Joymie D.

Cabansag BSNED – 2 Rizal 101 (1:30 – 3:30) pm MF

"ANG LIHIM NG PAMILYA RIZAL"

The documentary “Ang Lihim ng Pamilya Rizal” by Howie Severino, reveals the family
secret of Rizal. This gave me the impression that Rizal is just like us that a family has
imperfections. The family tree that Rizal made, the year he died, it was suspicious that a
branch that leads to her mother’s descendants was empty. As Howie Severino reveal
the conflicts between Teodora Alonzo, mother of Rizal, and the family of Jose Mari
Alberto, the feeling of curiosity arose within me.

When Howie Severino goes to Biñan where Teodora Alonzo’s ancestral house is still
standing, he witnesses the house was slowly dismantling for relocation. As a historian
like Dr.Bimbo Sta. Maria, a researcher about the life of Jose Rizal whom Howie
Severino interviewed, the house is significant for history because Jose Rizal, the
National Hero is close to his mother and anything related to her is a key on how Rizal
was shaped. Out of curiosity, I search on the web if the house was still standing and I
found out that year 2017 the city government of Biñan paid for the property to preserve
and restore the historical landmark. And this year 2021 as we face the pandemic, the
ancestral house of Teodora Alonzo became Covid-19 vaccination center. It was really
fascinating that the house was still standing and serving its benefits even in these trying
times.

I was so amazed at the variety of problems the Rizal family went through, I can’t fully
imagine how Teodora Alonso shaped Jose Rizal to be a good and smart young man.
Despite the struggles their family went, Teodora Alonso affirmed her role as a mother.
As Barbara Gonzales said that anybody can be a hero even from an imperfect family
just like Jose Rizal. I am so inspired and motivated by the secret that unravels in my
consciousness. The unmeasurable love of a mother and the essence of family is truly
fascinating thus shaping what and who we are now. I can agree that the documentary of
Howie Severino “Ang Lihim ng Pamilya Rizal” was very successful, it was eye-opening
and inspiring for a student like me that faces a lot of difficulties in any aspect our lives
yet still fighting for what we dream of.