Chapter 1
Advent of a
national hero
• Dr. José Rizal, the greatest hero of the Philippines, was a multi-
talented genius endowed with versatile gifts, comparable to the
world's most brilliant minds. He excelled in numerous fields,
including medicine, poetry, drama, history, architecture, painting,
education, music, and many more. Beyond his vast intellectual and
creative accomplishments, he was a political martyr who dedicated
his life to the liberation of the oppressed Filipino people, earning him
recognition as the national hero.
• Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, under a full
moon. His birth was challenging, as his mother nearly died during
delivery due to his large head. He was baptized three days later by
Father Rufino Collantes, with Father Pedro Casañas as his
godfather. His name, "José," was chosen by his mother in honor of
St. Joseph (San José), a saint she deeply revered.
During the christening ceremony
Father Collantes was impressed by
the baby's big head, and he told the
members of the family who were
present "take good care of
this child, for someday he
will become a great man".
The baptismal certificate of Rizal reads as follows:
01
"I, the undersigned parish priest of Calamba, certify that
from the investigation made with proper authority, for
replacing the parish books which were burned
September 28, 1862, to be found in Docket no. 1 of
baptisms, p. 49, it appears by the sworn testimony of
competent witnesses that Jose Rizal Mercado is the
legitimate son, and of lawful wedlock, of Don Francisco
Rizal Mercado and Doña Teodora Realonda, having been
baptized in this parish on the 22nd day of June in the
1861, by the parish priest Rev. Rufino Collantes, Rev.
Pedro Casanas being his godfather.- Witness my
signature.
• Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery (Feb. 2, 1861-July 7,
1862)- the governor general in Philippines when Rizal was
born (former senator in Spain and a member of the upper
chamber of the Spanish Cortes).
His achievement as governor general was:
1. Fostering the cultivation of cotton in the Philippines
2. Establishing the politico-military governments in
Visayas and Mindanao.
RIZAL'S PARENT
• Francisco Mercado Rizal- Rizal's father (a model of fathers). Studied Latin and
Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila. He is a hardy and independent-
minded man, talked less and worked more, and was strong in body and valiant in
spirit.
• Teodora Alonso Realonda- Rizal's mother (a woman of more than ordinary
culture). Was educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well- known college for
girls in the city. She was a remarkable woman, processing refined cultured,
literary talent, business ability, and a fortitude of a spartan women. Knows
literature and speak Spanish better than Jose. She is a mathematician and she
reads many books.
The Rizal family has 11 children and Jose was 7th child.
• May 11, 1818- Francisco was born in Biñan, Laguna
• January 5, 1898- Francisco died at the age of 80.
November 8, 1826-Doña Teodora was born in Manila
THE RIZAL CHILDREN
[Link] (1850-1913)- oldest of the
1. Saturnina
Rizal children, nicknamed Nening: she
2. Paciano
3. Narcisa married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan,
4. Olimpia Batangas.
5. Lucia
6. Maria [Link] (1851-1930)- older brother and
7. Jose confident of Jose Rizal; after his young brother's
8. Conception execution, he joined the Philippine Revolution and
9. Josefa became a combat general; after the revolution, to
10. Trinidad retired to his farm in Los Baños, where he lived a a
11. Soledad gentleman farmer and died on April 30, 1930, an old
bachelor aged 79. he had two children by his
mistress (Severina Decena)- a boy and a girl.
THE RIZAL CHILDREN
[Link] (1852-1939)- her pet name was Sisa and she married Antonio
Lopez02(nephew of father Leoncio Lopez), a school teacher of Morong. She
is the one who found the grave of Jose after his execution in the Paco
Cemetery and marked it R.P.J.
[Link] (1855-1887)- Ypia was her pet name; she married Silvestre Ubaldo,
a telegraph operator from Manila.
[Link] (1857-1919)- she married Mariano Herbosa of calamba, who was a
nephew of Father Casanas. Herbosa died of cholera in 1889 and was denied a
Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Rizal
[Link] (1859-1945)- Biang was he nickname; she married Daniel Faustino
Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.
THE RIZAL CHILDREN
[Link] (1861-1896)- the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius; his
nickname was Pepe; during his exile in Dapitan he lived with Josephine Bracken,
Irish girl from Hong Kong; he had a son by her, but this baby-boy died a few
hours after birth; Rizal named him Francisco after his father and buried him in
Dapitan.
O T Joses nicknamed Pepes, Pepings,
Jose was nicknamed "Ute" besides all the other
and Pepitos that were popular Calambeño names during Rizal's time- Aling
Simeona vda. de Alibutud (niece of barber Mang Ilyong Belan). Whom Jose, his
father Francisco Mercado Rizal, and elder brother Paciano used to have their
haircut sessions with the popular barber at the Rizal ancestral house.
