DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,

INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

Week 2

Unit 1: Birth and Childhood

Topic: Introduction and Assumptions

Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain the Republic Act 1425, its scope and limitations
with emphasis on the arguments of its approval;
2. Relate the issues of Rizal Bill to present day
Philippines;
3. Explore Rizal’s life as a child with emphasis on his
family lineage; and
4. Discuss the cultural way of living in Rizal’s time as to
give explanation to pueblo system, as means of socio-
cultural and political status in the nineteenth century.

Concept Digest (Discussion)

REPUBLIC ACT 1425 (ITS PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE)

The R.A. 1425 or otherwise known as the Rizal Law which was
approved on June 12, 1956, is an act mandating all public and
private and public institutions including state colleges and
universities to include Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s life., works and
writings as a course across programs.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s life, works and writings in curricula

envision in achieving the ideals of freedom and nationalism for
which our hero lived and died for. The law was written by Senator
Jose P. Laurel with a comprised version of House Bill no. 5561
which came out on April 19, 1956 in the House of Representatives
and Senate Bill no. 428 on April 3, 1956 by then Committee on
Education, which were led by Cong. Jacobo Gonzales and Sen. Claro
Recto or otherwise known as Noli-Fili Bill.

By honoring him, we can best remember with special fondness

and devotion his life and works that shaped the national
character. His novels the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
have become a source of inspiration and patriotism in the minds
of the youth especially during their formative and decisive years
in school. Ultimately, the inclusion of the life, works, and

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal will develop moral character,

personal discipline, civic conscience and strengthen the duties
of citizenship.

BIRTH
Our national hero was born on the moonlit of Wednesday on
June 19, 1861 between eleven and twelve midnight at the lakeshore
town in Calamba, Laguna. He was named Jose Protacio in honor of
Saint Protacio, one who invoked for the discovery of thieves and
one of the patron saints of Milan and Saint Joseph, the patron
saint of the universal church. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y
Alonso Realonda was the 7th child of Don Francisco Mercado and
Doňa Teodora Alonso. His family fondly called him as Pepe.
According to writer Felice Prudente Santa Maria’s book. In
Excelsis once explained why Jose was called “Pepe”, she said,
“Saint Joseph was the putative father of Jesus Christ. In Latin,
San Jose’s 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.”

In his biography entitled “Memoirs of a Student in Manila”,

Rizal reminisced that his mother almost caused her life because
of his big head. It was believed that because of his mother’s
failure to make a pilgrimage to the Virgin of Antipolo caused the
difficulty of delivering Jose.

Rizal was christened at the church on

June 22, 1861 when he was only three days
old. Reverend Father Rufino Collantes
baptized him while Reverend Father Pedro
Casanas stood as his godfather. Rev.Fr.
Collantes informed Pepe’s family that they
should take care of him as he prophesied
that he will become someday because of the
unusual size of his head. His prophecy
showed evidences in the following journey
of his life.

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

In his baptismal certificate which was originally written in

Spanish showed that Father Leoncio Lopez, the parish priest of
the town of Calamba, Laguna attested that Jose Rizal Mercado,
read as follows:

“I, the parish priest of the town of Calamba, whose signature

appears below, certify that from the examination made with
appropriate authority, for restoring the canonical books
burned on September 28, 1862 and found in Docket No. 1 of
Baptisms, p.49, it emerges according to the declaration of
competent and sworn witnesses that Jose Rizal Mercado is a
legitimate son of Don Francisco Rizal Mercado and Doña Teodora
Realonda where he was baptized in this parish on June 22, 1861
by Rev. Fr. Rufino Collantes and Rev. Fr. Pedro Casanas who
stood as his godfather. And I sign this as true (signed)
Leoncio Lopez.”

PARENTS
Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandra II was born on May
11, 1818 at Biñan, Laguna, the youngest of the 13 children of
Cirila Alejandro and Juan Mercado. He was one of the fourth
generations of a Chinese immigrant in the late 1600s named
Domingo Lamco. During his early education in his hometown, he
studied Latin and afterwards studied at the Colegio de San Jose
in Manila for philosophy and Latin. The people of Calamba had a
high regard on him as he became their Cabeza de Barangay (head of
the Barangay).

Jose Rizal regarded his father a “model of fathers” where

accordingly, had given them education, a strong-willed, educated
and independent-minded person were believed to be inherited by
him.

Don Francisco was a tenant and also a landowner of the Dominican

state in Calamba, Laguna. Because of his hard work and
dedication, his rented holdings increased and built a stone house
erected at the center of the town. But unfortunate event happened
as he was evicted from his house in September 1899 after failing
in the agrarian case with the friars. He died on January 5, 1898

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

at the house of his daughter Narcisa shortly after the execution

of his son Jose.

