
<div class="image-550">
<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/rizals-birthplace.webp" alt="Sketch of the house where Dr. Rizal was born"/>
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(Sketch of the house where Dr. Rizal was born.)
</div>
</div>
<p>
<b>JOSE PROTASIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONZO REALONDA</b>, the seventh child of Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and his wife, Teodora
Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos, was born in Calamba, June 19, 1861. He was a typical Filipino, for few persons in this land of mixed
blood could boast a greater mixture than his. Practically all the ethnic elements, perhaps even the Negrito in the far past,
combined in his blood. All his ancestors, except the doubtful strain of the Negrito, had been immigrants to the Philippines, early
Malays, and later Sumatrans, Chinese of prehistoric times and the refugees from the Tartar dominion, and Spaniards of old Castile and
Valencia--representatives of all the various peoples who have blended to make the strength of the Philippine race.
</p>
<p>
Shortly before Jose's birth his family had built a pretentious new home in the center of Calamba on a lot which Francisco Mercado had inherited
from his brother. The house was destroyed before its usefulness had ceased, by the vindictiveness of those who hated the man-child that
was born there. And later on the gratitude of a free people held the same spot sacred because there began that life consecrated to the
Philippines and finally given for it, after preparing the way for the union of the various disunited Chinese mestizos, Spanish mestizos,
and half a hundred dialectically distinguished "Indians" into the united people of the Philippines.
</p>
<p>
José was christened in the nearby church when three days old, and as two out-of-town bands happened to be in Calamba for a local festival,
music was a feature of the event. His godfather was Father Pedro Casañas, a Filipino priest of a Calamba family, and the priest who
christened him was also a Filipino, Father Rufino Collantes. 
</p>
<p>
Following is a translation of the record of Rizal's birth and baptism: 
</p>


<div class="book-extract-ear">
<p>
"I, the undersigned parish priest of the town of Calamba, certify that from the investigation made with proper authority, for replacing the parish
books which were burned September 28, 1862, to be found in Docket No. 1 of Baptisms, page 49, it appears by the sworn testimony of competent
witnesses that JOSÉ RIZAL MERCADO is the legitimate son, and of lawful wedlock, of Don Francisco Rizal Mercado and Doña Teodora Realonda,
having been baptized in this parish on the 22d day of June in the year 1861, by the parish priest, Rev. Rufino Collantes, Rev. Pedro Casañas
being his godfather." -- Witness my signature. 
<br/>
<b>(Signed) LEONCIO LOPEZ.</b>
</p>
</div>


<p>
José Rizal's earliest training recalls the education of William and Alexander von Humboldt, those two nineteenth century Germans
whose achievements for the prosperity of their fatherland and the advancement of humanity have caused them to be spoken of as the most
remarkable pair of brothers that ever lived. He was not physically a strong child, but the direction of his first studies was by an
unusually gifted mother, who succeeded, almost without the aid of books, in laying a foundation upon which the man placed an amount
of well-mastered knowledge along many different lines that is truly marvelous, and this was done in so short a time that its brevity
constitutes another wonder.
</p>
 
<p>
At three he learned his letters, having insisted upon being taught to read and being allowed to share the lessons of an elder
sister. Immediately thereafter he was discovered with her story book, spelling out its words by the aid of the syllabary or "caton" which
he had propped up before him and was using as one does a dictionary in a foreign language.
</p>
<p>
The little boy spent also much of his time in the church, which was conveniently near, but when the mother suggested that this might be
an indication of religious inclination, his prompt response was that he liked to watch the people.
</p>

<p>
To how good purpose the small eyes and ears were used, the true-to-life types of the characters in "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo"
testify.
</p>




Early Childhood of Dr. Jose P. Rizal