CHAPTER 3

Birth of the hero

On June 19, 1861, between 11:00-12:00 midnight, Francisco Rizal Mercado and Teodora
Alonzo y Quintos welcomed their seventh child into the world at Calamba, Laguna.
Teodora Alonzo almost lost her life giving birth because of the baby's big head and
because at Doria Tendole dificulty, tie fail, ons dared the baby boe
Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. The name Protacio was taken from the
Catholic calendar which was a practice during the Spanish time, that when a child
was born, he/she was named after the Saint of the day. The surname MERCADO which
means
"market" in English was adopted in 1731 by his paternal great-grandfather, Domingo
Lamco, a full blooded Chinese merchant.
Added surname RIZAL was given by Don Francisco which is closer to the Spanish word
RACIAL which means "luntiang bukirin" related to his work, as hacienda
owner/farmer. Alonzo was the surname of Rizal's mother and Realonda was used by
Doña Teodora which is the surname of her godmother.
Jose Rizal was baptized in the Catholic Church in Calamba on June 22,1861 (3 days
after his birth) by the parish priest, Father Rufino Collantes. His godfather was
Father Pedro Casañas, a close friend of the Rizal family. Father Collantes was
impressed by the big head of baby Jose. He told them, "Take good care of this
child, for someday he will become a great man"
Rizal then grew up in a surrounding which was conducive for learning and proper
upbringing. The climate of Laguna was favorable and the picturesque beauty (the
town nestles at the foot of majestic Mt. Makiling) gave Jose an ambience for his
aesthetic sensibilities. The green meadows all around, the verdant plains covered
with rice fields, the family orchard and the scenic beauty of Laguna de Bay also
enhanced his sense of creativity and his love of nature. In one of his diaries,
Rizal, however, wrote of the unhappy environment brought about by the abusive
treatment of which his townspeople suffered in the hands of Spanish officials. He
wrote:
"I spent many, many hours of my childhood down on the shore of the lake, Laguna de
bay. I was thinking what was beyond. I was dreaming of what might be over the other
side of the wave.

Almost every day in our town, we saw the Guardia civil lieutenant caning and
injuring some unarmed and inaggressive villagers. The villager's only fault was,
while at a distance he had not taken off his hat and made his bow. The alcalde
treated the poor villagers in the same way whenever he visited us."
Social Status of the Rizal family
The family of Rizal was considered as one of the richest families in Calamba, who
rented land from the Dominican religious order.
The family belonged to the "principalia" by frugal living, hard and honest work.
Rizal's parents were able to live well which was evident because his parents were
able to send their ten children to prestigious schools and universities in the
country. Dona Teodora managed a grocery store and operated a small flour mill. They
were able to build a large stone house which was situated near the town church.
They owned a carriage which was a status symbol of the
"illustrados" in the Philippines and a private library consisting of 1,000 volumes.
Rizal's Mixed Ancestry
On father side, Jose Rizal was a 9th generation patrilineal descendant of a Chinese
immigrant and a business tycoon Don Domingo Lamco (Chinese name: pinyin: Ke Yinan)
of Laguna was the great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal. Lamco was originally from
Amoy, China who came to the Philippines in the mid-17th century. This was where he
met his wife, Inez de la Rosa, daughter of Augustin Chinco, an immigrant trader
from Chuanchow.
To prevent conflict and hostility with the Spanish authorities, he decided to drop
the name Lamco and adapted a Spanish surname.
As a merchant, they chose the name "Mercado" because it means market. Lamco started
the businesses of the Mercado's clan. He was a successful entrepreneur in despite
of the discrimination experienced by Chinese traders from the Spaniards.
In June 1697, Lamco was baptized in the Catholic church of Manila's Parian Chinese
ghetto and moved to Biñan, Laguna. He was 35 years old at that time. His financial
state improved in Biñan and he became a Chinese community leader. Lamco's son
Francisco

Mercado and grandson Juan Mercado married Chinese mestizas a bodie it a disting i
had the dug Bian for five yeant
trader and Domingo Lamco's baptismal godson Siong-co. They were the parents of Jose
Rizal's father. When Rizal's father was born, the family transferred to Calamba.
The house they built was the first stone house in the whole town
On mother side, recent genealogical findings revealed that Rizal also had Spanish,
Japanese and Negrito ancestry. Teodora (Rizal's mother) great grandfather Eugenio
Ursua was a descendant of Japanese settlers. Ursua married a Filipina named Benigna
and their union produced Regina Ursua. Manuel de Quintos, a Sangley mestizo from
Pangasinan, married Regina and their daughter was named Brigida. Brigida married a
half-caste Spaniard named Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo, they were the parents of Teodora.
Rizal's Parents
Jose Rizal's father, Don Francisco Mercado Rizal (1818-1898) was born in Biñan,
Laguna. He studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila. After
their parent's death, Francisco and two of his sisters moved to Calamba. He became
a tenant farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda. He was hard-working and
independent-minded who talked less but worked more and valiant in spirit. Jose
described his father in his diary:
"My father was a model of fathers, had given us an education commensurate with our
small fortune; and through thrift he was able to build a stone house; erect a
little nipa house in the middle of our orchard under the shade of some trees and
others".
Doña Teodora Alonzo y Realonda (1826-1911) was born in Meisik, Sta. Cruz Manila.
She studied at Colegio de Sta Rosa in Manila. She was a woman of refined culture
and character, with exemplary literary talents, the fortitude of a Spartan woman
and with business ability, she managed their store. Jose lovingly described his
mother:

