LIFE AND

WORK OF
RIZAL
Module 1:
Content:

1). Life of Rizal

2). Rizal’s Birthdate & Birthplace
3). Rizal’s Parents
4). The Rizal Family
5). Influences on Rizal’s Boyhood
6). Rizal’s Educational Background
7). The Places of Rizal’s Relevant Travels
8). Literary Works of Rizal
Life of Rizal
Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado Y Alonzo Realonda

• Birthdate: June 19 , 1861

• Birthplace: Calamba , Laguna
•Death: December 30 , 1896 , Manila Philippines
Common-law Wife: Josephine Bracken
• Baptized in Calamba by Father Rufino Collantes-
the parish priest of Batangas
• Baptismal Certificate was signed by Leoncio Lopez
– the parish priest of Calamba
According to a report from El Renacimiento
(1900). The name Jose was adopted from a
name of a patron saint, Saint Joseph while
Rizal not his real last name was derived from
the Spanish word “Riccial” which means green
field.
The baptismal name of Rizal is Jose Rizal
Mercado. His complete name is Jose
Protasio Rizal Mercado Y Alonzo Realonda.
Protasio was taken from the calendar of the
Catholic names and a lot of Rizal’s relatives
were named Jose.
Rizal was very fortunate to have been
raised in a very good family. Rizal’s
family is of Malay origin from his siblings
and loving parents. He learned Filipino
traits derived from the Malay culture.
Rizal’s Parents
Father :Francisco Mercado (1818 – 1898)

Place: Binan , Laguna

Birthdate: May 11 , 1818
Don Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado was a
dignified man who believed in social justice
and service to the people.

•He was the son of a Chinese from Binondo,

Manila. He finished College in San Jose,
Manila. He met Teodora Alonzo, a student of
Colegio de Sta Rosa and courted her until
became lifelong partners (Bantug,2008).
Father: Francisco Mercado (1818 – 1898)

He moved to Calamba, Laguna to become a

tenant-farmer in sugar lands owned by the
Dominican friars. Through hardwork, he
became one of the Calamba’s wealthiest
men and he was the first who has residents
of Calamba to build a stone house, own a
carriage, a library and send his children to
school in Manila.
Mother: Teodora Alonso Y Realonda- (1826-1911)
Place: Meseic, Sta Cruz, Manila
Birth: November 8,1826

Doña Teodora Alonzo Y Quintos is a

woman of refined culture and
admirable religiosity. Her parents were
Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo and Brigida
Urusa DeQuintos. She finished
College in Colegio de Sta Rosa, Manila.
She became a successful
businesswoman in Calamba where she
owned a merchandising Store.
The Rizal Family
1. Saturnina Rizal
(1850-1913)

• Married-Manuel T.
Hidalgo
• Tanauan, Batangas
• 5 children
 2. Paciano Rizal
(1851-1930)
Common-Law Wife
SeverinaDecena
• Los Banos
• Revolutionary General &
Retired farmer
 3. Narcisa Rizal
(1852-1939)

Married-Antonio Lopez
• Teacher-Morong Rizal
 4. Olympia Rizal
(1855-1887)

• Married-Silvestre Ubaldo
• Telegraph Operator-
Manila
 5. Lucia Rizal
(1857-1919)
• Married-Mariano
Herbosa
 6. Maria Rizal
(1859-1945)
Married-Daniel Faustino Cruz,
• Biñan, Laguna
7). Jose Rizal
(1861-1896)

• Common- Law Wife

Josephine Bracken
 8. Concepcion Rizal
(1862-1865)

• Died at the age of 3

 9. Josefa Rizal
(1865-1945)
Unmarried
Head of the Women
chapter
• Katipunan
 10. Trinidad Rizal
(1868-1951)
Unmarried
• Member - Katipunan
11. Soledad Rizal
(1870-1929)
Married-Pantaleon
Quintero
• Calamba
RIZAL’S EDUCATIONAL
BACKGROUND
RIZAL’S EARLY
EDUCATION AT
CALAMBA AND
BIÑAN
1862 – 1867

• Age 1-7 , at Calamba

• First non-formal teacher: DOÑA TEODORA
ALONZO Y REALONDA
• Rizal first learned the alphabet and prayers
at the age of 3
• His mother taught him Spanish and
Tagalog
• Begins to write poems
1867 – 1869

