1.

Knowing Jose Rizal, he is the

one who utilized his books to
aid our country, the
Philippines, achieve
independence from conquerors.
From this, I believe that his
mother, Teodora Alonso, has
had the most influence on him
in terms of pursuing
acts based on his own desires.
His mother has had a significant
influence on him
since he was a toddler. Teodora
was his first teacher, and she
taught him how to
open his eyes, mind, and heart
to the world around him. He
learned to read from
her, and he understood the
importance of learning and
devoting his time to
writing poems and novels. By
following his mother’s
guidance, Rizal was able to
better himself. Teodora Alonso,
as a result, showed him how to
build oneself.
2. Everyone believes that
education is very important.
It provides us with
information about the world
around us and helps us to
improve it. Rizal’s
investment in intelligence has
landed him in this position.
Rizal, like many others,
chose to concentrate on
education to improve the future.
He was able to awaken
everyone’s awareness in this
way. He used all his
knowledge to defeat the
Spaniards and liberate our
land. We realized the
importance of education in
everyone’s life because of
the tragedy. He also used
his expertise and
experience to build a
masterpiece that will aid our
country in its struggle against
those who are attempting to
take our land. Rizal also stated
that the country
could only saved from
dominance through
education. The value of
good
education manifested in the
life of Rizal is he always
saw education as a
treatment that could cure the
problems of Colonial
Philippines.
3. The Rizal family is one of the
most privileged. Jose Rizal had
a close relationship
with his mother when he was a
child, and he also had a close
relationship with
his siblings. Even though Rizal
has numerous siblings, their
bond is unrivaled. He
was particularly close to his
sisters from childhood till he
became an adult. He
addresses them as doa or
seniorita to demonstrate his
respect for them.
Paciano, his only brother, was
like a second father to him,
despite the fact that he
was ten years his senior. On the
other hand, we knew Rizal
studied overseas
and was left alone, but I’m sure
his entire family was proud of
him for what he
accomplished for our country.
Theirs was a happy family
1. Knowing Jose Rizal, he is the
one who utilized his books to
aid our country, the
Philippines, achieve
independence from conquerors.
From this, I believe that his
mother, Teodora Alonso, has
had the most influence on him
in terms of pursuing
acts based on his own desires.
His mother has had a significant
influence on him
since he was a toddler. Teodora
was his first teacher, and she
taught him how to
open his eyes, mind, and heart
to the world around him. He
learned to read from
her, and he understood the
importance of learning and
devoting his time to
writing poems and novels. By
following his mother’s
guidance, Rizal was able to
better himself. Teodora Alonso,
as a result, showed him how to
build oneself.
2. Everyone believes that
education is very important.
It provides us with
information about the world
around us and helps us to
improve it. Rizal’s
investment in intelligence has
landed him in this position.
Rizal, like many others,
chose to concentrate on
education to improve the future.
He was able to awaken
everyone’s awareness in this
way. He used all his
knowledge to defeat the
Spaniards and liberate our
land. We realized the
importance of education in
everyone’s life because of
the tragedy. He also used
his expertise and
experience to build a
masterpiece that will aid our
country in its struggle against
those who are attempting to
take our land. Rizal also stated
that the country
could only saved from
dominance through
education. The value of
good
education manifested in the
life of Rizal is he always
saw education as a
treatment that could cure the
problems of Colonial
Philippines.
3. The Rizal family is one of the
most privileged. Jose Rizal had
a close relationship
with his mother when he was a
child, and he also had a close
relationship with
his siblings. Even though Rizal
has numerous siblings, their
bond is unrivaled. He
was particularly close to his
sisters from childhood till he
became an adult. He
addresses them as doa or
seniorita to demonstrate his
respect for them.
Paciano, his only brother, was
like a second father to him,
despite the fact that he
was ten years his senior. On the
other hand, we knew Rizal
studied overseas
and was left alone, but I’m sure
his entire family was proud of
him for what he
accomplished for our country.
Theirs was a happy family
Ricellene Kate E. Renegado
BA COMMS 3

