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Rizal’s Life and Works
Enrique G. Santos
Jeiel F. Ibañez
Mayra Christina M. Ambrocio, DEM
Mario F. Diozon
Francisco C. Doble
Arthur P. Limongco

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LAGUNA UNIVERSITY
Vision
Laguna University shall be a socially responsive educational institution of

choice providing holistically developed individuals in the Asia-Pacific Region.
Mission
Laguna University is committed to produce academically prepared and

technically skilled individuals who are socially and morally upright.

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Table of Contents
Module 1: The Hero, His Childhood and Family 1

Introduction 1
Learning Outcomes 1
Lesson 1. The Rizal’s Law 2
Lesson 2. A Hero is Born 5
Module 2: Rizal’s Educational Background 23

Introduction 23
Learning Outcomes 23
Lesson 1. Childhood Years in Calamba 24
Lesson 2. Early Education in Calamba and Binan 26
Lesson 3: Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo De Manila 31
Lesson 4. Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas 38
Module 3: Academics in Europe 46

Introduction 46
Lesson 1. In Sunny Spain 47
Lesson 2. Rizal in Paris and Berlin 52
Module 4: Rizal’s Novel and Blumentritt 59

Introduction 59
Lesson 1. The Savior of Noli Me Tangere 60
Lesson 2. Noli Me Tangere 63
Lesson 3. The First Meeting of Rizal and Blumentritt 66

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List of Figures
Figure Description
1.1 Rizal’s Family 11

1.2 Jose Rizal 14
1.3 Rizal’s Ancestral Home 15
2.1 Calamba Symbol 24
2.2 Story of the Moth Told by Rizal’s Mother 25
2.3 Rizal as a Young Boy 26
2.4 Ateneo Municipal (Intramuros) 31
2.5 UST (Intramuros) 38
3.1 Spain in World Map 47
3.2 Central University of Madrid 50
4.1 Maximo Viola
4.2 Noli Me Tangere (Original Copy)
4.3 Rizal and Blumentritt

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Course Code: GEM

Course Name: Rizal’s Life and Works
Course Description: A study of the life, works and writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the
national hero and martyr, as they relate to the socio-political situation of the Philippines
during his time and its implication to our present time. It traces the hero’s life, ideals,
concept of education, good government, and nationalism as embodied in his writings.
Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILO):

At the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Inculcate in the minds of students the inspiring life and achievement,

especially the selfless contribution to the growth of nationalism, of our national
hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, which have shaped to a large extent of our national
identity.
2. Inspire the students with a special love of country through a closer study of the
biography of Jose Rizal.
3. Inspire the students to dedicate their lives to the ideals of freedom and
nationalism;
4. Develop in the minds of the students the moral virtues that could be learned
through a closer look into the life of Dr. Jose Rizal;
5. Develop in a more realistic manner the ideals of moral character, personal
discipline, and civic virtues as inspired by Dr. Rizal;
6. Develop a more meaningful understanding of the relevance of the study of the
multi-faceted aspects of Rizal’s life so that the students may truly appreciate
his great love and services of his country and fellowmen.

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Course Requirements:
▪ Assessment Tasks - 60%
▪ Major Exams- 40%
____
Periodic Grade 100%
Prelim Grade = 60% (Activity 1-4) + 40% (Prelim exam)
Midterm Grade = 30 %( Prelim Grade) + 70 % [60% (Activity 5-

7) + 40% (Midterm exam)]
Final Grade = Total CS + Final Exam x 70% + 30% of the Midterm
Final Grade = 30 %( Midterm Grade) + 70 % [60% (Activity 8-10)

+ 40% (Final exam)]

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MODULE 1
THE HERO, HIS CHILDHOOD AND FAMILY
Introduction
Being a part of General Education Course, readings in Rizal’s life, works and writings focus
on the historiographical skills of the student. The student will be given a chance to read and reflect
on the context and topics which have a great relation in our history.
Students of Rizal will be required to read and analyze all information about Rizal. Students
and teachers will have an interactive experience using the blended learning approach. Students
were not allowed to parrot facts about Rizal’s past but to gain knowledge about Rizal’s experience
against the Spanish colonizer which can be used in proposing solutions to the problems of
Philippine society.
Welcome to the first lesson of the course Life and Works of Jose Rizal. This lesson provides
a discussion on the historical context and contents of the Rizal Law and examines the social,
political and economic conditions in the Philippines in the 19th century. This covers the historical
context of the Rizal Law to help you better understand the contents, rationale and importance of
the law. In addition, it highlights the events during the 19th century which is helpful in making the
life and works of Rizal be presented in a lighter and meaningful means.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, students should be able to:

1. Discuss how Rizal Bill became a law;
2. Explain the importance of Senate Bill and Republic Act 1425; and
3. Describe the genealogy of Dr. Jose Rizal.

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Lesson1. The Rizal’s Law (Republic Act 1425, 1956)
Many Filipino students are curious why they are still required to study the life and works of
Jose Rizal in college despite having studied the biography of Jose Rizal and his two novels in their
high school years. They believe that it might just be a repetition of the things they have learned
and that it would be a waste of time. Little did they know that they are mandated by the law to study
the life and works of Jose Rizal not only in high school but also in college and they might not even
have an idea what this law had gone through in order to be passed and approved. On June 12,
1956, Philippine Independence Day, the Republic Act 1425 (R.A. 1425) also known as the Rizal
Law was passed. It is an act “to include in the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, Colleges
and Universities courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, and for other
purposes”.
The sponsor of the said law (R.A. 1425) is our former president Jose P. Laurel. Senate bill
448 hopes to give people knowledge about the oppression suffered by the Filipinos during the
Spanish era and for the Filipinos to understand themselves and their country better and realize the
greatness of Rizal. Claro M. Recto is the main proponent of the senate bill 448. We all know in
politics there were people called “opposition”, Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo argued that the bill is a
violation of religious freedom because the religion that is only present in that bill is Roman Catholic,
he ask “how about the protestant and other religious group”? Going back to the Rizal’s Law, there
were three main goals of it:
1. To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our
heroes lived and died.
2. To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino’s
character.
3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and
writings.

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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE
RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO,
AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication to
the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal,
we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that have shaped the
national character;
WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the
youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by
the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic
conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore,
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and
universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as
basic texts.
The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to
implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing of
appropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to
carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations
providing for the exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a sworn written

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statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the second part of the first paragraph
of this section; but not from taking the course provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said
rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after their publication in the Official Gazette.
SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries
an adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said unexpurgated
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as
other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all
public or private schools, colleges and universities.
The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending
upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.
SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal
Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be
distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and
Barrio Councils throughout the country.
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine
hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines
by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school.
SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated
out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of
this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 12, 1956

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Lesson 2: A Hero is born (Web Books Publishing, n.d.)
Genealogy of Rizal
Rizal’s paternal lineage can be traced back to the village of Sionque in Chin-Chew (or
Chang-chow) district in Fujian, southern China, near the prosperous and ancient trading port of
Zaiton. Among his earliest identifiable ancestors were Siang-co and Zun-nio who gave birth to a
son who later acquired the name Lam-co, which in English means, “Lam, Esquire”. Lam-co
migrated to the Philippines sometime during the late 1600s.
In 1697, at the age of 35, Lam-co was baptized at the San Gabriel Church in the
predominantly Chinese community of Binondo. He adopted “Domingo” his baptismal day, as his
first name. He married a Chinese mestiza said to be half his age named Ines de la Rosa, who
belonged to an entrepreneurial family in Binondo. Ines was the daughter of Agustin Chin-co and
Jacinta Rafaela, a Chinese mestiza resident of the Parian.
With the rigid social stratification prevailing at that time, it was evident that Lam-co did not
come from the ranks of coolies, the class of migrant menial workers from China. Through his
association with two Spanish friars, Fr. Francisco Marquez, authority on Chinese grammar, and
Fr. Juan Caballero, he was invited to settle in the Dominican estate of San Isidro Labrador in Biñan,
Laguna. Lam-co was said to have been instrumental in the building of the irrigation works known
as Tubigan, which made the area where it was situated the richest part of the estate. He and his
family lived in the estate along with fellow immigrants from Chin-chew, China.
Lam-co and Ines de la Rosa had a son born in 1731. They named him Francisco Mercado,
believed as a gesture of gratitude to another friar of the same name, and also after a Spanish
mestizo friar renowned for his botanical studies. The surname “Mercado”, which means “market”
in Spanish, was quite appropriate, too, since many ethnic Chinese were merchants, and many
having adopted the same surname.
In 1771, Francisco Mercado married Bernarda Monica, a native of the nearby hacienda of
San Pedro Tunasan, then, like Biñan, was populated by many Chinese migrants, or Chinese
mestizos. They had two sons named Juan and Clemente. For a short period, he settled his family

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at the hacienda of San Juan Bautista in Calamba. However, hostility towards the Chinese
immigrants as well as natives of Chinese descent- a backlash from the British invasion of Manila
in 1762, during which the local Chinese supported the British against the Spaniards- forced
Francisco Mercado to return his family to Biñan.
Francisco Mercado owned the largest herd of carabaos in Biñan. He was active in local
politics. He was elected as the town’s capitan Del pueblo around 1783. Popular and good-natured,
he often stood as godfather during baptisms and weddings, as Biñan’s church records revealed.
He died in 1801.
His son, Juan Mercado married Cirila Alejandra, a daughter of one of Domingo Lam-co’s
godsons, and who hailed from Tubigan. The couple had 13 children. They lived in large house
made of stone in the center of Biñan. (One of his children, Francisco Engracio, born in Biñan
sometime in April 1818 was the father of Jose Rizal).
Like his father, Juan Mercado also served as the town’s capitan Del pueblo in 1808, 1813,
and 1823. On many occasions, “Capitan Juan”, as his town mates referred to him, was the
hermano mayor in religious and social affairs. Like his wife, he was benevolent and hardworking.
His status earned him the privilege of electing the Philippine representative to the Spanish
parliament in 1812. He died when his son, Francisco Engracio, was only eight years old.
With his sisters and brothers, Francisco Engracio helped his widowed mother in managing
the family’s business. He married Teodora Alonso Realonda de Quintos, a daughter of one of
Manila’s most distinguished families in 1848.
Sometime after 1849, in compliance with Governor Claveria’s decree ordering Filipinos to
adopt Spanish surnames (to facilitate documentation, for, many Filipino families shared the same
family name such as “De La Cruz”, etc.)– Francisco Engracio Mercado added “Rizal” to the family
surname, from the Spanish word “ricial”, which connotes a green field or pasture.
Francisco moved his family to Calamba, where he farmed lands leased from the
Dominican friars, growing sugar cane, rice and indigo. He also started a mixed orchard engaged
in trade, raised poultry, in all of which he was assisted by his wife Teodora. In time, Franciso’s
family became one of the wealthiest in Calamba.

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Meanings of Name
• Doctor- completed his medical course in Spain and was conferred the degree of
Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid.
• Jose- was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saints Joseph.
• Protacio- from Gervacio P. which came from a Christian calendar.
Mercado
Mercado adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great grandfather

of Jose Rizal) which the Spanish term Mercado means “market” in English. Their paternal great-
great grandfather, Chinese merchant Domingo Lamco, adopted the name ‘Mercado’ which means
‘market’. But Jose’s father, Francisco, who eventually became primarily a farmer, adopted the
surname ‘Rizal’ (originally ‘Ricial’, which means ‘the green of young growth’ or ‘green fields’). The
name was suggested by a provincial governor who is a friend of the family. The new name,
however, caused confusion in the commercial affairs of the family. Don Francisco thus settled on
the name ‘Rizal Mercado’ as a compromise, and often just used his more known surname
‘Mercado’.
• Rizal - from the word ‘ricial’ in Spanish means a field where wheat, cut while still
green sprout again.
• Alonzo- old surname of his mother
• Y- and
• Realonda- It was used by Dona Teodora from the surname of her grandmother
based on the culture by that time.
• June 19, 1861- moonlit of Wednesday between eleven and midnight Jose Rizal was
born in the lakeshore town of Calamba City Laguna.
• June 22, 1861- aged three days old. Rizal was baptized in the catholic church
• Father Rufino Collantes- a Batangueno, the parish priest who baptized Rizal.
• Father Pedro Casanas- Rizal’s godfather, native of Calamba and close friend of the
Rizal family.
• Lieutenant –General Jose Lemery- the Governor General of the Philippines when
Rizal was born.

