Summary of the life and works of Rizal

1. GE 9 - THE LIFE
AND WORKS OF
RIZAL
San Jose
Community College

2. HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND OF
RIZAL’S FAMILY
• The Jose Rizal family was a wealthy family in Calamba,
Laguna and considered one of the largest families in those
times. The 13 member of Jose Rizal family consisted of his
father Francisco Mercado II and his mother Teodora Alonso
Realonda. Jose Rizal had nine sisters and one brother. The
Jose Rizal family’s paternal ascendant was Domingo Lam-
co, a full-blooded Chinese who lived in Amoy, China and
arrived in the Philippines in the closing years of the 17th
century. Domingo Lam-co was married to a Chinese half-
breed named Ines de la Rosa. The Mercado-Rizal family had
also Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Negrito blood aside from
their Chinese blood.

3. • Jose Rizal’s father was the youngest of 13 children of Juan and Cirila Mercado. He was
born in Binan, Laguna, studied in San Jose College of Manila and died in Manila. The
mother of Jose Rizal was a business -minded, religious and hardworking individual who
was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in Manila in 1913. She
studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa and was the second child of Brijida de Quintos and
Lorenzo Alonso.
• Saturnina Rizal was the eldest of the off springs of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso
Realonda. She married Manuel Hidalgo who hailed from Tanauan, Batangas. The only
brother of Jose Rizal was Paciano Rizal and was the second child. Paciano studied at the
San Jose College in Manila and worked as a farmer and later as a general of the Philippine
Revolution. The other sisters of Jose Rizal were Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria,
Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad and Soledad. Soledad was the youngest child and later was
married to Pantaleon Quintero.
• The parents of Jose Rizal were both farmers who were granted by the Dominicans with the
lease of a hacienda together with a rice farm. The mother of Jose Rizal, Teodora, had
Spanish and Japanese ancestors while the father of Teodora was a half Spaniard engineer
known as Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo.

4. • The Rizal surname was obtained by Francisco Mercado as suggested to him by a provincial governor
after the Governor General of the Philippines, Narciso Claveria, issued a decree in 1849 by which
native Filipino and immigrant families were to adopt Spanish surnames from a list of Spanish family
names. Jose Rizal also obtained the surname Rizal after dropping three other names that made up
his full name. Jose Rizal also retained Protacio as his other family name. His family never actually
recognized his Rizal surname but Jose Rizal was forced to use it so that he can travel freely and
disassociate him from his brother who was known to be notorious due to Paciano’s links with native
priests who were executed after they were found to be subversives.
• The Rizal's is considered one of the biggest families during their time. Domingo Lam-co,
the Family's paternal ascendant was a full-blooded Chinese who came to the Philippines
from Amoy, China in the closing years of the 17th century and married a Chinese half-
breed by the name of Ines de la Rosa.
• Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had also traces of Japanese, Spanish,
Malay and Even Negrito blood aside from Chinese. Jose Rizal came from a 13-member
family consisting of his parents, Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso Realonda, and
nine sisters and one brother.

5. THE MERCADO - RIZAL FAMILY
• FRANCISCO MERCADO (1818-1898)
Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in
Biñan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.
• TEODORA ALONSO (1827-1913)
Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos.
She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman,
courteous, religious, hard-working and well-read. She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on
November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in Manila.

6. • SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-1913)
Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas.
• PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930)
Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College in Manila;
became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.
• NARCISA RIZAL (1852-1939)
The third child. married Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal; a teacher and musician.
• OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887)
The fourth child. Married Silvestre Ubaldo; died in 1887 from childbirth.
• LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919)
The fifth child. Married Matriano Herbosa.

7. • MARIA RIZAL (1859-1945)
The sixth child. Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.
• JOSE RIZAL (1861-1896)
The second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the Spaniards on December
30,1896.
• CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865)
The eight child. Died at the age of three.
• JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-1945)
The ninth child. An epileptic, died a spinster.
• TRINIDAD RIZAL (1868-1951)
The tenth child. Died a spinster and the last of the family to die.

8. • SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929)
The youngest child married Pantaleon Quintero.

9. PATERNAL ANCESTORS
• Domingo Lam-Co, the family root, arrived from Amoy, China in 1660s and changed his
name to Mercado in 1697. He married late in life.
• Francisco Mercado y Chinco, the first son of Domingo Lam-co.
• Juan Mercado y Monica, youngest son of Francisco Mercado y Chinco, a captain in the
Spanish army
• Petrona, Potenciana and Francisco Mercado, Sr., children of Juan Mercado. The youngest
Francisco Mercado, Sr. was the father of Jose Rizal, Francisco Mercado (Junior).

10. INFLUENTIAL RELATIVES
• Jose’s relatives who influenced him greatly mostly consisted of his mother’s brothers: Tio
Jose, Tio Manuel, and Tio Gregorio.
• Tio Jose - He is the youngest among the siblings of Teodora, and was schooled in Calcutta,
India. He was Jose Rizal’s inspiration as he sketches and paints. Tio Jose encouraged him
to engage in sculpturing.
• Tio Manuel - Known to be big and strong, he influenced Jose to visit the outdoors, do long
walks with his pet black dog, Usman, and even go horseback riding with his horse,
castaño.
• Tio Gregorio - Through his Tio Gregorio, Jose learned the value of hard work, careful
observation of life, as well as independent thinking. Through him, Jose likewise became
interested in the printed page.

12. WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY THE LIFE AND
WORKS OF RIZAL?
Increase the law's importance in the creation of a true Filipino nation. Describe
the course's overall relevance to modern Filipinos' daily lives. Because it is
mandated by law, we should start by studying Rizal. The Jose Rizal Law, also
referred to as Republic Act 1425, mandates the study of Jose Rizal's life, works,
and writings. The law's supporter, Senator Jose P. Laurel, claimed that since
Rizal founded Philippine nationalism and significantly influenced the state of the
nation today, it is only fitting that both the youth and the rest of the nation learn
about and uphold the lofty principles for which he gave his life.

13. There is a specific goal that must be met in order to realize the law's
relevance in the nation-building of a true Filipino, such as reasserting in
young people the values of liberty and nationalism for which our forefathers
sacrificed their lives. In addition, to recognize our national hero for dedicating
his life and work to the improvement of Filipino character.
Promoting the development of Filipino youth in all facets of citizenship is vital
in light of the course's general relevance to Filipinos' everyday lives today.
And to have a deeper appreciation for the causes Rizal fought and died for.
Filipino students must support the application of such values to current social
and personal challenges and comprehend the significance of Rizal's
principles and teachings in light of modern societal events in order to achieve
this.

14. • To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our
heroes lived and died.
• To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino
character.
• To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and
writings.
• To recognize the importance of Rizal’s ideals and teachings in relation to present
conditions and situations in the society.
• To encourage the application of such ideals in current social and personal problems and
issues.

15. • To develop an appreciation and deeper understanding of all that Rizal fought and died for.
• To foster the development of the Filipino youth in all aspects of citizenship.

16. CONSUMMATUM EST!