might help yall

1. Chapter 1: The Study of Rizal Historical —
Critical Approach
Historical Approach
 is the collection of techniques and
guidelines that historians used to
research and write histories of the past.
Critical Approach
 aims to develop an innovative
approach to historical transformations
that is adequate to this challenge
 strongly influenced by critical
appropriation of Marx but that remains
in open and vigorous dialogue with other
theoretical currents.
If Rizal is treated like God, he becomes unattainable
and his accomplishments inhuman.
José Rizal (1861-1896)
 is one of the most revered figures in
Philippine history.
 was a multifaceted intellectual and a
political activist, best known for his political
writings that inspired the Philippine
revolution and ultimately led to his
execution by the Spanish colonizers.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 (Rizal Law)
 An act to include in the curricula of all
public and private schools, colleges and
universities courses on the life, works and
writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his
novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing
and distribution thereof and other
purposes.
The Rizal Law aims to:
 recognize the relevance of Rizal`s ideals,
thoughts, teachings, and life-values to
present conditions in the community and
the country and apply them in the solution
o day-to-day situations and problems of
contemporary life.
 develop an understanding and
appreciation of the qualities, behavior,
and character of Rizal, as well as his
thoughts and ideas, and thus foster the
development of moral character, personal
discipline, citizenship, and vocational
efficiency.
 comply with the patriotic objectives of
the Rizal Law given by the late Senator
Jose P. Laurel.
Rizal: An Example of Sacrifice
 Our national hero was a man of peace with
a vision.
 His sufferings were compounded by the
fact that his parents, brothers, and sisters
have been persecuted by the Spanish
government.
 “The glory of saving a country is not for him
who has contributed to its ruin. Hate never
produces anything but monsters and
criminals.”
Rizal`s Ideas: A Reply to the Challenges of Our
Millennium
 Virtues of character which exemplify
honesty, personal integrity, patriotism and
civic responsibility, willingness to sacrifice
for the cause of his native land, high sense
of justice and family solidarity, and the
lofiest standard of truth.
 In this millennium, it is not outlandish to
predict those basic values of human honor
and dignity, the same aspirations for
freedom and independence of peoples
everywhere, the same natural desire for
mutual respect and material well-being.
Rizal: A Modern Day Hero
• The life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal,
particularly his novels, Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and
inspiring source of patriotism of the youth,
especially during their formative and
decisive years in school.
CHAPTER 2: JOSE RIZAL’S GENEALOGY
A Name Destined to Be a Legend
 traces the origin and history of the name of
the martyr-national hero of the Philippines,

2. Jose Protacio Realonda Alonso
Mercado Rizal, known to be “a child of a
good family”
 born on June 19, 1861 between eleven and
twelve in the evening.
 Calamba, on the southwest shore of the
picturesque Laguna de Bay some forty
miles south of Manila.
 Calamba was derived from kalan and
banga – the place is known for clay pottery.
 June 22, 1861 Rizal was baptized by Fr.
Rufino Collantes
 Fr. Pedro Casañas stood as Rizal’s
godfather.
 June 28, 1848 – were married Mr.
Francisco Mercado, (age 30 years, 2
months) and Miss Teodora Alonso, (age
20 years, 7 months)
The Genesis
 Genealogy – is the study of ancestry and
family histories.
 Genealogist – an expert in this field.
The Chinese Ancestry of Rizal
 Rizal’s paternal ancestor, Lam-co, was a
native of the Chinchew district in China,
where the Jesuits and the Dominicans had
missions, so Lam-co perhaps knew
something about Christianity before leaving
China.
 He was baptized in the Parian church of
San Gabriel on a Sunday in June 1697.
 Lam-co’s age was given in the record as
thirty-five years.
 the names of his parents were given as
Siang-co and Zun-nio.
 second syllables of these names are titles
of a little more respect than the ordinary Mr.
and Mrs. (Spanish titles Don and Doña)
 Lam-co took the name Domingo, Spanish
term for Sunday, in honor of the day.
 record of this baptism can still be seen in
the records of the Parian church of San
Gabriel, which are preserved with the
Binondo records in Manila.
 Lam-co became friends with two well-
known Dominicans Friar Francisco
Marquez, author of a Chinese grammar,
and Friar Juan Caballero, a former
missionary in China.
