RIZALISTA 1

Chapter 1: A hero was born!
A Hero’s Profile
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda also known as “Pepe” was born in Calamba, Laguna (the cradle of a genius) on the 19th of June 1861 between the 11 o’clock to 12 midnight, a few days before the full moon. The birth of Rizal (The name Rizal means green field/new pasture) was attributed to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (a.k.a Virgin of Antipolo).
The baby boy was baptized by Rev. Rufino Callantes three days after his birth, and god-fathered by Rev. Pedro Casanas and attested by Rev. Leoncio Lopez. He was named “Jose” by his mother in honor of St. Joseph (the patron saint of the universal church)
Mercado (market) was the original surname of the Rizal family, which was adopted by Domingo Lam-co, the paternal ancestor. Francisco chose his own surname”Rizal” because it fits to his farming clan which means (ricial) green field or new pasture, although Rizal was not found on the list of the given Spanish surnames. And Jose was the first one to adopt the surname “Rizal” during his high school days, because the “Mercado” had come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
Rizal belongs to a middle class group called “ilustrados”. They were the firsts; to build a large stone houses in Calamba, to own a carruaje (horse-drawn carriage), to have a home library (1000 volumes) and to educate their children in colleges of Manila.
At the age of three, he began to take part on the family prayers and two years later he was able to read the Spanish family Bible. He is fond of going to church, to pray, to take part on novenas and religious procession.
As a teenager, he had his interest in reading especially on romantic novels. His 1st novel was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas, and it was Edmund Dantes (the hero) who stirred Rizal’s deep imagination. The 2nd was Universal History a non-fiction book by Cesar Cantu, though it was costly. And later, 3rd he read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a german scientist-traveler who predicted that Spanish regime will be ended.
Rizal’s Family Background
Parents:
Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandra II
Born on May 11, 1818 at Binan, Laguna
13th child of Cirila Alejandro and Juan Mercado
He was the 4th generation of Chinese immigrant
He became as Cabeza de Barangay
Pepe inherit his strong willed, educated and independent-minded
A tenant and a land owner
He died on January 5, 1898 at Narcisa’s house shortly after the execution of Jose.
Studied latin and philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
“a model of fathers”
Great-great-grandson of Domingo Lam-co
Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos Born in Meisik (chinatown), Manila on November 9, 1827
She was martinet, devoted, well-mannered and a diligent mother.
She studied and mastered Spanish language at Colegio de Santa Rosa (a school for girls)
Possess business ability, refined culture, literary giant, the courage of a frugal woman.
Keeps the family together despite the turmoil of the Spanish regime.
First teacher of Jose
Rizal’s Siblings:
1. Saturnina (1850-1913) – a.k.a “Neneng”/ studied at La Concordia College in Sta. Ana, Manila/ she was married to Manuel Hidalgo/ Published Pobete’s Noli Me Tangere (tagalog)
2. Paciano – a.k.a Ciano/ “Uto”/ joined the revolution and became the general/ common-law wife Severina Decena.
3. Narcisa – “Sisa”
4. Olimpia – “Ypia”
5. Lucia –
6. Maria – “Biang”
7. Jose –
8. Concepcion – died at the age of three/ “Concha”
9. Josefa – “Panggoy”
10. Trinidad - keeper of Jose’s Mi Ultimo Adios
11. Soledad – “Choleng”
Ancestry of Rizal:
Negrito
Indonesian
Malay – his mother is relative of Lakandula, the last Malayan in Tondo. JPR also inherited the love of freedom and hi serenity for his life’s outlook.
Chinese – his father side, Domingo Lam-co. He got his serious nature, frugality, patience and love for children.
Japanese – maternal great-great grandfather Eugenio Ursua
Spanish – he got his elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insults and gallantry to ladies.
