Aleha Marie R.

Angelada BS ECE-4A

ACTIVITY 3

Briefly answer the following:

1. Describe the background of Rizal's ancestry that might have contributed to his life and
education.

It was known that the Rizal family was considered as the wealthiest in the Philippines
during that time, the same reason why they were regarded as educated, privileged, and
powerful. They have Chinese blood as well as Japanese, Spanish, Malay, and even
Negrito blood. Jose Rizal grew up in a big family that consist of thirteen members his
parents, Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso Realonda, as well as nine sisters and
one brother. Jose Rizal's mother was his first instructor, teaching him how to read and
pray, as well as encouraging him to write poetry. The young Rizal was then taught Spanish
and Latin by private tutors before being moved to a private school in Biñan. Rizal’s family
possessed land, money and even their home is unique during that time, they also owned
a carriage which was considered prestigious symbol during the Spanish era. Aside from
their material possessions, their household was also known for their religiousness, Rizal
and his siblings were raised as morally upright people. One of the advantages of Rizal’s
life being privileged is that he was able to receive education that only a few can afford due
to widespread poverty. His large, loving family, his love of nature, his understanding of
faiths which his mother instilled in him became a big influence in Rizal’s life. Because of
Rizal’s privileged life, he was able to read at the age of five and he even started studying
the Spanish family bible at a young age. Because of his schooling, he was able to oppose
Dominican friars for regional social reforms. Even before he was born, Rizal's forefathers
were well-known. Jose Rizal attended a good school in Biñan and excelled in Latin and
Spanish. He was recognized for his outstanding aptitude at a young age.

2. Compare the experiences of Rizal as a student in Ateneo Municipal, UST, and in Madrid.

Rizal exhibited a great interest in learning at an early age and he was considered as a
genius child. His first university is Ateneo where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree,
demonstrating his passion for the arts and language. Rizal was initially behind in class,
but thanks to his dedication to his studies, he was dubbed the emperor for being the most
extraordinary individual in less than a month and graduated with honors. Rizal began his
education at Ateneo and afterwards transferred to UST to pursue medicine for his mother.
Rizal excelled in Medicine, but not as much as he excelled in Arts and Letters. Out of the
original batch of twenty-four students, he was one of seven who remained in the course
in his final year at UST. He traveled and studied French, English, and German at the
Ateneo de Madrid. Rizal's academic performance at UST were not as good as they were
at Ateneo, but he never gave up until he finished what he started. Rizal was considered
as a brilliant student who, despite adversity, never stopped learning and attaining his
ambitions.
3. Who were the important persons that influenced Rizal in his intellectual pursuits?

The important persons that really influenced Rizal in intellectual aspect is his mother,
Doña Teodora Alonso and also his older brother Paciano. Doña Teodora Alonso, was
Rizal’s first teacher, his guide in his academic aspirations. Rizal since at a young age
learned a lot of things from his mother, he was able to appreciate art and nature through
various landscapes that surrounds him under her teaching. It was also known that Doña
Teodora loves to read the young Jose stories that have moral lessons like the story of
the moth. His teachers had also had an impact on his education, but Leon Monroy was
the one who taught him Basic Latin, reading, and writing. As he grew up, his mother,
drew his attention to the world around him, ensuring that he had an active and engaged
view of the world. Paciano, Rizal's older brother, who mentored him throughout his
childhood, was an inspiration to him, and he listened to him as if he were his second
parent.

4. What were Rizal's activities in Dapitan and their impact?

Rizal stayed in Dapitan for many years, where he continued his study in medicine and
later on helped treating people. He completed a number of projects during his time there,
including the construction of schools, hospitals, and an irrigation system. While aiding
people and curing their problems in Dapitan, he met his wife Josephine Bracken. Rizal's
actions in Dapitan increased his involvement in his area, allowing him to aid more people
and improve the situation. The large relief map of Mindanao displayed across the plaza,
which he uses in teaching Geography, is one initiative that has had an impact that is still
used today. Rizal continued to work as a physician while also pursuing his artistic talents
in painting, sculpting, drawing, and poetry.

5. How would you assess Rizal's objection to the revolution?

Rizal's opposition to the revolution sprang from a desire to do the right thing and avoid a
Spanish-Filipino conflict. His ultimate motivation is to educate his people, the Indios, so
that they may study and comprehend what is going on, and then mobilize them to redeem
the land in a peaceful and orderly manner. His knowledge and skills were his most powerful
weapons, not his sharpest swords or weaponry. Rizal is great manifestation of a famous
phrase that states “The pen is mightier than the sword”. He didn’t participate in an actual
face to face fight but he battled using his knowledge through his works that depicted the
cruelty and the harsh reality during the Spanish era. He opposed the revolution because
he believed that successful reforms should originate from above. Rizal may have also
disproved the revolution because he believed that violence should not win. In addition, he
contradicted to the idea of revolution because he believed that the Philippines was not
ready for it. But Rizal remarked that launching an insurgency against the Spaniards would
only be considered if the country had the resources and the capacity to do so.