• His parents employed private tutors to

give Rizal lessons at home
• Private Tutors: MAESTRO CELESTINO ,
MAESTRO LUCAS PADUA , MAESTRO
LEON MONROY
• At June 1869 , Rizal left his family at
Calamba to study at Biñan in the school of
MAESTRO JUSTINIANO AQUINO CRUZ. He
was accompanied by his brother Paciano
• Rizal fought the school bully Pedro
• Rizal became a painter together with his
classmate JOSE GUEVARRA. They become
apprentice of Justiniano’s father in law –
JUANCHO
• Rizal topped all his classes in academic
studies especially in the subject Spanish ,
Latin , and other subjects
• At 1870 , Rizal finished his studies at
Biñan and went back to Calamba.
RIZAL’S
SECONDARY
EDUCATION
1872 – 1877

• Age 11-15
• Rizal Studied in the ATENEO MUNICIPAL ,
a college under the supervision of the
Spanish Jesuits and the Jesuit System
At first Father Magin Ferrando , who was
the college registrar refused to admit Rizal
for 2 reasons;

(1) Rizal was late for registration

(2) Rizal was sickly and undersized for his
age

However , Manuel Xeres Burgos interfered.

• The Jesuit System of Education: The
system of education given by the Jesuit in
Ateneo was more advanced than that of
other colleges in that period. It trained the
character of the student by rigid discipline
and religious instruction. It promoted
physical culture , humanities , and scientific
studies. Aside from academic courses leading
to the degree of Bachelor of Arts , it offered
vocational courses in agriculture,
commerce , mechanics and surveying.
Students divided into two groups:
Roman Empire – Internos (boarders)
Carthaginian Empire – Externos (Non-
boarders)

Ranks:
Emperor
Tribune
Decurion
Centurion
The Standard Bearer
• First Teacher was JOSE BECH
• Another professor and Rizal’s Favorite
teacher was FATHER FRANCISCO DE PAULA
SANCHEZ
• Rizal devoted his free time in fine arts
• Studied painting under the famous painter ,
AGUSTIN SAEZ and sculpture under
ROMUALDO DE JESUS , a noted Filipino
sculptor
• Rizal wrote poems , he was inspired by
FATHER FRANCISCO DE PAULA SANCHEZ
• Extra-Curricular Activities:
- Member and a secretary of the
MARIAN CONGREGATION , a religious
society
- Member of the Academy of
Spanish Literature
- Academy of Natural Sciences
YEARS IN ATENEO
1st Year
- won the “Religious Picture” as a prize
• Rizal also attended Private lessons at
Isabell College to improve his Spanish.

2nd Year
- studied harder and received excellent
grade and became ‘emperor’ once again.
3rd year
- grades remained excellent in all
subjects , received one medal in Latin
subject.

4th year
- On March 1877 , Rizal graduated as
“Sobre Saliente”
(excellent/valedictorian) and received 5
gold medals.
RIZAL’S
TERTIARY
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF
SANTO TOMAS
( 1877-1882)
• Rizal entered University of Santo Tomas
on April 1877 at the age of 16.
• Dominican Professors
• He took the course Philosophy and
Letter/Humanities.
• During his first year term in University of
Santo Tomas , Rizal studied Cosmology ,
Metaphysics , Theodicy , and History of
Philosophy.
• 1878 – 1879 , studied medicine and took
up the medical course.
• 1877 – 1878 , during his first term in
Santo Tomas , Rizal also studied in
Ateneo , took Vocational courses leading
to the title of ‘perito agrimensor’ (expert
surveyor)
• Became a victim of Spanish Officer’s
Brutality
• Attended Literary Contests
• After finishing the 4th year of Rizal’s
medical course , he decided to complete
his studies in Spain
UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE MADRID
• November 3, 1882 – Rizal enrolled in
the Universidad Central de Madrid in
two courses; Medicine and Philosophy
and Letter
•
Academy of Fine Arts of San
Fernando

• Studied painting and sculpture.

•Rizal completed his studies in Spain and
conferred/ awarded the degree of Licentiate
in Medicine by The Universidad Central de
Madrid.

• The next academic year ( 1884-1885) He

studied and passed all subjects leading to
the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
• June 19 , 1885 (his 24th birthday) Rizal
finished his studies in Philosophy and Letter
and was awarded the degree of Licentiate
in Philosophy and Letter by the Universidad
Central de Madrid with rating of excellent
(Sobresaliente).
The Places of
Rizal’s Relevant
International
Travels
May 3, 1882

• Rizal Left Manila for Spain

• He wanted to continue his studies
in medicine to specialize
Ophthalmology at the
Universidad Central de Madrid
• Secret mission
• Used the name Jose Mercado.
November 3, 1882 ;
Madrid, Spain

• Enrolled at the Central

University of Madrid.

