RIzal's family, childhood, and education

• The Rizal Family


  • Francisco Mercado (1818 – 1898)
  • Teodora Alonso (1826 – 1911)
  • Saturnina (1850 – 1913)
  • Paciano (1851 – 1930)
  • Narcisa (1852 – 1939)
  • Olimpia (1855 – 1887)
  • Lucia (1857 – 1919)
  • Maria (1859 – 1945)
  • Jose (1861 – 1896)
  • Concepcion (1855 – 1865)
  • Josefa (1865 – 1945)
  • Trinidad (1868 – 1951)
  • Soledad (1870 – 1929)
• Ancestry


  • Paternal great-great-grandfather, Domingo Lamco, was a pure-blooded Chinese who migrated to the Philippines and married Ines dela Rosa, a Filipino-Chinese
  • Maternal great-great-grandfather Eugenio Ursua (Ochoa), a Japanese resident of the Philippines, married Benigna
• Claveria Decree of 1849


  • Issued on November 21, 1849
  • It requires the adoption of Spanish and indigenous names from the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos
  • The decree ensures uniform surname usage after 1849 for civil and legal purposes
• Influences in Rizal's Early Life

  • Francisco: Provided education within means, built a comfortable home
  • Teodora: Initial teacher, imparted knowledge, instilled religious values
  • "Yaya" (Nurse): Shared imaginative stories from folklore to encourage him to eat supper
  • Religious Atmosphere: Began to take family prayers at the age of three, and started reading the Bible in Spanish at the age of five
  • Tio Jose Alberto: Inspired artistic talents
  • Tio Manuel: Encouraged physical development
  • Tio Gregorio: Fueled love for reading
• All right, laugh at me now; someday, when I die, people will make monuments and images of me: 'Jose Rizal'
• Rizal's Education at the Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas (1872 – 1882)


  • Ateneo Municipal School: Excelled academically, actively involved in Humanities and Arts, developed a love for literature and poetry
  • University of Santo Tomas: Excelled in studies, continued literary pursuits, faced ethnic prejudice
• Romantic Interests


  • Segunda Katigbak
  • Leonor "Orang" Valenzuela
  • Leonor Rivera
• Rizal's Education Abroad (1882 – 1885)


  • Excellence in humanistic studies: Literature, Languages, and History
  • Licentiate in Medicine (June 21, 1884), passed all subjects for Doctor in Medicine
  • Unable to obtain doctor's diploma due to financial issues and lack of a required thesis
  • Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters earned on June 19, 1885, with an excellent grade
  • Pursued fine arts at the Academia de San Fernando and continued literary activities
  • Specialized in Ophthalmology, assisted Dr. Louis de Weckert in France and Dr. Otto Becker in Germany
  • Invested money in book collections, showcasing consistent passion for reading
  • Expressed concern over Filipino students in Europe, criticizing their lack of patriotism and focus on superficial matters
  • Emphasized the importance of education in shaping perspectives and advocated for a more serious approach to learning and national consciousness
  • Stated the significance of education for women, comparing German and Filipino women, and encouraged his sister to prioritize education and intellectual growth
• Rizal left UST on May 1, 1882, driven by dissatisfaction with a professor, suffocating atmosphere, and perceived limited learning opportunities
• Rizal's departure to Spain marked an essential turning point in his life, as his journey paved the way for further educational pursuits and fueled his advocacy for national identity
• Parents


  • Francisco Mercado (1818 – 1898)
  • Teodora Alonso (1826 – 1911)
• Francisco Mercado


  • Born in Biñan, Laguna on April 18, 1818
  • Youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado
  • Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila
• Teodora Alonso


  • Born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827
  • Died in 1913 in Manila
  • Second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos
  • Studied in Colegio de Santa Rosa before getting married
  • Business-minded
• Siblings


  • Saturnina (1850 – 1913)
  • Paciano (1851 – 1930)
  • Narcisa (1852 – 1939)
  • Olimpia (1855 – 1887)
  • Lucia (1857 – 1919)
  • Maria (1859 – 1945)
  • Jose (1861 – 1896)
  • Concepcion (1855 – 1865)
  • Josefa (1865 – 1945)
  • Trinidad (1868 – 1951)
  • Soledad (1870 – 1929)
• Saturnina


  • Mother of five children
  • Married to Manuel Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas
• Paciano


  • Became a Major General of the Philippine Revolutionary Army and later a farmer
  • Had two children with Severina
• Narcisa


  • Mother of nine children
  • Married to Antonio Lopez from Morong, Rizal
• Lucia


  • Married to Mariano Herbosa
  • Denied Christian burial in 1889 due to cholera
• Maria


