BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD

OF JOSE RIZAL

I was born in Calamba on the 19th of June 1861, between

eleven and twelve oclock at night, a few days before the

full of the moon.

- JOSE RIZAL

* JOSE RIZALS 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 RIZALS PARENTS *

Father: FRANCISCO MERCADO RIZAL

Francisco Engracio Mercado Rizal

From Bian, Laguna

Mother: TEODORA ALONZO REALONDA

Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos

From Manila

* JOSE RIZALS 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 RIZALS 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. Rizals 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

CALAMBAJose Rizals childhood days in Calamba

When early childhoods happy daysIn memory, I see once more

Along the lovely verdant shore

That meets a gently murmuring sea;

From Rizals 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.

Ah, tender childhood, lovely town,

rich fount of my felicities,

oh those harmonious melodies

which put to flight all dismal hours.

From Rizals poem, Un Recuredo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)

The beauty of Calmba impressed him as a growing child and deeply influenced

his mind and character.

* 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

mothers 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, Joses body will acquire agility, endurance and strength.

JOSE RIZALS 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 RIZALS 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 nooy 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 RIZALS 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 religious 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

mothers 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).