LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

a. define the concept of Liberal Ideas as opposed to the conservative ideas;

b. determine the countries where its people tried to change the political and social situation of those
countries; and
c. analyze how the changes in Europe affected an Asian Colony.

TOPIC

OUTLINE

a. Conditions of Europe, America, Spain, and Asia during Rizal’s time

b. Conditions in the Philippines during Rizal’s time

OVERVIEW

This lesson tackles the world during Rizal’s time. This also presents the political, social and
economic situations of selected countries which are related to the life of our hero such as Spain, America,
Germany, Philippines and etc. The main point of this lesson is to understand Jose Rizal in the context of
his times.

ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Instruction: Use at least 50-100 words for your answers with this question. Use short coupon bond for
your answer. Have you ever wonder what is the Philippines in 19 th century were our hero Jose Rizal was
born. What is the social, political and economic system in this era?

Do you have any idea how our Filipino ancestors deal in their daily lives for their survival under Spanish
regime?

DISCUSSIONS

Conditions of Europe, America, Spain, and Asia during Rizal's time

The 19th century was indeed a new stage of mankind's enlightenment. During the past few decades,
several struggles of nationalism were recorded, such as the French Revolution, Germany's Unification,
and the American Civil War, etc. In this age, ideas of freedom, liberty, and equality and the belief in the
sovereignty of the people in determining government thundered all across Europe. We can assume that
at that age, the world is evolving to a new system of society with the help of the bizarre ideas of
different philosophers such as Jean – Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Karl
Marx that spread around the world.

In 1861, Tsar Alexander II, emperor of Russia, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland from 1855 to
1881 emancipated Russian serfs for which he is known as Alexander, the liberator. The said
emancipation reform of 1861 (the year of Rizal's birth) freed the serfs was the most important event in
19th-century Russian history, which is considered as the beginning of the end for the landed
aristocracy's monopoly of power.

The same age, Germany, was in the process of unification, which took place in 1871. Prussia had
established its military and economic superiority in Central Europe. This, combined with the decline of
Austrian influence, resulted in the unification of the German Estates.

The United States suffered the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865 under Abraham
Lincoln's administration. The Civil War was considered as the bloodiest and most divisive conflict,
pitting the Union Army against the confederate states of America. The war resulted in the deaths of
more than 620,000 people, with millions more injured.

In 1861, French emperor Napoleon III maneuvered to establish a French client state in Mexico, and
eventually installed Archduke Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico but resulted only for a short period of
time by reason of the fact that Juarez's forces are much stronger against Archduke Maximilian which
the latter overthrew to his thrown in 1865.

In France, the regime of Napoleon III was crumbling after the debacle in Mexico. Later the French
overthrew the monarchist and established a republic. At this time, however, most of Spain's colonies
such as those in South and Central America such as Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and others have won their Independence from Spain
through revolution. The Philippines was one of Spain's remaining colonies, along with Cuba, Puerto Rico,
and Spanish Sahara.

During Napoleon's time, Spain was part of France's alliance against Great Britain in the continental
system. When this alliance altered, Napoleon invaded Spain in 1808 and installed his brother as King.
The Spaniard resisted the French, and Spanish patriots declared allegiance to their crown Prince
Ferdinand and gathered in the City of Cadiz where they crafted a constitution. The constitution of Cadiz
had a novel feature of allowing colonies to be represented in the Spanish parliament called the Cortes.

In Asia, there were renewed efforts of European penetration with the weakening of Spain and Portugal
and the rise of Great Britain and France. The British gained its colony in Hong Kong and forced China to
open five ports to its traders following China's defeat in the Opium War of 1839 – 1842. China was
humiliated with another defeat in the Arrow War of 1856 – 1858, when the British, now joined by the
French and forced China to open the whole country to foreigners.
Great Britain enlarges its colony in Hong Kong by taking over Kowloon. Japan was forced open by the
Americans under Commodore Matthew Perry in 1854. India became a crown colony of Great Britain in
1858 following the suppression of the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. Burma became a colony of Great Britain
after three Burmese Wars in 1824 – 1826, 1862 – 1863, and 1885 to 1886. Indo China became a
protectorate of France following the suppression of the Kingdoms of Annam and Cochin – China.
Malaysia became a protectorate and eventually a colony of Great Britain while Indonesia was
conquered by the Dutch of the Netherlands.

