The Hero’s First Teacher (summary only)
The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was a remarkable woman of good character and fine culture. On her lap, he
learned at the age of three the alphabet and the prayers. "My mother," wrote Rizal in his student memoirs, "taught me
how to read and to say haltingly the humble prayers which I raised fervently to God."
As tutor, Doña Teodora was patient, conscientious, and understanding. It was she who first discovered that her son had a
talent for poetry. Accordingly, she encouraged him to write poems. To lighten the monotony of memorizing the ABC’s and
to stimulate her son’s imagination, she related many stories.
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
lived 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.
ROLE PLAY:
Narrator1: The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was a remarkable woman of good character and fine culture. On
her lap, he learned at the age of three the alphabet and the prayers.
Jose Rizal: My mother taught me how to read and to say haltingly the humble prayers which I raised fervently to God.
Narrator2: As tutor, Doña Teodora was patient, conscientious, and understanding. It was she who first discovered that her
son had a talent for poetry.
Doña Teodora: You must learn to write poems.
Narrator3: To lighten the monotony of memorizing the ABC’s and to stimulate her son’s imagination, she related many
stories.
Narrato1r: As Jose grew older, his parents employed private tutors to give him lessons at home.
Maestro Celestino: I am Maestro Celestino, the first tutor of Jose Rizal.
Maestro Lucas Padua: I am Maestro Lucas Padua, the second tutor of Jose Rizal.
Rizal’s Dad: (talking to Jose Rizal) Son, this is my friend, and your new tutor.
Leon Monroy: I am Leon Monroy, the third tutor of Jose Rizal.
Narrator2: This old teacher lived at the Rizal home and instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin.
Narrator3: After a Monroy’s death, the hero’s parents decided to send their gifted son to a private school in Biñan.