DR.

JOSE RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Terms:

• Genealogy – technically referring to the tracing of the line of

Contents: descent, in the text the concept is basically referring to the

ancestry of Dr. Rizal
1. The Ancestry of Dr. Jose Rizal
• Polyglot – someone who knows how to speak many languages

2. The Early Childhood of Dr. Jose Rizal

• Mercado – a term that, back then, strictly refers to “trader” as
opposed to the prejudicial “sangley” that means “travelling trader”
3. The Philippine Education of Dr. Jose Rizal

• Ricial – the term from which “Rizal” was taken. It literally means
4. The First Travel of Dr. Jose Rizal
“leaves sprouting again when wheat is cut while still green”

5. The Second Travel of Dr. Jose Rizal

• Bachelor of Arts – equivalent to today’s high school diploma

6. Dr. Jose Rizal in Europe

Topic 1: The Ancestry of Dr. Jose Rizal Principalia - a class of Filipinos who were considered nobility during
the Spanish occupation.
1.1 FACTS ABOUT RIZAL
• could vote for the town mayor
• collected taxes
Full Name: José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (a.k.a Pepe)
• had the preference
Birth Date: June 19, 1861 • could wear a European jacket or wield fork and spoon on special
Baptism date: June 22, 1861 (3 days after he was born) occasion
Birth Place: Calamba, Laguna
Date of Death: Died in December 30, 1896 (35 y.o.) 1.2 PEPE’S PATERNAL ANCESTRY

Baptized by: Reverend Father Rufino Collantes

Godfather: Reverend Father Pedro Casanas Domingo Lameo Ines de la Rosa
Note: The Governador General of the Philippines during this time was
Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery (February 2, 1861 – July 7,1862). He
was a member of the Spanish Cortes and was a Senator of Spain.

Francisco Mercado Cirila Bernacha

ALONSOs and REALONDAs

Illustrados
• can read, write, and figure
Juan Mercado Cirila Alejandro
• had newspapers
• went to court
• traveled abroad

Francisco Mercado
Domingo Lameo – Chinese immigrant from Fukien City, China and 1.3 PEPE’S MATERNAL ANCESTRY
arrived at Manila around 1690

Ines de la Rosa – Chinese mestiza

Eugenio Ursua Benigna
Note: He assumed a surname of Mercado in 1731. It was said he was
honored with this surname due to its diligence and honesty as a
merchant in manila.

Francisco Mercado – became a Gobernadocillo Manuel de Quintos Regina Ursua

Cirila Bernacha – Chinese-Filipino mestiza

Note: They had 3 children

Lorenzo Alberto Alonso Brigida de Quintos
Juan Mercado – captain municipal of Binan

Cirila Alejandra

Note: They had 13 children

Teodora Alonso Realonda
At the age of 8 Francisco Mercado (Father of Jose) lost his father.
While studying, he met Teodora Alonso Realonda and fell in love with
her. They decided to get married on June 28, 1848, and settled at
Calamba engaging in farming and business as their family was growing.
5th Generation
FATHER: Don Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro
Eugenio Ursua – Japanese
• Born in Biñan, Laguna
Benigna – Filipina
• Born on April 18, 1818 (Died in 1898)
• He studied Latin and Philosophy
4th Generation
• College of San Jose in Manila
Regina de Quintos – daughter of Eugenio and Benigna

Manuel de Quintos – a lawyer from Pangasinan MOTHER: Doña Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos

• Born in Meisik, Sta. Cruz, Manila

3rd Generation • Born on November 14, 1827 (Died in 1913)

Brigida Ochoa de Quintos- daughter of Manuel and Regina • She was a business-minded woman, courteous, religious,
hardworking and well-read.
Lorenzo Alberto Alonso – Spanish-Filipino mestizo
• Colegio de Santa Rosa.

SIBLINGS
1. Saturnina (1850-1915)

• Neneng – petname
• Oldest
• Wife of Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas.
2. Paciano (1851-1930) • During his exile in Dapitan, he lived with Josephine Bracken,
Irish girl from Hongkong
• Older brother and confidant of Jose Rizal
• Had a son named “Francisco” who died a few hours after birth
• Joined the Philippine Revolution and became a combat general.

8. Conception (1859-1945)
3. Narcisa (1852-1939)
• Concha – petname
• Sisa – petname
• Died of sickness at the age of three
• Wife of Antonio Lopez, a school teacher of Morong.
• Her death was Rizal’s first sorrow in life.

