The Rizal Family: Roles and Relationships

Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

• Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines.
• Nicknamed "Jose" by his mother, a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose.
• Part of a 13-member family, including parents Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso Realonda.
• His mother nearly died during his birth due to his large head.
• Baptized on June 22 (aged 3) by Father Rufino Collantes, with Father Pedro Casanas as godfather.
• Had nine sisters and one brother.

Rizal's Ancestry

• A 5th-generation patrilineal descendant of Domingo Lam-co, a Chinese immigrant from Jinjiang, Quanzhou.
• Lam-co married Inez de la Rosa, a Sangley of Luzon.
• Had Spanish and Japanese ancestors.
• His mother's father was Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo, a half-Spaniard engineer.
• His maternal great-great-grandfather was Eugenio Ursua, a descendant of Japanese settlers.

Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro, II (1818-1898)

• Attended the Colegio de San Jose in Manila, studying Latin and philosophy.
• Rafael Palma described him as "of solid shoulders, strong constitution, rather tall than short, of serious and reflective mien" at age 40
• Married Teodora Alonso at 29, and they resided in Calamba, building an agricultural business.
• A tenant and landowner of the Dominican state in Calamba, Laguna.
• Regarded as the "Model of FATHER".

Teodora Alonso Realonda de Quintos (1826-1911)

• A wealthy woman in the Spanish colonial Philippines.
• Born in Santa Cruz, Manila, known as a disciplinarian and hard-working mother.
• Her medical condition inspired Rizal to study medicine.
• The second child of Brijida de Quintos and Lorenzo Realonda.
• Educated, managed the family farm and finances, and expanded the business to textiles, flour, and sugar milling
• Considered a remarkable woman.

Saturnina Rizal (1850-1913)

• Known as Neneng.
• Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage.
• Married to Manuel T. Hidalgo, a native of Tanauan, Batangas.

Paciano Rizal (1851-1930)

• Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child.
• Studied at San Jose College in Manila; became a farmer and general in the Philippine Revolution.
• Lived as a gentleman farmer, died at 79 of tuberculosis.

Narcisa Rizal (1852-1939)

• The third child.
• Married Antonio Lopez of Morong, Rizal, a teacher and musician.
• Known as "Sisa".

Olimpia Rizal (1855-1887)

• The fourth child
• Married Silvestre Ubaldo, died in 1887 from childbirth.
• Her husband was a telegraph operator from Manila.

Lucia Rizal (1857-1919)

• The fifth child.
• Married Matriano Herbosa.
• Her husband was a native from Calamba, and died in the cholera epidemic in 1889.

Maria Rizal (1859-1945)

• The sixth child.
• Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna
• Her husband went by "Daniel"

Jose Rizal (1861-1896)

• Second son, seventh child
• Executed by the Spaniards on December 30, 1896.

Concepcion Rizal (1862-1865)

• Called "Concha".
• Died at age three.
• Loved by Pepe, who mourned her death.

Josefa Rizal (1865-1945)

• The ninth child.
• Died a spinster, nicknamed as Panggoy.
• An epileptic, original katipunera.

Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951)

• Known as "Trining".
• The tenth child, died a spinster and the last of the family to die.

Soledad Rizal (1870-1929)

• Called "Choleng".
• The youngest child, married Pantaleon Quintero.
• Arguably the best educated among Rizal's sisters, and was a teacher.

Rizal's Early Childhood

• In 1876 (age 15, student in Ateneo de Manila), he remembered his beloved town.
• Wrote the poem "Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo" (In Memory of my Town).

Earliest Childhood Memories

• First memory was his happy days in the family garden.
• Received tender care due to being a frail and sickly child.

The Hero's First Sorrow

• Loved Concha the most (one year older).
• Cried bitterly when Concha died of sickness in 1865 (age 3)

Devoted Son of Church

• Was a religious boy, raised in a Catholic atmosphere.
• Esteemed Father Leoncio Lopez, the town priest.

First Education

• First teacher was his mother. Learned the alphabet and prayers at age 3.
• Encouraged to write poems due to his talent for poetry.

Artistic Talents

• Showed god-given talents since early childhood.
• Drew sketches on his sisters' books (and was scolded for it).
• Carved animal and person figures out of wood.
• Sketched before learning to read.
• Displayed the soul of a genuine artist.
• Could read the Spanish Bible haltingly at age five.

Artistic Talents

• Made sketches, molded clay.
• Had a love of nature.

Man of Letters

• Authored the poem "Sa aking mga Kababata".
• Wrote his first Tagalog drama at age eight.

The Magician

• Held magic-lantern exhibitions; made coins/handkerchiefs appear or diasappear.

