URDANETA CITY College of Teacher Education

UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

LESSON 4: RIZAL’S LIFE: FAMILY, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY
EDUCATION

Prepared by: JERYIEL E. TANDINGAN, LPT

At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:

a. appraise point out important landmark in the life of Jose Rizal:
b. analyze how these landmarks molded the mind and heart of Jose Rizal:
and
c. evaluate the people and events and their influence on Rizal’s early
years.

Family Background of Jose Rizal

Birth of Rizal: June 19, 1861

Birthplace: Calamba Laguna
Height: Between 4’11 ft to 5’2 ft

Rizal was raised to be a

good Catholic. He was baptized
at the Catholic of Calamba by
the parish priest Fr. Rufino
Collantes. At the age of 3, Jose Parents
would take part in the family
prayers. For Rizal education Father: Francisco Mercado (1818-1898) – He was the youngest of 13 offsprings
was very important particularly of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in Binan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in
during the Spanish period San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila. He was one of the tennats of
where the country experienced Dominican lands in Calamba.
brutality from the Spaniards.
Through education, it could Mother: Teodora Alonso y Realonda (1827-1913) – She was the 2nd child of
cure the problems of colonial Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa.
House of the Mercado Family (Rzal Family) located
Philippines. She was a business-minded woman, courteous, religious, hard-working, and well-
in Calamba, Laguna
Page 1 of 4
read. She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in  2 Boys, Paciano and Rizal
19113 in Manila  Rizal is 7th in order
 Trinidad (10th), who died last among them in 1851
Siblings
1. Saturnina (1850-19130 – Married to Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanauan, Early Childhood & Early Education
Batangas
1. Teodora Alonso, his mother,
2. Paciano (1851-1930) – During the Philippine revolution, he became a was Rizal’s first teacher. She
revolutionary general and retired to farming after the conflict. Though he taught Rizal how to read and
was thought to be a bachelor (unmarried) during his life, he actually had write. The prominent lesson
his own family. An avid supporter of his younger brother when he (Jose) learned as a young boy was
was abroad. from “The story of the moth.”

3. Narcisa (1852-1939) – Married to Antonio Lopez, a teacher from 2. Lucas Padua & Leon Monroy
Morong, Rizal were the first teachers of Rizal
hired by his father.
4. Olimpia (1855-1887) – Married to Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph
operator from Manila

5. Lucia (1857-1919) – Married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba. Her
husband was denied a Christian burian because he was associated with
Jose and was believed to have anti-friar sentiments.
6. Maria (1859-1945) – Married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna
7. (7th was Rizal 1861-1896)
8. Conception (1862-1865) – Died at the age of 3 because of epilepsy. It
was the first sorrow of Jose Rizal
9. Josefa (1865-1945) – Head of the women chapter of the Katipunan.
Died unmarried.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951) – A member of the Katipunan. Unmarried.
Influences from other members of his family
1. Uncle Gregorio taught him the value of hard work, to think for himself,
and to observe his surroundings keenly.
2. Uncle Jose encouraged him to sketch, paint and make sculptures
3. Uncle Manuel encouraged him to pursue his physical development. He
taught the young boy swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other sports.
4. His yaya (nanny) told stories of duwendes (dwarfs, ghosts, and
aswangs (evil spirits), the beautiful Mariang Makiling, and other tales on
the beautiful surroundings of his hometown that awakened the
imagination and creativity of the young boy.

11. Soledad (1870-1929) – Married to Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba

Summary:

 Jose has 10 siblings

Page 2 of 4
Artistic Endeavors
1. Poems written:
a. Sa Aking mga Kabata (To my fellow Children) – Jose wrote this
poem at the age of 8. It shows love one one’s native language.
b. Un Recuerco de Mi Pueblo (A Memory of my Town/ Isang Alaala Ng
Aking Bayan), a poem about Calamba in 1876, he was 15 y/o. In this
nostalgic poem, Jose Rizal remembers his childhood days in Calamba,
Laguna. Rizal had the happiest and most beautiful memories of the
place, the hospitality and friendliness as well as the industry of the
people of Calamba. Those memories were influential in molding his
character and his values.