 Lam-co was able to settle in Biñan on the
Dominican estate named after St. Isidore
the Laborer.
 Domingo Lam-co was married to Inez de la
Rosa, who was half his age.
 they were married in the Parian church by
the same priest who had baptized Lam-co.
 Agustin Chinco (Chinchew) – Inez de la
Rosa’s father.
 Agustin Chinco also had a Chinese
godfather and his parents were Chin-co
and Zun-nio.
 he was married to Jacinta Rafaela, a
Chinese mestiza of the Parian – the
daughter of a Christian Chinese and a
Chinese mestiza.
 the Rafaela in honor of the patron saint of
the Parian settlement, San Rafael.
 Domingo, added Antonio in honor of the
Chinese.
Six children of Agustin Chinco and Jacinta Rafaela:
1. Magdalena Vergara
2. Josepha
3. Cristoval de la Trinidad
4. Juan Batista
5. Francisco Hong-Sun
6. Inez de la Rosa
The Mercado Clan
 Francisco Mercado y Chinco – a
prosperous landowner, sugar and rice
planter, of Chinese-Filipino descent.
 Mercado was used for trader.
 born in Biñan, and lived to be eighty years
old
 youngest in a family of thirteen siblings.
 a well-educated farmer who studied Latin
and philosophy at the Colegio de San Jose
in Manila.
 born on April 18, 1818
 adult life: moved to Calamba and became a
tenant farmer.
 attained a degree of wealth, established a
fine library, and cultivated friends among
the friars and Spanish government officials.
Siblings:
1. Petrona
2. Gabino
3. Potenciana

3. 4. Leoncio
5. Tomasa
6. Casimiro
7. Basilisa
8. Gabriel
9. Fausta
10. Julian
11. Cornelio
12. Gregorio
13. Francisco
 Parents of Mercado: Captain Juan
Mercado, who had been the
gobernadorcillo or mayor of Biñan, and
Cirila Alejandra, daughter of Maria Guiño.
 Juan Mercado – older of the two brothers-
Juan and Clemente sons of Francisco
Mercado and Bernarda Monicha.
 Rizal’s father was named Francisco in
memory of his grandfather.
 Francisco was a name held in high honor in
Laguna – belonged to a famous sea captain
who had been given the Encomienda of
Bay.
The Alonso Clan
 Teodora Alonso – mother of Jose Rizal
 born on November 14, 1827
 died on August 16, 1911 at the advanced
age of 84.
 Rizal’s national treasure.
 Ilocano-Tagalog-Chinese-Spanish
descent, possibly having even a little
Japanese blood.
 one of the most highly educated women in
the Philippines at that time.
 student of Colegio de Santa Rosa, she had
a business and literary sense.
 a gifted woman with insight into literature,
art, music, and other forms of Filipino
culture.
 a poet and wrote in the Tagalog language.
 urged her son read and write in Tagalog
and impressed upon him the importance of
Philippine culture and history.
 Jose’s earliest poems were written with the
help of Teodora and his career as a novelist
was due to her literary influences –
inherited some of his science ability from
Teodora.
 was a fine mathematician, gourmet cook,
interior decorator, and collector of fine
books.
 was the second daughter of Brigida de
Quintos (Narcisa, Teodora, Gregorio,
Manuel, and Jose)
 Brigida de Quintos – daughter of Manuel
de Quintos of an affluent family in
Pangasinan and of Regina Ursua of the
Ursua family.
 siblings of Brigida de Quintos – Joaquina,
Jose Soler, and Maria Victoria
 Regina Ursua – daughter of Eugenio and
Benigna Ursua. Her brothers were
Alejandro, Jose, Benito, and Pio.
 the Alonso family was a distinguished one.
 uncle, Jose Florentino, was elected to the
Spanish Cortes – sat in the parliament and
distinguished himself through government
service.
 it is said to have been a youthful ambition
of Jose Rizal to fill the same position
someday.
 Jose Alberto Alonso (Alonso clan) – was
awarded the Knight of the Grand Order by
Queen Isabella.
 Teodora had one of the most masterful
commands of Spanish in the Philippines.
