Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod

College of Health and Allied Professions

Pharmacy Program

GEC 300 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

(CHAPTER 3, TASK #3: RIZAL’S LIFE)

By: KAITLYN ALEXANDRA ALIT, BSPharm 1A

1. Research the Story of the Moth, and answer this question:

Q: What made this story a profound impression to Jose? Was the death of the moth

justified? How or why?

From the story, the young moth disobeyed the mother moth from keeping

away from the flame. Due to the young moth’s curiosity and amusement of the

beautiful flame, he was lured to his death. This story made a profound impression

to Jose Rizal because he learned an important moral lesson from it. He learned

that being obedient to one’s parent is important, since being disobedient may

cause conflicts and harm. It has been said that the tragic story of how the young

moth died left a profound impression on Rizal’s mind as for him, the young moth

“died a martyr to its illusions.”

According to Rizal, the young moth’s death was justified since it died for

its ideals and for the determination to know out of curiosity, therefore, the young

moth’s death was worthwhile. This is where Rizal realized that it is worthwhile to

have a noble death for an ideal and noble cause, rather than just dying for oneself.
 Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod
College of Health and Allied Professions
Pharmacy Program

2. Find out the contributions of the following people in shaping Jose's personality.

a. His mother

- Jose Rizal’s mother, Doña Teodora, was his first teacher and was considered

to have the greatest contribution in the growth and development of Rizal’s

personality. Doña Teodora helped Rizal to open and widen his mind and

imaginations, and she introduced his heart to the world, its bigotry and

injustice, making it an inspiration for a better should and poetry. Rizal learned

the values of perseverance and thrifting, which greatly helped Rizal during

tough times while staying in Europe.

b. His father

- Jose Rizal regarded his father, Don Francisco, as his role model and “a model

of all fathers,” since he observed how Don Francisco worked everyday to

provide for their needs. The library in their house was built by Don Francisco

with the intention of helping his children with their studies. This library

significantly helped Rizal as this is where his skills in writing and reading

grew and developed.

- Jose Rizal may have also inherited his father’s traits of having a strong and

brave personality with a leadership attitude. He may have also inherited his

father’s traits of having the sense of dignity, self-respect, seriousness, self-

possession, as well as a strong character.

c. His brother

- Jose Rizal’s brother, Paciano, was said to have a huge influence on Rizal’s

life. Together with the money, he would constantly update Rizal, who was
 Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod
College of Health and Allied Professions
Pharmacy Program

staying in Spain, through letters, about the Filipino’s conditions under the

oppressive rule of the Spaniards. Other then supporting Jose Rizal financially,

Paciano also took the part of dealing with the Spaniards and fought for

freedom and democracy. Due to this determination, Paciano joined the

Katipunan after Jose was executed at Bagumbayan.

- It has also been said that Paciano was the reason why Jose Rizal does not

carry the surname Mercado. As a protective brother, Paciano made the

decision to change Jose’s last name to Rizal, instead of Mercado, in order to

keep Jose away from the Spaniards’ and friar’s sight.

d. His sisters

- Saturnina Rizal, Jose Rizal’s eldest sister, made a significant influence on

Jose as she helped their mother, Doña Teodora, in disciplining him and

providing him a good education. Saturnina would also help to cheer up Jose

by bringing him to Tanauan during summer vacation, when their mother was

still imprisoned.

- Narcisa Rizal also made a significant contribution in Jose Rizal’s life as she

would help their sister, Saturnina, and their mother finance Jose Rizal’s

education. She would pawn her jewelries and sell her clothes as a means of

income if necessary.

- Olympia Rizal would serve as a mediator between Jose Rizal’s first love,

Segunda Katigbak, who was Olympia’s schoolmate at that time. Their close

bond allowed Jose to good-humoredly teacher Olympia as his “stout sister.”

 Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod
College of Health and Allied Professions
Pharmacy Program

- Lucia Rizal Herbosa, was the first to marry among Jose Rizal’s sisters. It has

been said that they shared a light relationship. However, they were able to

share humorous stories between each other.

- Maria Rizal Cruz was the only sister of Jose Rizal whom he talked about his

plan on marrying Josephine Bracken, since most of their family members

were against the idea.

- Concepcion Rizal was Jose Rizal’s most loved sister since she was a year

younger than Jose. They played gamed and exchanged children’s stories with

each other. And it has also been said that with Concepcion, Rizal felt the

beauty of sisterly love at a young age.

- Josefa Rizal, who died a spinster, was able be addressed by Jose Rizal as

“Miss Josephine Rizal” in one of his letters to her, which was written in

English. Josefa was said to be one of the 29 women who joined the Katipunan

who safeguard the important documents of the organization.

- Trinidad Rizal gained the custody of Jose Rizal’s last and greatest poem, Mi

Ultimo Adios. He hid the poem in an alcohol cooking stove, which he gave to

Trinidad when she, and her mother, visited Jose Rizal in Fort Santiago before

he was executed.

- Soledad Rizal was said to be the best educated among the Rizal sisters. Jose

Rizal told her through a letter that he was proud of Soledad becoming a

teacher, and that Soledad must be a model of virtues and good qualities.

However, this did not last as the peace of their family was disturbed when

Soledad married Pantaleon Quintero without their parents’ consent.

 Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod
College of Health and Allied Professions
Pharmacy Program

e. His uncles

- His uncle Jose de Quintos Alonzo was the youngest of the three brothers. And

because of him, Rizal learned and further developed his skills in painting,

sketching, and making clay statues.

- His uncle Manuel de Quintos Alonzo, on the other hand, developed Jose

Rizal’s interest in sports because he was concerned of Jose’s physical

condition, wherein he learned swimming, rowing, fencing, as well as

wrestling. Moreover, his uncle Manuel he developed a great admiration for

the beauty of nature, as well as the open air.

- His uncle Gregorio de Quintos Alonzo gave him the encouragement and

inspiration in reading good books. In addition, because of his uncle Gregorio,

he learned the value of hear work, careful observation of life, as well as

independent thinking.

f. His teachers

g. Women in his life

- Segunda Katigbak was his first love, or was considered as “puppy love”.

According to Rizal, she made him blush when he sets his eye upon her.

- Leonor Valenzuela and Jose Rizal was said to send her letters with invisible

ink which would only be read using a lamp or candle.

- Leonor Rivera had the greatest influence in preventing Rizal from falling in

love with other women while staying in other countries.

 Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod
College of Health and Allied Professions
Pharmacy Program

- Consuelo Ortiga was said to ask Jose Rizal for romantic verses. Jose Rizal

backed out from their interaction before it became serious since he was

already in love with Leonor Rivera.

- Josephine Bracken and Jose Rizal met when Rizal was treating her father’s

blindness.

- Suzanne Jacoby and Jose Rizal was said to have met in Brussels when

Suzzanne was introduced as their landlord’s niece. During Rizal’s stay in

Brussels, they had a great time together.

- O-Sei San was able to help Jose Rizal learn “su-mie”, a Japanese of painting.

Jose Rizal was also able to learn to read and write in Nihonggo through her

help.

- Gertrude Beckette, hoping that a colorful romantic relationship between

them, she helped Jose Rizal mix the colors for his painting.

- Nelly Boustead and Jose Rizal’s relationship did not end in marriage for the

reason that Jose Rizal refused to convert the Protestant faith.