  • Mother of five children
  • Married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna
• Jose


  • Seventh child and the second son
  • Died at an early age
• Josefa


  • Did not get married
• Trinidad


  • Remained Unmarried
  • Lived with Josefa
  • Last of the family to die
• Soledad


  • Mother of five children
  • Married to Pantaleon Quintero
  • Classmate of Leonor Rivera
• Ancestry


  • Paternal great-great-grandfather, Domingo Lamco, was a pure-blooded Chinese who migrated to the Philippines and married Ines dela Rosa, a Filipino-Chinese.
  • Maternal great-great-grandfather Eugenio Ursua (Ochoa), a Japanese resident of the Philippines, married Benigna.
• Claveria Decree of 1849


  • Issued on November 21, 1849
  • It requires the adoption of Spanish and indigenous names from the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos
  • The decree ensures uniform surname usage after 1849 for civil and legal purposes
• What influenced you to choose IT?
• Early Family Influences


  • Francisco: Provided education within means, built a comfortable home
  • Teodora: Initial teacher, imparted knowledge, instilled religious values
  • "Yaya" (Nurse): Shared imaginative stories from folklore to encourage him to eat supper
  • Religious Atmosphere: Began to take family prayers at the age of three, and started reading the Bible in Spanish at the age of five
• Rizal went on a pilgrimage on Antipolo and fullfiled his mother's vow


  June 6, 1868
• External Influences


  • Tio Jose Alberto: Inspired artistic talents
  • Tio Manuel: Encouraged physical development
  • Tio Gregorio: Fueled love for reading
• Rizal showed interest in sketching and sculpting, and got teased when he was six
• All right, laugh at me now; someday, when I die, people will make monuments and images of me: '― Jose Rizal'
• Educational Journey and Determination

  • His parents employed private tutors: Maestro Celestino, Maestro Lucas Padua, and Leon Monroy, his father's former classmate
  • Sent to Binan for his schooling at nine
  • Encounter with the traditional 4Rs education: reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion
  • Somehow disturbed by teacher Justiniano Aquino Cruz and his traditional teaching style
  • He faced challenges, including corporal punishment, throughout his time in Binan
• Unjust Imprisonment of Dona Teodora

  • Dona Teodora was arrested on false charges of poisoning her brother's wife
  • She was imprisoned for two and a half years despite the unjust nature of the accusations
  • Rizal distrusted friendship due to the betrayal by those who pretended to be friends
  • Attorneys Francisco de Marcaida and Manuel Masigan defended Dona Teodora, securing her acquittal and proving her innocence
• Execution of GOMBURZA


  • Filipino priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora were executed by garrote on February 17, 1872, by the Spaniards in Bagumbayan
  • The three priests were advocates of secularization and victims of the Cavite Mutiny aftermath
  • Motivated Rizal and national movements in the country
  • Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the three martyred priests
• Ateneo Municipal School


  • At 11, Rizal entered Ateneo, known for discipline and religious instruction
  • Initially, faced admission refusal but was admitted due to Manuel Xerxes Burgos's intercession
  • Academic Excellence: Ascended to Emperor, excelling academically, and actively involved in Humanities and Arts
  • Literary Influences: Developed a love for literature, influenced by "Count of Monte Cristo" and historical works
  • Passion for Poetry: Developed by his mother's poetic inclinations and Padre Sanchez, one of his professor who became his personal friend
• University of Santo Tomas


  • Enrolled in Philosophy and Letters, later shifted to Medicine for mother's eyesight
  • Excelled in studies, but did not reach the same level of excellence as a student in Ateneo
  • Continued literary pursuits, participated in the Lyceum of Art and Literature contests, and faced ethnic prejudice
• Romantic Interests


  • Segunda Katigbak
  • Leonor "Orang" Valenzuela
  • Leonor Rivera
• Transition to Spain


  • Left UST on May 1, 1882, driven by dissatisfaction with a professor, suffocating atmosphere, and perceived limited learning opportunities
  • The departure marked an essential turning point in his life
  • His journey paved the way for further educational pursuits and fueled his advocacy for national identity
• Education in Spain


  • Excellence in humanistic studies: Literature, Languages, and History
  • Licentiate in Medicine (June 21, 1884), passed all subjects for Doctor in Medicine
  • Unable to obtain doctor's diploma due to financial issues and lack of a required thesis
  • Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters earned on June 19, 1885, with an excellent grade
  • Pursued fine arts at the Academia de San Fernando and continued literary activities
• Ophthalmology Specialization


  • Specialized in Ophthalmology, assisted Dr. Louis de Weckert in France.
  • Assisted in the eye clinic at Heidelberg under Dr. Otto Becker's direction in Germany.