I. THE WORLD OF RIZAL’S TIME
TRINIDAD (1868-1951) : Trining/ died an old maid at the age of 83
a. American Civil War (1861-65) was raging over the issue of Negro Slavery.
b. April 1862: Napoleon III of the 2nd French Empire conquered Mexico.
c. Italians drove out the Austrians and French Armies from Italy.
d. Prussians (German Kingdom) defeated France and established the German Empire on January
e. Flowering of the Western Imperialism: England emerged as the world’s leading imperialist
power
f. 1853: America re-opened Japan to the world, ending Japan’s 214-year isolation. This
modernized the country by freely accepting Western Influences.
g. Germany was late in the scramble for Colonies.
h. Filipinos agonized the evil and unjust colonial power of Spain:
i. INSTABILITY OF COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION
1. In Spain: struggles between the forces of despotism.
2. Political instability in Spain affected Philippine affairs: brought frequent periodic
shifts in colonial policies and officials.
ii. CORRUPT OFFICIALS (Gov. Generals) –Spaniards especially friars used the words of God to get
money from ppl.
1. Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo - executed Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, Jacinto Zamora
(1872)
2. Gen. Fernando Primo de Rivera - enriched himself by accepting bribes from
gambling casinos in Manila
3. Gen. Valeriano Weyler- Received huge bribes and gifts from wealthy Chinese who
evaded the anti-Chinese law.
4. Gen. Camilo de Polavieja: executed Rizal
5. After Spain’s loss of colonies in Latin America: Numerous job-seekers and penniless
Spaniards came to the Philippines became judges.
iii. NO PHILIPPINE REPRESENTATION IN THE SPANISH CORTES
Since then, the Philippine conditions worsened because there
was no means by which the Filipino people could expose the anomalies perpetrated by the
colonial officials. Result: Propaganda Movement that led to Philippine Revolution (1896) was
launched.
iv. HUMAN RIGHTS ARE DENIED
1. Result of no Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes
2. Freedom for Filipinos was denied
v. NO EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW
“All men, irrespective of color and race, are equal before God.” But Spanish colonial authorities,
who were Christians, did not implement this. Brown Filipinos and white Spaniards may be equal
before God, but not before the law and certainly not in practice.
vi. MALADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
Justice was costly, partial, and slow. Poor Filipinos had no access to the courts because they could
not afford the heavy expenses of litigation. Wealth, social, prestige, and color of skin were factors
in winning a case.
vii. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Spaniards called the brown-skinned and flat-nosed Filipinos “INDIOS” (Indians). Filipinos dubbed
the Spaniards as “BANGUS” (Milkfish) A Spaniard, no matter how stupid he was, always enjoyed
political and social prestige and superiority.
viii. FRAILOCRACY
“government of friars”. Augustinians, Dominicans, Franciscans controlled the religious and
educational life of the Philippines: they acquire tremendous political power, influence, and riches.
ix. FORCED LABOR
“POLO’’ forced labor, “FALLA:” money paid to government to be exempted from the polo. Spanish
residents, contrary to law, were not recruited for polo. Laborers received only a part of their
supposed original stipend. Worse, they got nothing.
x. HACIENDAS OWNED BY THE FRIARS
1. The friars were recognized as legal owners of said lands because they obtained
royal titles of ownership from the Spanish Crown. Rizal, whose family and relatives
were tenants of a land, tried to initiate agrarian reform.
2. Rizal’s advocacy ignited the wrath of the friars, who retaliated by raising rentals of
the lands.
xi. GUARDIA CIVIL (Constabulary)
Supposed to maintain peace and order in the society but they don’t observe their duty:
maltreating innocent people, looting their livelihoods, raping women
C1
I. BIRTH OF A HERO:
1. June 19, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna. “Jose” was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of St
Joseph. JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO REALONDA
2. Father Rufino Collantes – baptized Rizal.
3. Father Pedro Casañas – Rizal’s godfather.
4. Mariano Herbosa – nephew of Casañas who will marry Lucia (Rizal’s sister)
5. Lieutenant-General Jose Lemary – governor general of the Philippines when Rizal was born.
II. RIZAL’S PARENTS:
a.Francisco Mercado Rizal - Born on May 11, 1818 in Biñan, Laguna; Latin and Philosophy at the
College of San Jose in Manila. June 28, 1848 – he married Teodora.
b. Teodora Alonzo Realonda - Born on November 09, 1827; College of Santa Rosa, a college for
girls. Died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85.