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His birth
Jose P. Rizal was born on Wednesday night, June 19, 1861, in the lakeshore of Calamba,
Laguna. His mother, who almost died during the the delivery and who was also a devotee of the
Christian Saint San Jose (St. Joseph) gave him the name, Jose. He was baptized three days later
in the Catholic church of the same town. He was the seventh of the eleven children of Francisco
Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda.
Rizal’s Parents
Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonzo Realonda married on June 28, 1848 after which
they settle down in Calamba. The real surname of the Rizal family was Mercado which was
adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal) who was
a full bloodied Chinese). Rizal’s family acquired a second surname- Rizal which was given by a
Spanish Alcalde Mayor (provincial governor) of Laguna who was a family friend.
Don Francisco Mercado (1818-1898)
Don Francisco Mercado (1818-1898) born in Biñan Laguna on May 11,1818, studied
Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila, became a tenant farmer of the
Dominican owned hacienda, a hardy and independent minded man who talk less and worked more
have strong body and valiant in spirit.
At the age of eight, he lost his father in grew up into manhood under the care of his
mother. He was well-educated in terms of what was the standard in those days, having studied
Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila. It was here that he met and fell in love
with Teodora Alonso Realonda. They were married in the year 1848 and settled in Calamba where
they engaged in farming and business and reared a big family.
The father of Jose Rizal was of Chinese origin. The great grandfather of Francis
Mercado Rizal was Domingo Lam-co who came from a foreign province in China. They first settled
in Parian district, but because of land disputes, they resettled in Biñan, Laguna. He married Inez
de la Rosa who was also a Chinese mestiza who bore him two children (Francisco and Josefa).

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Domingo gave the surname Mercado (which means a merchant) to his son Francisco,
because they came from a line of respectable merchants. To him, Mercado is also a nice Spanish
name that would banish the prejudice directed toward Chinese sounding surnames.
Francisco Mercado Sr. Married Bernarda Monicha (also a Chinese mestiza). They had
2 children, Juan and Clemente. Juan who has been the mayor of Biñan thrice married Cirila
Alejandro. They had 14 children, and one of those is Francisco Mercado Jr. when his sister
Potenciana who took care of him died, he married Teodora Alonzo on June 28, 1848.
In his early manhood, after his parent’s death, he had already moved to Calamba where
he become a tenant farmer of the Dominican own hacienda. He was described as a silent, but
industrious and independent man, who died of old age at 80.
In 1849, General Narciso Claveria decreed that all native should have a distinctive family
name. Don Francisco was not satisfied with his surname, so he adopted the Spanish name Rizal.
Which meant a green field for pasture or a field which is green after the grain has been cut. In his
baptismal records, his name was written as Don Francisco Rizal Mercado.
Don Francisco was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in
Biñan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.
In his younger days, he was described as a “model father” and as a man “of solid
shoulders, strong constitution, rather tall, serious and noble.” He studied Latin and philosophy at
the College of San Jose, Manila. He died at the age of 80, a year after the hero’s execution.
His diligence catapulted him into the ranks of the wealthy in Calamba. For a time, he
became Cabeza de Barangay in Calamba. He was the first to build a stone house and buy another,
own a library and send his children to school in Manila.
In Just 6 days after the death of Jose Rizal, Don Francisco Mercado died in the house
of his daughter Narcisa on Calle Estruede in Binondo, Manila (this information is still controversial
as to other literatures said that he died after a year).

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Doña Teodora Alonso (1826-1911)
Doña Teodora Alonzo Realonda (1828- 1911) - born in Manila on November 8, 1826,
educated at the College of Sta. Rosa, a well-known college for girls in the city, a remarkable
woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent, business ability and the fortitude of Spartan
women, is a woman of more than ordinary culture, she knows literature and speaks Spanish
(according to Rizal), died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85.
The mother of Jose Rizal was a native of Manila, who for several years had been
residing with her mother in Calamba, Laguna (before she met her husband - Don Francisco Rizal
Mercado). All the branches of her family was richer than her husband. There were numerous
lawyers and priests among them and they were influential in the country. She was born in Santa
Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in Manila.
The mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de
Quintos. She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman,
courteous, religious, hard-working and well-read. She is not a woman of ordinary culture; she
knows literature and speaks Spanish better than Jose Rizal. She is a mathematician and has read
many books. She was a business woman of no mean ability, but this fact did not prevent her from
looking well after the comfort and education of her big family. Twice imprisoned by the authorities
for flimsy reasons, she bravely endured the persecutions heaped upon her and her family. She
was baptized in Santa Cruz, Manila, November 18, 1827, as Teodora Morales Alonzo.
Rizal’s mother, younger by eight years than her husband, was born in Manila on
November 8 =, 1826. She studied at the college of Sta. Rosa, which was a well-known college at
that time. She is described as an intelligent, cultured, and likewise a woman of strong character.
She did not speak Spanish fluently, but also a mathematician. She was a remarkable woman.
It was said that Doña Teodora’s family descended from the royalty or from Lakandula,
the last native king of Tondo. Her great grandfather was of Japanese ancestry, who married a
Filipina named Benigna and whose daughter married a Filipino-Chinese lawyer from Pangasinan.
The couple had a daughter by the name of Brigada who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a
prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo from Biñan. Teodora Alonso, Rizal’s mother was their
daughter.
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The Rizal Children
Figure 1.1 Rizal’s Eleven Children

Source: http://shamsgray.blogspot.com/2016/08/transcript-of-family-background-of-jose.html
Saturnina (1850 -1913)

She is the eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. She married Manuel Timoteo
Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. She and her mother provided Jose with good basic education
that in the age of three, Jose already knows his alphabet. She was always been a loving ‘Ate’
Neneng to Jose. Her husband has been the hero’s favorite brother in law, for the
correspondence between them lasted from Rizal’s student days until the year of his execution.
The Hidalgos had five children (Alfredo, Adela, Abelardo, Amelia, and Augusto). In 1909
Saturnina published Pascual H. Poblete’s Tagalog translation of the Noli Me Tangere.
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Paciano Rizal (1851-1930)
He is the older brother and confidant of Dr. Jose Rizal, was a second father to Rizal,
immortalized him in Rizal’s first novel Noli Me Tangere as Pilosopo Tasyo, Rizal regarded him
as the “most noble of Filipinos”, became a combat general in Philippine Revolution, died on
April 13,1930 an old bachelor aged 79, had two children by his mistress Severina Decena- a
boy and a girl.He helped their parents to choose a tutor for young Jose and later acted as
Jose’s guardian in school. Paciano helped Jose go to Europe in 1882 secretly and was the one
who told their parents about his departure. He constantly updated Jose about their family and
what was going on in the country through letters, and for five years he sends his brother 50
pesos, later 35 pesos monthly.
He became an agriculturist, like his father, he had a college education in Manila. He was
a second father to his younger brother Jose and gave him wise council. Immediately after
hero’s execution, he joined the revolutionary army and rose to the rank of Major General. He
returned to his farm in Los Baños after the restoration of peace and led the life of gentleman-
farmer and an exemplary citizen. He learned English through self-study and his favorite
periodical was the Philippine Free Press. With Severina Decena of Los Baños, he had two
children, a boy and a girl (Decena and Emiliana).
Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939)
Narcisa’s pet name was Sisa, married to Antonio Lopez (nephew of Father Leoncio
Lopez) a school teacher of Morong. She is the third child. She married Antonio Lopez at
Morong, Rizal; a teacher and musician. It is said that Doña Sisa could recite from memory
almost all the poems of Dr. Rizal. She had nine children (Emilio, Angelica, Antonio,
Consuelo, Leoncio, Isabel, Francisco, Arsenio, and Fidela)
Olympia Rizal (1855- 1887)
Ypia was her pet name, married Silvestre Ubaldo a telegraph operator from Manila. Her
husband was a telegraph operator from Manila. Following her husband, she moved from one
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station to another, like Bulacan, Albay, and Manila. They had only one child (Aristeo, Cesario
and another boy, both of whom died young).
Lucia Rizal (1857- 1919)
Lucia is the fifth child. She was married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who was a
nephew of Father Casanas, Herbosa died of cholera in 1889 and was denied Christian burial
because he was a brother in law of Dr. Jose Rizal. She had eight children (Delfina, Concepcion,
Patrocinio, Teodosio, Estanislao, Paz, Victoria, and Jose).
Maria Rizal (1859- 1945)
Biang was her nickname, married to Daniel Faustino of Binan Laguna. She is the sixth
child. She married Daniel Faustino Cruz, scion of a wealthy family of Biñan, Laguna. She had
five children (Encarnacion, Mauricio, Petrona, Paz, and Prudencio, the last three of whom died
young).
Jose Rizal (1861- 1896)
Jose Rizal is the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius, nickname Pepe, lived with
Josephine Bracken, Irish girl from Hong Kong, had a son but this baby boy died a few hours after
birth, Rizal named him “Francisco” after his father and buried him in Dapitan.
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Figure 1.2 Jose Rizal (1861- 1896)

Source: https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/01/02/1881538/jose-rizals-ideals-and-ideas
Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865)

Concepcion’s pet name was Concha, died of sickness at the age of three; her death was
Rizal first sorrow.
Josefa Rizal (1865-1945)
Josefa’s pet name was Panggoy, died an old maid in 1951 aged 83.She is the ninth child.
An epileptic and died a spinster. She lived together with Trinidad “Training” until death separated
them. She became members of the women’s section of the Katipunan. Rizal always called her
sisters Dona or Senora (if married) and Senorita (if single)
Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951)
She is the tenth child. She died a spinster and the last of the family to die. She also became
members of the women’s section of the Katipunan with Josefa.
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Soledad (1870-1929)
Soledad is the youngest of the Rizal children, her pet name was Choleng, married
Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba. She also studied at La Concordia College, where she and Leonor
Rivera were classmates and chums. She had five children (Trinitario, Amelia, Luisa, and Serafine
and Felix, both of whom died young).
The Rizal‘s Home
The Rizal’s home was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during the
Spanish times. It was a two story building, rectangular in shape, built of adobe stones and hard
woods and roof with red tiles. By day, it hummed with the noises of children at play and the songs
of the birds in the garden. By night it echoed dulcet notes of family prayers. The Rizal family
belonged to the principally a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines. The Rizal family had a simple,
contented and happy life. The Ancestors of Jose Rizal are all wealthy. The branch of the father
side were clan of respectful merchants, while the mother side were lawyers, and priests. The fifth
generation family of Jose Rizal belongs to the middle class, but because of his hard working father,
they catapulted among the wealthy ranks in Calamba, Laguna. However it all went down when
Don Francisco failed to give an agent of the hacienda a turkey because his flock had been
decimated by death. Since then the administrators of the hacienda doubled the rent and has raised
it for several times, but Don Francisco refused to pay the rent and took the matter to the court.
Other tenants followed his example and refused to pay the rent as well. The administrator of the
hacienda evicted them along with other tenants. All their property were destroyed. Because of this,
the family of Jose Rizal had to transfer to Los Baños and start over again.
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Figure 1.3 Rizal’s Ancestral Home

Source: http://lfrbonn.blogspot.com/2011/08/jose-rizals-house-in-calamba.html
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Assessment Task 1
A. TRUE or FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is true and write FALSE if the statement is
False. (Rizal Family) 10 Points
1. _________ Rizal was born on the moonlit of Friday on June 19, 1861.
2. _________ Father Casanas was the Priest who baptized Jose Rizal.
3. _________ Gen. Polavieja was the governor-general in the Philippines when Rizal was born.
4. _________ Rizal was five days old when he was baptized in a Catholic church.
5. _________ Father Collantes was the godfather of Jose Rizal.
6._________ Francisco Mercado was born in Calamba, Laguna
7. _________Teodora Alonzo studied Latin and Philosophy at Santa Rosa College.
8. _________ Rizal’s grandfather was Juan Mercado.
9. _________ Francisco Mercado studied at San Jose College.
10. ________ Jose Rizal was seventh of the eleven children.
B. Identification. 10 Points
Note: Write your answer using a single word and start with a capital letter except when the
answer is numeric. Computer software will check your paper. Follow instructions.
1. _____________ the year when Lamco was baptized in a Catholic Church.

