RIZAL’S FAMILY

Jose Rizal, born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna, hailed from a remarkable family with
a diverse heritage. The Mercado-Rizal family had deep Chinese roots in their paternal lineage, with
Domingo Lam-co as their Chinese ancestor. He married Ines de la Rosa, who was of half Chinese descent.
Francisco Mercado, known for his surname meaning "market," was a wealthy farmer associated with the
Dominican friars. In 1782, Francisco became involved in local politics and was elected as the capital del
pueblo.

Juan Mercado, Francisco's son, followed in his father's political footsteps and served three terms in
various years. He married Alejandra Cirila, a native of Binan, and together, they had 13 children,
including Francisco Engracio, who would later become the father of Jose Rizal. Francisco Engracio was
born on April 18, 1818, in Binan, Laguna, and he was the youngest among Juan and Cirila Mercado's 13
offspring. Teodora Alfonso, the mother of Jose Rizal, belonged to one of the wealthiest families in Manila
and was known for her mathematical prowess and diligent work ethic.

Among the offspring of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alfonso were Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa,
Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Jose (the renowned Jose Rizal himself), Conception, Josefa, Trinidad, and Soledad.
Rizal shared a deep affection with all his siblings, but his relationship with his only brother, Paciano, was
particularly special, as Paciano assumed the role of a second father figure in Rizal's life. This family
background and the strong bonds among the Mercado-Rizal siblings played a significant role in shaping
the life and character of Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines.

Childhood and Early Education

Jose Rizal's upbringing in Calamba was marked by a nurturing and close-knit family atmosphere, where
they shared prayers and stories in the garden, instilling in him a deep love for nature. Despite his fragile
health, which necessitated a personal servant known as "aya," Rizal cherished his childhood, climbing
fruit trees, observing birds from a nipa cottage, admiring plants in the garden, and enjoying moonlit
walks by the river and lake with his aya. His mother, Doña Teodora, served as his first teacher, teaching
him the alphabet and prayers and recognizing his poetic talent, which she encouraged. Rizal's early
education involved private tutors, a common practice among Calamba's privileged class, with his third
tutor, Leon Monroy, teaching him basic Latin, Spanish, reading, and writing. At the age of nine, Rizal left
Calamba with his older brother Paciano to attend formal classes in Biñan, under the guidance of
Justiniano Aquino Cruz, Paciano's former teacher. His daily routine in Biñan included early rising, mass or
study, breakfast, morning and afternoon classes, prayer with cousins, and nighttime study. During his
time in Biñan, Rizal excelled in Latin and Spanish, and he also received painting lessons from Juancho,
who happened to be Cruz's father-in-law.

Student in Manila
Jose Rizal's education journey was a pivotal part of his life. Sent by his father, Don Francisco, to the
Ateneo Municipal, Rizal embarked on a six-year program known as Bachiller en Artes. He took the
entrance exam on June 10, 1872, and following his older brother Paciano's advice, adopted the name
"Jose Rizal" instead of Jose Mercado. At the Ateneo, students were divided into two groups: the Romans
and the Carthaginians. Remarkably, within just a month, Rizal emerged as "the emperor," a title
bestowed upon the most outstanding student.
From 1872 to 1877, Rizal excelled in his academic performance at the Ateneo. On March 14, 1877, he
graduated with a Bachiller en Artes degree, earning the highest honor. Don Francisco initially intended to
send Rizal to the University of Santo Tomas, but this plan faced opposition from Dona Teodora, Rizal's
mother. Consequently, in 1877-1878, Rizal enrolled at UST, where he attended courses in Philosophy and
Letters.

In the same year, he pursued a vocational course back at the Ateneo, earning the title of "perito
agrimensor" or expert surveyor, granted on November 25, 1881. However, during his second year at UST,
Rizal made a significant decision to shift his course to Medicine. This pivotal moment in 1882 marked the
beginning of his journey towards Europe, as he and Paciano made a secret pact. Rizal's goal was to
complete his medical studies and prepare for the great task of liberating the Philippines from Spanish
tyranny.

Rizal in Europe
On May 3, 1882, Jose Rizal left the Philippines for Spain, embarking on a transformative journey. By June
16, 1882, he had arrived in Barcelona during the summer vacation, reuniting with former classmates
from the Ateneo. These classmates organized a warm welcome party for Rizal in "Plaze de Cataluna." On
August 20, 1882, Rizal published an essay titled "El Amor Patrio" (Love of Country) in Diariong Tagalog,
using the pen name Laong Laan.

Following the summer vacation, Rizal moved to Madrid, where on November 3, 1882, he enrolled in
Medicine and Philosophy and Letters at the Universidad Central Madrid. He also pursued his interests in
painting and sculpture at the Academia de San Fernando and took classes in French, English, and
German at the Madrid Ateneo. Rizal even enrolled in fencing classes at the schools of Sanz and
Carbonell. In January of 1883, he began studying Italian, demonstrating his dedication to learning various
languages.

By June 1884, Rizal had earned the title of Licentiate in Medicine after passing the medical examinations.
However, he couldn't obtain the Doctorate in Medicine due to financial constraints resulting from family
issues in Calamba, including drought and increased hacienda rentals. Nonetheless, he continued his
academic pursuits, excelling in Greek and world history.

On June 19, 1885, Rizal obtained the degree of Licenciado en Filosofia y Letras (Licentiate in Philosophy
and Letters) from the Universidad Central de Madrid. During his time in Madrid, he engaged with fellow
Filipinos known as ilustrados, participating in informal programs like poetry readings and debates.
Although he briefly developed an interest in Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, he remained engaged to Leonor
Rivera, for whom he had written a poem in 1883. It was in Madrid, during a meeting at Pedro Paterno's
residence in 1884, that Rizal proposed the idea of writing a novel about Philippine society, which
eventually materialized as "Noli Me Tangere." He completed the first half of this influential novel while in
Madrid, marking a significant step in his mission to address the issues plaguing his homeland.