José Rizal: Early Life and Education

• José Rizal's early life, family, and education from 1861-1877 are the focus of this chapter.
• Rizal spent a happy childhood in Calamba, Laguna, which had a profound impact on his character.
• Rizal's early education was in Calamba and Biñan
• Education consisted of reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion achieved through strict teaching methods.
• Rizal attended Ateneo de Manila, a college under the supervision of Spanish Jesuits, where he excelled academically.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze Rizal's family, childhood, and early education
• Evaluate the influence of people and events on Rizal's early life

Birth of Rizal

• Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.
• Mother almost died during delivery due to his large head, prompting a vow to the Virgin of Antipolo.
• Baptized on June 22, 1861, in the Catholic church of Calamba by Fr. Rufino Collantes.
• His godfather was Pedro Casañas.
• Named Jose in honor of St. Joseph and Protasio after a 4th-century saint.

Rizal's Parents

• Father: Francisco Mercado Rizal (1818-1898), a farmer from Biñan, Laguna, studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
• Mother: Teodora Alonzo Quintos y Realonda (1826-1911), born in Sta. Cruz, Manila, educated at the College of Santa Rosa. She was intelligent, cultured, and had literary talent.

The Rizal Children

• Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso Realonda had eleven children:

• Saturnina Rizal (1850-1913): Eldest sister, married to Manuel T. Hidalgo and known as "Neneng."

• Paciano Rizal (1851-1930): Only brother, studied at San Jose College, became a farmer and general of the Philippine Revolution provided support to Rizal

• Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939): Third child, married Antonio Lopez, helped finance Rizal's studies in Europe

• Olimpia Rizal (1855-1887): Fourth child, married Silvestre Ubaldo, served as mediator between Jose and his first love, Segunda Katigbak.

• Lucia Rizal (185-1919): Fifth child, married Mariano Herbosa, faced deportation and denial of Catholic burial for her husband due to their connection to Rizal.

• Maria Rizal (1859-1945): Sixth child, married Daniel Faustino Cruz, confidante of Jose, particularly regarding his plans to marry Josephine Bracken and establish a Filipino colony in North Borneo.

• Jose Rizal (1861-1896): The seventh child, national hero, lived with Josephine Bracken during his exile in Dapitan, executed by the Spaniards.

• Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865): Eighth child, died at age three, fondly called "Concha," her death was Rizal's first experience of grief.

• Josefa Rizal (1865-1945): Ninth child, an epileptic, joined the Katipunan after Jose's execution, secured secret documents, and participated in meetings disguised as social gatherings.

• Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951): Tenth child, remained unmarried, lived with Jose in Dapitan, received Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios" before his execution, joined the Katipunan after Rizal's death.

• Soledad Rizal (1870-1929): Youngest child, a teacher, married Pantaleon Quintero, reprimanded by Jose for marrying without parental consent.

The Rizal Home

• The Rizal family lived in a distinguished two-story stone house in Calamba.
• The house was made of adobe stones and hardwoods and roofed with red tiles.
• The property included a poultry yard and a garden with tropical fruit trees
• The house was a happy home filled with parental affection, children's laughter, and family prayers.

Childhood Years in Calamba

• Calamba was a hacienda town owned by the Dominican Order.
• Rizal's earliest memory was playing in the family garden at age three.
• His parents provided loving care due to his frail health.
• The family prayed the Angelus every night.
• Rizal loved his sister Concepcion, who died in 1865 and caused him great sorrow.
• At age three, Rizal began participating in family prayers.
• At age five, Rizal could haltingly read the Spanish family bible.

Story of the Moth

• Rizal's mother read him "The Children's Friend."
• Rizal was captivated by moths circling an oil lamp.
• A moth flew too close, burned its wings, and died.
• The story deeply impacted Rizal, and he admired the moth's "martyrdom to its illusions”.

Early Education and Influences

• At five, Rizal sketched and molded clay and wax.
• At eight, he wrote "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," revealing his earliest nationalist sentiment
• At eight, he wrote his first dramatic work, a Tagalog comedy.
• Tio Jose Alberto inspired Rizal's artistic ability after traveling in Europe.
• Tio Manuel encouraged physical exercise.
• Tio Gregorio, a book lover, fostered Rizal's reading habits.
• Father Leoncio Lopez, the parish priest, promoted scholarship and intellectual honesty.

Early Education in Calamba and Biñan

• Taught by his mother, who was a woman of good character and culture.
• Learned the alphabet and prayers from her.
• Hired private tutors: Maestro Celestino and Maestro Lucas Padua.
• Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal's father, instructed him in Spanish and Latin

Education in Biñan

• In June 1869, Rizal went to Biñan accompanied by Paciano.
• Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz was his teacher.
• The teacher was tall, thin, and used a stick to discipline students which was the old system of education at that time.
• Rizal excelled in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects however his classmates spread rumors to discredit him resulting in punishments for alleged wrongdoings.
• Rizal learned and heard mass, then went to school, showing rote learning.

