Jose Rizal: A Biographical Sketch

BY TEOFILO H. MONTEMAYOR
JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was born on June
19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2
boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged to distinguished families.
His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a model of fathers,"
came from Bian, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and
accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother," was born in Meisic, Sta.
Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to
read and write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and
relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote
a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of ones
language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of
"excellent" from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and
Letters at the University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading to the
degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21,
1877 and passed the Surveyors examination on May 21, 1878; but because of his age, 17, he
was not granted license to practice the profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled
in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop in his studies when he felt that the
Filipino students were being discriminated upon by their Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he
sailed for Spain where he continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21,
1884, at the age of 23, he was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on June
19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of
"excellent."
Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages. These
include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese,
Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other native dialects. A
versatile genius, he was an architect, artists, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist,
ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist,
nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist,
sculptor, sociologist, and theologian.
He was an expert swordsman and a good shot. In the hope of securing political and social
reforms for his country and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle
of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with highly nationalistic and
revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel
exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he
reprinted in Paris, Morgas SUCCESSOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that
the Filipinos had a civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on
Philippine soil; on September 18, 1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a sequel to the
NOLI and more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in Ghent. Because of his
fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials, Rizal provoked
the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his relatives and countrymen into trouble with
the Spanish officials of the country. As a consequence, he and those who had contacts with him,
were shadowed; the authorities were not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin
him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a

charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him
from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and
business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he conducted classes- taught his pupils the
English and Spanish languages, the arts. The sciences, vocational courses including agriculture,
surveying, sculpturing, and painting, as well as the art of self defense; he did some researches
and collected specimens; he entered into correspondence with renowned men of letters and
sciences abroad; and with the help of his pupils, he constructed water dam and a relief map of
Mindanao - both considered remarkable engineering feats. His sincerity and friendliness won for
him the trust and confidence of even those assigned to guard him; his good manners and warm
personality were found irresistible by women of all races with whom he had personal contacts;
his intelligence and humility gained for him the respect and admiration of prominent men of
other nations; while his undaunted courage and determination to uplift the welfare of his people
were feared by his enemies.When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, his
enemies lost no time in pressing him down. They were able to enlist witnesses that linked him
with the revolt and these were never allowed to be confronted by him. Thus, from November 3,
1986, to the date of his execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he
wrote an untitled poem, now known as "Ultimo Adios" which is considered a masterpiece and a
living document expressing not only the heros great love of country but also that of all Filipinos.
After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal association. In the
cold morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years of life had been packed with
varied activities which proved that the Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who
treat him as a slave, was shot at Bagumbayan Field.
Jose Rizal was a man of incredible intellectual power, with amazing artistic talent as well. He
excelled at anything that he put his mind to - medicine, poetry, sketching, architecture,
sociology... the list seems nearly endless.
Thus, Rizal's martyrdom by the Spanish colonial authorities while he was still quite young was a
huge loss to the Philippines, and to the world at large.
Today, the people of the Philippines honor him as their national hero.
Early Life:
On June 19, 1861, Francisco Rizal Mercado and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos welcomed their seventh
child into the world at Calamba, Laguna. They named the boy Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y
Alonso Realonda.
The Mercado family were wealthy farmers who rented land from the Dominican religious order.
Descendants of a Chinese immigrant named Domingo Lam-co, they changed their name to
Mercado ("market") under the pressure of anti-Chinese feeling amongst the Spanish colonizers.
From an early age, Jose Rizal Mercado showed a precocious intellect. He learned the alphabet
from his mother at 3, and could read and write at age 5.
Profile Of Jose Rizal
Education:
Jose Rizal Mercado attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, graduating at the age of 16 with
highest honors. He took a post-graduate course there in land surveying.