THE RIZAL CHILDREN
[Link] (1862-1865)- her pet name was
Concha; she died of sickness at the age of 3; her death
was Rizal's first sorrow in life.
[Link] (1865-1945)- her pet name was Panggoy; she
died an old maid at the age of 80.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951)- Trining was her pet name;
she died also as an old maid in 1951 aged 83.
11. Soledad (1870-1929)- youngest of the Rizal
children; her pet name was Choleng; she married
Pantaleon Quintero of calamba.
THE RIZAL CHILDREN
• Jose addresses his sister as Doña or Señora (if married) and
Señorita (if single).
ex. Doña Ypia, Señora Saturnina, Señorita Josefa and Señorita
Trinidad.
Jose's relation to Paciano was more than that of a younger to
older brother. Paciano was a second father to him. He described
Paciano as much finer and more serious than him, bigger and
more slim, not dark and his nose is fine, beautiful, and sharp
but he is bow-legged. Paciano is immortalized as Pilosopo Tasio
in Noli Mr Tangere.
RIZAL'S ANCESTRY
Father Side:
• Domingo Lamco - great-great-grandfather; a Chinese immigrant from
the Fukien city of Changchow who arrived in Manila about 1690. he
married a girl of Manila named Ines de la Rosa and had a son,
Francisco Mercado.
• Francisco mercado married Cirila Bernacha and was elected
gobernadorcillo of Biñan. Their son Juan Mercado (Rizal's grandfather),
married Cirila Alejandro. Juan also became a gobernadocillo like his
father.
• Juan and Cirila have 13 children and the youngest is Francisco
Mercado, Rizal's Father.
• Francisco mercado married Teodora Alonso (Rizal's mother) on June
28 1848.
RIZAL'S ANCESTRY
Mother Side:
• It is said that Doña Teodora's family descended from Lakandula, the
last native king of Tondo.
• Eugenio Ursua- Her great grandfather (Rizal's great- great-grand
father) of Japanese ancestry married a Filipina named Benigna
(surname unknown).
• Regina (daughter of Eugenio and Benigna) married Manuel de
Quintos, a Filipino-Chinese lawyer of Pangasinan.
• Brigida (one of the daughter of Quintos and Regina) married
Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo of
Biñan. Their children were Narcissa, Teodora (Rizal's mother),
Gregorio, Manuel and Jose.
RIZAL SURNAME
• Mercado- was the real surname of the Rizal Family which was
adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (Mercado is appropriate for
him because he is a merchant; Mercado means market)
• Rizal was given by Spanish alcalde mayor
• Royal Decree of 1849, a new name was adopted upon the
order of Governor General Narciso Claveria y Zaldua. Issued on
November 21, 1849 wherein the list of approved family names
can be referred from the "Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos"
• Rizal a shortened form of the Spanish word "second crop",
seemed suited to a family of farmers. Originated from the word
"Ricial" which literally means "rice field".
THE RIZAL HOME
• A distinguished stone in Calamba during Spanish times.
• Two-storey building, rectangular in shape, build of adobe
stones and hard-woods, and roofed with red tiles.
• Beside the were the poultry yard full of turkeys and
chicken and a big garden of tropical fruit tress like atis,
balimbing, chico, macopа, papaya, santol, tampoy, etc.
• By day it was hummed with the noises of children at play
and the songs of the birds in the garden. By night, it
echoed with the dulcet notes of family prayers.
A GOOD AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY
• The Rizal family belonged to the principalia, a town aristocracy in Spanish
Philippines.
• By dint of honest and hard work and frugal living, Rizal parents were able to
live well.
• From the farm they rented from the Dominican Order, they harvested rice,
corn, and sugarcane. They also raised pigs, chickens, and turkeys.
• Doña Teodora managed a general goods store and operated a small flour-mill
and a home-made ham press.
• They were able to build a large stone house which was situated near the town
church and to buy another one.
• They owned a carriage, which was a status symbol of the ilustrados in Spanish
Philippines.
• They also have a private library (largest in Calamaba) which consisted of more
than 1,000 volumes.
• They send their children to the colleges in Manila.
HOME LIFE OF THE RIZAL
• The Rizal family had a simple, contented, and happy life.
• Family ties were intimately close.
Don Kikoy and Doña Lolay loved their children but never spoiled them. They
were strict parents and they trained their children to love God, to behave well,
to be obedient, and to respect people, especially the old folks.
• Whenever the children got into mischief, they were given a sound spanking.
Every day, the Rizals (parents and children) heard mass in the town church,
particularly during Sundays and Christian holidays.
They prayed together daily at home (the angelus and the rosary)
After family prayers, all children kissed the hands of their parents.
• They also play in the garden and in the azotea. The older ones were allowed
to play with the children of other families.
THANK YOU