compromised version was created and
passed to the Congress. It was authored by
Senator Jose P. Laurel. Presently, the Rizal
law is active for more than 50 years.
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

Also known as Rizal Law was approved
on June 12, 1956, an act of mandating
all public and private institutions
including state colleges, and universities
to include the Dr. Jose Rizal's life,
works, and writings as a course across
programs.

Particularly his novel “Noli Me
Tangere" and “El Filibusterismo".
HISTORY OF RIZAL LAW
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Senate bill 438, known as Rizal Bill,
authorized by Senator Claro M. Recto - is
considered as one of the most controversial
bills in the Philippines.
Recto's original bill made it obligatory for
college and university students to study the
Life and Works of Jose Rizal.
Senator Claro M. Recto is deemed as the
“Father of Rizal Bill”.
Issues of the bill being “anti-church” because
some passages from Rizal's writings could
tarnish the church's images. It is also said to
violate the freedom of religion and
conscience of people. Hence, the bishops
threatened to turn down their religious
schools. Moreover, certain senators like
Francisco Rodrigo, Mariano J. Cuenco, and
Decoroso Rosales, who opposed the bill, gave
suggestions to revise the proposed bill. For
instance, Senator Rodrigo advised Recto to
only require students to read a summarized
version of Rizal’s work. However, Recto
denied this provision, stating that it is
necessary to examine and learn about the
original manuscripts. After a month, a
PROVISIONS OF THE RIZAL LAW
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Section 1: Courses on the life, works and
writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel
“Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”,
shall be included in the curricula of all
schools, colleges and universities, public or
private: Provided, That in the collegiate
courses, the original or unexpurgated
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo of the English translation
shall be used as basic texts.
Section 2: It shall be obligatory on all
schools, colleges, and universities to keep in
their libraries an adequate number of
copies of the original and unexpurgated
editions of Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other
works
and
biography.
The
said
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo or their translations in
English, as well as other writings of Rizal,
shall be included in the list of approved
books for required reading in all public and
private schools, colleges, and universities.
Section 3: The Board of National Education
shall cause the translation of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as
the other writings of Jose Rizal into English,
Tagalog, and the principal Philippine
dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap,
popular editions; and cause them to be
distributed, free of charge, to persons
desiring to read them, through the Purok
organizations and Barrio Councils
throughout the country.
 The Board of National Education
is in charge of regulating and
punishing schools who do not
follow this law.
Section 4: Nothing in this Act shall be
construed as amendment or repealing
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section nine hundred twenty-seven of the
Administrative Code, prohibiting the
discussion of religious doctrines by public
school teachers and other person engaged in
any public school.
Section 5: The sum of three hundred
thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be
appropriated out of any fund not otherwise
appropriated in the National Treasury to
carry out the purposes of this Act.
Section 6: This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
The law was approved in June 12, 1956.
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LESSON 1: THE STUDY OF RIZAL
COURSE: REVERENCE WITHOUT
UNDERSTANDING
Reverence: means idolizing.
“Taking up Rizal course for credits, like reading
Shakespeare to get by in English courses, can be
tiresome business for the youth. If reading and
discussing the texts cannot be fun but boring.
Rizal will be nothing more than a label for beds,
matches, cements, and corporations.”
-
THE PATRIOTIC OBJECTIVES
OF RIZAL LAW

Cristobal, Adrian
Redacting Rizal: 2004
RIZAL: HUMAN AND HERO
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“Reverence without understanding is for
deities, not flesh and blood heroes like Rizal.
Hero-worship must be both historicalcritical.” (Ocampo: 1969)
We must view Rizal as an evolving personality
within an evolving historical period.
Rizal was capable of unraveling the myths
that were woven by the oppressors of his
time, but he would have been at a loss to see
through the more sophisticated myths and
recognize the subtle techniques of presentday colonialist, given the state of his
knowledge and experience at that time.
Many of his social criticisms are still valid
today because certain aspect of our life are still
carry-over of the feudal and colonial society
of his time.
To be able to appreciate a hero for that matter,
we must be able to learn more about him – not
merely his acts but the thoughts behind his
acts, his reasons, the situation he found
himself in as well as his motivations.
“If Rizal is treated like God, he becomes
unattainable and his accomplishments
inhuman.” (Cristobal, 2004)
Rizal is specifically an ophthalmologist,
poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian,
architect, educator, linguist, physician,
nationalist, farmer, surveyor, businessman,
geographer, grammarian, sculptor, and
painter.

Republic Act 1425, commonly known as the
Rizal Law and authored by Senator Claro
M. Recto, was signed by the president
(Ramon Magsaysay) of June 12, 1956. The
passing of the Rizal Law gave rise to the
implementation of the Rizal course as a
requirement for graduation in all nondegree and degree courses in the tertiary
education. It requires the curricula of private
and public schools, colleges and universities
to include courses on the life, works and
writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels
Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
According to the Official Gazette, the law
was made effective on August 16, 1956.
Particularly the Rizal Law aims to:
 Recognize the relevance of Rizal’s
ideals, thoughts, teachings and lifevalues to present conditions in the
community and the country and apply
them in the solution to day-to-day
situations and problems of contemporary
life.