Rizal Mercado completed his surveyor's training in 1877, and passed the licensing exam in May
1878, but could not receive a license to practice because he was only 17 years old. (He was
granted a license in 1881, when he reached the age of majority.)
In 1878, the young man also enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas as a medical student. He
later quit the school, alleging discrimination against Filipino students by the Dominican
professors.
Rizal Goes to Madrid:
In May of 1882, Jose Rizal got on a ship to Spain without informing his parents of his intentions.
He enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid.
In June of 1884, he received his medical degree at the age of 23; the following year, he also
graduated from the Philosophy and Letters department.
Inspired by his mother's advancing blindness, Rizal next went to the University of Paris and then
the University of Heidelberg to complete further study in the field of ophthalmology.
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At Heidelberg, he studied under the famed professor Otto Becker. Rizal finished his second
doctorate at Heidelberg in 1887.
Rizal's Life in Europe:
Jose Rizal lived in Europe for 10 years. During that time, he picked up a number of languages; in
fact, he could converse in more than 10 different tongues.
While in Europe, the young Filipino impressed everyone who met him with his charm, his
intelligence, and his mastery of an incredible range of different fields of study.
Rizal excelled at martial arts, fencing, sculpture, painting, teaching, anthropology, and
journalism, among other things.
During his European sojourn, he also began to write novels. Rizal finished his first book, Noli Me
Tangere, while living in Wilhemsfeld with the Reverend Karl Ullmer.
Novels and Other Works:
Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere in Spanish; it was published in 1887 in Berlin. The novel is a scathing
indictment of the Catholic Church and Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.

This book cemented Jose Rizal on the Spanish colonial government's list of troublemakers. When
Rizal returned home for a visit, he received a summons from the Governor General, and had to
defend himself from charges of disseminating subversive ideas.
Although the Spanish governor accepted Rizal's explanations, the Catholic Church was less
willing to forgive. In 1891, Rizal published a sequel, titled El Filibusterismo.
Program of Reforms:
Both in his novels and in newspaper editorials, Jose Rizal called for a number of reforms of the
Spanish colonial system in the Philippines.
He advocated freedom of speech and assembly, equal rights before the law for Filipinos, and
Filipino priests in place of the often-corrupt Spanish churchmen. In addition, Rizal called for the
Philippines to become a province within Spain, with representation in the Spanish legislature (the
Cortes Generales).
Rizal never called for independence for the Philippines. Nonetheless, the colonial government
considered him a dangerous radical, and declared him an enemy of the state.
Exile and Courtship:
In 1892, Rizal returned to the Philippines. He was almost immediately accused of being involved
in the brewing rebellion, and was exiled to Dapitan, on the island of Mindanao. Rizal would stay
there for four years, teaching school and encouraging agricultural reforms.
During that same period, the people of the Philippines grew more eager to revolt against the
Spanish colonial presence. Inspired in part by Rizal's organization, La Liga, rebel leaders like
Andres Bonifacio began to press for military action against the Spanish regime.
In Dapitan, Rizal met and fell in love with Josephine Bracken, who brought her stepfather to him
for a cataract operation. The couple applied for a marriage license, but were denied by the
Church (which had excommunicated Rizal).
Trial and Execution:
The Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896. Rizal denounced the violence, and received
permission to travel to Cuba in order to tend victims of yellow fever in exchange for his freedom.
Bonifacio and two associates sneaked aboard the ship to Cuba before it left the Philippines,
trying to convince Rizal to escape with them, but Rizal refused.
He was arrested by the Spanish on the way, taken to Barcelona, and then extradited to Manila for
trial. Jose Rizal was tried by court martial, charged with conspiracy, sedition and rebellion.
Despite a lack of any evidence of his complicity in the Revolution, Rizal was convicted on all
counts and given the death sentence.
He was allowed to marry Josephine two hours before his execution by firing squad on December
30, 1896. Jose Rizal was just 35 years old.
Jose Rizal's Legacy:

Jose Rizal is remembered today throughout the Philippines for his brilliance, his courage, his
peaceful resistance to tyranny, and his compassion. Filipino school children study his final literary
work, a poem called Mi Ultimo Adios ("My Last Goodbye"), as well as his two famous novels.
Spurred on by Rizal's martyrdom, the Philippine Revolution continued until 1898. With assistance
from the United States, the Philippine archipelago was able to defeat the Spanish army. The
Philippines declared its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. It was the first democratic
republic in Asia.

