Doña Teodora Alonso y Realonda

Family Background of Jose Rizal

• Doña Teodora Alonso y Realonda, Jose Rizal's mother, was a woman of refined culture, character, and literary talents, with business ability and a sense of dignity and self-respect.
• She managed her store and was a mathematician who corrected Rizal's poems and gave him wise advice when he was studying rhetoric.

Siblings of Jose Rizal

• José had eight siblings: Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olimpia, Lucia, Trinidad, and Soledad.
• Saturnina, the second child, was Jose's closest sibling and confidant, who convinced him to study in Europe.
• Paciano, the third child, was a musician and educator who could recite all of Rizal's poems.
• Narcisa, the fourth child, was married to Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila.
• Olimpia, the fifth child, was married to Mariano Herbosa, a nephew of Father Casañas, and had six children.
• Lucia, the sixth child, was married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna, and was a caretaker of Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios".
• Trinidad, the seventh child, was a teacher and became the "best educated" among Rizal's sisters.
• Soledad, the eighth child, was born on June 19, 1861, and was baptized at the Catholic Church in Calamba on June 22, 1861.

Early Life of Jose Rizal

• Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, and was baptized on June 22, 1861.
• His complete name was José Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonso y Realonda.
• His surname "Rizal" was added by his father, and "Realonda" was used by his mother, which is the surname of her godmother.