Activity 1

Instruction:

Briefly answer the following, not less than 2 sentences:

1. Describe the background of Rizal’s ancestry that might have contributed to his life and
education.
The background of Rizal’s ancestry was known as "Principalia" which means an
aristocracy of Spanish in the Philippines. Principalia because they possessed land money, in
fact they had sari-sari store before and their home is unique from the others. Having a
carriage was a prestigious symbol for illustrados throughout the Spanish era. Jose Rizal's
family was known as illustrados, which meant they were academically wealthy and
belonged to a mestizo family. Their family held Calamba's largest library, which housed over
1000 volumes of literature. Their religiousness is well-known in their family. Jose and his
siblings are morally pure and raise their children in a Catholic home. Rizal being in a
privileged family, had the chance to get the education which few people can't get because
of financial instability. Rizal's life was also impacted by his loving and caring large family, as
well as his love of nature, as evidenced by the lovely scenery that surrounds their home, and
his comprehension of faiths, which his mother taught him. Jose Rizal was able to read at the
age of five because, as we all know, they are "ilustrados." From that time forward, he
studied the Spanish family bible known as "Historia Sagrada," which enabled him to fight for
social reforms for their land against Dominican friars. Rizal's forefathers had been famous
even before he was born. They frequently attend a prominent school in Bian and succeed in
Latin and Spanish, particularly Jose Rizal, who was recognized for his outstanding promise at
a young age.

2. Compare the experience of Rizal as a student in Ateneo Municipal, UST, and in Madrid.
Rizal has always been eager to learn new things, although he has been a genius since
he was a child. Ateneo, his first university, obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree to exhibit his
love for the arts and language. He was originally behind in class in comparison to his peers,
but because of his dedication to his studies, he has been dubbed the Emperor for being the
most exceptional individual in just a month and graduated with the highest honors. He
subsequently moved to UST to study medicine for his mother, although he was less involved
in Ateneo. Rizal's academic performance in UST was not as impressive as that in Ateneo. He
was a good student in Medicine but not as gifted as he was in Arts and Letters. Despite this,
he was still one of the seven students who remained in the course in his last year at UST out
of the original batch of twenty-four (Jose, 2011). At the Ateneo de Madrid, he traveled and
studied French, English, and German. Rizal was regarded as a superb student who, despite
the difficulties he experienced, never gave up until he completed what he started.
3. Who were the important persons that influence Rizal in his intellectual pursuits?
Rizal's brother, Paciano, had a big influence on his intellectual aspirations.
Throughout his life, he mentored Rizal, and Rizal listened to him as if he were his second
parent. His teachers had also influenced his schooling, but Leon Monroy was the one who
truly taught him and sharpened his Basic Latin, reading, and writing skills. Doña Teodora
Alonso, Rizal's mother, was the most significant person in his academic endeavors of all the
people who had been with him; under her tutelage, Rizal acquired his appreciation for all
sorts of art and the beautiful nature that surrounded them. She drew his attention to the
world around him as she drew his attention to world around him.

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

Dapitan was Rizal's den for three years after his incarceration. He continues to study
medicine there, where he meets his wife Josephine Bracken while serving people and
treating their problems. During his time there, he completed a variety of initiatives,
including the construction of schools, hospitals, a water irrigation system, and the
placement of lampposts on every corner. Rizal's initiatives in Dapitan made him more active
in his field, allowing him to help more people and better the situation in Dapitan. Rizal
continued to pursue his medical career as well as his artistic interests in painting, sculpture,
drawing, and poetry writing. One project that has had an influence that is still in use today is
the big relief map of Mindanao shown across the plaza, which he employs in teaching
Geography.
5. How would you assess Rizal’s objection to the revolution?
Rizal's resistance to the revolution was motivated by a desire to do the right thing and
avoid a war between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. Rizal's true intentions are to educate
his countrymen, the Indios so that they might study and grasp what is going on, and then to
rally the Filipinos to redeem the land in a peaceful and orderly manner. Not the sharpest
swords or weapons, but his knowledge and skills were his strongest weapons.