The Life Story

of Jose Rizal
From birth up to his
studies in UST
 01 03
A Prelude to
Table of Contents

Heroism A heroic life of love

Learn about Rizal’s Learn about Rizal’s
origins, family, and love interests and
interests affairs

02 04
The hero was once The works of a hero
a student
Learn about Rizal’s Learn about Rizal’s
Education from Binan famous literary works.
to UST
“I do not write for this generation. I am writing for
other ages. If this could read me, they would burn
my books, the work of my whole life. On the other
hand, the generation which interprets these writings
will be an educated generation; they will
understand me and say: Not all were asleep in the
nighttime of our grandparents.”

—Jose Rizal
 01
A Prelude to Heroism
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL’S

José Rizal, in full, José Protasio

Rizal Mercado y Alonso
Realonda, was born on June 19,
1861, at Calamba, Laguna
during the tail end of the
BIRTH

Spanish occupation of the

Philippines.

Jose Rizal belonged to a big

family of thirteen (including his
parents). He had one brother,
Paciano, and nine sisters.
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL’S

José Rizal’s father, Francisco

Rizal Mercado, was born on 11
May 1818 at Binan, Laguna.
PARENTS

He is described as a man "of

solid shoulders, strong
constitution, rather tall than
short, of serious and reflective
mien, with prominent forehead
and large dark eyes. A pure
Filipino."
 José Rizal’s mother, Teodora
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL’S

Alonso Realonda, was born on

November 8, 1826 at Sta.
Cruz, Manila.
PARENTS

She was the second child of

Brijida de Quintos and
Lorenzo Realonda, a
municipal captain in Binán,
Laguna. Realonda came from
a financially able family and
studied at the Colegio de
Santa Rosa in Manila
 Rizal had nine (9) sisters
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL’S

namely, Saturnina, Narcisa,

Olimpia, Lucia, Maria,
Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad,
and Soledad.
SISTERS

Their pictures are shown in

order of birth from left to
right and then top to bottom.
Concepcion Rizal did not
have a photograph as she
died from a very young age.
 Rizal had one brother, named
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL’S

Paciano Rizal. He was born on

March 9, 1851 at Calamba,
Laguna.
BROTHERS

He refused to be photographed
and because of that we only
have two pictures of him, one
was sneakily taken and one
was when he was lying in a
coffin and as Ambet Ocampo
said, “He couldn’t complain”
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL’S
ANCESTRY
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL’S
HOMETOWN

Rizal was born at Calamba, Laguna. Due to this, Calamba

is now known as the ‘Cradle of a genius’ or ‘Cradle of a
hero’. Rizal’s house serves as a shrine in the modern era
and is preserved and protected by the government.
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – RIZAL AS A

As a child, Rizal was a recluse, quiet, introvert,

reflective and very observant. He is also sickly, frail and
small for his age and his hair goes in all direction. He is,
nevertheless, a good looking boy with wide and
CHILD

expressive eyes which sparkle and flash intensely when

he is indignant or interested in something. In group
games he was more of an observer than a participant and
he does not play with ordinary toys. Rizal Is regarded as
an extra ordinary child who considers their library and
garden as his second home.
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – CONCHA
Unfortunately, when Jose was four, the mystery of life’s
ending had been brought home to him by the death of
his sister Concepcion or Concha, and he shed the first
tears of real sorrow.

In his student diary, he had written:

“When I was four, I lost my little sister Concha, and

then for the first time I shed tears caused by love and
grief…”
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – TRAVEL TO
On June 6, 1868, at the age of seven, José made his first
real journey with his father when they went to Antipolo
to visit the mountain shrine of Our Lady of Peace and
Safe Travel.
ANTIPOLO