4. Olimpia (1855 –1887) 9. Josefa (1865-1945)

• Ypia- petname • Panggoy – petname

• Wife of Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila. • She became a member of the Katipunan
• Died an old maid

5. Lucia (1857–1919)
10. Trinidad (1868-1951)
• Wife of Mariano Herbosa
• Trining – petname
• A member of the Katipunan
6. Maria (1859-1945) • Custodian of Rizal’s elegy Mi Ultimo Adios
• Biang- petname
• Wife of Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan. Laguna 11. Soledad (1870-1929)

• Choleng – petname
• Married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba, Laguna
7. Jose (1861–1896)
• She became a teacher
• Pepe-pet name • “The best educated” among Rizal’s sisters.
Topic 2: The Early Childhood of Dr. Jose Rizal/Early Education 1865 – 1867
His mother taught him how to read and write and Leon Monroy taught
him the rudiments of Latin.
Important Dates:
June 19, 1861
June 6, 1868
The seventh child of Don Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado Y Alejandra
It was the first trip of our hero traversing Laguna de Bay and his
II and Dona Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda Y Quintos., was born.
pilgrimage to Antipolo. They rode a casco (a barge), which was also his
first time.
June 22, 1861
He was baptized at the Catholic of Calamba by the parish priest Rev.
1869
Rufino Collantes while Rev. Fr. Pedro Casañas stood as his godfather.
At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem entitled "Sa Aking Mga
Kabata." The poem was written in Tagalog and had its theme "Love of
September 28, 1862
One’s Language.
The Calamba parochial church, as well as the book containing Rizal's
baptismal records, were burnt.
1874
Jose Rizal wrote “Mi Primera Inspiración'', a poem dedicated to his
1864
mother.
Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother when he was just three
years old.

1865
When he was four years old, his sister Conception, the eight child in
the Rizal family, died at the age of three.
2.1 THE FIRST TEACHERS
Teodora was considered as Pepe’s first teacher. He taught the
basics to him. Teaching the basic means of learning the 4Rs (Reading,
wRiting, aRithmetic, and Religion). But Dona Teodora according to
Pepe’s memoirs, focus on teaching him how to read and pray humbly
to God.

In the process, Dona Teodora discovered the talent of Pepe on

poetry. As Pepe grew older Dona Teodora reaches its limit of teaching
his son and find the need to hire a tutor to give him lessons at home.
Pepe’s parents employed private tutor, first is Maestro Celestino,
second is Maestro Lucas Padua and the latter is the classmate of his
father Maestro Leon Monroy. Maestro Monroy is old and stayed with
them in the duration, but unfortunately, he did not live long and died
after five months.

After the death of Maestro Monroy, Pepe was sent to a private

school in Binan, Laguna of which he will be living in the house of his
aunt.
Topic 3: The Philippine Education of Dr. Jose Rizal Saturnina. Onboard was his father’s friend “Arturo Camps” who took
care of him. The 11 years old Pepe studied higher education at the
RIZAL IN BINAN, LAGUNA:
Ateneo de Municipal, under to supervision of the Jesuits, Society of
• June 1869, Rizal left to go to Binan Jesus. On June 10, 1872, Pepe accompanied again, by Paciano to take
• Was accompanied by Paciano his older brother
entrance exams in the College of San Juan de Letran, but
• He was taught by Maestro Justiniano
• In academic studies, Rizal beat all Binan boys unfortunately, he was not admitted.
• He surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects
Returning to Calamba for the fiesta celebration, Pepe again went
In his first day at Binan, Pepe was accompanied by his brother going to Manila to take the exam in Ateneo. At first Fr. Magin Fernando, the
to Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz, of which is only 30 meters away to college registrar refused the admittance. Based on 2 reasons; 1. Late
the house of his aunt and cousin Leandro. On his first day, he brawls for registration, 2. He is sickly and underaged. But thankfully with the
with the son of the maestro, Pedro. Though he is not in to fight he never intercession of Manuel Burgos the nephew of Fr. Burgos of
backs off in any fight. Jose has learned the art of wrestling with his GOMBURZA, he was accepted.
uncle Manuel the brother of Dona Teodora. He also learned to paint
with his classmate Jose Guevarra. They were taught by Juancho the It was located in Intramuros. He first boarded outside Ateneo.
father-in-law of the schoolteacher. The good thing about it is it is freely The Jesuit educational system of education was more advanced than
been given to them. that of other students. Two groups of students who are studying in
Ateneo. The Roman Empire is considered the internos or the students
In his academic studies in Binan, he gradually and steadily became that were boarding inside. The Carthaginian Empire are the students
the best student. He surpasses them all and finished his schooling after who are staying outside the Ateneo (externos). After 4 years Jose
1 and 1⁄2 years. He returned to Calamba after his graduation boarding graduated with the highest honors at the head of his class. He stayed
the steamer “TALIM” of which he knew by a letter coming from his sister at Ateneo from 1872 to 1877. On his commemoration on March 23,
1877, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and • Improved his sculpture talents under the supervision of
Letters. At the age of 16, he graduated with his first degree. Romualdo de Jesus
• Engaged in gymnastics and fencing and continued the physical
training under his sports-minded Tio Manuel.
RIZAL’S STUDIES IN ATENEO