Rizal’s profession:
Anthropologist
Botanist
Businessman
Cartographer
Dramatis
Economist
Educator
Engineer
Essayist
Entomologist
Ethnologist
Farmer
Folklorist
Geographer
Grammarian
Historian
Horticulturist
Humorist
Lexicographer
Linguist
Musician
Novelist
Painter
Physician
Poet
Philologist
Polemist
Psychologist
Satirist
Sculptor
Sportsman
Sociologist
Surveyor
Traveler
Zoologist
Spain, fared ill under the rule of a woman – Queen Isabela II. She had lost her rich colonies (except Cuba and Puerto Rico) in the new world
The Generals:
Gen. Jose Lemery - (politico-military government in visayas and mindanao) In 1861 the year when Rizal was born, Pax Hispania reigned over the archipelago. And ruled by a good militarist
Gen. Narciso Claveria – In 1849, he ordered the Filipino families to choose a new surname from a list of Spanish family names. The purpose of this is Hispanize Filipino surnames which were difficult for the Spanish authorities to pronounce, much less to remember.

Chapter 2: Childhood Days In Calamba
Childhood memoirs
1. At the garden. Jose together with his aya (maid) watched a couple of singing birds on their garden cottage.
2. Angelus prayer. By night fall they gathered all the children at the house to pray.
3. Nocturnal walk. The aya took him for a walk in the moonlight by the river.
Sorrowful Moments (in chronological order)
1. Death of Concha. Concepcion (8th child) died at the age of three due to her sickness in 1865. The death of little Concha brought Jose to his first sorrow.
2. Imprisonment of Dona Teodora. In 1872, Dona Teodora was arrested with the acquisition filed against her, that she was an accomplice of his brother Jose Alberto who “attempt” to poison Alberto’s wife, which is so untrue. His wife had an affair with the alferez (lieutenant of the Guardia Civil). Jose’s mother forced to walk on foot from Calamba to Santa Cruz (+50 km.) She was in jail for 2 and a half years.
3. Cavity mutiny flared up. January 20, 1872
4. The Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za., February 7, 1892, the day when martyrs were executed. Rizal wrote the El Filibustreismo. Paciano Mercado quit college because he was a friend and a favorite student of Father Burgos and it might cause him on jeopardy.
His first trip outside Calamba (going to north: Laguna de Bay to Antipolo, going to south: Mt. Makiling to Batangas)
a. Pilgrimage to Antipolo. On June 6, 1868 Jose and his father went to Antipolo to fulfills his mother’s vow.he rode the casco (barge) that sailed towards Pasig river.
b. Jose visited Manila. On the same day, they went to Santa Ana to visit Saturnina, a student from La Concordia College.

Jose Rizal’s Works:
Sa Aking Mga Kabata
Al Nino Jesus (1876)
La Alianza Intima Entre La Religion y La Buena Educacion (1876)
A La Virgen Maria
Tagalog Drama – The mayor (gobernadorcillo)in Paete, Laguna, bought Jose’s writings during the town fiesta and earned his first 2 pesos.
Influences of the Hero’s Boyhood
1. From his ancestors.
2. From his father – self-respect, love for work and independent.
3. From his mother – religious, self-sacrifice and passion for wisdom.
4. Father Leoncio Lopez – a town priest, the young Jose always listen to his stimulating opinions on current events and sound philosophy in life.
5. His hometown – the scenic beauty of Calamba contributes to his artistic and literary talents.
6. Uncle Gregorio – who taught him to love books.
7. Uncle Jose – help developed Rizal’s artistic ability
8. Uncle Manuel – trained JPR to become a “MASCULINE” and learned the importance good health and sports.
9. Papa God – HE “endowed him with the versatile talents of a rare genius, the spirit of nationalism and the valiant heart to sacrifice himself.”
10. Juancho – an old painter in Binan, a father-in-law of Maestro Cruz, who taught Jose about drawing and painting together with Jose Guevara.
11. Usman – the dog of Rizal
School Age
At Home:
Beside of his mother, he also had his private tutors.
Maestro Celestino – the first tutor of Rizal
Maestro Lucas Padua – after Maestro Celestino
Maestro Leon Monroy – a classmate of Don Fancisco, gave Rizal the first lesson in Latin, but diead five months later
At Binan (1870-1871):
A 9 year-old Rizal took his first formal schooling, at Binan, Laguna, headed by Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. He was accompanied with Paciano, they rode in a carromata.