RIZAL Chapters 1-4

JOSE RIZAL
physician(ophthalmic surgeon)
Poet
Dramatist
Essayist
Novelist
Historian
Architect
Painter
Sculptor
Educator
Linguist
Musician
Naturalist
Ethnologist
Surveyor
Engineer
Farmer
Magician
Businessman
Economist

Geographer
Cartographer
Bibliophile
Philologist
Grammarian
Folklorist
Philosopher
Translator
Inventor
Magician
Humorist
Satirist
Polemicist
Sportsman
Traveller
Prophet
MARTYR and HERO

Facts about Jose Rizal

Born on June 19, 1861, (moonlit night of Wednesday), Calamba, Laguna
Baptized on June 22 by Fr. Rufino Collantes while the godfather was Fr. Pedro
Casanas
named after the Christian Saint Joseph, San Jose
Lt. Gen. Jose Lemery was the governor-general at the time of his birth
seventh of the eleven children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Theodora Alonso
Realonda
He was the only member of their family who used their surname Rizal
Rizal came from spanish ricial which means green pasteur or green field
Rizals Ancestry
Father side
Domingo Lamco (Domingo Mercado) and Ines dela Rosa
Francisco Mercado and Cirila Bernacha
Juan Mercado and Cirila Alejandro
FRANCISCO MERCADO
Mother side
LAKANDULA
Eugenio Ursua and Benigna
Regina and Manuel de Quintos
Brigida and Lorenzo Alberto Alonso
THEODORA ALONSO
Rizals Parents
FRANCISCO MERCADO RIZAL
Born on May 11, 1818 in Binan, Laguna

Studied latin and philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila

Became a tenant-farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda
Hardworking and independent-minded man (less talk, more action)
Died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80.
Rizal called him a model of fathers

THEODORA ALONSO REALONDA

Born on November 8, 1826 in Manila
Educated at the College of Santa Rosa
Remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent, business ability
and fortitude of spartan women
Before her death on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85, the government offered
her a life pension which she didnt accept.
Rizal said that she was a woman of more than ordinary culture; knows
literature, spanish, rhetoric and a mathematician
Francisco and Theodora were married on June 28, 1848 then settled on Calamba
where they engaged in farming and business.
They reared a big family.
11 CHILDREN (2 boys and 9 girls)
RIZAL CHILDREN
1. SATURNINA oldest; Neneng; married Manuel Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batanga
2. PACIANO confidant of Rizal; joined the revolution; retired tohis farm in Los
Banos; had 2 children with his mistress Severina Decena. Rizal regarded him as
the most noble of Filipinos
3. Narcisa Sisa; married Antonio Lopez, a school teacher of Morong
4. OLIMPIA Ypia; married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila
5. LUCIA married Mariano Herbosa, nephew of Fr. Casanas. Herbosa died of
cholera and denied a Christian burial
6. MARIA Biang; married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna
7. JOSE Pepe; lived with Josephine Bracken during his exile in Dapitan. Had a
son Francisco who died few hours after birth
8. 8. CONCEPCION Concha; died of sickness at the age of 3. Her death was
Rizals first sorrow
9. 9. JOSEFA Panggoy; died an old maid at the age of 80.
10. 10. TRINIDAD Trining; died also an old maid in 1951 at the age of 83.
11. 11. SOLEDAD youngest; Choleng; married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba
12. keyword: SPNOLM-JCJTS
IS RIZAL FAMILY AFFLUENT?
Their house was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba
2-storey building (adobe stones, hard woods, roofed with red tiles
Behind their house were poultry and a big garden
Farming and stock raising (livelihood)
Belonged to the principalia
managed a general goods store, small flour mill and home-made ham press

Owned a carriage and private library (largest in Calamba)

