Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

GEC 9: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

First Semester S.Y. 2021-2022
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

LESSON 4: THE LIFE OF JOSE RIZAL

Name: RACHEL L. VALENZUELA Course &Yr: BS DEVCOM 2A Score:

Date: SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

ACTIVITY 1: Guide Questions: Answer the following questions brief and direct.

1. Describe the background of Rizal’s ancestry that might have contributed to

his life and education.
 Teodora Alonzo was a loving mother to Rizal and she serves as Rizal’s
first teacher where he learned the alphabet at the age of three. His Father,
Francisco Mercado, was the one that sent Rizal to Ateneo Municipal for a
six-year program. Paciano (Rizal’s brother) also help him to use the name
Jose Rizal instead of Jose Mercado to avoid trouble because Paciano have
link to Jose Burgos. Francisco Mercado was a very hardworking father
that he managed to send Rizal to certain universities because he believed
in its remarkable intelligence. In Rizal’s second year at UST, Rizal shifted
his course to Medicine when he knew that his mother’s eyesight is failing.
Paciano also contributed to Rizal’s idea of liberating the country from
Spanish tyranny and they make a secret pact for this idea.
2. Compare the experiences of Rizal as a student in Ateneo Municipal, UST,
and in Madrid.
 In Ateneo Municipal, Rizal consistently showed excellence in his academic
performance wherein he graduated with a degree Bachiller en Antes, with
the highest honors. Rizal also show this level of excellency when his father
sent him to University of Santo Tomas however in his second year in this
University, he shifted course from Philosophy and Letters to Medicine
after learning about his mother’s failing eyesight. When Rizal went to
Europe, he decided to move to madrid where he take the same course that
he took in UST which are Medicine and Philosophy and Letters
(Universidad Central de Madrid). Being in Madrid, Rizal challenge himself
to study Italian and to speak the language in just two months. In 1884 of
June, he was awarded with the degree and title of Licentiate in Medicine
for passing the medical examination.
3. Who were the important persons that influenced Rizal in his intellectual
pursuits?
 In my opinion, I think the important persons that influenced Rizal in his
intellectual pursuits is his beloved parent. His mother, Teodora Alonzo
that taught him the alphabet at a very young age. I think Teodora’s refined
culture, literary talent, and business ability were the things that Rizal
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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

learned from her. His Father, Francisco Mercado was a hardy and
independent man. Even though they are not as rich as others, Francisco
still sent Rizal to Universities. Without his father’s efforts and hardwork,
Rizal wouldn’t be able to attain some of his educational background.
4. What were Rizal’s activities in Dapitan and their impact?
 When Rizal was in Dapitan, he established a school for boys and
promoted community development projects. He also practiced medicine,
pursued scientific studies, and continued his artistic pursuits in sculpture,
painting, sketching, and writing poetry. Due to Rizal’s fame as an
ophthalmologist, George Taufer from Hong Kong went to Dapitan to seek
for treatment on his eye ailment. The impact of this moment to Rizal is
that because of this situation he met his last love who was Josephine
Bracken (adopted daughter of George Taufer).
5. How would you assess Rizal’s objection to the revolution?
 I think Rizal objected the revolution before because of the fact that he
believed that war is not the solution to achieve country’s freedom. He is
more like a reformist person who help, promote and support the
country’s freedom without the use of revolution or war. It just happened
that his novels somehow inspired the Katipunan and he became the
symbol of the revolution.

ACTIVITY 2: STUDENT’S JOURNAL. Reflect on the contributions of Jose Rizal in our country
and its freedom. As a student of Life and Works of Rizal, in what ways can you become country’s
new hero as we continuously face the pandemic?

Jose Rizal plays a major role on fighting for independence of the Philippines against Spanish
Colonization. Instead of using swords to fight, Rizal uses his exceptional talent in writing novels
like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to awakened Filipino Nationalism. Rizal’s Novels
show the brutality and corruption of the Spanish rulers and the catholic church in the
Philippines. Because of Rizal’s works against Spanish government, he was exiled to Mindanao
and on December 30, 1896, he was executed. This may be the end of his life but his contribution
continues as his execution becomes the urged to start a revolution against the Spanish
government to gain the Philippine freedom. He became an inspiration of filipinos to fight for
their right as citizens of their country. In just 18 months, the independence of the Philippines
was declared against Spain.

As a student of Life and Works of Rizal, I believed that in the midst of this pandemic, I can be
a hero of our country. I can be a hero in a way that I’m practicing health protocols like wearing
facemask and practicing social distancing. This may sound unheroic because of its simplicity but
this is something that our world needs right now. We can all be a hero if we do all these stuffs. It
is for the reason that through wearing facemask and practicing social distancing, we can save
the lives of others for not spreading the virus that can affect the health of our fellow filipinos.
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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Also, by doing this we can be a hero to our hardworking Frontliners in a way that we are
reducing the burden that they are experiencing. Yes, it may not be as great as to what other
national heroes contributed to the country but for me no matter how small our contribution is,
that small contribution can give a huge impact to the lives of others. And for me, a person who
did something for the sake of others is already a hero.

Rubrics for Grading:

FEATURES
SCORE
CAll relevant concepts are included and correct 35%
oConnectivity of the topic to the issue/s of the country nowadays
R 30%
n
e
QVery informative and well organized 20%
ltuVirtually no spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors (if captions are to be 15%
eGused) or (if viva voce), the clarity and formality are observable
a
tnlr
Te tia 100%
dtmo
ntym
ea a
slor
sf Prepared by:
U
M
s John Rey R. Buan
a
kg Instructor
ie
n
g

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