The Destined Name
 there was no confirmation as to where
“Jose” was originated.
 Jose was named after St. Joseph, the
foster father of Jesus in keeping with the
Catholic tradition then of naming a child
after a saint (mere speculation)
 from Jose Rizal’s maternal side, there were
members of the clan named Jose:
1. one of the brothers of Teodora was
Jose
2. one of the brothers of Brigida de
Quintos (mother of Teodora Alonso
and grandmother of Jose Rizal)
was Jose Soler
3. one of the brothers of Regina
Ursua (Teodora Alonso’s
grandmother and Jose Rizal’s
great-grandmother) was also
named Jose.
 seemingly, Jose was named after one of
them, most likely his uncle Jose Florentino
who was elected to the Spanish Cortes.
The Royal Decree of 1849: The Claveria List

4.  a new family name was adopted in 1850 by
authority of the Royal Decree of 1849, upon
the order of Governor Narciso Claveria
(the same surname and a still greater
number having no last name at all)
 through the effort of Narciso Claveria y
Zaldua (Governor General of the
Philippines from July 16, 1844 to December
26, 1849) that the royal decree on the
distribution and implementation of
surnames to the natives of the Philippines
was issued on November 21, 1849
(Decree of 21 November 1849).
 Governor Claveria brought Spanish
names to the Philippines and the natives
were given either the privilege to choose or
their names were simply awarded to them.
 the list of produced and approved family
names can be referred from the “Catalogo
Alfabetico de Apellidos”
 Family names were used in organizing the
political system of the country in terms of
cedula or community tax, population
distribution, and monitoring the population
for government records and
correspondence.
 Filipino descendants of rajahs and
noblemen were given the option to keep
their names. (Lakandulas, Solimans,
Gatmaitans, Gatbontons, Salongas, Layas,
Lapiras, Macapagals, Salamats,
Manuguits, Balinguits, Banals, and Kalaws)
 Claveria’s contribution to the
development of Philippine genealogy was
necessary for our identity, eventually
ushering in maturity to the civil society, be
they of the middle class or of lower
economic status or educational attainment.
 copy of the printed catalogue of
surnames, shall be remitted to all the
heads of provinces of these islands.
SURNAME
 Rizal, a shortened form of the Spanish
word for “second crop” – suited to a family
of farmers who were making a second start
in a new home.
 the name Rizal originated from the word
Ricial, which literally means rice field.
 the spelling was allegedly changed by
Francisco from “Ricial” to “Rizal.”
 Francisco Rizal soon found that in spite of
his legal authority, the new name was
making confusion in business affairs, so he
compromised on “Rizal-Mercado”
 his mother-in-law adopted the name
Realonda, and her children (including
Teodora)
 when Jose Protacio Rizal was baptized (by
Fr. Rufino Collantes) – the record showed
his parents as Francisco Rizal Mercado
and Teodora Realonda Alonso.
 the baptismal certificate signed by Fr.
Leoncio Lopez (successor of Fr. Rufino
Collantes) – undersigned parish priest of
Calamba.
 parish books were burned September 28,
1862, to be found in Docket No. 1 of
Baptisms, p. 49.
The Siblings
 Jose – seventh of eleven children and the
younger of two boys.
Saturnina (1850-1913)
 was the oldest of the Rizal children
 married to Manuel Hidalgo from Tanawan,
Batangas. Manuel and Saturnina had five
children.
 Doña Saturnina published Pascual H.
Poblete’s Tagalog translation of the Noli
Me Tangere.
Paciano (1851-1930)
 lived to be 79 years old and was the oldest
boy in the family
 was ten years older than Jose and more of
a second father than an elder brother (Don
Francisco, left the management of the
family lands in his hands)
 joined the revolutionary army and rose to
the rank of Major General.
 returned to his farm in Los Baños after the
restoration of peace and led the life of
gentleman-farmer and an exemplary
citizen.
 his daughter Emiliana (and grandchildren
Eugenia and Francisco Lopez)
 Paciano learned English through self-study
and his favorite periodical was the
Philippines Free Press.
 he had two children, a boy and a girl
 wife is Severina Decena of Los Baños.
 his daughter married her first cousin,
Antonio Lopez (a son of Narcisa Rizal).

