Why we need to study Rizal?

Republic Act 1425 (Rizal Law of 1956)

1. Jose Rizal as the National Hero
2. Rizal Day as Public / Legal Holiday every 30th of December (Death)
3. Jose Rizal’s Monument or Bust in Local Government Offices
4. Rizal Course – College – Rizal’s Life and Works (Bachelor’s Degree) and High School – Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo

Republic Act 1425 or Rizal Law of 1956

• Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the Rizal Bill.
• Catholic Church claimed that it would violate freedom of conscience and religion.
• Catholic Bishops conference of the Philippines (CBCP) “Such bill is a violation of 1939 Canon Law which
prohibits books that attacks the Catholic Doctrine and practices.
Among the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, 25 of the passages ARE NATIONALISTIC WHILE 120 ARE ANTI-
CATHOLIC.
AGAINST: Catholic Action of the Philippines, the Congregation of the Mission, the Knights of Columbus, and the
Catholic Teachers Guild.
PRO: Veteranos de la Revolucion (Spirit of 1896), Alagad in Rizal, the Freemasons, and the Knights of Rizal
Importance of Studying RA 1425

 To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism

 To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino character.
 To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal’s life, works and writings.
December 30th as National Day of Mourning
General Emilio Aguinaldo was the first one to declare December 30th as a national day of mourning in honor of
Rizal and others who have died fighting the Spanish tyranny.
The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword
The Philippine revolution led by Andres Bonifacio was fueled by the writings of Jose Rizal, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, which made a more lasting impression. Rizal was truly an inspiration to many Filipinos during the Spanish
period.
Jose Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina, a civic organization that led to the creation of the Katipunan headed by Andres
Bonifacio.
Rizal as an American Sponsored Hero

 It was in 1901 when William Howard Taft proposed Rizal as our National Hero because:
 Rizal was already dead by the time the Americans colonized the Philippines.
 He did not make any negative or embarrassing remarks of anti-American quotations.
 Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal was a symbol of Spanish oppression.
 He urged reform from within by publicity.
Rizal as Pioneer Asian Nationalist Leader

 The worth and dignity of the individual;

 The inviolability of human rights;
 The innate equality of all men and races;
 The necessity for constitutional government;
 Due process of law;
 Popular sovereignty as the basis of all political authority,
 Faith in human reason and enlightenment;
 The rights of the masses to public education; and Belief in social progress through freedom.
The Biographical Sketch of Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Jose Rizal was born on Wednesday, June 19, 1861 between eleven to twelve midnight in Calamba Laguna.
Name: JOSE PROTACIO REALONDA ALONZO MERCADO Y RIZAL
JOSE
-name after St. Joseph / San Jose
-prominent name in the family
 Jose Florentino - Uncle of Teodoro Alonzo Mercado who's elected to the Spanish Cortes. Knight of the Grand
Order.
  Jose Alberto de Quintos Alonzo – brother of Teodora Alonzo - was schooled abroad, very good in sketching,
painting and sculpture.
 Jose Ursua and Jose Soler

PROTACIO
 June 19 – feast of San Protacio (St. Protacious)
REALONDA
 Used by Doña Teodora from the surname of her godmother based on their culture. This is part of Rizal's name.
ALONZO
 Mother’s Surname, Teodora Alonzo (daughter of Brigida de Quinto and Lorenzo Alonzo) -Ilocano, Tagalog,
Chinese, Spanish & little Japanese lineage
MERCADO
 Father’s Surname, (mercado means merchant/trader, common job of chinese immigrant in the Philippines)
Descendant: Domingo Lamco from Amoy, China. 17° Century Chinese Immigrant
RIZAL

 Francisco, who eventually became primarily a farmer, adopted the surname "Rizal" (originally "Ricial", which
means "second crop" or "green fields"). The new name, however, caused confusion in the commercial affairs
of the family. Don Francisco thus settled on the name "Rizal Mercado" as a compromise, and often just used his
more known surname "Mercado."
 When Paciano was a student at the College of San Jose, he used "Mercado" as his last name. But because he had
gained notoriety with his links to Father Burgos of the "Gomburza" he suggested that Jose use the surname
"Rizal" for Jose’s own safety.
Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood, Early Education
The Mercado - Rizal Family

 The Rizals are considered as one of the biggest families during their time. Domingo Lam-co, the family's
paternal ascendant was a full-blooded Chinese who came to the Philippines from Amoy, China in the closing
years of the 17th century and married a Chinese half-breed by the name of Ines de la Rosa.
 Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had also traces of Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Even
Negrito blood aside from Chinese.
 Jose Rizal came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso
Realonda, and nine sisters and one brother.
“Meet the Parents”
Francisco Mercado Rizal
• Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandra II
• Born on May 11, 1818
• Born in Biñan, Laguna
• June 28, 1848, he married Teodora
• the youngest of the 13 children of Cirila Alejandro and Juan Mercado

Teodora Alonzo Realonda

• Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos
• Born on November 9, 1827
• Rizal's first teacher
• second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brigida de Quintos
• went to College of Sta. Rosa

Justifications for being a National Hero

There are several questions regarding Rizal’s heroism. According to the report made by the National Heroes Committee
(under the Executive Order no. 75), these are the elements to qualify as a national hero in verbatim;
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.
4. A hero is part of the people’s expression.
5. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
6. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history, but of the entire process
that made this particular person a hero.