Develop an understanding and
appreciation of the qualities, behavior,
and character of Rizal, as well as his
thoughts and ideas, and thus foster the
development of moral character, personal
discipline, citizenship, and vocational
efficiency.
Comply with the patriotic objectives of
the Rizal Law given by the late Senator
Jose P. Laurel (signed the law, but
Recto is the main author).


JOSE RIZAL’S GENEOLOGY

RIZAL: AN EXAMPLE OF
SACRIFICE
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“Whatever our condition might be then, let us
love our country always and let us wish nothing
but her welfare. Thus we shall labor in
conformity with the purpose of humanity
dictated by God which is the harmony and
universal peace of His creations.”
- Letter of Rizal to Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt
RIZAL: A MODERN DAY HERO

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According to Nick Joaquin, Rizal was
greatly aggrieved by his physique.
It is his feelings of inadequacy that made
him dynamic and he continually looked for
ways to be better than others.
Rizal's determination to excel in as many
fields as possible was to show the world that
he was capable, that he was as tall as the
next man.
Genealogy: study of ancestry and family
histories. An expert in this field is called
genealogist.
BIRTH OF A HERO

Our national hero was a man of peace with a
vision.
Rizal suffered as much as his countrymen.
He was the spark that gave birth to
Philippine pride for one’s country and
people.
Yet all he wanted for his people was that
they educate themselves so that they could
stand as free men and face the world with
head held high.
“There is a need for a rededication to the
ideals of freedom and nationalism for our
heroes who lived and died.”
From a weak, frail child, Jose Rizal rose to
become one of the tallest men in history.
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He was born on June 19, 1861, between
eleven and twelve in the evening in
Calamba, Laguna.
Rizal was baptized by Fr. Rufino Collantes
on June 22, 1861, while Fr. Pedro Casanas
stood as Rizal’s godfather.
The delivery was exceedingly difficult and
the mother almost died (Rizal’s head was
too big). Her seemingly miraculous survival
was attributed to Our Lady of Peace and
Good Voyage (Patron saint of Antipolo).
He was named “Jose” by his pious mother,
in honor of St. Joseph.
Protacio: from martyr ‘Gervacio Protacio’
in Christian Calendar.
Mercado:
surname
of
great-great
grandfather which is a Spanish term for
“Market”.
Rizal: In Spanish, It means a green fields.
Originally, it is Ricial (CI is pronounced as
TH).
Alonzo: Surname of her mother.
Y: It means “and”.
Realonda: It was used by Dona Teodora
from her godmother.
Rizal has a library in their house.
His full name is Jose Protacio Rizal
Mercado y Realonda Alonzo/Alonso.
PATERNAL SIDE
Famous Photo of
Rizal

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Young Rizal

11-year old Rizal

CHINESE ANCESTRY
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Rizal’s paternal ancestor, Domingo LamCo, was a native of the Chinchew district in
China.
He was baptized in the Parian Church of
San Gabriel on a Sunday in June 1697.
Siang-co and Zun-nio was the name of his
parents.
Lam Co took the name Domingo, the
Spanish term for Sunday.
He was married to Inez dela Rosa, who was
half of his age.
Her father was Agustin Chinco, also a
Chinese chinchew and married to Jacinta
Rafaela, a Chinese meztiso in Parian.
They have six children named Magdalena
Vergara, Josepha, Cristoval de la Trinidad,
Juan Batista, Francisco Hong-Sun, Inez
dela Rosa.
Domingo Lamco
 Rizal’s great-great-grandfather, a
Chinese immigrant from Chiangchow
who arrived in Manila in about 1690
who married Ines dela Rosa. They took
the surname “Mercado” in 1731.
Francisco Mercado
 Son of Domingo and Ines
 Rizal’s great-grandfather
 Married Cirila Bernacha
 Resided in Biñan, Laguna
 Was elected gobernadorcillo of Biñan
Juan Mercado
 Son of Francisco and Cirila
 Rizal’s grandfather
 Married Cirila Alejandro
 Was also elected gobernadorcillo of
Biñan
 Had thirteen children
Francisco Mercado
 Youngest son of Juan and Cirila
 Rizal’s father
 Lost his father at the age of 8
 Married Teodora
 Settled in Calamba, Laguna
 Engaged in farming and business
MATERNAL SIDE
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Lakandula
 last king of Tondo
Eugenio Ursua
 Teodora’s great-grandfather and was of
Japanese ancestry
 Married to Benigna (a Filipina)
Regina Ursua
 Daughter of Eugenio and Benigna who
married Atty. Manuel de Quintos
Brigida de Quintos
 Daughter of Regina and Atty. Quintos
who married Alberto Alonso and had
five children

