Lesson 6 Rizal's Childhood Memories and Influences Story of The Moth

Caraga state university
Ampayon, Butuan City 8600, Philippines

URL: www.carsu.edu.ph
Lesson 6
Rizal’s Childhood Memories and
Influences Story of the Moth
Childhood Memories
With hardworking parents, Rizal had a happy and confortable life.

Because of his poor health, an old woman was employed as nanny to
take care of him while his parents manage family business. Though the
old woman, Rizal was fascinated with tales, legends, folklores and fables.
His nocturnal walks in the moonlight by the river greatly fascinated him.
As mentioned by Zaide, Rizal recounted this childhood experience in his
student memoirs, he wrote; “Thus my heart fed on sombre and
melancholic thoughts so that even while still a child, I already wandered
on wings of fantasy in the high regions of the unknown”.
Childhood Memories
At the age of three, he knew to lead family prayers. He

was five when he was able to read the Bible in Spanish.
These, because of his mother who patiently taught him
everything about Catholic faith and traditions. At the young
age, he appreciated Father Leoncio Lopez, one of the
esteemed and respected men and the town priest of
Calamba. Thus, Rizal had frequent attendance in the church
to listen to his opinions on current events and philosophy in
life.
Childhood Memories
✓Not only good memories Rizal had during his childhood

because he observed and witnessed violence acts against
some people of Calamba by the Guardia Civil and the
Gobernadorcillo.
✓Another sad memory he had was the death of his younger
sister Concepcion. Little Concha as he fondly called, died in
sickness in 1865 when she was only three years old. On his
diary, he said; When I was four, I lost my little sister Concha, and
then for the time I shed tears caused by love and grief.” Her death
brought him his first sorrow.
Childhood Memories
Another unforgettable memory Rizal had was his first trip

across the Laguna de Bay. He and his father left Calamba on
June 6, 1868 for a pilgrimage in order to fulfil his mother’s vow
as a gratitude to the Virgin of Antipolo for his birth. After the
pilgrimage, they visited Saturnina in Manila who was a
boarding student at La Concordia College in Santa Ana. It was
the first time Rizal saw Manila. On his diary, he said; Writing
many years later of this experience, with what pleasure I saw the
sunrise; for the first time I saw how the luminous rays shone,
producing a brilliant effect on the ruffled surface of the wide lake”.
Influences
It is important to note that Rizal was shaped because of

his environment. The places, associates and events greatly
affected him. His characters were formed at home with
parents and siblings who are educated, disciplined, religious
and hardworking. His philosophy, ideals, talents, the love of
country and travels to learn are not innate to Rizal but
because of his association to people, interpretation of events
and personal experiences. Later in his life, it had an impact on
the shaping of his political and social ideas.
Story of the Moth
✓ It was Doña Teodora who influenced Rizal on the love of stories that
made him a writer in his later life. One story that turned out as having
the same fate to Rizal was the Story of the Moth.
✓ The story left a deep impression on Rizal. As a child, Rizal interpreted
the death of the young moth as a victim of its illusion in search for the
light. Then, he came to realize that dying in search for the light is noble
and worthwhile. In the later part of Rizal’s life, he was like a moth that
attracted to a light even though warned by his mother. The light that
being meant here is what Rizal attracted the most; truth, freedom and
justice. And just like the moth, he was fated to die as a martyr for his
noble ideal.
How did the Story of the Moth affect Rizal’s life?
The tragic fate of the young moth, which died a martyr to its
illusions, left a deep impress on Rizal’s mind. He justified such
noble death, asserting that “to sacrifice one’s life for it,”
meaning for an ideal, is “worthwhile”. And, like that young
moth, he was fated to die as a martyr for a noble ideal.
References
Garcia, Carlito & Cruz, Cynthia (2005). Rizal and the Development of Filipino
Nationalism: A textbook on the Life, Works of our National Hero
Zaide, Gregorio & Zaide, Sonia (2008). “Jose Rizal: Life, Work, and Writings of a
Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National Hero.” 2nd Ed. Quezon City: All- Nations
Publishing Co., Inc.

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Caraga state university

Ampayon, Butuan City 8600, Philippines

With hardworking parents, Rizal had a happy and confortable life.

At the age of three, he knew to lead family prayers. He

✓Not only good memories Rizal had during his childhood

Another unforgettable memory Rizal had was his first trip

It is important to note that Rizal was shaped because of

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