Tidbits on a Boy Named Pepe

By: Ferdinan S. Gregorio

History Researcher II, National Historical Commission of the Philippines

Many articles, books, essays and literary materials were written about Jose Rizal's life, works and ideas, but
sometimes we tend to neglect knowing who Pepe was before writing the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Knowing Jose Rizal starts by knowing him as a child.
The seventh child of Don Francisco Mercado and Doa Teodora Alonso, Pepe was born on June 19, 1861, a
Wednesday. After three days, Father Rufino Collantes baptized the baby, who was named Jose Protacio, in honor of
Saint Joseph and Saint Protacio. Doa Teodora was a devout follower of Saint Joseph and it was their tradition to
honor him every 19th day of the month. On the other hand, Saint Protacio is the patron saint for June 19, who was
martyred in Milan, Italy.
Writer Felice Prudente Santa Marias book, In Excelsis, once explained why Rizal was called Pepe. According
to her, Saint Joseph was the putative (commonly accepted) father of Jesus Christ. In Latin, San Joses name is
always followed by the letters P.P for pater putativus. In Spanish, the letter P is pronounced peh giving rise to
the nickname Pepe for Jose.
Unfortunately, Pepes original baptismal record was burnt in 1862. It was only restored through the help of
reliable eye witnesses, under the direction of Father Leoncio Lopez, a Filipino priest at the church across the street,
and a friend of the Mercado family. As a boy, Pepe loved to visit Father Lopez, with whom he could talk about
anything. The priest never got tired of answering Pepes questions and talked with him sensibly. Father Lopez
became Pepes inspiration in characterizing Father Florentino in the El Filibusterismo.
Growing up Pepe was curious about the things around him. When his yaya Aquilina told stories about the
aswang, nuno sa punso and an imaginary ghost called Bu by the Europeans locally known as parce-nobis, Pepe
listened attentively. His yaya often scared him if he failed to finish his meal. Pepe remembered those spooky stories
even until he went to high school, writing in his Memorias de un Estudiante that everytime his yaya frightened him,
my heart was fed with sad thoughts.
In 1868, six days before his seventh birthday, Pepe went to the Antipolo shrine with Don Francisco for a
pilgrimage as vowed by Doa Teodora on the day he was born. There, Rizal witnessed the strong devotion of the
believers. In the church patio, he saw vendors selling a variety of religious items. He bought a picture of the Virgin
of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, and pasted it in his suitcase, believing that the Virgin would keep him safe
in his travels.
Commenting on this event, writer Nick Joaquin wrote that Rizal would have most likely undergone a boys first
rite of passage into manhood- circumcision: on returning from his pilgrimage, Rizal had another event to
experience; his seventh birthday and one can guess that this was followed by still another event: his circumcision,
most probably supervised by Paciano. Joaquin explained that during Rizals time, the nursery limit in the
Philippines was seven years old. Circumcision was a symbol of separating boys from men.

In 1872, for high school, Pepe enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in Intramuros. The administrator
refused to admit him for two reasons. First, Doa Teodoras arrest and he was considered physically weak and small
for his age of eleven. Through the intercession of Manuel X. Burgos, nephew of Father Jose Burgos, one of the
martyr priests executed just four months earlier, Pepe was admitted. Perhaps, he was fated to spend his early years
at Ateneo, taking subjects such as Religious Studies, Mathematics, Sciences, Languages, Geography, and History.
He also attended a class on culture called Clase de Adorno, where he had to choose between Art and solfeggio.
Solfeggio is a system of arranging the scale by the names, which includes singing lessons. While he had a passion
for music, singing was not his forte, admitting in his memoirs that he had a terrible voice. He wrote that If you hear
me sing, youd think, you were in Spain, for youd hear the braying of an ass! For that reason, Pepe chose Art
studies. One of his works as an Art student was carving an image of the Virgin. His Jesuit professors of Ateneo

