● Rizal was born on the moonlit night of Wednesday, June 19, 1861, at the lakeshore town

of Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines.

1. Jose Rizal is the brightest Filipino - Not solely based on his academic performance but
His impact to the lives of Filipinos and to the country.
There were 7 students excellent in all subjects. Only one did not excel.
2. The birth of Jose Rizal almost cost the life of his mother because of his over-sized head.
Attributed the safe delivery to the Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo. Donya
Teodora’s Panata was “to bring the child in the pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Lady of
Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo.” “I
a. Several months later, Donya Teodora got pregnant. It was Don Francisco who
brought baby Jose to Antipolo.
b. 3 days after giving birth, the baby was baptized (Father Ruffino Kuyantes)
(Godfather)
c. Rizal only had 1 ninong (Godfather).
d. Father Kuyantes noticed that the baby had a big head (during baptism); he told
the family to take good care of the child since he will become great someday
e. When did Rizal attain his greatness? He was great already in his childhood. In
age 5, he knew how to read the Bible.
f. Rizal studied medicine and became an ophthalmologist because his mother has
a cataract.
g. Rizal became great. In the book of Dillon, “One day Rizal was in a corner. He
was molding images out of clay. His sisters were playing. They wanted him to
join. “Pepe what are you doing there!” They laughed at him. “Laughed at me now
for someday people will make images of me.”
h. In towns, plazas, Rizal was sculpted. His name was use like Rilza Province,
Province of Rizal as well as schools like Rizal State University, Jose Rizal
University in Manila.
i. In 1887, when he returened to the Philippines (after the publication of Noli), he
immediately went to Ateneo and visit Father Sanchez. “Everything in it is true, but
you may lose your head for it. - Fr. Sanchez.”
j. Because of Noli and El Fili, he was considered anti-Spain and anti-Catholic.
3. Donya Teodora was a devotee of Sr. San Jose. Thus naming her baby, Jose. The
Spanish Period: name babies after the names of Saints.
4. The Father of Jose is Don Francisco was born in Binan. His father died when he was
age 8. He migrated from Calamba to Binan to work as a farmworker or farmer. Don
Francisco became a tenant farmer of Dominicans. That’s how they came to Calamba.
Rizal’s father worked as a farmer of Dominicans. Don Francisco was schoold in the
College of San Jose, he took up Latin and Philosophy. Rizal described his father as
“hardy, and independent-minded who talk less and work more, with a strong body
and valiant in spirit.” He considered his father as “model of fathers”
5. Donya Teodora came from a well-off family. She descended from Lakandula. Rizal
described his mother, “she was a remarkable woman possessing refined culture, literary
talent, business ability, and the fortitude of a spartan woman.” Fortitude is the strength,
the courage of a Spartan woman (simple woman).
6. Told Trinidad “Here the German women are simple, not gossipy, they preferred
education.” He advised Trinidad, “You better read, read, read, and learn.”
7. .Donya Teodora died at age 85 in Manila.
8. How many are the Rizal children? 11 (Saturnina-eldest) (Jose-7th)
9. Rizal loved his sisters so much. He referred to them (married sisters) as senoras and
(unmarried) senoritas, brothers (senorito)? Naa pod to Don
10. Concepcion died at the age of 3 (her death: Rizal’s first sorrow) (manifestation of sisterly
love)
11. Family name: has 2: Original (Mercado)
12. .Great2 grandfather was Domingo Lam-co (full-blooded Chinese from China);
persecuted in China so migrated to the Phil & married a Filipina
13. Adopt a name that would suit one’s work. Domingo was a businessman and changed his
family name to Mercado. It was closely related to the market (Mercado). ONE’S FAMILY
NAME AND ONE’S WORK.
14. Governor Narciso Claveria issued a decree to his Panay about Filipino surnames.
“Filipino surnames are hard to pronounce and difficult to remember.”
15. Alcalde Mayor of Laguna visited & brought lists of names (e.g. Agustin
16. Don Francisco chose Rizal (means green or fertile fields). He did not follow what was in
the list. He came up with his own (Probably the reason why Rizal described his Father
as independent-minded)
17. It was only Jose who used the family name Rizal. In his diary, “I am the only Rizal
because at home my parents, my sisters, my brothers, and my relatives have always
preferred our old surname Mercado. Our family name was in fact Mercado, but there
were many Mercados in the Philippines who are not related to us. My family did not pay
much attention to this, but now I have to use it. In this way, it seems that I am an
illegitimate son."
18. 1882, when Rizal left for Europe, he used the name Jose Mercado, but it was not him.
The Jose Mercado name was that of his cousin in Calamba. WHY? Because the name
Jose Rizal came under suspicion of the authority, he was known to be the brother of
Paciano (asst. Of Fr. Burgos who led the secularization campaign).
19. In the Spanish Period, they belonged to the principalia or ilustrados class.
20. (Today: they are rich)- (1) they have 2 stone houses, erected in Poblacion or town center
(houses built in here belong to rich families)
 21. (2) The rizals were the only ones who had a private home library (coming from their own
money). They had a calesa (tartanilya, horse-drawn carriage), it was a status symbol
(16th century).Rizal’s had a grocery shop, managed by Dona Teodora
22. Donya Teodora and Donya Francisco were able to send their 10 children to Manila (in
exclusive schools) (e.g. UST,
23. .
24. .
25.

Rizal born on a moonlit night

1.Near the fill of the moon.
2.Belief, he is either gifted or the opposite
The brightest Filipino (contested by gregorio zaide, unfair to say that he was the brightest
because he had 8 other classmates, and only 1 student did not get excellent his subject as
grade. No reason to single out rizal as the brightest when there are 7 others.) perhaps not
based on his academic performance, maybe rizals impact to the lives of Filipinos and the
country.

The birth of rizal almost cost the life of his mother, because of oversized head. Safe delivery
attributed to her panata to the lady of peace and good voyage of antipolo. Bring a child in a
pilgrimage to shrine of lady of peace good voyage. But got pregnant again several, broke
promise, Don Francisco brought Jose to antipolo. 3 days after rbrith, baby was baptized, fr
rufino kuya yes.
Godfather fr Pedro casanas. Friend of the rizal. Noticed baby had a big head.
"take good care of this child for someday he will become great."

11|03|21
Gobenadorcillo - highest position Fil could assume
Francisco married a Chinese Fil meztiza (Cerilla)-had a son named Juan (grandpa of Rizal) -
became Gobernadorcillo of Binan - married to Cerila Alejandro
Father’s side - Rizal was more of a Chinese

Mother’s side
Donya Teodora came from rolling? Class
Rizal’s great2 grandpa - Eugenio Ersua (Japanese ancestry)-married a Filipina - Benigna,
unknown surname… had a daughter, named Regina-Manuel de Quintos (a Fil-Chinese, lawyer)
Daughters of Regina & Mnauel - Brehida married Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo - had children, one is
Teodora (mother of Rizal)
Teodoro Agoncillo said that it was unfair to confirm that he was a Filipino, safest (the greatest
Malayan)

Rizal’s childhood memories

1. Happy days spent at the family garden (Don Francosco built nipa hut for pepe, naa sya
yaya) (given special care & attention)
2. Daily Angelus (12 noon, 6 eve) at dusk, Teodora would gather her children to pray
3. Nightly Rosary - after dinner, they gather in a dimly lighted room
4. Attend daily mass
5. Many believed that he converted to Protestantism
6. Moonlit light spent at Azutea (big balcony at the back of the house) (memorable because
it was in the Azutea where their yaya narrated them stories about tikbalang, poems, &
the likes (influenced Rizal to write poems)
7. Azutea (Ibarra courted Maria Clara in the Noli me Tangere)
8. Nocturnal walk in the town when there is a moon
The Story of the Moth
One evening Donya Teodora & Jose left the room, taught Jose how to read, she realized that
Pepe was sleepy… What did she do? Told her son to have his attention & told him to narrate a
story
There was a lampara & the young moth is attracted to the flame, mother moth warned the
young one to do not go closer to the flame but did not listen so namatay-but Rizal referred it as
ideal since according to him it was a happy death (the moth did not care about the
surroundings)
Jesuit friend of Rizal said that everything in the Noli me Tangere are true but would cause him
his head but Rizal was willing to sacrifice for his countrymen
Lessons
Always listen to the advices of ur parents, grandparents, sisters & the likes

