CHAPTER 1

ADVENT OF A NATIONAL HERO

Dr. Jose Rizal- is a unique of a many-splended genius who became the greatest hero of a nation.

The birth of a hero – Jose Rizal was born on the moonlit night of Wednesday, June 19, 1861, in the
lakeshore town of Calamba, Laguna Province , Philippines. His mother died during the delivery because
of his big head.

 As he recounted many years later in his student memoirs,” I was born in Calamba on 19 June,
1861 , between eleven and midnight, a few days before full moon .It was Wednesday and
coming out in this vale of tears would have lost my mother her life had she not vowed to the
virgin of Antipolo to take me to her sanctuary by way of pilgrimage.
 He was baptized in Catholic church of his town on June 22, aged three days old by, the parish
priest .
 It is name “Jose” was choose by his mother who was a devote of the Christian saint San Jose
(St.Joseph). died in Manila on January 5, 1898, at the age of 80.
 Doña Teodora ( 1826- 1911)- The hero’s mother, was born in Manila on November 8, 1826 and
was educated at the college of Santa Rosa, a well known college for girls in the city.
 She was remarkable woman , possessing refined culture, literacy talent, business ability, and
fortitude of Spartan women.
 Doña Teodora died in Manila on August 16, 1911, at the age of 85.

The Rizal Children – God blessed the marriage of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda
with eleven children. Two boys and nine girls.

1. Saturnina (1850-1913)- Oldest of the Rizal Children, nicknamed Neneng; She married: Manuel
T. Hidalgo of Tanawam, Batangas
2. Paciano (1851-1930)- Older brother and confidant of Jose Rizal ; after his younger’s brother’s
execution. He died on April 13, 1930 an old bachelor aged 79. He had two children by his
mistress (severena Decena) a boy and a girl.
3. Narcisa (1852-1939) – Her pet name was Sisa and she married Antonio Lopez ( nephew of
father Leoncio Lopez), a school teacher of Morong .
4. Olimpia ( 1855-1887)- Ypia was her pet name ; she married silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph
operator from Manila.
5. Lucia ( 1857- 1919)- She married Mariano her boss of Calamba, who was a nephew of father
Casanas. Herbosa died of cholera in 1889 and was denied Christian burial because he was a
brother -in – law of Dr. Rizal.
6. Maria ( 1859-1945)- Bjang was her nickname, she married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan ,
Laguna.
7. Jose ( 1861- 1896)- The greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius, his nickname was Pepe; Rizal
named him “ Francisco” after his father