The Mercado Clan (Family Tree)

Geographically, the Mercado’s house then was located at the foot of Mt. Makiling (known to be an
inactive volcano). Their house was simple but maybe elegant during those times. The house was surrounded by fruit
bearing trees or “punong kahoy” in Tagalog that are almost gone at present where only modern houses and
condominiums are visible. The Mercado family was big, comprises of their parents and their eleven childrens, as
illustrated in the family tree above.
Francisco Mercado (1818-1898)
 Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado.
 Born in Biñan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.
 He was one of the tenants of Dominican lands in Calamba.
Teodora Alonzo (1827-1913)
 She was the first mentor and the teacher of young Jose Rizal.
 Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos.
 She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa.
 She was a business minded woman, corteous, religious, hard-working and wellread.
 She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in Manila.
Saturnina Rizal (1850-1913)
 Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonso marriage.
 Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. One of the correspondents of Rizal when he was in
Europe was Saturnina’s husband.
Paciano Rizal (1851-1930)
 Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child.
 Studies at San Jose College in Manila; became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution after his
brother was executed at the Bagumbayan (1896).
 An avid supporter of his younger brother when he (Jose) was abroad.
Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939)
 The third child of Mercado’s family who became a teacher and musician.
 She married Antonio Lopez, a teacher from Morong, Bataan
Olympia Rizal (1855-1887)
 The fourth child who married Silvestre Ubaldo with whom she bore children.
 She died when Jose Rizal was in Europe.
Lucia Rizal (1857-1919)
 The fifth child who married Mariano Herbosa.
 Her husband was denied a Christian burial because he was associated with Rizal and was believed to have anti-
friar sentiments.
Maria Rizal (1859-1945)
 The sixth child who got married to Daniel Faustino of Binyang, Laguna with whom she bore 5 children.
Jose Rizal (1861-1896)
 The second son and the seventh child.
 The foremost national hero and martyr recognized by most Filipinos up to present.
 He died as a martyr by Spanish firing squad on December 30, 1896 at 7:03 a.m.
Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865)
 The eighth child.
 Died at the age of three. She was the first sorrow of Rizal according to accounts of Zaide.
Josefa Rizal (1865-1945)
 The ninth child who was nicknamed “Panggoy”.
 Died at the age of 80.
Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951)
 The 10th child who died last in Rizal’s family.
 She was entrusted by Rizal with his untitled poem (maybe on a piece of paper) inside the alcohol lamp.
Soledad Rizal (1870-1929)
 The youngest child who got married to Pantaleon Quinter and the couple had 5 children.

BACKGROUND OF EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE PHILS. DURING THE SPANISH PERIOD

 There are only 2 Kinds of Students. Those with Spanish Blood, and Rich.
 Schools are owned by the Religious Organizations (No public / non-sectarian Schools).
 Boys were the Priest Orders and Girls were the Nuns in Convent.
 Traditional Form of Teaching. Discipline and Memorization. “Believe in Order to Understand”
 4 R’s of Teaching: Reading, wRiting, aRithmethic, Religion