2. _____________ The adopted Christian name of Rizal’s great-great grandfather.
3. ____________ The country where Rizal’s paternal ancestry originated.
4. _____________ The first name of Lam-co’s first son.
5. _____________ The English equivalent of the surname “Mercado”
6. _____________ The native town of the Mercado family before Calamba.
7. _____________ The first name of Rizal’s only brother.
8. _____________ The year when Rizal’s parents got married.
9. _____________ The ancestry of Teodora Alonzo’s great grandfather.
10. ____________ the last native king of Tondo where Teodora Alonzo descended
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C. MATCHING TYPE. Match Column A with Column B. Write only the letters. 10 Points
(A) (B)
_____ 1. Soledad A. 1945
_____ 2. Trinidad B. 1862
_____ 3. Rizal C. 1896
_____ 4. Conception D. 1868
_____ 5. Maria E. 1929
_____ 6. Lucia F. 1913
_____ 7. Olympia G. 1851
_____ 8. Narcisi H. 1939
_____ 9. Pacino I. 1887
_____10. Saturnine J. 1857
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D. ESSAY. Write a short essay on the importance of Republic Act. 1425 otherwise known as
Rizal Law on the students as a mandated course. Limit your answer to a single page.
(10 Points)
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Summary
Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law, mandates all educational institutions in the
Philippines to offer courses about José Rizal. An Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public and
Private Schools, Colleges and Universities Courses On the Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal,
Particularly His Novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and
Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes. The measure was strongly opposed by the Roman
Catholic Church in the Philippines due to the anti-clerical themes in Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo.
Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the then Rizal Bill. He sought to sponsor
the bill at Congress and on May 12, 1956, a compromise inserted by Committee on Education
chairman Laurel that accommodated the objections of the Catholic Church was approved
unanimously. The bill specified that only college (university) students would have the option of
reading unexpurgated versions of clerically-contested reading material, such as Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo.[1][3][6] The bill was enacted on June 12, 1956,[3] Flag Day.
As to Dr. Jose P. Rizal, he was born on June 19, 1861, on the night of a Wednesday at the
town of Calamba, Laguna and was baptized in the Catholic church of his town on June 22, 1861.
His father was Francisco Mercado (1818-1898) who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan
and Cirila Mercado, born in Biñan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila;
and died in Manila. ▪ His mother Teodora Alonzo (1827-1913) was the second child of Lorenzo
Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-
minded woman, courteous, religious, hard-working and well-read. She was born in Santa Cruz,
Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in Manila.
Jose Rizal’s parents had 11 children and they were. They were: SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-
1913) Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan,
Batangas. PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930) only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied
at San Jose College in Manila; became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.
NARCISA RIZAL (1852-1939) the third child. married Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal; a teacher
and musician. OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887) the fourth child. Married Silvestre Ubaldo; died in
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1887 from childbirth. LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919) the fifth child. Married Matriano Herbosa.MARIA
RIZAL (1859-1945) The sixth child married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.JOSE RIZAL
(1861-1896) The second son and the seventh child, our national hero and was executed by the
Spaniards on December 30,1896.
CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865) the eight child died at the age of three. JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-
1945) the ninth child. An epileptic, died a spinster. TRINIDAD RIZAL (1868-1951) the tenth child.
Died a spinster and the last of the family to die. SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929) the youngest child
married Pantaleon Quintero.
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References
Acibo, L. A, & Andaza, E. G. (1995). Jose P. Rizal, His Life, Works,

And Role in the Philippine Revolution. Rex Book Store, Recto Avenue, Manila
Republic Act. 1425. (1956). https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425
The Mercado – Rizal Family. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.knights-of-rizal.be/rizal-family/
Web Books Publishing. (n.d.). Chapter II: Rizal’s Ancestry. Retrieved from: http://www.web-
books.com/Classics/ON/B0/B892/04MB892.html
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MODULE 2
RIZAL’S EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Introduction
In this Module we will talk about how young Rizal became a one of a kind student inside
and outside in his beloved town. This lesson provides information about the schools, the
teachers and the educational system that Rizal once included.
Learning Outcomes
1. Explain the significance of family and home on Jose Rizal’s early achievements;
2. Identify the influences in Jose Rizal’s young life that inculcated his aspirations and values;
3. Identify Jose Rizal’s life and outstanding academic achievements as a student in the
country;
4. Discuss Rizal’s education that developed him as an exceptional person; and
5. Discuss the system of education during the time of Jose Rizal.
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Lesson 1. Childhood Years in Calamba (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Calamba was named after a big native jar. Calamba was a hacienda town which belonged
to the Dominican Order, which also owned all the lands around it. UN Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In
Memory of My Town) a poem about Rizal’s beloved town written by Rizal in 1876 when he was 15
years old and was student in the Ateneo de Manila. The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was
his happy days in the family garden when he was three years old.
Figure 2.1 Calamba Symbol “Banga” or Palayok.

Source: https://tagacalamba.wixsite.com/calamba/single-post/2015/12/24/CULTURE-The-Calamba-
Symbol-Banga-o-Palayok
Another childhood memory was the daily angelus prayer by nightfall Rizal related, his
mother gathered all the children at the house to pray the angelus. Another memory of Rizal’s
infancy was the nocturnal walk in the town, especially when there was a moon.
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The death of little Concha brought Rizal his first sorrow. At the age of three, Rizal began
to take part in the family prayers. When Rizal was five years old he was able to read haltingly the
Spanish family bible.
The story of the Moth –made the profoundest impression on Rizal, died a martyr to its
illusions. At the age of five Rizal began to make sketches with his pencil and to mould in clay and
wax objects which attracted his fancy. Sa Aking mga Kabata (To my fellow children) – Rizal’s first
poem in native language. At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which was a
Tagalog comedy.
Figure 2.2 The Story of Moth Told by Rizal’s Mother

Source: https://filipiknow.net/jose-rizal-facts/
Rizal’s heritage therefore was a rich blending of the features of the East and West; there
were Negrito, Indonesian, Malay, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish blood that flowed in his veins,
although he was a predominantly a Malayan.
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Lesson 2. Early Education in Calamba and Binan (Acibo & Andaza,

1995)
The childhood of Jose Rizal can be characterized by his desire to learn, even frequenting
the church nearby his home to watch and observe people. The following are the influences on
the hero’s boyhood:
1. Hereditary influence
2. Environmental influence
3. Aid of divine providence
Jose Rizal’s hereditary Influence were from the Malayan ancestors, the love for freedom;
innate desire to travel and his indomitable courage. His environmental Influence dwells from the
scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the Rizal family stimulated Rizal’s inborn
artistic and literary talent. The religious atmosphere at home fortified his religious nature.
Figure 2.3 Rizal as a Young Boy

Source: https://www.joserizal.com/childhood-jose-rizal/
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“The childhood of Jose Rizal can be characterized by his desire to learn, even frequenting
the church nearby his home to watch and observe people but not to be religiously inclined. Jose
Rizal was not a physically blessed or strong. However, he had a strong will guided and taught by
his mother, his first teacher. He learned almost without the use of books. His mother was the one
who laid the foundation of his great knowledge achieved in such a short time. His brilliance was
also the character of the young Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal learned his letters at the age of three, after
insisting that he be taught to read and share the lessons learned by his elder sister. Rizal even
tried to spell out the words of his sister’s story book with the use of a syllabi in such a way that one
does when using a dictionary in a foreign language. He also spent much of this time in a church
nearby his house just watching or observing the people coming in and out. Three uncles who were
brothers of his mother also had much influence on the early childhood of Jose Rizal. The youngest
uncle named Jose, took care of teaching regular lessons to Rizal. His huge uncle Manuel
developed his physique until he had a body of silk and steel and no longer a skinny and sickly boy.
The last uncle, Gregorio instilled in the mind of Rizal that it was not easy to obtain something until
you put effort into it. There was a also a time when Rizal was able to draw a bird flying nearby
without lifting the pencil he was using from the paper till the picture he drew was finished. He can
also draw a running horse and a chasing dog. Clay and wax were the favorite play materials of
Rizal. He used these materials in forming modeled birds and butterflies. This animal molding
activity also started his study of nature.” (Source: Jose Rizal.com https://www.joserizal.com/childhood-jose-
rizal/)
Paciano who instilled in his mind the love for freedom and justice advice Rizal to dropped
the last three names in his full name and thus enrolled at the Ateneo as ‘Jose Protasio Rizal.
Paciano, the second of eleven children of Don Francisco and Doña Teodora, is the only brother of
Dr. Jose Rizal. When he was a student at the College of San Jose, Paciano had used “Mercado”
as his last name. But because he had gained notoriety with his links to Father Burgos of the
‘Gomburza,’ he suggested that Jose use the surname ‘Rizal’ for his own safety.
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Daily Life in Binan (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
After a tearful parting with his sisters and kissing his parents’ hand. Rizal left Calamba for
Biñan in June 1869, accompanied by Paciano, who usual acted his second father. After an hour
and a half’s travel in carromata, they arrived in their aunt’s house where Jose was supposed to
stay. That very night, he could not sleep and he and his cousin Leandro went sightseeing around
the town just as the moon was about to rise. Although Biñan was such a beautiful place, he felt
lonely and remembered his parents and sisters, who were left behind.
The next day, Paciano brought him to the school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz, who
was a former teacher of Paciano. The school was a small nipa hut, and was only 30 meters from
where their aunt lived. His first day in school was marred by unpleasant events. His classmates
laughed at him, especially the teacher’s son, Pedro, when he answered the teacher’s query on his
knowledge of Spanish and Latin. He experienced his first brawl with Pedro, and defeated him in
spite of the latter’s greater physical build, but lost to another classmate in an arm wrestling match.
Though not tall in structure and sturdy in strength, Rizal’s courage and spirit was so strong that he
never run away from a fight.
Rizal’s life in Biñan however, were not all fights, but were pleasurable, especially in his
relationship with Juancho, the father-in-law of his teacher, whose interest was on painting. It was
here where his love for painting was reborn and together with his classmate, Jose Guevarra
became the apprentice of the old man and were latter dubbed as the “painters of the class”
In general, after that, his life in Biñan was routinary; he disciplines himself to do things that
were important. His methodological ways of doing things were to help him later in his role as one
of the leaders of the propaganda Movement. In school, he was the best student. He was top in the
academic subjects. This incurred the hatred and jealousy of some of them, who would tell lies
about him to the teacher that is not unusual that in spite of his reputation being a good boy, he was
receiving almost a daily physical punishment of five or six blows as he was laid out in the school
bench. After his schooling in Biñan for a year and a half, he took the steamer 27 “talim” which
brought him from Biñan to Calamba. On the boat was a Frenchman named Arturo Campos, his
father’s friend, who took care of him during the voyage. He left Biñan with a heavy heart knowing
that he would not back again. It was during the early days of his education that events were taking
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place which disturbed his usual routinely life. These were the two events that took place which
brought sorrow to his life 1.) The execution of three priest: Gomez, Burgos and Zamora. And 2)
the imprisonment of his mother at the time of these two events, Rizal was only eleven years of age
The first took place two years after his departure from Biñan, on February 17, 1872 and
the second, barely six months after the former, on June 1872, his mother’s arrest.
Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
On January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino soldiers and workers of the Cavite arsenal rose in
mutiny under the leadership of La Madrid, a Filipino sergeant caused by the abolition of their usual
privileges. They are not exempted from tribute and forced labor, called polo at that time, by the
iron strong Governor Rafael Izquierdo. The mutiny was suppressed later in two days and this gave
the governor a chance to use this issue to liquidate the three priests, the three priest who courted
his ire by advocating the secular movement to Filipinize the Philippine parishes, and their
supporters, Lawyers Joaquin Pardo de Tavera and Antonio Ma. Regidor.
In spite of archbishop’s plea for clemency because of their innocence, they were executed
at sunrise on February 17, 1892. Their death and manner of execution was mourned not only by
the Rizal but also by many other patriotic families in the country. Father Burgos was a friend, a
classmate and teacher of Paciano, who grieved by the execution. Paciano quit his studies and left
Manila and returned to Calamba. He told his brother Jose about the news. Although Rizal was only
eleven years of age, the events aroused his indignation and vowed himself that within the proper
time, he would help save his country from the brutal clutches of the Spaniards. He never forgot the
incident and considered it as one of the crucial events in his life in his youth. Even at that age,
although in his imagination only, he swore to avenge the cruelties which he had seen and
witnessed. In the later part of his adult life, still carrying the memory of the execution of his brother’s
friend and the other two priests, he dedicated his second Novel “El Filibusterismo” to the three
priests.
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Injustice to Hero’s Mother (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
In both imprisonments, Rizal’s mother was forced to walk rough roads before being locked
up in the prison cell in Santa Cruz, Laguna. When she was incarcerated for the first time, some
histories claim that she did a gruesome 50-kilometer walk, while others state ‘16 kilometers’. So
why is there a discrepancy? Which figure is plausible?
Online distance calculators today indicate that Calamba is 43-kilometer away from Santa
Cruz, suggesting that the ‘50 kilometers’ claim is more plausible. But that is if the walk was really
from Calamba to Santa Cruz. Because a relative of Teodora Alonso, Jacoba Faustina Cruz,
narrated that the forced walk was only from Biñan to Calamba (as quoted by Ocampo, 2010,
Philippine Daily Inquirer). Thus, if Cruz’s statement is true, then the ’16 kilometers’ claim is more
reasonable. Biñan and Calamba are 15.25 kilometers away from each other, according to a
modern mobile phone’s application.
Concerning the second time Teodora was imprisoned, Rizal’s descendants claim that the
then half-blind Teodora Alonso was ordered to walk ‘85 kilometers’ from Manila to Santa Cruz
(Bantug, p. 100). Modern distance calculators suggest that 91.5 kilometers is the distance between
the two locations, though it’s only 58.9813974616 kilometers if one could just fly like a bird in a
straight line. The Zaides’ however claimed that the walk was only from Calamba to Santa Cruz.
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Lesson 3. Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo De Manila (Acibo &

