Rizal: Family, Childhood, and Early Education Notes

Full name: José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda
Birthdate: June 19, 1861
Birthplace: Calamba, Laguna, Philippines
Seventh of 11 children
Occupations: Writer, doctor (ophthalmologist), teacher, scientist, artist, and reformist
Death: December 30, 1896 ; xecuted in Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park, Manila) at age $35$
Full name often cited as: José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda

Father: Francisco Mercado II
- Occupation: Hardworking farmer; leased land from the Dominicans
- Heritage: Mixed roots including Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Malay, and Negrito (per ancestor Domingo Lam-co)
Mother: Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda
- Born: November 9, 18in Sta. Cruz, Manila
- Heritage: Daughter of a half-Spanish engineer and a Chinese mestiza; Educated and religious
- Role: Rizal's first teacher; a key source of early education and moral guidance
Siblings (Rizal’s family members mentioned):
- Saturnina Rizal (eldest of 11)
- Born: $1850-06-04$ in Calamba
- Role: Acted like a second mother to José Rizal; managed household during maternal absence; supported family and Rizal emotionally and financially during studies/travels
- Paciano Rizal (second child, José’s only brother)
- Role: Acted as a second father to José Rizal
- Close friend of Father Burgos of Gomburza
- Supported Rizal financially and gave moral guidance
- Later became a revolutionary general under Emilio Aguinaldo, commanding forces in Laguna
- Narcisa Rizal
- Olympia Rizal
- Lucia Rizal
- Maria Rizal
- Concepcion Rizal
- Josefa Rizal
- Trinidad Rizal
- Soledad Rizal

Grew up in a quiet, scenic town of Calamba surrounded by rice fields, mountains, and Laguna de Bay
Daily life was peaceful, allowing close observation of nature
Developed a sense of beauty, appreciation for rural life, and love for his hometown

Rizal’s ancestral house in Calamba (museum-like significance in his early life and family history)

Could draw and sketch well as a child
Loved making clay figurines, paper models, and small sculptures
Enjoyed reading books beyond his grade level, especially fables, Bible stories, and Spanish literature

References to lines like: "Josephine Sleeping", "Oyang Dapitana", "Triumph of Science over Death", and "Triumph of Death over Science" as poetic or literary motifs encountered in his environment or early writings

Wrote poems, riddles, and little plays before turning ten
Supposedly wrote "Sa Aking Mga Kabata" in 1868 at the age of 8
Played traditional Filipino children’s games: sungka, luxong tinik, and kite flying
Spent time walking outdoors, observing animals and nature
Collected shells, stones, and insects

Collected and observed natural specimens, including certain species named in his memory:
- Rhacophorus rizali (tree frog)
- Draco rizali (flying lizard)
- Spathomeles rizali (a.k.a. the "handsome fungus beetle")
- Apogonia rizali (flying beetle)

Practiced kindness and compassion, especially toward the poor, the sick, and animals
Prayed daily and participated in family devotions, showing early faith in God
Maintained strong love for family and honored parents
Curious and eager to learn beyond formal instruction
Developed discipline and perseverance even in small tasks

First Teacher: Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda (his mother)
On her lap, learned the alphabet and prayers at age three
Doña Teodora recognized and nurtured his talent for poetry; she encouraged him to write poems

Private tutors included:
- Maestro Celestino
- Maestro Lucas Padua
- Leon Monroy (an old man, former classmate of Rizal’s father; taught Spanish and Latin; lived at the Rizal home)
Leon Monroy died five months after becoming Rizal’s tutor

Formal teacher: Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz
Rizal’s Biñan schooling took place at the teacher’s home, in a small nipa hut
Rizal was introduced to Maestro Cruz by his older brother Paciano
Early academic challenges: On his first day, Rizal was asked about his knowledge of Spanish and Latin; he replied, "A little, sir," which drew ridicule from classmates, particularly Pedro (the teacher’s son)
Despite this, he quickly excelled academically, surpassing peers in subjects like Spanish and Latin

Before formal schooling in Biñan, nine-year-old José traveled to Manila and Antipolo with his father, a trip his mother’s pilgrimage for her health inspired
He moved to Biñan to continue his Latin studies after his first teacher passed away
Rizal faced the sadness of leaving his family and hometown; he concealed tears due to shame
Teacher profile: Justiniano Aquino Cruz described as a tall, thin man with a sharp nose and a slightly bent posture, known for his severity
Daily routine in Biñan included early mass, lessons, meals, and periods for drawing
The Biñan period solidified his early literacy and love for learning; his emotional experiences formed resilience

Early education laid a strong foundation for future academic pursuits in Manila and Europe
Even though the Spanish educational system had flaws, Rizal’s intellectual development and talents were nurtured through experiences in Calamba and Biñan
Early schooling prepared him for higher education and later reformist ideas

Doña Teodora’s role as first teacher connects to his later emphasis on education and maternal influence in his reformist ethics
Paciano’s dual role as sibling and mentor foreshadows his later political and revolutionary alignment with Rizal’s aims
The family’s emphasis on education and moral integrity ties to Rizal’s later writings on reform and national identity
The early experiences with ridicule and perseverance contributed to Rizal’s resilience and analytical approach in later life
Early works and poems from childhood foreshadow Rizal’s mature literary and scholarly productivity

Rizal’s upbringing in a large, educated, and culturally mixed family cultivated his patriotism, sense of justice, and scientific curiosity
His early teachers, mentors, and siblings helped shape his multifaceted talents in literature, science, and reformism
The combination of a supportive family, a rural yet inspiring environment, and early academic challenges contributed to a well-rounded foundation for his later role as a national hero