Conditions in the Philippines in the 19th century

While in the Philippines, they were browsing redolently beneath the shadow of the cross. Changes in the
19th century had profound effects on the Philippines. During the previous centuries, it was forbidden for
the Philippines to trade with other countries because of Spain's monopolistic policy, but colonial
officials ignored the instruction and traded with other nations. By 1834, this mercantilist's policy of not
allowing the Philippines to trade with other countries was scrapped with the opening of Manila to world
trade.

The system of Government is MONARCHY; the power came from the King who appointed and assigned
colonial officials and also issued royal decrees. At first, he was helped by the Council of Indies then later
became Minister of the Colonies.

The colonial order was maintained largely by native officials such as gobernadorcillos, the councilmen,
and the principalia. The policemen were also natives, and even the composition of the local Spanish
army and civil guards was largely natives. Only the officials with the rank sergeants were Spaniards.
Until 1821, the Philippines really was ruled by the Spanish Viceroy in Mexico in the name of the King.
This was because the Philippines were colonized from Mexico. However, after Mexico got its
independence in 1821, the Philippines was ruled directly from Madrid, Spain.

The Governor-General is the highest official in the Philippines. He represents the King of Spain in the
Philippines. He could make laws himself; he could appoint and removed colonial officials, except those
appointed by the King. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the colonial armed forces and also the
President of the Royal Audiencia like the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court today. During Rizal's time,
the Spanish Governor-General then was a good militarist, General Jose Lemery.

The laws of the Philippines were made by the Spaniards. The major laws were compiled in a legal code
called "Laws of the Indies." Spain formed the origin of our present system of local government.

The cities had their own government called "ayuntamiento." The city council, known as "cabildo," was
headed by the mayor (alcalde).

The provinces ("alcaldias") were a group of towns and barangays. Each province was ruled by a Spanish
official called "alcalde-mayor" he was appointed by the Governor-General.

The old barangays were grouped together to form towns "called pueblos. Each town was ruled by a
Filipino official called "gobernadorcillo" (little governor). He was elected yearly by prominent citizens of
the town. At the head of every barangay was a Filipino official called "Cabeza de barangay." At first, he
was the hereditary head of the area but later, his position was also elected. His main duty was to
collect taxes.

If you want to get more information pertaining to this topic, just go to youtube.com and look for the
youtube channel “Year of Our Lord” and search therein the short video clip entitled “Jose Rizal – week
2”.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

a. determine the significance of Rizal’s childhood in the formation and influence of the mindset of
Rizal;
b. enumerate the important landmarks molded the mind and the heart of our hero
c. Appraise the main factor that molded the mind and heart of Jose Rizal to become the greatest
hero of the Malayan race.

TOPIC OUTLINE
 a. Birth and Early Childhood of Rizal
b. Devoted son of Church
c. Jose’s First Education
d. Jose’s Three Uncles

OVERVIEW

In trying to understand Rizal’s life and his contribution to Philippine society and his desire to create a
Filipino Identity, it is good to reflect of our hero’s early childhood and the influences in his growing years.
In this lesson we can see the panoramic background of Rizal and how it shaped his thinking.

ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Instruction: Use at least 50-100 words for your answers with this question. Use short coupon
bond for your answer.

Since you are in a tertiary level, I’m pretty sure you already familiar of Rizal’s life, Do you have any idea of
Rizal’s childhood?

LESSON 1

The life of Jose Rizal is full of fascinating and mysterious events. In studying his life, we can
see that the story depends on the writer, some writers saw the story of Rizal as a one-sided approach.
This resulted in an overhype story of this hero such as saints. On the other side, some writers wrote
Rizal's life in a bad passion like Jose Rizal is a womanizer, short-tempered person, and any negative traits
of the said hero.

Read: Advent of a National Hero Chapter 1, pp 1-19. Zaide G. (1961). Jose Rizal; Life, Works and
Writings. Second Edition. Mnila, Philippines: Villanueva Bookstore

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

a. Know the different influences of the academic institutions related to Rizal

b. Know the life of our hero when he was in Binan, Ateneo and UST as a student
c. Appreciate the artistic talent of our hero as a painter

TOPIC OUTLINE
a. Schooldays in Binan, Ateneo and UST
b. Injustice to hero’s mother
c. The three Martyr priest
d. Rizal in Ateneo
e. Jose’s First Romance
f. Rizal in UST

OVERVIEW
In this part, we will tackle the early education of Rizal in Calamba, first formal education in Binan,
Scholastics triumphs at Ateneo and his Schooldays in University of Santo Tomas as a Medical Student.
This lesson will show you that our Hero was a typical son o Ilustrado Family received during his tie,
characterized bythe four (4) R’s – Reading Writing Arithmetic and Religion.