Many years afterwards, Rizal was charged with having

fallen away from religion, but he seems really rather to
have experienced a deepening of the religious spirit
which made the essentials of charity and kindness more
important in his eyes than scapulars, rosaries and
religious ceremonies.
 Another unhappy memory that shaped Rizal’s heroic
PRELUDE TO HEROISM – DONA

spirit was the imprisonment of his mother Dona Teodora

when he was ten years old.
TEODORA IN PRISON

Recalling his mother’s incarceration, Rizal wrote in his

memoirs:
“Our mother was unjustly snatched away from us,
and by whom? By some men who had been our friends
and whom we treated as honored guests… She finally
succeeded to be acquitted and vindicated in the eyes of
her judges, accusers and even her enemies…”
 02
The hero was once a
student
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – RIZAL'S FIRST

Rizal’s first teacher was his mother, whom he described

as a “remarkable woman” because of her good character
TEACHER

and fine culture.

It was Dona Teodora who established the foundations of

Rizal’s knowledge and encouraged and developed in
him his desire for learning.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – RIZAL’S

As Rizal grew older, his parents employed private

OTHER TUTORS

tutors:
1. Maestro Celestino
2. Maestro Lucas Padua
3. Leon Monroy

Rizal experienced being taught Latin, Espanyol, and

others subjects through his education in Binan.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – RIZAL’S

At the age of nine, he was sent to Binan on June 1869 to

EDUCATION IN BINAN

study under the tutorship of Maestro Justiniano Aquino

Cruz. It was Paciano who enrolled him in his classes.

In Binan, he took formal lessons in Latin and Spanish

and also developed his painting skills through an old
painter named Juancho.
 Colegio De San Juan De
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – SAN JUAN DE

Letran is an institution of
higher learning founded in
1620 inside the walled city
of Manila. The school is
LETRAN

owned and administered

by the friars of the Order
of Preachers (Dominicans) Rizal did not study in Letran
of the Philippine although he considered it as one
Dominican Province. of his choices. He took the
entrance examination but
ultimately enrolled at Ateneo
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – ADMISSION TO

Rizal tried at the Ateneo Municipal. Father Magin

Ferrando, the college registrar, refused to admit Rizal
for being overly late for the registration, and being
sickly and too short for his age.
ATENEO

It was only through the intercession of Dr. Manuel Xeres

Burgos, a nephew of Fr. Jose Burgos and a close friend
of Paciano, that Jose was finally allowed by Fr. Magin
Ferrando to enroll at the Ateneo Municipal.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – ATENEO DE
On October 1, 1859, the Governor-General authorized
the Jesuits to take over the Escuela Municipal, a small
private school maintained for 30 children of Spanish
residents. Partly subsidized by the ayuntamiento, it was
MUNICIPAL

the only primary school in Manila at the time. Under the

Jesuits, the Escuela eventually became the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila in 1865 when it was elevated to an
institution of secondary education. The Ateneo
Municipal offered the bachillerato as well as technical
courses leading to certificates in agriculture, surveying,
and business.
 RIZAL’S EDUCATION – ATENEO DE
MUNICIPAL

Ateneo De Municipal during the 1900s

RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 1ST YEAR IN
On Rizal’s first day of classes, he attended mass for
success and for guidance. He then went to class
alongside peninsular Spaniards, insular Spaniards,
mestizos, and natives.
ATENEO

Rizal’s crude knowledge of Spanish is often ridiculed by

his classmates.

On the second half of the year, Rizal did not study as

hard yet he placed second at the end of the year and his
grades were still stellar.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 2ND YEAR IN

Rizal regretted having neglected his studies during the

first half of this year. However, he studied hard and by
the end of the second semester, he was again at the top
of his class.
ATENEO

During this year, he became a voracious reader and he

got interested reading romantic novels. He convinced his
father to buy a whole set of Historia Universal by Cesare
Cantu.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 3RD YEAR IN

It was on the start of classes when Rizal’s mother came

and told her about the good news that she has been
ATENEO

emancipated like what he predicted.

But even if his family was happy, Rizal did not show
excellence in class. He maintained good grades but only
got one medal in latin.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 4TH YEAR IN

On June 16, 1875, Rizal became an interno of Fr.

