Rizal 101 – Life and Works of Dr.

Jose Filipino identity is already diminishing—this was

the rationale behind the enactment of the Rizal
Rizal
Law, which seeks to accomplish the following
Rizal Law
objectives:
● Republic Act. No. 1425, also known as the
1. To rededicate the lives of the youth to the
Rizal Law has been enacted on June 12, 1956,
ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which
and was sponsored and authored mainly by the
our heroes lived and died;
late Senator Jose P. Laurel and Senator Claro M.
Recto. 2. To play tribute to our national hero for
devoting his life and works for shaping the
● Rizal Law is a mandate to include in the
Filipino character;
course curricula of all public and private
schools, colleges, and universities the life, 3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru
works, and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his the study of Rizal’s life, works and writings.
novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
● The late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who
● On April 17, 1956, the bill was sponsored and sponsored the said law emphasized the need to
presented to the members of the Senate or the know and imbibe the great ideals and principles
Upper House by the late Senator Jose P. Laurel, for which Rizal died.
who was then the Chairman of the Committee.
● After all, Rizal was the founder of Filipino
● On June 12, 1956, the bill was signed into law nationality and the architect of the Filipino
by President Ramon Magsaysay, giving birth to nation.
Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law.
● It is by reading and studying Rizal’s life,
● According to the late Senator Jose P. Laurel teachings and writings that the young
the dissemination of ideas and ideals of Jose generation of the Philippines will be able to gain
Rizal through the reading of his works, notably incorruptible confidence, direction, courage and
the NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO determination to move forward in our people’s
is the main purpose of the bill. journey towards an abundant life.

● He stated that “Noli Me Tangere and El You have certainly heard many changes in the
Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. 1990s as compared to your generation at
They must be taken to heart, for in their pages present. Compare a Batang 90s to Batang 2000s
we see ourselves as a mirror, our defects as well to determine changes in comparison with the
as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices.
Only then would we become conscious as a
people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for
painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-
reliance, self-respect, and freedom (Laurel,
Jr.,131).

Why study the life and works of Rizal?

It is apparent that during Rizal’s time, the

current situation.
19th Century Philippines as Rizal’s Context
● Throughout the years, the Philippines has
transformed in many ways. A lot of changes
have taken place brought about by the many
historical occurrences that have plagued the
country.

● In this lesson, we will discuss the changes in

the 19th century, categorizing social, political,
economic and cultural changes in the
Philippines.

● The nineteenth century is considered the

birth of modern life, more so, the birth of
many nation-states all over the world. For us
to understand what Dr. Rizal have done during
the nineteenth century, let us look the
different developments and accomplishments
on that period that changed and shaped the
landscape of the Philippines’ economy, society
and politics.

Socio Cultural Context

1st Peninsulares (pure-blooded Spaniard born
in the Iberian Peninsula such as Spain)

2nd Insulares (pure-blooded Spaniard born in

the Philippines)

3rd Spanish Mestizo (one parent is Spanish,

the other is a
native or
Chinese Mestizo; or one parent is Chinese, the
other is a native)

4th Principalia (wealthy pure-blooded native

supposedly descended from the kadatoan class)

5TH Chino Infiel (non-Catholic pure-blooded

Chinese) 6th Indio (pure-blooded native of the
Philippines or the Filipinos)
 ●On June 22,1861 Rizal was baptized by Fr.
Rufino Collantes, while Fr. Pedro Casanas stood
as Rizal’s godfather.

●His name “Jose” was chosen by his mother

who was a devotee of the Christian saint San
Jose (St. Joseph).

●Jose Rizal was the seventh of the eleven

children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and
Teodora Alonso Realonda

Rizal’s Ancestry
● Rizal was a product of the mixture of races. In
his veins flowed the blood of both East and
West – Negrito, Indonesian, Malay,
Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.

● Predominantly, he was a Malayan

and was a magnificent specimen of
Asian manhood.

● Rizal came from a mixture of races,

his paternal ascendant was Domingo
Lamco, a full-blooded Chinese. He
married a wealthy Chinese mestiza,
Ines de la Rosa.