RIZAL’S FAMILY TREE
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Francisco Mercado Rizal
 Youngest son of Juan and Cirila
 Rizal’s father
 Born on May 11, 1818
 Lost his father at the age of 8
 Married Teodora
 Settled in Calamba, Laguna
 Died on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80
Teodora Alonzo Realonda
 Rizal’s mother
 Born on November 8, 1826
 Studied at the College of Santa Rosa
 Died on August 16, 1911 at the age of 84
 One of the most highly educated women
in the Philippines.
 A gifted woman with insights into
literature, arts, music, and other forms
of Philippine culture.
 A fine mathematician, gourmet cook,
interior decorator, and collector of fine
books.
Saturnina (1850 – 1913) “Neneng”
 Eldest of the Rizal children and married
to Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of
Tanauan, Batangas.
 Have 5 children.
 She published Pascual H. Poblete’s
translation of the Noli Me Tangere
Paciano (1851 – 1930)
 79 years old and was the oldest boy in the
family.
 He joined the revolutionary army and
rose to the rank of Major General.
 He learned English through self-study
and his favorite periodical was
Philippine free Press.
 He was with Severina Decena. They had
2 children but his wife died early.
Narcisa (1852 – 1939) “Sisa”
 Married to Antonio Lopez, a
schoolmaster from Morong.
 It is said that Sisa could recite from
memory all the poems of Rizal.
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Her son Leoncio, a physician and
professor at the College of Medicine,
UST.
Olympia (1855 – 1887) “Ypia”
 Married to Silvestre Ubaldo, a
telegraph operator in Manila.
 Died in 1887 from childbirth
 Her son Aristeo, a retired physician and
professor at the Philippine General
Hospital and the College of Medicine,
UP
Lucia (1857 – 1919)
 Married to Mariano Herbosa of
Calamba, a farmer and nephew of Fr.
Pedro Casanas.
 Mariano died of cholera in 1889 and was
denied a Christian burial, because he
was a brother-in-law of Jose Rizal.
 One of the daughter Delfina who helped
Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo make the first
Filipino flag in Hongkong.
Maria (1859 – 1945) “Biang”
 Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of
Binan, Laguna.
 Mauricio was one of the children of
Maria and Faustino who killed by the
Japanese in 1945.
 Gemma Cruz, the first Filipina to bring
home an international beauty title is a
descendant family of Rizal.
Jose (1861 – 1896) “Pepe”
 Second son and seventh child.
 He became the national hero.
 He married to Josephine Bracken, a
pretty Irish from Hongkong. They had a
child named “Francisco” but he died an
hour after birth. He was named after
Rizal.
Concepcion (1862 – 1865) “Concha”
 She died at the age of three. Playmate of
Rizal.
Josefa (1865 – 1945) “Panggoy”
 Epileptic
 Died a spinster (unmarried woman)
Trinidad (1868 – 1951) “Trining”
 She did not marry.
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The last of the family died at the age of
83.
Soledad (1870 – 1929) “Choleng”
 She married to Pantaleon Quintero of
Calamba.
 She studied at La Concordia College
where she and Leonor Rivera were
classmates.
 One of the five children of Soledad and
Pantaleon is Amelia, married to
Bernabe Malvar, son of General Miguel
Malvar
THE ROYAL DECREE OF 1849:
THE CLAVERIA LIST
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In 1731, Domingo Lamco adopted the
surname “Mercado” (market).
In 1849, Gov. Gen. Claveria ordered all
Filipinos to adopt Spanish surnames.
Francisco adopted the surname “Rizal” that
was suggested by the provincial governor,
who was a family friend.
The list of produced and approved family
names can be referred from the “Catalogo
Alfabetico de Apellidos”.
The Rizal Surname
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Originally “Ricial”
In Spanish, it means “green fields”
Prophetic according to Leon Ma.
Guerrero: “a field where wheat, cut
while still in green, sprouts again.”
Only Jose used the surname Rizal until
1891
JOSE RIZAL’S CHILDHOOD
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Rizal is in a middle-class family.
Their house is very close to a church, which
at the time, signifies richness.
Rizal and his siblings studied in prestigious
universities.
They also possessed a carriage, which is a
status symbol for Ilustrados.
They have a family library, which is said to
be the largest in Calamba, consisting one
thousand volumes of books.
Despite that, they were not spoiled. They
were thought good manners and faithfulness
since his family was very religious.
RIZAL’S EARLY CHILDHOOD
MEMORIES
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The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy,
was his happy days in the family garden.
Because he was frail, sickly, and undersized
child, he was given the most tender care by
his parents.
His father built a nipa cottage in the garden
for him to play in the daytime.
Another childhood memory was the daily
Angelus prayer.
By nightfall, Rizal related, his mother
gathered all the children at the house to pray
the Angelus.
With nostalgic feeling, he also remembered
the happy moonlit nights at the azotea
(rooftop of balcony above a house) after the
rosary.
THE HERO’S FIRST SORROW
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The Rizal children were bound together by
the ties of love and companionship. Their
parents taught them to love one another, to
behave properly in front of elders, to be
truthful and religious, and to help one another.
They affectionately called their father
Tatay, and mother Nanay. English was not
widely used at the time.
Jose was jokingly called Ute by his brother
and sisters. The people in Calamba knew
him as Pepe or Pepito.
Of his sisters, Jose loved most little Concha
(Concepcion). He was one year older than
Concha. He played with her, and from her, he
learned the sweetness of brotherly love.
Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in
1865 when he was 3 years old.
Jose, who was very fond of her, cried bitterly
to lose her.
In short, Concha was Rizal’s first heartache.
FIRST EDUCATION FROM
MOTHER
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Jose’s first teacher was his mother.
At the age of 3, Jose learned the alphabet
and prayers from her.
Seeing Rizal had a talent for poetry, she
encouraged him to write poems. She gave
her all her love and all that she learned in
college.
THE STORY OF THE MOTH
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
Of the story told by Dona Teodora to Jose,
it was that of the young moth made the
profoundest impression on him.
The tragic fate of the young moth, which
died a martyr to its illusions, left a deep
impression on Rizal’s mind.
“May dalawang mag-inang gamo gamo.
Binalaan nung nanay na wag lalapit anak niya
dun sa apoy kahit macurious siya dahil baka
masaktan o mamatay siya. Kaya ito kinwento ng
nanay niya ay para ipamulat sakanya na pagdi
ka sumunod sa magulang mo, maaaring may
mangyaring masama. Ang nangyari dun sa
gamo gamo ay namatay dahil di nakinig.”
RIZAL’S THREE UNCLES
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There were 3 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 his nephew a great
love for books. He taught him to work hard,
to think for himself, and to observe life
keenly.
Uncle Jose, who had been educated at
Calcutta, India, was the youngest brother of
Dona Teodora. He encouraged his nephew
to paint, sketch, and sculpture.
Uncle Manuel was a big, strong, and husky
man. He looked after the physical training
of his sickly and weak nephew. He encourage
Rizal to learn swimming, fencing, wrestling,
and other sports, so that in later years Rizal’s
frail body acquired agility, endurance, and
strength.
A
Group
Sketches
of
by Rizal
ARTISTIC TALENTS
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Since early childhood, Rizal revealed his
God-given talents for the arts.
He drew sketches and pictures on his books
of his sisters, for which reason he was
scolded by his mother. He carved figures of
animals and persons out of wood. Even
before he learned to read, he could already
sketch pictures of birds, flowers, fruits,
rivers, mountains, animals and persons.
He loved to ride on a spirited pony (which
his father bought for him) or take long
walks (in the meadows for him) or take long
walks in the meadows and lakeshore with
his big black dog named Usman.
At one time, his sisters teased him: “Ute, what
are you doing with so many statuettes?” He
replied: “Don’t you know that people will
erect monument and statues in my honor for
the future?”
RIZAL’S EARLY WRITINGS
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In 1868, before he was eight years old, he
wrote a Tagalog drama. This drama was
stages in Calamba in connection with the
town fiesta.
At an early age when children usually begin
to learn ABC, 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).
His mother was a strong influence upon his
education and helped develop his early
interest in poetry, music, and European
literature.
Readings in Tagalog poetry and daily
assignments in Philippine History by his
mother inculcated in him a sense of the
Filipino culture.
Rizal’s deep love for his mother was
expressed in the poem “Mother’s Birthday”.
INFLUENCES ON HERO’S
BOYHOOD
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Hereditary Influence
 According to biological science, there
are inherent qualities which a person
inherits from ancestors and parents.
 From Malayan ancestors, Rizal
evidently, inherited his love for freedom,
his innate desire to travel and his
indomitable courage.
 From 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.
 And from his mother, his religious
nature, the spirit of self-sacrifice and the
passion for arts and literature.
Environmental Influence
 According
to
psychologist,
environment as well as heredity affects
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the nature of a person. It includes places,
associates and events.
The beautiful scenic of Calamba and the
beautiful garden of the Rizal family
stimulated the inborn artistic and
literary talents of Jose Rizal.
The religious atmosphere at his home
fortified his religious nature.
His brother Paciano instilled in his mind
the love for freedom and justice.
From sisters, he learned to be courteous
and kind to women.
The fairy tales told by his yaya
(Aquilina) awakened his interest in
folklore and legends.
Father Leoncio Lopez, a parish priest in
Calamba fostered Rizal’s love for
scholarship and intellectual honesty.
The sorrows in his family such as death
of Concha in 1865 and the
imprisonment of his mother in 187-74
contributed to strengthen his character,
enabling him to resist blows adversity in
later years.
The Spanish abuses and cruelties which
he witnessed in his boyhood such as brutal
acts of the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil
and 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.
“Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the
hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is
revealed”
-Bob Riley
TRAGEDIES IN RIZAL'S YOUNG
LIFE AND EARLY EDUCATION
TRAGEDIES IN RIZAL’S YOUNG
LIFE
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It was with a sad heart that Francisco Mercado
finally sent Jose off to school in Manila. The
boy was now eleven years of age. His brother
Paciano was studying in College of San Jose
under its famous teacher Fr. Jose Burgos, a
noble and courageous Filipino priest. Here,
Jose Rizal came face to face with another
tragedy in his young life. He found Paciano
destructed over the execution of the beloved
Fr. Jose Burgos, who was convicted of
inciting mutiny, an insurrection or uprising
against civil, legal, or political authority.
He was making preparations to depart when an
injustice occurred and threw a shadow across
his happy young life. His mother was thrown
into a prison, accused of a crime of which
she was so whole incapable of doing that
everybody knew it was a pure fabrication.
She was charged with conspiracy with her
brother, Alberto Realonda, to kill his wife,
who had separated from him.
INJUSTICE TO HERO’S MOTHER
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Before June 1872: Doña Teodora was
suddenly arrested on a malicious charge
that she and her brother, Jose Alberto, rried
to poison the latter’s perfidious wife.
Antonio Vivencio del Rosario: Calamba’s
gobernadorcillo, help arrest Doña Teodora.
After arresting Doña Teodora, the sadistic
Spanish lieutant forced her to walk from
calamaba to santa cruz, a distance of 50
kilometers.
Messrs. Francisco de Marcaida and
Manuel Marzan: The most famous lawyers
of Manila that defend Doña Teodora
“First injustice ay nung nakulong si Dona
Teodora dahil sa maling bintang na tinry daw
nitong lasunin ang wife ng kapatid niya
(Teodora Formoso). Isang araw, si Jose Alberto
(kapatid ni Teodora) ay may asawa. Nasa
Europe for business si Alberto and yung asawa
niya ay may iba palang lalaki, so plano niya
makipagdivorce. Pero dahil sa kabaitan ni Dona
Teodora, para raw iwas iskandalo, pinilit niyang
wag magdivorce. Kaso, dahil masama ugali
nung babae, sinumbong nito sa pulis si Dona
Teodora na tinangka raw siyang lanusin.
Binigyan umano ito ni Dona Teodora ng
pagkain na hindi niya kinain so pinakain sa aso,
pero biglang namatay yung aso. And, sa tulong
ng gobernadorcillo (Antonio Vivencio del
Rosario) noong panahong iyon, pinakulong si
Dona Teodora. Pinaglakad siya mula Calamba
hanggang Sta Cruz. May tumulong sakanyang
lawyers kaso di siya pinalabas.”
THE IMPRISONMENT AND
RELEASE OF DONA TEODORA

