RIZAL (EARLY)

• What was Rizal's family origin?

  Rizal was of mixed origin.
• Who was Rizal's great grandfather?

  Francisco Mercado.
• Why did Rizal's family adopt the surname "Mercado"?

  To free future generations from prejudices associated with a Chinese name.
• What position did Francisco Mercado hold in 1783?

  He became the municipal captain of Binan.
• Who were Francisco Mercado's children?

  Juan and Clemente.
• What is the Catalogo Alfabetico De Apellidos?

  It is a book of last names created by Governor General Narciso Claveria's decree.
• What does the surname "Rizal" mean?

  It comes from "ricial," meaning rice field.
• When was Jose Rizal born?

  June 19, 1861.
• What was Rizal's nickname?

  Pepe.
• Who baptized Jose Rizal?

  Father Rufino Collantes.
• Who was Rizal's godfather?

  Father Pedro Casanas.
• How is Don Francisco Rizal Mercado described?

  As an industrious and thrifty man.
• What did Rizal consider his father to be?

  A "model of fathers."
• What was Don Francisco's occupation?

  He dedicated his life to agriculture.
• Where did Teodora Alonzo Realonda get her education?

  She was a cultured and religious woman.
• What kind of atmosphere did Teodora provide for Rizal?

  A learning atmosphere filled with culture, virtue, and warmth.
• What was the social status of the Rizal family in Calamba?

  • They were a typical middle-class family of the 19th century.
  • They belonged to the principalia, the noble class in the Spanish Philippines.
  • They were educated and held positions of authority in their community.
• What did the Rizal family emphasize in their household?

  Education.
• At what age did Rizal learn his alphabet?

  At the age of three.
• What was the title of Rizal's first poem?

  "Sa aking mga kabata."
• When did Rizal start his formal education?

  At the age of nine.
• What skills did Rizal possess besides writing?

  He had skills in sculpture, sketching, and painting.
• How many siblings did Rizal have?

  He had 9 sisters and 1 brother.
• Who were the siblings of Jose Rizal?

  1. Saturnina Rizal Hidalgo
  2. Paciano Mercado Rizal
  3. Narcisa Rizal
  4. Olympia Rizal
  5. Lucia Rizal Herbosa
  6. Maria Rizal Cruz
  7. Jose Rizal
  8. Concepcion Rizal
  9. Josefa Rizal

  10. Trinidad Rizal

  11. Soledad Rizal
• What was the nickname of Paciano Rizal?

  Ñor Paciano.
• What did Paciano Rizal study and become?

  He studied at San Jose College and became a farmer and later a general.
• How did Narcisa Rizal contribute to Jose Rizal's education?

  She helped finance his studies in Europe.
• What was the fate of Concepcion Rizal?

  She died at the age of three.
• What was Jose Rizal's first pet?

  A black dog named Usman.
• Who were the three uncles that influenced Rizal during his childhood?

  Uncle Jose, Uncle Manuel, and Uncle Gregorio.
• What did Uncle Gregorio teach Rizal?

  That it wasn’t easy to obtain anything without effort.
• What challenges did Rizal face during his childhood?

  He experienced bullying and was displeased with the city he moved to.
• Where did Rizal receive his early education?

  In Calamba and Binan in Laguna.
• Who was Rizal's private tutor in Spanish and Latin?

  Leon Monroy.
• What happened after Monroy’s death?

  Rizal's father sent him to study Spanish and Latin in Binan.
• How did Rizal describe Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz?

  As a tall, thin man with a long neck and sharp nose.
• What challenge did Rizal face in school with Pedro?

  Pedro made fun of him, but Rizal won an arm-wrestling match against him.
• What was the outcome of Rizal's arm-wrestling match with Andres Salandanan?

  Rizal lost the match.
• Why did Paciano enroll Rizal in Jesuit School?

  Due to the uncertainty of the Spanish educational system.
• What was the outcome of Rizal's admission to Ateneo?

  Ateneo did not regret admitting him as he excelled in everything.