Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Education

Lesson 3 – Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Early

Education

I die just when I see the dawn break,

Through the gloom of night, to herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood, thou shalt take,
Poured out the need for thy dear sake.
To dye with its crimson the walking ray”

-Mi Ultimo Adios Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines was a versatile genius. He was
a physician, poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, architect, historian, painter, sculptor,
educator, linguist, musician, naturalist, ethnologist, surveyor, engineer, farmer,
businessman, economist, geographer, cartographer, bibliophile, philologist,
grammarian, folklorist, philosopher, translator, inventor, magician, humorist,
satirist, polemicist, sportsman, traveler, and prophet. Jose Rizal is a product of
mixture of races. In his veins flowed the blood of both East and West – Negrito,
Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish. Predominantly, he was a
Malayan and was a magnificent specimen of manhood.

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 Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Education

Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso de Rizal y Quintos. Source: Vibal Foundation.

Rizal was the seventh of the eleven children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and
Teodora Alonso Realonda. He was ten siblings, namely Saturnina, Paciano,
Narcisa, Olimpia, Lucia, Maria, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad and Soledad. The
family of Rizal belonged to principalia. They had a simple, contented and happy
life.

Rizal’s family Tree. Source: Vibal Foundation.

Their family ties were intimately close. The parents of Rizal were very strict
and they taught their children to love God, to behave well, to be obedient, and to

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 Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Education
respect people, especially the old folks. Whenever their children including Jose
Rizal, got into mischief, they were given a sound spanking. His full name is Dr.
Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonzo Y Realonda. The title doctor was attached to
him as respect and honor. He studied doctor of medicine in Santo Tomas and
Universidad Central de Madrid. He practiced abroad by being an apprentice doctor.
The name Jose was chosen by his mother is a devotee of Christian saint San Jose
(St. Joseph) who was born on March 19th. The name Protacio was from the
calendar because everyone born on the 19th of June has an equivalent name in the
Catholic calendar Gervacio y Protacio and Sta. Juliana Falconeri. The real surname
of the Rizal family was Mercado, which was adopted in 1731 by his paternal great-
great grandfather, Domingo Lamco. Mercado means market or marketplace. The
name Rizal was the last name chosen by Don Francisco in fulfillment of the order
of Gov. General Narciso Claveria on November 11, 1849. It originated from the
Spanish word "Ricial" which means green fields. While according to Rizal on his
letter to Blumentritt, it was given to the family Rizal by the alcalde mayor of
Laguna. Thus, Jose Rizal was the only one who used the name because his family
preferred the name Mercado. Alonzo is an old surname of his mother’s family while
Realonda came from the surname of his mother’s godmother based on the culture
that time.

Early Life
The original house of the Rizals in Calamba,
Laguna where Dr. Jose Rizal. From Vibal
Foundation.
Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in
the lakeshore of Calamba, Laguna.
Accordingly, his mother Doǹa Teodora had
difficulty and almost died on his delivery
because he had a big head. In June 22, 1861, he
was baptized in the Catholic Church of
Calamba, Laguna by the parish priest, Father
Ruffino Collantes, with Father Pedro Casanas
as a sponsor. It was in 1865 when Jose Rizal
experienced by his first sorrow when his
younger sister, Concha, died of sickness.

It was the first time he shed tears caused by love. Jose and his father left
Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo in order to fulfill his mother’s vow which

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 Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Education
was made when Jose was born when he was 5 years old. It was the first trip of Jose
across Laguna de Bay and his pilgrimage to Antipolo. At the age of 8, Rizal wrote
his first poem entitled “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” (To my fellow children) in the
native language. He also wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog
comedy and it was staged in Calamba festival.

Criticism
There is no original manuscript that exist Rizal’s own hand writing. The said poem
was published a decade after Rizal’s execution as a appendix to: “ Kung Sino Man ang Kumanta
ng Florante: Kasaysayan ng Buhay ni Francisco Baltazar at Pag-uulat nang Kanyang
Karununga’t Kadakilaan” by: Herminigildo Cruz.The latter claimed that he received the poem
from his friend Gabriel Beato Francisco who got it from a certain Saturnino Racelis of Lukban,
a friend of Rizal. But the name of Racelis did not appear in any journal, diaries and writings
of Rizal. Allegedly, Racelis received the poem personally from Rizal. The poem could not have
been written when Rizal was 8 years old because during that time words were spelled with a
letter “c” instead of “k”. Also, the word kalayaan appeared twice in the poem when in fact during
the 19th century the word was not widely used. And how can Rizal use the word kalayaan at
the age of 8 when he first encountered the word at the age of 21? Did Rizal really write the
poem? Did he write it at the age of 8?