Doña Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos was born in Meisik

(Chinatown), Manila on November 9, 1827 and a native of Sta.
Cruz, Manila. She was martinet, devoted, well-managed and a
diligent mother. She studied and mastered Spanish language at
Colegio de Santa Rosa, a school for girls in Manila. She
possessed business ability, a refined culture, literary giant,
and the courage of a frugal woman. Thus, Jose Rizal considered
her a remarkable woman. She demonstrates how to keep families
together despite the turmoil of the Spanish regime.

Jose in his letter to Blumentritt which read as follows:

“My mother is not a woman of extraordinary culture. She knows

literature and speaks better than I do. She even corrected my
poems and gave me wise advice when I was studying rhetoric.
She is a mathematician and has read many books. Her father
who was Philippine representative to the Cortes had been her
teacher.”

SIBLINGS

Francisco Mercado married Teodora Alonso where they were blessed

with eleven children; two boys and nine girls.

1. Saturnina (1850 - 1913) was the eldest amongst the siblings

and was commonly known as Neneng. She studied at La
Concordia College in Sta. Ana Manila. She was married to
Manuel Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. Doña Saturnina
published Pascual Poblete’s Tagalog translation of the Noli
Me Tangere in 1909. She died in 1913 at the age of 63.
2. Paciano (1851 - 1930) was the elder and only brother of our
national hero. He was commonly called as Ciano. Before
studying at the Colegio de San Jose in Manila, he used to
study Latin under Maestro Justiniano Cruz. Jose called him
as “Uto” because aside from the support he received from his

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

uncle, his brother sent him a monthly allowance of 50 pesos

and later 35 pesos. As a Katipunero, he was an ardent and
dynamic who later became a general of the Revolutionary Army
after the death of his younger brother. Many believed that
he was the Pilosopong Tasio referred in Noli Me Tangere. In
Jose Rizal’s letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt on June 23,
1888, he mentioned that he doesn’t know why he failed to
introduce his brother to him. He added that those who wish
to identify good people will get in him the most dignified
Filipinos. His dear friend Jose Taviel de Andrade said every
time he thinks of him, he’s more munificent than those
Spaniards of today. In 1990, he was captured by the American
forces because of his involvement as military commander of
the Revolutionary forces in Laguna. Before his death, he
lived a modest life as a farmer. He married to Severina
Decena, his common-law wife where they had two children. He
died at the age of 79 because of tuberculosis.
3. Narcisa (1852 - 1939) was the second daughter and third
child of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonzo. She was
called as Sisa by her siblings. It was believed that she
also supported her brother Jose’s studies abroad and perhaps
the only amongst the siblings that could narrate the poems
of Jose. She was married to a teacher musician named Antonio
Lopez.
4. Olimpia (1855 - 1887) was called as Ypia. She was married to
Silvestro Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila.
5. Lucia (1857 - 1919) married Manuel Herbosa of Calamba,
Laguna. Her husband died on May 1889 during the cholera
outbreak and was denied of burial for not going to admit his
marriage.
6. Maria (1859 - 1945) married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan,
Laguna. Her pet name was Biang.
7. Concepcion (1862 - 1865) was called Concha. She died at the
age of three.
8. Josefa (1865 – 1945) was an old maid who died at the age of
80. She was called by her family as Panggoy.

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

9. Trinidad (1868 - 1951) liked her sister Panggoy died an old

maid at the age of 83. She became the keeper of Jose Rizal’s
dirge called Mi Ultimo adios.
10. Soledad (1870 - 1929) became a teacher. Her petname was
Choleng, who married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba, Laguna.

Jose Rizal’s sisters had influenced him much especially to his

studies abroad. His two elder sisters at times trade in their
trinkets and sell their clothes to send allowance for their
brother Jose.

When he was younger, he can’t forget the times he was busy

playing with his sister Concha. He even shared stories to his
sister Ypia about his beloved Segunda Katigbak. And while he was
exiled in Dapitan, he mentioned to his sister Biang of his desire
of marrying Josephine Bracken.

There are times his sisters informed him about the bad news
happening in their place including the sufferings of the Filipino
people from the hands of the Spanish authorities as well as
situations of his parents, the cholera outbreak and the
imposition of fines due to land taxes.

When Jose was exiled in Dapitan, his sisters also invited him; in
fact, there was a plan of his sister Trinidad to help him escape
from Dapitan. After his death, his sister Narcisa carefully
investigate of where he was buried. After two years, they dug up
his body at Paco cemetery where they found his bones and some
material remains like his hat and shoes.

