CHAPTER-1_ADVENT-OF-A-NATIONAL-HERO

Chapter 1: Advent of a National Hero

Author: Marvel A. De Los Reyes

The Birth of Our Hero

• Date and Place:

  • Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines.

  • Baptized in the Catholic Church on June 22, three days old.

• Baptism:

  • Performed by Father Rufino Collantes.

Naming of Jose Rizal

• Name Origin:

  • "Jose" chosen by his mother, a devotee of St. Joseph.

  • Godfather: Father Pedro Casanas, a family friend.

Baptism Certificate

• Details:

  • Baptism confirmed by parish priest: Rev. Rufino Collantes.

  • Noted legitimate son of Don Francisco Rizal Mercado and Doña Teodora Realonda.

Talents and Professions

• Multifaceted Individual:

  • Jose Rizal: Physician, poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian, architect, painter, sculptor, educator, linguist, musician, naturalist, ethnologist, surveyor, engineer, farmer, businessman, economist, geographer, cartographer, bibliophile, philologist, grammarian, folklorist, philosopher, translator, inventor, magician, humorist, satirist, polemicist, sportsman, traveler, and prophet.

Rizal’s Family Background

• Parents:

  • Father: Francisco Mercado Rizal

    • Born: May 11, 1818, in Biñan, Laguna.

    • Died: January 5, 1898, aged 80.

    • Occupation: Prosperous farmer, described as brave and independent-minded.

    • Rizal called him "a model of fathers."

  • Mother: Teodora Alonso Realonda

    • Born: November 8, 1826, Manila.

    • Died: August 16, 1911, aged 85.

    • Education: College of Santa Rosa.

    • Described as a remarkable woman.

The Rizal Children

• Overview of Siblings:

  • Jose Rizal was the seventh of eleven children; two boys and nine girls.

List of Siblings:

1. Saturnina “Neneng” (1850-1913)

   • Married to Manuel T. Hidalgo.

2. Paciano (1851-1930)

   • Joined the Philippine Revolution, later lived as a gentleman farmer.

3. Narcisa (1852-1939)

   • Pet name: Sisa; married to Antonio Lopez.

4. Olimpia (1855-1887)

   • Pet name: Ypia; married to Silvestre Ubaldo.

5. Lucia (1857-1919)

   • Married to Mariano Herbosa.

6. Maria (1859-1945)

   • Pet name: Biang; married Daniel Cruz.

7. Jose (1861-1896)

   • Nickname: Pepe; known as the greatest Filipino hero.

8. Concepcion (1862-1865)

   • Pet name: Concha; died young.

9. Josefa (1865-1945)

   • Pet name: Panggoy; lived as an old maid.

10. Trinidad (1868-1951)

• Pet name: Trining; also died as an old maid.

11. Soledad (1870-1929)

• Pet name: Choleng; married Pantaleon Quintero.

Rizal's Relationship with Siblings

• Childhood:

  • Engaged in play with siblings; respectful despite quarrels.

• Adulthood:

  • Respected siblings, referred to them as Doña or Señorita depending on marital status.

  • Paciano served as a second father figure to Rizal, valuing his advice.

Ancestry of Rizal

• Background:

  • Mixture of races: Negrito, Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish.

  • Predominantly Malayan with significant Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish heritage.

The Surname Rizal

• Origin:

  • Originally Mercado, adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (great-great-grandfather).

  • Secured the surname Rizal from a family friend, a Spanish alcalde mayor.

  • Significance of the name: "Rizal" means a field where wheat sprouts again.

The Rizal Home

• Description:

  • One of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during the Spanish era.

  • Two-storey, rectangular building constructed from adobe and hardwood with a red-tiled roof.

Family Life of the Rizals

• Social Standing:

  • Belonged to the principalia or town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines.

  • Managed to cultivate various crops and run a small business.

  • Owned a carriage, a status symbol of the ilustrados, and a large private library.

• Home Life:

  • Close-knit, joyful family with strong educational values.

  • Parents instilled discipline and morals in their children, using physical discipline as a form of correction.