ACTIVATING

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Instruction: Use at least 50-100 words for your answers with this question. Use short coupon bond for
your answer.

LESSON
Schooldays in Binan

The first formal schooling of Rizal was in Binan, the natal town of his father. He attended private School
under Maestro Justiano Aquino Cruz, who was reputed to be a good teacher from 1870 – 1871. He was
whipped by the teacher to make him learn his lessons or to behave well and was given further
instruction by private tutors, such as Maestro Celestino and later Maestro Lucas Padua.

Later Jose’s father hired an Oldman, Leon Monroy, who had been his classmate, to give Rizal the first
lessons in Latin. This old Latin teacher lived in Rizal home, but he died five months later.

Jose goes to Binan Laguna

Using the Carromata, Jose and his older brother Paciano left Calamba to on the month of June 1870 for
his formal schooling. The School was 30 meters away from the house of Jose’s Aunt were he stayed.

From the very first day of Jose in Binan School he challenged his two classmates Pedro Cruz and
Andres lakundanan in a fight in a form of wrestling match and arm wrestling. Jose lost the latter fight by
reason of the fact that our hero has a weaker arm.

During Rizal’s free time, he and his classmate Jose Guevarra have a free lessons in drawing and
Painting to an Old Painter Juancho.

Being a Genius boy, Jose outshined his classmates in all subjects which lead to jealousy of his older
classmates for being intellectual superior. the result Jose had more fights inside and even outside the
class.

Injustice to Hero’s Mother

Dona Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that she aided her brother, Jose Alberto, in trying to
poison Alberto’s wife. Alberto had gone to Europe on a business trip. During his absence, his wife
abandoned their home and children. When he returned to Binan, he found her living with another man.
The unfaithful wife connived with the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil to fabricate with evidence that her
husband attempted to poison her, with Dona Teodora as an accomplice. The Guardia Civil make the
scene an opportunity to have revenge to Don Francisco for not giving bunch of grass for his horse.

The judge ordered that Dona Teodora be sent to the provincial jail in Sta. Cruz Laguna, Capital of Laguna
instead in Calamba Jail. The lieutenant forced the hero’s mother to walk on foot from Calamba to Sta.
Cruz, a distance of more than 50klms until it reached the royal Audiencia (Supreme Court).

The Martyrdom of GomBurZa

Dela Torre was a liberal governor. He abolished press censorship and encouraged the free and open
discussion of political issues. The Filipinos began to advocate political reforms. However, a change of
government in Spain hindered the regency from acting on the reforms. The Spanish Cortes restored the
monarchy.
A new Spanish Governor-General – General Rafael de Izquierdo – was sent to the Philippines to replace
Dela Torre. Izquierdo ended the freedom the Filipinos enjoyed briefly under the Dela Torre
administration. He reinstates forced labor, especially in the shipyards. Polistas or workers under Polo Y
Servicio under the worst condition resulted in internal revolt in the province. The Polistas work more
than eight (8) hours a day, but they were underpaid.

On the basis of fake evidence, the three priests were convicted and sentenced to death, alleging that
they are the Framers of the said revolt. They were strangled to death by means of the Garrote at the
Luneta. Years later, after the execution of the three Priests, Jose Rizal wrote of Burgos: “he awakened
my intellect and made me understand goodness and justice. His farewell words I shall always
remember”.

Scholastics Triumphs at Atene De Manila

When the Jesuits who had expelled from the Philippines in 1768, returned to Manila in 1859, they were
given the management of the Escuela Pia, whose name was changed to Ateneo Municipal, and later
become the Ateneo Manila. Rizal enters the Ateneo on June 10, 1872, accompanied by his brother. He
took the entrance examinations on Christian doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at the College of San Juan
de Letran and passed them. At first, Father Magin Ferrando, who was the college registrar, refused to
admit him for two reasons.

1. He was late for registration

2. He was sickly and undersized

Upon the intercession of Manuel Xerez Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was reluctantly admitted to
the Ateneo. Jose, as the first of his family to adopt the surname Rizal, their family had come under
suspicion of the Spanish authorities. At this time, Jose Studied in the Ateneo, and this College was
located in the Intramuros, within the wall of Manila. He first boarded in a house outside Intramuros, on
Caraballo Street, 25 minutes’ walk from the College.This boarding house was owned by a spinster
named Titay, who owned the Rizal Family the amount of 300 pesos.