• Ateneo De Municipal was established by the Jesuits RIZAL IN UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS
• Rizal entered in 1872
• After graduating, he continued his education at UST
• He belonged to the class composed of Spaniards, mestizos, and
• He finished a year in Philosophy and Letters
Filipinos
• He decided to shift to a medical course UST was under the
• He was considered inferior and was placed at the bottom of the
Dominicans, rival of the Jesuits in education
class
• By the end of the month, he became the emperor and received a
• Remained loyal to Ateneo participated in extracurricular
prize, a religious picture
activities in Ateneo and completed a course in surveying
• To improve his Spanish Rizal took private lessons at Santa Isabel
College
• As a Thomasian, he won more literary laurels

EXTRA CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT • During his first term in 1877-1878 in UST, he studied
Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.
• An emperor inside the classroom
• Campus leader
• It was during the school term 1878- 1879 that Rizal pursued his
• Active member and became a secretary of the Marian
studies in medicine
Congregation Religious Society
• Member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy
of Natural Sciences REASONS WHY RIZAL WANTED TO STUDY MEDICINE
• Poet • He wanted to be a physician so that he could cure his mother’s
• Studied painting under the famous Spanish Painter, Agustin failing eyesight
Saez
 • Fr. Pablo Ramon, the Father Rector of Ateneo whom he consulted On 1877, He began his medical journey. In which he sees the
for a choice of career, finally answered his letter, and different ways on the means of the Jesuit and Dominican. He perceived
recommended medicine
the Dominican to be hostile and the Filipino students were
discriminated against the Spaniards and lastly, the method of teaching
RIZAL'S PRE-MED COURSE
is “obsolete and repressive.”
• Curso de Ampiacion or Advanced course in Physics, Chemistry,
and Natural History.
After four (4) years he finished his medical course. From 1879 to
• Out of the 28 young men taking Ampliacion only four including 1892, He studied and finished his course, though failed to get the
Rizal were granted the privilege of taking simultaneously the highest honors. Yet dedicated to pursuing further studies in other
preparatory course and the first year of medicine
countries.
• Rizal also received his four-year practical training in medicine at
the Hospital de San Juan de Dios in Intramuros

• During his last year at the University, Rizal obtained the global
grade of Notable (Very Good) in all his subjects. He was the
second-best student in addecimated seven class who passed the
medicine course. After which, Rizal decided to study in Spain.

In his study in Ateneo, Jose Rizal transferred to the University of

Sto. Tomas, but continued his vocational course at Ateneo in surveying.
He took a medical course, which is run by the Dominican Friars.
Topic 4: The First Travel of Dr. Jose Rizal (1882-1887) o They travelled in Suez Canal, a route from Asia to Europe then
docked in Port Said.
o Jose then arrived in Naples, Italy, which according to Jose as a
1. SINGAPORE (May 3-11, 1882) panoramic beauty

• He boarded the ship Salvadora bound for Singapore.

• Donato Lecha, captain of the ship defined Jose as a refined 4. France (June 11-12, 1882)
man.
• Djemnah then docked at the port in the city of Marseilles.
• He arrived in Singapore on May 9, 1882. • Jose visited Chateau D’ if, a famous landmark in Count of Monte
• He stayed in Hotel de la Paz. He then left Singapore on May 11, Cristo.
1882 boarded the ship Djemnah. • First Travel Abroad (1882- 1887)
• France to Spain in the afternoon of May 5, 1882, Jose left Marseilles
by train and travelled going to Barcelona.
2. CEYLON (May 11-17, 1882)
• He arrived in Barcelona on June 16, 1882.
• Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seaport town in southern Ceylon. • His first impression of the city was that it was unfavorable.
• He defined Point Galle as a picturesque but lonely town. • He then created articles for the Diariong Tagalog which were Amor
• He then went to Colombo to get references in learning the French Patria and Los Viajes using the pen name Laong Laan.
language. He defined Colombo as an elegant town compared to • During this time, Manila was ravaged by cholera according to his
Manila. brother Paciano.