During Jose’s two-year stay in Ateneo, his
mother was imprisoned in Sta. Cruz. Doña
Teodora allegedly conspired with her brother
Jose Alberto to poison his wife. Then she was
released for a reason that revealed more
plainly than ever how little justice existed
during that period. The Governor General,
Rafael Izquierdo, happened to be visiting
Calamba. Some little girls danced for his
entertainment. One of them was so pretty
and did her steps so charmingly that the
Governor General called her to his side and
said: “What present can I give you, charming
little dancer?” “Oh, please, Governor,” she
answered, ”release my mother from prison.”
“Who is this little girl’s mother? Set her free!”
cried the Governor General.” The pretty girl
was Jose’s sister, Soledad (bunso). Her
mother was at once released and the case was
dismissed without a trial.
THE EXECUTION OF
GOMBURZA
On the night of January 20, 1872, some
200 Filipino and Spanish mestizo workers and
soldiers rose in mutinity in Cavite because of
the abolition of their usual privileges including
exemption from tribute and polo y servicio
(forced labor) by the Governor General Rafael
De Izquierdo. Three priests were implicated in
the mutiny, tried, and sentenced to die on
February 17, 1872. They were Fr. Mariano
Gomez, Fr. Jose Burgos, and Fr. Jacinto
Zamora. They were known as Gomburza.