Children were sent to colleges in Manila

HOME LIFE OF THE RIZALS

o Rizal family is simple and contented
o They are intimately close with each other
o Rizal called his sisters senorita or senora or dona
o Rizals parents were strict
o The family hear mass every Sundays and Christian holidays
o Prayed together at home especially the angelus
o Given time to play in the azotea or in the garden with other children
CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA
CALAMBA
cradle of the national hero
named after a big native jar
hacienda town owned by the Dominican Order
south: Mt. Makiling
east: Laguna de bay
north: mountain shrine of Antipolo
1876: Rizal was 15 years old and a student in Ateneo de Manila
- wrote a poem Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
Rizal
Frail, sickly and undersized child
- His father built a nipa cottage in the garden
- An old woman was employed as aya
- His mother taught him the catholic prayers
- Called as Manong Jose
- Used to visit Fr. Leoncio, the parish priest
June 6, 1868 (pilgrimage to Antipolo)
- First trip of Jose across Laguna de bay and first pilgrimage to Antipolo
- After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father went
to Manila to visit his sister Saturnina
STORY OF THE MOTH
A MARTYR TO ITS ILLUSSIONS
TO SACRIFICE ONES LIFE FOR IT IS WORTHWHILE
ARTISTIC TALENTS
At the age of 5, he began to make sketches with his pencil and mould in clay
and wax
He made a religious banner during the town fiesta
He loved to ride on a spirited ponyand take long walks with his dog Usman

First poem of Jose Rizal

- His mother, Theodora, encouraged him to write poems
- At the age of 8, he wrote a poem in the native language entitled
Sa aking mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children)
- The poem revealed his earliest nationalistic sentiments
First Drama by Rizal
- He wrote a tagalog comedy which was stagedin a Calamba festival
- A gobernadorcillo from Paete purchased the manuscript for P2
RIZAL AS BOY MAGICIAN
- Learned various tricks
- Read many books on magic and attended the performances of the famous magicians
of the world
- He revealed his wide knowledge of magic in El Filibusterismo
- He also gained knowledge on manipulatinmg marionettes
Lakeshore Reveries
- Used to meditate the unhappy situation of his country
- At a young age, he was aware of the injustices and cruelties experienced by his
fellows
- He made a vow that he will avenge all the victims
WHAT COULD BE THE INFLUENCES ON THE HEROS BOYHOOD?
1. HEREDITARY INFLUENCE
- inherent qualities from his ancestors and parents
2. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE
- favorable surroundings stimulated his talents
3. AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
- predestined to be the pride and glory of his nation
EARLY EDUCATION IN CALAMBA
Rizal had his early education in Calamba and Binan
4Rs Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic and Religion with memory method
Theodora Alonso
= Rizals mother was his first teacher
Tutors
1. Maestro Celestino
2. Maestro Lucas Padua
3. Leon Monroy (former classmate of Rizals father)
In Binan, Laguna
- Rizal was accompanied by his brother Paciano
- He lodged to his aunts house
- The night when they arrived, Rizal was already homesick. He went sightseeing

with his cousin, Leandro

Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz
- Teacher of Jose Rizal in Binan
First School Brawl
- Jose met the school bully, Pedro, and they wrestled in the classroom
- After that, Andres Salandanan challenged him to an arm-wrestling match
Question: Was Rizal quarrelsome in nature?
END OF SCHOOLING
Saturnina sent a letter to Rizal informing the latter that a steamer, Talim,
would take him to Calamba (1870)
Arturo Camps, a friend of his father, took care of him
Factors that Awakened Rizals Nationalism
MARTYRDOM OF THE GOMBURZA
INJUSTICE TO HEROS MOTHER
Chapter 4 Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila(1872-1877)
Ateneo Municipal
- college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits
- bitter rival of the Dominican-owned San Juan de Letran
- formerly known as EscuelaPia (Charity School), a school for poor boys in Manila
which was established by the city govt in 1817
- known today as Ateneo de Manila
Rizal Enters Ateneo
June 10, 1872
Jose with Paciano went to Manila to take the examinations at San Juan de
Letran. Gladly, he passed yet his father changed mind and decided to send Jose to
Ateneo instead.
Upon their return to Manila, Jose matriculated at Ateneo Municipal. Fr.
MaginFerrando, the college registrar, refused to admit him for 2 reasons:
- late registration
- sickly and undersized for his age
However, upon the intercession of Manuel Xerxes Burgos, the nephew of Fr.
Burgos, he was reluctantly admitted at Ateneo. He adpted the surname Rizal
because the family name, Mercado had come under suspicion of the Spanish
authorities since Paciano Mercado was known to them as Jose Burgos favorite
student and friend.
Rizal boarded outside Intramuros which was owned by Titay who owed the Rizal
family an amount of P300.
Jesuit System of Education