Francisco Paule de Sanchez who he described as a great
educator and scholar, a model of rectitude, a solicitude,
ATENEO

and had a great devotion to the student’s progress.

Rizal became inspired to study harder and write poetry

under him.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 5TH & FINAL
Rizal became successful in Ateneo. He got the highest
grade in all subjects – Philosophy, Physics, Biology,
Chemistry, and Language.
YEAR IN ATENEO

On March 23, 1877, Rizal graduated at the age of 16

with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors.

Although he was fulfilled in his educational quest, he

was sad because his graduation meant parting with his
friends and teachers.
 He was an active member of the religious society
EXTRACURRICULARS IN ATENEO

Marian Congregation, and of the Academy of Spanish

RIZAL’S EDUCATION –

Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

He cultivated his literary talents under the guidance of

Fr. Sanchez.

He also studied painting under the famous Spanish

painter Agustin Saez, and sculpture under Romualdo de
Jesus. He also developed his weak body by engaging in
gymnastics and fencing.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – A MOTHER’S
Having gained the degree of Bachelor of Arts qualifies
Rizal to any university. Both Don Francisco and
Paciano wanted Rizal to pursue higher education.

However, his mother Dona Teodora was greatly opposed

HEART

to the idea of Rizal studying any further, fearing that his

ability and knowledge may bring him to ruin.

Dona Teodora had said: “Don’t send him to Manila! He

knows enough. If he gets to know more, the Spaniards
will cut off his head.”
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – UNIVERSIDAD DE

The University seems to have

originated from the
Dominican Conventual
SANTO TOMAS

School of Santo Domingo.

In 1870 Segismundo Moret, the Minister of colonies,

issued two decrees that totally reorganized the Philippine
education system. The first decree abolished all secondary
schools and placed them under a single "Instituto
Filipino."
 Although Rizal was a Thomasian, he frequently
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – VISITS TO

visited the Ateneo, not only because of his surveying

course but also because of his loyalty to Ateneo.
He continued to participate in Ateneo’s co-curricular
ATENEO

activities.
It was evident that Rizal loved his Jesuit professors
more in Ateneo than those in Santo Tomas.
His Jesuit teachers inspired him to pursue higher
education while his Dominican professors
manifested dislike for the Indios.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – PHILOSOPHY

In spite of his mother’s opposition, Rizal took a

course on Philosophy and Letters at the University
AND LETTERS

of Sto. Tomas.

He enrolled in the course for the following reasons:

• His father liked the course;
• He was undecided what career to pursue.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 1ST YEAR AND

Fortunately, Rizal’s first romance, with its bitter

disillusionment, did not adversely affect his studies
in the University of Santo Tomas. His love for
VACATION

higher education proved to be greater than his love

for a pretty girl.

On Rizal’s return to Calamba for the summer

vacation, he was shocked to find out that his mother
was going blind.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 2ND YEAR AND

It was during this school term that he took up

medicine. He enrolled in preparatory medical course
and regular first year medical course.
MEDICINE

The reason why he studied medicine is that he

wanted to be a physician to cure his mother’s failing
eyesight. Also, Father Recto finally answered his
letter and recommended medicine.
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – 3RD YEAR IN

Rizal was not especially interested in medicine. His

main interest was literature. But of the three
professions open to Filipinos—priesthood, medicine
and law—this was one in which Rizal felt he could
UST

be of most service to the people.

Hence, the sense of purposeless which marked his

first year at UST had gone.
 Rizal was not especially interested in medicine. His
RIZAL’S EDUCATION – STUDY

main interest was literature. But of the three

professions open to Filipinos—priesthood, medicine
and law—this was one in which Rizal felt he could
ABROAD

be of most service to the people.

While Rizal’s grade in his first year in UST were all

excellent, this was not maintained when he
transferred to the medical course wherein he gained
an excellent grade in only one subject—Chemistry.
 With wider scope of interests, this led him to
EXTRACURRICULARS IN UST

systematic budgeting of his time with absolute self-

RIZAL’S EDUCATION –

discipline.

Each week, he allowed time to study each of his

subjects and a time for creative work—poetry,
sculpting, and sketching—as well as physical
exercise, social relaxation, literary works, extra-
curricular activities and above all, reading, thinking
and correspondence.
 In the Philippines, free access to modern public
NOTES ON THE EDUCATIONAL

education was made possible through the enactment

of the Spanish Education Decree of December 20,
1863 by Queen Isabella II. Primary instruction was
SYSTEM

made free and the teaching of Spanish was

compulsory.

Also, the Bachelor of arts degree during Spanish

times was equivalent to a high school diploma today.
It merely qualified its holder to enter a university
 03
A heroic life of love
A HEROIC LIFE OF LOVE – SEGUNDA

Segunda Katigbak is a girl from a wealthy clan in Lipa

who at young age was sent by her parents to La
Concordia. She is a close friend to Olimpia who happens
KATIGBAK

to be a sister of Jose Rizal and he, on the other hand, is a

friend to Mariano Katigbak, Segunda’s brother. She was
just 14 years old when she met Pepe who was then 16.
They first met at the house of Rizal’s grandmother in
Trozo, Manila which is now known as Tutuban.
A HEROIC LIFE OF LOVE – THEIR
DEMISE

But even before he could make a move to them official, he

knew from the start that Segunda is promised to marry
Manuel Luz Y Metra, a tall and rich man from Lipa.
A HEROIC LIFE OF LOVE – LEONOR
Leonor “Orang” Valenzuela
was 14 years old when he
met Rizal who was then a
sophomore in University Of
VALENZUELA

Santo Tomas taking up a

medical course. He is a
boarder in the house of
Doña Concha Leyva in
Intramuros and the family
next door is the Valenzuela
Family.
A HEROIC LIFE OF LOVE – INVISIBLE
Drawn with Orang, he pursued her and would always send
her love letters with invisible ink used for writing which
can only be read if it would be heated over a candle or a
lamp. He used a mixture of some substances which he
LOVE LETTERS

learned from his chemistry where he can write without

leaving any trace unless it would be put under heat.

However, just like what happened to Segunda, he failed to

ask her for marriage. Moreover, there were rumors before
that at that time, he is also pursuing Leonor Rivera which
is why they are exchanging love notes through an
invisible ink.
A HEROIC LIFE OF LOVE – LEONOR
RIVERA
 For over 10 years, Jose Rizal was engaged with his distant
A HEROIC LIFE OF LOVE – LEONOR

cousin Leonor Rivera whom she met when he was 19 years

old and the girl on age 13. She is our hero’s great and true
love. Ideally and definitely pretty, Leonor possesses a wavy
soft hair, high forehead, wistful almond eyes, small and
RIVERA

pensive mouth, and charming dimples.

She is as well intelligent and talented as she can actually

play the harp and the piano with a fascinating singing voice.
She attends school at La Concordia while Rizal was a
medical sophomore student at the University of Santo
Tomas.
 However, around 1882, after some incident, Rizal left
A HEROIC LIFE OF LOVE – RIVERA

and went Spain without leaving any notice to his love

which devastated her. Their only communication was
through letters but due to Rizal being a Filibustero
AND KIPPING

because of his published book Noli Me Tangere,

Leonor’s mother bribed post office officials to give her
the letters instead.