● Domingo Lamco adopted the

surname Mercado, which means
Rizal’s Childhood Years in Calamba “market” in keeping the gubernatorial decree of
Narciso Claveria on the use of Spanish
Rizal 101
surnames.
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonso y Realonda
● The real name surname of the Rizal Family
● Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines was Mercado, which was adopted in 1731 by
and pride of the Malayan race. Domingo Lamco (the paternal greatgreat-
grandfather of Jose Rizal) who was a full-
●He was born on June 19,1861, between eleven blooded Chinese. Rizal’s family acquired a
and twelve in the evening, a few days before second surname – Rizal – which was given by a
the full moon in Calamba. Spanish alcalde mayor (provincial governor) of
●His mother almost died during the delivery Laguna, who was a family friend.
because of his big head. ● Rizal was the son of a prosperous landowner,
sugar and rice planter of Chinese-Filipino
descent, Francisco Mercado. Jose Rizal’s father was a student in Ateneo de Manila, when he
was a well-educated farmer who studied Latin remembered his hometown. He wrote a poem
and philosophy at the Colegio de San Jose in titled Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of
Manila. My Town)

● Teodora Alonso, mother of Jose Rizal, was the ● Rizal as a child was frail, sickly, and undersized
second daughter of Brigida de Quintos (Narcisa, that is why he was given the tenderest care by
Teodora, Gregorio, Manuel, and Jose), who was his parents.
the daughter of Manuel de Quintos of an
● By nightfall, Rizal related, his mother gathered
affluent family in Pangasinan and of Regina
all the children at the house to pray the
Ursua of the Ursua family.
Angelus.
● Teodora Alonso was one of the most highly
● Jose loved most the little Concha
educated women in the Philippines at that
(Conception). He was year older than Concha.
time.
He played with her and from her he learned the
● As a student of Colegio de Santa Rosa, she sweetness of sisterly love.
had a business and literary sense far ahead of
● Concha died of sickness when she was only
her time. She was a gifted woman with insights
three years old.
into literature, art, music, and other forms of
Filipino culture. She was a poet and wrote in ● Rizal grew up a good Catholic.
the Tagalog language.
● At the age of 3 when he started to take part in
● Teodora Alonso was of Ilocano Tagalog- the family prayers and he learned the alphabet
Chinese-Spanish descent, possibly having even from his mother.
a little Japanese blood. The Alonso family was
a distinguished one. ● At 6 years old, while learning to read and
write, he already showed inclinations to be an
artist and he astounded his family and relatives
by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his
The Siblings
moldings of clay.
1. Saturina
● At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa
2. Ponciano
Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which
3. Narcisa
revolves on the love of one’s language.
4. Olympia
5. Lucia ● After writing his first poem, Rizal, wrote his
6. Maria first dramatic work, a Tagalog comedy said to
7. Jose be staged in a Calamba festival and was
8. Conception delightfully applauded by the audience.
9. Josefa
10. Trinidad INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD
11. Solidad
● Malayan Ancestors - love for freedom, desire
to travel indomitable courage.
The Early Childhood of Jose Rizal
● Chinese Ancestors - serious nature, frugality,
● Rizal loved Calamba with all his heart and
patience, love for children.
soul. In 1876, when he was 15 years old and
● Spanish Ancestors - elegance of bearing,
sensitivity to insult, gallantry to ladies.
Martyrdom of GomBurZa
● Father - sense of self-respect, love for work,
habit of independent thinking. ● On the night of January 20, 1872, about 200
Filipino and Spanish mestizo workers and
● Mother - religious nature, spirit of
soldiers rose in mutiny in Cavite because of the
selfsacrifice, passion for arts and literature.
abolition of their usual privileges including
exemption from tribute and polo y servicio
(forced labor) by the Governor General Rafael
Rizal’s Early Education de Izquierdo.
The Hero’s First Teachers ● The Spanish authorities, in order to liquidate
Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and
●Doña Teodora, his mother, was his first
Jacinto Zamora, leaders of the secular
teacher.
movement to Filipinize the Philippine parishes,
●As Jose grew older, his parents employed and their supporters magnified the failed
private tutors to give him lessons at home. mutiny into a ‘revolt’ for the Philippine
Independence.
●Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s
father, became the hero’s tutor in Spanish and ● February 17, 1872 – Fathers Mariano Gomez,
Latin. Unfortunately, he did not live long. Jose
●After Monroy’s death, Rizal’s parents decided ● Paciano, enraged by the execution of Burgos,
to send him to a private school in Biñan. his beloved friend, teacher, and housemate,
quit his studies at the College of San Jose and
● June 1869, Paciano accompanied Rizal to
returned to Calamba, where he told the heroic
Biñan to continue his studies.
story of Burgos to Rizal, who was then eleven
● The next day, Paciano brought rizal to the years old.
school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz, his
● The martyrdom of the 3 priests inspired Rizal
older brother's former teacher.
to fight the evils of Spanish tyranny.
● Rizal’s first day of class in the school was not
easy. The maestro asked him if he knows how
to speak Latin or Spanish, but in response, he
only knew a little of the languages. As a result,
Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de
one of his classmates named Pedro, the son of Manila
the maestro, laughed at him.
● Jose was sent to Manila four months after the
● In the afternoon, Jose met the bully, Pedro. Martyrdom of GomBurZa and with Doña
He was angry for making fun of him during his Teodora still in prison. He studied in the Ateneo
conversation with the teacher so he challenged Municipal, a college under the supervision of
Pedro to a fight; Jose who learned the art of the Spanish Jesuits.
wrestling from his athletic
● Ateneo Municipal - Bitter rival of the
Dominican-owned College of San Juan de
Letran.
● Formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity School) – a ● Fr. Jose Bech – first professor of Rizal.
school for poor boys in Manila established in
● Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class
1817.
since he was a newcomer and knows little
● In 1859, name was changed to Ateneo Spanish. He was an externo and was assigned to
Municipal by the Jesuits and later became the Carthaginians. At the end of the month, he
Ateneo de Manila. became emperor of his Empire. He was the
brightest pupil in the whole class.