- More advanced than any other colleges in that priod

- Trained the students with rigid discipline and religious instruction
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts, agriculture, commerce, mechanics and
surveying
- Students hear mass in the morning and classes were opened and closed with
prayers
Students were divided into 2:
A. Roman Empire consists of the internos (boarders) red banner
B. Carthaginian Empire consists of the externos (non-boarders) blue banner
Positions:
EMPEROR
TRIBUNE
DECURION
CENTURION
STANDARD-BEARER
Challenge: asking questions 3 mistakes, one loses his position
Uniform: rayadillo, later became famous for it was adopted as the uniform of
Filipino troops during the days of the 1st Philippine Republic
Rizals 1st Year (1872-1873)
Jose Bech first professor of Rizal
Rizal was an externo, at the end of the line since he was a newcomer. But at the
end of the month, he became an emperor and was given a prize a religious
picture
Rizal took private lessons in Spanish at Santa Maria Isabel College during noon
recesses. (P3 for those extra Spanish lessons but it is money well spent.)
He didnt try hard enough in his studies on the next half of the year because
there he resented remarks of his professor. He placed second at the end of the
year although his grades were all excellent.
Summer Vacation (1873)
He returned to Calamba but didnt enjoy his vacation because his mother was in
prison. Without telling his father, he went to Santa Cruz and visited his mother.
Rizal went back to Manila and this time he boarded inside Intramuros owned by an
old widow, Dona Pepay.
2nd Year in Ateneo (1873-1874)
Rizal became the emperor, awarded with a gold medal
He had new classmates from Binan, who had been his classmates also in the school
of Maestro Justiniano.
Prophecy of Mothers Release

Dona Teodora had a dream and Rizal interpreted that saying that she would be
released from prison in 3 months time. The prophecy actually came true just like
the story of Joseph in the bible.
Teenage Interest in Reading
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas Rizals first favorite novel
He was impressed by Edmond Dantes heroism and adventures
Universal History by Cesar Cantu historical work
Travels
because
Jagors
come to

in the Philippines by Feodor Jagor Rizal was impressed in the book

of a) Jagors observations of the defects of Spanish colonization and b)
prophecy that Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would
succeed her as colonizer.

3rd Year in Ateneo (1874-1875)

Rizal was happy to see his mother again as a free woman
He still had excellent grades but he only won a medal in Latin. He was beaten in
Spanish by a naturally-speaking Spaniard.
4th Year in Ateneo 1875-1876)
Rizal became an interno
Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez inspired Rizal to write poetry and to study
harder. Rizal considered him his best professor in Ateneo. He described Fr.
Sanchez as a model of uprightness, earnestness and a love for the advancement of
his pupils. He topped all his clasmates and won 5 medals at the end of school
term
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-1877)
Rizal excelled in all his subjects. The most brillianAtenean of his time, truly
the pride of the Jesuits
Commencement Day March 23, 1877
Rizal was only 16 years old then, received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with
highest honors.
Before the graduation, he fervently prayed at the chapel and said I commended
my life to the Virgin so that when I should step into that world, which inspired
me with so much terror, she would protect me.