March 15, 2021

Donya Teodora who discovered the innate potential of Rizal in his inclination to poetry
Maestro (3)? Leon Monroy (live-in tutor) Latin & Spanish… soon after his death, they decided to
send Rizal to Binan for his early studies (karomata ila way sa pag adto ddto)
The ff. Day, Paciano brought Rizal to the school, house of the teacher (Maestro Justenyano
Aquino Cruz)- Rizal considered as a stranger in that school… Practice (for strangers to be
seated at the back)-same set up in the church-filipinos were just standing at the back
1st day of school - was asked by the maestro if Rizal knew Spanish-response-on pockito Senor
(his classmates laugh at him sarcastically. Why? Because he didnt know Spanish or gamay ra
iya nabal an
Teacher asked him again if kabalo sya Latin- same response (classmates laugh again*)
In contemporary setting (what he experienced was bullying)
Rizal was humiliated (during the recess, Rizal approached Pedro (the bully), Pedro accepted
the challenge to fight w| him)
Tiyo Manuel-was into physical exercises (asked Rizal to do exercises, so Rizal’s body was
already fortified, eventually defeated Pedro) At the afternoon, challenged others to fight w| him
(he won from Andres)
Other side of Rizal - he also cried, was jealous, insensitive
It could be that Rizal proved his masculinity
In his diary as cited by Gregorio Sayde, there was no day that he whipped due to his teacher.
Why because his classmates discredited him to his teacher (by fabricating lies) since from a
stranger, he progressed academically (became the smartest)
While in Binan, Rizal led a methodical living (methodical is a person who pays very careful
attention to detail and who does things in a precise manner or following a procedure. A
person who slowly and carefully reads all directions and then follows them exactly is
someone who would be described as methodical)
Binan (wake up as early as 4 am) go to mass, pick mabolo fruits if naa, get into the
house, study...if no mass (wake up, pray, study & other things in preparation for school)
(afternoon-play with cousins) (evening-pray, study, go to the bed)
Maestro Majestano (noticed that Rizal was already equipped & advanced, they advised
them to study to Manila for advance studies)
What happened? His classmates were envious of him, nevertheless, Rizal learned to
love his classmates, he was sad to leave them so they thanked them for the months
they spent; Rizal collected items from Binan (memorabilia) like pebbles from the River,
he also prayed in the church(?)
Rizal took an entrance exam in Manila (College of San Juan de Letran)-was a
Dominican runned school, the testing center

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MARCH 12, 2021

ANCESTRY OF JOSE RIZAL

FATHER’S SIDE

· Domingo married a well-to-do Chinese (full-blooded).

· Many question in what ways was Rizal able to sustain his stay in Europe.
· Domingo and Inez de la Rosa (full-blooded Chinese) had a son named Francisco (not
grandfather nor father).

· Francisco(Chinese) – Rizal’s great grandfather. Married a Chinese-Filipino Mestiza named

Cerilla Bernacha. They had a son named Juan (grandfather of Rizal).

· Juan (Chinese) – became a gobernadorcillo of Binan. He married a Chinese-Filipino named

Cerila Alejandro. One of their children is Francisco.

MOTHER’S SIDE

· Great2 grandfather was Eugenio Ursua (Japanese Ancestry). He married a Filipina named
Benigna (Japanese-Filipino) (unknown surname). They had a daughter named Regina Ursua.

· Regina Ursua – married Manuel de Quintos (Filipino Chinese – lawyer). One of their
daughters is Brigida.

· Brigida married Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo. They bore Teodora.

· Rizal is the Greatest Malayan (safe to say. Filipinos are Malays, Indonesians, Malaysians,
Chinese, once belong to Malayan stock)

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

· 1. Happy days spent at the family garden. Parents built a Nipa hut for Pepe. Hired a yaya
or aya for him. He was afforded special care and attention because he was sickly and frail. He
enjoyed nature.

· The daily angelus (12 o’clock noon and 6 o’clock evening. At dusk, Donya Teodora would
gather her children.

