rizal shrine

Gassing through our short visit of the province of Laguna, and the city of Calamba, on our way back to Manila, this home of Rizal was a good stop over. Nice gorgeous lawn and colonial house magnificently preserved and maintained, the people we encountered were all very friendly and helpful. Quiet grand seeing how Rizal and his family lived back in the old days.

I've been a fan of JP Rizal since I first started to read and the stories about his exploits as a medical student in Europe in particular, his diaries, his alleged womanizing, and things that kind of take him down from the lofty pedestal that almost all history books have placed him; short of making him a demi-God, are the ones that really fascinate me. Knowing that he was a human being capable of making mistakes just like anybody else is what makes me more appreciative of his life story, and that makes coming to this place to see how his childhood must have been like a truly wonderful experience. As a child I was made to understand that this was the original house; but then, as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines has stated, it is just a reproduction, and a faithful one at that, of the original house that the Rizal family once had. And for a true Rizal fan, such fact does not in any way diminish the house's aura of mystique.It is indeed a fitting tribute to the man..the hero.

The Rizal Shrine was a sight to behold and cannot be missed since it is already surrounded with modern establishments which make the structure stand out because of its old design. It has a large garden area outside with lots of trees and benches to sit on so that visitors can admire the facade of the house. On the ground level, was a not-well-lit entrance where you will be greeted by the main staircase. Upstairs are the different parts of the house. Once I was inside, I felt like I returned to my hometown in Ilocos. The wooden floors, the capis windows, the claypots, the tampipi, and even the smell will take you back in time. Back in high school, while studying Rizal subject, I would just always imagine what his house looks like and only now it materialized before my very eyes. Each room has informative narration of what happened, who occupied the room, or its purpose at the time the Rizal family lived there. I especially like the large cloth suspended above the dining table probably to keep bugs from lurking at the area and the comfortable toilet seat. Outside the was a gallery where Jose Rizal's books are on display. There was even a man imitating Jose Rizal, complete with the hair and suit, waiting at the gate for eager visitors who would want to take pictures with him for a price. It will only take a few minutes to go around the place with a history so rich, that it took the National Hero's lifetime to build. Oh and don't forget to give some donation.

It was amazing how they maintained the house's style and furnishings. They have hard to find copies of historical books and artworks from different competitions.

This grand house in Calamba is a reproduction of the house where our national hero was born on June 19, 1861. He was christened Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. His parents were Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso.In time, he would become the best mind of his generation – the writer of two political novels that would influence the course of Philippine history; an artist; a poet; a linguist conservant in several languages; an eye doctor of renowned skill; a reformer and intellectual revolutionary; a citizen of the world but first and last a Filipino who lived and died for his country.Rizal lived in the Calamba house until he started his formal studies in Binan. At the age of nine, he left for Manila to study at the Ateneo Municipal. Further studies would take him as far away as Europe. Yet throughout his life, during the many years spent in foreign lands and in exile in Dapitan, he longed for his home in Calamba, “like a weary swallow,” aching for the nest of his birth.Rizal remembered many things about the house. The nipa hut in the garden was where he sketched and sculpted. In the kitchen he learned the alphabet and in the bedroom his prayers. In the library, he discovered books and a vast world beyond his hometown. On the azotea, he listened to his yaya’s stories of “skeletons and buries treasures, and trees that bloomed with diamonds.”The Rizal House, now a shrine, recaptures the era of Jose’s boyhood. It is built along the architectural style of the Spanish period.The ground floor holds various exhibits, facsimile of Rizal’s manuscripts and drawings.The second floor is devoted to the family’s living quarters. The first thing you see is the caida, which also served as Francisco Mercado’s library. A doorway connects the caida to the sala flanked by three bedrooms – the boy’s room, which Rizal shared with his older brother Paciano; the girl’s room for his nine sisters; and the master bedroom with a four-poster bed in which Rizal was born.Beyond the sala is the informal dining room above which hangs a punkah, a large rectangular fan of Indian influence. Close by is the kitchen and the azotea, below which is the old well, one of the surviving features of the original house.A separate structure, built in 1997, houses a library, an audio-visual room and a Rizaliana gallery. The gallery contain artifacts from the hero’s later years such as a fragment of the coat he was wearing when he was executed.

for people who love history, you should definitely visit the Rizal shrine, take note it's FREE of charge when entering the Rizal Shrine, when you are interested to visit just ride a jeep going to Calamba and it will get you there because the the shrine is just along the hi-way

I've been going to the Rizal Shrine since grade school. This time I made sure to buy a copy of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in the original hand-written, spanish version. One of the places that we can really be proud of!

The Shrine gives the tourist a bird's eye view of the life of the National Hero, Jose Rizal. The grounds afford a leisurely stroll that is soothing and relaxing as you try to recall the significant events that happened in this site.On the other side of the street is the St. John the Baptist Church which is also a good next stop on your walking tour of the area. It is an old church replete with many religious icons and a beautiful altar.Finally, you can cross the street to the "Banga" (literally a huge earthen jar) which depicts the barangays that can be found in the city of Calamba.

The birthplace of our national hero. A historical site that should be taken cared of for the next generation to come. Information from books is inspiring but much more is the actual visit may it be young or old. Everyone must come and see. Do not content from books and stories.. be here to feel the essence of being a Filipino known of his fighting spirit and intellect that capture the hearts of many people throughout the world.Glad to be here!

our visit made the books come alive for our high schooler. Rizal was not just a figure she studied in school but a real person with a home and family just like us.

The home of the Philippine's National hero whose monuments have been erected around the world in recognition for his intellect and reformative vision. A perfect testament to the unending journey of the Filipinos quest for self determination. Themed as the "batang Rizal", the exhibits cover Dr. JP Rizal's formative years. Important relics include his mother's bones buried in the compound's garden. Free access...And a walking distance from my place

I've always going to this historical site since it was a one ride from our residence... for travelers, of course you've got to know the Philippine history to appreciate this place - our national hero's shrine. Nearby is the big "kalan-banga" or the pot which is the symbol of the birthplace of Rizal which turned to be Calamba.

Nice to visit where our national hero Jose Rizal lived as a child together with his family. The bedrooms, the nooks in the house were eye openers. Sometimes you cannot seem to imagine if you would have coped with living in the olden times.

The Rizal family house in Calamba,Laguna is actually a replica of the original but is very well recreated to replicate the era. Much criticism has been voiced over the authenticity of the the house especially the colour. This is vigorously defended by the National Heritage Agency.The attraction is free to visit and is a must see for anybody who is interested in the life of The national Hero of Philippines. There is scarcely a City in the entire country that does not have a street named after Dr Jose P Rizal A Rizal monument has been constructed opposite the Municipal building in Calamba unveiled on 19 June 2011 on the 150th anniversary of his birth. It is the tallest and grandest of all the tributes to Rizal. The statue itself measures 22 feet.Noli me tangere!

The shrine is actually a replica of the Rizal family home that was destroyed in WWII.Extensive research was made to ensure a faithful reproduction was made and the whole house is filled with memorabilia.There is no pressure and you can take your time exploring the house. Attendants are available to answer any questions that you may have.At the rear of the house is a Bahay Kubo which is a replica of where the Rizal children and their friends played. Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30 am to 12:00 nn and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pmSouvenirs are available including the works of Rizal.