Chapter 2 Rizal

Chapter 2
Childhood Years in Calamba
The happiest period of Rizal’s life was spent in this lakeshore town, a worthy prelude to his
Hamlet-like tragic manhood.
Calamba, the Hero’s Town
 Hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican Order;

 Picturesque town nestling on a verdant plain covered with irrigated rice fields and sugar-
lands.
In memory of My Town
 A poem about how Rizal loved Calamba with all his heart and Soul;
 He wrote the poem when he was 15 years old and was a student in Ateneo de Manila,
1876.
Earliest Childhood Memories
 The first memory of Rizal in his infancy, was his happy days in the family garden when
he was three years old;
 Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer;
 The nocturnal walk in the town, especially when there was a moon;
The Hero’s First Sorrow
 When Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she was only three years old;
Devoted Son of the Church
 When he was five years old, he was able to read haltingly the Spanish family Bible;
 He go to church, to pray, to take part in novenas, and to join the religious processions;
 He was seriously devoted that he was called Manong Jose .
Pilgrimage to Antipolo
 June 6, 1868 Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antopolo, in
order to fulfil his mother’s vow;
 Teodora could not accompany them because she had given birth to Trinidad;
 First trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay and his pilgrimage to Antipolo;
 First time Jose saw Manila.
The Story of the Moth
 Stories told by Dona Teodora to her son Jose

 The story deep impress on Rizal’s mind that to sacrifice one’s life for it for an ideal is
worthwhile.
Artistic Talents
 At the age of five, he began to make sketches with his pencil and to mould in clay and
wax objects which attracted his fancy;
 One day when he was about six years old his sisters laughed at him for spending so
much time making those images rather than participating in their games. He kept silent
as they laughed with childish glee. But as they were departing, he told them: “All right
laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of me.
First Poem by Rizal
 At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled, “Sa Aking
Kababata” (To My Fellow Children);
 This poem reveals Rizal’s earliest nationalist sentiment;
 He proudly proclaimed that a people who truly love their native language will surely
strive for liberty like “ the bird which soars to freer space above” and that Tagalog is the
equal Latin, English, Spanish, and any other language.
First Drama by Rizal
 Rizal who was eight years old by then, wrote his first dramatic work which was a
Tagalog comedy.
Rizal as Boy Magician
 With dexterous hands, he learned various tricks, such as making a coin appear or
disappear in his fingers and making a handkerchief vanish in thin air;
 He entertained the town folks with his magic-lantern exhibitions, etc.;
Lakeshore Reveries
 During the twilight hours of summertime Rizal, accompanied by his pet dog, use to
meditate at the shore of Laguna de Bay on the sad conditions of his oppressed people;
 He was thinking of what might be over on the other side of the waves;
 If in the land across the lake, the people lived in the same way his people live unhappy;
 He wrote to his friend Mariano Ponce: “In view of these injustices and cruelties,
although yet a child, my imagination was awakened and I made a vow dedicating myself
someday to avenge the many victims. With this idea in my mind, I studied, and this is
seen in all my writings. Someday God will give me the opportunity to fulfil my promise”.
Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood
These influences were the following:
1. Hereditary Influence- qualities w/c a person inherits from his ancestors and parents;
2. Environmental Influence- includes places, associates, and events.
3. Aid of Divine Providence- God’s aide
Hereditary influence:
1. Malayan Ancestors-love for freedom, desire to travel, indomitable courage.

2. Chinese Ancestors-serious nature, frugality, patience, loves for children.
3. Spanish Ancestors- elegance in bearing, sensitivity to insult, gallantry to ladies.
4. From his Father-profound sense of self-respect, love for work, habit of independent
thinking.
5. From his Mother-religious nature, spirit of sacrifice, passion for arts and literature.
Environmental Influence
1. Scenic beauties of Calamba and Rizal family beautiful garden- artistic and literary talents
2. Religious atmosphere at his home- religious nature
3. His brother Paciano- love for freedom and justice
4. His sisters- courteous and kind to women
5. His aya- interest in folklore and legends
6. His three uncles
a. Tio Jose Alberto- artistic ability
b. Tio Manuel- interest in physical exercise
c. Tio Gregorio- voracious reading of good books
7. Father Leoncio Lopez- scholarship and intellectual honesty
8. Death of Concha- strength in character
9. Imprisonment of his mother- strength in character
10. Execution of Gom-Bur-Za- spirit of patriotism and inspired him to consecrate his life and
talents to redeem his oppressed people.
Aid of Divine Providence
 God had endowed him with the versatile gifts of a genius, the vibrant spirit of a
nationalist, and the valiant heart to sacrifice for a noble cause.
Source: Gregorio F. Zaide and Sonia M. Zaide (1999). Jose Rizal: life, works and writings of a
genius, writer, scientist and national hero (Second Edition). Ouezon City: All-Nations Publishing
Co.,Inc,.

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Chapter 2

Childhood Years in Calamba

Calamba, the Hero’s Town

 Hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican Order;

Earliest Childhood Memories

The Hero’s First Sorrow

Devoted Son of the Church

The Story of the Moth

 Stories told by Dona Teodora to her son Jose

First Poem by Rizal

First Drama by Rizal

Rizal as Boy Magician

Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood

These influences were the following:

1. Malayan Ancestors-love for freedom, desire to travel, indomitable courage.

Aid of Divine Providence

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