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
Fr. Jose Burgos
 Father Jose Burgos was one of the three
Gomburza priests executed by Spanish
authorities in the Philippines after being
accused of treason. He was born in
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, in 1837, and was
garroted on February 17, 1872, at Fort
Santiago in the middle of Bagumbayan
field (now Luneta Park).
 He was a close friend of Paciano (Rizal’s
older brother) as he was his teacher and
housemate. Hence, he was deeply in awe
when he was executed and he shared the
story to his siblings, including Rizal.
That is why El Filibusterismo is
dedicated to the three priests.
Fr Mariano Gomez
 Gómez was born on August 2, 1799 in
the suburb of Santa Cruz, Manila. He
was a Tornatrás, one born of mixed
Chinese and Spanish ancestries. His
parents were Francisco Gómez and
Martina Guard. After studying in the
Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, he took
theology in the University of Santo
Tomás. He was a student preparing for
the priesthood in the Seminary of
Manila.
 He was also the uncle of ilustrado
nationalist and labor leader Dominador
Gomez.
Fr. Jacinto Zamora
 Jacinto Zamora y del Rosario (14
August 1835 - 17 February 1872) was a
Filipino secular priest, part of the
Gomburza trio who were falsely
accused of mutiny by the Spanish
colonial authorities in the Philippines in
the 19th century. He was placed in a
mock trial and summarily executed in
Manila along with two other clergymen.
RIZAL’S EARLY EDUCATION



