Activity 2.

Rizal’s Life and Works Surname: AGUILAR_____ Section: ABEL 2A

As we continue our discovery of Rizal’s early life, we focus our attention on some
very important episodes that shaped his young life. Answer each question in 3-5
sentences. Be very direct with your point by providing examples or situations that you
have read from your sources (5 points each). You may extend the answer sheet if your
answers exceed the spaces provided.

1. Why was the Mercado family in conflict with the Dominicans?

When Rizal return to Calamba in August 1887, the government wanted to check
on the taxes by asking the Calamba tenants about rental paid to the Dominican
hacienda in December 30, 1887. In January 1888 they replied with a petition
drafted by Rizal and signed by the principals of the town challenging the
legitimacy of the land titles supposedly held by the Dominicans. February 1888,
the Calamba tenants had refused to pay rent. A year later, after trying to collect
rental dues, the Dominican brought the case to the Justice of the Peace in
Calamba and lost, allegedly because the justice was in the pocket of Paciano
Rizal (Mercado) who allegedly dictated the decision favorable to the tenants.

2. What is the significance of the Ateneo Municipal in Rizal’s life?

Ateneo is the start of his journey in becoming the National Hero. He entered
Ateneo Municipal and being discriminated by his classmate and professors, it’s
because he has only a little knowledge about Spain, being from Calamba,
Laguna and added the fact that he is a late enrollee. Rizal despite of the negative
things that happened to him, there are also good things. Jesuits thought them
about the educational system like discipline, character building and religious
instruction. And because of that he learned the real value of education in
person’s life and to be strong despite of all the people who were trying to pull him
down, this behavior also remained in the heart of the Filipino’s. We Filipino’s are
strong willed we never give up easily, and like Rizal no matter what
discrimination he suffered he prove to them that he can be one of them.

3. Describe the early education Rizal received prior to formal schooling.

Early education of Rizal is very simple and I think almost all of us experience it.
Rizal’s first teacher was his mother, she thought him how to read and pray and
also encourage him to write poetry. I believe that what Rizal now show how good
his family is, for he introduced Rizal to learning, to education rather. Education
has a huge part to us people, it led us to become successful, to became aware to
the surrounding most especially in this changing world. I believe also that
education and a good manner start within our home, proper education will follow.

4. Describe the early formal education Rizal received.

Rigid and strict, this two words describe the early formal education that Rizal
received. Knowledge was force into the minds of the pupils by means of tedious
memory method aided by the teacher’s whip. The level of education is high
during that time, and it has their way how student will follow them. This is also
one of the reason why students on the early time has the privilege to teach even
though they only graduated in Elementary.
5. What is the impact of these “childhood memories” on Rizal as a National Hero?

We can never have “Rizal” as a National Hero if he weren’t experience those

kind of childhood. Every one of us has our own different story, I know our
childhood is one of the stepping stone of what will we become in the future. Rizal
childhood, I must say that it’s not a typical one, but it’s the start of his journey.
Having known what, they experience during that time in the hands of Spaniards,
seeing people suffer for injustice, he made his actions, and that even cause him
to died. Death is inevitable, it’s our choice how we wanted to remember when we
died. Rizal made a choice to help people to know how Filipinos experience
during that time, with that it made him a hero not because he used “sibat” or
“bolo” but he used his knowledge and that Rizal choose how he wanted to
remember.