Commemoration of the Birth of Rizal
Rizal’s Background (Family, Education, Novels) Rizal’s family background José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, the greatest hero of the Philippines, was born in Calamba, on the southwest shore of the picturesque Laguna of Bay in Luzon, June 19, 1861. He was the seventh child among the eleven children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso Realonda, both were exemplarily educated, industrious, loving, affectionate, devoutly religious although strict, hospitable, and civic-spirited. José Rizal’s Siblings Saturnina ,(Neneng) the oldest among them who was married to Manuel T. Hidalgo of Batangas. Paciano , the older brother of Rizal, who served as a guide and tutor of Jose Narcisa , (Sisa ) third among the children, married to Antonio Lopez of Rizal Olympia , (Ypia ) she was wedded to Silvestre Ubaldo from Manila Lucia , fifth among them and married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba Maria , (Blang) wedded to Daniel Faustino of Biñan Jose , (Pepe) seventh in the fami