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
During his early years in Calamba, Rizal’s first teacher is his mother,
Teodora Alonzo Realonda. His mother graduated from Sta. Rosa College. He
learned the alphabet, prayers, and good manners from his mother. Also, Teodora
Alonzo's three uncles and brothers helped in educating Rizal. His Tiyo Manuel
taught him strengthen his body such as exercises and self-defense. Tiyo Jose
Alberto introduced him to the importance of books and the happiness found in
reading. While Tiyo Gregorio taught him the appreciation of the art of careful and
thorough observation and description of different things. He also had a teacher
named Leon Monroy, a former classmate of his father, Don Francisco hired to teach
him the language Latin.

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 Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Education
Jose Rizal studied his basic education in the school
of Maestro Justiano Aquino Cruz where his brother,
Paciano also studied. In the afternoon of his class, Jose
met Pedro, his bully classmate, and he challenged the
latter a fight. Jose Rizal defeated the bigger boy because
he has knowledge on wrestling. His classmate, Andres
Salandanan, challenged him to an arm-wrestling match
and because of having a weak arm, Jose lost. In the
succeeding days he had other fight with the boys of
Biñan.
Don Justiniano Aquino Cruz
From Google.com

Struggles of Family Rizal

After his basic education in Binan, Rizal and his family faced different
problems. Donya Teodora was accused of helping her brother Jose Alberto in the
plot to poison his wife. The lieutenant of the Guardia Civil who secretly hates Don
Francisco is connived by Alberto's unfaithful wife in putting pressure on Donya
Teodora. The judge who harbored a grudge against the Rizals ordered Donya
Teodora to be imprisoned in the provincial prison of Sta. Cruz. The Guardia Civil
lieutenant made Donya Teodora walk from Calamba to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. This
matter lasted until it came to the High Court (Royal Audiencia).
Concomitant with that sadness was a Cavite Mutiny on January 20, 1872 and
it was followed by the garote of the three martyr priests, Gomez, Burgos, and
Zamora on February 17, 1872. They feared that Paciano would be involved.
Paciano is studying at the Specialization of San Jose and is renting with Father
Burgos. The former was an assistant to the latter in fighting for the independence
and rights of Filipinos in the Catholic Church.
The unjust killing of the three priests was something that sowed the seed of
young Rizal's desire to fight the evil of his time.

ATENEO MUNICIPAL
At the age of 11, he studied at Ateneo Municipal. He took the entrance
examinations on Christian doctrine, arithmetic and reading at the College of San
Juan de Letran and passed them. Jose matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal. At
first, Father Magin Ferrando refused to admit him because Rizal is late for

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registration and he was sickly and undersized for his age. However, with the help
of Father Manuel Xeres Burgos, he was admitted at the Ateneo. When he
graduated, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors.

Criticism
If it is not because of the help of Fr. Manuel Xerez Burgos, Rizal will not be admitted in Ateneo
Municipal. Does this show that Rizal was only admitted to Ateneo due to palakasan system?

FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-73)

His first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Because
Rizal was newcomer and he knew little Spanish, he was
placed at the bottom of the class. After the first week, he
progressed rapidly and became “emperor”. He was the
brightest pupil in the whole class and he was awarded a
prize. To improve he took private lessons in Sta. Isabel
College during his noon break and he paid three pesos
for those Spanish lessons. In the second half of his first
year in Ateneo, Rizal did not try enough to retain
academic supremacy. He placed second at the end of the
year, although his grades were excellent.
Jose Rizal at age 13.
KnightsofRizal.com

SUMMER VACATION 1873 (MARCH)

Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation. He visited his mother in
prison without telling his father. He told her mother about his grade in Ateneo.

SECOND YEAR IN ATENEO (1873-74)

Rizal studied harder to regain his lost class leadership and he became
“emperor” again. At the end of the school year, he received excellent grades in all
his subjects and a gold medal.