Due to this, Leonor was convinced to marry the

Englishman Charles Henry Kipping which really hurt
Rizal and indicated the end of their 11-year love affair. A
couple of years after the marriage, Leonor died with her
 04
The works of a hero
 Alza su tersa frente, Tu, que buscando subes, Corred! que sacra llama
Juventud Filipina, en este día! En alas de tu rica fantasía, Del genio el lauro coronar espera,
THE WORKS OF A HERO - A LA

Luce resplandeciente Del Olimpo en las nubes Esparciendo la fama

Tu rica gallardía, Tiernisima poesía Con trompa pregonera
Bella esperanza de la Patria Mia! Más sabrosa que néctar y ambrosía. El nombre del mortal por la ancha espera.
JUVENTUD FILIPINA

Vuela, genio grandioso, Tu, de celeste acento, Dia, dia felice,

Y les infunde noble pensamiento, Melodioso rival Filomena, Filipinas gentil, para tu suelo!
Que lance vigoroso, Que en variado concento Al Potente bendice
Mas rápido que el viento, En la noche serena Que con amante anhelo
Su mente virgen al glorioso asiento. Disipas del mortal la amarga pena. La ventura te envia y el consuelo.

Baja con la luz grata Tu que la pena dura

De las artes y ciencias a la arena, Animas al impulso de tu mente,
Juventud, y desata Y la memoria pura
La pesada cadena Del genio refulgente
Que tu genio poético encadena. Eternizas con genio prepotente.

Ve que en la ardiente zona Y tu, que el vario encanto

Do moraron las sombras, el hispano De Febo, amado del divino Apeles,
Esplendente corona, Y de natura el manto
Con pia sabia mano, Con mágicos pinceles
Ofrece al hijo de este suelo indiano. Trasladar al sencillo lienzo sueles.
THE WORKS OF A HERO - UN RECUERDO Cuando recuerdo los días, ¡Oh! Si mi insegura planta Mas¡ ay! Adiós! Vele eterno
Que vieron mí edad primera Holló tus bosques sombríos, Por tu paz, dicha y reposo,
Junto á la verde ribera Y en las costas de tu ríos Genio del bien, que bondoso
De un lago murmurador; Hallé grata diversion; Sus dones da con amor;
Cuando recuerdo el susurro Oré en tu rústico templo Por tí mis fervientes votos,
De Favonio que mi frente De niño, con fe sencilla Por tí mi constante anhelo
Recreaba dulcemente Y tu brisa sin mancilla De aprender, y¡ plague al cielo
Con delicioso frescor; Alegró mi corazón. Conservase tu candor!
A MI PUEBLO

Cuando miro en blanco lirio Ví al Creador en la grandeza

Henchir con impetus el viento De tus selvas seculares;
Y el tempestuoso elemento En tu seno los pesares
Manso en la arena dormir; Nunca llegué á conocer;
Cuando aspiro de las flores Mientras tu azulado cielo
Grata esencia embriagador Miré, ni amor ni ternura
Que exhalan cuando la aurora Me faltó, que en la Natura
Nos comienza á sonreir; Se cifraba mi placer.

Recuerdo, recuerdo triste Niñez tierna, pueblo hermoso,

Tu faz, infancia preciosa, Rica fuente de alegrías,
Que una madre cariñosa De armoniosas melodias
¡Ay! Consiguió embellecer. Que ahuyentan el pesar!
Recuerdo un pueblo sencillo, ¡Volved mis horas suaves,
Mi contento, dicha y cuna, Volved, cual vuelven las aves
Junto á la fresca laguna De las flores al brotar!
Asiento de mi querer.
THE WORKS OF A HERO - EL CONSEJO D
The play exposes how an Asian
teenager look unto the cultural
elements of the Western humanistic
tradition, overcoming not only its
LOS DIOSES

formalism, but at the same time laying

the foundations for an effort toward
self-knowledge.

Rizal further explores the true

meaning of human desire for
knowledge and designs the guidelines
for a Filipino speculative thought.
THE WORKS OF A HERO - JUNTO AL
Junto al Pasig (Beside the
Pasig), a one-act zarzuela in
Spanish written by the
Philippine national hero, Jose
Rizal, was staged by the
PASIG

Academy of Spanish Literature

members on December 8, 1880.
Rizal wrote it to honor Nuestra
Senora dela Paz y Buenviaje de
Antipolo (Our Lady of Peace
and Good Voyage).
Thanks!
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