Jose Rizal's Family Lineage: How Francisco Mercado Rizal Acquired the Surname

What surname did Francisco Rizal's family choose based on the list of Spanish surnames provided by Narciso Clavera?

Which of Rizal's paternal ancestors was elected Gobernadorcillo of Binan?

What was the occupation of Rizal's maternal grandfather, Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo?

What was the name of Rizal's first teacher before he left for Binan to study formally?

What story did Rizal's mother narrate to him as a child?

In what year did Rizal start studying at Ateneo de Manila?

How many years did Rizal spend studying at Ateneo de Manila?

Which of Rizal's siblings was married to Pantaleon Quintero?

What was the name of Rizal's wife?

Which of Rizal's siblings died at a young age?

Rizal's Early Life

Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, as the seventh of eleven children to Don Francisco Mercado Rizal and Dona Teodora Alonzo Realonda
Family background: paternal great-great-grandfather was Domingo Lamco from Fukien, China, who converted to Catholicism and changed his surname to Mercado
Maternal ancestry rumored to be descendants of Lakan Dula, the King of Tondo

Education

First teacher was his mother, who narrated stories including "The Moth and the Lamp"
Studied at Binan, Ateneo, and UST
Graduated with highest honors from Ateneo, excelling in most subjects
Continued studies at UST for a degree in Philosophy and Letters, but later shifted to Medicine in 1878 to cure his mother's partial blindness
Took and passed a land surveying course at Ateneo
Moved to Madrid to continue medicine studies, encouraged by his brother Paciano

Literary Works

Wrote poems during his studies at Ateneo, including "A Mi Pueblo" (To My Hometown) and "A La Juventud Filipina" (To the Filipino Youth)
Wrote religious-themed poetry during his studies at Ateneo
These early works aimed to express love for the country and instill the same in his fellow youth

Explore the historical background of Dr. Jose Rizal's family and uncover the events that shaped his perspective towards Spain and influenced his writings. Learn about the changes in the Philippines during the 19th century that impacted Rizal's life.