Rizal spent his early childhood in Calamba, where he enjoyed playing in the family garden. His mother was his first teacher and taught him prayers and the alphabet. Seeing his talent for poetry, she encouraged him to write. He had a religious upbringing and regularly participated in family prayers from age 3. Rizal then studied under private tutors before being sent to school in Binan, where he excelled as the top student until learning all the teacher could teach. Tragedies like the unjust imprisonment of his mother and execution of Gom-Bur-Za influenced Rizal's views on Spanish rule.