Early Education in Calamba and Binan

• Tutors included Maestro Celestino and Maestro Lucas Padua.
• Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal's father, taught him Spanish and Latin before passing away after five months.
• Rizal's parents sent him to a private school in Binan after Monroy's death.

Rizal goes to Binan

• In June 1869, Rizal left Calamba for Binan with Paciano.
• Homesick on the first night.
• Paciano enrolled him in the school of Maestro Justiano Aquino Cruz. Bullied by Pedro; Rizal defeated him in a fight, having learned wrestling from Tio Manuel.
• Defeated by Andres Salandanan in an arm-wrestling match.
• Beat all Binan boys academically and surpassed them in all subjects.
• Juancho (father-in-law of the schoolteacher) gave him drawing and painting lessons.
• In 1870, Saturnina informed of the arrival of streamer Talim.
• On December 17, 1870, Rizal left Binan after one and a half years of schooling.
• Arturo Camps took care of him on board.

Unfortunate Events Before Ateneo

• Martyrdom of GomBurZa on February 17, 1872 (ordered by Gov. Gen. Izquierdo)
• Doña Teodora was arrested on a malicious poisoning charge.

Rizal's Education in Manila (1872-1877)

• Adopted the surname "Rizal".
• Registered under this name at Ateneo.
• First boarded in a house outside Intramuros (owned by Titay who one the family 300 pesos).

Rizal, the Atenean

• On June 10, 1872, Rizal passed the entrance examination at San Juan de Letran College.
• His father decided to send him to Ateneo instead.
• Father Magin Ferrando refused to admit Rizal (late registration, sickly).
• Manuel Xerez Burgos (nephew of Father Burgos) backed Rizal.
• Rizal was admitted into Ateneo
• Studied there from 1872-1877 (with intervention of Manuel Burgos)

Ateneo Municipal

• Formerly (Escuela Municipal de Manila (1859-1865)
• Run by Jesuits (rival of Dominican order).

Jesuit Education

• Included mass every morning, prayers before and after class
• Focused on physical culture, humanities, and scientific studies.
• Classes divided into: Roman Empire = Internos, Carthaginian Empire = Externos.
• The ranks (highest to lowest): Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, Standard-bearer.
• Rizal was initially at the bottom (externo).
• Became emperor by the end of the month but lost it.
• Received excellent grades and a gold medal by the end of the school year.
• Initially liked "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas.
• Father bought "Universal History" by Cesar Cantu for his studies.

Rizal's Education in Manila (1877-1882) UST

• In April 1877, Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas (Philosophy and Letters) because his father wanted it and he was uncertain of a career.
• Father Pablo Ramon (Rector of Ateneo) advised him.
• During the following term (1878-1879), Rizal decided to study medicine after Ateneo Rector's advice.
• Also studied at Ateneo (vocational course leading to Perito Agrimensor)
• Excelled in surveying course and obtained gold medals
• November 25, 1881: title issued for passing the surveying course
• Met Leonor Rivera (daughter of his landlord uncle Antonio Rivera) in 1879.
• Won an award for "Indian and Mestizos" with the nationalism poem "A La Juventud Filipina" (To Filipino Youth) at age 18
• After finishing fourth year, Rizal decided to continue studies in Spain because of the biasedDominican professors, disgust at UST's instruction, and their racial discrimination.

Rizal's Life Abroad: Travel to Spain

• Decided to find knowledge about a cure for his mother's worsening eyesight. May 3, 1882: Rizal boarded the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore.
• Was the only Filipino passenger onboard
• Rest were Spaniards, British, and Indian Negros.
• From Singapore: boarded the ship Djemnah. Napoli: Italy and from there the steamer stopped at the harbor of Marseilles and then he road a train going to Barcelona.

Barcelona

• June 16, 1882: Arrived in Barcelona
• Wrote the essay "Amor Patrio (Love for Country)" (published in Diariong Tagalog on August 20, 1882).
• Published in two texts and translated to Tagalog by Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Madrid

• September 1882: Moved to the Capital City of Spain
• Enrolled at the Central University of Madrid and at Academy of San Carlos
• Met Consuelo Ortiga y Perez
• Became a freemason with "DIMASALANG" as his masonic name.
• June 21, 1884 Completed medical course (Licentiate in Medicine)
• June 25, 1884 Speech in honor of Juan Luna and Feliz Hidalgo
• June 19, 1885 - finished coursework and gained Licienciado in Filosofia y Letras

Paris

• Arrived in October of 1885 and stayed for 4 months
• Moved to Paris to specialize in Ophthalmology
• Visited Maximo Viola, traveled with Viola around Europe
• Worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert's eye clinic for four months
• Finished part of his "Noli Mi Tangere"
• Friends included Felix Hidalgo, Juan Luna and Pardo de Tavera
• As Luna's model, posed for two of the painter's works: "The Blood Compact" and "The Death of Cleopatra".
• High cost of living caused Rizal to leave on February 1886.