5.  Francisco Lopez, a son of Antonio, was
formerly assistant general manager of the
National Development Company – was the
president of the society called the
“Descendants of Rizal”
Narcisa (1852-1939)
 married Antonio Lopez, a schoolmaster
from Morong (nephew of Fr. Leoncio Lopez
– succeeded Fr. Rufino Collantes, the priest
who baptized Jose Rizal)
 also known as Doña Sisa.
 it is said that Sisa could recite from memory
all the poems of Jose Rizal.
 one of the nine children of Narcisa and
Antonio is Leoncio – physician and
professor at the College of Medicine,
University of Santo Tomas, who was
formerly connected with the Bureau of
Health.
 Leoncio – married to Natividad Arguelles
Olympia (1855-1887)
 married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph
operator from Manila.
 following her husband, she moved from one
station to another, like Albay, Bulacan, and
Manila.
 one of their children was Aristeo – a retired
physician and professor at the Philippine
General Hospital and the College of
Medicine, University of the Philippines.
Lucia (1857-1919)
 married Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, a
farmer and a nephew of Fr. Pedro Casañas.
 Mariano died of cholera in 1889 and was
denied a Christian burial, allegedly
because he was a brother-in-law of Jose
Rizal.
 Delfina – one of their children, first wife of
General Salvador Natividad
 Delfina helped Mrs. Marcela M. Agoncillo
make the first Filipino flag in Hong Kong.
 another child was named Jose, who died
young, and another child was named
Concepcion, after Rizal’s sister
Maria (1859-1954)
 married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan,
Laguna.
 Mauricio – one of their children
(nicknamed Moris by Rizal). Was killed by
the Japanese in 1945.
 Gemma Cruz (who married Antonio
Araneta), the first Filipina to bring home an
international beauty title, is a present-day
descendant of the Rizal family.
Jose (1861-1896)
 second son and seventh child.
 became our national hero.
Concepcion (1862-1865)
 was also known as Concha.
 died at the age of three.
Josefa (1865-1945)
 did not marry.
Trinidad (1868-1951)
 also did not marry.
Soledad (1870-1929)
 youngest of the Rizal children.
 married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba.
 she studied at La Concordia College
where she and Leonor Rivera were
classmates.
 Amelia – one of their children, married to
Bernabe Malvar, son of General Miguel
Malvar.
CHAPTER 3.
Rizals early childhood
As a local family with enormous business skills,
Rizal’s parents blended education, culture, family
life, and local politics into a new sense of Philippine
nationalism.
In 1863 the introduction of general primary
education in the Philippines contributed to the rise
of an even larger class of educated Filipinos. Young
Jose Rizal immediately became a top flight student.
At the age of three, he learned the alphabet and the
prayers from his mother, Teodora Alonso, who was
his first teacher. Other early teachers of Rizal
included Maestro Celestino, Maestro Lucas Padua,
and Francisco Mercado’s classmate, an old man
named Leon Monroy, who gave introductory
lessons in Latin to Rizal. The death of Monroy
paved the way to Jose’s schooling in Binan with
Justiniano Cruz.
As a young boy, Jose was called “Ute” by his
brother and sisters. The townspeople of Calamba
called him “Pepe” or “Pepito.”

6. In 1865, tragedy struck when his favorite sister
Concha died.
Early writings
In 1868, at the age of seven, Jose Rizal wrote a
comedy, which highlighted his literary talent, for the
local fiesta. The municipal captain rewarded him
with two pesos.
” At the age of eight in 1869, he wrote the poem “Sa
Aking mga Kabata.”
In his early life, Rizal was a voracious reader.
Legend has it that he was able to read at age three.
His mother was a strong influence upon his
education and helped develop his early interest in
poetry, music, and European literature.
Readings in Tagalog poetry and daily assignments
in Philippine history by his mother inculcated in him
a sense of the Filipino culture.
Rizal’s deep love for his mother was expressed in
the poem “Mother’s Birthday,” which Rizal wrote
at the age of nine according to Soledad and Trinidad
though Narcisa thought her son Antonio Lopez-
Rizal was the author. Antonio learned to imitate the
handwriting of Jose, which might have led to this
uncertainty.