As Jose grew older, his parents employed
private tutors to give him lessons at home.
The first was Maestro Celestino and the
second, Maestro Lucas Padua. Later, an old
man named 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. Unfortunately, he did not live
long. He died five months later.
After a Monroy’s death, the hero’s parents
decided to send their gifted son to a private
school in Biñan.
JOSE GOES TO BIÑAN



One Sunday afternoon in June , 1869, Jose,
after kissing the hands of his parents and a
tearful parting from his sister, left Calamba
for Biñan. He was accompanied by Paciano
, who acted as his second father.
They proceeded to their aunt’s house, where
Jose was to lodge. It was almost night when
they arrived, and the moon was about to
rise.
That same night, Jose, with his cousin
named Leandro, went sightseeing in the
town. Instead of enjoying the sights, Jose
became depressed because of homesickness.
"In the moonlight, I remembered my home
town, my idolized mother, and my solicitous
sisters. Ah, how sweet to me was Calamba, my
own town, in spite of the fact that was not as
wealthy as Biñan."
FIRST DAY IN BIÑAN SCHOOL


The next morning (Monday), Paciano
brought his younger brother to the school
of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. They
walked to the place as it was just 30 meters
away (it is like a kubo).
Paciano knew the teacher quite well
because he had been a pupil under him

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
before. He introduced Jose to the teacher, after
which he departed to return to Calamba.
Immediately, Jose was assigned his seat in the
class. The teacher asked him: "Do you
know Spanish?" "A little, sir," replied the
Calamba lad. "Do you know Latin?" "A
little, sir."
The boys in the class, especially Pedro, the
teacher’s son laughed at Jose’s answers.
The teacher sharply stopped all noises and
begun the lessons of the day.
Jose described his teacher in Biñan as follows:
“He was tall, thin, long-necked, with sharp
nose and a body slightly bent forward, and he
used to wear a sinamay shirt, woven by the
skilled hands of the women of Batangas. He
knew by the heart the grammars by Nebrija
and Gainza. Add to this severity that in my
judgement was exaggerated and you have a
picture, perhaps vague, that I have made of
him, but I remember only this."
In academic studies, Jose beat all Biñan
boys. He surpassed them all in Spanish,
Latin, and other subjects.
Some of his older classmates were jealous of
his intellectual superiority. They wickedly
squealed to the teacher whenever Jose had
a fight outside the school, and even told lies
to discredit him before the teacher’s eyes.
Consequently, the teacher had to punish
Jose.
Rizal’s first fight happened in Binan.
“Nung hapon ng first day ng school, habang
tulog teacher nila, nameet niya si Pedro and
galit pa siya don. Dahil matapang, niyaya
niya si Pedro sa isang laban. Ito naming si
Pedro ay dahil tingin niya kaya niya si Rizal,
nilabanan niya. Kaso, napatumba ni Rizal si
Pedro kasi maalam siya magwrestling kaya
simula non ay marami sakanya lumaban.
May gusto sakanya lumaban ng arm
wrestling pero mahina si Rizal so matatalo
siya.”
Sa Binan siya natuto magpaint.
Before Christmas season nung 1870,
nakareceive siya ng sulat from Saturnina,
may steamer na papuntang Binan then
papuntang Calamba. Para siyang boat na
maliit and ang name ay "Talim' (December
17, 1870), itatake niya raw yun from Binan
to Calamba. Naisip niyang di na siya
babalik don (Binan) so nagpaalam siya.
RIZAL’S FORMATIVE YEARS IN
ATENEO AND SCHOLASTIC
RECORDS (1872 – 1877)


The Jesuits were considered the best
educators of Spain and perhaps of Europe.
When they were permitted to return to the
Philippines, they had to apply to the City
of Manila for financial support. That is
why the college which began to function in
the year 1865, was called the Ateneo
Municipal.
To enter the Ateneo, a candidate was
subjected to an entrance examination on
Christian Doctrine, reading, writing,
grammar and elementary arithmetic.
RIZAL’S FORMATIVE YEARS IN
ATENEO

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
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
June 10, 1872 : Jose was sent to Manila to
study in Ateneo.
Ateneo was a public school before. It only
handles elementary level.
Ateneo was an all-boys school and they had
uniforms. The Spaniards who were in control
of Escuela Pia (Ateneo’s former name) went
back to Spain and then, came back to the
Philippines. At the time, ‘Ateneo’ was
government-owned and it was tasked for the
Spaniards to facilitate it. That is when they
changed it to “Ateneo De Municipal”.
The Charity School of Manila, founded in
1817 and later became Ateneo de Manila.
Before then, the City Government place it in
the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits.
Fr. Magin Fernando (Ferrando): Refused
him from his matriculation because:
 He is late for registration
 He appeared to be weak and sickly





Manuel Xerez Burgos (nephew of Father
Burgos): He helped Rizal get admitted in
Ateneo.
Jose was the first to use the surname
“Rizal” because Mercado became under
suspicion by the Spanish authorities.
Paciano used the surname “Mercado”.
He boarded in a house outside Intramuros
on Calle Carballo, district of Santa Cruz.
Titay: Owner of the house where Rizal
boarded to settle the bill owed by Titay by
about Php 300.00.



