ADVENT OF A NATIONAL HEROJose Protacio Rizal Mercado y AlonsoRealonda June 19, 1861 in the lakeshore of Calamba, Laguna Province,Philippines.

. Father Pedro Casanas a native of Calamba and close friend of theRizal family, was the Godfather His mother almost died during thedelivery because of his big head. his name Jose was chosen by hismother who was a devoted of the Christian Saint San Jose, (St. JosephLe u t e n an t G en er al Jo s e Le m er y , a former senator of Spain was thegovernor general of the Philippineswhen Rizal was born. first love of rizalLeonoraValenzuela Leon Monroy former classmate of Rizals father, became the boysTutor Born in Bian, Laguna on May 11,1818 Studied in Latin and Philosophy atthe College of San Jose in Manila he was a hardly and independent-

minded man, who talked less andworked more, and was strong in body and valiant in spirit.he died in Manila on January 5,1898 at the age of 80 Mother Born on November 9, 1827 inMeisik (Chinatown), Tondo,Manila.She was educated at the college of Sta. Rosa, a well-known college for girls in the cityShe was a remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literarytalent, business, ability and afortified of Spartan

woman.She died in Manila on August16,1911 at the age of 85 The Surname RizalReal surname of the Rizal Family wasMercad o which meansmarket. It was adoptedin1731 by Domingo Lameo (the paternal great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal), also a full- blooded chinese. Rizals family acquired a second surname R izal which was given by aspanish alkalde mayor of laguna.The Rizal Home The house of Rizal family was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during Spanish time. It was a two storey building, rectangular in shape, built of adobe stones and hand wood, and roofed with red tiles. Behind the house were the poultry yard full of turkeys and chickens and a big garden of topical fruit trees atis, alimbing, chico, macopa, papaya, santol, etc.A Good Middle-Class Family The Rizal family belonged to thepr incipalia, a aristocracy in Spanish Philippines. It was one of the distinguish families in Calamba. Beneath their roof, all guests irrespective of their color, rank, social position, and economic status, were welcome Sources of Income: Harvested rice, corns and sugarcane Raised pigs, chickens and turkeys I their backyard

 Good stores and a small flour-mill and a home-made religious ham press which managed byDoa Teodora.Home Life of Rizal The Rizal family had a simple, contented and happy life. Don Francisco and Doa Teodora loved their children but, they never spoiled them. They were strict parents and they trained their children to love God, to behave well, to beobefient and to respect people especially the old folks. They believed in the maxim: Spare the rod and spoil the child