The following courses:

• Medicine, Philosophy&
Letters
People he met:

Dr. Miguel Morayta: a respected professor of

philosophy and history at the University of Madrid.
• he was an advocate of freedom and liberalism.

Don Pablo Ortega y Rey: Spanish liberal who used to

live in the Philippines
Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando

• Rizal enrolled at Academia de San Fernando the to pursue

further studies in arts and literature.
• He immersed himself in the study of painting and
sculpture, and even poetry.
• He also took Language lessons in French, German, and
English under private instructors.
Hall of Sanz&Carbonell

• Practice shooting and fencing

LITERARY
WORKS OF
RIZAL:
Poem:

1). To My Fellow Children (Sa Aking Mga

Kababata)

• 1869; Calamba Laguna

• He wrote when he was 8yrs. old.
∆ First Poem of Rizal
In the poem, Rizal expresses his belief that the language
of one’s childhood is a gift from heaven, and should be
treasured above all others.
Poem:

2). My first Inspiration (MiPrimeraInspiracion)

• 1874; Ateneo, Municipal

• Dedicated to his mother on her 48th birthday.
• Verses shows his enternal love and appreciate
for his mother.
Poem:

3). Felicitation (Felicitacion)

• 1875; Ateneo Municipal

• Wrote when he was 15yrs. old.
• He offers congratulations to Antonio Lopez,
husband of his sister Narcissa.
Religious Poem:

4). To the Child Jesus (Al Niño Jesus)

• 1875; Ateneo, Municipal

• Wrote when he was 15yrs old.

5). To the Virgin Mary ( A La Virgen Maria)

• Undated
Poem:

6). In Memory of my Town (Un Recuerdo de Mi

Pueblo)

• 1876; Ateneo, Municipal

• Wrote when he was 16yrs. old.
• Reminisce about the beauty and charm of his beloved
town.
Poem:

7). To the Filipino Youth (A La Juventud Filipina)

• 1879; LiceoArtisticoLiterario de Manila

• Wrote at the age of 19yrs. old.
• Dedicated to the Filipino Youth.
• Describes the Filipino youth as the “Fair hope
of the fatherland.”
∆ Manila First Prize- winning poem Silver Quill
Poem:

8). Council of the gods (El consejo de los Dioses)

• 1880; LiceoArtisicoLiterario de Manila

• Wrote at the age of 20yrs. Old.
• ∆ Manila Grand Prize- Gold Ring
Commemoration of the 400th death anniversary of
Miguel de Cervantes-Spain’s National Poet
Poem:

9). Beside the Pasig (Juntu al Pasig)

• 1880; Ateneo, Municipal

• Wrote at the age of 20yrs. Old.
• Stage at the Ateneo, during the annual
celebration of the Feast Day of the Immaculate
Conception.
Poem:

10). A Filipinas (To the Philippines)

• February 1880
• Wrote at the age of 20yrs. Old.
• The poem was about Rizal’s muse, The Philippines.
Poem:

11). My Retreat

• 1895; Dapitan, Zamboanga

• Poem he wrote during exile in Dapitan.
• Describes Rizal’s doubts, uncertainty, and fear.
Poem:

12). Hymn To Labor

• 1888; Calamba, Laguna

• Dedicated and served as tribute for the working class
or laborers.
Poem:

13). The Song of the Traveler

• 1896 Dapitan, Zamboanga

• Poem reflects Rizal’s own experiences as a wonderer
or traveler.
Drama:

1). Tagalog Comedy

• After writing the poem To My Fellow Children,

Rizal who was 8yrs. old, made his first dramatic
work which was Tagalog Comedy(1869).
Drama:

2). Saint Eustace, the Martyr

• 1876; Calamba, Laguna

• Religious Dramatic work in Ateneo.
• Request from his favorite teacher, Father Sanchez.
Essay/ Articles:

1). Amor Patrio (Love of Counrty)

2). LosViajes (Travels)
3). Revista de Madrid (Review of Madrid)

∆ 1882; Spain
∆ Published in Diariong Tagalog under the name of
Laong Laan.
Novels:
1). Noli Me Tangere (first novel)
• 1884-1887 Germany

2). El Filibusterismo (sequel)