Early Education
Jose Rizal was sent to a boys school in Biñan when
he was nine, where his uncle Jose Alberto lived,
after whom he had been named.
His teacher was Dr. Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
After a few months Jose was instructed to go home
on December 17, 1871 for Christmas vacation, for
he had learned all there was to be taught. When
Jose reported this to his father, he was soundly
scolded and hustled back to the school. There Dr.
Cruz told Francisco that his son had indeed
completed all the work that was offered.
Sir John Bowring
the notable polyglot and translator into English of
poetry in practically every one of the dialects of
Europe.
His achievements along this line had put him
second or third among the linguists of the century.
He was also interested in history and mentioned in
his Biñan visit that the Hakluyt Society was then
preparing to publish an exceedingly interesting
account of the early Philippines that did more justice
to its inhabitants than the regular Spanish
historians.
Here Rizal first heard of Morga, the historian, whose
book he made accessible to his countrymen in after
years. A desire to know other languages than his
own also possessed him and he was eager to rival
the achievements of Sir John Bowring.
In his book entitled A Visit to the Philippine Islands,
which was translated into Spanish by Jose del Pan,
a liberal editor of Manila, Sir John Bowring gave the
following account of his visit to Rizal's uncle:
"We reached Biñan before sunset.... First we
passed between files of youths, then of maidens;
and through a triumphal arch we reached the
handsome dwelling of a rich mestizo, whom we
found decorated with a Spanish order, which had
been granted to his father before him. He spoke
English, having been educated at Calcutta, and his
house-a very large one-gave abundant evidence
that he had not studied in vain the arts of domestic
civilization. The furniture, the beds, the table, the
cookery were all in good taste, and the obvious
sincerity of the kind reception added to its
agreeableness. Great crowds were gathered
together in the square which fronted the house of
Don Jose Alberto."
Rizal's Early Religious Formation

7. Rizal's religiosity can be traced back to his
nascency, considering the fact that his mother
almost lost her life while giving birth to him.
From then on Teodora made a vow to go on
pilgrimage to the Virgin of Peace and Good Voyage
in Antipolo should she and the child turn out doing
fine. On June 6, 1868 the young Rizal with his father
Francisco Mercado had a pilgrimage to Antipolo.
Young Rizal was a religious boy. A scion of a
Catholic clan, born and bred in a wholesome
atmosphere of Catholicism, and possessed of an
inborn pious spirit, he grew up a good Catholic.
At five years old, he was able to read, although not
fluently, the Spanish family bible, which was then
commonly called historia sagrada,
As a young boy, Rizal loved to pray in the church,
taking part in novenas and joining religious
processions.
Dr. Jose Rizal's early religious formation was
heavily influenced by his devout Catholic family and
the religious atmosphere in the Philippines during
the 19th century. Raised in a deeply religious
household, Rizal received a strong Catholic
upbringing from his mother, Teodora Alonso, and
was taught to pray and attend church regularly.
During his childhood, he displayed a deep
reverence for religion and was known for his
devotion to the Virgin Mary. He was even given the
title "Joselito" by his family due to his piety.
Rizal's Inspiration from the Parable of the Moth
One late night, while Rizal's mother Doña Teodora
was narrating the parable of the moth, the young
Jose was inattentive to the story; his attention
instead was focused on the moth encircling the
tongue of the flame of the oil lamp. Doña Teodora
scolded Jose and told him that if he would not
adhere to the advice of his parents or old people for
that matter, he would be like the moth that burned
itself in the fire
"My mother kept on reading and I listened
breathlessly. The fate of the two insects interested
me greatly. The flame rolled its golden tongue to
one side and a moth, which this movement had
singed, fell into the oil, fluttered for a time and then
became quiet. That became for me a great event. A
curious change came over me which I have always
noticed in myself whenever anything has stirred my
feelings. The flame and the moth seemed to go
farther away, and my mother's voice sounded
strange and uncanny. I did not notice when she
ended the fable. All my attention was fixed on the
fate of the insect. I watched it with my whole soul. It
had died a martyr to its illusions.
"It was a long time before I fell asleep. The story
revealed to me things until then unknown. Moths no
longer were, for me, insignificant insects. Moths
talked; they knew how to warn. They advised, just
like my mother. The light seemed to me more
beautiful, more dazzling, and more attractive. I now
knew why the moths circled the flame."
Dr. Jose Rizal drew inspiration from the parable of
the moth to symbolize the struggles and sacrifices
of Filipinos under Spanish colonial rule. Just like a
moth is drawn to a flame, Filipinos were drawn to
the light of knowledge and freedom. However, like
the moth that is consumed by the flame, many
Filipinos faced hardship and even death in their
pursuit of freedom and enlightenment. Rizal used
this parable to highlight the courage and
determination of his countrymen in their quest for
independence, even in the face of great danger.
CHAPTER 4: JOSE RIZAL'S FORMATIVE
YEARS: An Ignatian Legacy
 Francisco Rizal sent Jose to school in Manila
at age eleven.
 Paciano, was studying under the renowned
Filipino priest Fr. Jose Burgos at the College
of San Jose
 Fr. Jose Burgos, was convicted for inciting
mutiny, an insurrection against civil, legal, or
political authority.
The Execution of Gomburza
 Night of January 20, 1872
 200 Filipino and Spanish mestizo workers and
soldiers rebelled in Cavite due to the abolition
of their privileges, such as exemption from
tribute & polo y servicio (forced labor) by the
Governor General Rafael de Izquierdo
 Three priests were sentenced to die on
February 17, 1872
Three priests:
Fr. Mariano Gomez
- parish priest of Bacoor
- 70 years old

8. Fr. Jose Burgos
- Spanish newspaper La Nacion described
him as a Spaniard born in the Philippines
- parish priest of the Manila Cathedral.
Fr. Jacinto Zamora
- Spaniard born in the Philippines
- parish priest of Marikina
- He had given serious offense to the Spanish
authorities, specifically Brigadier Oran, the
governor of Manila in 1867. Fr. Zamora
denied him the honors due to' provincial
governor when he made a trip to Marikina.
 Jose primarily educated himself in the family
library and through conversation with family and
friends. Finally it was decided that he would
attend the prestigious Ateneo Municipal de
Manila in Intramuros, which means "within
walls."
 He was making preparations to depart, Dona
Teodora Alonso Realonda y Quintos was
charged with conspiring with her brother,
Alberto Realonda to kill his estranged wife.
 Jose Rizal initially passed the entrance exam at
Colegio de San Juan de Letran, but his father,
Francisco, opted for Ateneo.
 On June 10, 1872, Jose Rizal was
accompanied by his brother Paciano to enroll at
Ateneo Municipal de Manila.
 The registrar of Ateneo, Fr. Magin Ferrando,
refused to admit Jose due to being late for
registration and appearing sickly and
undersized for his age.
 The intercession of Manuel Xerez-Burgos,
who was the nephew of Fr. Burgos, Jose Rizal
was reluctantly admitted to Ateneo.
 Jose's mother, Dona Teodora, was imprisoned
in Santa Cruz
 Governor General, Rafael Izquierdo, visited
Calamba, where he was entertained by some
young girls, including Jose's sister Soledad.
She is the reason why her mother was released
from prison: the governor was charmed and
impressed by her.
 The Jesuits were expelled from the Philippines
in 1768 but returned in 1859. They were tasked
to convert the Mindanao population, and they
also took charge of Ateneo.
 By 1865, Ateneo had transformed into a
secondary school offering rigorous courses that
were nearly equivalent to college-level
academics. And highly regarded as the finest
school in the Philippines due to the rigorous
intellectual standards set by the Jesuits.
 He began at the bottom of the school, but within
a month he became "Emperor of
Carthaginian." Ateneo had divided the
students into two "empires," Roman and
Carthaginian, to fight for academic supremacy.
It was this war that soon brought young Rizal
triumph and prizes. At the end of the first
quarter, he received the grade "excellent."
 The first foreign book he read, The Count of
Monte Crtsto by Alexander Dumas reminded
him of the sufferings of his mother in prison and
of his motherland. Conditions worse than those
which Dumas had described in his book were
present all over the Philippines during that time
 The book which intrigued him was Dr. Feodor
Jagor’s Travels in the Philippines.