CHRONOLOGY OF RIZAL’S EDUCATION

 HOME – Teacher: Teodora Alonzo. 4’R and Parable of the Moth
 BIÑAN, LAGUNA – Teacher: Maestro Justiniano Cruz
Jose was a young boy with a “thirst for knowledge”. He was first taught at home. Then he was sent to Binyang
in June 1869 at a young age of 8. His maestro there was Justiniano Cruz who developed his knowledge of the Spanish
language. Juancho, was another maestro who taught Rizal in painting and the very reason why Rizal excelled also in
drawing as well as sketches.
The Story of the Moth
 The first education of young Jose was at home. Having Donya Teodora as his “first teacher”, the young Jose was
being prepared for his formal schooling. One night, young Jose’s mother read him the Story of the Moth.
Chronology
1. Paciano, Rizal’s brother was studying at Colegio de San Jose under tutelage of Fr. Jose Burgos
2. Cavite mutiny took place on January 20,1872 led by Sergeant La Madrid.
3. GOMBURZA Execution February 17, 1872
4. The arrest of is mother
5. Rizal took and passed the entrance test in Letran
6. Rizal matriculated in Ateneo on June 10, 1872.
Rizal and the Cavite Mutiny of 1872
 The Execution of the Triumvirate Priests (GomBurZa)
 The Cavite Mutiny is best described by the execution of the three priests- Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and
Jacinto Zamora.
 They were responsible for the “Filipinization of parishes” or simply called, Secularization.
 The execution of the 3 priests on February 17, 1872 became the catalyst for the Filipinos to raise arms.
 Rizal was 11 years old that time and was one of the “eyewitnesses” of the execution of the 3 priests by “garrote”
in Luneta.
Injustices to Rizal’s Mother
 Another challenge for Rizal was when his mother, Donya Teodora together with Senyor Alberto, were accused
by the latter’s wife of connivance to poison her.
 As a result of the “hearsay” (information received from other people) from Senyor Alberto’s wife, Donya
Teodora was arrested.
 Though the mayor forced her to admit her guilt, she did not do so and so she was imprisoned for almost 2 years.
 After reaching the Real Audiencia (the Spanish Supreme Court), the ease was dismissed so Donya Teodora was
released from prison.
 Unfortunately, the Rizal family were deeply hurt and the damage done was very hard to accept.
Rizal and his “Disillusionment”
 The events of 1872 where the triumvirate martyrs were executed in Luneta by “garrote” have opened the eyes of
many leading to a “political turmoil”.
 Rizal was 11 years of age when he saw the clamor of his countrymen for justice and truth from the evil Castillan
Empire. The events that took place as stated- the death of GomBurZa, the persecution of his mother and the
injustices committed by the friars in Kalamba’s tenancy were the trigger points of young Jose to fight the
Spaniards up to his last breath which ended at the Luneta execution.
His Formal Schooling at Ateneo Municipal (High School / Preparatory College)
Four months after the execution of the three martyr priest, and Donya Teodora still in prison, Rizal was being sent
off to Manila to further pursue his study under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits, Ateneo de Manila.
 His formal schooling begun on June 10, 1872 when he passed the entrance exams in Colegio de San Juan de
Letran. Though he passed with flying colors, his family already decided to send him to the Ateneo Municipal
(formerly Escuela Pia- a charity school for boys) for the obvious reason of avoiding a confrontation of young Jose
with the Dominicans who were much hated because of their land lease policies as well as the tragic incident
where Donya Teodora was accused of a crime that she never committed. When Rizal was in Ateneo, he was very
much interested in reading and some of his readings inspired Rizal to write his first novel, Noli Me Tangere.
Atenean Education
 Owned by the Jesuit Orders (Progressive Priests)
 Aside from Academics, Interest in Arts: Painting, Sculpture, Poetry, Literature
 Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez – Literature and Arts
 Father Jose Villaclara – Sciences and Philosophy
 Agustin Saez, sculpture
 After a couple of months, Rizal showed that he excelled in philosophy, arts and sciences which was the “core
curriculum” of Ateneo at that time.

Rizal became “Sobresaliente”

 Rizal was successful in gaining excellent ratings in Ateneo. He won several awards aside from “sobresaliente”.
Moreover, aside from the academics, young Jose wrote his masterpieces. Among them was the poem Un
Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of my Town)

RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS (1877-1882)

 After his graduation in Ateneo, his father wanted him to pursue higher education believing that great future that
awaited his son whose intelligence was among the best during his time.
 He took up a vocational course leading to the title of “peito agrimensor” {expert surveyor}with the grade of
“Excellent” but was not given the title as he was only 17 years old then.
 Jose Rizal took up Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy but shifted to Medicine.
 He finally decided to take up medicine with the intention and desire to cure Doña Teodora’s failing eyesight.
 He formed a Fratenity: Indios Bravos.
 He was an Average Student.
  Unfortunately, Rizal was not happy at UST and this reflected on his grades. There were three main factors that
contributed to his unhappiness at the university, namely:
 Filipino students suffered discrimination.
 The method of instruction at UST was obsolete and repressive.
 Likewise, there were three main reasons for his struggling academic performance.
 Rizal was not satisfied with the system of education at the university.
 There were plenty of things to distract a young man in the peak of his youth.
 Medicine was not Rizal's true vocation.
 He would later find out that his real calling was in the arts, not in medicine.
TRASFER ABROAD UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE MADRID
 On September 28, 1883, Rizal enrolled at the Central Universidad de Madrid of the second course in medicine.
 Enrolled in BS Medicine and AB Philosophy
 Experienced Liberal Education
 Philosophy of Age of Englightenment:
 “Think in Order to Believe”
 Both finished Medicine and Philosophy with highest grade.
UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG, GERMANY
SPECIALIZATION
 Opthalmology – Eye Specialist
 Dr. Otto Becker – teacher / training -helped make this department one of the best in Germany. He wrote a text on
the anatomy of the normal and diseased lens and collected more than 1800 pathologic specimens.4 Rizal spent the
next 6 months working as assistant to Becker
UNIVERSITY OF PARIS
SPECIALIZATION
 Intern under Dr. Otto Wecker- Rizal served as
assistant at de Wecker's clinic from November
1885 to February 1886-Rizal was highly
impressed by de Wecker's surgical skills and felt
his surgical training was progressing well.
Was Jose Rizal really a Doctor?
 He never submitted his doctoral thesis.
 Although Rizal completed a thesis for his
doctorate in medicine, he did not technically
receive this degree, since he did not appear to
read his thesis aloud as required by the Central
University of Madrid. At the time Rizal
completed the thesis, he was already studying
ophthalmology in Germany.
 He never took the licensure examination.
 But finished all his Academic Classes