your class participation answer the question below .You may also comment on your
classmates post. Post your answer in the Discussion Link section of your Canvas.

 Do you believe that good educational foundation in the early days matters most in your
life’s successes as reflected in the life of Jose Rizal?

REFERENCES:

Zaide, Gregorio F., & Zaide, Sonia M., Jose Rizal, Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist
and National Hero, (2008- Centennial Edition) All-Nations Publishing Co. Inc, Quezon City

https://hestories.info/prologue-rizal-and-his-times.html

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