1. Knowing Jose Rizal, he is the one who utilized his books to aid our country, the Philippines, achieve
independence from conquerors. From this, I believe that his mother, Teodora Alonso, has had the most
influence on him in terms of pursuing acts based on his own desires. His mother has had a significant
influence on him since he was a toddler. Teodora was his first teacher, and she taught him how to open
his eyes, mind, and heart to the world around him. He learned to read from her, and he understood
the importance of learning and devoting his time to writing poems and novels. By following his
mother’s guidance, Rizal was able to better himself. Teodora Alonso, as a result, showed him how to
build oneself.

2. Everyone believes that education is very important. It provides us with information about
the world around us and helps us to improve it. Rizal’s investment in intelligence has landed
him in this position. Rizal, like many others, chose to concentrate on education to improve the future.
He was able to awaken everyone’s awareness in this way. He used all his knowledge to defeat
the Spaniards and liberate our land. We realized the importance of education in everyone’s life
because of the tragedy. He also used his expertise and experience to build a masterpiece that
will aid our country in its struggle against those who are attempting to take our land. Rizal also stated
that the country could only save from dominance through education. The value of good
education manifested in the life of Rizal is he always saw education as a treatment that
could cure the problems of Colonial Philippines.

3. The Rizal family is one of the most privileged. Jose Rizal had a close relationship with his mother when
he was a child, and he also had a close relationship with his siblings. Even though Rizal has numerous
siblings, their bond is unrivaled. He was particularly close to his sisters from childhood till he became an
adult. Headdresses them as doa or seniorita to demonstrate his respect for them. Paciano,
his only brother, was like a second father to him, despite the fact that he was ten years his senior. On
the other hand, we knew Rizal studied overseas and was left alone, but I’m sure his entire family was
proud of him for what he accomplished for our country. Theirs was a happy family.
Jose Rizal’s Siblings: How His Brother and Sisters Affected the Life of the Filipino
Hero
Saturnina Rizal

Saturnina Rizal Hidalgo (1850-1913) is the eldest child of Don Francisco and Teodora Alonso.

She and her mother provided the little Jose with good basic education that by the age of three, Pepe
(Jose’s nickname) already knew his alphabet.

Saturnina had always been a loving ‘Ate’ Neneng to Jose. When their mother was imprisoned, Saturnina
brought the young Jose to Tanauan during the summer vacation of 1873 just to cheer up the sad little
brother.

Paciano Mercado Rizal

Paciano Rizal, Jose’s only brother, was born on March 7, 1851 in Calamba, Laguna. He was fondly
addressed by his siblings as ‘Ñor Paciano,’ short for ‘Señor Paciano’. The 10-year older brother of Jose
studied at San Jose College in Manila, became a farmer, and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.

After Jose Rizal’s execution in December 1896, his ‘kuya’ Paciano joined the Katipuneros in Cavite under
General Emilio Aguinaldo. As Katipunero, Paciano was commissioned as general of the revolutionary
forces and elected as secretary of finance in the Department Government of Central Luzon.

Narcisa Rizal

Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939) or simply ‘Sisa’ was the third child in the family. Later in history, Narcisa (like
Saturnina) would help in financing Jose Rizal’s studies in Europe, even pawning her jewelry and peddling
her clothes if needed.

Olympia Rizal

Olympia Rizal (1855-1887) is the fourth child in the Rizal family.

Jose loved to tease her, sometimes good-humoredly describing her as his stout sister. Jose’s first love,
Segunda Katigbak, was Olympia’s schoolmate at the La Concordia College.

Rizal confided to Olympia (also spelled ‘Olimpia’) about Segunda, and the sister willingly served as the
mediator between the two teenage lovers.