III. THE RIZAL CHILDREN: (2 boys and 9 girls)
a. SATURNINA (1850 – 1913) Neneng
b. PACIANO (1851-1930) – Pilosopo Tasio in Noli
c. NARCISA (1852-1939) – SIsa/ School Teacher
d. OLIMPIA (1855-1887) –Ypia
e. LUCIA (1857-1919) married Mariano Herbosa, who died of cholera and was denied
Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Rizal.
f. MARIA (1859-1945) – Biang
g. JOSE (1861-1896)– Pepe
h. CONCEPCION (1862-1865): Concha/ died of sickness at the age of 3
i. JOSEFA (1865-1945): Panggoy/ died an old maid at the age of 80
j.
k. SOLEDAD (1870-1929) – Choleng
IV. RIZAL’S ANCESTRY
Paternal Side
1. Domingo Lameo - Rizal’s great-great grandfather on his father side who adapted the name
Merkado: Married a Chinese Christian Girl: Ines de la Rosa
2. Francisco Mercado: their son. Married a Chinese-Filipino: Cirila Bernacha
3. Juan Mercado: their son. Married a Chinese-Filipino: Cirila Alejandro. Had 13 kids
4. Francisco Mercado: youngest/ Rizal’s father
Maternal Side
1. Lakan Dula – descendant; last native king of Tondo.
2.Eugenio Ursua – great-great grandfather of Rizal; Japanese married to a Filipina named Benigna.
3. Regina – daughter of Eugenio, married Manuel de Quintos (Fil-Chinese lawyer).
4. Brigida – daughter of Regina who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso (Spanish-Fil mestizo)
V. A GOOD AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY.
1.Principalia – a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines was one of the distinguished families in
Calamba.
2.Carriage – a status symbol of the ilustrados in Spanish Philippines.
3. Private Library – the largest in Calamba; consisted of more than 1,000 volumes.
C2: CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA
Fr. Leoncio Lopez: a Filipino priest. Jose listens to his stimulating opinions on current events and
sound philosophy of life.
I. ARTISTIC TALENTS begun when he was 5 yrs old.
II. FIRST POEM: “to my fellow children”
Poem is about loving the mother tongue : age of Jose was 8. People who truly love their native
language will surely strive for liberty.
III. FIRST DRAMA A Tagalog Comedy bought by a gobernadorcillo from Paete.
VI. INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD
HEREDITARY
a. Malayan Ancestors: love for freedom, desire to travel, and courage.
b. Chinese Ancestors: serious, frugality, patience, and love for children.
c. Spanish Ancestors: elegance, sensitivity to insult, and gentility to ladies.
d. Tio Jose Alberto: inspired him to develop his artistic ability. napriso
e. Tio Manuel: atheletic man, encouraged him to develop his frail body.
f. Leoncio Lopez – love for scholarship; intellectual honesty
C3: EARLY EDUCATION IN CALAMBA AND BINAN
I. HERO’S FIRST TEACHER his Mother- 4Rs: Reading, writing, arithmetic, religion
II. BINAN SCHOOL
a. School of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz
b. Pedro - the bully, (Maestro Justiniano’s son).
c. Andres Salandanan challenged Jose to an arm-wrestling match.
d. Old Juancho: father-in-law of the school’s teacher. freely gave Jose painting lessons
e. Jose Guevarra, who also loved painting, became apprentices of the old
painter. They became favorite painters of the class
f. steamer Talim - which would take him from Binan to Calamba.
g. Private tutors: Maestro Celestino (1st tutor) and Maestro Lucas Padua (2nd tutor). Leon Monroy,
a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the hero’s tutor in Spanish and Latin.
III. INJUSTICE TO HERO’S MOTHER
Spanish Lieutenant forced her to walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz, a distance of 50 km. Teodora
was imprisoned at the provincial prison, suffered for 2 and ½ years.
C4: SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPHS AT ATENEO DE MANILA (1872-1877)
I. RIZAL ENTERS THE ATENEO
a. Ateneo: Jesuits vs. San Juan de Letran: Dominicans – a school for poor boys in Manila
b. Fr. Magin Ferrando, who was the College Registrar, refused to admit Jose for 2 reasons: i. Late
for registration ii. Undersized for his age, 11 years old.
c. Manuel Xerez Burgos: nephew of Fr. Burgos.
II. JESUIT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
a.Roman Empire (internos: boarders); Carthaginian Empire (externos: non-boarders)
b. Emperor; tribune; Decurion; Centurion; Standard bearer
c. Rayadillo – uniform nira
III. RIZAL’S FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (externo)
a.June 1872 – first day of class in Ateneo.
b. Fr. Jose Bech – first professor of Rizal.
c. Santa Isabel College – nagprivate lesson sya to improve Spanish and paid P3.
IV. THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO. Won only 1 medal (Latin). Failed to win medal in Spanish.
V. FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO (interno) Won 5 medals.
Father Sanchez - best professor; requested him to write St. Eustace the Martyr.
VI. LAST YEAR IN ATENEO Most brilliant Atenean, “the pride of the Jesuits.”
VII. GRADUATION IN HIGHEST HONORS At 16: Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors.
VIII. SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO Fr. Lleonart, requested him to carve for him an image of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
IX. POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO
1st poem by Rizal: “My first Inspiration” Dedicated to her mother. Jose was 14.
X. RIZAL’S RELIGIOUS POEMS
a. “To the Child Jesus” and b. “To the Virgin Mary”
XI. FIRST ROMANCE OF RIZAL
Segunda Katigbak, a pretty 14 y.o. Batanguena from Lipa. Went to La Concordia College, where
Olimpia was a boarding student. Segunda was already engaged to be married to Manuel Luz.
C5: MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)
I. RIZAL ENTERS THE UNIVERSITY
a. First course: Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in this course for 2 reasons: i. His father liked
it. ii. He was still “uncertain as to what career to pursue”
b. After a year: Jose received the Ateneo Rector’s advice to study medicine
II. FINISHES SURVEYING COURSE IN ATENEO
Rizal also studied in Ateneo. He took the vocational course of perito agrimensor. At 17: passed the
examination, but could not be granted the degree bc he’s below age.
III. ROMANCES WITH OTHER GIRLS
a. “Miss L”
b. Leonor Valenzuela (“Orang”) Their romance begins during his 2ndyr. Daughter of Capitan Juan
and Sanday: neighbor of Dona Concha Leyva (where Jose boarded)
c. Leonor Rivera (Taimis): cousin from Tarlac. Their romance begins at the start of his 3rdyr. Lived
in his landlord uncle where he saw Leonor.
IV. TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH
Won the first prize -- a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon. ”Rizal
beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than the wind and
descend with art and science to break the chains that has long bound the spirit of the people
Stanza 1: youth as the fair hope of our country. It expressed for the first time the nationalistic
concept that the Filipinos, and not the foreigners, were the fair hope of the fatherland.”
VII. THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS
a. The following year, the Artistic-Literary Lyceum opened another literary contest to celeb the
4th centennial death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and famous author of Don
Quixote.
b. Rizal submitted an allegorical drama- “The Council of the Gods”
c. Rizal won -- a gold ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes.
VIII. RIZAL’S VISIT TO PAKIL AND PAGSANJAN
a. Rizal was infatuated by a girl: Vicenta Ybardolaza, who played the harp.
b. After Pakil, Went to town of Pagsanjan for 2 reasons: i. It was the native town of Leonor
Valenzuela ii. To see the Pagsanjan Falls
V. CHAMPION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
a. Jose founded a secret society of Filipino Students: Companerismo . Members were called
“Companions of Jehu”
VI. UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST
Jose was unhappy at this Dominican institution because:
i. The Dominican professors were hostile to him
ii. The Filipino students were racially discriminated by the Spaniards
iii. Method of instruction was obsolete and repressive
VII. DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD After 4thyr, Rizal decided to study in Spain: He could no longer
endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in UST.
C6: IN SUNNY SPAIN
I. RIZAL’S SECRET MISSION
a. To finish the Medical Course in Spain
b. To observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and
commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations in order to prepare
himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
II. SECRET DEPARTURE FOR SPAIN
Salvadora - Spanish steamer bound for Singapore
III. FROM SINGAPORE TO COLOMBO(Capital of Ceylon/Sri Lanka)
Djemnah - a French steamer which left for Singapore to Europe. 5days in Suez Canal.
IV. NAPLES(Italy) AND MARSEILLES(France)
June 11 – Rizal reached Naples.
June 12 – the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles. He visited the famous Chateau
d’lf, where Dantes, hero of The Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned.
Stayed 2 ½ days at Marseilles.
Barcelona - Spain’s 2nd largest city: Was unfavorable but with an atmosphere of freedom and
liberalism.
V. AMOR PATRIO (Love of Country)
a. “Love of Country”- first article written on Spain’s soil
b. Basilio Teodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong Tagalog, first bilingual newspaper.
c. Laong Laan - Jose’s pen-name appeared in Diariong Tagalog
VI. LIFE IN MADRID
a. Central University of Madrid - Medicine & Philosophy and Letters
b. San Fernando - Painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts
c. He took lesson in French, German, and English under private instructors
d. Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell - Practices fencing and shooting
e. September 15, 1882 - Rizal received a letter from Paciano. According to the letter, cholera was
ravaging Manila and the provinces
VII. ROMANCE WITH CONSUELO ORTIGA Y PEREZ(daughter of Don Pablo)
Eduardo de Lete - friend and co-worker in Prpgnd mvmnt, was in love with Consuelo.
VIII. THEY ASK ME FOR VERSES
Hispano-Philippine Circle - a society of Spaniards and Filipinos
IX. RIZAL’S FIRST VISIT TO PARIS (Capital of France)
a. June 17 to August 20, 1883 – sojourning in gay capital of France.
b. Lariboisiere Hospital-he observed the examination of different diseases of women
c. For Jose, Paris was the costliest capital in Europe
d. Laennec Hospital-where he observed Dr. Nicaise treating his patients
e. Hotel de Paris – where he first billeted on 37 Rue de Maubange.
f. Latin Quarter – where he moved; cheaper hotel on 124 Rue de Rennes.
X. RIZAL AS A MASON (became a Master Mason)
a. Acacia - Masonic Lodge in Madrid. His reason for becoming a Mason was to secure
Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines. Since the friars used the
Catholic religion as a shield to entrench themselves in power and wealth and to persecute the
Filipino patriots, he utilize Freemasonry as his shield to combat them.
b. “Science, Virtue and Labor.” – Masonic writing of Rizal
XI. FINANCIAL WORRIES
a. harvests of rice and sugarcane failed on account of drought and locusts.
b. The Manager of the Dominican-owned hacienda increased the rentals of lands
cultivated by the Rizal family.
c. June 24, 1884: In the evening, he was a guest speaker in a banquet held in honor of
Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo.
XII. RIZAL’S SALUTE TO LUNA AND HIDALGO
a. 1st prize: Spolarium. 2nd Prize: Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace
b. Jose assailed with refined sarcasm the bigotry and blindness of certain unworthy Spaniards
who could not comprehend the universality of genius.
XIII. RIZAL INVOLVED IN STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS
a. Dr. Miguel Morayta professor of history, at the opening ceremonies of the academic year, in
which he proclaimed the freedom of science and teacher.
b. Angered by the bigotry of the Catholic Bishops, the university students rose in violent
demonstrations shouting: “Viva Morayta, Down with Bishops!”
c. Doctor Creus - replaced by Rector a very unpopular man, disliked by everybody
XV. STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN
a. degree of Licentiate in Medicine - Universidad Central de Madrid
b. He did not present the thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees, he was
not awarded his Doctor’s diploma. Became a full-pledge physician, qualified to practice medicine.
c. degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters on his 24th birthday with the
rating of excellent. Qualified professor of humanities in any Spanish university
d. did not bother to secure the post-graduate degree of Doctor in Medicine bc no friar-owned
university or college in the Philippines would accept him in its faculty staff.
C7: Paris to Berlin (1885-87)
a. Dr. Feodor Jagor, Adolph B. Meyer and Rudolf Virchow - top German scientists
b. Maximo Viola(Barcelona) – med stud; member of rich fam of San Miguel, Bulacan
c. Seňor Eusebio Corominas – editor of the newspaper La Publicidad
d. Miguel Morayta – owner of La Publicidad and a statesman
e. Carolines Question – an article Rizal’s gave to Editor Corominas; a controversial issue for
publication
November 1885 – he was living in Paris
f. Dr. Louis de Weckert(1852-1906) –French ophthalmologist; Rizal worked as an assistant about
4mo.
g. Pardo de Taveras(Trinidad, Felix, and Paz), Juan Luna and Felix Resureccion Hidalgo
h. Juan Luna – the great master of brush; Rizal helped him by posing as model in several paintings:
1. “the Death of Cleopatra”, Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest
2. ‘the Blood Compact”, Rizal posed as Sikatuna
i. Some of his compositions are:
“Alin Mang Lahi”–patriotic song asserts that any race aspires for freedom
“La Deportacion” – a sad danza, composed in Dapitan during his exile
j. February 1, 1886 left gay Paris -- February 3, 1886 arrived in Heidelberg
k. Dr. Otto Becker - German ophthalmologist where he worked at. (Univ of Heidelberg)
l. Wilhelmsfeld - Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation
m. Protestant Pastor Dr. Karl Ullmer - Rizal stay at their house and who become his friend and
admirer
n. July 31, 1886 - Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Blumentritt
o. August 9, 1886 - Rizal left Heidelberg ---- August 14, 1886 - when he arrived in Leipzig ---
October 29, 1886 - he left Leipzig for Dresden where he met Dr. Meyer
p. Dr. Adolph B. Meyer - director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
q. Nov. 1 - he left Dresden by train, reaching Berlin in the evening
r. Dr. Feodor Jagor - author of Travels in the Philippines
s. Dr. Hans Virchow professor of Descriptive Anatomy
t. Dr. Rudolf Virchow – German Anthropologist
u. Dr. W. Joest - noted German geographer
v. Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger - German ophthalmologist where Jose worked in his clinic
w. Five reasons why Rizal lived in Germany:
i. Gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
ii. Further his studies of sciences and languages
iii. Observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation
iv. Associate with famous German scientists and scholars
v. Publish his novel, Noli me Tangere
x. Madame Lucie Cerdole - Jose’s professor in Berlin. He took private lessons in French in order to
master the idiomatic intricacies of the French language.