Rizal’s Life Works and Writings

MODULE 1
The World During the Time of Rizal
The Babyhood Years

Prepared by:

Flor A. Docusin
Introduction

The 19th century was a dynamic and creative age especially in Europe and
the United states. During this period such concepts as industrialism,
democracy and nationalism triggered revolutionary changes in science,
technology, economics and politics. These changes in science, technology,
economics and politics. These changes enabled men to achieve the heights
of prosperity and dignity.

The Spanish misdeeds awakened his boyish heart a great determination to

fight tyranny. Rizal made a vow dedicating himself someday to avenge the
many victims.

God blessed the marriage of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso
Realonda with eleven children.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson you will be able to:
 Define the secularization and the relevance to the church.
 Draw a diagrammatic sketch of the structure of the Philippine
government during the Spanish period.
 Compare and contrast the government of the Philippines during
the Spanish period with our present government.
 Elaborate the social, political and educational structure of the
Philippines.
 Describe the birth of Rizal.
 Explain the conditions and events influence Rizal’s life.
 Enumerate the eleven children of Don Francisco and Dona
Teodora in order.
 RIZAL'S LIFE WORKS AND WRITINGS
Module 1-The World During the Time of Rizal
Chapter 1
1. Social Structure
Philippine society was predominantly feudalistic, the results of the
Spanish landholding system imposed upon the country with the arrival
of the conquistadores. The Spaniards exacted all forms of the taxes
and tributes and drafted the natives for manual labor. the pyramidal
structure of the 19th century Philippine society favored the Spaniards.
Racial discrimination was prevalent as the Spanish born peninsular is
were given the highest offices and positions in society, while the
creoles, the Philippine-born Spaniards the half- breed or mestizos
enjoyed second priority, and the natives or Indio's were looked down
upon.
2. Political System

 Spain governed the Philippines through the Ministro de Ultramar

(Ministry of the Colonies) established in Madrid in 1863, This
body helped the Spanish monarchs manage the affairs of the
colonies and governed the Philippines through a centralized
machinery exercising executive, legislative, judicial, and religious
powers.

 TheGovernor general appointed by the Spanish monarch headed

the central administration in Manila. He was the king's
representative in all state and religious matters and as such he
exercised extensive powers.
 He issued executive orders and proclamations and he had
supervision and disciplinary powers over all government officials.
He was commander-in-chief of the Armed forces of the
Philippines. He had supreme authority in financial matters and as
such he exercised extensive powers.

 He issued executive orders and proclamations and he had

supervision and disciplinary powers over all government officials.
He was commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. He had supreme authority in financial matters until
1784.
 The smallest unit of government was the barangay or barrio.
Each barangay was controlled by a cabeza de barangay,
whose main responsibility was to maintain peace and order and
to collect tributes and taxes in his barrio.

 The guardia civil and cuadrilleros performed police duties and

helped maintain peace and order. The Alferez (Second
lieutenant), usually a Spaniard, headed the corps of Guardia
civil in each town.
3.Educational System

 For almost three hundred years since the Spaniards

established the first settlement in the Philippines, there was no
systematic of government supervision of schools. The schools
were free to administer their own curricula and prescribe the
qualifications of their leaders.

 The most serious criticisms against the system were: the

overemphasis on religious matters, the obsolete teaching
methods, the limited curriculum, the very poor classroom
facilities, and the absence of teaching materials such as books
in the elementary and high school levels.
town
 principalia, a body of citizens of high standing, The Governor
General was theoretically responsible for all government and
religious activities during the term including petty official negligence
and faulty administration of justice.

Next
 to the central government in the hierarchical structure were
the provincial governments or alcaldias led by alcaldes mayors (civil
governors); and the city governments called cabildo or
ayuntamiento administered by two alcaldes en ordinario (mayor
and vice mayor). The gobernadorcillo fondly called captain by his
continents, was the chief executive and chief judge of a town. He
was elected at the beginning of very year by a board composed of
members of the usually made up of the incumbent or ex-cabeza de
barangay.
 Primary education was neglected; the absence of academic
freedom, the prejudice against Filipinos in the schools of higher
learning, and the friar control over the system were also reported.

 The friars occupied a dominant position in the Philippine

educational system for religion was the main subject in schools.
Fear of God was emphasized and obedience to the friars was
instilled in the minds of the people. They were constantly reminded
that they had inferior intelligence and they were fit only for manual
labor. These practices resulted in a lack of personal confidence
and a development of inferiority complex.
 The absence of academic freedom is Spain's educational
system was extended to the schools that the Spaniards
established in the Philippines. Learning in every level was
largely by rote. Students memorized and repeated the contents
of books which they did not understand.

 At the end of the Spanish period, the college of San Juan de

Letran was the only official secondary school in the Philippines
although secondary education was also offered at the Ateneo
de Manila. Seven provinces had private colleges and Latin
schools for general studies, and secondary education for girls
was furnished by five colleges in Manila-Santa Isabel, La
Concordia, Santa Rosa, Looban, and Santa Catalina.
 Up to the end of the Spanish regime, the University of Santo Tomas
was the only institution of university level in Manila. Initially
established solely for Spaniards and mestizos, it opened its doors to
Filipino students for decades before the end of the Spanish rule.

 The educational Decree of 1863 marked a milestone in the history

of education in the Philippines under Spain. For the first time
system.
  The Philippines of Rizal Times

1. Instability of Colonial Administration

King Ferdinand VIII (1808-1833) frequent shift of policies
owing to struggle between Liberalism and Despotism; From
1835-1897 there were 50 governor general.

2.Corrupt Colonial Officials

a. General Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-1873), incompetent and
cruel, boastful, ruthless, executed GOMBURZA in 1872.
b. Admiral Jose Malcampo (1874-1873), was a good moro
fighter but was inept and weak administrator.

c. General Fernando Primo de Rivera, Governor general for

two terms (1880-83) and 1897-98), enriched himself by
accepting bribes from gambling casino in Manila which he
permitted to operate.

d. Gen. Valeriano Weyler (1888-91), a cruel and corrupt

governor general of Hispanic German ancestry, arrived in
Manila a poor man and returned to Spain a millionaire.
3. Philippine Representation in the Spanish Cortes

1st Philippine Delegates Ventura de los Reyes

 Constitution of 1812
 Abused Galleon trade
 Propaganda Movement was not heard
 Representation of Spanish colonies (including the
Philippines) was abolished in 1837

4. Human Rights denied to Filipinos.

 No freedom of expression
5. No equality before the law
 Filipinos were abused, brutalized, persecuted and slandered

 Spanishmissionaries taught that all men irrespective of color

and race are children of God and as such they are brothers,
equal before God and not before the law…not in practice.

 Leyes Indies (Laws of the Indies) rarely enforced

 -Spanish Civil Code imposed light penalties on Spaniards but
heavier penalties to Indios.
6. Maladministration of justice

 Courts were notoriously corrupt Judges, fiscals, and court

officials-inept, venal and oftentimes ignorant of the law.

 Justice-costly, partial and slow. Poor Filipinos has no access

to the courts.

 Dona Teodora Rizal was jailed on flimsy ground in 1871; Dr.

Jose. Rizal was deported in July 1892 without trial; Paciano
and several brothers-in-law were exiled without due process.
GOMBURZA and RIZAL were executed.
7. Racial descrimination

 Spain introduced Christianity’s egalitarian concept of the

BROTHERHOOD OF ALL MEN under GOD THE FATHER,
but Filipinos were regarded as inferior beings underserving of
rights enjoyed by the Spaniards.
 Filipinos were called brown-skinned and flat nosed Indios.

8. Frailocracy-a government by friars, union of church and

state. In 19th century they came to acquire tremendous political
power, influence and riches.
9. Forced Labor (Polo servicio) compulsory labor imposed by
the Spanish colonial authorities on adult Filipino males in the
construction of churches, schools, hospitals, building, roads
and bridges, ships, etc.

 Wealthy ones were able to evade forced labor by paying a

falla a sum of money.

10. Haciendas owned by the friars

 Friars owned the best haciendas and the folks who had been
living in these haciendas and cultivating them generation to
generation became tenants.
11. The Guardia Civil

 Which was created by the Royal Decree of February 12, 1852, as

amended by the Royal Decree of March 24, 1888, for the purpose
of maintaining internal peace ands order in the Philippines.
 The Guardia Civil of the Philippines had rendered meritorious
services in suppressing the bandits in the provinces, later they
became infamous for their rampant abuses, such as maltreating
innocent people, looting their carabaos, chickens, and valuable
belongings, and raping helpless women.
 Babyhood Years

 Dr.Jose Rizal-is a unique example of a many-splendored

genius who became the greatest hero of a 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, traveller, and prophet.

 Above and beyond all these, he was a hero and political

martyr who consecrated his life for the redemption of his
oppressed people.