Lucia Rizal Herbosa

Lucia Rizal (1857–1919) is the fifth child in the family. She married Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, Laguna.
Charged of inciting the Calamba townsfolk not to pay land rent and causing unrest, the couple was once
ordered to be deported along with some Rizal family members.

Lucia’s husband died during the cholera epidemic in May 1889 and was refused a Catholic burial for not
going to confession since his marriage to Lucia. In Jose Rizal’s article in La Solidaridad entitled Una
profanacion (A Profanation), he scornfully attacked the friars for declining to bury in ‘sacred ground’ a
‘good Christian’ simply because he was the “brother-in-law of Rizal”.
Maria Rizal Cruz

Maria Rizal (1859-1945) is the sixth child in the family. It was to her whom Jose talked about wanting to
marry Josephine Bracken when the majority of the Rizal family was apparently not amenable to the
idea.

In his letter dated December 28, 1891, Jose Rizal wrote to her sister Maria, “I’m told that your children
are very pretty.” Today, we have a historical proof that Maria’s progenies were indeed nice-looking
(‘lahing maganda’).

Maria and her husband, Daniel Faustino Cruz had five children: Mauricio, Petrona, Prudencio, Paz, and
Encarnacion. Their son Mauricio married Conception Arguelles, and the couple had a son named Ismael
Arguelles Cruz. Ismael was the father of Gemma Cruz Araneta, the first Filipina to win the Miss
International title, also the first Southeast Asian to win in an international beauty pageant title.

Concepcion Rizal

Also called ‘Concha’ by her siblings, Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865) was the eight children of the Rizal
family. She died at the age of three.

Of his sisters, it was said that the young Pepe loved most little Concha who was a year younger than
him. Jose played games and shared children’s stories with her, and from her he felt the beauty of sisterly
love at young age.

Josefa Rizal

Josefa Rizal’s nickname is Panggoy (1865-1945). She’s the ninth child in the family.

Panggoy died a spinster. Among Jose Rizal’s letters to Josefa, the one dated October 26, 1893 is perhaps
the most fascinating. Written in English, the letter addressed Josefa as “Miss Josephine Rizal.”

After Jose’s martyrdom, the epileptic Josefa joined the Katipunan and was even said to have been
elected the president of its women section. She was one of the original 29 women admitted to the
Katipunan along with Gregoria de Jesus, wife of Andres Bonifacio.

They safeguarded the secret papers and documents of the society and danced and sang during sessions
so that civil guards would think that the meetings were just harmless social gatherings.
Trinidad Rizal

Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951) or ‘Trining’ was the tenth child. Historically, she became the custodian of
Rizal’s last and greatest poem.

Right before Jose’s execution, Trinidad and their mother visited him in the Fort Santiago prison cell.

As they were leaving, Jose handed over to Trining an alcohol cooking stove, a gift from the Pardo de
Taveras, whispering to her in a language which the guards could not understand, “There is something in
it.”

That ‘something’ was Rizal’s elegy now known as “Mi Ultimo Adios.” Like Josefa, Paciano, and two
nieces, Trinidad joined the Katipunan after Jose’s death.

Soledad Rizal

Also called ‘Choleng,’ Soledad Rizal (1870-1929) was the youngest child of the Rizal family. Being a
teacher, she was arguably the best educated among Rizal’s sisters.

In his long and meaty letter to Choleng dated June 6, 1890, Jose Rizal told her sister that he was proud of
her for becoming a teacher. He thus counseled her to be a model of virtues and good qualities “for the
one who should teach should be better than the persons who need her learning.”

Rizal nonetheless used the topic as leverage in somewhat rebuking her sister for getting married to
Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba without their parents’ consent. “Because of you,” he wrote, “the peace
of our family has been disturbed.”

Choleng’s union with Pantaleon, nonetheless resulted in Rizal family’s becoming connected by affinity
to Miguel Malvar, the hero who could have been listed as the second Philippine President for taking
over the revolutionary government after Emilio Aguinaldo’s arrest in 1901.