CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA

Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings

Chapter 2

...the happiest period of Rizal’s life

CALAMBA

RIZAL’S HOUSE

RIZAL’S HOUSE

CALAMBA: THE HERO’S TOWN

Named after a big native jar Belonged to the Dominican Order. To the south: Mount Makiling. East of the town is Laguna de Bay. To the north: Antipolo

(Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Shrine)

CALAMBA: THE HERO’S TOWN

In 1876, when he was 15 years old and was a student in Ateneo, he remembered his beloved town.

Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo ( In Memory of My Town)

UN RECUERDO A MI PUEBLO ( IN MEMORY OF MY TOWN)

Rizal is recalling the sweet memories of his childhood, when he stayed in the green fields with cold wind breeze enjoying the fresh smell of nature.

Rizal expresses his feeling of longing for the life near the lake while his mother cradles him with joy and love. He mentioned that he misses the simple life way back home.

The candid Rizal, playing barefooted on the woods and swimming on river banks. Moreover, he mentioned his devotion as a catholic; that he misses praying in rural churches with his pure intentions in his heart

All about Rizal’s amusement and appreciation of God’s creations. He expressed so by using words that describe the aged forest and blue sky.

Rizal gives significance to the beauty of his hometown, a place founded by joyous memories the he longs for. He also mentioned that all the pain of loneliness is eased by the memories of his treasured hometown, that the hour he thinks of it is so precious.

Lastly, symbolizes his dream for his hometown to be as peaceful and as happy as when he was there.

--- WIKIPILIPINAS

EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES Rizal was sickly, underweight, undersized,

and frail as a child. He had his own nipa cottage where he

played in the day, built by his father. He had an aya (nurse maid) who has a kind

old woman and who took care of him and his health.

At the age of 3, he began observing the culiauan, the maya, the maria capra, the martin, and the pipit.

EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES The daily Angelus prayer. The imaginary tales told by the aya. The nocturnal walk in the town,

especially when there was a moon.

THE HERO’S FIRST SORROW

Concepcion “Concha” loved most younger sister died of sickness at age of 3

“I lost my little sister Concha, and then for the first time I shed tears caused by love

and grief…”

DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH

3 years old –He joined the family prayers

5 years old – He knew haltingly, the Spanish family bible.

Father Leoncio Lopez the town priest One of the men he esteemed and

respected.

PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO

June 6, 1868 - Jose and his father went on a pilgrimage to Antipolo on so that they could fulfill his mother's vow, which she made when Jose was born. 

After the pilgrimage, they visited his sister Saturnina in Manila, who was then a boarding student at La Concordia College in Santa Ana.

THE STORY OF THE MOTH

The young moth did not heed the repeated warning of the old moth not to get so close to the light which to the young moth was so beautiful and attractive, and so the young moth met its death by burning itself by reason of curiosity and attraction to the luminous light

Rizal justified such noble death (died martyr to its illusions) asserting that “to sacrifice one’s life for it (ideal), is worthwhile

Like that young moth, he was fated to die a martyr for a noble ideal(in search for light – education, reforms for his country/people)

ARTISTIC TALENTS

At age 5, made sketches with his pencil, mold clay and wax objects

He painted in oil colors a new banner that delighted the crowd – it’s better than the original

“All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make

monuments and images of me!”

FIRST POEM BY RIZAL

At age of 8, he wrote his poem in the native language entitled “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” (To My Fellow Children).

This poem reveals Rizal’s earliest nationalist sentiment and proclaimed that people who love the native language will strive for liberty.

“Ang hindì marunong magmahal sa sariling wikà, masahol pa sa hayop at malansang isdâ.”

FIRST DRAMA BY RIZAL

Also at eight years old, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work, which was a Tagalog comedy. 

It was staged in a festival in Calamba, and was later sold to a gobernadorcillo from Paete for two pesos.

RIZAL AS BOY MAGICIAN

learned various tricks entertained his town folks with

magic-lantern exhibitions. gained skill in manipulating

marionettes.

He used to meditate by Laguna de Bay with his pet dog, Usman.

LAKESHORE REVERIES

INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD HEREDITARY INFLUENCE

Malayan Ancestors – love for freedom; innate desire to travel and his indomitable courage.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE Scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of

the Rizal family stimulated Rizal’s inborn artistic and literary talents.

Religious atmosphere at home – fortified his religious nature

Paciano – instilled in his mind the love for  freedom and justice

From his sisters – he learned courtesy and kindness to women

Fairytales told by his Aya – awakened his interest in folklore and legends

INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE Tio Jose Alberto who studied for 11 years in British School

in Calcutta, India/ traveled to Europe – inspired him to develop his artistic ability

Tio Manuel – husky and athletic – encouraged him to develop his frail body through exercise, walking, wrestling

Tio Gregorio – book lover – intensified Rizal’s voracious reading of good books

Fr. Leoncio Lopez – fostered Rizal’s love for scholarship and intellectual honesty

Death of Concha (1865) - died of sickness and caused his first sorrow.

MARTYRDOM OF GOM-BUR-ZA - Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora were executed at sunrise of February 17, 1872, by order of Governor General Izquierdo

The imprisonment of his mother - Before June, 1872, Dona Teodora was suddenly arrested on a malicious charge that she and her brother, Jose Alberto, tried to poison the latter’s perfidious wife.

INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE

God endowed him with versatile gifts of a genius, vibrant spirit of nationalistic and valiant heart for a noble cause. 

THANK YOU!

Perez, Michelle B.BSBA-II

REFERENCES:

Pinoydaytripper, Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna (photos)http://pinoydaytripper.blogspot.com/2012/03/rizal-shrine-in-calamba-laguna.html

Romeo Teope, Rizal Lecture (Part I)http://romeoteope.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html

Jose Rizal: Life and Works, Childhood in Calamba

http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/12/childhood-in-calamba.html

Gregorio F. Zaide and Sonia M. Zaide, José Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National Hero, Second edition