● To improve his Spanish, Rizal took private

Rizal Enters the Ateneo lessons in Santa Isabel College and paid 3 pesos
for extra Spanish lessons.
● June 10, 1872 – Jose, accompanied by
Paciano, went to Manila to take the entrance ● June 1876 – last year of Rizal in Ateneo.
examinations on Christian Doctrine, arithmetic,
and reading at College of San Juan de Letran, ● The most brilliant Atenean of his time, “the
and passed them. His father was the first one pride of the Jesuits”.
who wished him to study at Letran but he ● Obtained highest grades in all subjects.
changed his mind and decided to send Jose at
Ateneo instead. ● Excellent scholastic records from 1872-1877.

● Father Magin Fernando – college registrar of ● March 23, 1877 – Commencement Day. 16
Ateneo Municipal, refused to admit Jose year old Rizal received from his Alma Mater the
because: (1) he was late for registration and (2) degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors.
he was sickly and undersized for his age (11
years old).

● Manuel Xerez Burgos – nephew of Father

Extra-Curricular Activities
Burgos; upon his intercession, Jose Rizal was ● An emperor inside the classroom and campus
admitted at Ateneo. leader outside.

● Member of Academy of Spanish Literature

and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Jesuit System of Education
● Studied painting under the famous Spanish
● The system of education given by the Jesuits
painter Agustin Saez.
in the Ateneo was more advanced than that of
other colleges in that period. ● Studied sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus,
noted Filipino sculptor.
● Jesuit trained the character of the student by
rigid discipline, humanities, and religious ● Engaged in gymnastics and fencing.
instruction.
● Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a
● Students were divided into two groups: piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood).
Roman Empire – consisting of the internos
● Father Lleonart requested him to carve an
(boarders) with red banners; and Carthaginian
image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ateneo
Empire – composed of the externos (non-
students placed the image on the door of the
boarders) with blue banners
dormitory and remained there for many years.
● Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) – and junior college courses today. It merely
first poem he wrote for his mother’s birthday. qualified its graduate to enter a university.

● Religious Poems of Rizal - Al Niño Jesus (To ● Doña Teodora opposed the idea of sending
the Child Jesus) abrief ode; written in 1875 Rizal to UST to pursue higher education because
when he was 14 she knew what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and
the Spaniards might cut off his head if he gets to
know more. Rizal Medical Studies at the
First Romance of Rizal University of Santo Tomas

● In April 1877, Rizal who was then 16 years old,

● 16 years old - Rizal experienced his first
matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas.
romance.
● He enrolled in UST taking up Philosophy and
● Segunda Katigba - a pretty 14 years old
Letter for two reasons: (1) his father liked it and
Batangueña from Lipa; sister of his friend
(2) he was “still uncertain as to what career to
Mariano Katigbak.
pursue”
● His sister Olimpia was a close friend of
● He asked the advice of Father Pablo Ramon
Segunda in La Concordia College.
(Rector of the Ateneo) on what career to
● Segunda was already engaged to Manuel Luz. choose but the Father Rector was in Mindanao
His first romance was ruined by his own shyness so he was unable to advice Rizal.
and reserve. ●Segunda returned to Lipa and
● First-year Term (1877-78) – Rizal studied
later married Manuel
Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History
● Rizal arrived by steamer in his hometown. His of Philosophy.
mother did not recognize him at first, due to her
●Ateneo Rector’s advice study medicine;
failing eyesight. He was saddened to find out
reason: to be
about his mother’s growing blindness.

