GEC01: The Life and Works of Rizal
Module 1: HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE
RIZAL LAW
ABOUT JOSE RIZAL:
• Full Name - José Protacio Rizal Mercado
y Alonso Realonda
• Born – moonlit night of Wednesday, June 19,
1861 in Calamba, Laguna
• Died on December 30, 1896 (aged 35) Manila,
Philippines
• Baptized in the Catholic Church of his town
on June 22, aged 3 days old by the parish priest
Fr. Rufino Collantes.
• His name “Jose” was chosen by his mother who
was a devotee of Christian saint San Jose (St.
Joseph)
• His surname “Rizal” in Spanish means an
evergreen fields (where wheat, cut while still
green, sprouts again, areas of land that remain
green and lush throughout the year)
• During the christening ceremony, Father
Collantes was impressed by the baby’s big head
and told to the members of the family who were
present: “Take good care of this child for
someday he will became a great man.”
• Parents: Francisco Mercado Rizal and
Teodora Alonso Realonda
• Francisco Mercado Rizal – born in Binan,
Laguna on May 11, 1818
• Dona Teodora – born in Manila on November 8,
1826
• Rizal was the 7th of 11th children (9 sister and 2
boys; Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olympia,
Lucia, Maria, Jose, Concepcion, Josefa,
Trinidad, Soledad
• Rizal’s Ancestry – mixture of races; Negrito,
Indonesian, Malay, Chinese (father’s side),
Japanese, and Spanish (mother’s side)
• Surname Rizal – The real surname of the Rizal
family was Mercado, which was adopted in 1731
by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great
grandfather of Jose Rizal)
THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL
1. Learning About Rizal Helps Solve Problems:
Studying Jose Rizal's life and times can teach us
how to deal with problems today. It's like
looking at the past to figure out how to fix things
in the present.
A student studying Rizal's writings about social
injustice and inequality. They might apply these
insights to understand and address modern-day
issues like poverty or discrimination, inspiring
them to work towards solutions.
2. Understanding Our Filipino Identity: When
we learn about Rizal, we get a better sense of
who we are as Filipinos. It's like looking at old
family photos to understand our history and
where we come from.
Picture a family gathering where grandparents
share stories about their ancestors' struggles and
triumphs. Learning about their heritage helps
younger generations connect with their Filipino
identity and appreciate their cultural roots.
3. Learning About Love for Our Country:
Rizal's life shows us how to love and be loyal to
our country.
A school assembly where a respected
community leader talks about their dedication to
improving their town. They might attribute their
passion for their nation to the values they
learned from Rizal's life and writings.
4. Life Lessons from Rizal: We can learn
important life lessons from how Rizal dealt with
tough situations. It's like reading a book where
the main character faces challenges and makes
good choices.
Young professional facing a difficult decision at
work. They might remember how Rizal, when
confronted with challenging situations, chose
honesty and integrity. This inspires them to
make the right choice, even if it's difficult.
5. Improving Our Thinking Skills: Studying
Rizal helps us become better at thinking and
making decisions. It's like getting better at
solving puzzles or problems.