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 Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Education
SUMMER VACATION 1874
Rizal visited his mother and he told her to about his scholastic triumphs in
Ateneo and funny tales about his professors and fellow students, in their
conversation, Doǹa Teodora told Rizal about her dream and the latter interpreted
it. Rizal told her mother that she would be released from prison and during that
the time Rizal was already in Manila.

THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1874-75)

Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in the previous year
despite of his family’s happiness. His grade remained excellent in all subjects but
he received only one medal. He himself was not impressed in his scholastic work.

FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO (1875-76)

He became an interno in Ateneo. Rizal was inspired by Fr. Francisco de Paula
Sanchez to study harder and to write poetry. He topped all his classmates in all
subjects and won five medals at the end of the school year.

LAST YEAR IN ATENEO (1876-77)

Rizal finished his last year in Ateneo in blaze of glory. He obtained the
highest grades (sobresaliente) in all subject. Accordingly, Rizal was the most
brilliant Atenean of his time.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo
Tomas taking the course on Philosophy and Letters.
During his first year, Rizal also studied Cosmology,
Metaphysical, Theodicy and History and also
Philosophy. In his first year of studying in
University of Santo Tomas, he came to know
Segunda Katigbak, a Batangueña, whom Rizal met
Segunda Katigbak and Manuel
when he was only a 16-year-old boy. They met when Luz. Source: Google.com

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the young hero visited his grandmother with his friend, Mariano Katigbak,
Segunda’s brother. The Katigbaks were close to Rizal’s grandmother, and
coincidentally, Segunda was at the grandma’s house when Rizal and Mariano
arrived. It was attraction at first sight. Segunda was also a close friend of Rizal’s
sister, Olympia, whom he visited every week at the La Concordia College. The two
became very close. However, Segunda was already engaged to be married to a man
who lived in her town, Manuel Luz so Rizal had to stop pursuing her.
After Rizal finished first year, he transferred to medical course because of the
advice of the rector of Ateneo, Fr. Pablo Ramon and his mother’s growing
blindness. While studying in Santo Tomas, Rizal also studied in Ateneo and he
took a vocational course leading to the title of perito agrimensor. As usual, Rizal
excelled in all subjects and obtained gold medals in agrimensor and topography.
At age of 17, Rizal passed the final examination as surveyor but he was not granted
the title because he was below age. The title was issued to him on November 25,
1881. Although Rizal was Tomasian, he frequently visited Ateneo not only because
of surveying course but because of his loyalty in Ateneo.
1878
Rizal was a sophomore medical student at the
University of Santo Tomas when he met Leonor “Orang”
Valenzuela. He is a boarder in the house of Doña Concha
Leyva in Intramuros and the family next door is the
Valenzuela Family. Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday
Valenzuela has a daughter and that Leonor “Orang”
Valenzuela who captured Rizal because of her impressive
height which comes along with great grace and elegance.
Rizal is always visiting their home even without any
special occasions. He is always welcomed because he was
Leonor Valenzuela. Source:
then well-known because of his clever sleight-of-hand Google.com
tricks.
Drawn with Orang, he pursued her and would always send her love letters
with invisible ink used for writing which can only be read if it would be heated over
a candle or a lamp. He used a mixture of some substances which he learned from
his chemistry where he can write without leaving any trace unless it would be put
under heat. But eventually, their love is like leaves folded together by time and they
consider themselves just friends

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 Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Education
Criticism
There are, however, documents that may serve as proof that Rizal’s efforts were
not effective. Some accounts say he was courting Leonor Valenzuela and and his second
cousin Leonor Rivera at the same time—thus the need for invisible letters. (Still, we need
to appreciate the effort that went with it.) Rivera apparently knew of this and gave way
to Rivera’s attraction for Rizal. When Rizal left for Spain in 1882, it was said that he
did say goodbye to Orang, but kept in touch with the help of Rizal’s close friend, Jose
“Chenggoy” Cecilio.