FAMILY
Don Francisco and Doña Teodora family despite big was still
able to find joy and happiness. They live in a harmonious
relationship where affections are present amongst the members of
the family. Just like any ordinary family, their parents showed
love and care to their children. Nonetheless, they don’t spoil
their children. In fact, every time their children made wrong
deeds and involved in bad activities, they are there to
discipline them. They believed in the old adage “spare the rod

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

and spoil the child”. If the children it then they will end up
spoiled or become bad-mannered.

As Catholic believers, they taught them to be courteous to

people especially the old persons. Their love of God became their
foundation to value and respects one’s right. Every day they
heard mass especially during Sundays. Every 6am, 12nn and 6pm,
they prayed together the Angelus and do the Holy Rosary before
going to bed. They were accustomed to kiss their parent’s hands
after the recital of prayers.

But Rizal’s family life was not always about religiosity, they
were allowed to play in their backyard. As Principalia, they
were able to build a stone house near the church and even buy
another one; they owned a stagecoach, a library and were able
to send them in college in Manila. Indeed, their being prudent
gave them a contented life where at times, they led social and
religious activities in their house. They also served as host
to all their visitors during holidays and other gatherings in
their community.

ANCESTORS

As Principalea, Rizal Family was a mixture of different races.

Jose’s father’s side had Chinese descent and a Japanese lineage
from his mother. A recent study revealed that his mother’s origin
was from Rajah Lakandula. In short, his ancestry can also be
traced from Malayan and Indonesian genes, truly a splendid blend
of bloods.

Jose Rizal’s great-great grandfather on his patrilineal side

was Domingo Lamco, a native Chinese of Sionggue, City of
Changchow, province of Fukien. He arrived in Manila about 1690
perhaps because of scarcity and political quandary in his
hometown.

Lamco converted to Christianity because of his desire to be a

Catholic. She married a well-off Chinese lady named Ines de la
Rosa of Manila. In 1731, he decided to change his surname using
“Mercado”. The term Mercado was referred to in English word as

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

market is fitted for a merchant like him. Their marriage was

blessed with two children, Francisco and Josefa, who died five
days after her birth. Francisco Mercado was the great grandfather
of Jose and was named after an uncle and a friar scholar in
Manila.

He married to Cirila Bernacha (other say Bernacha Monicha), a

Chinese-Filipino mestiza in the Hacienda San Pedro Tunasan.
Francisco Mercado resided in Biñan and eventually elected as
Gobernadorcillo of the town. Before his death in 1801, they were
blessed with two children, Juan and Clemente.

Juan Mercado, the grandfather of Jose was also elected as

Gobernadorcillo where he was known by many as Kapitan Juan. He
was elected thrice in 1808, 1813 and 1823 and was chosen as
Hermano Mayor several times. He married Cirila Alejandra, the
daughter of Siongco, Lamco’s grandson. They were blessed with 12
children; the youngest was Jose’s father, Francisco Mercado.

Jose Rizal’s matrilineal descent can be traced from that of the

last native king of Tondo, Lakandula, a Bornean Muslim. Doña
Teodora’s great grandfather had a Japanese ancestry named Eugenio
Ursua who married a Filipina named Benigna (surname unknown).
They were blessed with a daughter named Regina who was married to
a Chinese lawyer from Panggasinan named Manuel de Quintos. One of
their daughters Brigida who was married to Lorenzo Alberto
Alonso, a deputy for the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes was
also a prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo of Biñan. Brigida and
Lorenzo were gifted with five children: Narcisa, Teodora,
Gregorio, Manuel, and Jose.

There were reasons why the descendants of Jose’s parents did

not use their last name Lamco and Mercado. According to Craig,
the Lamco family was not use to of taking the names of their
godparents. He gave his boy a name Sangley with which a
translated meaning from the Mercado is the same. He believed that
his surname would free him from the discrimination from those
Chinese names because it will remind him of his ancestry.

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

In Jose’s letter to his friend Blumentritt, he explained to him

the reasons why Rizal’s last name was used by him and why others
remained to use Mercado. Because of the strong attachment of his
brother Paciano to Father Burgos who was then believed to be the
reason of the Cavite mutiny. His brother told him to use Rizal
because it is safe for him and would not have difficult in his
studies as his brother might associated him as Mercado.

CHILDHOOD
Jose Rizal’s childhood was full of joy and meaningful memories.
They lived in a shore of Lake Laguna and in the foot of Mt.
Makiling. He enjoyed sight-seeing of the splendid beauty of
Laguna de Bay. His childhood is characterized by his willingness
to learn.

As a son, brother and sibling, he was amiable, thoughtful and

very loving person. Because he was weak and wan, his parents
showed him the tender loving care. But despite of his physique,
he can still do things like any ordinary boy. He was well guided
especially his mother who become his first teacher. His mother
taught him alphabet and to pray when he was three years old. At
an early age, his mother observed that he can write poems and
encourage him to continue writing.