Nagugunita ko ang nagdaang araw Di miminsang tumikim ng galak

ng kamusmusang kong kay sayang
pumanaw
sa gilid ng isang baybaying luntian
ng rumaragasang agos ng dagatan;
Kung alalahanin ang damping marahan
halik sa noo ko ng hanging magaslaw
ito'y naglalagos sa 'king katauhan
lalong sumisigla't nagbabagong buhay
Kung aking masdan ang liryong busilak
animo'y nagduruyan sa hanging
marahas
habang sa buhangin dito'y nakalatag
ang lubhang maalon, mapusok na dagat
Kung aking samyuin sa mga bulaklak
kabanguhan nito ay ikinakalat
ang bukang liwayway na nanganganinag
masayang bumabati, may ngiti sa lahat.
Naalaala kong may kasamang lumbay
ang kamusmusan ko nang nagdaang
araw
Kasama-sama ko'y inang mapagmahal
siyang nagpapaganda sa aba kong
buhay.
Naalaala kong lubhang mapanglaw
bayan kong Kalambang aking sinilangan
sa dalampasigan ng dagat-dagatan
sadlakan ng aking saya't kaaliwan
sa tabing-ilog mong lubhang mapanatag
Mababakas pa rin yaong mga yapak
na nag-uunahan sa 'yong mga gubat
sa iyong kapilya'y sa ganda ay salat
ang mga dasal ko'y laging nag-aalab
habang ako nama'y maligayang ganap
bisa ng hanging mo ay walang katulad.
Ang kagubatan mong kahanga-hanga
Nababanaag ko'y Kamay ng Lumikha
sa iyong himlayan ay wala nang luha
wala nang daranas ni munting balisa
ang bughaw mong langit na tinitingala
dala ang pag-ibig sa puso at diwa
buong kalikasa'y titik na mistula
aking nasisinag pangarap kong tuwa.
Ang kamusmusan ko sa bayan kong giliw
dito'y masagana ang saya ko't aliw
ng naggagandahang tugtog at awitin
siyang nagtataboy ng luha't hilahil
Hayo na, bumalik ka't muli mong dalawin
ang katauhan ko'y dagling pagsamahin
tulad ng pagbalik ng ibon sa hardin
sa pananagana ng bukong nagbitin.
Paalam sa iyo, ako'y magpupuyat
ako'y magbabantay, walang paghuhumpay
ang kabutihan mo na sa aking pangarap
Nawa'y daluyan ka ng biyaya't lingap
ng dakilang Diwa ng maamong palad;
tanging ikaw lamang panatang maalab
pagdarasal kita sa lahat ng oras
na ikaw ay laging manatiling tapat.

Page 3 of 4
 2. He made sculptures out of mud

3. He drew things surrounding their house like trees, flowers, birds,

butterflies, and anything he saw around him. He used charcoal and juices
of leaves and flowers for colors.

References:

Valenzuela & Calayag (2019). Rizal’s Life and Woks: Towards Social Awareness
and Nationalism. Great Books Trading. Quezon City

De Viana et al (2018). Jose Rizal: Social Reformer and Patriot. A study of His Life
and Times. Rex Book Store, Inc. Sampaloc, Manila

https://pinas.activeboard.com/t18734740/isang-alaala-ng-aking-bayan-
memories-of-my-town-jose-p-rizal/

https://www.joserizal.com/memories-of-my-
town/#:~:text=In%20%E2%80%9CMemories%20of%20My%20Town,childho
od%20days%20in%20Calamba%2C%20Laguna.&text=Those%20memories%
20were%20influential%20in%20molding%20his%20character%20and%20his
%20values.

http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2018/03/interpretation-memories-of-
my-town.html

Page 4 of 4