JESUIT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

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
The Jesuitical system of instruction was
considered more advanced than of other
colleges in that epoch. Its discipline was rigid
and its method less mechanical.
In the first two terms, the classes were
divided into groups of interns and externs:
 Roman Empire (Internos)
 Carthaginian Empire (Externos)
Each empires had its Ranks:
 Emperor (highest)
 Tribune
 Decurion
 Centurion
 Standard Bearer
“Every meeting, one can challenge that of
the five ranks by questioning them about the
topic discussed. If they were to answer it
incorrectly three times, the position will be
snatched.”
RIZAL’S SECOND YEAR IN
ATENEO
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
RIZAL’S FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO

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June 1872: first day of class in Ateneo
Fr. Jose Bech: Rizal’s first professor
(Extern Emperor)
After a month, he became an Emperor.
A religious picture: Rizal’s first prize for
being the brightest pupil in the whole class
Santa Isabel College: where Rizal took his
Spanish lessons during recess and paid it for
Php 3.00
March 1873: Rizal returned to Calamba for
summer vacation. When the summer
vacation ended, Rizal returned to Manila
for his 2nd year term in Ateneo. He is
moved at Dona Pepay boarding house.
“During his vacation in 1873, he was sad as
his mother was detained during that time.
Saturnina suggested for them to travel to
Tanauan to entertain Rizal. Little did they
know, Rizal was secretly visiting his mother.”
“His mother was freed during his secondyear days, but before that, something
happened. One day, when he was visiting his
mom in jail, her mother had a dream and
Jose asked her to narrate it to him, so he
could give his interpretation. Based on his
mother’s narration, he concluded that she
will be freed in three months. And, it was
actually correct! That is why Rizal was
compared to St. Joseph and was called a
prophet.”
He again become an emperor.
He also received excellent grades in all
subjects and a gold medal.
At March 1874, he returned to Calamba for
his vacation.
At this point, Dona Teodora was released in
the jail after 3 months like what Rizal said.
St. Joseph: Rizal was comparable because
of his interpretation about his mother’s
release.
TEENAGE INTEREST IN
READING
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
During the summer vacation in Calamba
1st favorite novel of Rizal “The Count of
Monte Cristo” by Alexander Dumas
Cesar Cantu’s historical entitled “Universal
History”
“Travels in the Philippines” by Dr. Feodor
Jagor, a german scirntist-traveler
RIZAL’S THIRD AND FOURTH
YEAR IN ATENEO
 In 1877, he created 4 poems.
DRAMATIC WORK IN ATENEO
 San Eustacio, Martir: he submitted the
manuscript to Fr. Sanchez in his last
academic year in Ateneo

THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO

He only got 1 medal in his Latin subject.
March 1875, he returned to Calamba.
FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO


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
June 16, 1875: Rizal became an interno in
Ateneo.
Fr. Francisco Sanchez: Rizal’s favorite
teacher
Rizal won 5 medals and topped in all
subjects and on March 1876, he returned to
Calamba.
Rizal became the pride of the Jesuits and he
obtained highest grades in all subjects. He
received the degree of Bachelor of Arts with
highest honors.
EXTRA CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES

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He was an emperor and campus leader
outside
Secretary of the Marian Congregation
Member of Academy of Spanish Sciences and
member of the Academy of Natural Sciences
Rizal studied painting at Agustin Saez and
sculpture under Romualdo De Jesus, a
filipino sculptor
Engaged in gymnastics and fencing
SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO
 The Virgin Mary: he carved an image
with Batikuling with his pocket knife
 Father Lleonart: requested Rizal to
carved an image of sacred heart of
Jesus
POEMS MADE BY RIZAL IN ATENEO
 Mi Primera Inspiration – first poem
 Through Education Our Motherland
Receives Light
 To the Child
 To the Virgin Mary
 In 1876, he made 5 poems.
THE ENLIGHTENED TOMASIAN
MOTHER’S OPPOSITION TO
HIGHER EDUCATION

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
Her reason: If Rizal gets to learn more, the
Spaniards will cut off his head.
In contrary, Paciano and Don Francisco
wanted Rizal to pursue College Education.
(The Bachelor of Arts degree during
Spanish Period was equivalent to a high
school diploma today)
RIZAL ENROLLMENT AT UST


