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DR. JOSE RIZAL Is A Unique Example of A Many-Splendored Genius Who Became The Greatest Hero of The

Rizal was born in 1861 in Calamba, Laguna to Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alfonso Realonda. He would go on to become the greatest hero of the Philippines. Rizal was baptized three days after his birth, and the parish priest said he would become a great man. Rizal had 11 siblings and was highly educated by his mother, who spoke Spanish better than him and corrected his poems. Rizal's parents played an important role in his upbringing and development into the national hero he became.

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285 views

DR. JOSE RIZAL Is A Unique Example of A Many-Splendored Genius Who Became The Greatest Hero of The

Rizal was born in 1861 in Calamba, Laguna to Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alfonso Realonda. He would go on to become the greatest hero of the Philippines. Rizal was baptized three days after his birth, and the parish priest said he would become a great man. Rizal had 11 siblings and was highly educated by his mother, who spoke Spanish better than him and corrected his poems. Rizal's parents played an important role in his upbringing and development into the national hero he became.

Uploaded by

DianneJeeDagasdas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 1

ADVENT OF A NATIONAL HERO

DR. JOSE RIZAL is a unique example of 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, philologist, grammarian, folklorist, philosopher,
translator, inventor, magician, humorist, satirist, polemicist, sportsman, traveler, and a prophet.

Above all these, he was a hero and a political martyr.

THE BIRTH OF A HERO.


He was born on the moonlit night of Wednesday, June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna Province,
Philippines.

His mother almost died during the delivery because of his big head. He was baptized in the Catholic
church of this town on June 22, aged 3 days old by the parish priest Father Rufino Collantes who was a
Batangueno. Father Pedro Casanas was his godfather.

The name ‘Jose’ was chosen by his mother who was devotee of the Christian Saint San Jose (St. Joseph)

Father Collantes said ‘Take care of this child, for someday he will be a great man.’

The baptismal certificate of Rizal reads as follows:


‘I, the undersigned parish priest of Calamba, certify that from the investigation made with the proper
authority, for replacing the parish books which were burned September 28, 1862, to be found in the
Docket No. 1 of Baptism, p. 49, it appears by the sworn testimony of competent witnesses that JOSE
RIZAL MERCADO is legitimate son, and of lawful wedlock, of Don Francisco Rizal Mercado and Dona
Teodora Realonda, having been baptized in this parish pries Rev. Rufino Collantes, Rev. Pedro Casanas
being his godfather. –Witness my signature.
(Signed): LEONCIO LOPEZ

It should be noted that at the time Rizal was born, Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery was the governor
heneral of the Philippines ( a former senator of Spain). He governed the Philippines from February 2,
1861 to July 7, 1862. He sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Ultramar un
Madrid, denouncing Sultan Pulalun of Sulu and several powerful Moro datus for fraternizing with the
British consul.

His achievements as governor general were (1) fostering cultivation of cotton in the provinces and (2)
establishing the politico-military governments in the Visayas and in Mindanao.
RIZAL’S PARENTS.
Rizal was the 7th of the eleven children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alfonso Realonda.
Francisco (1818-1898) was born in Binan, Laguna on May 11, 1818. He studied Latin and Philosophy at
the College of San Jose in Manila. He moved to Calamba and became a tenant-farmer of the Dominican-
owned hacienda after his parents death. He died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the aged of 80.
In Rizal’s memoirs, he called him ‘a model of farthers’ since he was a hardy and independently-minded
man, who talked less and work more, and was strong in body and valiant in spirit.

Dona Teodora (1826-1911) was born in Manila on November 8, 1826, and was educated at the College
of Santa Rosa. She was a remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent, business ability,
and the fortitude of Spartan women.

Rizal lovingly said of her: ‘My mother is a woman of more than ordinary culture: she knows literature and
speaks Spanish better than I. She corrected my poems and gave me good advice when I was studying
rhetoric. She is a mathematician and has read many books.’

She died on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85 in Manila. Before her death, the Philippine government
offered her a life pension but she courteously rejected it saying, ‘My family has never been patriotic for
money. If the government has plenty of funds and does not know what to do with them, better reduce
the taxes. ‘

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