Germany

• February 3, 1886: Arrived at Heidelberg
• Worked as asssistant of Dr. Otto Becker at University Eye Hospital.
• Resided first in a German boarding house
• Became friends with German law students and a member of the Chess Players' Club.
• Expressed his homesickness for his loved ones in poem "A Las Flores de Heidelberg" (To the Flowers of Heidelberg)
• Lived with Protestant pastor Dr. Karl Ullmen.
• October 29, 1886, Rizal arrived at Dresden
• Arrived at Berlin on November 1, 1886
• Worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Schweigger, and attended classes at University of Berlin
• Pawned his diamond ring and sold books to afford food.
• July 3, 1887: Left Rome, bound for Marseilles, France.
• Poor nutrition caused tuberculosis.

Jose Rizal Returned To Calamba

He boarded the Djemnah, the vessel that ferried him to Saigon, and from Saigon, he transferred to the steamer Haiphong .

• Padre Faura critiqued his novel, "Noli Me Tangere".
• Upon arrival in Calamba on August 8, 1887, rumours spread he was a German spy, mason, etc
• His father, Don Francisco, had hesitations allowing Rizal go out of their house.
• Established medical clinic and his first patient was his mother. He cured the eye of the sick.
• Was referred to as Doctor Uliman.
• August 30, 1887 - went to Manila upon invitation from Gov. Gen. Terrero, regarding "Noli".
• Mariano Herbosa was denied a Christian burial by the Roman Catholic Church because he was married to Lucia, Rizal's sister.
• requested to write a poem by his friend and produced the appreciation for men's efforts and compliment the country's wealth: "Himno al Trabajo"
• Composed "A Profanation" to address this issue.
• After six months in the Philippines, he left the country and went to Hong Kong.

Trip to Hongkong

• February 8, 1888 Rizal arrived in Hong Kong
• Studied the Chinese language & culture.
• Two days after: He left for Japan on Board the SS Oceania on February 22, 1888.

Japan

• February 28, 1888 Rizal arrived in Yokohama, and stayed at Tokyo Hotel for a few days
• He studied the language or Nippongo, Japanese culture, martial arts, etc.
• Had romance with O-Sei-San. He left her in order to fulfill duties to his country.

USA

April 28, 1888: Aboard a US steamer

• When it stopped in San Francisco, the entire boat was quarantined May 4, 1888 - after a week of the quarantine - passengers were allowed off of the ship
• May 16, 1888 - He left on New York after his brief trip in the United States

London

• May 24, 1888 Rizal arrived in Liverpool,
• he enhanced his knowledge of the English language
• sought to have study Antonio Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas & Philippine History.
• continued writing for La Solidaridad in defense of his people/tyranny.
• Met Dr. Reinhold Rost
• Rizal had time to read Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
• good and bad news from the Philippines.
• Anti-Friar Petition of 1888.
• attacks of the Spanish senators

Back to Paris

• September 1888 - Rizal visited to Paris
• gather materials for his historical researches

London & Hong Kong

• At that time Rizal was attracted Gertrude Beckett.
• March 19, 1889 Rizal founded the Kidlat Club and the Indios Bravos Another society that Rizal founded in Paris in 1890, RDLM/Redencion de los Malayos

Belgium

• January 281890 - Rizal left Paris for Brussels (capital of Belgium) Reasons : Cost and was high and writing of his second novel was impacted.
• Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert - lived in a modest boarding house with two sisters
• Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala - was was published in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1890.
• Rizal knew he needed to go home.
• To my Muse - This sad poem was written where he talked about the disasters that were happening.
• Rizal left Madrid and went to Hong Kong after he published the El Fili in Europe.

HONG KONG

• November 20, 1891 arrived in Hong Kong. Rizal decided to practice medicine through his association with Dr. Lorenzo P. Marquez
• wrote articles entitled A La Nacion Española - Rizal with his sister Lucia left Hong Kong and decided to go back to Manila
• Rizal was captured and brought to Fort Santiago to 1892 accused of bringing leaflets and was sent to Dapitan, Mindanao.

Explore the roles and relationships within the Rizal family, from Teodora Alonzo's economic support to Paciano's societal contributions. Discover the impact of siblings like Saturnina and Concepcion on Jose Rizal's life. Understand Rizal's upbringing and early influences.