Andaza, 1995)
Figure 2.4 Ateneo Municipal (Rizal’s Time)

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=ateneo+municipal+de+manila&tbm=isch&ved
The Jesuits were considered the best educators of Spain, and perhaps of Europe, and so,
when they were permitted to return to the Philippines, although their power to administer parishes
was restricted except in the remote regions of Mindanao, the privilege of founding colleges, they
had to apply to the City of Manila for subsidies. That is why the college which began to function in
the year 1865, was called the Ateneo Municipal.
To enter the Ateneo a candidate was subjected to an entrance examination on Christian

doctrine, reading, writing, grammar, and elementary arithmetic. Jose did not take his entrance
examinations Jose did not remain in Manila but returned first to his town to celebrate the fiesta of
its patron saint; it was then that his father changed his mind and decided to send him to the Ateneo
instead.
Since Mercado, the first surname of the family, had come under suspicion of the authorities
because it was the name used by Paciano when he was studying and working with Father Burgos,
in whose house he lived, Jose adopted the second surname, Rizal. Paciano who accompanied
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Jose, found him a house in Walled City, but Intramuros looked gloomy to Jose, and he later found
lodging outside, in the house of a spinster situated on Calle Carballo, district of Santa Cruz. As if
chance would furnish him data for his future campaigns, he became acquainted in that house with
various mestizos, begotten by friars.
The Jesuitical system of instruction was considered more advanced than that of other
colleges in that epoch. Its discipline was rigid and its methods less mechanical. It introduced
physical culture as part of its program as well as the cultivation of the arts, such as music, drawing,
and painting. It also establishes vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, and mechanics as a
religious institute, its principal purpose was to mold the character and the will of the boys to comply
more easily with the percepts of the Church. The students heard mass before the beginning of the
class, which was opened and closed with prayers.
Jesuit System of Education (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
In the first two terms the classes were divided into groups of interns and externs: the first
constituted the Roman Empire and the second, the Carthaginian Empire. In each empire there
were five dignitaries: Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, and Standard-Bearer. These
dignities were won by means of individual competitions in which it was necessary to catch one’s
adversary in error three times. The empires considered themselves in perpetual warfare, and when
an individual of one empire was caught in error by one belonging to the enemy empire, a point was
counted in favor of the latter. At the end of each week or two, the points in favor of each were
added and the empire, which obtained more point, was declared winner. There was a fraternity of
Mary and Saint Louis Gonzaga, to which only those who distinguished themselves in the class for
their piety and diligence could belong. This fraternity met on Sundays and after mass held public
programs in which poems were recited or debates were held. With all these inducements it was
only natural that should be a spirit of emulation, a striving to surpass one’s colleagues found in the
Ateneo.
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First Year in Ateneo (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
The first professor Jose had was Fr. Jose Bech, whom he describes as a man of high stature;
lean body, bent forward; quick gait; ascetic physiognomy, severe and inspired; small, sunken eyes;
sharp Grecian nose; thin lips forming an arch with its sides directed toward the chin." He was
somewhat of a lunatic and of an uneven humor; sometimes he was hard and little tolerant and at
other times he was gay and playful as a child. Among Jose’s classmates were Peninsulares and
sons of Peninsulares; Francisco G. Oliva, very talented but not very studious; Joaquin Garrido,
endowed with a poor memory but with much talent and industry; and Gonzalo Marzano, who
occupied the throne of Emperor. From the first days Jose learned to systematize his work; he fixed
a program of what he had to do in the twenty-four hours of the day and did not in the least deviate
from it. Thus he disciplined his will and subjected it to the commands of his reason. As a newcomer,
Jose was at first put at the tail of the class, but he was soon promoted and kept on being promoted
so that at the end of one month he had attained to the rank of 31 Emperor. At the end of the term
he obtained marks of excellent in all the subjects and in the examinations. He had reason to feel
proud of his advancement; and so when he went home on vacation that year, he ran alone to see
his mother in the prison and tell her the happy news. He must have uttered this exclamation on
learning from his mother that they had played her a mean trick. The judge, who was a blind partisan
of the friars having been a domestic of theirs, told her that if she confessed her culpability he would
release her at once. With the desire to see her children again, she pleaded guilty; but the judge,
instead of releasing her, convicted her. In a few months the judge asked her forgiveness for what
he had done because according to him his conscience hurt him, but the case had no remedy
because it was already on appeal.
Second Year in Ateneo (1872- 1874) (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
The second year, Jose had the same professor as in the previous year; but instead of
lodging outside the City, he resided at No. 6 Calle Magallanes. At the end of the term he obtained
a medal, and upon returning to his town, he again visited his mother in jail alone. This was three
months before her release. The rejoicing that her release produced in his spirit had much influence
on the result of his studies in the third year, for he began to win prizes in the quarterly examinations.
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About that time, he devoted himself to reading novels, and one of those he enjoyed most was
Dumas’ (father) The Count of Monte Cristo. The sufferings of the hero of the twelve years. He also
asked his father to buy him a copy of The Universal History by Cesar Cantanu, and according to
himself he profited much from its perusal. The family, who saw in Jose great aptitude for study,
decided to place him as intern or boarding student in the college the following year. In the corner
of the dormitory facing the sea and the pier Jose passed his two years of internship.
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75) (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
In June 1874, Rizal returned to the Ateneo for his junior year. Shortly after the opening of classes,
his mother arrived and joyously told him that she was released from prison, just as he had predicted
during his last visit to her prison cell in Santa Cruz, Laguna. He was happy. Of course, to see his
mother once more a free woman.
However, despite the family happiness, Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as
in the previous year. His grades remained excellent in all subjects, but he won only one medal - in
Latin. He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.
He was beaten by a Spaniard who, naturally, could speak Spanish with fluency and with right
accentuation.
At the end of the school year (March 1875), Rizal returned to Calamba for the summer vacation.
He himself was not impressed by his scholastic work.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-1876) (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
In the fourth year of his course he had Fr. Francisco Sanchez as professor. Jose describes
him as a model of rectitude, a solicitude, and love for the student, and his studied mathematics,
rhetoric, and Greek, and he must have progressed much, for at the end of the year he-obtained
five medals, which pleased him immensely because with them I could repay my father somewhat
for his sacrifices. His aptitude for poetry revealed itself early, and from that time on he did not
cease to cultivate it. An incident which demonstrates Jose’s independence of character took place
at this time. Fr. Leoncio Lopez, parish priest of the town, who was a great friend of his father, also
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liked Jose as a little friend. He was cultured but at the same time timid and tender. One day Jose’s
mother showed Father Lopez a poem of his young friend and that the latter must have copied it
from a book. Jose, who heard this, answered the priest violently, for which his mother reprehended
him. Afterward Father Lopez came to know from the Jesuits themselves that Jose was a pupil who
excelled in poetry; and, in spite of his age, made a trip to Manila expressly to apologize to Jose.
That gesture of Father Lopez’ won him Jose’s esteem and they became good friends again,
lending each other the books they had.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876- 1877) (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
In the fifth years Jose had other professors: Frs. Vilaclara and Mineves. He studied
philosophy, physics, chemistry, and natural history, but his devotion to poetry was such that his
professor in philosophy advised him once to leave it, which made him cry. But in his rest hours he
continued cultivating the Muses under the direction of his old professor, Father Sanchez. Jose had
then written a short story (leyenda), which was only slightly corrected by his professor, and a
dialogue, which was enacted at the end of the course, alluding to the collegians’ farewell. However,
philosophy, just and serve, inquiring into the wherefores of things, interested him as much as
poetry; physics, drawing back the veil that divine drama of nature was enacted, natural history
seemed to him somewhat uninteresting although he much liked the shells and sometimes imagined
seeing a goddess in each shell he was on the shelf. 33 Jose was considered small of stature and
he tried to correct this defect by applying himself regularly to gymnastics in the college. He also
engaged in other physical exercises, such as fencing. After his baccalaureate, he surprised his
family with his skill in handling the sword when he gave an exhibition bout with the best swordsman
of the town. He also devoted time to painting and sculpture. In drawing and painting he was under
the guidance and direction of the Ateneo professor, the Peninsula Don Augustin Saez, who
honored him with his affection and consideration because of his progress. In sculpture his
instructor was a Filipino, Romualdo de Jesus, who felt proud in the last years of his life of having
had such an excellent pupil.
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Anecdotes on Rizal, the Athenian (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Felix M. Roxas – one of Rizal’s contemporaries in the Ateneo, related an incident of Rizal’s•
school days in Ateneo which reveals hero’s resignation to pain and forgiveness “Neither bitterness
nor rancor toward the guilty party” (Acibo• & Andaza, 1995)Manuel Xerex Burgos- This anecdote
illustrates Rizal’s predilection to help the helpless at the risk of his own life.
POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO
It was Dona Teodora who was first discovered the poetic genius of her son, and it was also•
she who first encourages him to write a poem. However it was Father Sanchez who inspired Rizal
to make full use of his God given gift in Poetry.
MI Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration), 1874 – the first poem Rizal probably wrote
during his days in Ateneo which was dedicated to his mother on her birthday. Rizal wrote it before
he was 14 years old.
In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez Rizal wrote more poems, as such:
1. Felicitacion ( Felicitation)
2. El embarque: Himno a la flota de Magallanes ( The Departure: Hym to Magellans Fleet)
3. Y Es Espanol, El Cano, El Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish: El
Cano, the first to circumnavigate the world... El Combate: y Urbiztondo,Terror de Jolo (
The Battle, Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo)
In 1876 Rizal wrote poems on various topics – religion, education, childhood memories and• war:
They were as follows:
1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) – a tender poem in honor of Calamba,

the hero’s natal town.
2. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion ( Intimate Alliance Between
Religion and Good Education )
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3. Por la educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education the Country Receives
Light) Rizal believed in the significant role which education plays in the progress and
welfare of a nation.
4. El Cauteverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y prison de Boabdil (The captivity and the
triumph: Battle of Lucena and the imprisonment of Boadbil) this martial poem describes
the defeat and capture of Boadbil, last Moorish Sultan of Granada.
A year later, in 1877, Rizal wrote more poems. It was his last years in Ateneo. Among the•
poems written that year were:
1. El Heroismo Colon (The Heroism of Columbus) - The poem praises Columbus, the
discoverer of America.
2. Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II) this poem relates how King John II of Portugal
missed fame and riches by his failure to finance the projected expedition of Columbus
to the New World.
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune- this is a legend
in verse of the tragic life of Columbus
4. Un Dialogo Aluviso a la Despidida de los Colegiales (A farewell dialogue of the students)

– this was the last poem written by Rizal in Ateneo. It is a poignant poem of farewell to
his classmates.
5. Al Ni theno Jesus (To the child Jesus) this poem was written in 1875 when Rizal was
14 years old. It was a brief ode.
6. A La virgin Maria (To the Virgin Mary) - another religious poem which doesn’t have exact
date when it was written.
7. San Eustacio, Martir (St Eustace, the Martyr - a drama based on the prose story of St.
Eustace which he wrote in poetic verses during the summer vacation of 1876 and
finished on June 2, 1876.
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Lesson 4. Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas

(1877-1882) (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Figure 2.5 - University of Santo Tomas in Intramuros (Rizal’s Time)

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=university+of+santo+tomas+in+intramuros&sxsrf
Fortunately, Rizal’s tragic first romance, with its bitter disillusionment, did not adversely
affect his studies in the University of Santo Tomas. His love for higher education proved to be
greater than his love for a pretty girl (Acibo & Andaza, 1995).
In April, 1877, Rizal, who was then nearly 16 years old, matriculated in the University of
Santo Tomas, taking Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in this course for two reasons: 1. His
father liked it and 2. He was still “Uncertain as to what career to follow.” He had written to the
Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo, who had been good to him during his student days in that
college, asking for advice on the choice of career. Unfortunately, the Father Rector was in the
Mindanao and during those days it took several months’ foe a letter to travel between Manila and
Mindanao. Consequently, during his first year term (1877-79) in the UST, he studied Cosmology,
Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.
It was during the following school term (1878-1879) that Rizal took up medicine, enrolling
simultaneously in the preparatory medical course and the regular first year medical course. The
reasons why he studied medicine were: (1) he wanted to be a physician so that he might cure his
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mother’s failing eyesight and (2) the Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo, whom he consulted
for a choice of career, finally answered his letter, recommending medicine.
Unhappy Days at the UST (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Rizal found the atmosphere at the University of Santo Tomas suffocating to his sensitive
spirit. He was unhappy at this Dominican institution of higher learning because (1) the Dominican
professors were hostile to him (2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the
Spaniards (3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive. In Rizal’s novel, El
Filibusterismo, he described how the Filipino students were humiliated and insulted by their
Dominican professors and how backward the method of instruction was, especially in the teaching
of the natural sciences. He related in Chapter XIII, “The Class in Physics”. These were some of
the reasons that contributed in Rizal’s decision to study abroad.
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Assessment Task 2
False. (Lesson 3)
1. ____________Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo was written by Rizal in 1876.
2. ____________The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the azotea of
their house where they tell stories.
3. ____________ The Cavite Mutiny was led by Sergeant Lamadrid.
4. ____________ Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora were executed on
February 17, 1872.
5. ___________ Governor General Azcaraga ordered the execution of GOMBURZA.
6. ___________ Rizal dedicated his first novel, NOLI ME TANGERE to GomBurZa.
7. ___________ Rizal took his entrance examination first at San Juan de Letran.
8. __________ Ateneo de Manila is a Dominican owned college.
9. __________ Ateneo Municipal was formerly known as Escuela Pia.
10. __________ Rizal entered Ateneo de Manila on the year 1872.
B. Identification. 10 Points (Lesson 1)

Note: Answer in a single word and start with a capital letter except when the answer is numeric.
If name of person, give only the surname. Carefully follow instructions. Computer software will
checked.
1. ______________ The religious order where the town of Calamba belong.
2. ______________ The symbol of the town of Calamba in english
3. ______________ Rizal’s sister who died at the age of three.
4. ______________ Rizal’s age when he can haltingly read the Spanish bible.
5. ______________ The year when Rizal wrote the poem “In Memory of my Town.
6. _____________ The school where Rizal was studying at 15 years old.
7. ______________ The daily nightfall prayer that Rizal use to participate.
8. ______________ The kind of language that Rizal used in writing “To My Fellow Children”.
9. ______________ Rizal’s predominant racial heritage as a blending features of east and west.
10. _____________ the kind of insect that left a profound impression on Rizal as to die a martyr
to one’s illusions.
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C. Chronologically arrange of events.

Chronologically arrange the following events by writing the corresponding letters opposite the
Numbers. 10 Points (Lesson 2)
1. _____ A. Jose went to Binan with Paciano.

2. _____ B. Jose met Maestro Justiniano Cruz.
3. _____ C. Jose had a school brawl.
4. _____ D. Jose received painting lesson from Old Juancho.
5. _____ E. Jose bored the Steamer Talim.
6. _____ F. Jose received a telegram from Saturnina.
7. _____ G. Jose had an arm wrestling with Andres.
8. _____ H. Jose met Pedro the teacher’s son.
9. _____ I. Jose went sightseeing with Leandro
10. _____ J. Jose learned alphabet and prayers from his mother.
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D. Essay. Write a short essay of Rizal as a student at Ateneo de Manila. Be able to focus
On his accomplishment that made him exceptional student. Limit your answer to a
Single page.10 Points
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Summary
Jose Rizal had many beautiful memories of childhood in his native town. He grew up
in a happy home, ruled by good parents, bubbling with joy, and sanctified by God's blessings. His
natal town of Calamba, so named after a big native jar, was a fitting cradle for a hero. Its scenic
beauties and its industrious, hospitable, and friendly folks impressed him during his childhood
years and profoundly affected his mind and character. The happiest period of Rizal's life was spent
in this lakeshore town, a worthy prelude to his Hamlet-like tragic manhood.
Rizal had his early education in Calamba and Biñan. It was a typical schooling that a
son of an ilustrado family received during his time, characterized by the four R's - reading, writing,
arithmetic, and religion. Instruction was rigid and strict. Know ledge was forced into the minds of
the pupils by means of the tedius memory method aided by the teacher's whip. Despite the defects
of the Spanish system of elementary education, Rizal was able to acquire the necessary instruction
preparatory for college work in Manila and abroad. It may be said that Rizal, who was born a
physical weakling, rose to become an intellectual giant not because of, but rather in spite of the
outmoded and backward system of instruction obtaining in the Philippines during the last decades
of Spanish regime.
Four months after the martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za and with Dona Teodora still in prison, Jose,
who had not yet celebrated his eleventh birthday, was sent to Manila. He studied in the Ateneo
Municipal, a college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. This college was a bitter rival of
the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran. It was formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity
School) a school for poor boys in Manila which was established by the city government in 1817.
When the Jesuits, who had been expelled from the Philippines in 1768, returned to Manila in 1859,
they were given the management of the Escuela Pia, whose name was changed to Ateneo
Municipal, and later became the Ateneo de Manila. They were splendid educators, so that Ateneo
acquired prestige as an excellent.
Rizal after graduating from Bachelor of Arts in Ateneo DeManila moved to University of Santo
Tomas to take up hi collegiate course. After finishing the first year of a course in Philosophy and
Letters (1877-78), he transferred to the medical course. During the years of his medical studies in
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this university which was administered by the Dominicans, rival educators of the Jesuits, he
remained loyal to Ateneo, where he continued to participate in extra-curricular activities and where
he completed the vocation course in surveying. As a Thomasian, he won more literary laurels, had
other romances with pretty girls, and fought against Spanish students who insulted the brown
Filipino students. Until such time when his brother Paciano decided to transfer him to Europe to
continue his courses with the approval of Rizal.
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References
Acibo, L. A., & Andaza, E. G. (1995). Jose P. Rizal, His Life, Works, and Role in the Philippine
Revolution. Rex Book Store, Recto Avenue, Manila
Life and Studies at Ateneo. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.joserizal.ph/ed02.html
books.com/Classics/ON/B0/B892/04MB892.
Uckung, P. J. V. (2012). Teodora Alonso’s Trail of Tears. Retrieved from:

https://nhcp.gov.ph/teodora-alonsos-trail-of-tears/
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MODULE 3
ACADEMICS IN EUROPE
Introduction
From being the birthplace of democracy and Napoleonic grandeur to renaissance buildings
and the haunted castles, Europe is known for its magnificent history, culture, and heritage. The
British Empire was one of the largest empires in history, and the nation still is one of the leading
global powers for several decades now. There is no reason to think that Europe is limited only to
its glorious history. The continent is also famous for fashion, literature, architecture, music, art, and
has always been a dream destination for every traveler. His (Dr. Rizal) studies continued in UST
until he was unhappy at the Dominican institution.
After finishing the 4th year of his medical course in UST, Rizal, being disgusted with the
method of instruction in the Dominican-owned University and the racial prejudice of Dominican
professors against Filipino student, decided to study abroad. He predicted that his decision of
studying abroad would not be favored by his parents; he did not ask their blessing. And aside from
studying in Spain he was on a secret mission. This mission was to observe keenly the life and
culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and government and laws of the
European nations in order to prepare himself in the great task of liberating his oppressed people
from the Spanish tyranny. The course to Spain is the start of Rizal’s travels.
Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the reasons why Jose Rizal went to Europe.
2. Identify the admirable traits of Jose Rizal while studying and travelling in Europe
3. Exemplify on Jose Rizal’s life and outstanding academic achievements as a student
abroad.
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4. Describe the traits of Filipino expatriates in Europe
Lesson 1. In Sunny Spain (1882-1885) (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Figure 3.1 – Spain in World Map

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=location+of+spain+in+world+map&tbm
Rizal’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities and
the friars. Even his own parents did not know because his mother would not allow him to do so.
Only his older brother, his uncle, his sisters Neneng and Lucia, the Valenzuela family, Pedro
Paterno, Mateo Evangelista, the Ateneo Jesuit fathers, and some intimate friends. The Jesuit
priests gave him letters of recommendation to the members of their Society in Barcelona. He used
the name Jose Mercado. Before his departure he wrote a farewell letters for his beloved parents
and another for his sweetheart Leonor Rivera. On May 3, 1882, Rizal departed on board the
Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore. With tears in his eyes and gloom in his heard,
he gazed the receding skyline of Manila. He then took his pencil and paper and sketched it as it
vanished in view.
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Singapore (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)

During the voyage he carefully observed the people and things on board the steamer.
There were sixteen passengers. He was the only Filipino and the rest were Spaniards, British, and
Indian Negroes. The captain of the ship, Donato Lecha befriended Rizal. To kill boredom of the
voyage, Rizal played chess with his fellow passengers. He then defeated them many times, for he
was a good chess player. On May 9, the Salvadora docked at Singapore. He then stayed at Hotel
de la Paz and spent two days on a sightseeing soiree of the city. He saw the famous Botanical
Garden, the beautiful Buddhist templates, the busy shopping district, and the statue of Sir Thomas
Stanford Raffles, who was the founder of Singapore.
From Singapore to Colombo (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
After days of staying in Singapore, Rizal boarded the ship Djemnah, which was a French
steamer and left Singapore for Europe on May 11. It was a larger and cleaner vessel which carried
more passengers. French was spoken on board and Rizal attempted to converse with his fellow
passengers in French, but he found out that his book French could not be understood, so he spoke
a mixed Spanish-Latin and with the help sketching on paper. By conversing daily with the French
passengers, he then was able to improve his knowledge of the French language. On May 17, the
Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon. Rizal was unimpressed by this
town. The following day the voyage resumed towards Colombo, the capital of Ceylon. After a few
hours of sailing, Rizal reached the city. Rizal was amazed by Colombo because of this scenic
beauty and elegant building.
Through Suez Canal (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
From Colombo, the Djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian Ocean to the cape
coast of Africa. Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa, for the first time, which he called an
‘inhospitable land but famous’. The next stopover was in Aden. He found the city, hotter than
Manila and was amused to see the camels for it was also his first time seeing them. From Aden
the ship proceeded to the city of Suez, the Red Sea terminal of Suez Canal. Upon arrival, Rizal
disembarked and went sightseeing. What impressed him most was the beautiful moonlight which
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reminded him of Calamba and his family. The Djemnah took five days to traverse the Suez Canal.
Rizal was thrilled because it was his first trip through this canal which was built by Ferdinand de
Lasseps. At Port Said, Rizal landed in order to see the interesting sights. He was fascinated to
hear multi-racial inhabitants speaking a wide variety of language.
Naples and Marseilles (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)

From Port Said, the ship proceeded on its way to Europe. On June 11, Rizal reached Naples.
This city pleased Rizal because of its business activity, its lively people and its scenic beauty. He
was fascinated by the Mouth Vesuvius, the Castle of ST. Telmo and other historic sights of the
city. The night of June 12, the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles. Rizal bid farewell
to his fellow passengers. He visited the famous Chateau d’lf where Dantes, was imprisoned. He
stayed two and a half days in Marseilles.
Barcelona (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)