Philosophy and Letters
freshman year (1877-1878)
Why Philosophy and letters?
during
his
1.) Don Francisco liked it
2.) Uncertainty on what course to take up.
RIZAL ENTERS UNIVERSITY
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
In April 1877, Rizal nearly 16 years of age,
enrolled in the UST taking course on
Philosophy and Letters .
Consequently, during his first-year term
(1877-78) in UST, he also studied
Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and
History of Philosophy.
During the following term (1878-79), Rizal
took up the medical course. The reason why
he chose medicine for a career was to be
able to cure his mother’s growing
blindness.
At the time, you can take multiple courses
simultaneously.
FINISHES SURVEYING COURSE
IN ATENEO (1878)
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
During his first term in UST (1877-78),
Rizal also studied in Ateneo, taking up
vocational course which gave him the title
of perito agrimensor (expert surveyor).
Rizal excelled in all subjects in Ateneo,
obtaining gold medals in agriculture and
topography.
At the age of 17, he passed final examination
in surveying course but because he is below
of age, the title couldn’t be granted at that
time. The title was then issued to him on
November 25, 1881.
Though Thomasian, due to his loyalty, he
frequently visited Ateneo.
Jesuit professors, unlike Dominicans, loved
and inspired him to ascend greater
knowledge.
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In the same year (1880), he also wrote a
sonnet entitled A Filipinas for the Society of
Sculptors.
In December 8,1879, he composed a poem
entitled Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma.
Later, in 1881, he composed a poem entitled
Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon.
CHAMPION OF FILIPINO
STUDENTS

VICTIM OF SPANISH
BRUTALITY

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When Rizal was a freshman medical at
UST, he experienced his first taste of
Spanish brutality.
One dark night in 1878, he was walking in
the street and perceived some man passing
him, but due to darkness he didn’t
recognize the man and didn’t salute nor say
courteous ”Good Evening”. The man
turned out to be a lieutenant of Guardia
Civil, he turned upon Rizal and whipped
out his sword, brutally slashing his back.
The wound was painful and lasted 2 weeks.
Rizal reported the incident to General
Primo de Rivera, the Spanish Governor
General of the Philippines, but nothing
came out of his complaint because he was
an Indio and the abusive lieutenant was a
Spaniard.
Indio: Short term for “indigenous people,”
which pertains to pure-blooded groups of a
country.
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
Rizal was the champion of the Filipino
students in their frequent fights against
arrogant Spanish students, who insultingly
call their brown classmates, “Indio,
chongo!”. In retaliation, Filipinos call them
”Kastila, bagus!”. Hostility often exploded
in angry street rumbles.
Rizal participated in street brawls.
In 1880, he founded a secret society of
Filipino
students
in
UST
called
Compañerismo (Comradeship), members
were called ”Companions of Jehu”.
Rizal was the chief of the secret society and
his cousin from Batangas, Galicano
Apacible was the secretary.
UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST


Rizal found the atmosphere at UST
suffocating.
He was unhappy at the Dominican
institution for 3 reasons:
1.Dominican professors were hostile to him.
2.Filipinos were racially discriminated against
by the Spaniards.
OTHER LITERARY WORKS
3.The method of instruction were obsolete and
repressive.
Rizal produced other poems and a zarzuela,
entitled Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig),
staged by Atenean on December 8, 1880 for
the annual celebration of the feast day of
Immaculate Concepcion, Patroness of
Ateneo.

In his novel, El Filibusterismo, he described
how Filipino students were humiliated and
insulted by Dominican professors and how
twisted the method of instruction was.

Rizal failed to win high scholastic honors
due to the unfriendly attitude of his
professors.
DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD

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
After finishing Rizal’s fourth year of
medical course, he decided to go to Spain
because he could no longer endure the
discrimination and hostility in the UST.
Rizal’s parents, Leonor (Rivera; Rizal’s
greatest love), and the Spanish authorities
have no idea of his decision to go abroad to
finish his medical studies in Spain.
He believed that professors in Spain were
more liberal than of those who’re in the UST.
1.) Don Pablo Ramon, Ateneo Rector, advised
him to choose medicine
2.) Rizal wanted to cure his mother’s growing
blindness
REASON WHY RIZAL DIDN’T
ENJOYED HIS STAY AT UST
1.) Hostility of Dominican Professors to him
2.) Racial Discrimination against Filipino
students.
3.) Dissatisfaction with
instruction

UST was under the Dominicans, rival of the
Jesuits in education.
He remained loyal to Ateneo, participated in
extracurricular activities and completed a
course in surveying in that same school.
STUDENT ACTIVISM IN UST
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Rizal displayed his leadership in student
activism
Indio/chongo vs kastila/bangus
Bitter hostility exist
Racial animosity
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO WHILE
STUDYING AT UST:

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
President of the Academy of Spanish
Literature
Secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences
Secretay of the Main Congregation
MEDICAL STUDIES AT UST


Shifting from PHL and letters to Medicine.
Why did Rizal Shift to Medical course?
method
of
REASON WHY RIZAL
PERFORMED POORLY AT UST
UST AND ATENEO

the

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
Medicine is not his vocation
Discontentment with the
education
Distraction of youth
system
of
“The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for
with your thoughts; it gives you what you
demand with your actions.”
- Steve Maraboli