"My mother is a woman of more than ordinary culture; she knows literature and
speaks Spanish better than I. She even corrected my poems and gave me a wise advise
when I was studying rhetoric. She is a mathematician and has read many books".
Both parents greatly influenced Rizal as shown in his character.
From his father, he inherited a profound sense of dignity and self-respect,
seriousness and from his mother, the dreamer and bravery for sacrifices and her
literary prowess. Don Francisco and Doña Teodora were blessed with eleven (11)
children: two (2) boys and nine (9) girls.
Rizal's Siblings
1. Saturnina (1850-1913). She was the eldest child of Francisco Mercado
and Teodora Alonso Realonda. Her nickname was"Neneng". She was married to 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.
2. Paciano (1851-1930). The only brother and confidant of José Rizal
and the second child. He became a second father to Jose Rizal. He studied at San
José College in Manila. Just like his father, Paciano became a farmer. It was his
idea to send Jose to continue his studies in Spain. After his younger brother's
execution, he joined the Philippine revolution and became a combat general. After
the Revolution, he retired to his farm in Los Baños where he lived as a gentleman
farmer and died on .April 13, 1930, an old bachelor aged 79.
3. Narcisa (1852-1939). She was the third child and was married to
Antonio Lopez, a teacher and musician from Morong, [Link] a doting sister,
Narcisa was very close to Rizal and could recite all of Rizal's poems from memory.
Her nickname was"Sisa".
 4. Olimpia (1855-1887). She was the fourth child and was married to
Silvestre Ubaldo, who was a telegraph operator from [Link] nickname was "Ypia".
Olympia unfortunately died in 1887 from childbirth.
5. Lucia (1857-1919). She 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 Philippine flag in Hong Kong.
6. Maria (1859-1945). She was the sixth child in the family. Her nickname
was "Biang". She married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.
7. Jose (1861-1896). He was the 7th child and the death of "Concha" was
his greatest sorrow.
8. Concepcion (1862-1865). She was the eight child and hernickname is
"Concha". She did not live long to see Rizal's martyrdom because she died early at
the age of three.
9. Josefa (1865-1945). She was the 9th child and was nicknamed Panggoy
in the family. Despite suffering from epilepsy, she joined and was an active member
of the Katipunan. She died a spinster.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951). She was the 10th child and also became a
member of the Katipunan and died a spinster, as well. Rizal's elegy, Mi Ultimo
Adios, was in the safekeeping of Trinidad.
11. Soledad (1870-1929). Soledad, the youngest child whose nickname was
"Choleng". She was married to Pantaleon Quintero. She was a teacher and was
considered as the best educated among the sisters of Rizal.

Rizal's Childhood Years and Memories rizal, as a young boy, had beautiful and
pleasant memories as well as sorrow. Rizal was nurtured in a happy home. He was
frail, sickly and undersized boy. His father built a nipa hut in the garden for him
to play in the daytime. At the age of three (3), he enjoyed watching in the garden
the insects and birds of different [Link] childhood memory was the daily
Angelus [Link] nightfall, Rizal related, his mother gathered all the children at
the house to pray Angelus. His aya, Ina Munda, played a role in developing the
imaginative interest of Jose through his wonderful stories. At the "Azotea" on a
moonlight night, the aya (nursemaid) would tell stories about fairies, legends,
tales of buried treasures and other fabulous stories.
Rizal grew up in a religious atmosphere. At the age of 3, he began to join
religious processions, novena in the church and at the age of 5, he was able to
read the Spanish Bible with the help of his mother.
On June 6, 1868, Rizal was nearly 7 years old, his father took him for a pilgrimage
to Antipolo in order to fulfill his mother's vows to the virgin when Jose was born.
Doña Teodora could not accompany them because she had given birth to Trinidad. It
was the first trip of Rizal across Laguna de Bay and his first pilgrimage to
Antipolo.
After praying at the Shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, they went to Manila to visit
his sister Saturnina at the La Concordia College in Santa Ana.
The Rizal children were bound together by the ties of love and care. Jose loved
most his little sister Concha (Concepcion) who was next to him. Unfortunately,
Concha died at the age of three and for the first time he shed tears for love and
grief, which is said to be his first sorrow. In this experience, Jose Rizal
realized the importance of sisterly love.
The Story of the Moth
One of his profound memories was a tale his mother related to him one evening. The
fable, "the story of the moth" which he recalled after some years.
***
"My mother was teaching me how to read in Spanish" The Children's Friends (El
Amigos de Los Niños). This was a rare book and old copy. This night my mother
became impatient with hearing me read so poorly. I did not understand Spanish and
so I could not read with expressions. She took the book and read it to me but I was
watching the flame with some little moths circling around the flame. Soon as my
mother noticed that I was not interested. She stopped and said to me "I am going to
read to you a very pretty store. I once open my eyes on hearing the word story. She
told me
"The story of the Moth".