On the afternoon of June15, Rizal left Marseilles to proceed to Spain via train. He crossed
the Pyrenees and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port Bou. After the passport inspection
at Port Bou, Rizal continued his trip by rail, finally reaching Barcelona on June 16, 1882. His first
impression of Barcelona was unfavorable. He thought of it as an ugly, dirty and its residents are
inhospitable. Later, he changed his impression and liked the city. He found it as a great city, with
an atmosphere of freedom and liberalism. He also found its people were openhearted, hospitable,
and courageous. He enjoyed promenading along Las Ramblas which was the famous street in
Barcelona. Filipinos in Barcelona were some of his classmates in Ateneo, welcomed him. They
gave him a party at café Plaza de Cataluña. After toasts, Rizal in turn gave them the latest news
and gossips in the Philippines. In Barcelona, Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled “Amor atrio”
which was his first written article on Spain’s soil. He then sent his article to Basilio Teodoro Moran,
publisher of Diariong Tagalog. Basilio was deeply impressed by the article congratulated Rizal and
asked Rizal to publish more articles. While living in Barcelona, Rizal received bad News about the
cholera outbreak ravaging Manila and the provinces. Many people died and more were dying daily.
Sad news was that his beloved Leonor Rivera was getting thinner because of the absence of her
loved one. Also, Paciano advised Rizal to continue his medical course in Madrid. Heeding his
advice, Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and proceeded to Madrid.
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Life in Madrid (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Figure 3.2 Universidad Central de Madrid (Rizal’s Time)

Source:https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBD_enPH852PH852&sxsrf=ALeKk03yaH2piJmY_MNV
HnCr49QtXAUDfA:1610777345189&source=univ&tbm
On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid. He took up two
courses—Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. Aside from the two major courses, he also studied
painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando; he took lessons in
French, German, and English under private instructors; and assiduously practiced fencing and
shooting in the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell. Rizal lived a simple life in Madrid and knew that
he came to Spain to study and prepare himself for the service of his fatherland. He budgets his
money and time and never wasted a peseta for gambling, wine and women. On Saturday evening,
he visits the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey who lived with his son and daughter. Don Pablo has
been city mayor of Manila. Rizal then had a love affair with Consuelo Ortiga y Perez, the daughter
of Don Pablo. Rizal, being a lonely man in a foreign country and far from his natal land, was
attracted by Consuelo’s beauty and vivacity. Their love did not flourish because he was still
engaged to Leonor Rivera and a friend of Rizal is also in-love with Consuelo.
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First Visit to Paris (1883) (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
On June 1883, Rizal left Madrid to visit Paris. He stayed at the Hotel de Paris but then moved
to a cheaper hotel. Like all tourists, Rizal was charmingly titillated by the attractive scenery of Paris
such as the beautiful boulevards, the Opera House, the Place de la Concorde, the Arch of Triumph,
the Bois de Boulogne, the Madelaine Church, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Column of
Vendome, the Invalides, and the Versailes. Rizal closely observed the French way of life and
spending many hours at the museums. In Spain, he became close with prominent Spanish liberal
and republican Spaniards, who were mostly Masons. Rizal was impressed by the way the Spanish
Masons openly and freely criticized the government policies and lambasted the friars.
In March 1883, he joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid. His reason for joining
was to secure Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines. Later he was
transferred to Lodge Solidaridad where he became a Master Mason on November 15, 1890. Still
later, he was awarded the diploma as Master Mason by Le Grand Orient de France in Paris. After
departure for Spain, things turned from bad to worse in Calamba. Harvests failed on account of
drought and locusts. Also the Dominican-owned hacienda increased the rentals of the lands
cultivated by the Rizal family. Due to these crises, allowances of Rizal were many times late or
sometimes never arrived, causing too much suffering to him. And on November 20, 21 and 22,
1884, Rizal was involved in student demonstrations. They were fighting for Dr. Miguel Morayta
who proclaimed that “the freedom of science and the teacher”. Such liberal view was condemned
by the Catholic bishops of Spain. On June 21, 1884 Rizal completed his medical course in Spain.
He was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid. In
the next academic year, he studied and passed al subjects leading to the degree of Doctor of
Medicine. Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters with excellent ratings.
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Lesson 2: Rizal in Paris and Berlin (1885-1887) (Acibo & Andaza,

1995)
After completing his studies in Spain, Rizal went to Paris and Germany for his specialization
In ophthalmology. He chose this course of medicine because he wanted to cure his mother’s
growing eye ailment. He still hasn’t forgotten his ‘secret mission’—to observe the customs and
Lifestyle of the Europeans so that someday he will render service to his fatherland. In 1885, after
completing his studies at Central University of Madrid, he went to Paris in order to acquire more
Knowledge in ophthalmology. He was 24 then. He stopped over at Barcelona, on his way to Paris,
to visit his friend Maximo Viola who is also a medical student and a member of a rich family in
Bulacan. And on the November of that year, Rizal was living in Paris where he sojourned for about
four months. He worked as an apprentice of Dr. Louis de Weckert, who is a then, a leading French
ophthalmologist. And with his master, his knowledge in ophthalmology improved. While not
working at Dr. Weckert’s clinic, Rizal visited his friends, such as the family of Pardo de Taveras,
Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion, Hidalgo. Rizal spent many happy hours in the studio of Luna.
Luna discussed with Rizal various problems on art and improved his own painting technique. Rizal
posed to some painting of Luna. He was one of the Egyptian priests in Luna’s painting “The Death
of Cleopatra”.
In Historic Heidelberg (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Rizal left Paris on February 1, 1886, after acquiring enough experience in the clinic of Dr.
Weckert. He was set to go to Germany. He visited Strasbourg and other German towns. On
February 3, 1886, he arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university
and romantic surroundings. He lived in a boarding house with some German law students. The
German students found out that Rizal was a good chess player and made him a member of the
Chess Player’s Club. After a few days, he was transferred to a boarding house which was near
University of Heidelberg. He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto
Becker and attended the lectures of Doctor Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuehne at the university.
At weekends he visited the scenic spots around Heidelberg which includes the Heidelberg
Castle, the romantic Neckar Rivera, the theater, and the old churches. Rizal noticed that the
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German Catholics and the Protestants practiced ecumenism wherein they live together in harmony
and cordiality. On April 22, 1886, spring on Heidelberg, he wrote a poem to the beautiful blooming
flowers at the Neckar River. Among those was his favorite flower—the forget-me-not. Rizal then
spent three-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld, a mountainous village close to Heidelberg.
He stayed at the vicarage of a kind Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. He was very delighted in his
stay at the Ullmers. On July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt. Rizal heard that Blumentritt was interested in the Philippine languages. Along with the
letter was a book entitled Aritmetica. Delighted with Rizal, Blumentritt send gift books to Rizal. This
marked the beginning of their long and frequent correspondence. Rizal was fortunate to be
sojourning in Heidelberg when the famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary
celebration on August 6 of 1886. It was three days before his departure and he was sad because
he had come to love the land and the beautiful city.
In Leipzig and Dresden (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
On August 9, 1886, three days after the fifth centenary of the University of the Heidelberg,
Rizal left the city. He boarded a train and visited various cities of Germany until arriving in Leipzig
on August 14, 1886. He attended some lectures in the University of Leipzig and befriended
Professor Friedrich Ratzel, a famous German historian, and Dr. Hans Meyer, German
anthropologist. Rizal translated William Tell from German to Filipino so that Filipinos might know
the story of that champion of Swiss independence. He also translated into Filipino Hans Christian
Andersen’s Fairy Tales. Cost of living in Leipzig is the cheapest in Europe so he stayed there for
two months and a half. During his stay, he corrected some chapters in his second novel and also
had time for exercise. He also worked as a proof-reader in a publishing
Firm and earning some money.
BERLIN (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Rizal liked Berlin because of its atmosphere which was very scientific and the absence of
race prejudice. Also, here he met Dr. Feodor Jagor author of Travels in the Philippines, a book
that Rizal admired because of its keen observances in the Philippine setting. Dr. Jagor in turn,
introduced Rizal to Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a famous anthropologist and to his son, Dr. Hans Virchow,
professor of Descriptive Anatomy. Rizal worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Schwinger, a famous
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German ophthalmologist. Rizal was the first Asian to be accorded with honors for being a member
of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society, and the Geographical Society of Berlin.
Dr. Virchow recognized Rizal’s genius, invited him to give a lecture before the Ethnographic
Society of Berlin. Rizal wrote a scholarly paper entitled Taglische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art)
which elicited favorable comments from all scientific quarters.
Rizal led a methodological life in Berlin. He worked as an assistant by day, and attended
lectures at night. He kept himself physically fit by daily exercises and speaking German, French
and Italian. Rizal took private lessons in the French language under Madame Lucie Cerdole in
order to master the French language. He spends his leisure moments touring the country sides of
Berlin and observing the culture and life of the people. He also made sketches of the things he
saw. About observing culture, Rizal greatly admired the German Yuletide custom, wherein
Germans would take bushes from a pine tree and dress it up with lanterns, papers and candies.
Another interesting custom in Germany is that, when a man has nobody to introduce him to the
other guests, he bows his head to the guests and introduces himself to the other guests and shakes
hands of everyone in the room. Not all the experiences of Rizal in Germany were good, there is
this one winter time wherein he lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and he
was flat broke. During that time, he only eats one meal a day and had to wash his clothes himself
because he could not afford to pay the laundry. On Calamba, Paciano tried to raise money but
crops have failed due to locusts and the sugar market collapsed.
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Assessment Task 3
A. Write TRUE if the statement is true and write FALSE if the statement is false.
10 Points.
1. ________ Rizal first arrived in Spain on the year 1885. (F)
2. ________ Rizal enrolled in the University of Barcelona. (F)
3. ________ Rizal left the Philippines bound to Spain on May 3, 1886. (F)
4. ________ Rizal left the Philippine on board steamer Djemnah bound to Spain. (F)
5. ________ Thailand was the second country visited by Rizal from Singapore. (F)
6. ________ Aden was the second Port visited by Rizal from Colombo. (T)
7. ________ Ferdinand de Lasseps build the Suez Canal. (T)
8. ________ Barcelona is a city of Spain. (T)
9. ________ Basilio Moran was the publisher of Diaryong Tagalog. (T)
10. _______ Rizal studied at Universidad Central de Madrid. (T)
B. I. Matching Type. Match column A with Column B. Write only the letters.
(A) (B)
_____ 1. Philippines A. May 9, 1882
_____ 2. Singapore B. June 11, 1882
_____ 3. Ceylon C. June 16, 1882
_____ 4. Naples D. Feb. 3, 1886
____ _ 5. Marseilles E. June 1883
_____ 6. Barcelona F. August 14, 1886
____ _ 7. Madrid G. Nov. 3, 1882
_____ 8. Heidelberg H. June 12, 1882
_____ 9. Leipzig I. May 17,1882
_____ 10. Paris J. May 3, 1882
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C. Identification. 10 Points
Note: Answer in a single word and start with a capital letter except when the answer is numeric.
If name of person, give only the surname. Carefully follow instructions. Computer software
will checked your paper.
1. _________ the country where Rizal finished Medicine and Philosophy and Letters
2. _________ the first city visited by Rizal in Spain.
3. _________ Rizal’s sweetheart after leaving the country for the first time.
4. _________ Rizal’s ship when he left the Philippines in 1882.
5. _________ the country where Point Galle is situated.
6. _________ the city in Italy that pleased Rizal for its business, lively people and scenic beauty.
7. _________ the city in France where Rizal stayed before arriving in Spain.
8. _________ the year when Rizal finished his studies in Europe.
9. _________ the famous Filipino painter and friend whom Rizal met in France.
10 _________ the doctor to whom Rizal served as an assistant in Paris, France.
D. Essay. Write as short essay on how Rizal specialized in ophthalmology after finishing his
course in Medicine. Limit your essay on a single page. 10 Points
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Summary
Jose Rizal, after finishing the 4th Year of the medical course in the University of Santo
Tomas. Rizal, disgusted with the antiquated method of instruction in this Dominican-owned
university and the racial prejudice of Dominican professors against Filipino students, decided to
complete his studies in Spain. At that time the government of Spain was a constitutional monarchy
under a written constitution which granted human rights to the people, particularly freedom of
speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly. Aside from this ostensible reason, he had
another reason, which was more important than merely completing his studies in Spain. This was
his "secret mission." which many Rizalist biographers never mentioned in their writings.
When he completed his studies in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to
specialize in ophthalmology. He particularly chose this branch of medicine because he wanted to
cure his mother's eye ailment. He served as assistant to the famous oculists of Europe. He also
continued his travels and observations of European life and customs, government and laws in
Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig, and Berlin. In Berlin, capital of then unified Germany, he met and
befriended several top German scientists, Dr. Feodor Jagor, Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Dr. Hans Meyer,
and Dr. Rudolf Virchow. His merits as a scientist were recognized by the eminent scientists of
Europe.
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References
Course Hero. (n.d.). Travel and Adventures of Dr. Jose The first stop over of Rizal. Retrieved
from: https://www.coursehero.com/file/Travel-and-Adventures-of-Dr-Jose-The-first-stop-overof-
Rizal/
Rizal Trip Abroad. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://therizalslife.blogspot.com/2016/07/rizal-trip-

abroad.html
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MODULE 4
RIZAL’S NOVEL AND BLUMENTRITT
Introduction
They said friends are rare like fountain of gold, subject to safekeeping because it is so
precious that we would not want to lose them. A true friend is someone who will be there for you
to lend a helping hand when you needed him most, trust you when everyone turns their backs on
you, and love you for what you are and not what you have- these are the prime characteristics of
a real friendship as friendship knows no border. In this chapter we will see how friendship can save
not only ones’ life but the life of many Filipinos. It will also tackle the book of Rizal known as “Noli
Me Tangere” and the man who saved this book.
Learning Outcomes
1. Differentiate Rizal and other heroes in the context of a nationalist struggle and ethical
values;
2. Identify the contributions of Dr. Maximo Viola on Jose Rizal’s novel and predicament in
Europe;
3. Explain the reactions of Filipino on Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere;
4. Explain the life and works of Jose Rizal’s contemporaries in Europe; and
5. Evaluate the first meeting and relationship of Jose Rizal and Blumentritt in Europe.
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Lesson 1. The Savior of Noli Me Tangere (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Figure 4.1 Maximo S. Viola

