Jose Rizal: Family and Early Life Quiz

Life of Rizal

• Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.
• His father was Francisco Mercado, and his mother was Teodora Alonso y Realonda.
• Key siblings include Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olimpia, Lucia, Maria, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad, and Soledad.
• His father hired tutors Lucas Padua and Leon Monroy for his initial education.
• Dona Teodora, his mother, used "El Amigo de los Ninos" as a reader.
• A significant lesson learned as a child was "The story of the Moth".
• Uncle Gregorio instilled the importance of hard work, observational skills, and thought.
• Uncle Jose encouraged artistic expression through sketching, painting, and sculpture.
• Uncle Manuel promoted physical development through sports like swimming, fencing, and wrestling.
• His yaya (nanny) shared stories to foster his imagination and creativity.
• Rizal wrote poems including "Sa Aking Mga Kabata" and "Un Recuerdo de Mi Pueblo".
• He made sculptures from mud.
• He used charcoal and natural juices for art.
• His secondary education was in Binan, Laguna, under Justiniano Aquino Cruz who disciplined students with a thin stick.
• In 1872, he entered Ateneo Municipal at 11 years old.
• He formed a close friendship with Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez.
• Some of his poems written under Sanchez's guidance were: "Tragedy of St. Eustace," "In the Memory of My Town", "Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education,” and “Through Education Motherland Receives Enlightenment".
• Rizal had excellent achievements and graduated top of his class at Ateneo.
• In Ateneo, he studied painting with Agustin Saez, sculpture with Teodoro Romualdo de Jesus, and honed skills in various crafts.
• He joined the Marian Congregation.
• His mentor was Fr. Pablo Pastells, S.J.
• He also was a member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and Academy of Natural Sciences.
• In 1877-1878, he studied land surveying at Ateneo.
• He received a "perito agrimensor" title on November 25, 1881.
• At the University of Santo Tomas, he studied Philosophy (1877-1878).
• He won prizes at the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila for his Literary Works, particularly "A La Juventud Filipina".
• He also authored poems and wrote the play "Along the Pasig River", commissioned by Jesuits.
• He received a silver quill and a prize for his poem about Cervantes.
• In 1882, Rizal left Manila for Europe.
• Rizal arrived in Paris on November 1885.
• He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert.
• He met with friends such as Pardo de Taveras, Juan Luna, and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo.
• He also composed songs like "La Deportacion" in this period.
• In February 1886, he arrived in Heidelberg, Germany, where he assisted with the eye hospital.
• He spent his summer in Wilhelmsfeld with a pastor to improve his German skills.
• He also corresponded with Ferdinand Blumentritt.
• He met with Dr. Friedrich Ratzel and others.
• He translated works to Tagalog such as Schiller's "William Tell" and Andersen's fairy tales.
• He was a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnographic Society, and the Geographic Society.
• In 1887, he finished the novel, "Noli Me Tangere."
• In 1888, he arrived in Liverpool and was met by Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor.
• Further, he was introduced to Dr. Reinhold Rost, a librarian who knew about the Malay languages and customs.
• After the Noli Me Tangere was published, Jose Rizal began writing other works while in Paris, such as those for La Solidaridad.
• Later, Rizal was to write and or publish the "El Filibusterismo", his second novel.
• Jose Rizal was ordered to leave the Philippines, due to controversy surrounding the "Noli Me Tangere", by Gov. Gen. Emilio Terrero in 1890.
• Rizal was sent into exile to the North Zamboanga.
• He was ordered to live in Dapitan.
• He continued to study medicinal plants and created an invention to aid the local people.
• He wrote poems, such as "El Canto del Viajero", and "A Ricardo Carnicero" while he was in Dapitan.
• In 1896, a safe conduct was issued that allowed him to return to Manila.
• In 1896, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago and tried.
• He was convicted and sentenced to death.
• Rizal was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896.