were amazed upon seeing it and asked him to sculpt the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was later presented to Father
P. Lleonart, who wanted to bring the statuette with him to Spain, but he forgot to put it in his trunk, leaving the
image in Ateneo.
Pepe finished high school just before turning 16. His last night in the school dormitory was filled with sadness,
giving him a sleepless night. As he lay in bed, he felt that the happiest days of his life were over.
On December 29, 1896, the night before his execution, Father Luis Viza brought the image of the Sacred Heart
that Pepe had carved long ago at Ateneo. As the Jesuit placed the statuette on the table inside his cell in Fort
Santiago, a sudden rush of memories brought him back to the happy days at Ateneo. It was a brief though
bittersweet, reprieve from his impending execution. Pepe cherished his childhood so much. The passage from his
Memorias, would have described that moment. I would give anything to get over this trying time of my youth.
Goodbye, beautiful unforgettable period of my life! Farewell, fortunate hours of my lost childhood!

REFERENCES:
Bantug, Asuncion. Lolo Jose. Vibal Publishing House Inc. 2008
Joaquin, Nick. Rizal in Saga. Philippine National Centennial Commission, Rizal Martyrdom Centennial
Commission and GMA Foundation Inc. 1996
Penitente. Rizal, The Magnificent. Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission. 1960
Reminiscences and Travels of Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission. 1961
Sta. Maria Felice. In Excelsis: The Mission of Jose P. Rizal. Studio 5 Designs Inc. 1996

Big Brothers Tale

A Tribute to Paciano Rizal
by Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay
When we open the pages of history books in our country, it is not surprising to see texts about the
martyrdom of Andres Bonifacio, the GOMBURZA, Apolinario Mabini and of course our national hero Dr. Jose
Rizal. Why not? They are the countries most celebrated heroes and it is very much fitting to immortalize them by
writing their lives in books read upon by several generations. It is a way of paying respect and gratitude to their
many contributions and sacrifices for the benefit of the Filipino people and of our nation. Its just unfortunate that
while every possible means are being done to recognize all the heroes of our nation, the others who fell during the
night as quoted from Elias, remained to be unsung, uncelebrated and worst, sometimes forgotten.
The Philippines is no doubt a cradle of heroes. Great men and women came from her bosom. One of them
is a great general of the revolution, a patriotic man, yet not so known and more often than not only identified as Jose
Rizals big brotherno other than Paciano.
Paciano Mercado was born on 7 March 1851 to Don Francisco Mercado and Doa Teodora Alonso. He
was the second of the 11 children of the couple. As what most of us knew about him, he was the big brother of our
national hero. But more to this character, there is something more that he had offered for his family and for our
country.
Just like Pepe, his first teacher was Doa Teodora who taught him basic reading, writing and praying. He
was eventually sent to Bian, Laguna to learn more under the tutelage of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
Eventually his parents sent him to Manila to pursue further education. For quite a while, he studied at the College of
San Jose. During his stay in Manila, he lived and worked with Father Jose Burgos, one of the three martyr priests
implicated in the 1872 Cavite Mutiny. Probably, his acquaintance with Father Burgos made him very vocal on his
criticisms regarding the abuses of the Spanish friars.