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=Maximo+Viola&tbm
Once upon a time, a struggling patriotic man named Jose Rizal developed friendship with a
kind doctor whose name was Maximo S. Viola who would later become the patron of Rizal’s first
novel- the Noli Me Tangere. Dr. Viola was born on October 17, 1857 in Sta. Rita, San Miguel, and
Bulacan to parents Pedro Viola and Isabel Sison. Just like Rizal, he was an alumnus of the
University of Santo Tomas where he finished pre-medical studies. He sailed to Spain, where he
earned a degree in medicine at the University of Barcelona in 1882. He met Dr. Jose Rizal in
Barcelona, who was likewise actively involved in the Propaganda Movement, and who would later
become his friend. He accepted Rizal’s invitation to join him on a tour of Europe, particularly
Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland, from May to June 1887. Rizal was at that time
worried with his financial inability to publish the Noli Me Tangere and even considering aborting
his plan of publishing the novel by destroying the manuscript. Noli Me Tangere is a vanguard of
Filipino nationalism in the form of a novel which invokes equal rights for the Filipinos in order to
get back their self-confidence. The novel brings to light the social woes in the country during Rizal’s
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time and come up with appropriate reform to various sectors of the society such as the education
of the people, assimilation of Western culture, and appreciation of their native traditions. Convinced
with the worth of the novel and its purpose, Viola funded the cost of the publication himself, an
initial 2000 copies of the novel were printed in 1887. In deep gratitude, Rizal gave him the galley
proofs and the first published copy.
In 1887, Dr. Viola decided to go back to his homeland to practice medicine and it’s really
destiny that he would find Juana Roura, whom he married in 1890. Her wife bore him five sons,
but two of them died as infants. He had a reunion with Rizal when he invited him for a visit in
Manila, in the latter part of June 1892. The meeting was brief for the two friends for Rizal had to
be at Malacañang Palace, to confer with Governor General Despujol on his political activities. Dr.
Viola, who was then also under suspicion of engaging in subversive activities, could not stay long
in Manila.
Viola became a dissident and was frequently harassed by the Spanish authorities which
persisted until the revolution. When the Americans arrived, his fellow countrymen became
fascinated with what the Americans could offer- their benevolent assimilation policy. As a
nationalist, he refused to succumb to the new power which resulted with his incarceration, initially
to a Manila military prison and, later, was transferred to Olongapo. He was released with the help
of Dr. Fresnell, an American doctor who sought his help because he was not knowledgeable about
tropical diseases.
He had a soft heart for the masses and their sad plight. Viola, who served as president of
the Liga de Proprietarios, supported the owners of rice lands in San Miguel, Bulacan in opposing
politicians who were courting the tenants’ votes at the expense of the landlords. When the Manila
Railroad line was being extended to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Viola likewise fearlessly led the
concerned landowners in preventing the prestigious British Company from taking over their land
without appropriate reparations. Apart from his civic works, he used his profession to help treat his
indigent patients for free.
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Memories of his friendship with Rizal left an indelible mark in his heart that would later be
put in writing through his memoirs in three parts in the Spanish Newspaper El Ideal, which came
out on June 18, 19 and 20, 1913. On September 3, 1933, Dr. Viola, aged 76, died in Barrio San
Jose in his hometown. Although not acknowledged in the book, Dr. Maximo S. Viola will constantly
be remembered as the man who saved the Noli Me Tangere for posterity. More than that, he
served the Filipino people by supporting Dr. Jose Rizal in his advocacy for nationalism, which
inspired the Philippine Revolution.
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Lesson 2. Noli Me Tangere (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Figure 4.2 Noli Me Tangere (Original Copy)

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=noli+me+tangere+book+cover&tbm
Rizal’s stay in Berlin particularly the winter of 1888 was one of the most difficult of his life:
he has no money; he was flat breaking; and his health was failing. It was also one of the most
memorable for it was during this time that his first novel entitled “Noli Me Tangere” was published,
a novel that inspired by the writing of Harriet Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which described the
miserable lives of the slaves in Southern United States. The novel was funded by the rich Filipino,
Dr. Maximo Viola and its title was not original but rather came from the holy Bible. Actually the
novel was to be a joint project of a group of Filipinos, but which did not materialize for the failure
of the other Filipinos to do their share of the work, much to the disappointment of Rizal. Noli Me
Tangere which means “touch me not” finally came of the press on March 21, 1887 and in token of
appreciation gave viola the galley proofs of the novel with a complimentary copy, which bore the
inscription:
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“To my dear Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my work – Jose Rizal”.
He also dedicates the book to his Fatherland, which he mentioned in the first pages of the novel,
which run thus:
Recorded in the History of human sufferings is a cancer so malignant a character that the
least touch irritates it and awakens in it the sharpest pains. Thus, how many times when in the
midst of the modern civilization I have wished to call thee before me, now to accompany me in the
memories, now to compare thee with the other countries, hath thy dear image presented itself
showing a social cancer like that other! Desiring the welfare which is our own, and seeking the
best treatment, I will do with thee what the ancients did with their sick, exposing them on the steps
of the temple so that everyone who came in to invoke the dignity might offer a remedy. And to this
end, I will arrive to reproduce thy condition faithfully, without discriminations. I will raise a part of
the veil that covers the evil, sacrificing to truth, everything even vanity itself, since as thy son I am
conscious that I also suffer from thy defects and weaknesses.
It is a novel that Rizal included “The song of Maria Clara.”
The novel was praised by friends but it aroused the ire of his enemies who condemned it as
expected. This is confirmed by his statement: “The government and the friars will probably attack
the work, refuting my statements, but I trust in the God of Truth and in the person who have actually
seen our sufferings” (12) Dr. Antonio Regidor, the Filipino lawyer exiled due to his participation in
the Cavite Mutiny said:
If Don Quixote immortalizes its author because it exposes to the world the ailments of
Spain, your Noli Me Tangere will bring equal glory. With your modesty and your voracious and
able appraisal, you have dealt a moral blow. Because of the novel, Rizal was also suspected
of being a French spy at one time a Berlin police officer requested to see his passport, but with the
help of Viola and his proficiency in the use of German language, he was able to convince the
authorities that he was a Filipino physician and scientist and he was there only to observe the
lifestyles and the customs of the inhabitants of the place.
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It was also after the printing of the novel that Rizal received financial help from home. With
money in his pocket and after paying Dr. Viola of the P300 which he owed, he decided to see
Europe more before going home to the Philippines. His first destination, traveling together with
Viola was Dresden, “one of the best cities in Germany,” followed by Decin in Czechoslovakia,
Vienna in Austria, and in other places.
In Dresden, he visited Dr. Adolf B. Meyer and met Dr. Jagor and told the latter of his plans
to visit Blumentritt in Leitmeritz (now Litemerice), Czechoslovakia, and would be seeing him. For
the first time but he was prevailed upon by Dr. Jagor to inform Blumentritt of his coming.
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Lesson 3. The First Meeting of Jose Rizal and Ferdinand

Blumentritt (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
Figure 4.3 Ferdinand Blumentritt and Jose Rizal

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=ferdinand+blumentritt&tbm
Born to a well-to-do family in Calamba, Laguna on 19 June 1861, Rizal began his early
schooling in the town of Biñan. In 1872, his older brother Paciano accompanied him to enroll in the
Jesuit-run Ateneo Municipal de Manila where he would complete the degree of Bachelor of Arts
with the highest honors in 1877. Rizal began his medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas
while simultaneously enrolling in courses in topography and agriculture at the Ateneo Municipal
(Ateneo de Manila University [1977]). Without the permission of his parents, Rizal sailed to Spain
in 1882 to continue his medical studies and to “search for the good which we all desire…. for the
good you are doing your countrymen” (Vicente Gella to Jose Rizal, 30 June 1882, quoted in
Guerrero 2008, 83).
Born in Prague (then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) on 10 September 1853,

Blumentritt studied History at Prague University. When his correspondence with Rizal began, he
was a master teacher at Leitmeritz (today known as Litomerice in the Czech Republic) and had
already published scholarly writings on Philippine languages and ethnography. The 33-year old
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Blumentritt was married to Rosa Muller and had three children: two sons – Friedrich and Konrad –
and a daughter named Dolores, whom Blumentritt sometimes affectionately addressed with the
Tagalog nickname, “Loleng” (Tomas 2008, 15; Guerrero 2008, 157).
While continuing his medical studies in Germany, the 25-year old Rizal heard of an Austrian
scholar in Leitmeritz who’s historical and ethnographic publications on the Philippines betrayed his
abiding interest in a people and a country he had never even seen with his own eyes. Upon learning
that Blumentritt was studying the Tagalog language, the lonely Rizal, so fiercely proud of his race,
and touched by this foreigner’s interest in his native culture,” (Guerrero 2008, 158), initiated what
was to become a lifelong correspondence. In his letter, Rizal said, "Esteemed Sir: Having heard
that Your Lordship is studying our language and that you have already published some works on
the subject, I take the liberty of sending you a valuable book written in that language by a
countryman of mine" (Rizal to Blumentritt, 31 July 1886, in National Historical Institute 1992, 1: 7).
Blumentritt soon reciprocated with a gift of two books (Rizal to Blumentritt, 16 August 1886,
summarized in Ocampo 2011, 38). The two then continued to exchange letters about their
scholarly endeavors. Books, manuscripts, maps were gifted as well, one to the other. Oftentimes
Rizal would write about his search for Filipiniana and his efforts at translating German works on
the Philippines. Blumentritt would respond by sending his own ethnographic studies and also
provided Rizal with letters of introduction to a number of German scholars (See for example, Rizal’s
letter to Blumentritt dated 24 May 1887, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 53). Here was a budding
friendship born of an intimate love for all things Philippine (Guerrero 2008, 161).
In his biography of Rizal, Leon Ma. Guerrero remarks, "It is a charming and, in its own way,
fascinating correspondence...the letters they exchanged also illustrate something that is very rare,
the evolution of a purely intellectual friendship....Clearly Blumentritt the Austrian schoolmaster, is
Rizal’s mentor; he has a greater command of the authorities, a better knowledge of the world; but
the young Malay can also teach the erudite Czech what cannot be found in maps and
ethnographical treatises; political realities, the feeling of a people" (Guerrero 2008, 162-3).
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Four months into the correspondence, Rizal mustered the courage to suggest that they
exchange photographs. Blumentritt readily obliged, while Rizal sent a self-portrait done in crayon
(Guerrero 2008, 163). It was also to Blumentritt that Rizal sent one of the earliest available copies
of his Noli Me Tangere (Guerrero 2008, 148; see also Rizal to Blumentritt, 21 March 1887
summarized in Ocampo 2011, 49).
The Meeting (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)
After five years in Europe, Rizal longed for home. On this way back, however, Rizal took an
extended tour of Europe, visiting such places as Prague and Vienna, Stuttgart and Munich, Geneva
and Basel, Rome and Marseilles before heading to the Philippines. The tour made it possible for
him to spend a few days in Leitmeritz to finally meet his Austrian friend. This visit lasted a mere
four days.
Accompanied by Maximo Viola – who had helped Rizal publish the Noli Me Tangere – Rizal
arrived in Leitmeritz on 14 May 1887. Accompanied by his wife and children, Blumentritt met the
two travelers at the train station and helped them check in at the Hotel Krebs. Blumentritt would
meet up with his Filipino guests after breakfast and take them around the city. On one of these
walks, they had occasion to meet the mayor of Leitmeritz and the two Filipino travelers signed the
city’s guest book. Each day would end with dinner at the Blumentritt home. Before finally leaving
Leitmeritz, Rizal left a pencil sketch of Blumentritt, as a memento of their all too brief but memorable
encounter (Guerrero 2008, 166).
Of this encounter, Guerrero remarks, “A friendship by correspondence does not always

