RIZAL'S FAMILY, CHILDHOOD AND EARLY EDUCATION

Summary

The script delves into the life of Rizal, a figure of mixed heritage, with a Chinese great-grandfather who adopted the Spanish surname 'Mercado' under Spanish colonial decree. Born into a comfortable middle-class family, Rizal received a quality education and displayed remarkable talents. His childhood was filled with stories and religious practices, which influenced his character. Despite the strict discipline of his early schooling, Rizal's intelligence and determination shone through, setting the stage for his significant contributions to Philippine history.

Takeaways

• 📚 Rizal's great-grandfather, Domingo Lam-ko, was a Chinese merchant who later adopted the Spanish surname 'Mercado' following a decree by Governor General Narciso Claveria.
• 🏛️ The Spanish system used family names to organize the political system, including tax, population distribution, and government records.
• 👨‍🦳 Dr. Jose Rizal's father, Francisco Mercado, was an educated man who studied Latin and philosophy and lived a long life, passing away at the age of 80.
• 👩‍👧 Rizal's siblings included Satorini, who influenced his education, and Paciano, who became a general in the Philippine Revolution.
• 💍 Olympia, one of Rizal's sisters, married Sylvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator, and later Daniel Faustino Cruz, a prominent figure from Laguna.
• 🏡 The Rizal family belonged to the middle class, or 'principally a class', and enjoyed a comfortable life with a large stone house and a vast private library.
• 📚 Rizal's family valued education, and all of the children were educated in Manila, with the family even affording private tutors for Rizal.
• 👶 Rizal's childhood was filled with stories and religious practices, which were influenced by his mother and the family's ayah.
• 🔥 The story of the moth and the flame, told to Rizal in his childhood, was seen as a tragic foreshadowing of his own life and fate.
• 🎓 At the age of eight, Rizal left his family to study in Binan, where he experienced both reward and punishment as teaching methods.
• 🌊 In December 1870, Rizal received a letter from his sister, signaling the end of his time in Binan, and he gathered stones and made paper fishes as souvenirs.

Q & A

What was the ethnic background of Rizal's family?

Rizal came from a mixed racial background, with his great-grandfather on his father's side being a Chinese merchant named Domingo Lam-ko, and his lineage also included Mayan and Chinese-Mestiza influences.

Why did Domingo Lam-ko change his surname to Mercado?

Domingo Lam-ko changed his surname to Mercado in 1849, following the gubernatorial decree of Narciso Claveria that mandated the use of Spanish surnames in the Philippines.

What was the significance of family names under the Spanish system in the Philippines?

Under the Spanish system, family names played a significant role in organizing the political system of the country, including for purposes of tax collection, population distribution, and government records and correspondence.

What was the profession of Rizal's great-grandfather on his mother's side?

Rizal's great-grandfather on his mother's side was Dr. Jose, whose family decided to adopt a Spanish surname to prevent conflict with the Spanish authorities.

What is the meaning behind Rizal's family choosing the surname Mercado?

The surname Mercado was chosen because it means 'market' in Spanish, reflecting the family's merchant background.

When and where was Rizal born?

Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, between 11 o'clock and 12 o'clock midnight, in Laguna.

Where did Rizal study Latin and philosophy?

Rizal studied Latin and philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila and from the Dominican friars at San Francisco.

What was the status of Rizal's family in terms of social class?

Rizal's family belonged to the middle class, or the principalia class, which was a class of creoles in the Philippines.

What kind of house did Rizal's family have, and what did it signify?

Rizal's family had a large, two-story stone house, which was a symbol of wealth during those times.

How did Rizal's family demonstrate their wealth and status?

Rizal's family demonstrated their wealth and status through owning a carriage, horses, and a vast private library with over a thousand books, and by being able to afford private tutors for Rizal.

What was the childhood memory of Rizal that had a significant impact on his life?

One of Rizal's childhood memories that had a significant impact on his life was the story of the moth and the flame, which his ayah told him and which he later saw as a metaphor for his own tragic fate.

What was the educational method used by Rizal's teacher in Binyan?

The educational method used by Rizal's teacher in Binyan included reward and punishment to maintain discipline among the students.

What event marked the end of Rizal's time in Binyan?

Rizal's time in Binyan ended on December 17, 1871, when he received a letter from his sister advising him to return home on an Italian steamer.