Due to their parents old age, Paciano was tasked to look after the education of his younger brother. He
brought his younger brother to Bian also to study under Maestro Justiniano. In 1872, Paciano accompanied Pepe to
Manila and had him enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal. Most biographers of our national hero believed that it was
Paciano who was responsible for making his brother use the surname Rizal instead of Mercado, for he wanted his
brother to enjoy a hassle-free and first-rate education, that would not be possible had he used the surname Mercado.
Due to his strong connection with Father Burgos, the friars and the Spanish authorities turned out to be very
suspicious of Paciano. As a protective brother, he changed his brothers surname from Mercado to Rizal to prevent
the friars in knowing their affiliation. Luckily, Pepe was able to make most out of his student life in Ateneo.
Paciano also made sure that all his brothers needs were well taken cared.
In 1882, Pepe went abroad to continue his medical studies in Europe. Unfortunately, the heavy tasks fell
on Pacianos shouldersFirst, to inform their parents on Pepes real intention in leaving the Philippines; Second, to
comfort them in their unspeakable sorrow and most importantly, to carry the burden of working hard to find means
to finance his brothers expenses while studying abroad.
A Patriot in his own Right
As a young student in Manila, Paciano saw the injustices and cruelties committed by the friars of the time.
He decided to collect donations from people he knew to support the cause of secularization and to help Father
Burgos in his propaganda works. In his letter to his brother dated 26 May of 1882, he mentioned that he was trying
his best to help the Filipino crusade for reforms by making sure that many of the people of Calamba subscribe
Diariong Tagalog. Further, he encouraged Pepe to have his works published and sent him the needed money to
put them into printing. For a while, Paciano tried to translate Noli me Tangere into Tagalog with Pepes consent
and guidance, unfortunately, Pacianos Tagalog version was lost to posterity.
The Prize of being involved
In 1888, an agrarian crisis cropped up in Calamba and the Mercado family (they assumed the surname
Rizal upon the heros death) was prominently figured out in the said dispute. The family lost the case and was
ejected from their homes and lands. The case didnt end there; Paciano and four other Calambeos were exiled in
Mindoro from September 1890 until November 1891. Just after serving a 14-month exile in Mindoro, he was again
exiled in Jolo, this time taking the place of his brother-in-law, Antonio Lopez.
After the publication of the Noli me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo, being affiliated to the author
seemed like carrying a heavy cross. Each member of the family also suffered persecution, Paciano was not an
exemption. The worst sacrifice he had to suffer only to protect his brother took place on December of 1896 while
Pepe was detained in Fort Santiago. Not known to all, Paciano was arrested and was put into merciless and severe
torture in an attempt of the Spanish authorities to extract statements from him that would incriminate his brother in
the raging revolution that broke out in the islands in 1896. Paciano chose not to speak and bore the horrible body
pains and moral humiliation from his perpetuators out of his conviction for truth and love for his brother. Family
members testified that when Paciano was returned to back to his family, he was as good as dead.
Paciano as a Revolutionary Leader
The brutal experience he encountered in the hands of Spanish authorities not to mention the ill fate that
befell upon his brother, made Paciano decide to volunteer his service to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. A day after his
brothers went, he went to Cavite with his sisters to contribute to the cause of the revolution in any way they could.
When the Spanish forces took Cavite back, the revolutionary government headed by gen. Aguinaldo retreated to
Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan. It was during those time that Pedro Paterno volunteered himself as negotiator and
succeeded in coming up with a peace pact between the Spanish government and the revolutionary government of
Aguinaldo.
In compliance with the provisions of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, the Filipino leaders voluntarily went exile
in Hong Kong. However, the truce was short-lived due to violations committed by both parties. In 1898, Aguinaldo

returned to the Philippines and immediately called for the renewal of the revolution against Spain that was
temporarily put into halt by the peace pact.
Paciano was one of the first leaders who heeded to Aguinaldos call. He led his valiant men in the
battlefield and fought for the cause of the Motherland. The outbreak of the Filipino-American War in 1899 did not
stop him from fighting. He remained loyal and fought until his capture by the Americans in 1900.
When peace was already restored, Paciano retreated and went back to farming. He devoted himself in the
cultivation of his large estate in Calamba. He remained in private life and refrained from political involvement until
the last years of his life, believing that he and his family had already done their shares for the countrys welfare.
More than a Big Brother
Contrary to his brother who was much photographed and fully documented, Paciano had only two known
pictures availableone was a snapshot in a family gathering and another was a shot taken of his corpse . It was not
that he was some sort of camera shy, but he refrained being photographed for the reason that he was a wanted man
in the past and the absence of his photos would mean greater freedom for him since the authorities would have hard
time recognizing him and finding his whereabouts.
After his brothers death, Paciano could have chosen to steal the limelight and make use of his brothers
martyrdom to gain popularity and fame for himself, but just like a true-blooded gentlemen, he chose a quiet life and
gave to his brother the respect he deserved. He firmly stood on the fact that their family was never patriotic for
money or for anything else.
Pacianos contributions may not be as celebrated as that of his brothers, but Filipinos should take note of
the big influence imprinted by him to our national hero. He served as a lighthouse to Pepe during tough and rough
times and financially supported his brothers fight for the country. Paciano took all the responsibilities of Pepe so
that his younger brother may devote his time for the motherlands cause. Probably, without Paciano, there could
also be no Jose Rizal. Probably when Paciano was still alive, in a period of great solitude he uttered the words, Its
not easy to be me.

Rizals Paternal Lineage

by Ma. Cielito G. Reyno
Rizals paternal lineage can be traced back to the village of Sionque in Chin-Chew (or Chang-chow)
district in Fujian, southern China, near the prosperous and ancient trading port of Zaiton. Among his earliest
identifiable ancestors were Siang-co and Zun-nio who gave birth to a son who later acquired the name Lam-co,
which in English means, Lam, Esquire. Lam-co migrated to the Philippines sometime during the late 1600s.
In 1697, at the age of 35, Lam-co was baptized at the San Gabriel Church in the predominantly Chinese
community of Binondo. He adopted Domingo his baptismal day, as his first name. He married a Chinese mestiza
said to be half his age named Ines de la Rosa, who belonged to an entrepreneurial family in Binondo. Ines was the
daughter of Agustin Chin-co and Jacinta Rafaela, a Chinese mestiza resident of the Parian.
With the rigid social stratification prevailing at that time, it was evident that Lam-co did not come from the
ranks of coolies, the class of migrant menial workers from China. Through his association with two Spanish friars,
Fr. Francisco Marquez, authority on Chinese grammar, and Fr. Juan Caballero, he was invited to settle in the
Dominican estate of San Isidro Labrador in Bian, Laguna. Lam-co was said to have been instrumental in the
building of the irrigation works known as Tubigan, which made the area where it was situated the richest part of the
estate. He and his family lived in the estate along with fellow immigrants from Chin-chew, China.
Lam-co and Ines de la Rosa had a son born in 1731. They named him Francisco Mercado, believed as a
gesture of gratitude to another friar of the same name, and also after a Spanish mestizo friar renowned for his

botanical studies. The surname Mercado, which means market in Spanish, was quite appropriate, too, since
many ethnic Chinese were merchants, and many having adopted the same surname.
In 1771, Francisco Mercado married Bernarda Monica, a native of the nearby hacienda of San Pedro
Tunasan, then, like Bian, was populated by many Chinese migrants, or Chinese mestizos. They had two sons
named Juan and Clemente. For a short period, he settled his family at the hacienda of San Juan Bautista in Calamba.
However, hostility towards the Chinese immigrants as well as natives of Chinese descent- a backlash from the
British invasion of Manila in 1762, during which the local Chinese supported the British against the Spaniardsforced Francisco Mercado to return his family to Bian.
Francisco Mercado owned the largest herd of carabaos in Bian. He was active in local politics. He was elected as
the towns capitan del pueblo around 1783. Popular and good-natured, he often stood as godfather during baptisms
and weddings, as Bians church records revealed. He died in 1801.
His son, Juan Mercado married Cirila Alejandra, a daughter of one of Domingo Lam-cos godsons, and who hailed
from Tubigan. The couple had 13 children. They lived in large house made of stone in the center of Bian. (One of
his children, Francisco Engracio, born in Bian sometime in April 1818 was the father of Jose Rizal).
Like his father, Juan Mercado also served as the towns capitan del pueblo in 1808, 1813, and 1823. On
many occasions, Capitan Juan, as his town mates referred to him, was the hermano mayor in religious and social
affairs. Like his wife, he was benevolent and hardworking. His status earned him the privilege of electing the
Philippine representative to the Spanish parliament in 1812.
He died when his son, Francisco Engracio, was only eight years old.
With his sisters and brothers, Francisco Engracio helped his widowed mother in managing the familys business.
He married Teodora Alonso Realonda de Quintos, a daughter of one of Manilas most distinguished families in
1848.
Sometime after 1849, in compliance with Governor Claverias decree ordering Filipinos to adopt Spanish
surnames (to facilitate documentation, for, many Filipino families shared the same family name such as De La
Cruz, etc.)-- Francisco Engracio Mercado added added Rizal to the family surname, from the Spanish word
ricial, which connotes a green field or pasture.
Francisco moved his family to Calamba, where he farmed lands leased from the Dominican friars, growing
sugar cane, rice and indigo. He also started a mixed orchard engaged in trade, raised poultry, in all of which he was
assisted by his wife Teodora. In time, Francisos family became one of the wealthiest in Calamba.

Rizals Thoughts on Education

by Mona Lisa H. Quizon
The writings and various events on the life of Jose Rizal are filled of ideas concerning education. He
recognized the importance of education in the development of a nation and its people. Crisostomo Ibarra, the
principal character of his novel Noli Me Tangere possesses a desire to establish a suitable school. Ibarra mentioned
in the novel what he considered a modern school. According to him the building should be spacious and hygienic,
the site should be large and provided with playground and garden. Rizal himself dreamed of founding a school in
accordance with the demands of modern times and circumstances. According to Austin Craig, Rizal ambitioned to
make education accessible to all, the teaching instinct that led him to act as mentor to the Filipino students in Spain
and made him the inspiration of a mutual improvement club of his young countrymen in London, suggested the
foundation of a school in Paris. Later a Pampangan youth offered him $40,000 with which to found a Filipino
college in Hong Kong, where many young men from the Philippines had obtained an education better than their own
land could afford but not entirely adapted to their needs. The scheme attracted Rizal and a prospectus for such an
institution which was later found among his papers not only proves how deeply he was interested, but reveals the
fact that his idea of education were essentially like those carried out in the present public school course of
instruction in the Philippines.

Rizal also showed his support to the group of women in Malolos when their petition of establishing a
school was denied by Gen. Weyler. He wrote a letter to the ladies in support to their courageous action. Rizal
preaches the need of education and said that ignorance is slavery. Rizal always reminded his sisters the value and
importance of education thus when Josefa and Trinidad visited Rizal in Hong Kong he encourage the two to learn
the English language. Perhaps Rizals appreciation of education was influenced by his mother, Doa Teodora
Alonzo. His mother was considered his first teacher. At the age of three he learned the alphabet and also taught him
to appreciate Spanish poetry.
He even recognized the importance of industrial education as well. Rizal included this concept in the five
purposes of the La Liga Filipina which he founded, the development of instruction, agriculture and commerce.
When Jose Rizal was deported in Dapitan on 1893, he devoted his time in teaching young children. Rizal
applied the learning he acquired in the different school that he visited during his travels. It was in Dapitan
particularly Talisay where Rizal used his talents and limited resources to serve his countrymen during the four years
of his exile. He practiced his profession as a doctor, farmer, teacher, community developer, engineer and scientist.
Rizal opened a school for young boys in the community. They were given subjects in reading, writing, arithmetic,
geography, geometry, languages, history and good conduct. Rizal even gave practical lessons on the use of their
hands, for he believed that education should be inculcated or integrated with the development of the community. He
also taught his students different kinds of sport activities such as boxing, swinging on parallel bars and rings,
swimming and arnis on account of his belief that a sound body makes a sound mind.
Rizals method of teaching is different compared from other schools of his time. He saw to it that learning
should be adaptable to the needs or actual life of the people. Rizal is not just a conventional type of teacher; his
visions were not just for himself but for the benefits of his countrymen.
The effort of our present Department of Education and other learning institutions in curriculum
development is in harmony with the ideas and visions of Rizal. The government is also giving its full support and
prioritizes the education of Filipinos. But we should also remember that the time and needs of the learners during
Rizals time is different to the learners of today. There might be ideas or methods which are no longer needed in the
present. But still we owe him for pioneering a technique in teaching. Our educators should also follow and be
motivated by the exemplar deeds of Rizal. If he were living today, he would definitely continue his undertakings in
molding the minds of our youth. Just as what he had told Ang mga kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.

Rizal and the Lessons His Mother Taught Him

by Ma. Cielito G. Reyno
Of all the persons who had the greatest influence on Rizals development as a person was his mother
Teodora Alonso. It was she who opened his eyes and heart to the world around himwith all its soul and poetry, as
well as its bigotry and injustice. Throughout his brief life, Rizal proved to be his mothers son, a chip off the old
block, as he constantly strove to keep faith the lessons she taught him.
His mother was his first teacher, and from her he learned to read, and consequently to value reading as a
means for learning and spending ones time meaningfully. It did not take long before he learnt to value time as
lifes most precious gift, for she taught him never to waste a single second of it. Thus as a student in Spain he
became the most assiduous of students, never missing a class despite his activities as Propaganda leader, or an
examination, despite having to take it on an empty stomach. By his example, he inspired his compatriots those
who had sunk into a life of dissipation, wasting time and allowances on gambling and promiscuity- to return to their
studies and deserve their parents sacrifices back home.
From his mother he learnt the primacy of improving oneself- thus growing up he took pains to comprehend
the logic of mathematics; to write poems; to draw, and sculpt; to paint. Sadly, for all these he earned not only glory
but also the fear of myopic souls.
By taking the lead in running the familys businesses- farms, flour and sugar milling, tending a store,
even making fruit preserves, aside from running a household, Teodora imbibed in him the value of working with
ones hands, of self-reliance and entrepreneurship. And by sharing with others she taught him generosity and

helping to make the world a better place for those who had less in the material life. All these lessons he applied
himself during his exile in Dapitan, as he improved its community by building a dam; encouraging the locals to
grow fruit trees, establishing a school, even documenting the local flora and fauna.
His mother also taught him to value hard-earned money and better yet, the importance of thrift and of
denying oneself, and saving part of ones earnings as insurance against the vagaries of life. Thus he learned to
scrimp and save despite growing up in comfort and wealth. These would later prove very useful to him during his
stay in Europe as he struggled with privation, considering the meager and often delayed allowance that his family
sent him (by then his family was undergoing financial reverses due to land troubles). Whenever his precious
allowance ran out, he went without lunch and supper, putting up a front before everyone by going out of his
dormitory everyday to give the impression that he took his meals outside. But, as he walked the streets of Berlin or
Barcelona, his nostrils would be assailed by the delicious aroma of the dishes being cooked within buildings and
houses, increasing his hunger pangs and his suffering all the more. Other times he saved up on rent by foregoing
breakfast altogether, his breakfast consisting of biscuits and water for a month.
Above all, it was from her he learned about obedience, through the story of the moth that got burned by the
flame because he disobeyed his mother moths warning not to get too near the flame. But life as it often happens
has poignant way of turning around, for it was obedience to the Catholic Church, as his mother taught him, which
proved too hard to live by especially when he struggled with a crisis of faith in its teachings. Teodora took none too
gently his defection from the Church, which she saw was an apostasy from faith itself.
One of the turning points of his life, which had a profound influence on his becoming a political activist
later on, was the unjust arrest of his mother on the charge of conspiring to poison a relative, despite the lack of
evidence against her. But what made the arrest even worse was her humiliating treatment at the hands of authorities
who made her walk all the way from Calamba to the provincial jail in Santa Cruz, which was 50 kilometers far.
There she was imprisoned for two years before gaining her freedom. All these she took with calm and quiet dignity,
which Rizal though only a child of eleven about to embark on secondary school in Manila would remember and
replicate during his final moments just before a firing squad snuffed out his meaningful life on that fateful December
morn in 1896.

All articles were downloaded from

http://nhcp.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=10&id=7&Itemid=39.
Date downloaded June 25, 2012.

Young Blood
InmemoryofJoseRizal
By: Jan Lorenzo Geonzon-Alegado
Philippine Daily Inquirer
1:44 am | Thursday, December 29th, 2011
It all began when I was asked to handle Rizal course and it dawned on me that I was not the best person for the job.
Nevertheless, I accepted the assignment and proceeded to search for resource materials that I could use in teaching
the course. I did not like the subject myself because, unfortunately, in my college days, when it was taught to us, all
we did was summarize Noli Me Tangere and then prepare a short play as our final project.
I never imagined that the day would come when I would have to teach course and make a fool out of myself
pretending to be an expert on Jose Rizal. (I revere him as our national hero and I admire him for his contributions in
shaping the Filipino nation, as much as I respect the other heroes and heroines of our country.)
Our chairperson assigned the course to me, thinking I was some kind of a pro on Rizal, but he never even asked
me if I would be comfortable in teaching the course. I had my reservations about discussing the ideals and
contributions of Rizal with my students. I was not really an avid fan of his: I did not approve of the method he
advocated for achieving our elusive independence; I was more inclined to the idea of armed struggle, and so I was
Andres Bonifacios man through and through. But something changed as I read more and more about the life of our
national hero, as told by different authors. I read Ambeth Ocampos Rizal Without the Overcoat and Makamisa:
The Search for Rizals Third Novel; Leon Ma. Guerreros The First Filipino; Floro Quibuyens A Nation
Aborted; and a few other books about Rizals life and contributions. I became obsessed with his life and works not
because I was forced to but because I came to realize that I would never be able to defend my being anti-Rizal if I
was not at peace with the other half of myself, the pro-Rizal in me that was beginning to emerge.
(I have to admit this: No matter how many times I re-read those books, as a teacher I feel that I will never be able to
give justice to the course because I know deep in my heart, I have so many unresolved issues about our national
hero.
Teaching the Rizal course to college students is quite a challenge. I know that most of my students think that the
study of Rizals life, works and writings is pointless as they already have come across many of these in some
previous history courses. And this poses a kind of obstacle for those teaching the course. Thats why you have to
present his life and works as something new and exciting. So I gear away from the usual method of teaching the
Rizal course. Besides, I have promised myself that I will never let my students experience the same thing that I went
through in college. So I start with the theoretical foundations of the course and I go back in historycenturies back,
before the birth of Rizalin order to better understand where it all began.
I cite theories and important world and Philippine events in history and allow them to flow into class discussions
about Rizal and as to how those events helped shape our national heros attitudes, knowledge and values. And I ask
my students what they feel about the course.
From what I have gathered in the past, most of them would rather focus on their major courses than spend time
studying Rizal. Others disliked the subject because they thought that the course on Rizal was an unnecessary
additional educational expense for their family. The rest were simply not interested in Rizals life and in his
contributions to the birthing of the Filipino nation. I was not really that surprised with their answers because a part
of me felt the same.
But then again, I feel, following the example of our national hero, I should be resolute in doing what I believe is
right, and I believe that no matter how the students view the subject, whether positively or negatively, it is my job to
make them understand the objective of the coursewhich is not just to get them to know Rizal more deeply; but
more importantly, to inculcate in them the spirit of nationalism and patriotism and to transform them into a real
hope of our motherland, as Rizal saw them.
Jan Lorenzo Geonzon-Alegado, 22, is a part-time faculty member of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
Downloaded from http://opinion.inquirer.net/19989/%E2%80%98in-memory-of-jose-rizal%E2%80%99.
Date downloaded June 25, 2012.