Chenggoy was the ultimate teaser—and maybe wingman?—who was amused

with the “rivalry” of the namesakes. On one of Chenggoy’s letters to Rizal, he wrote,
“…nagpipilit ang munting kasera (Leonor Rivera) na makita si Orang, pero dahil
natatakpan ng isang belong puti, hindi naming nakilala nang dumaan ang prusisyon sa
tapat ng bahay. Sinabi sa akin ni O(rang) na sabihin ko raw sa munting kasera na hindi
siya kumakaribal sa pag-iibigan ninyo. Que gulay, tukayo, anong gulo itong idinudulot
natin sa mga dalagang ito!” (Manebog 2013)

What do you think about the love letters? Why does it have to be written in
invisible ink? Could it be that the love lettes are written in secret so one could know?

SUMMER VACATION 1878

Rizal experienced brutality of Spanish officer. Rizal did not salute nor say
“Good Evening” to a vague figure who turned out to be a lieutenant of the Guardia
Civil. The lieutenant whipped out his sword and sashed Rizal on his back. Rizal
reported the incident to the Spanish government of the Philippines but nothing
came out of his complain because the abusive lieutenant was Spaniard.
1879
Rizal won first prize on a literary contest by the Liceo Artistico-Literary. He
received a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon for his prize-
winning poem, A La Juventud Filipino (To the Filipino Youth). Rizal was
congratulated by Jesuits, his professors in Ateneo and by his friends and relatives.

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1880
During his second year in medicine, he
moved from his old boarding house to Casa
Tomasina which was being managed by his Uncle
Antonio Rivera in Intramuros, Manila. During
this time, Rizal met Leonor Rivera. She was six
years younger than Rizal. Antonio Rivera and
Francisco Mercado (Rizal’s father) were cousins,
making Rizal and Rivera second or third cousins.
According to historian Austin Coates, Rivera was
attractive, had soft, wavy hair, engaging dimples,
and a captivating singing voice. She was
intelligent and knew how to play the piano. She
was reserved and soft-spoken, which, according
Leonor Rivera. Source: Google.com
to Rizal are ideal characteristics of a woman.
It was a perfect love story in the beginning: he, the intelligent charmer, and
she, the beautiful student who had a beautiful singing voice and was a talented
piano player. Soon, they fell in love. But as tragic love stories go, they were besieged
by obstacles. Leonor’s parents highly disapproved of their relationship as they were
wary of Rizal being a “filibuster.” In his letters, Rizal called Leonor “Taimis” to
hide her identity
The Liceo Artistico-Literary held another contest to commemorate the
centennial death anniversary of Cervantes, the Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and
famous author of Don Quixote, and it was opened for both Filipinos and Spaniards.
Rizal joined the contest and submitted his allegorical drama entitled El Consejo de
los Dioses (The Council of Gods). Once again, Rizal won first prize but the Spanish
community objected because the winning author was an Indio but despite of the
objections, the prize was awarded to Rizal.

1882
After he finished his study in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal decided
to study in Spain without seeking his parent’s permission and blessings. Finishing
his study was not the only reason why he wanted to go to Spain but also because
of his secret mission. Paciano approved the mission of Rizal which was to observed
the life, culture, language, customs, industries and commerce, and governments and
laws of the European nation to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his

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oppress people from Spanish tyranny. Before his secret departure, Jose Rizal wrote
a farewell letter for his parents and for Leonor Rivera.

Criticism
Why does Rizal remain loyal to Ateneo even if he is a Thomasian? Unlike the
Dominicans in Santo Tomas, the Jesuits Professors of Rizal in Ateneo loved him and
inspired him to ascend to greater heights of knowledge. The Dominicans showed racial
discrimination for Filipinos and Rizal doesn’t want to be treated that way.

REFERENCES
 Coates, Austin. Rizal: Filipino Nationalist and Martyr. Hong Kong: Oxford
University Press Quezon City: Malaya Books, 1969
 Ileto, Reynaldo. “Rizal and the Underside of Philippine History” In Filipinos
and their Revolution: Event, Discourse, and Historiography. Quezon City:
Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1998, pp. 29-78
 Martir. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 2007.
 Rizal, Jose. “ Memoirs of a Student in Manila,” Appendix Section of Gregorio
Zaide’s Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings
 Schumacher, John. The Propaganda Movement, 1880-1885: The Creation of
a Filipino Consciousness, The Making of a Revolution. Quezon City: Ateneo
de Manila University Press, 1997.

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