Module 2
order to fulfill his mother’s vow
which was made when
Jose was
born.
Childhood in Calamba
Prepared by:
Teodora could not accompany
them because she had given birth
to Trinidad.
Flor A. Docusin
 Learning Objectives
 Describe Jose Rizal’s Childhood
in Calamba.
 Compare and contrast
hometown to yours.
Rizal’s
 Elaborate why Dona Teodora was
arrested and detained.
 Explain the unusual happening
to the family when Rizal was
preparing to study in Manila.
 Discuss the details
Gomburza’s execution.
of
the
Introduction
His natal town Calamba so named
after a big native jar was a fitting
cradle for a hero.
The happiest period of Rizal’s life
was sent in the lakeshore town, a
worthy prelude to his Hamlet-like
tragic manhood.
Calamba
was
hacienda
town
belonged to the Dominican order
which also owned all the lands
around it.
June 16, 1868- Jose an his
father left Calamba to go on
Pilgrimage
to Antipolo in
They rode in a casco (barge)
across Laguna de Bay.
Since it was his first experience
on a lake voyage he was thrilled and
overwhelmed with joy to one another
listening with wonder and joy their
melodious songs.
Rizal’s first bitter memory was when
little Concha (Concepcion)
died when she was only three years
old. He cried bitterly and for the first
time, he wept tears of love and
intense grief.
At the age of three, he began to take
part in the family prayers.
When he was 5 years old, he was
able to read haltingly the Spanish
family bible.
Father Leoncio Lopez-one of the men
he esteemed and respected in
Calamba.
After praying at the shrine of the
Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his
father went to Manila. It was the
first time Jose saw Manila and
visited Saturnina, his older sister,
who was then studying in La
Concordia College.
Story of the Moth-one of the stories
told by Dona Teodora to her favorite
son. The tragic fate of the young
moth, which died a martyr.
Story of the Moth
Dona Teodora used to tell
stories to her children before going
to bed. In one occasion, she
narrated to Jose the story of the
young moth which had made an
imprint and profound impression in
his mind at an early stage of life.
One evening, all the members
of Rizal’s family went to bed early
except his mother and him. The
room was dimly lighted by the
flickering light from a coconut oil
lamp. On the table.
Dona Teodora was teaching
him to read a Spanish reader, “The
Children’s Friend”. She became
impatient and scolded him for not
reading properly. He paid little
attention and effort in reading
because he was preoccupied and
fascinated watching the coconut oil
lamp while the little moth encircled
the flights. When her mother noticed
that he was yawning and seemed
not interested at all, she stopped
reading and said, “I am going to
read to you a very interesting story.
I want you to listen.”
Rizal was suddenly awakened
because
the
story
promised
something novel and interesting. His
curiosity increased when his mother
started to read slowly the fable of
the mother moth and its little one.
As she continued reading the story,
his attention was focused on the
light and the moths which were
circling the oil lamp. Dona Teodora
repeating the warning of the mother
moth to the young one not to fly
close to the flame as if directing to
him.
He heard the message she would
like to convey, but he was so
engrossed with the beautiful and
attractive flame as the insects
played merrily in its fascinating
brilliance that the moths that fell
and drawn in the oil did not give
him any fear of apprehension. There
was even a feeling of envy in himself
about the fortune of the insects.
While his mother continued reading,
he listened breathlessly as he
stretched his imagination greatly
about the fate of the little moth
when the flame moved along its
golden tongue to one side and a
moth with this movement had
signed fell into the hot oil, flap its
wings up and down for a time and
then became keep quiet.
For him, that fleeting moment
became an important event. He felt
an unusual feeling and change in
himself that the flame and the moth
seemed to have some significance in
his life while her mother’s words
appeared to his mind to have a
mysterious and brightening basis.
He did not know how the fable
ended. His attention was fixed on
the fate of the insects and quietly,
he murmured. “I watched it with my
whole soul…It had died a martyr to
its illusions.”
Before his mother put him to
bed, she said, “See if you do not
behave like the young moth, you
might get burned.” He did not know
whether he answered his mother.
One thing he knew was the story
revealed to him something until
then unknown. For him, moths are
now significant. Moths talked and
they knew how to warn and advised
like her mother.
