Cianna A. Sagario
BSMT-1A
March 22, 2021
Rizal Activity
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1. Describe the background of Rizal's ancestry that might have contributed to his life and
education.
 Rizal’s lineage can be tracked to the village of Sionque in Chin- Chew district in
Fujian, southern China, near the prosperous and ancient trading port of Zaito
(Reyno, 2012). Among his earliest identifiable ancestors were Siang-co and Zunnio who gave birth to a son who later acquired the name Lam-co. Lam-co then
migrated to the Philippines. In 1967, Lam-co was baptized at the San Gabriel
Church in the predominantly Chinese community of Binondo. He adopted
“Domingo” his baptismal day, as his first name. He married a Chinese mestiza
said to be half his age named Ines de la Rosa, who belonged to an entrepreneurial
family in Binondo. With the rigid social stratification prevailing at that time, it
was evident that Lam-co did not come from the ranks of coolies (an unskilled
native laborer in India, China, and some other Asian countries.) Lam-co was said
to have been instrumental in the building of the irrigation works known as
‘Tubigan” which made the area the richest part of the estate. They had 2 sons and
one of them was Francisco Mercado; the great-great grandfather of Rizal. He
married Bernarda Monica. Francisco Mercado owned the largest herd of carabaos
in Biñan. He was popular back then, good natured, and often stood as godfather
during baptisms and weddings. They had a son named Juan Mercado who married
Cirila Aejandra. Juan Mercado is Rizal’s grandfather. Like his father, Juan
Mercado also served as the town’s Capitan del pueblo. He was benevolent and
hardworking. His status earned him the privilege of electing the Philippine
representative to the Spanish parliament in 1812 (Reyno, 2012).
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Rizal’s ancestry really contributed to his life and education. Looking through it
they are really intelligent, wealthy, hardworking, and very skilled individuals.
These traits of Rizal’s great-great grandfathers, and father might have been the
reason why he was very smart and skilled. He must have gotten his traits from
them.
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2. Compare the experiences of Rizal as a student in Ateneo, UST and Madrid.
 Let us compare Rizal’s experiences as a student in Ateneo, UST and Madrid.
First, in Ateneo. Ateneo Municipal is also called ‘Escuela Pia’. It was known to
offer the best education for boys. Rizal was send by his father to take 6 year
program of ‘Bachiller en Artes’. At first, Rizal lagged behind his classmates but
because of his perseverance and dedication in his studies, he gained the ‘Emperor’
title. This title is given to the most outstanding student in class during his time.
From, 1872- 1877 are the years wherein Rizal studied in Ateneo and in those
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years, he consistently showed excellence in his academic performance. He passed
the oral examination and graduated with the highest honors. Second, in UST. In
this university, he attended the course Philosophy and Letters and in the same
year, he took up a vocational course in Ateneo that gave him the title “Perito
Agrimensor” (expert surveyor). In his second year, he shifted his course to
Medicine because he felt the need to take up this course after learning about his
mother’s failing eyesight. Rizal’s academic performance in UST was not as
impressive as that in Ateneo. He was a good student in Medicine but not as gifted
as he was in Arts and Letters. Despite this, he was still one of the 7 students who
remained in the course in his last year at UST out of the original batch of 24.
Lastly, in Madrid. In here, he enrolled in a university called- Universidad Central
with the course of Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in many
different schools in Madrid and some of the lessons he took was painting and
sculpture, French, English and German classes, and to add, he also enrolled in
fencing class. In June 1884, he was awarded with the degree and title of ‘Liciente
in Medicine’ for passing the medical examination. With this title, he was able to
practice medicine. He continued enrolling in courses that would have led to a
doctorate in Medicine but the degree was not given to him because he failed to
pay the fee required to defend his thesis. Because his family faced financial
problems brought by low crop production because of drought and locusts
aggravated by the hike in rental in the haciendas by the Dominicans. Rizal also
took examinations in Greek, Latin, and world history. He won the first prize in
Greek and a grade of “excellent” in history. He also obtained the degree of
Licendo en Filosofia y Letras from the Universidad of Central de Madrid with a
rating of sobresaliente. Like his other experiences in Ateneo and UST, he excelled
in his chosen course despite of financial problems.
