The Rizal Ancestry

The Rizal Ancestry

As typical Filipino, Rizal was a product of the mixture of races. In his veins flowed the blood of
both East and West. Predominantly, he was a Malayan and was a magnificent specimen of Asian
manhood. Rizal's great-great grandfather on his father side was Domingo Lameo, a Chinese
immigrant from the Fukien city of Changchow, who arrived in Manila in about 1690. He became
a Christian , married a well-to-do Chinese Christian Girl of Manila named Ines de la Rosa, and
assumed in 1731 the surname Mercado, which was appropriate for him because he was a
merchant. The Spanish term mercado means "market" in English. Domingo Mercado and Ines de
la Rosa had a son, Francisco Mercado, who resided in Biñan, married a Chinese-Filipino
mestiza, Cirila Bernacha, and was elected gobernadorcillo of the town. One their sons, Juan
Mercado, Rizal's grandfather, married Cirila Alejandro, a Chinese-Filipino mestiza. Like his
father, he was elected gobernadorcillo of Biñan. Capitan Juan and Capitana Cirila had thirteen
children, the youngest being Francisco Mercado, Rizal's Father.

At the age of eight, Francisco Mercado lost his father and grew up to manhood under the care of
his mother. He studied Latin and Philosophy in the College of San Jose in Manila. While
studying in Manila, He met and fell in love with Teodora Alonso Realonda, a Student in the
College of Santa Rosa. They were married on June 28, 1848. After which they settle down in
Calamba, where they engaged in farming and business and reared a big family.

It is said that Doña Teodora's family descended from Lakandula, the last native king Tondo. Her
great-grandfather, Rizal's maternal great-great-grandfather, Eugenio Ursua (of Japanese
ancestry), who married a Filipina named Benigna (surname unknown). Their daughter, Regina,
married Manuel de Quintos, Filipino-Chinese lawyer from Pangasinan. One of the daughters of
Atty. Quintos and Regina was Brigida, who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a prominent
Spanish-Filipino mestizo of Biñan. Their children were Narcisa, Teodora (Rizal's mother),
Gregorio, Manuel, and Jose.

PATERNAL ANCESTOR OF RIZAL

Domingo Lam-co

- Rizal’s great great-grandfather. Chinese immigrant from Chang Chow and he arrived in
Manila about 1690.

Ines dela Rosa

- Rizal’s great great-grandmother. A well-to-do Chinese Christian girl of Manila.

Francisco Mercado

- Great Grandfather of Rizal. Governadorcilio of Biñan.

Bernarda Monicha

- Great Grandmother of Rizal. Chinese Filipina Mestiza.

Juan Mercado

- Grandfather Of Rizal. Capitan del pueblo of Biñan.

Cirila Alejandro

- Grandmother of Rizal. Chinese Filipina mestiza.

Mercado

- Domingo Lam-Co. The great great-grandfather of Rizal, decided to use Mercado as his
surname in 1731 to match his profession being a merchant.
- He use his surname from 1731 to Nov. 11 1849 as soon as governor-general Narciso
Claveria posed a regulation that requires them to make use of Spanish family names.

Rizal

- Meanwhile for Don Francisco Mercado Rizal’s father, Rizal’s was use, which means new
pasture or greenfield.
MATERNAL ANCESTOR OF RIZAL

Lakandula

- Ancestor of Teodora Alonzo’s family. The last native king of Tondo.

Eugenio Ursua (Ochoa)

- Rizal’s great great-grandfather. Japanese Ancestry.

Benigna

- Rizal’s great great-grandmother.

Regina Ursua

- Rizal’s great grandmother.

Manuel de Quintos

- Filipino-Chinese lawyer.

Brigida de Quintos

- Rizal’s grandmother.

Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo

- Rizal’s grandfather.
- Prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo
- An engineer and a recipient of the most sought decoration
- Capitan-municipal of Biñan Laguna.