For him, the light seemed
more beautiful and had grown more
dazzling and attractive. Now, he
knew how to warn and advised like
her mother.
For him, the light seemed
more beautiful and had grown more
dazzling and attractive. Now, he
knew why the moths encircled the
flame.
The tragic fate of the young
moth attracted to the splendor of
the light that died a martyr to its
illusions “left a profound impress on
Rizal’s mind. For him, such noble
death was justified, upholding that
“to sacrifice one’s life for an ideal” is
meritorious and exemplary. Like the
young moth, he was destined to die
as a martyr for a lofty ideal.
Artistic Talents
-At the age of five, he began to make
sketches with his pencil sketches
with his pencil and to mould in clay
and wax objects which attracted his
infancy.
-Jose had the soul of a genuine
artist, he loved to ride on spirited
pony which his father bought for
him and take long walks in the
meadows and lakeshore with his
black dog Usman.
One interesting anecdote about his
clay and wax images. One day
when he was about six years old his
sisters laughed at him for
Spending, so much time making
those
images
rather
than
participating in their games. He told
them: “All right laughed at me now,
someday when I die, people will
make monuments and
images of me.
Sa Aking Mga Kababata (To My
Fellow Children)-Rizal wrote his
first poem in the native language
when he was eight years old.
Tagalog comedy-his first dramatic
work after writing the poem
To my Fellow Children who was then
eight years old.
my mind, I studied, and this is seen
in all my writings. Someday God will
give me the opportunity to fulfill my
promise.”
Rizal as Boy Magician
Early
Binan
He learned various tricks, such as
making coin appear or disappear in
his
fingers
and
making
a
handkerchief vanish in thin air. He
entertained his town folks with
magic-lantern exhibitions.
Dona Teodorawas his first
teacher,
as
tutor
she
was
conscientious, and understanding.
It was she who first discovered that
her son had a talent for poetry.
This consisted of an ordinary lamp
casting it its shadow on a white
screen. He twisted his supple fingers
into fantastic shapes, making their
enlarged shadows on the screen
resemble certain
animals and
persons. He also gained skills in
manipulating marionettes (Puppet
Shows)
Lakeshore Reveries
During
the
twilight hours of summertime Rizal
accompanied by his pet dog, used to
meditate at the shore of Laguna de
Bay on the sad conditions of his
oppressed people. When he became
a man, many years later he wrote to
Mariano Ponce: “In view of the
injustices and cruelties, although
yet a child, my imagination was
awakened and I made a vow
dedicating myself someday to avenge
the many victims. With this idea in
education
in
Calamba
and
Tutors of Rizal
1. Maestro Celestino
2. Maestro Lucas Padua
3. Maestro
Leon
Monroy-a
former classmate of Rizal’s
father, became the boy’s tutor.
This old teacher lived at the
Rizal home and instructed
Jose in Spanish and Latin.
June 1869- Jose after kissing the
hands of his parents and tearful
parting from his sisters, left
Calamba for Binan.
Maestro Justiniano Aquino CruzRizal’s teacher in Binan.
First School Brawl
Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The
latter accepted, thinking he could
beat the Calamba boy who was
smaller and younger.
Andres Salandanan-challenged him
to an arm-wrestling match. Jose
having a weaker arm, lost and
nearly cracked his head on the
sidewalk. He was not quarrelsome
by nature, but he never ran away
from a fight.
Painting Lessons in Binan
Juancho-the old painter who was
the father-in-law of the school
teacher.
Jose and his classmate, Jose
Guevarra, who also loved painting,
became apprentices of the old
painter.
Jose led a methodical life in Binan,
almost Spartan in simplicity.
Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood
exercises, including horse riding,
walking, and wrestling.
Tio Gregorio-a book lover, intensified
his voracious reading of good books.
Father Leoncio Lopez-the old and
learned parish priests of Calamba,
fostered Rizal’s love for scholarship
and intellectual honesty.
The death of Concha in 1865 and
the imprisonment of his mother in
1871-74, contributed to strengthen
his character, enabling him to resist
blows of adversity in later years.