Once upon a time, an old moth had warned her daughter against the flame, so
beautiful, so inviting, yet fatal and deceitful for it destroyed whoever came too
close. She herself said, she was once tempted by it; she had barely escaped with
half-burnt wing. The frightened young moth promised to obey, but was soon asking
herself: "Now why should my mother try to give me such a scare?
Why should I close my eyes to such a pretty sight? These old people are such
cowards! They think every fly is an elephant, any old dwarf a giant. What harm can
it do to me, whatever they say, if I come near the flame, as long as I am careful?
What I am, a little silly? What a story I shall have for all other girls if I,
being very careful of course, take a closer look. "No sooner said that done, and
the silly little moth went fluttering around the flame. At first she only felt
pleasantly warm; this encouraged her and she flew closer and closer until at last,
dazzled by flame, fell and perished in it.
As she put me to bed, my mother said: "See to it that you do not behave like the
young moth. Don't be disobedient, or you may get burned as it did. "I do not know
whether I answered or not...
The story revealed to me the things until then unknown. Moths no longer were, for
me, insignificant insects. Moths talked, they knew how to warn. The advised just
like my mother. The light seemed to me more beautiful. It had grown more dazzling
and more attractive. I knew why the moths circled the flame.
Indeed, Rizal understood. He knew what his mother meant but he learned and
discovered something more. He was fascinated by the bright flame and the dancing
little moths that flirted around it.
His young mind joined them in their dance. He knew why. He saw how beautiful and
over-powering light was. Is the search for light really worth dying for? The
answer, he learned years later. Man's responsibility to himself and his fellowmen
is guided by "the lamp of reason"
And much later he would affirm his faith on light when he told
Father Pablo Pastells in Dapitan: "I have glimpsed a little light and I believe
that it is my duty to teach it to my countrymen". The tragic fate of the young moth
left a deep impact on Rizal's mind. It gave him the moral lesson that if one must
have to succeed, he must take risks and prepare for the worst consequences. Without
courage, there will be no glory.
Injustice as an Eye Opener to Young Jose
The happenings in Calamba were to leave heavy impressions on his character. These
were eye-openers, isolated but significant events that had occurred in the span of
many years. No other incident could have influenced Rizal in setting the direction
and goal of his life work than the Cavite Uprising of 1872. The execution of Father
Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora made him take a real serious look at
the condition of the time.
The incident was nothing more than an uprising of protest among the laborers at the
Cavite arsenal against the withdrawal of their privilege of exemption from the
tribute and personal services.
This privilege was probably the only thing that made their task at the arsenal a
little bearable. That they mutinied for its restoration was not at all surprising.
After all, this was an exemption that was given to the workers many years back and
as far as they remembered. The authorities magnified the uprising into an attempt
at overthrowing Spanish administration. There was no proof, no declaration on
record that it was separatist, not only in aim but in scope. But it afforded the
authorities the opportunity to meet head on and in full blast the then raging
controversy between the Filipino secular priests and the Spanish friars (Regular
Priests). It was utilized as an excuse at getting the Filipino seculars who figured
prominently as leaders in their crusade for justice in parochial administration.
The young Rizal was to see this from afar but not from the perspective of an
ordinary eleven-year-old. Paciano, his only brother must have narrated the incident
and its aftermath-death to the three priests and imprisonment and exile to many,
with grief heavily sketched in his face. Father Burgos was to him a beloved teacher
and friend who visited the family in Calamba every now and then. Little did Paciano
realize that this was to cut deep into young Rizal's heart and leave such pain that
was to remain there and to channel his actions and activities later in life toward
a crusade. Rizal referred to the incident and himself made known the tremendous
influence it had on him when he wrote to Mariano Ponce:
"Without 1872 there would not be now either a Plaridel or Jaena, or Graciano, or
would there exist brave and generous Filipino colonies in Europe; without 1872
Rizal would be a Jesuit now instead of writing Noli Me Tangere, would have written
the opposite. At the sight of those injustices and cruelties, while still a child,
my imagination was awakened and I swore to devote myself to avenge one day, so many
victims, and with this idea in my mind I have been studying and this can be read in
all my works and writings. God will someday give me an opportunity to carry out my
promise". Rizal has to endure such. All others did for they were indios. An indio
must endure. The master had so decided. But this outrage was to start a germ in the
silent, protesting reaction of this young man. Such was to lead him searching for
respect for human dignity.