LIFE AND WORKS OF

RIZAL
CHAPTER 2: CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA
OBJECTIVES

 To be able to know the childhood years of Jose

Rizal in Calamba
 To know what he achieved in a young age
 To be able to know what events in his life made
him love his nation and fight for freedom.
CHILDHOOD OF RIZAL

 Jose Rizal grew up in a happy home, ruled by good

parents, bubbling with joy , and sanctified by God’s
blessings.
 His native town is Calamba. Its scenic beauties and
industrious, hospitable, and friendly folks impressed him
during his childhood years and profoundly affected his
mind and character.
CALAMBA, THE HERO’S TOWN

 Calamba was a hacienda town which

belonged to the Dominican Order,
which also owned all the lands
around it.
HOUSE OF JOSE RIZAL IN CALAMBA
EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

 The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the
family garden when he was three years old. Because he was a sick
child, he was given the tenderest care by his parents. His father built
a little nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in the day time.
 Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By
nightfall, his mother gathered all the children at the house to pray
the Angelus.
 Another memory of his infancy was the nocturnal walk in the town.
The maid took him for a walk in the moonlight by the river.
THE HERO’S FIRST SORROW

 Jose loved most the little Concha (Concepcion). He was a

year older than Concha. He played with her and from her
he learned the sweetness of a sisterly love.
 Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she
was three years old. Jose, who was very fond of her, cried
bitterly at losing her. “When I was four years old, I lost
my little sister Concha, and then for the first time I shed
tears caused by love and grief…”
DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH

 At the age of three, he began to take part in the family

prayers. His mother was a devout Catholic, taught him the
catholic prayers, when he was five years old, he was able
to read haltingly the Spanish family bible.
 Father Leoncio Lopez- he is the town priest. Jose Rizal
used to visit him and listen to his stimulating opinions on
current events and sound philosophy of life.
PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO

 On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on

a pilgrimage to Antipolo, in order to fulfill his mother’s
vow which was made when Jose was born.
 It was the first trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay. After
praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo. Jose and
his father went to Manila. It was the first time Jose saw
Manila. They visited Saturnina, who was then a boarding
student at La Concordia College in Sta. Ana.
ARTISTIC TALENTS

 Since early childhood Rizal revealed his

God-given talent for art. At the age of
five, he began to make sketches with his
pencil and mold in clay and wax objects.
 “All right laugh at me
now! Someday when I
die, people will make
monuments and images
of me!”
FIRST POEM BY RIZAL

 Rizal possessed a God-given gift for literature. Since early

babyhood he had scribbled verses on loose sheets of paper
and on the textbooks of his sisters. His mother who was a
lover of literature, noticed his poetic inclination and
encouraged him to write poetry.
 At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native
language entitled Sa aking mga Kababata (To My Fellow
Children).
FIRST DRAMA BY RIZAL

 Rizal, who was eight years old, wrote his first

dramatic work which was in tagalog comedy.
It is said that it was staged in a Calamba
festival and was delightfully applauded by
the audience.
RIZAL AS BOY MAGICIAN

 Since early manhood Rizal had been interested in magic.

With his dexterous hands, he learned various tricks. He
entertained his town folks with magic-lantern exhibitions.
 In later years when he attained manhood, he continued his
keen predilection for magic. He read many books on
magic and attended the performances of the famous
magicians of the world.
INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S
BOYHOOD

 Hereditary Influence
 Environmental Influence
 Aid of Divine Providence
HEREDITARY INFLUENCE

 From his Malayan ancestors, Rizal inherited his love for freedom, his innate
desire to travel, and his indomitable courage.
 From his Chinese ancestors, he derived his serious nature, frugality, patience, and
love for children.
 From his Spanish ancestors, he got his elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult,
and gallantry to ladies.
 From his Father, he inherited a profound sense of self-respect, the love for work,
and the habit of independent thinking.
 And from his Mother, he inherited his religious nature, the spirit of self-sacrifice,
and the passion for arts and literature.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE

 The scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the Rizal family
stimulated the inborn artistic and literary talents of Jose Rizal.
 The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his religious nature.
 His brother, Paciano, instilled in his mind the love for freedom and justice. From
his sisters, he learned to be courteous and kind to women.
 His three uncles, inspired him to develop his artistic ability, to develop his frail
body and intensified his voracious reading of good books.
 Father Leoncio Lopez, fostered Rizal’s love for scholarship and intellectual
honesty.
 The death of his sister Concha and the
imprisonment of his mother, contributed to
strengthen his character, enabling him to
resist blows of adversity in later years.
 The Spanish cruelties and abuses awakened
his spirit of patriotism and inspired him to
consecrate his life and talents to redeem his
oppressed people.
AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE

 Rizal was providentially destined to be the

pride and glory of his nation. God had
endowed him with the versatile gifts of a
genius, the vibrant spirit of a nationalist, and
the valiant heart to sacrifice for noble cause.
REPORTERS: