Rizal's Childhood: Lesson 4 Insights

Childhood of Rizal

• Teodora Alonso, Rizal’s first teacher, introduced him to the abakada, reading, and prayer.
• Encouragement from Teodora led Rizal to explore poetry at a young age.
• By age five, Rizal showcased his artistic talents, drawing and sculpting objects he encountered.

Pets

• Rizal had a pony named Alipato.
• He also owned a big black dog called Usman.

First Sorrow

• Rizal experienced the profound grief of losing his sister, Concha.

Nicknames

• Family affectionately called him Ute.
• Locals from Calamba referred to him as Pepe.

Private Tutors

• Tutored by Leon Monroy, who taught him Latin before passing away five months into their sessions.

Education in Binan

• At age nine, Rizal moved to Binan for further studies, accompanied by his brother Paciano.
• Justiniano Aquino Cruz instructed him in Spanish and Latin, while Juancho taught him painting.

First School Brawl

• Encountered bully Pedro at school and boldly challenged him to a fight.

Return to Calamba

• After the incident in Binan, Rizal returned home and continued his education under Lucas Padua.

First Taste of Injustice

• At 11 years old, Rizal witnessed his mother's courage when she was wrongfully arrested by Spaniards, exemplifying the injustices faced by Filipinos.
• The arrest stemmed from a poisoning accusation linked to familial conflicts and misunderstandings with her brother's estranged wife, Teodora Alberto.
• Doña Teodora was made to walk 50 kilometers around Laguna as punishment for her alleged involvement.

Three Martyrs

• Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora were executed on February 17, 1872, for false allegations related to the Cavite uprising.
• They were garroted in Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park) under the governorship of Rafael Izquierdo.