Jose Rizal Shrine

May 04, 2013

Jose Rizal's childhood home

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y Alonso Realonda is the Philippine National Hero, he is also simply known as Jose Rizal. Eventhough I'm a Filipino, I'm not an expert in Rizal's life.

I just know the basics like:

• His most famous works were the Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Filibustering) 
• He studied in Europe and know how to speak different languages.
• He was shot at Bagumbayan in Manila, Philippines by fellow Filipinos.

For a more detailed profile, anyone may check the Wikipedia link below:

Wikipedia - Jose Rizal

Now here comes my short narrative about my visit to Jose Rizal's home at Calamba, Laguna. It is situated at F. Mercado St. cor. J. P. Rizal St., Poblacion, Calamba, Laguna. The original house was destroyed during the Spanish Era but under Pres. Elpidio Quirino's administration it was reconstructed through funds donated by school children and various individuals. There was no entrance fee for the shrine but there's the plain white donation box along the entrance. Well I'm just accompanying my colleagues so I don't have excess money to donate for the cause (sorry I promise I'll donate next time I visit!). More importantly I also don't have my camera! I'm not fond of taking photos with my camera phone (as it only has 2 megapixel rear camera) so all of the photos in this entry came from Ms. Lani's camera, all credits go to her.

The 2 storey structure has a typical design for an upper-class Filipino home. The 1st level is made up of stone and the 2nd level mainly of wood. Rizal was born to a wealthy family so his house comes with all the pampering for a comfy living. 

At the 1st level before entering we were greeted by a traditional calesa ( horse drawn carriage). The interior of the lower level was dark and full of the household items especially for cooking and storage. At the center of the 1st floor was the grand staircase going up to the 2nd floor. The inadequate lighting at the 1st floor gives visitors a hard time in taking their photos (I personally experienced this during the visit) so they opted to use their built in flashes every time they take photos. Hope their faces didn't got washed out by the flash.

At the entrance of Rizal's home

At the ground level

The grand staircase

The 2nd floor has rows of windows in every side and overlooks the yard where there is a small statue of Pepe (Rizal's pet name) along with his dog. The statue is near a nipa hut (a hut made from coconut leaves) adorned with pots. Upon reaching the 2nd floor, visitors will immediately see at their left a long table for the family's usual dining. Turning left we went into the living room were it's still decorated by the family's furniture, pictures of family member filled the walls of the living room. At each end of the living room were doors going to bedrooms, 2 on the other side and a master bedroom on the other end. Walking back to the stairs we then went to the dining room were I think formal occasions take place. The kitchen and comfort room was beside the dining room, sort of a dirty kitchen with many jugs for water storage. There also a well beside the house that can be used from the 2nd floor right beside the kitchen (really convenient way to get water up the higher floor and still supply the 1st floor). Outside there is a veranda to indulge one's self with the fresh breeze and a pathway with a stairs going down to the backyard. 

Cooking utensils 

One of the bedrooms

Utensils displayed at the dining room

The veranda 

The ingenious well design

A modern art gallery is also within the compound but unfortunately I have no photos of the artworks displayed inside. Finally, at the corner of the lot beside the intersection there is a flag pole for the national flag.

The Philippine Flag at the corner of the compound 

The stairs from the 2nd floor going down to the yard

The statue of "Pepe"

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