3. ITALY (May 17- June 11, 1882) • Jose was disheartened also because of the letter sent by Leonor
Rivera.
• He was amused when the first time he saw camels in Aden.
• Fall of 1882, Jose left Barcelona for Madrid.
 EXPERIENCE IN MADRID • He then visited Laennec Hospital where he observed Dr. Nicaise
treating patients.
• Jose pursued his medical course and finished also the course
• Jose was impressed and saddened on how the Masons were
which was decided by his father.
observed and recognized by the government, which could not be
• Jose's only vice was lottery in every lottery in Madrid.
done in the Philippines.
• Jose spends his leisure time reading and attending reunion of
• He then joined a masonic lodge, Acacia in which he later became
illustrados in Madrid.
a master mason in 1890.
• He also practiced shooting and fencing in a communal
• He joined the masonic lodge to secure their aid against his fight
gymnasium.
with the Spanish.
• He was then acquainted in the fraternal group of illustrados in
Madrid, Circulo Hispano - Filipino.
• He then declaimed the poem, Mi Piden Versus in a gathering of
THE RETURN OF RIZAL IN MADRID
the group in New Year's Eve of 1882.
June 24, 1884 - A saddening event happened to Rizal where he was
• He then saved some of his money to purchase books like Uncle
broke that he cannot afford to buy breakfast
Tom's Cabin (Beecher Stowe) and The Wandering Jew (Eugene
Sue). June 25, 1884 - a banquet was called for the illustrados for the
double victory Filipinos achieved in Madrid: Luna's Spoliarium (1st
FIRST VISIT IN PARIS (1883)
place) and Hidalgo's Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho (2nd
• He visited Paris during their summer vacation in Madrid. place).
• According to Rizal, everything in Paris was so expensive that he
November 26, 1884 - Jose send a letter about the riot that happened
called Paris as the “costliest city in the world”.
in Madrid explaining it detail by detail.
June 19, 1885 - He finished his Philosophy and Letters as a • In Luna's painting The Death of Cleopatra, Jose posed as an
Sobresaliente Egyptian and posed a sandugo depicting Sikatuna - Legazpi
pact.
Rizal then attended class and won a gold medal in a Greek language
• During this time, he learned also to read the solfeggio and play
contest.
the piano and flute.
November 20 - 22, 1884 - A bloody riot in Madrid exploded by the
• Alin mang Lahi - a patriotic song written by Rizal which asserts
students of Universidad Central.
freedom.
June 21, 1884 - He earned the Licentiate in Medicine. He was not • February 3, 1886 - Jose arrived in Heidelberg, where he was
happy earning his license as a doctor because he knew he will not be considered an excellent chess player.
accepted in University of Santo Tomas. • He also worked for Dr. Otto Becker, an ophthalmologist.

5. Germany (1885-1887) THE CREATION OF NOLI ME TANGERE

• After graduating in Madrid, he went to Paris to practice • Winter of 1886 - Jose was flat broke and he had to pawn the
ophthalmology. diamond ring her sister, Saturnina gave to him.
• He then met Maximo Viola, who would later be his best friend in • This was memorable for two reasons: the pain of hunger and
Europe. sickness he experienced and the creation of Noli me Tangere.
• Rizal stayed in Paris for four months, where he became an • Uncle Tom's Cabin- A novel used by Jose as a reference for Noli
assistant ophthalmologist for Dr. Louis de Weckert. me Tangere.
• He then met Juan Luna and his girlfriend, Paz Pardo de Tavera. • January 1884 - Jose suggested that the novel should be done
by a group of patriotic Filipinos, but at the end he was the only
one to finish it.
• Half of the novel was written in Paris; he continued a quarter of FIRST HOMECOMING
his novel in Madrid and the last part in Germany.
July 3, 1887 - He then boarded Djemnah again after several years.
• In Berlin, He finalized the revisions in February1886.
July 30, 1887 - He arrived in saigon, vietnam which he boarded his
• Because Jose was flat broke, his friend, Maximo Viola funded
transfer ship, Haiphong bound for Manila.
the publication of the novel where 2000 copies were printed for
300 pesos. August 2, 1887 - The steam ship lest for manila first homecoming
• As a sign of gratitude, Jose gave Maximo one of the original
August 5, 1887 - Jose arrived in the Manila
copies of the novel and a complimentary copy.
• Jose admitted that the title, Noli me Tangere was not originally
came from him but from a Bible verse. (John20: 13-17)
• He dedicated the novel to his fatherland- the Philippines.

