Jose Rizal’s Mother

God’s best gift to Jose Rizal was his mother,

Dona Teodora Alonzo. Teodora was brought up by
her mother in a home full of love and understanding.
She was educated at Santa Rosa College. Her
excellent education, her goodness of heart and her
other virtues prepared her to be the mother of our
national hero. To Jose Rizal, next to God, a mother
means every- thing to a man. Dona Teodora was a
devout Catholic.
 It was her teaching that made her son, Jose, love the Christian way of life. He was still a baby when his
mother began teaching him the alphabet and the simple prayers as was the custom of the Filipino Family.
 Dona Teodora was fond of telling a stories of her little son, Jose. The word “story” meant something new and wonderful to Jose. He would sit down to listen, full of interest
and wonder, when his mother called him for the regular story time. He loved the stories his mother told him. He remembered the moral lesson each story conveyed and made it a
part of his education and training.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. How did Jose Rizal consider his mother?
a. his playmate b. God’s best gift
c. a good story teller
2. Which would best described Doña Teodora?
a. gay b. lovely c. virtous
3. Which of the following prepared her to be the mother of our national hero?
a. her books b. her goodness of heart
c. her pleasant disposition
4. What did a mother mean to Rizal?
a. Everyone’s mother is his friend.
b. Next to God, a mother meant everything to a man.
c. A mother is one who should teach her children how to
read and pray.
5. What was Doña Teodora’s religion?
a. Catholic b. Protestant
c. Presbyterian
6. What made Jose love the Christian way of life?
a. his father’s teachings
b. his mother’s teachings
c. his teacher’s teachings
7. What did his mother teach him as was the custom of the
Filipino family?
a. reading simple stories
b. telling children’s stories
c. the alphabet and simple prayers
8. Did Jose believe his mother’s stories?
a. Yes b. No c. Maybe
9. What did the word “story” mean to Jose?
a. something nice
b. something good
c. something new and wonderful
10. How did Jose listen to his mother’s story?
a. carelessly b. attentively
c. half-heartedly