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3. Who were the important persons that influenced Rizal in his intellectual pursuits?
 The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was a remarkable woman of good
character and fine culture. On her guidance, he learned at the age of three the
alphabet and the prayers. Doña Teodora was patient, conscientious, and
understanding. It was she who first discovered that her son had a talent for poetry.
She encouraged him to write poems. After learning that Rizal has a talent, she felt
the need for young Rizal to have a private tutor. Hence, Maestro Celestino,
Maestro Lucas Padua, and Leon Monroy were his tutors. Leaon Monroy was the
one who honed skills in basic Latin, reading, and writing. This people are the ones
that influenced and honed Rizal’s intellectual pursuits.
4. What were Rizal's activities in Dapitan and their impact?
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
Rizal’s activities in Dapitan were a lot. I would like to share 5 of his activities and
its impacts. First, as a scientist. Rizal found Dapitan and its environments full of
Floral and Fauna specimens and so, he was able to use reliable collection of
reptiles, birds, crustaceans, and butterflies etc. He was able to send these
collections to Ateneo and some museums in Europe. From these remittances,
some of his friends gave him books on science philosophy and literature and some
gave him surgical supplies. Its impacts were:
1. He was able to invent a machine that could create 6,000 bricks per day.
2. He contributed to the making of the huge map of Mindanao.
3. He contributed assistance in providing potable water to the people of Dapitan.
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Second, as a scholar writer. He reported to Bluementritt that he is studying
Bisayan and Malayan languages. Some of his letters to Bluementritt was an
explanation of meaning of bathala, babailan and lanaw etc, other writing of Rizal
were “In Don Rizardo’s Concerns”, “My Retreat” and many more. He also wrote
letters regarding philosophy and religion. Some of its impacts were:
1. He contributed to the field of Philology and Etymology
2. He translated Prof. Bluementritt’s Enthographia dela isla de Maguindanao and
Apliacion a Mi Mapa from German to Spanish.
3. He wrote fragments of 3 novels
4. Constitution and by-laws of the society of Dapitan Agriculturalist was also
written
5. Genealogy of Rizal family was made.
Third, as an artist. While in Dapitan Rizal did not neglect his talent for painting
and sculpture. As a result, statues of wild boars burst of captain Carnicero, a
reclining figure of Josephine Bracken, St. Paul holding a cross, a Dapitan girl
cutting grass, and mother revenge were made. Fourth, as a community leader.
Rizal devoted much effort in Dapitan where he tilled soils and planted rice and
many other plants. In here, he also practiced his profession as physician and eye
surgeon. Its impacts were:
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1. He constructed residential and little hospital houses.
2. He assisted to the beautification of the public square.
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Lastly, as an exile in Dapitan. His experiences in Dapitan exercised his practical
nationalism and it convinced himself that self-improvement and community
development is the beginning of national governance.
5. How would you asses Rizal's objection to revolution?
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Resources:
Rizal did not accept the ideas of the Katipunero because he believed that the
uprising against the Spaniards was a premature idea. Rizal objected because he
believed that the country was not ready for such a thing. However, Rizal also said
that he will only consider an uprising against the Spaniards if the country has the
resources to launch the uprising. My assessment for this is that, it was Rizal’s
weakness for this matter was his failure to fully understand his people. He was
unsuccessful in empathizing with the true reasons why the people from below in
launching the armed rebellion. He objected the revolution because he thought
that reforms to be successful should come from above. Well, it could be
understandable that the hero thought of such because it was the belief of the class
to which Rizal belonged. It is also possible that Rizal disproved the revolution
due to his belief that violence should not prevail. In this case, y opinion would
be- Rizal unintentionally underestimated the capacity of those from below to
compel changes and reforms. However, I also believed that Rizal is right. The
Katipuneros should wait for the right timing, secure the needed weapons and get
the support of the rich and scholarly class.
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
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Rizal, M. (12-09-18). Rizal’s Paternal Lineage. National Historical Commission of the
Philippines. https://nhcp.gov.ph/rizals-paternal-lineage/
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