● His sisters gaily welcomed him, teasing about

Segunda, for they knew of his romance through Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo
Olimpia.
● While Rizal was studying at UST, he also
● That night he demonstrated his skills in studied in Ateneo. He took the vocational
fencing to his family. course leading to the title of “perito
agrimensor” (expert surveyor).

Rizal’s Higher Education ● Colleges for boys in Manila offered vocational

courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics,
Medical Studies at the University of Santo and surveying.
Tomas
● He excelled in all subjects in the surveying
● After graduating with the highest honors from course obtaining gold medals in agriculture and
the Ateneo, Rizal had to go to the University of topography.
Santo Tomas for higher studies.
● At the age of 17, he passed the final
● The Bachelor of Arts course during Spanish examination in the surveying course, but he
times was equivalent only to the high school
could not be granted the title as surveyor ● In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name
because he was below age. as “Taimis”, in order to camouflage their
intimate relationship from their
●Because of his loyalty to Ateneo he continued
to participate

Romances with Other Girls

“Miss L” Describing her as “To the Filipino Youth”
● Fair with seductive and attractive eyes. ● Liceo Artisco-Literano (Artistic-Literary
Lyceum) of Manila – society of literary men and
● Romance died a natural death. artists; held a literary contest.
● 2 Reasons for his change of heart: (1) the ● At the age of 18, Rizal submitted his poem
sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his entitled A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino
heart and; (2) his father did not like the family Youth).
of “Miss L”.
● The Board of Judges – composed of
Leonor Valenzuela Spaniards; gave the first prize to Rizal which
● Daughter of the next-door neighbors of Doña consisted of a silver pen, feather-shaped and
Concha Leyva (her house is where Rizal decorated with a gold ribbon.
boarded). ● Reasons why Rizal’s poem was a classic in
● Tall girl with a regal bearing. Philippine Literature: (1) it was the first great
poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose
● Pet name: Orang. merit was recognized by Spanish literary
● Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible
ink. This ink consisted of common table salt and
water. He taught Orang the secret of reading “The Council of the Gods”
any note written in the invisible ink by heating it
over a candle or lamp so that the words may ● Artistic-Literary Lyceum – opened another
appear. literary contest for both Filipino and Spaniards
to commemorate the fourth centennial of the
Leonor Rivera death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-
● Rizal’s cousin from Camiling. Born in Camiling, letters and famous author of Don Quixote.
Tarlac on April 11, 1867. ● Rizal submitted an allegorical drama entitled
● A student of La Concordia College where El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the
Rizal’s youngest sister, Soledad was then Gods) and he received the first prize, a gold ring
studying. on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes.

● Frail, pretty girl “tender as a budding flower ● For the first time in history, a nineteen-year
with kindly, wistful eyes”. old Filipino medical student at that – excelled in
a national literary contest defeating several
● They became engaged. Spanish writers of his time in
 Champion of Filipino Students
● Rizal was the champion of the Filipino
students in their fights against the arrogant
Spanish students, who insultingly called their
brown classmates “Indio, chongo!” In
retaliation, the Filipino students called them
“Kastila, bangus!”.

● In 1880 - Rizal founded a secret society of

Filipino students in the University of Santo
Tomas called “Compaňerismo” (Comradeship),
whose members were called “Companions of
Jehu,” after the valiant Hebrew general who
fought the Armaeans.

● Fierce encounter near the Escolta in Manila

where Rizal was wounded on the head, and
tenderly washed and dressed by Leonor Rivera
in his boarding house “Casa Tomasina”.

Unhappy Days at the UST

● He was unhappy at this Dominican institution
of higher learning because (1) the Dominican
professors were hostile to him; (2) the Filipino
students were racially discriminated against by
the Spaniards, and (3) the method of instruction
was obsolete and repressive.

● Rizal, the most brilliant graduate of Ateneo,

failed to win high scholastic honors.

● After finishing the fourth year of his medical

course, Rizal decided to study in Spain. He could
no longer endure the rampant bigotry,
discrimination, and hostility in the University of
Santo Tomas.

●He did not seek his parent’s permission and

blessings