Childhood Memories First Sorrow Pilgrimage to Antipolo The Story of the Moth Influence on Heros Boyhood

Ah , tender childhood, lovely town, Rich fount of my felicities.

(In Memory of My Town) - Jose Rizal Description: - Verdant plain - Laguna de Bay (North) - Mountain shrine of miraculous Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo) - Mt. Makiling (South)

Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo

Frail, sickly and undersized child 3 years old: happy days in the family garden A little nipa cottage built for him He has a nanny called aya Listening to different kinds of birds Daily Angelus prayers Happy moonlit nights at the azotea after rosary Tales about fairies and treasures Nocturnal walk

loved most the little Concha when I was four years old, I lost my little sister Concha and then for the first time I wept tears of love and grief.

Jose

At 3, he began to take part in family prayers At 5, he was able to read the Spanish family bible He loved to take part in novenas and religious processions Religious poems that he composed:

Al Nino Jesus La Allianza Intima Entre La Religion y

La Buena Educacion A La Virgen Maria

He heard mass at 4am while studying at Bian

June 6, 1868: Jose and his father went on a pilgrimage to fulfill his mothers vow when he was born His first pilgrimage The first trip across Laguna de Bay They rode in a casco (barge) Thrilled and was not able to sleep the whole night With pleasure and awe he saw the sun rise the next day They went to Sta. Ana, Manila after prayer to visit Saturnina who was student of La Concordia

A splendid teacher Loving and patient but strict as a tutor At 3, Jose learned the alphabet and prayers She encourage Jose to write poems Was spanked twice with slippers He wrote: Surely, a man owes everything to his mother, next to God.

Rizal wrote the story which made the profoundest impression on him Mother was teaching him to read a Spanish reader; The Childrens Friend (El Amigo de los Nio's) But started to tell a story The Parable of the Moth because Jose was not listening to her I watched it with my whole soul It had died a martyr to its illusions To sacrifice ones life for an ideal is meritorious and exemplary.

The moth and flame metaphor is an age-old favorite in many cultures. While Rizals mother used the metaphor to instil obedience in her young sons mind, the attraction to and burning of the moth by the flame is taken by philosophers and poets as positive, as in being lost into the divine essence. Indeed, Rizal himself took the moths fate not as his mother would have him see:

To me moths ceased to be insignificant insects; moths talked and knew how to warn and advise as well as my mother did. The light seemed to be more beautiful, dazzling, attractive. I understand why moths fluttered around lights. Advices and warnings resounded feebly in my ears. What preoccupied me most was the death of the imprudent, but at the bottom of my heart, I didnt blame it and nevertheless the man preserves the heart of a child and he believes that light is the most beautiful thing there is in creation and that it is worthy for a man to sacrifice his life for it.

Lesson: More than a century after his death, we now know what Rizals light was that he believed to be worthy for a man to sacrifice his life for I hope the Filipino nation turn out to be worthy of the ultimate sacrifices of those who died for its sake.

1. HEREDITARY INFLUENCE Malayan: passionate love for freedom and serenity of lifes outlook Chinese: serious nature, frugality, patience and love for children Spanish: elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to ladies Father: profound self-respect, love for work, and habit of independent thinking Mother: religious nature, spirit of self sacrifice and passion for arts and literature

2. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE Scenic beauty of Calamba and Rizals garden: inborn artistic and literary talent Religious atmosphere at home: religiosity Paciano: brotherly love Sisters: courteous and kind to women Fairy tales: interest in folklore and legends Uncle Gregorio: book lover Uncle Jose: Artistic ability Uncle Manuel: good health and sports Father Leoncio Lopez: value of intellectual honesty and love for scholarship

2. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE Death and sorrow: melancholy temperament, strengthen his character Spanish abuses and cruelties: awaken his spirit of patriotism and inspired him to dedicate his life to redeem his oppressed people 3. AID OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE Destined to be the pride and glory of our people God has given us a genius and a hero during the darkest period of our history

In 1861, the year when Rizal was born, the Philippines was browsing redolently beneath the shadow of the cross. Pax Hispanica reigned over the entire archipelago. The people despite their bondage to Spain, were enjoying their serene, simple, and Christian way of life. The Spanish Governor General was Jose Lemery, a good militarist No bloody Muslim piratical raid

No serious native uprising No frightful upsurge of banditry No threat of foreign invasion

Beyond the frontiers of the Philippines The world was seething in the throes of political strife, social upheavals, and international intrigues. Gargantuan China prostrate, impotent to stop the predatory western power (England and France) in which she lost more teritories to the foreign invaders Japan western powers tried to make a repeat performance of their victory in Japan. However, their efforts were foiled by the valiant Japanese people.

Indo China French troops aided by Filipino soldiers from manila were smashing down Annamese resistance. Sub-continent of India British East India Company Armies were establishing British Raj (rule) Mexico Benito Juarez, Indian-blooded hero entered Mexico City, headed his victorious Indian and Mexican troops and proclaimed the restoration of Mexican independence

Russia emancipation of serfs in Russia by Czar Alexander II United States Civil War exploded over the slavery question and the issue of secession. German states were being forge into one nation by Bismarch, notwithstanding the opposition of Austria. France the second Napoleonic empire, beset by domestic and foreign troubles and misgoverned by Napoleon III was crumbling to pieces.

England of all the great powers was experiencing relative peace and prosperity. Under the rule of Queen Victoria, she defeated Russia in the Crimean War and acquired rich colonies in the East, and attained new height of glory in diplomacy and literature Spain fared ill under the rule of Queen Isabella II. She had lost her rich colonies in the New World (except Cuba and Puerto Rico)

Jose Rizal, like a typical Filipino, was of mixed ancestry. In his vein flowed the blood of both East and West: Negrito Indonesian Malay Chinese Japanese Spanish

The Rizal family was one of the richest family in Calamba during the times prior to its persecution of the friars. Rizals parents, by their industry and frugality, were able to honestly build up a large fortune. The first to build stone house in Calamba The first to own a carruaje (horse drawn carriage) The first to have a home library estimated to consist of more than 1,000 volumes)

The family raised rice, corn, and sugar on large tracts of land rented from the Dominican estate of Calamba. It operated a sugar mill, a flour mill, and a home made ham press. His mother Teodora owned a store in town. She was a successfull businesswoman. The Rizal family was not only rich but they were esteemed and respected

The house of the Rizal family was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during the Spanish times Rectangular in shape Adobe stone, hardwood with red tiled roof Behind it was a poultry full of turkey and chicken Gardens of tropical fruit trees atis, balimbing, macopa, papaya, santol, tampoy, etc. A wholesome home, naturally bred a wholesome family.