Rizal Law and José Rizal

Rizal Law

• To instill patriotism and encourage people to be law-abiding, selfless, and socially responsible citizen for the sake of the nation.
• Helps foster critical thinking, empathy, and a sense of social responsibility.
• To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism.
• It also aims to pay tribute to the national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino character.

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

• Was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines.
• Considered a national hero of the Philippines.
• Became the Philippines' national hero because he battled for freedom in a quiet but effective manner.
• Born on: June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna
• Parents: Teodora Alonso Realonda (mother) & Francisco Mercado (Father)
• Spouse: Josephine Bracken (m. 1896–1896)
• Died: December 30, 1896 (age 35 years),
• Place of Death: Bagumbayan now called Rizal Park, Luneta, Manila or Luneta Park.
• Married Josephine Bracken in articulo mortis (at the point of death) during the early morning of December 30, 1896
• The wedding was done in Catholic rites by Fr. Victor Balaguer two hours before execution.
• There were no sponsors or witnesses present at the ceremony.
• There was no signed marriage contract.
• Teodora Alonso was the second child of Lorenzo Alberto Alonso and Brijida de Quintos.
• Jose was named Jose Protacio

The meaning of "Jose"

• Chosen by his mother as she was a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose.

The meaning of "Protacio"

• Saint Protacio is the patron saint for June 19.

The meaning of “Mercado"

• Adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco, the paternal great-great-grandfather of Jose Rizal.
• The Spanish term "Mercado" means market in English.
• It is the surname of Jose's father.

The meaning of "Rizal"

• Teodora and Francisco married in 1848 and lived in Calamba.
• On Wednesday, November 21, 1849, Gov. General Narciso Clavería issued a decree sending lists of Spanish and local surnames to the chiefs of the provinces.
• The decree mandates each family to choose a new surname to facilitate census work and the collection of taxes.
• The Mercados of Calamba chose the unlisted name Rizal, but continued to use the name Mercado.
• Francisco and Teodora's seventh child, Jose, adopted the name Rizal to enable him to travel freely and to dissociate himself from his brother Paciano.
• Paciano had contacts with Father Burgos, who was executed because of the uprisings, which made the surname "Mercado" suspicious.
• Jose adopted the surname Rizal for security purposes.

The meaning of "Alonso"

• Surname of Jose's mother.

The meaning of "Realonda"

• The family of Teodora adopted the additional surname Realonda in 1849, after Governor General Narciso Clavería decreed the adoption of Spanish surnames among the Filipinos.

Nickname: Pepe

• In Latin, San Jose's name is always followed by the letters 'P.P' for pater putativus.
• The letter 'P' is pronounced as 'peh' in Spanish, giving rise to the nickname Pepe for Jose.

Rizal's Family

• The Rizal family was considered as one of the most respected and well-known families at the time.
• The Rizal Family were wealthy, which explains why Jose Rizal could afford to travel and study abroad.
• His parents had Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Negrito blood.

Parents

• Francisco Mercado was born in Biñan, Laguna, Philippines in 1818, and worked as a farmer & tenant of the Dominican friars.
• He later became a mayor and worked hard to provide his family with a good education.
• Teodora Alonso was born in Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines in 1827.
• She was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso, a Spanish mestizo, and Brijida de Quintos, a Filipina native.
• She was highly educated, spoke several languages, and became known for her knowledge and artistic talents.
• Francisco and Teodora got married on June 28, 1848, in a church in Binan, Laguna
• Together, they had 11 children, with Jose Rizal being the seventh child.
• They provided their children with a good education, and their family was known for being patriotic and religious.
• They instilled in their children the values of hard work, honesty, and love for their country.
• Francisco and Teodora had a strong marriage and supported each other in raising their family.
• Both influenced Jose Rizal's character and inspired him to become a national hero.

Siblings of Jose

• Saturnina (1850-1913): Eldest sister of Jose Rizal. She married Manuel T. Hidalgo and had five children.
• Paciano (1851-1930): The only brother of Jose Rizal. He studied at the Colegio de San Jose in Manila. He joined the Philippine Revolution and rose to the ranks of General.
• Narcisa (1852-1939): Found the unmarked grave of her brother, Jose, in the abandoned Old Paco Cemetery.
• Olympia (1855-1887): Died in childbirth at 32 years old.
• Lucia (1857-1919): Married Mariano Herbosa, who was denied Christian burial because he was the brother in law of Jose Rizal.
• Maria (1859-1945): Married Daniel Faustino Cruz and had 5 children.
• Concepcion (1862-1865): Died at the age of 3.
• Josefa (1865-1945): Remained unmarried, lived with sister Trinidad, and suffered from epilepsy.
• Trinidad (1868-1951): Received an alcohol lamp from Jose containing his poem "Mi Ultimo Adios".
• Soledad (1870-1929): The youngest of the Rizal siblings.

Rizal's Childhood and Early Education

• Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.
• Baptized on June 22 with Parish priest Rev. Rufino Collantes giving his name as Jose Rizal Mercado at the Catholic church of Calamba.
• He was the seventh child of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso y Quintos.
• From 1865-1867, his mother taught him how to read and write.
• He mastered the alphabet at the age of three.
• He enjoyed reading books and learned to pray and read the bible.
• His parents acquired private tutors to give him lessons at home.
• Leon Monroy taught him the rudiments of Latin.
• Uncle Manuel Alberto was worried about his physical development.
• He developed the skills in swimming, fencing, and wrestling.
• Uncle Jose taught him to love and admire the beauty of nature.
• Uncle Gregorio instilled the love for education and its importance.
• His sister Concepcion died at the age of three, marking the first time he cried.
• Father Leoncio Lopez helped Rizal understand the philosophy of life & learned the value of scholarship and intellectual honesty.
• He used to take long rides on his pony and had pets such as doves and a dog.
• He wrote his first poem "Sa Aking Mga Kababata" (To My Fellow Children) at the age of eight, showing his love for his country.
• He compared Tagalog to Latin, English, and Spanish, encouraging his fellow children to love their native tongue.
• After Leon Monroy died, Rizal transferred to a private school in Biñan, Laguna.
• He was accompanied by his older brother Paciano.
• The school was supervised by Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
• During his first day of class, he was asked if he knew how to speak Latin or Spanish, but he only knew a little of the languages.
• A classmate named Pedro bullied him, resulting in a brawl.
• He excelled in class in Latin, Spanish, and other subjects.
• Students became jealous and tried to destroy his name to Maestro Cruz.
• An old painter named Juancho of Biñan nurtured Rizal's interest in painting.
• Knowledge was taught through tedious memorization.
• Rizal did not enjoy his schooling, or like his teacher who used corporal punishment.
• Schools should be a safe haven and a playground for the mind.

Some Lessons from Rizal's Childhood

• Caring and loving son: Rizal grew up in a loving and gentle family where he was taught to cherish his relationships.
• Importance of Education: Rizal believed in the transformative power of education and the importance of knowledge.
• Power of Perseverance: Rizal faced many obstacles, including discrimination and political persecution, but he persevered and continued to pursue his goals.