BIRTH BIR TH AND CHILDHOO CHILDHOOD D OF JOSE RIZAL
“I was was bo born rn in in Cala Calamb mba a on th the e 19 th of June 1861, between eleven and twelve o’clock at night, a few days before the full of the moon.” - JO JOS SE RIZ IZAL AL
* JOSE RIZAL’S BIRTH *
Born JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONZO REALONDA
Birthdate: JUNE 19, 1861
Place of birth: Calamba, Laguna
The delivery was difficult that her mother almost died.
Her seemingly miraculous survival was attributed to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (also known as “Birhen ng Antipolo”)
Because his mother vowed to the Virgin of Antipolo that she would take him on a pilgrimage on the shrine
BAPTISMAL
Place: Catholic Church of Calamba
Date: JUNE 22, 1861 (three days after his birth)
JOSE RIZAL and his FAMILY
* JOSE RIZAL’S PARENTS *
Father: FRANCISCO MERCADO RIZAL
Francisco Engracio Mercado Rizal
From Biñan, Laguna
Mother: TEODORA ALONZO REALONDA
Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos
From Manila
* JOSE RIZAL’S SIBLINGS *
JOSE was the seventh of the eleven children of Francisco and Teodora
THE RIZAL CHILDREN (2 boys and 9 girls):
Saturnina
Paciano
Narcisa
Olympia
Lucia
Maria
JOSE
Concepcion
Josefa
Soledad
JOSE RIZAL’S ANCESTRY
JOSE RIZAL was a of mixed ancestry. NEGRITO INDONESIAN MALAY CHINESE JAPANESE SPANISH
The RIZAL FAMILY was actually one of the richest families in Calamba during the times prior to its persecution by the friars. Rizal’s parents, by their industry and frugality, were able to honestly build up a large fortune. By present-day standards, they were rich.
JOSE RIZAL IN CALAMBA Jose Rizal’s childhood days in Calamba
“When early childhood’s happy days In memory, I see once more Along the lovely verdant shore That meets a gently murmuring sea; ” From Rizal’s poem, Un Recuredo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)
* CALAMBA, LAGUNA *
(as described in the poem)
The town of Calamba is situated on a verdant plain by the rippling Laguna de Bay.
Known as “the cradle of a genius”
This is where Rizal spent the early years of his childhood.
The beauty of Calmba impressed him as a growing child and deeply influenced his mind and character.
“ Ah, tender childhood, lovely town,
rich fount of my felicities, oh those harmonious melodies which put to flight all dismal hours.” From Rizal’s poem, Un Recuredo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)
* CHILDHOOD DAYS IN CALAMBA *
He grew interest in legends and folklores because of his yaya telling him stories about fairies, tales of buried treasure, and other fabulous stories.
Death of Concha (Concepcion)
Of his sisters, Jose loved most the little Concha. Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she was 3 years old.
Rizal being a devoted son of church
He grew up as a good Catholic. He also wrote poems as evidence of his fervent Catholic spirit (such as La Alianza Intima Entre La Religion y La Buena Educacion (1876), and A La Virgen Maria).
* CHILDHOOD DAYS IN CALAMBA *
PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO
On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father went on a pilgrimage to fulfill his mother’s vow when he was born.
FIRST EDUCATION FROM HIS MOTHER
His mother was his first teacher. She taught him how to read and say prayers. She disciplined him (spanked him for his misbehaviors and disobedience).
* CHILDHOOD DAYS IN CALAMBA *
Jose Rizal had three uncles (brothers of his mother), who played a great part in the early education of Rizal.
Uncle GREGORIO was a lover of books. He instilled into the mind of Jose a great love for books.
Uncle JOSE encouraged his nephew to paint, sketch, and sculpture.
Uncle MANUEL looked after the physical training of his sickly nephew. He encouraged Jose to learn swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other sports, so that in later years, Jose’s body will acquire agi lity, endurance and strength.
JOSE RIZAL’S LOVE FOR ART
Since early childhood Rizal revealed his God-given talents for the arts.
He drew sketches and pictures on his books and on the books of his sisters
He carved figures of animals and persons out of wood
Even before he learned how to read, he could already sketch pictures of birds, flowers, fruits, rivers, mountains, animals and persons.
Jose had a gift for magic. He can perform many tricks which dazzled the eyes of onlookers.
JOSE RIZAL’S WRITINGS (at a young age)
Not only was little Jose skilled in brush, chisel, and pen-knife, but also in PEN. He was a born poet.
His mother encouraged him to write poetry.
At an early age, he was already writing poems.
The first known poem that he wrote was a Tagalog poem entitled Sa Aking Mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children). He
wrote this in an appeal to our people to love our national language.
“Si Gat Jose Rizal noo’y nagwika
Siya ay nagpangaral sa ating bansa Ang di raw marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa ang amoy sa mabahong isda.”
Additional fact:
Jose Rizal, before he was 8 years old, he wrote a Tagalog drama. This drama was staged in Calamba in connection with the town fiesta.
The gobernadorcillo of Paete, Laguna witnessed the play and was impressed and bought the manuscript from the 8-year-old Jose for two pesos (which was quite a huge money back then).
This inspired him to develop his literary talent.
INFLUENCES ON JOSE RIZAL’S BOYHOOD
* HEREDITARY INFLUENCE *
According to biological science, there are inherent traits or qualities which a person inherit from his ancestors and parents.
From his Malayan ancestors, he inherited his passionate love for freedom
From his Chinese ancestors, he inherited his frugality, patience, and love for children
From his Spanish ancestors, he got his elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to ladies
From his father, he inherited a profound sense of self-respect, the love for work, and the habit of independent thinking
From his mother, he inherited his reli gious nature, the spirit of self-sacrifice, and the passion for arts and literature
* ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE *
According to psychology, environment affects the nature of a person.
Environmental influence includes places, associates, and events.
The scenic beauties of Calamba stimulated the artistic and literary talents of Jose Rizal.
The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his religious nature.
The way his family treated him and the people who contributed to his early learning / education
The sorrows he had undergone (like the death of Concha and his mother’s imprisonment) helped strengthen his character.
The Spanish abuses and cruelties awakened his spirit of patriotism.
* AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE *
GOD had endowed him with the versatile talents of a rare genius, the unsurpassed spirit of nationalism and the valiant heart to sacrifice himself for a noble cause (that our suffering people be emancipated from Spanish tyranny).