About Rizal

Jose Rizal belonged to a big family of thirteen members. He had an only brother, Paciano and nine (9) sisters. Aside from Rizal’s sweethearts, let’s get to know the important women in his life. Saturnina Rizal (1850-1913) Saturnina is the eldest child of Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso Realonda. She was married to Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. It was Doña Saturnina who published Pascual Poblete’s translation in Tagalog language of the Noli Me Tangere in 1909. Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939) Narcisa is the third child and was married to Antonio Lopez, a teacher and musician from Morong, Rizal. Like a doting sister, Narcisa was very close to Rizal and could recite all of Rizal’s poem from memory. Olympia Rizal (1855-1887) Olympia was married to Silvestre Ubaldo who was a telegraph operator from Manila.Olympia unfortunately died from childbirth in 1887. Lucia Rizal (1857-1919) Lucia was the fifth child and was married to Matriano Herbosa. One important fact to know is that Lucia’s daughter Delfina, was the first wife of Gen. Salvador Natividad and Delfina helped Marcela Agoncillo to make the first Filipino flag in Hong Kong. Maria Rizal (1859-1945) Maria was the sixth child and married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna. Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865) Concepcion didn’t live long to see Rizal’s martyrdom. She died early at the age of three. Josefa Rizal (1865-1945) and Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951) Josefa and Trinidad were together living and both died as spinsters. Josefa was medically ill of epilepsy but the two became members of the Katipunan. Rizal’s elegy, “Mi Ultimo Adios” was in the safekeeping of Trinidad. Soledad Rizal (1870-1929) The youngest child, Soledad was married to Pantaleon Quintero.She was a teacher and was considered as the best educated among the sisters of Rizal. - See more at: