Jose Rizal: Early Life and Family

• Jose Rizal's full name is Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda.
• Rizal was born on June 19, 1861.
• Rizal's birthplace was Calamba, Laguna.
• During Rizal's birth, his mother almost died due to his big head.
• Rizal was baptized in the Catholic Church.
• Rizal was baptized on June 22, at 3 days old.
• Father Rufino Collantes, a Batangueño, was the parish priest during Rizal's baptism.
• Father Pedro Casanas, Rizal's godfather, was a close family friend.
• Rizal's mother chose the name "Jose" as she was a devotee of San Jose (St. Joseph).
• Father Collates was impressed by Rizal's big head and said he would become a great man.

Rizal's Family

• The Rizal family was well-respected.

Rizal's Parents

• Rizal's father was Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado
• Francisco was born in Biñan, Laguna on May 11, 1818.
• Francisco studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
• Francisco was a serious, sturdy tenant farmer on a Dominican-owned hacienda.
• Francisco died in Manila on January 5, 1898, at age 80.
• Rizal's mother was Doña Teodora Alonzo Quintos Realonda.
• Teodora was an energetic, persevering woman with a kind heart and likable personality.
• Teodora was born in Manila on November 8, 1826.
• Teodora was educated at the College of Santa Rose.
• Teodora died in Manila on August 16, 1911, at age 85.

Rizal's Siblings

• Saturnina Rizal: the eldest, born in 1850, and died in 1913, married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas, nicknamed "Neneng".
• Paciano Rizal: the second child and only brother of Jose, born in 1851, and died in 1930, he died an old bachelor aged 79.
• Narcisa Rizal: born in 1852, died in 1939, nicknamed "Sisa", married to Antonio Lopez of Morong, Rizal.
• Olimpia Rizal: born in 1855, died in 1887, nicknamed "Ypia", married to Silvestre Ubaldo and died of childbirth.
• Lucia Rizal: born in 1857, died in 1919, the wife of Mariano Herbosa (nephew of Father Casanas); Herbosa died of cholera and was denied Christian burial due to being Rizal's brother-in-law.
• Maria Rizal: born in 1859, died in 1945, nicknamed "Biang", married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.
• Jose Rizal: born in 1861, died in 1896, the national hero of the Philippines, nicknamed "Pepe", lived with Josephine Bracken in Dapitan and named his deceased son Francisco.
• Concepcion Rizal: born in 1862, died in 1865, nicknamed "Concha", died of sickness at age 3 who was Rizal's first sorrow in life.
• Josefa Rizal: born in 1865, died in 1945, her pet name was Panggoy, she died an old maid at the age of 80.
• Trinidad Rizal: born in 1868 and died in 1951, her pet name was Trining, and she also died as an old maid in 1951 aged 83.
• Soledad Rizal: born in 1870 and died in 1929, the youngest, who was nicknamed Choleng, and became the wife of Pantaleon Quintero.
• The Rizal siblings had an affectionate and cordial relationship.
• Rizal played games with his sisters as a boy.
• As he grew older, he would call his sisters Doña or Señora if married, and Señorita if single.
• Paciano was like a second father to Rizal (10 years his senior).
• Rizal immortalized Paciano as the wise Pilosopo Tasio in his first novel.

Rizal's Ancestry

• Rizal was a mix of eastern and western ancestries, including Negrito, Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish.
• Rizal's paternal great-great grandfather was Domingo Lamco.
• Domingo Lamco was a Chinese immigrant from Fukien city who arrived in Manila circa 1690.
• Doña Teodora's family descended from Lakan Dula.
• Lakan Dula was the King of Tondo.
• Rizal's great-great maternal grandfather was of Japanese ancestry.

The Surname Rizal

• The family's real surname was Mercado, adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco, Rizal's Chinese paternal great-great-grandfather.
• The surname "Rizal" was a secondary surname given by a Spanish alcalde mayor of Laguna, who was a family friend.

The Rizal Home

• The Rizal home was a two-story, rectangular building made of adobe stone and hardwood with red tile roofing.
• Rafael Palma described the Rizal home.
• The house had a poultry yard full of turkeys and chickens, as well as a large garden of tropical fruits.
• The Rizal home was a happy home.

The Rizal Family Status

• The Rizal family belonged to the Principalia, the town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines.
• The Rizal family was one of the distinguished families in Calamba.
• The family harvested rice, corn, and sugarcane from farms rented from the Dominican Order.
• The Rizal family owned a carriage, which was a status symbol of the illustrados in Spanish Philippines.
• The family had their own private library.
• The private library was the largest in Calamba.
• The private library consisted of more than 1,000 volumes.

Home life of the Rizals

• The Rizal family had a simple, contented, and happy life.
• Rizal's parents never spoiled their children.
• Rizal's parents were strict and trained their children to love God, behave well, be obedient, and respect others.
• Rizal's parents believed in the saying: "Spare the rod and spoil the child".
• The family regularly heard Mass in the town church, particularly on Sundays.
• The family prayed together daily at home, after which the children would kiss their parents' hands.