 Jagor was a German naturalist had visited the
Philippines fifteen years before and had made
very wise and even prophetic comments. His
book severely criticized the Spanish regime:
"Government monopolies, insolent disregard,
and neglect were the chief reasons for the
downfall of Spain’s possessions. The same
causes threaten ruin to the Philippines…”
Rizal's Early Writings on Education
 "A La Juventud Filipina" ("To the Philippine
Youth")
While at Ateneo, Rizal won a special prize in poetry
and he cultivated the intellectual direction which led
to his nationalistic writings.
Ateneo Years
- While attending Ateneo, Rizal developed into a
first-rate student.
- Remembered as an original thinker, a creative
scholar, and a natural leader.
- Became the leader of his fellow students.
- Took up fencing and gymnastics during this
period.
His mastery of Spanish
- Initially, Rizal was only moderately successful in
speaking and writing Spanish.
- He worked hard and read constantly to improve
his proficiency.

9. - Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez remarked
that he was becoming proficient in the
language.
- Rizal began writing in Spanish.
- Most of his famous works were written in
Spanish.
 Fr. Sanchez's Influence
- Fr. Sanchez recognized Rizal's talent as a
poet.
- Encouraged Rizal to practice and develop
his poetic skills.
- Early Student Poems
- Rizal's initial poems were impressionistic
and amateurish.
- Contained the early seeds of his future
nationalism.
Membership in the Society of Muses
- Rizal joined the Society of Muses.
- Initially enjoyed himself but gradually evolved
his poetic themes.
- Rizal's poems began to express a national
theme.
- Saw Philippine nationalism even in writing
about flowers.
- Early poems showed a critical voice, criticizing
Spanish foibles and follies.
 Fr. Jose Villaclara
- Instructed Jose Rizal in the sciences and
philosophy.
- Initially believed Rizal was wasting his time
with poetry.
- Developed Rizal's scientific curiosity that
lasted throughout his life.
- Convinced Rizal to adopt a "scientific
attitude" toward life.
- Encouraged Rizal to express his earliest
nationalistic ideas.
- Villaclara was determined to serve his
people. That service would define the key
elements of Philippine nationalism.
 "Por Is Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria"
- A poem written by José Rizal during his
Ateneo years.
- Title translated to English: "Through
Education Ours Motherland Receives
Light."
- The poem suggests that education is an
integral part of the national character.
 "Alianza intima la religion y la educacion"
(1876)
- Title translated to English: "The Intimate
Alliance between Religion and
Education"
- In this poem, Rizal expressed the
importance of the relationship between
religion and education.
Rizal's Early Religious Writings
 "A la Virgen Maria" ("To the Virgin Mary")
- A religious poem written by Rizal during his
Ateneo days.
- A manifestation of Rizal's devotion to the
Virgin Mary.
- Likely a sonnet with a sad tone.
- Last three lines resemble the hymn "Mother
of Christ" from the Baclaran church
novena.
 "Al Nilio Jesus" ("To the Child Jesus")
- religious poem written by Rizal in 1875.
- Short in length, comprising eight verses.
- Likely adheres to the Spanish poetry
standard, possibly classified as "octava
real."
Rizal's Encounter with a Civil Guard
One night in Calamba, Rizal encountered a civil
guard while visiting his parents. He failed to salute
the guard, who struck him across the back with a
sword. The wound, fortunately, was not serious.
Rizal complained to the authorities about the
incident. Rizal was told that the civil guard had
fulfilled his duty and that he should be thankful for
being alive despite the injury.
It is believed that Rizal wrote a lonely sonnet to
the Virgin Mary during his convalescence, making
it the first sad poem he had ever written.
 "In Memory of My Village"
- Reflects on the joyful days of his childhood in
Calamba.
 "A Farewell Dialogue of the Students"
- Written by Jose Rizal just before his
graduation from Ateneo.
- Graduated on March 23, 1877, at the age of
not yet sixteen, with the degree of Bachelor
of Arts with highest honors.
 Tribute to Fr. Pablo Ramon
- Composed by Jose Rizal five years later.
- A tribute to the very reverend Fr. Pablo Ramon,
the rector of Ateneo, on the occasion of his
birthday.

10. According to historian Gregorio Zaide, Rizal
obtained the scholastic rating of "excellent" in all
subjects.