Departure from Biñan

• Recommended to be sent to Manila by Maestro Justiniano.
• Rizal left Biñan on December 17, 1870, after a year and a half of schooling.
• He collected pebbles from the river as souvenirs.
• Decided to send Jose to Manila to continue his studies after Christmas.

Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za

• On January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino soldiers and workmen of the Cavite arsenal, led by Lamadrid, mutinied due to the abolition of their privileges.
• The Spanish authorities magnified the mutiny into a revolt for Philippine independence to liquidate Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, leaders of the secular movement
• Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora were executed on February 17, 1872, by order of Governor General Izquierdo.
• The event inspired Rizal to fight against Spanish tyranny.
• Rizal dedicated his second novel, El Filibusterismo, to Gom-Bur-Za.

Injustice to Rizal’s Mother

• Dona Teodora was arrested on a false charge of poisoning Jose Alberto's wife.
• She was forced to walk 50 kilometers from Calamba to Santa Cruz.
• Dona Teodora was imprisoned for two and a half years.

Ateneo Municipal (1872-1877)

• A college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits, formerly Escuela Pia (Charity School).
• On June 10, 1872, Rizal, accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila.
• Father Magin Ferrando initially refused to admit Rizal due to late registration and being sickly.
• Rizal was admitted through the intercession of Manuel Xerez Burgos.
• Rizal used the surname "Rizal" to avoid suspicion from Spanish authorities.
• The college was located in Intramuros

Jesuit System of Education

• The Jesuit system of education was more advanced than other colleges.
• The system focused on character through rigid discipline and religious instruction. They promoted physical culture, humanities, and scientific studies.
• The system offered both academic and vocational courses.
• Students attended morning mass and opened/closed classes with prayers
• Students were divided into the Roman Empire (internos) and the Carthaginian Empire (externos).
• Ranks within empires: Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, and Stand-bearer.
• Students competed for positions by challenging others with questions based on the day’s lesson.

First Year in Ateneo (1872-1873)

• Father Jose Bech was Rizal’s first professor.
• Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel College to improve his Spanish.
• Initially placed at the bottom of the class due to limited Spanish knowledge.
• Progressed rapidly and became "emperor" after the first week; he was the brightest pupil in the whole class, and he awarded a religious picture.
• Placed second at the end of the year due to resentment towards his professor, although all his grades were still marked "Excellent”
• Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation in March 1873, which he did not enjoy because his mother was in prison, so he went to visit her in Santa Cruz.

Second Year in Ateneo (1873-1874)

• Studied harder to regain class leadership
• Once more, he became "emperor."
• Received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal at the end of the school year.
• He returned to Calamba in March 1874 for the summer vacation triumphantly

Prophecy of Mother’s Release

• Rizal visited his mother in the provincial jail in Santa Cruz.
• Doña Teodora told him of her dream, which Rizal interpreted as her release from prison in three months.
• Doña Teodora was set free within three months.

Teenage Interest in Reading

• Began reading romantic novels during the summer vacation in 1874.
• "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas made a deep impression on him.
• Read both fiction and non-fiction; "The Universal History" by Cesar Cantu helped him win prizes in Ateneo.
• He read "Travels in the Philippines" by Dr. Feodor Jagor and was impressed by Jagor's observations and his prophecy that Spain would lose the Philippines to America.

Third Year in Ateneo (1874-1875)

• His mother was released from prison.
• Grades remained excellent, but he was dissatisfied.
• Won only a single medal in Latin.
• Rizal has summer vacation at the end of the school year (March 1875) in Calamba

Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-1876)

• Became an interno in the Ateneo on June 16, 1875.
• Fr Francisco de Paula Sanchez inspired him to study harder and write poetry.
• Rizal achieved the highest standing in all subjects and won five medals.
• He was known as “the pride of the Jesuits”.
• Received the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors at 16 years old on March 23, 1877.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Active in extra-curricular activities.
• He was a member and later secretary of the Marian Congregation
• Member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Poems

• Dona Teodora encouraged him to write poems.
• Father Sanchez inspired Rizal to make full use of his gift in peotry.
• Examples of his writings when he was at Ateneo
• Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) (1874)- the first poem Rizal probably wrote during his days in Ateneo which was dedicated to his mother on her birthday
• Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)(1876)- a tender poem in honor of Calamba, the hero’s natal town
• Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education) (1876)- showed the importance of religion in education
• San Eustacio, Martir (St. Eustace, the Martyr) (1876)- a drama based on the prose story of St. Eustace

Paintings and Sculptural Works

• Studied painting under Agustin Saez and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus.
• Both art masters held him in high esteem due to his talent.

First Romance of Rizal

• Related to Segunda Katigbak
• Katigbak attended Colegio de la Concordia, same school as Rizal’s sisters.
• Rizal visited Katigbak at La Concordia under the pretense of visiting his sisters there.
• Relationship ended when Katigbak was instructed by her father to return to their family’s province in Laguna.
• Rizal became immobile and speechless the last time Rizal and Katigbak met
• Rizal’s first romance was ruined by his own shyness and reserve.