RIZAL, HIS WORKS AND HIS WRITINGS The Philippines of Rizals Times 1.

Instability of Colonial Administration > turbulent reign of King Ferdinand VII- started political chaos in Spain - adopted 4 constitutions, elected 28 parliaments, revolutions- shifts of colonial policies in the Philippines. 2. Corrupt Colonial Officials 3. Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes 4. Human Rights Denied to Filipinos 5. No Equality Before the Law 6. Maladministration of Justice 7. Racial Discrimination 8. Frailocracy- government of friars 9. Forced Labor 10. Haciendas Owned by the Friars CHAPTER I ADVENT OF A NATIONAL HERO Rizal was a many- splendored genius who became the greatest hero of the nation. He was a physician (ophthalmic surgeon), poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian, architect, painter, sculptor, educator, linguist, musician, naturalist, ethnologist, surveyor, engineer, farmer businessman, economist,, geographer, cartographer, bibliophile, philogist, grammarian, folklorist, philosopher, translator, inventor, magician, humorist, satirist, polemicist, sportsman, traveler and prophet. Above all, he was a hero and a political martyr who consecrated his life for the redemption of his oppressed people. No wonder he is now acclaimed as the national hero of the Philippines. The Birth of a National Hero June 19, 1861- birthday of Jose Rizal in Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines. His mother almost died during his delivery because of his big head. He was baptized at the age of 3 days old by a Batagueno parish priest, Father Rufino Collantes, godfather(ninong) Faher Pedro Casanas, native of Calamba and close friend of Rizals family. His name Jose was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose (St. Joseph). Father Collantes was impressed by the babys head and told the members of the family who were present: Take good care of this child, for someday he will become a great man. RIZALS FAMILY Jose was the 7th of the eleven children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda. The heros father was born in Binan who studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila. In early manhood, after the death of his parents death, he moved to Calamba and became a tenant- farmer of a Dominican-owned hacienda. He was a hardy and independent-minded man, who talked less and worked more, and was strong in body and valiant in spirit. Jose called him as a model of fathers. Dona Teodora was educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well known college for girls in the city. She was remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent, business ability and the fortitude of Spartan women. Rizal said that his mother was a woman of more than ordinary culture; she knows literature and speaks Spanish better than him. Jose said that shortly before her death, she was offered by the Spaniards for a lifetime pension, she courteously rejected it by saying, If the government has plenty of funds and does not know what to do with them, better reduce the taxes. Such remarks truly befitted her as a worthy mother of a national hero. Joses siblings: Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olimpia, Lucia, Maria, Jose,Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad, and Soledad. Jose called his married sisters as Dona or Senora while Senorita if single. Paciano- was more than a brother for Jose, he was second father to him. He immortalized Paciano in his novel Noli me Tangere as the wise Pilosopo Tasio Rizals ancestry- mixture of races; Negrito, Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish. Rizals great-great grand father, fathers side was Domingo Lamco, Chinese immigrant who married a Christian, Ines de la Rosa and assumed the surname Mercado which means market. Dona Teodora was said to be descended from Lakan Dula, the last native king of Tondo. The Surname Rizal The real surname o Rizals family was Mercado but a Spanish alcalde mayor who was a family friend gave the surname Rizal. A good middle-class family- Rizals family belonged to the principalia, town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines, one of the distinguished family in Calamba. From the farms of the Dominican Order, they harvested corn, rice and sugarcane. They raised pigs, chickens, and turkeys. Dona Teodora managed a general goods store and operated a small flour-mill and a home-made ham press. They were able to build a large stone house near the town church and to buy another one. They owned a carriage, which was a status symbol of the ilustrados in the Spanish Philippines and a private library (the largest in Calamba) w/ consisted of more than 1,000 volumes. They sent their children to Colleges in Manila, they participated prominently in all social and religious affairs in the community, a gracious host to all visitors and guests- friars, Spanish officials, and Filipino friends. Home Life of the Rizals. Don Francisco and Dona Teodora loved their children but they never spoiled them. They where strict parents , trained their children to love God, to behave well, to be obedient, and to respect people, especially the old folks. Whenever the children including Rizal got into mischief, they were given a sound spanking. They believed in the maxim: Spare the rod and spoil the child. Everyday, the Rizals (parents and children) heard Mass in the town church, particularly during Sundays and Christian holidays. They prayed together daily at home- the Angelus at the sunset and the Rosary before retiring to bed at night, afterwhich, children kissed the hands of their parents. Children where given ample time and freedom to play by their strict and religious parents. They played merrily in the azotea or in the garden by themselves. The older ones were allowed to play with their children of other families.