Rizal

• Republic Act 1425, also known as the Rizal Law, was championed by Senator Claro M. Recto in 1956
• The main goal of the Rizal Law is to mandate the integration of courses on Jose Rizal's life, works, and writings into all public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the Philippines
• Studying Rizal's novels, particularly Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, is envisioned to cultivate critical thinking, a sense of social justice, and a commitment to national progress
• The Rizal Law aims to promote national consciousness and patriotism among Filipinos by understanding Rizal's sacrifices and contributions to the independence movement
• Despite facing challenges and controversies, the Rizal Law remains a significant piece of legislation in the Philippines, resonating with Filipinos today
• The 19th century Philippines experienced economic metamorphosis, social realignments, political ferment, and cultural crossroads
• Rizal's life and works, particularly Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, became critiques of the colonial system, advocating for social reforms and ultimately, independence
• Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, and baptized three days later in the Catholic church
• Rizal's parents were Don Francisco Mercado, known as a model of fathers, and Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda, a remarkable woman with refined culture and literary talent
• Rizal Children:

  • Saturnina (1850-1913): oldest, nicknamed Neneng, married Manuel T. Hidalgo
  • Paciano (1851-1930): older brother of Jose Rizal, immortalized in Noli Me Tangere, combat general in Philippine Revolution, died at 79
  • Narcisa (1852-1939): pet name Sisa, married Antonio Lopez
  • Olimpia (1855-1887): pet name Ypia, married Silvestre Ubaldo
  • Lucia (1857-1919): married Mariano Herbosa, denied Christian burial
  • Maria (1859-1945): nickname Biang, married Daniel Faustino Cruz
  • Jose (1861-1896): greatest Filipino hero, lived with Josephine Bracken, had a son named Francisco
• • Concepcion (1862-1865): pet name Concha, died at age 3
  • Josefa (1865-1945): pet name Panggoy, died at age 80
  • Trinidad (1868-1951): pet name Trining, died at age 83
  • Soledad (1870-1929): youngest, pet name Choleng, married Pantaleon Quintero
• Rizal's Ancestry:

  • Father's Side: Domingo Lamco and Ines de la Rosa, Francisco Mercado and Cirila Bernacha Juan Mercado
  • Mother's Side: Domingo Lamco and Ines de la Rosa
  • Rizal's family acquired the surname Rizal from a Spanish alcalde mayor of Laguna
• Rizal Home:

  • Distinguished stone house in Calamba
  • Two-storey building, rectangular, built of adobe stones and hard-woods, roofed with red tiles
  • Belonged to the principalia, had a simple, contented and happy life
• Childhood Years in Calamba:

  • Calamba named after a big native jar
  • Hacienda town belonging to the Dominican Order
  • Rizal wrote "Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo" at age 15, first memory was happy days in the family garden at age 3
• Influences on Hero's Boyhood:

  • Tio Jose Alberto inspired artistic ability
  • Tio Manuel encouraged physical exercises
  • Tio Gregorio intensified reading of good books
  • Father Leoncio Lopez fostered love for scholarship and intellectual honesty
• Early Education in Calamba and Biñan:

  • Rizal's first teacher was his mother
  • Maestro Celestino and Maestro Lucas Padua were his tutors
  • Rizal challenged Pedro to a fight and Andres Salandanan to an arm-wrestling match
  • Rizal wrote his first poem in native language at age 8
• Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872-1877):

  • Rizal was admitted to Ateneo with the help of Manuel Xerez Burgos
  • Jesuit system of education focused on rigid discipline and religious instructions
  • Rizal excelled in all subjects, won medals, and topped his classmates
• Last Year in Ateneo (1876-1877):

  • Rizal excelled in all subjects and won five medals
  • Padre Francisco de Paula Sanchez inspired him to study harder and write poetry
• Rizal excelled in all subjects at Ateneo Municipal and was considered the most brilliant Atenean of his time
• On March 23, 1877, at 16 years old, Rizal received the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors from Ateneo Municipal
• Rizal was an active member of the Marian Congregation and later became the secretary
• Rizal cultivated his literary talent under the guidance of Father Sanchez
• Rizal studied painting under Agustin Saez and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus
• Rizal carved an image of the Virgin Mary on Philippine hardwood with his pocket knife
• Rizal wrote various poems during his time at Ateneo, including "Mi Primera Inspiracion" dedicated to his mother before he was 14 years old
• Rizal wrote poems on religion, education, childhood memories, and war during his time at Ateneo
• Rizal wrote poems praising Columbus, the Catholic Monarchs, and more during his last year at Ateneo in 1877
• Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in University of Santo Tomas in 1880
• Rizal found the atmosphere at the University of Santo Tomas suffocating due to hostility from Dominican professors and racial discrimination against Filipino students
• In his novel "El Filibusterismo," Rizal described the humiliation and insults Filipino students faced at UST
• Rizal entered the UST in 1877 and enrolled in the Pre-Law Course, which consisted of philosophical subjects commonly known as metaphysics
• Rizal passed the Pre-Law Course brilliantly with the highest grades, despite his initial indifference to philosophy and youthful distractions
• Rizal opted for a career in medicine and took the Pre-Medical Course and the First Year of Medicine simultaneously in 1878-1879, against the rules but with a dispensation
• In his UST courses, Rizal obtained one passing grade, eight good grades, six very good grades, and six excellent grades out of 21 subjects
• Rizal's classmates in UST did not excel in their studies either, as none of them achieved a straight record of Excellent
• Rizal's performance in UST should be compared to his classmates in Medicine, where he ranked second in the final year behind Cornelio Mapa
• Rizal was granted the rare privilege of studying simultaneously in the Preparatory Course of Medicine and the First Year of Medicine, indicating he was not discriminated against by the Dominicans
• Records show that six Spaniards were enrolled with Rizal in the first year of Medicine, and by the fourth year, only one Philippine-born Spaniard remained, who did not perform well academically
• Rizal's inclinations and abilities were more suited for arts and letters rather than Medicine, which he pursued to help his mother's poor health
• Rizal's departure from UST was not due to discrimination or mistreatment, but possibly because of his lack of interest in Medicine and a desire for broader learning opportunities abroad