· Nightly Rosary after dinner they gather at a dimly lighted room. They attend daily mass.
When he became a grownup ms, he’s faith got questioned. Catholic recommended his
excommunication. Many believed that he convert3ed to Protestantism. He lost a beautiful
girlfriend named Neli Boasted (2 conditions set by her: to convert to Protestantism). Rizal
refused. “If you only knew what I lost for not embracing Protestantism, you would not say that I
am a Protestant.”He was a Catholic, but not a practicing Catholic.

· The evenings spent at Azotea (balcony at the back of the house). It is where their yaya
narrated them stories of tikbalang, nuno sa punso, reading poems, folklore. This influenced
Jose Rizal and developed his interest in poetry. Noli Me Tangere – “Ulayaw sa Azotea” OR
Courtship at Azotea. It is where he courted Maria Clara. Ibara courted her.
o Visit.
o Ask permission from the parents (longest was 1 hour in the sala).

· Nocturnal walk in the town when there was a moon. Togetehr with his pet Guzaman, he
would go around the plaza.
STORY OF THE MOTH

· One evening, Donya Teodora and Jose were left in a room and taught him to read from a
Children’s reader. She realized that Pepe was losing interest and sleepy. She told her son. I’ll
narrate you a story. The story of the Young and the Old moth. There was a lamp and the young
moth was attracted to the flame. Mother warned son not to get closes to the flame lest the
young moth would be engulfed by the fire and would die. But the young moth did not listen. It
came closer to the flame. He was eaten by the flame.

· Rizal considered the death of young moth as something ideal. Because of his attraction, he
did not care of the dangers around. He pursued what he wanted, and he died of a happy death.
When he returned from Spain in 1887, he was told by a Jesuit friend (Ateneo teacher) and told
Jose “Everything in it is the truth but you will lose your head in it.” Jose was willing to sacrifice
his life for his country.
o Always listen to the advices of the parents, older siblings, and grandparents.

MARCH 15, 2021

Rizal’s Early Education

· Donya Teodora taught Jose in 4 years old to pray, do rosary, and read the family Bible. It
was discovered his innate desire in poetry. Encouraged him to polish hi poetrical skills.

· Maestro Celestino, Maestro, and Maestro Mon Roe: tutors of Jose.

· Mon Roe tutored Rizal in Spanish and Latin.

· Pepe was sent to Binan for his early education.

· On Sunday, they road on a karomata (karwahe). They reached Binan and stayed on Tiya
Esabel, cousin of Don Francisco.

· Paciano brought him to the school. The teacher was Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.

· Rizal was considered a stranger there. Strangers are seated at the back and also in
churches.

· 1st day of school: Rizal was asked, “Do you know Spanish?” His classmates laughed at him.
Pokito, only gamay nabal an niya ug Spanish. Asked him again, “Savis Latin?” They laughed
again including the son of the teacher, Pedro.

· Rizal approached Pedro for a fist fight. Pedro readily accepted the challenge. He was
fortified by Tiyo Manuel, brother of his mother. They went into physical exercises. He defeated
Pedro. Then he challenged Andres to an arm wrestling.

· In his diary, Rizal said, “There weer no days that I was not laid on a bench and whipped by
his teacher.” Classmates fabricated lies about him. Out of envy, his classmates discredited him
to the teacher.
· Rizal lived a methodical life. Jose spent his leisure hours with Justiniano’s father-in-law, a
master painter. From him he took his first two sons, two nephews, and a grandson. His way life
was methodical and well regulated. He heard mass at four if there was one that early, or studied
his lesson at that hour and went to mass afterwards. Returning home, he might look in the
orchard for a mambolo fruit to eat, then he took his breakfast, consisting generally of a plate of
rice and two dried sardines. After that he would go to class, from which he was dismissed at ten,
then home again. He ate with his aunt and then began at ten, then home again. He ate with his
aunt and then began to study. At half past two he returned to class and left at five. He might
play for a short time with some cousins before returning home. He studied his lessons, drew for
a while, and then prayed and if there was a moon, his friends would invite him to play in the
street in company with other boys. Whenever he remembered his town, he thought with tears in
his eyes of his beloved father, his idolized mother, and his solicitous sisters. Ah, how sweet was
his town even though not so opulent as Biñan! He grew sad and thoughtful.
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