 Birth of a hero
 June 19, 1861-Jose Rizal was born in the lakeshore town of
Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines.
 His mother almost died during the delivery because of his big
head.
 Father Pedro Casanas-Rizal's godfather, native of Calamba and
close friend of the Rizal family.
 He was baptized in the Catholic Church of his town on June 22,
aged three days old, by the parish priest, Father Rufino Collantes.
 Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery-the governor general of the
Philippines when Rizal was born.
 Rizal's Parents

Don Francisco Mercado (1818-1898)

-born in Binan, Laguna on May 11, 1818, -studied Latin and
Philosophy at the college of San Jose in Manila, -became a tenant-
farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda and a hardy independent
minded man, who talked less and worked more.
 -and was strong in body and valiant in spirit
-died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80
-Rizal affectionately called him “ a model o fathers”

Dona Teodora Alonso Realonda (1826-1911)

-born in Manila on November 8, 1826
-educated at the College of Sata Rosa, a well-
known college for girls in the city
 -a remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary
talent, business ablity, and the fortitude of Spartan women
-is a woman of more than ordinary culture: she knows literature
and speaks Spanish (according to Rizal)
-died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85

The Rizal Children

 Eleven children-two boys and nine girls

1. Saturnina (1850-1913)
-oldest of the Rizal children
 -nicknamed Neneng
-married Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas

2. Paciano (1851-1930)
-older brother and confident of Jose Rizal
-was a second father to Rizal
-immortalized him in Rizal's first novel Noli Me
Tangere
as the wise Pilosopo Tasio
-Rizal regarded him as the “most noble of Filipinos”
-became a combat general in the Philippine
Revolution
 -died on April 13, 1930, an old bachelor aged 79
-had two children by his mistress (Severina Decena)

3. Narcisa (1852-1939)
-her pet name was Sisa
-married to Antonio Lopez (nephew of Father Leoncio
Lopez), a school teacher od Morong

4. Olimpia (1855-1887)
-Ypia was her pet name
-married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from
Manila
5. Lucia (1857-1919)
-married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who was a
nephew of father Casanas
-Herbosa died of cholera in 1889 and was denied a Christian
burial
-because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Rizal

6. Maria (1859-1945)
-Biang was her nickname
-married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna
7. Jose (1861-1896)
-the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius; his nickname
was Pepe
-during his exile in Dapitan he lived with Josephine Bracken;
Irish girl from Hong Kong
-he had a son by her, but this baby -boy died a few hours
after his birth; Rizal named him “Francisco” after his father
and buried him in Dapitan.
8. Concepcion (1862-1865)
-her pet name was as Concha
-she died of sickness at the age of 3, her death was Rizal's first
sorrow.

9. Josefa (1865-1945)
-her pet name was Panggoy
-she died an old maid at the age of 80

10. Trinidad (1868-1951)

-Trining was her pet name
-she died also an old maid in 1951 aged 83
11. Soledad (1870-1929)
-youngest of the Rizal children
-her pet name was Choleng
-married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba
Rizal's Ancestors
-Like most Filipinos, Rizal was mixed racial origin
-in his veins flowed the blood of the East and West

Domingo Lamco-the chinese immigrant from the Fukien city of

Changchow, who arrived in Manila about 1860.
Married to Ines de la Rosa, a chinese christian girl of
Manila
1731-assumed the surname Mercado
Mercado-means market in Spanish
 Rizal's maternal ancestor was Lakandula, the last native king of
Tondo
 Eugenio Ursua-his maternal great-great-grandfather of Japanese
ancestry
 Benigna (surname unknown)- wife of Eugenio Ursua

The Surname Rizal

Mercado-the real surname of Rizal family, which was adopted in
1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great-grandfather of
Jose Rizal) who was a full-blooded Chinese.
 Rizal's
family acquired a second surname-Rizal-which was given
by a Spanish alcalde mayor (provincial governor) of Laguna, who
was a family friend

The Rizal Home

Was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during
Spanish times. It was a two-storey building, rectangular in shape,
built adobe stones and hard-woods, and roofed with red tiles. It is
described by Dr. Rafael Palma.
A Good and Middle-Class Family

 The Rizal family belonged to the principalia-a town

aristocracy in Spanish Philippines.

 By dint of honest and hard work and frugal living. Rizal's

parents were able to live well.
They owned a carriage, which was a status symbol of the
illustrados in Spanish Philippines and a private library (the
largest in Calamba) which consisted of more than 1,000 volumes.
 Summary

During the time of Rizal, the sinister shadows of Spain

decadence darkened Philippines skies. The Filipino
people agonized beneath the yoke of Spanish misrule, for
they were unfortunate victims of the evils of an unjust,
bigoted, and deteriorating colonial power.
Jose Rizal endowed by God with versatile gifts. The Rizal
family belonged to the prinicipalia. And they had a simple,
contented and a happy life.