improve upon personal acquaintance; happily, enough, Rizal and Blumentritt got on remarkably
well” (2008, 165). That such is the case is evident in an emotional letter Rizal wrote to Blumentritt
two days after leaving Leitmeritz, "…my heart was full, and I asked myself: What have I done to
deserve the friendship and sympathy of such kind souls....I will also bear in mind my good friends
in Leitmeritz and I will say... ‘You are not alone, Rizal; there in a little corner of Bohemia, there are
good, noble souls and friends who appreciate you; think of them; consider them as if they were
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with you, as if they were seeing you; they will gladden at your joys and they will weep for your
sorrows (Rizal to Blumentritt, 19 May 1887, in National Historical Institute 1992, 1: 80).
The Deepening Friendship (Acibo & Andaza, 1995)

After what was the first and only face-to-face encounter between the two scholars, the
“friendship by correspondence” continued. Arriving back in the Philippines in August 1887, Rizal
kept his Austrian friend informed of events and conditions in the Philippines. He wrote about his
medical practice, which he engaged in so as not to be a burden to his family. He spoke also of the
fear of his family and friends, of how he would avoid calling on friends so as not to put them in any
danger, and of how everyone wanted him to leave the country. (Rizal to Blumentritt, 19 October
1887 and 3 December 1887, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 62).
Under pressure from Spanish colonial authorities and the religious orders, Rizal left the
Philippines for Hong Kong in February 1888 (Nery 2011, 34). By June he was in London where he
spent much of the year copying by hand Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas and
then annotating this 17th century chronicle of the Philippine Islands to prove that the Filipinos
possessed a high level of civilization even before the Spaniards arrived (Guerrero 2008, 208).
All this time, the Rizal-Blumentritt correspondence continued. Their interest in Philippine
History and culture led to collaborative efforts such as translating each other’s works and sharing
their discoveries about the existence of Filipiniana titles in various libraries. Such collaboration can
also be seen in Blumentritt’s agreeing to write the Prologue to Rizal’s annotations of Morga’s
Sucesos.
Rizal shared news about the Philippines. Many times, the news was not good – such as the
deportation of his brother-in-law, Manuel Hidalgo, to Bohol (Rizal to Blumentritt, 13 October 1888,
summarized in Ocampo 2010, 73), the death of another brother-in-law, Mariano Herbosa, due to
cholera (Rizal to Blumentritt, 15 July 1889, summarized in Ocampo 2010, 90), and the continued
persecution of his family (Rizal to Blumentritt, 28 June 1890, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 101).
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Rizal would also bemoan how Spanish authorities back home and Spanish writers in the
peninsula looked down on Filipinos (Rizal to Blumentritt, 1 November 1888, summarized in
Ocampo 2010, 73). He lamented that, without freedom, Filipinos were worse off under Spain
(Rizal to Blumentritt, 13 October 1888, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 73).
Blumentritt was a staunch advocate of Philippine freedom and was not afraid to make his
sentiments known in the Filipino Newspaper La Solidaridad and other publications. For this, as
well as for his defense of the Noli, Blumentritt earned the ire of some Spaniards who openly
attacked him in Spanish periodicals (Rizal to Blumentritt, 20 January 1890, summarized in Ocampo
2011, 98). By late March 1891, Rizal reported to Blumentritt that he had finished writing his second
novel, El Filibusterismo (Rizal to Blumentritt, 29 March 1891, summarized in campo 2011, 104).
Later that year, against the advice of his family and friends – including Blumentritt – Rizal
left Europe for good. “The field of battle is in the Philippines,” Rizal declared, “there is where we
should be found…. There we will help each other, there we will suffer united, and perhaps even
triumph” (quoted in Schumacher 1991, 100).
Rizal, however, opted first to stay in Hong Kong, where he was joined by his parents and
siblings (Rizal to Blumentritt, 10 December 1891, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 110). Reunited
with his family, Rizal could write Blumentritt that, “we all live together, my parents, sisters, and
brother – in peace, far from the persecutions they suffered in the Philippines” (Rizal to Blumentritt,
31 January 1892, in National Historical Institute 1992, 2: 433). By June 1892, however, Rizal was
back in the Philippines and on 15 July he was deported to Dapitan in northern Zamboanga. While
in far-away Dapitan, Rizal dabbled in business, opened a school for young boys, and continued
his medical practice (Rizal to Blumentritt, 31 July 1894, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 140).
By April 1896, Rizal expressed sadness over his separation from friends and his wish to
leave Dapitan (Rizal to Blumentritt, 5 April 1896, summarized in Ocampo 2011, 147). Blumentritt
suggested that he offer his services as a volunteer doctor to Cuba (Nery 2011, 49) and it was while
he was making his way there via Spain that Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan rose in revolt
against Spain. Upon reaching Barcelona in October 1896, Rizal was arrested, detained, and sent
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back to Manila where he was immediately imprisoned at Fort Santiago. On 26 December, the
Spanish court-martial found Rizal guilty of rebellion and three days later, he was informed that he
had been sentenced to die by execution.
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Assessment Task 4
false. 10 Points.
1. ________ Maximo Viola was hailed as the savior of Noli Me Tangere.
2. ________ Maximo Viola was a native of Bataan.
3. ________ Maximo Viola finished his medical course at University of Santo Tomas.
4. ________ Maximo Viola was actively involved in Propaganda Movement.
5. ________ Rizal and Violas’ tour in Europe happened in 1886.
6. ________ Rizal and Viola first met in Madrid.
7. ________ the novel Noli Me Tangere was inspired by the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
8. ________ Noli Me Tangere was a vanguard of Filipino nationalism in the form of a novel.
9. ________ Rizal and Viola had a reunion on the year 1892.
10. _______ Maximo Viola died on September 3, 1933 at the age of 79.
B. Identification. 10 Points
Note: Write your answer in a single word and start with a capital letter except when the answer
is numeric. If name of person, give only the surname. Carefully follow instructions. Computer
software will check your answers.
1. _________ The year when Maximo Viola was born.
2. _________ The native province of Maximo Viola.
3. _________ The country where Rizal suffered the most difficult time of his life in the year 1888.
4. _________ The doctor who helped Viola relished from jail.
5. _________ The year when Viola return to the Philippines after his trip in Europe with Rizal.
6. _________ The number of the initial printed copies of Noli MeTangere in Germany.
7. _________ The governor- general in the Philippines when Rizal return in the Philippines in
1887.
8. _________ The doctor who was exiled due to the Cavite Mutiny.
9. _________ The city in Germany where Rizal visited Dr. Adolf B. Meyer.
10 _________ The city where Rizal was suspected of being a French Spy.
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C. Chronologically arrange the following events by writing the corresponding letters opposite the
numbers. Write in capital letters.10 Points
1. _____ A. Rizal and Viola met in Barcelona.

2. _____ B. Viola and worked in the Propaganda movement
3. _____ C. Viola graduated from Medical course in Barcelona
4. _____ D. Viola married Juana Roura.
5. _____ E. Rizal and Viola were reunited in Manila.
6. _____ F. Rizal and Viola tour in Europe.
7. _____ G. Viola was incarcerated (imprisoned) in Manila
8. _____ H. Viola depended landowners land from British Company.
9. _____ I. Rizal confer with Governor General Despujol.
10. _____ J. Viola died on September 3, 1933.
D. Essay. Write a short essay on Ferdinand Blumentritt and his friendship with Jose Rizal.
Limit your answers into two paragraphs and use a single page. (10 Points).
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Summary
The bleak winter of 1886 was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons: First, it was
a painful episode for he was hungry, sick, and despondent in a strange city and second, it brought
him great joy after enduring so much sufferings because his first novel Noli Me Tangere came off
the press in March, 1887. Like the legendary Santa Claus, Dr. Maximo Viola, his friend from
Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of his despondency and loaned him the needed funds to
publish the novel.
Towards the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel Noli Me Tangere in Madrid. He
continued writing the novel until he finished the last part in Germany. The Idea of Writing a Novel
on the Philippines was a result of Rizal’s reading of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin,
which portrays the brutalities of American slave-owners. Inspired by this novel, Rizal wrote Noli
Me Tangere that depicted the miseries of the Filipino people under the lash of Spanish tyrants and
the pathetic conditions under the Spanish regime.
After the publication of his novel, Rizal decided to have his first Meeting with Blumentrit. At
1:30 p.m. of May 13, 1887, the train, with Rizal and Viola on board, arrived at the railroad station
of Leitmeritz, Bohemia. Professor Blumentritt, who had received their wire, was at the station. He
was carrying a pencil sketch of Rizal which the letter had previously sent him, so that he could
identify his Filipino friend. He warmly received Rizal and Viola. For the first time, the two great
scholars - Rizal and Blumentritt - who came to know each other by correspondence, met in person.
They greeted each other in fluent German. Blumentritt was a kind-hearted, old Austrian professor.
Upon seeing the talented Rizal for the first time, he immediately took him into heart, loving him as
a son. Professor Blumentritt, the genial host, helped Rizal and Viola get a room at Hotel Krebs,
after which he brought them to his home and introduced them to his wife and family. The two
Filipino tourists spent many pleasant hours at the home of their kind host. They stayed in Leitmeritz
from May 13 to May 16, 1887.
74

lOMoARcPSD|31987949
References
Life and Studies at Ateneo. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.joserizal.ph/ed02.html
books.com/Classics/ON/B0/B892/04MB892.
Uckung, P. J. V. (2012). Teodora Alonso’s Trail of Tears. Retrieved from:

https://nhcp.gov.ph/teodora-alonsos-trail-of-tears/
75

lOMoARcPSD|31987949
(END OF MODULE 1 – 4)
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GEM Prelim - 1. Appreciate and learn the general concept of

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Rizal’s Life and Works

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Laguna University shall be a socially responsive educational institution of

Laguna University is committed to produce academically prepared and

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Module 1: The Hero, His Childhood and Family 1

Module 2: Rizal’s Educational Background 23

Module 3: Academics in Europe 46

Module 4: Rizal’s Novel and Blumentritt 59

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1.1 Rizal’s Family 11

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Course Code: GEM

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILO):

1. Inculcate in the minds of students the inspiring life and achievement,

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Prelim Grade = 60% (Activity 1-4) + 40% (Prelim exam)

Midterm Grade = 30 %( Prelim Grade) + 70 % [60% (Activity 5-

Final Grade = 30 %( Midterm Grade) + 70 % [60% (Activity 8-10)

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

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Lesson1. The Rizal’s Law (Republic Act 1425, 1956)

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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,

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SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 12, 1956

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Lesson 2: A Hero is born (Web Books Publishing, n.d.)

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Mercado adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great grandfather

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Don Francisco Mercado (1818-1898)

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Doña Teodora Alonso (1826-1911)

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The Rizal Children

Figure 1.1 Rizal’s Eleven Children

Saturnina (1850 -1913)

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Paciano Rizal (1851-1930)

Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939)

Olympia Rizal (1855- 1887)

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Lucia Rizal (1857- 1919)

Maria Rizal (1859- 1945)

Jose Rizal (1861- 1896)

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Figure 1.2 Jose Rizal (1861- 1896)

Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865)

Josefa Rizal (1865-1945)

Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951)

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The Rizal‘s Home

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