His first day is also his first trouble in Binan, when his classmate Pedro, the son of Maestro Cruz, laugh at him for having a little knowledge about the language.
He became the best student school.
December 17, 1871, for the first time he rode a steamer TALIM, going back to Calamba.
At Ateneo Municipal (supervised by Jesuits, formerly called Escuela Pia on 1817, was located inside Intramuros)
Accompanied by Paciano, took an examination for San Juan de Letran, on June 10, 1872, because his father wanted to.
In Ateneo, they met Father margin Fernando, the articulate college registrar, who refused to admit Jose, Because of the two reasons;
He was late for registration because his father was looking for a better school
He was sickly, undersized for his age (11 yrs. old)
Through the intercession of Manuel Xeres Burgos (nephew of Father Burgos) he was admitted.
Students were divided in to two groups:
Internos (boarders) – Roman Empire, on his 2nd term (1873-1874) he boarded on Dona Pepay inside the intramuros and he became an interno under Father Fracisco De Paula Sanchez.
Externos (non-boarders) – Carthaginian empire, outside the intramuros, Jose was at this empire for his first term boarding on Titay owing a debt of
The hierarchy of the empire:
Emperor – he became an emperor on his first month.
Tribune
Decurion
Centurion
Standard-bearer – the first position of Rizal
Uniforms:
Trousers – made from hemp-fabric
Stripped cotton coat – made from rayadillo
Population
Spanish – full-blooded Spanish
Mestizo – half Spanish, Half Filipino
Filipino – full-blooded Filipino elite.
Professors
Fr. Jose Bech – first professor
Private lessons
He took private lessons on Santa Isabel College, during recess at noon.
Down moments
He was sad on his 3rd year in college because he only got 1 medal – in Latin
In sunny Spain
Reasons for Pepe why he left the coutry on May 3, 1882:
1. To complete his university studies
2. To improve his knowledge of languages and arts
3. To develop his God-given talents for the grater service to the fatherland
4. To experience the freedom of speech and the freedom of press
5. To join on a propaganda movement
“The secret departure” was made to avoid detections by the colonial officials and friars. A cryptic telegram from Manuel Hidalgo announcing the Spanish steamer “Salvadora” was scheduled to sail to Singapore. He rode Salvadora on May 1, 1882. On his last night Rizal and his sister Soledad rode about the city in suburbs for five hours and changes 2 horses. Before he say goodbye to his motherland, he attended a mass at Santo Domingo Church.
Only Antonio Rivera, his brother Paciano who gave him 700 pesos and a monthly allowance of 35 pesos through uncle Antonio, and his sisters; Saturnina gave her a diamond ring
Rizal uses his cousin name for his passport – Jose Mercado
Singapore:
He was only Filipino on board, most of them are Spanish talking ill to the country.
He sailed five days and dock at the English colony, Singapore.
He was impressed how beautiful and progressive the country is.
Native Singaporean had a confident relationship with their government.
He stayed at Hotel de Paz for two days.
He visited the historical places, botanical garden, temples and art galleries and writing his diary ad letters.
Suez Canal:
He boarded the Djemnah (larger and cleaner than Salvador), a French steamer.
His bookish-french could not understood by the French people.
Pit stop 1: from Singapore to Point de Galle “sad and sleepy”,
Pit stop 2: voyage was resumed on May 18 and docked at Colombo, Ceylon.
Pit stop 3: across the Indian ocean to Café Guardafui in Africa. Due to the bad weather Rizal experiences sea sickness, and on May 28 he saw for the first time the coast of Africa which he called “inhospitable but famous land”
Pit stop 4: Aden, he suffered from too much heat
Pit stop 5: on June 2, he arrived at Suez, it took five days to cross the canal. It was constructed by the famous French-man named Ferdinand de Lesseps and inaugurated on November 17, 1869.
Port said, the Mediterranean terminal, a colorful customs of both East and West.
Naples – business activity and Marseilles