Chapter 2 Reviewer – Childhood Years in Calamba

Main Idea

Jose Rizal's childhood in Calamba shaped his character, talents, and patriotism through the influence of his family, environment, and faith.

Why Rizal Became Great

Three major influences

What are the Three major influences:

A. Hereditary Influence (Inherited Traits)

B. Environmental Influence

C. Divine Providence

A. Hereditary Influence (Inherited Traits)

From his ancestors and parents, Rizal inherited:

Malayan – Love of freedom, bravery, love of travel

Chinese – Patience, frugality, seriousness, love for children

Spanish – Elegance, sensitivity, chivalry

Father (Don Francisco) – Hard work, self-respect, independent thinking

Mother (Doña Teodora) – Religious faith, love for arts and literature, self-sacrifice

Remember: Family shaped Rizal's natural abilities.

Remember: Family shaped Rizal's natural abilities.

B. Environmental Influence

His surroundings helped develop his talents.

People who influenced him:

Paciano – Inspired patriotism and justice

His sisters – Taught kindness and respect for women

Aya (nanny) – Told fairy tales that inspired his imagination

Tio Jose Alberto – Encouraged art

Tio Manuel – Encouraged physical exercise

Tio Gregorio – Inspired his love of reading

Father Leoncio Lopez – Encouraged scholarship and honesty

W Inspired patriotism and justice

Paciano

W Taught kindness and respect for women

His Sisters

W Told fairy tales that inspired his imagination

Aya (Nanny)

W Encouraged art

Tio Jose Alberto

W Encouraged physical exercise

Tio Manuel

W Inspired his love of reading

Tio Gregorio

Encouraged scholarship and honesty

Father Leoncio Lopez

C. Divine Providence

Rizal believed God gave him the gifts and mission to serve the Filipino people.

Q: When and where was José Rizal born?

A: June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.

1. Where did Jose Rizal spend the happiest years of his life?

Answer: In Calamba, Laguna, where he grew up in a loving, religious, and happy family.

2. What was Calamba like during Rizal's childhood?

Answer:

An hacienda town owned by the Dominican Order.

Surrounded by rice fields, sugar plantations, Laguna de Bay, and Mount Makiling.

Known for its beautiful scenery and friendly people.

3. What poem did Rizal write about Calamba?

Answer: Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) in 1876, when he was 15 years old and studying at the Ateneo de Manila.

4. What was Rizal's earliest childhood memory?

Answer: Playing in the family garden at about 3 years old, where his father built him a small nipa hut.

5. Why was Rizal given special care as a child?

Answer: He was frail, sickly, and undersized.

6. Who took care of Rizal during childhood?

Answer: His aya (nursemaid).

7. What did Rizal enjoy while staying in the garden?

Answer: Watching birds, admiring nature, and listening to birds singing.

8. What family religious practices did Rizal remember?

Answer:

Angelus prayer every evening.

Family Rosary every night.

Going to church and joining religious activities.

9. What stories did the aya tell Rizal?

Answer: Fairy tales, legends, stories of buried treasures, and mythical creatures like the asuang, nuno, and tigbalang.

10. What was Rizal's first sorrow?

Answer: The death of his younger sister Concepcion (Concha) in 1865 when she was only 3 years old.

11. How old was Rizal when Concha died?

Answer: Four years old.

12. Why was Rizal considered a devoted Catholic?

Answer:

Learned prayers from his mother.

Could read the Spanish Bible at age 5.

Loved attending Mass, novenas, and processions.

13. Which priest greatly influenced Rizal?

Answer: Father Leoncio Lopez, the learned parish priest of Calamba.

14. When did Rizal make his pilgrimage to Antipolo?

Answer: June 6, 1868.

15. Why did Rizal go to Antipolo?

Answer: To fulfill his mother's vow made when he was born.

16. Who accompanied Rizal to Antipolo?

Answer: His father, Francisco Mercado.

17. Why did Doña Teodora not join the pilgrimage?

Answer: She had just given birth to Trinidad.

18. What transportation did Rizal use to reach Antipolo?

Answer: A casco (barge) across Laguna de Bay.

19. What was Rizal's first experience in Manila?

Answer: After visiting Antipolo, he visited Manila and his sister Saturnina at La Concordia College.

20. Which story made the greatest impression on Rizal?

Answer: The Story of the Moth, told by his mother.

21. What lesson did Rizal learn from the Story of the Moth?

Answer: Sacrificing one's life for a noble ideal is worthwhile, but one should also learn obedience and wisdom.

22. At what age did Rizal begin sketching and sculpting?

Answer: Five years old.

23. What materials did Rizal use for sculpting?

Answer: Clay and wax.

24. What did Rizal paint for Calamba?

Answer: A new religious fiesta banner, which people admired more than the original.

25. What was the name of Rizal's pet dog?

Answer: Usman.

26. What famous prediction did Rizal make while making clay figures?

Answer: “Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of me.”

27. At what age did Rizal write his first poem?

Answer: Eight years old.

28. What was Rizal's first poem?

Answer: Sa Aking Mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children).

29. What was the main message of "Sa Aking Mga Kababata"?

Answer: Love for one's native language and country leads to freedom and national pride.

30. What was Rizal's first dramatic work?

Answer: A Tagalog comedy written at age 8, performed during a Calamba fiesta.

31. Who bought Rizal's first play?

Answer: The gobernadorcillo of Paete, Laguna, for 2 pesos.

32. What unusual talent did Rizal have as a boy?

Answer: He performed magic tricks, puppet shows, and magic-lantern shows.

33. Where did Rizal often reflect about the country's condition?

Answer: Along the shores of Laguna de Bay.

34. What inspired Rizal to fight injustice?

Answer: Witnessing the abuses of the Guardia Civil and Spanish officials against innocent Filipinos.

35. What promise did Rizal make as a child?

Answer: To dedicate his life to fighting injustice and helping his oppressed countrymen.

Influences on Rizal's Boyhood

36. What three major influences shaped Rizal's character?

Answer:

Hereditary influence

Environmental influence

Divine Providence

37. What qualities did Rizal inherit from his Malayan ancestors?

Answer:

Love of freedom

Love of travel

Courage

38. What qualities did he inherit from his Chinese ancestors?

Answer:

Seriousness

Frugality

Patience

Love for children

39. What qualities did he inherit from his Spanish ancestors?

Answer:

Elegance

Sensitivity

Chivalry toward women

40. What qualities did Rizal inherit from his father?

Answer:

Self-respect

Love for work

Independent thinking

41. What qualities did Rizal inherit from his mother?

Answer:

Religious faith

Self-sacrifice

Love for arts and literature

42. How did Calamba influence Rizal?

Answer: Its natural beauty inspired his artistic and literary talents.

43. How did Paciano influence Rizal?

Answer: He taught Rizal to value freedom and justice.

46. Which family tragedies strengthened Rizal's character?

Answer:

Death of Concha (1865)

Imprisonment of his mother (1871–1874)

47. Which national event awakened Rizal's patriotism?

.

Answer: The execution of Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora (Gomburza) in 1872

48. According to the chapter, what was the greatest influence on Rizal?

Answer: Divine Providence, which guided him to become the Philippines' national hero.