As a young boy, he was able to write a poem about his hometown

entitled “In Memory of My Town” (Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo). A poem
that symbolized his love for his town and reminiscing his
beautiful memories as a young boy as well as treasuring the
scenic beauty of his hometown. His father built him a small nipa
hut which became his sanctuary to play with his siblings and at
the same his resting place.

Oftentimes, he enjoyed playing alone and watching the different

birds singing like the Culiawan, maya, maria capra, martini and
the pipit. His mother as teacher does not just taught him to
write poems, she also taught him to pray daily including the
recitation of the holy rosary. His mother’s brothers had

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

influenced him also, his uncle Jose took care of teaching him
regular lessons. His uncle Manuel develops his built until he had
a body silk and brace. His uncle Gregorio instilled in his mind
to do more and work hard to get what he wanted in life.

Jose also owned a pony and used it during his visit to some
beautiful sceneries in his hometown. There was a time, he was
able to draw a bird flying without elating his pencil from his
paper until the picture he drew was gone. He’s also good in
drawing a horse chasing a dog; his favorite play was molding
animal using clay and wax.

Another happy memory was his nocturnal walk together with big
black dog Usman. He also used to play with the doves of his
neighbors. He was also good in magic tricks performing magic
lantern exhibition, disappearing a coin, false cutting a thin
rope and untying a handkerchief. One time, while he was playing
with his friends, his sisters giggled at him but he did not say
anything, instead, he silently told them that someday when he
die, people will make monuments and images of him.

Jose’s early childhood which he considered to be his happiest

moment was his trip with his father in Antipolo in order to
perform his mother’s vow to do pilgrimage to the Virgin of
Antipolo. They took a barge sailed going to Pasig River. His
first trip excites him as he saw the vastness of the river and
the different sceneries he was not seen in his hometown. After
paying homage to the Virgin, they went in Manila to visit his
sister Saturnina. This was Jose’s first trip in Manila.

When Jose was four years old, he experiences his first grief
because of the death of his young sister Concepcion. Her death
caused so much sorrow of him and his family as his sister was
closer to him. Jose revealed also a poetic mind and since his
mother was good in literature and rhetoric, he acquired also the
interest of writing short verses. One night, his mother shared a
story to him about a moth. The tragic fate of the moth left an

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

unforgettable idea to sacrifice foe a dignified cause for

something that is valuable.

At the age of eight, Jose wrote a poem entitled “To My Fellow

Children” (Sa Aking mga Kababata). This poem revealed Jose’s
dedication to his one’s mother tongue, he resonated that those
who truly love their native language will surely endeavor for
freedom just like the birds freely flying in the space above.

Aside from these beautiful memories, Jose experienced cruelty

from the Spanish soldier. He and his dog witnessed the brutality
of the Civic Guards hurting some innocent people in the
community. Jose in his biography said that the violence committed
by the Civil Guard strongly affected him which he promised to
offer his life for his countrymen.

Activities
Title: Birth and Childhood
Things to do:
1. You are going to answer the following given questions on the
next page.
2. You are going to use ordinary pen, not sign pen.
3. Erasure is highly prohibited; it must be clean and net.

Name:____________________ Week#:_______ Date: _______

Identify who/what is referred to in the following:

1. This law is mandated to include the
life, works and writings of Dr. Jose P.
Rizal in the course across programs in
all public and private institutions.
2. The life, works and writings of Dr. Jose
P. Rizal is a law proposed and written
by whom?
3. This bill was proposed to include Noli
Me Tangere in the curriculum which was
also known as the Noli Bill.
4. These legislators proposed the inclusion
of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo

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 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE,
INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

5. in the curriculum to study the impact of

these two-great works of Dr. Jose P.
Rizal.
6. This writer explained why Jose was
called as Pepe.
7. During the christening of Jose, he was
baptized by _________ and _________, who
8. stood as his godfather.
9. Pepe was named and honor of __________,
the discovery of thieves and ones of the
patron saints of Milan and in honor of
10. __________, the patron saint of the
universal church.

Assessment (Summative)
Title: To be or not to be?
Date of Submission: September 22, 2020
Rubric Used:
Things to do:
1. In connection with the topic, you are tasked to defend
your answer in the question provided on the next page.
2. Plagiarized (copied and pasted) work will automatically
get zero. Copying other students work will also be marked
zero.
3. Failure to follow the instructions will be marked NFI,
which is equivalent to zero.
4. You are going to right your answer in the space provided
and use ordinary pen not sign pen.

Name:___________________ Week#:_______ Date: _______

To Be or Not To Be
If Jose Rizal did not aspire for Philippine independence,
why then is he considered as the national hero of the
Philippines? Does Jose Rizal deserve to be considered our
national hero? Write your answer in not more than 200 words.

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