Jesuit System of Education

Ateneo offers academic courses leading to the degree of A.B. and vocational courses in agriculture,
commerce, and mechanics. Students were divided into two groups, namely: the Roman Empire
consisting of the internos (boarders) and the Carthaginian Empire composed of the Externos (non-
boarders). Each Empire had its ranks. The best student in each Empire was the Empire, the second-best
the tribune, the third-best the Decurion, the fourth-best the centurion, and the fifth-best, the standard-
bearer. They had their distinctive banners, red for the Roman, and Blue for the Carthaginians. The
Ateneo students wore a uniform that consisted of “hemp-fabric trousers” and striped cotton coat.” The
coating material was called armadillo. Rizal’s first Professor was Fr. Jose Bech, whom he described as
tall thin man, with a body slightly bent forward, a hurried walk, an ascetic face, severe and inspired,
small deep sunken eyes, a sharp nose that was almost Greek, and thin lips forming an arc whose ends
fell toward the chin.

Summer Vacation (1873) Rizal did not particularly enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison.
Second-year in Ateneo (1873-74). Some of his classmates were new. Among them were three boys
from Binan, who had been his classmates in the school of Maestro Justiniano. In 1874, summer

vacation in Calamba, Rizal began to take an interest in reading Romantic novels. The First favorite novel
of Rizal was the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Later, Rizal read the Travels in the
Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German Scientist – Traveler who had visited the Philippines.

Fourth-year in Ateneo

After a refreshing and happy summer vacation, Rizal went back to Manila for his fourth-year course. On
June 14, 1875, he became an internee in Ateneo. One of his professors, this time was Fr. Francisco
Sanchez, a great Educator, and scholar. Years later, Rizal wrote of Father Sanchez in glowing terms,
showing his affection and gratitude. He described his Jesuits professor as “a model of rectitude,
solitude, and devotion to his pupils’ progress.”

First Romance of Rizal

After his graduation from the Ateneo, Rizal, who was then 16 years old, experience his first romance.
The girl was Segunda Katigbak, a pretty fourteen-year-old Batangeuena from Lipa.
For more information please see the link below ..

tinyurl.com/y9dtlnnz

At the University of Santo Tomas

Right after Jose graduated in Ateneo he transferred in University of Santo Tomas run by the
Dominicans. Both Don Francisco and Paciano desired that our hero should pursue higher learning, but
Dona Teodora has opposed it.

Jose had written father Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo, asking for advice on the choice of career. and
later on decided to undergo in the field of medicine. The reason why he studied medicine were:

1. He wanted to be a physician so that he might cure his mother’s failing eyesight

2. Father Rector of Ateneo finally answered his letter, recommending medicine.

Rizal also took the vocational course (Perito Agrimensor or expert Surveyor) in Ateneo at the age of 17
buthe could not be granted the title as surveyor because he was a minor at that time. the said course
later entitled to Jose on November 25, 1881.

Romances with other Girls

Every time we heard the word Jose Rizal we illogically conclude that this man had a lots of affairs, but in
my personal opinion, our hero wasn’t womanizer at all it is just his personality is very attractive and
charismatic to some woman.

after his heartbreak to his first love Segunda Katigbak He courted to a woman in Calamba which he
called her simply Miss L.

After visiting the said woman in her home, our hero suddenly stopped his courtship.

After few months, our hero boarded in Intramuros (walled city). Again, being a charismatic boy, he
courted a girl named Leonor Valenzuela, who was almost as tall as Jose. I considered this scene as one
of the classic love story in our history. Rizal courted Leonor Valenzuela using love notes written in
invisible ink.
Jose’s next Romance was his cousin from Camiling, yes! You read it right his next woman was Leonor
Rivera during his third year at UST

Literary talent of our Hero

Being an inclined writer, our hero won two consecutive years in a literary contest in Manila organized by
the Liceo Artistici – Literario (Artistic Literary – Lyceum). The Judges was overwhelmed in Rizal’s
literary work.

The board of Judges, composed of Spaniards, was overwhelmed by Rizal’s poem entitled “To the
Filipino Youth” and “The Council of Gods” for succeeding year. Our hero received a silver pen, feather-
shaped, and decorated with a gold ribbon and Gold Ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes,
a Spanish writer, D.N. Del Puzo as a prize for the said contest.