Jose Rizal: Biography

• This biography details the life of Jose Rizal

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda

• Doctor: Completed his medical course in Spain and received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine from the Universidad Central de Madrid.
• Jose: Chosen by his mother, a devotee of St. Joseph.
• Protacio: Derived from Gervacio P., from the Christian calendar.
• Rizal: Comes from the Spanish word "Ricial," meaning field.
• Mercado: From his great paternal grandfather (Spanish term "Market")
• Y: Meaning "and".
• Alonzo: An old family name of his mother.
• Realonda: Taken by his mother from her godmother's surname.

Rizal's Ancestry

• Rizal's ancestry includes Domingo Lamco and Inez de la Rosa. Eugenio Ursua and Benigna. Francisco Mercado and Cirila Bernacha. Manuel de Quintos and Regina Ursua. Juan Mercado and Cirila Alejandro. Lorenzo Alonzo and Brigida de Quintos. These lineages culminated in Francisco Mercado Rizal's marriage to Teodora Alonzo Realonda.

Francisco Mercado Rizal

• Born in Biñan, Laguna, on May 11, 1818.
• Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
• Became a tenant farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda.
• Passed away in Manila on January 5, 1898, at the age of 80.
• Affectionately referred to him as "A Model of Fathers."

Teodora Alonzo Realonda

• Born in Sta. Cruz, Manila, on November 8, 1826.
• Studied at Colegio de Sta. Rosa in Manila.
• Known for refined culture, literary talent, business ability, and fortitude.
• Knew literature and spoke Spanish.
• Died in Manila on August 1, 1911, at 85.

The Rizal Siblings

• Saturnina (1850-1913): Eldest child, married to Manuel Hidalgo.
• Paciano (1851-1930): Second child, Jose's closest brother, studied in Manila, became a Philippine Revolution general.
• Narcisa (1852-1939): Musician and educator, married Antonio Lopez.
• Olympia (1855-1887): The fourth child, married Silvestre Ubaldo.
• Lucia (1857-1919): Married Mariano Herbosa, denied Christian burial due to his relation to Rizal.
• Maria (1859-1945): Married Daniel Faustino Cruz.
• Jose (1861-1896): The seventh child, executed by Spaniards on December 30, 1896. Nickname: Pepe
• Concepcion (1862-1865): Died at age 3, Rizal's first sorrow.
• Josefa (1865-1945): "Panggoy," became a member of Katipunan.
• Trinidad (1868-1951): "Trining," the last surviving Rizal child.
• Soledad (1870-1929): "Choleng," married Pantaleon Quintero.

The Birth of Jose Rizal

• Born on June 19, 1861, Wednesday, between 11:00 PM and 12:00 AM in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines.
• Baptized on June 22, 1861, in the Catholic Church of Calamba.
• Fr. Rufino Collantes baptized Rizal.
• Fr. Pedro Casanas was Rizal's godfather and a family friend.

The Rizal Family

• Belonged to the middle class or principalia.
• Owned a large two-story stone house.
• Maintained a private library with over 1,000 books.
• Owned a carriage and horses
• Well-educated in Manila, with parents who could afford private tutors.

Childhood Memories

• Aya, a nursemaid, told stories about fairies, aswang, nuno, and tikbalang.
• The family prayed the Angelus daily, led by Rizal's mother.
• Rizal remembered nocturnal walks in Calamba.
• At 3, he joined religious processions and novenas.
• The death of Concha was Rizal's first experience with sorrow.
• At 5, he could read the Spanish Bible with his mother's guidance.
• The Story of the Moth is a metaphor for Rizal's life.
• By age 5, he sketched and molded clay and wax.
• Sa Aking Mga Kababata revealed his nationalist sentiment.
• Un Cuerdo A Mi Pueblo was written when he was 15 and studying in Ateneo de Manila.

Journey to Early Education

• First tutor: Maestro Celestino.
• Second tutor: Maestro Lucas Padua.
• Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal's father, taught him Spanish and Latin.
• In June 1869, at age 8, he left his family to study in Biñan.

Influences From Other Family Members

• Uncle Gregorio: Instilled the value of hard work and keen observation.
• Uncle Joe: Encouraged sketching, painting, and sculpting.
• Uncle Manuel: Promoted physical development through swimming, fencing, wrestling, and sports.
• His Yaya: Awakened his imagination and creativity through stories.