The Spanish abuses and cruelties
which he witnessed in his boyhood,
such as the brutal acts of the
lieutenant of the Guardia Civil and
1. Hereditary Influence
According to biological science,
there are inherent qualities which a
person inherits from his ancestors
and parents.
2. Environmental Influence
According
to
psychologists,
environment, as well as heredity,
affects the nature of a person.
Tio Jose Alberto- who had studied
for eleven years in a British school
in Calcutta, India, and had travelled
in Europe inspired him to develop
his artistic ability.
Tio Manuel-a husky and athletic
man, encouraged him to develop his
frail body by means of physical
the alcalde, the unjust tortures
inflicted on innocent Filipinos, and
the execution of Fathers Gomez,
Burgos, and Zamora in 1872,
awakened his spirit of patriotism
and inspired him to consecrate his
life and talents to redeem his
oppressed people.
3. Aid of Divine Providence
Greater
than
heredity
and
environment in the fate of man is
the aid of Divine Providence. A
person may have everything in life—
brains, wealth, and power—but,
without the aid of Divine Providence,
he cannot attain greatness in the
annals of the nation.
Detention of Dona Teodora
June 1872-tragedy struck the Rizal
family.
Dona
Teodora
was
suddenly
arrested on a malicious charge that
she and his brother, Jose Alberto,
tried to poison the latter’s perfidious
wife.
Jose Alberto-a rich Binan ilustrado,
had just returned from a business
trip in Europe. When he arrived in
Binan, he found her living with
another man. He planned to divorce
her. Dona Teodora, to avert family
scandal, persuaded him to forgive
his wife. The family trouble was
amicably settled, and Jose Alberto
lived again with his wife. However,
the evil wife, with the connivance of
the Spanish lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil, filed a case in court
accusing her husband and Dona
Teodora of attempting to poison
her..
This lieutenant happened to have an
ax to grind against the Rizal family,
because at one time Don Francisco
(Rizal’s father) refused to give him a
fodder for his horse. Taking the
opportunity to avenge himself, he
arrested Dona Teodora, with the
help of Calamba’s gobernadorcillo,
Antonio Vivencio del Rosario, a
menial of the friars.
The Spanish lieutenant forced her to
walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz
(capital of Laguna Province), a
distant of 50 kilomiters. Where she
languished for two years and a half
until the Manila Royal Audiencia
(Supreme Court) acquitted her of the
alleged crime.
The most
Manila
famous
lawyers
of
1. Mssr. Francisco de Mercaida
2. Mssr. Manuel Marzan
The Cavity Mutiny of 1872
January
20,
1872-about
200
workmen of the Cavite arsenal
under the leadership of Lamadrid,
Filipino sergeant, rose in violent
mutiny because of the abolition of
their usual privileges, including
exemption from tribute and polo
(forced labor) by the reactionary
Governor Rafael Izquierdo.
Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose
Burgos,
and
Jacinto
Zamora,
leaders of the secular movement to
Filipinize the Philippine parishes
and their supporters (Jose Ma.
Basa, attorneys Joaquin Pardo de
Tavera and Antonio Ma. Regidor,
etc.) magnified the failed mutiny into
a
“revolt”
for
Philippine
independence.
February 17, 1872- they were
executed despite the archbishop’s
plea for clemency because of their
innocence.
Paciano enraged by the execution of
Burgos, his beloved friend, teacher,
and housemate, quit his studies at
the college of San Jose and returned
to Calamba, where he told the
heroic story of Burgos to his
younger brother Jose, who was
nearly 11 years old.
The martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za in
1872 truly inspired Rizal to fight the
evils of Spanish tyranny and redeem
the oppressed people.
He never forgot the incident and
considered it as one of the crucial
events in his life in his youth. Even
at that age, although yet a child he
swore to avenge the cruelties which
he had seen and witnessed.
Summary
Jose
Rizal
had
many
memories of childhood in his native
town. He grew up in a happy home,
ruled by good parents, bubbling
with joy, and sanctified by God’s
blessings. It’s scenic beauties and
industrious, hospitable, and friendly
folks impressed him during his
childhood years and profoundly
affected his mind and character. The
happiest period of Rizal’s life was
spent in this lakeshore town, a
worthy prelude to Hamlet-like tragic
manhood.