1.

Describe the Rizal Family, their home and occupation

Jose Rizal’s family consist of thirteen members. His father Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y
Alejandro (1818–1898) and Teodora Alonso Realonda de Quintos . Rizal was the seventh child of
their eleven children namely: Saturnina (Neneng) (1850–1913), Paciano (1851–1930), Narcisa (Sisa)
(1852–1939), Olimpia, Lucia (1857–1919), María (Biang) (1859–1945), José Protasio (1861–1896),
Concepción (Concha) (1862–1865), Josefa (Panggoy) (1865–1945), Trinidad (1868–1951) and
Soledad (Choleng)(1870–1929). Jose Rizal came from a wealthy family in Calamba, Laguna,
Considered one of the largest families in those times. Jose Rizal’s father Francisco was the youngest
of 13 children of Juan and Cirila Mercado. He was born in Binan, Laguna, studied in San Jose College
of Manila and died in Manila. While Teodora, the mother of Jose Rizal, was a business-minded,
religious and hard -working individual who was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827.
She was the second child of Brijida de Quintos and Lorenzo Alonso. Teodora had Spanish and
Japanese ancestors while the father of Teodora was a half Spaniard engineer known as Lorenzo
Alberto Alonzo. She studied at the Collegio de Santa Rosa. Teodora died in Manila in 1913. The
parents of Jose Rizal were both farmers who were granted by the Dominicans with the lease of a
hacienda together with a rice farm. The House of Rizal was high and even sumptuous, a solid and
massive earthquake-proof structure with sliding shell windows. Thick walls of lime and stone
bounded the first floor; the second floor was made entirely of wood except for the roof, which was
of red tile, in the style of the buildings in Manila at the time. At the back there was a wide, deep
cistern to hold rain water for home use. Behind the house were the poultry yard full of turkeys and
chickens and a big garden of tropical fruit trees – atis, balimbing, chico, macopa, papaya, santol,
tampoy, etc.

2. Elaborate the Hereditary, Environmental influences which he inherited, what do you

understand by Aid of the Divine Providence.

Hereditary- According to biological science, there are inherent traits or qualities which a person
inherits from his ancestors and parents. Therefore, Rizal inherited lot of good qualities from his
ancestors and also from his father and mother.

Environmental Influence- As well as hereditary, The nature affects the person. Which includes
places, events and associates. Rizal was affected in what his family and the environment influence
and teach him to be a good son and develop his skills, talents and ability

Aid of the Divine Providence- Rizal was providentially destined to be the pride and glory of our
people. God gave him the venatile talents of a rare genius.

3. Discuss the injustice to Rizal’s mother.

Dona Teodora was accused of attempting to poison Don Jose Alberto’s wife in 1872, the
authorities dragged her out of her home and made her walk the distance from Calamba to the
provincial capital of Laguna at Santa Cruz which is about 30 kilometers away. The Spaniards
probably did that to other suspects who had to be detained at the provincial jail. But making her
walk such a distance was atrocious even at that time. Now going back to dragging her out of her
 home, the people who arrested her were their friendly acquaintances. According to Rizal these
were the very people his family fed and welcomed and yet they treated his mother in so cavalier
a fashion. That experience had an impact on the youthful Rizal and it made made Rizal to
distrust everyone. That was not the only instance when Rizal’s mother was made to walk under
police guard. The other instance was when she was accused of not using her married name. A
flimsy charge. But this happened after Rizal had stirred up the peasants of Calamba and contest
the ownership of the hacienda where Rizal’s family as well as other families had their farms. The
Dominicans owned the Calamba hacienda as well as those in the towns of Santa Rosa, Binan,
San Pedro and Silang. Rizal insinuated that the lands were illegally acquired by the religious
order. At that time Rizal’s mother was already aged but the authorities still forced her to walk
the distance to Santa Cruz but this time the local official in charge of her took pity and stopped
her march. When Rizal was already condemned to die by musketry, there was an emotional last
meeting with him and his mother. Dona Teodora tried to hug her son but the guards separated
them. That must have been heart-tugging. To save her son, Dona Teodora made appeals to
Governor General Polavieja, the Archbishop of Manila and even the Prime Minister of Spain,
Marcelo Azcarraga. Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Even as the Archbishop of Manila Benardino
Nozaleda claimed that he tried to secure a stay in the execution of Rizal (what a hypocrite, he
was the one who agitated to have Rizal arrested in the first place and was instrumental in the
installation of Governor Polavieja who approved his Rizal’s death sentence), Rizal was executed
anyway. Finally after Rizal was executed, the Spanish government did not hand over to Rizal’s
mother or his family his body and instead had the body buried in a spot at Paco Cemetery
without a coffin and without a tombstone.

4. Describe the first romance of Rizal.

Segunda Katigbak was Rizal’s supposed first love, Segunda Katigbak, was but a harmless
flirtation between a 14-year-old convent-bred girl and a teen-aged Rizal. Segunda was already
betrothed to a Manuel Luz of Lipa, Batangas, when they met. Their affection for each other grew
deeper with every meeting, one that began with "love at first sight." Despite the many times
they rendezvoused, Rizal and Katigbak never became official. Rizal suspected the later was
already engaged, which was a mistake. He decided to stay away from Katigbak and made
excuses for himself. In his youth, Rizal was also naïve about the qualities of real love, equating it
with physical attractiveness and wealth.

5. Why was Rizal unhappy when he was studying in UST?

The three main factors that contributed to his unhappiness at the university ;The Dominican
professors were hostile to him. Filipino students suffered discrimination. The method of
instruction at UST was obsolete and repressive.

6. Discuss the financial worries of Rizal when he was in Madrid.

Due to hard times in Calamba, the monthly allowances of Rizal in Madrid were late in arrivaland
there were times when they never arrived, causing much suffering to him. At one time,
Pacianowas force to sell his younger brother’s pony in order to send money to Madrid.A
touching incident in Rizal’s life in Madrid occurred on June 24, 1884. Because he was broke, he
was unable to take breakfast that day. With an empty stomach, he attended his class at
theuniversity, participated in the contest in Greek language and won a gold medal. In the
evening of thesame day, he was able to eat dinner, for he was a guest speaker in a banquet held
in honor of JuanLuna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo at Restaurant Ingles, Madrid.