GEd 103 Module 1: The Study of Rizal

The Educational Danger of the Course

Taking the Rizal course strictly for academic credit can become tiresome, reducing his name to a mere commercial label for consumer brands and corporations.

Historical-Critical Approach to Heroes

Reverence without concrete understanding belongs to deities rather than flesh-and-blood heroes; true appreciation requires analyzing the actual historical context and the evolving personality of the man.

Value of Rizal's Social Criticisms

Many of Rizal's social critiques remain valid because specific systemic flaws are direct carry-overs from the colonial and feudal society of his time.

Humanizing Rizal Principle

Treating Rizal like an unreachable God makes his real-world achievements seem inhuman; true understanding requires examining the underlying thoughts, situations, and motivations behind his actions.

Republic Act No. 1425 Authorship and Signing

Authored by Senator Claro M. Recto and signed into law on June 12, 1956.

Curricular Enforcement Mandate

Requires all public and private schools, colleges, and universities to include courses on Rizal's life, works, and writings, with a specific focus on the unexpurgated versions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as a requirement for graduation in all tertiary degree and non-degree courses.

R.A. 1425 Effective Date

Went into official effect on August 16, 1956.

Core Mandated Objectives of R.A. 1425

1) To recognize the enduring relevance of Rizal's ideals and teachings to contemporary community situations and apply them to solve day-to-day problems; 2) To foster the development of moral character, personal discipline, civic citizenship, and vocational efficiency by studying Rizal's personal qualities; 3) To comply with the initial patriotic objectives established by Senator Jose P. Laurel.

Nick Joaquin's Dynamic of Insecurity Observation

Rizal was deeply self-conscious about his frail physical build and was frequently teased by his sisters for being an undersized child with a large head; these internal feelings of inadequacy made him dynamic, driving him to constantly seek ways to excel in multiple fields to prove he was as capable as any other man.

Genealogy

The systematic study of ancestry and family histories.

Genealogist

An expert practicing in the domain of ancestry and family histories.

Jose Rizal Birth Coordinates

Born on June 19, 1861, between 11:00 PM and 12:00 midnight in Calamba, Laguna.

Maternal Birth Miracle Belief

Rizal's delivery was exceptionally difficult, and his mother's survival was locally attributed to a miracle of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

Baptismal Registry Coordinates

Baptized on June 22, 1861, by the secular priest Father Rufino Collantes, with family friend Father Pedro Casañas serving as godfather.

Namesake Origin

His mother named him "Jose" in direct honor of Saint Joseph.

Jose Rizal Full Name

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda.

Domingo Lam-Co (Great-Great-Grandfather)

A native Chinese immigrant from the Chiangchow/Chinchew district who arrived in Manila around 1690; born to parents Siang-co and Zun-nio, he was baptized on a Sunday in June 1697 at the Parian Church of San Gabriel, adopting the name "Domingo" (Spanish for Sunday) to honor the occasion.

Inez de la Rosa

A woman half the age of Domingo Lam-Co who married him; her parents were native Chinese immigrant Agustin Chinco and Chinese mestiza Jacinta Rafaela.

Children of Domingo Lam-Co and Inez de la Rosa

Magdalena Vergara, Josepha, Cristoval de la Trinidad, Juan Batista, Francisco Hong-Sun, and Inez de la Rosa.

Mercado Surname Adoption (1731)

To avoid anti-Chinese sentiments, Domingo Lam-co adopted the surname "Mercado" (meaning market) in 1731.

Francisco Mercado (Great-Grandfather)

Son of Domingo Lam-Co and Inez de la Rosa; he married Cirila Bernacha, settled in Biñan, Laguna, and was elected gobernadorcillo (mayor).

Juan Mercado (Grandfather)

Son of Francisco Mercado and Cirila Bernacha; he married Cirila Alejandro, served as gobernadorcillo of Biñan, and raised thirteen children.

Francisco Mercado Rizal (Father)

The youngest son of Juan Mercado and Cirila Alejandro, born on May 11, 1818; he lost his father at age eight, married Teodora Alonso, settled in Calamba as a successful tenant farmer and merchant, and died on January 15, 1898, at the age of 80.

Eugenio Ursua (Great-Great-Grandfather)

A prominent maternal ancestor of Japanese descent who married a native Filipina named Benigna.

Regina Ursua (Great-Grandmother)

Daughter of Eugenio Ursua and Benigna, who married the lawyer Atty. Manuel de Quintos.

Brigida de Quintos (Grandmother)

Daughter of Regina Ursua and Atty. Manuel de Quintos, who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso and raised five children: Narcisa, Teodora, Gregorio, Manuel, and Jose.

Maternal Lakandula Descent Line

The lineage of Teodora Alonso tracks its roots back to Lakandula, the final historic King of Tondo.

Teodora Alonso Realonda (Mother)

Born on November 8, 1826, she studied at the College of Santa Rosa and died on August 16, 1911, at the age of 84; she was highly educated, a fine mathematician, gourmet cook, interior decorator, and a collector of fine literature.