THE TRAVELS OF RIZAL

• Dresdan (Germany)
• Teschen (Czechoslovakia)
• Leitmeritz (Bohemia)
• Vienna (Austria)
• Munich (Germany)
• Nuremberg (Germany)
• Geneva (Switzerland) June 23, 1887 – June 27, 1887
 Terms: • Ideology of submission – in the text, the concept refers to the
general idea that the Spaniards, mainly the friars, wanted the
• Propaganda – technically referring to an information of bias or natives to believe: the new faith and culture are better than the
misleading nature, in the text the concept is basically a “counter- native’s and that for the natives to be better off, they have to
propaganda” or information that corrects whatever misleading submit to these new faith and culture.
information that the Spanish authorities in the colonial
government reported back to Spain

• Friars – members of any of the mendicant orders in the Roman

Catholic Church; to be distinguished from the monastics and the
seculars

• Conquista espiritual – literally “spiritual conquest”, in the text the

concept refers to the primary means of colonization. Historians
argued that it was the friar who was more successful in the
colonization effort as opposed to the conquistador since the friar
conquered first the mind and the beliefs of the natives.

• Cultural entrapment – in the text, the concept refers to the way

some of our ancestors adapted to the new culture brought by the
Spaniards
Topic 5: Second Travel of Dr. Jose Rizal Manila – England (1888 TWO DAY SOUJORN IN MACAO
1892)
February 18, 1888 – Rizal and Basa visited Macao. They boarded the
ferry steamer, Ku-Kiang.
JOURNEY TO HONGKONG
- They stayed at the house of Don Juan Francisc Lecaros.
February 3, 1888 - After staying for six months in Calamba, Rizal
was forced to leave again. Rizal left for Hongkong on board the Zafiro. - They visited the theatre, casino, cathedral, churces, pagoda,
botanical gardens and bazaars
February 7, 1888 - Rizal made an emergency stop at Amoy because
he was feeling sick.

RETURN TO HONGKONG

ARRIVAL IN HONGKONG February 20,1888 – Rizal and Basa returned to Hongkong on board
the steamer Ku-Kiang.
February 8, 1882 – He arrived in Hongkong and stayed at Victoria
Hotel. He was welcomed by his Filipino friends: Jose Maria Basa,
Balbino Mauricio and Manuel Yriarte. February 21, 1888 – They got back to Hongkong. While in Hongkong,
Jose Sainz de Varonda, a Spaniard was commissioned by the Spanish
authorities to spy on Rizal.
OBSERVATIONS OF HONGKONG
JOURNEY TO JAPAN
• The Chinese New Year celebration was noisy
• Noisy audience in a theatre and boisterous music February 22, 1888 - After staying for almost two weeks in Hongkong,

• Dominican friars are the richest investors and estate owners Rizal left on board the Oceanic, an American steamer, to Japan.
• Catholics owned the most extravagant cemeteries
February 28, 1888 – Rizal arrived in Yokohama, Japan impressed by the mode of transportation because the rickshaws were
drawn by men, which made Rizal disgusted because human were
and stayed at the Grand Hotel.
working like horses

His stay in Japan for 45 days was one of the happiest

RIZAL’S STAY IN TOKYO, JAPAN
interludes of Rizal’s life.
February 29, 1888 – he proceeded to Tokyo and stayed at Tokyo
Hotel for six days.
O-SEI-SAN
- He was invited by Sec. Juan Perez Caballero to live in the Spanish
Legation. Rizal met Seiko Usui but he called her as O-SeiSan. She served
Rizal as his guide, interpreter and tutor.
- Rizal knew it was trick as a way for Spanish officials to spy on him.
Later on, their friendship bloomed into a romance.
- He decided to accept the offer since it is economical and he believed
he had nothing to hide. Rizal was tempted to settle down in Japan and stay with O-Sei-
San but he had to leave for his love for his country was more
important than himself.
IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN

Japan to him was the “Land of the Cherry Blossoms” because of

ARRIVAL IN AMERICA
its natural beauty and charming manners of Japanese people.
April 28, 1888 – Rizal arrived in San Francisco, California Port, but
He was impressed by the beauty of Tokyo, but was not
they were not allowed to land and were quarantined because of
cholera outbreak in Asia.
 IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA

May 4, 1888 – Rizal was finally allowed to land. He registered at the “A motherland for the poor who wish to work”
Palace Hotel.
“America is the land Par Excellence of Freedom but only for the
May 6, 1888 – Rizal went to Oakland and ate supper at Sacramento. whites.”

TRIP ACROSS THE CONTINENT

May 7 - Reno, Nevada

May 8- Utah - Ogden - Denver

May 9- Colorado

May 10 - Nebraska

May 11 - Chicago

May 12- Canada

May 13- Albany