Saturnina (1850-1913) "Neneng"

Eldest child; married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas, had 5 children, and published Pascual H. Poblete's first Tagalog translation of Noli Me Tangere.

Paciano (1851-1930)

Oldest brother and close father-figure; joined the revolutionary army and rose to the rank of Major General; learned English through self-study, favored the Philippine Free Press newspaper, and lived with Severina Decena.

Narcisa (1852-1939) "Sisa"

Third child; married schoolmaster Antonio Lopez from Morong, could recite all of Rizal's poetry from memory, and had a son named Leoncio who became a physician and UST professor.

Olympia (1855-1887) "Ypia"

Fourth child; married Manila telegraph operator Silvestre Ubaldo and died in 1887 due to complications from childbirth; her son Aristeo became a physician and PGH/UP professor.

Lucia (1857-1919)

Fifth child; married Calamba farmer Mariano Herbosa, who died of cholera in 1889 and was denied a Christian burial because he was Rizal's brother-in-law.

Delfina Herbosa

Daughter of Lucia Rizal who helped极 Marcela Agoncillo sew the first official Filipino flag in Hong Kong.

Maria (1859-1945) "Biang"

Sixth child; married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, her son Mauricio was killed by Japanese forces in 1945, and she is the direct ancestor of Gemma Cruz (the first Filipina international beauty titleholder).

Jose (1861-1896) "Pepe"

Second son, seventh child, and the primary national hero; married Josephine Bracken.

Concepcion (1862-1865) "Concha"

Eighth child; her death at age three marked Jose's first deep personal sorrow.

Josefa (1865-1945) "Panggoy"

Ninth child; she suffered from epilepsy and died unmarried as a spinster.

Trinidad (1868-1951) "Trining"

Tenth child; she died unmarried as a spinster and was the last surviving sibling, passing away at age 83.

Soledad (1870-1929) "Choleng"

Youngest child; married Pantaleon Quintero, studied at La Concordia College alongside Leonor Rivera, and her daughter Amelia married Bernabe Malvar.

The Claveria Decree Mandate (1849)

An order by Governor-General Narciso Claveria mandating all native populations to adopt standardized Spanish surnames from the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos to stabilize state tax collection and census logging.

Rizal Surname Suggestion

Francisco Mercado chose the specific surname "Rizal", which was suggested to the family by a provincial governor who was a family friend.

Etymological Roots of Rizal

Sourced from the Spanish word Ricial, meaning "green fields"; Leon Ma. Guerrero defined its meaning as prophetic: "a field where wheat, cut while still in green, sprouts again."

Surname Curricular Isolation

The name change initially caused confusion in official business, and only Jose used the surname "Rizal" during his early schooling years up until 1891.

Infancy Garden Memory

Jose's earliest childhood memories focus on happy days spent inside the family garden, where his father built a custom nipa cottage for him to play in during the day to accommodate his frail and sickly build.

Childhood Spiritual Habits

The mandatory daily Angelus prayer at nightfall, followed by family stories on the outdoor azotea under the moon.

Household Nickname for Jose

Ute.

First Teacher and Early Tagalog Lessons

Doña Teodora was his first teacher, instructing three-year-old Jose in the alphabet and prayers; her daily lessons in Tagalog poetry and assignments in Philippine history built his early interest in local culture.

The Moth Parable Impact

The bedtime tale of the young moth that flew into the flame and died a martyr to its own illusions left the deepest, most permanent impression on his mind.

Uncle Gregorio's Training

A book lover who instilled a deep passion for literature, teaching Jose to work hard, think independently, and observe life closely.

Uncle Jose's Training

Educated in Calcutta, India, he actively encouraged his nephew to sketch, paint, and carve sculptures.

Uncle Manuel's Training

A husky athlete who took charge of Jose's physical fitness, training his frail body in swimming, fencing, and wrestling to build agility and endurance.

Artistic Childhood Prediction

When his sisters teased him about his clay statuettes, Jose replied: "Don't you know that people will erect monuments and statues in my honor for the future?"

First Written Poem

A Tagalog piece entitled Sa Aking Mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children).

Alipato

The name of Jose Rizal's childhood pony (small horse).

Hereditary Trait: Malayan Ancestors

Inherited his love for personal freedom, an innate urge to travel, and indomitable courage.

Hereditary Trait: Spanish Ancestors

Acquired an elegance of bearing, deep sensitivity to insults, and classic gallantry toward ladies.

Hereditary Trait: Father

Inherited a profound sense of self-respect, a passion for systematic work, and independent thinking habits.

Hereditary Trait: Mother

Inherited his religious nature, a deep spirit of self-sacrifice, and his passion for arts and literature.

Environmental Trait: Family/Parish Mentors

The strict religious home atmosphere fortified his spiritual values; Paciano instilled a love for freedom and justice, sisters taught courtesy toward women, and parish priest Father Leoncio Lopez fostered strict intellectual honesty.

Environmental Trait: Colonial Abuses

Witnessing the brutal acts of the Guardia Civil, corruption of the alcalde, torture of citizens, and the 1872 execution of GomBurza inspired him to consecrate his life to redeeming his oppressed people.