Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna is the birthplace of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. This Spanish-inspired house by the Mercado (
later on changed to Rizal to avoid scrutiny of the Spaniards) family is the first stone house built in Calamba during those times. However, the shrine today is just a replica of the old house of the Rizal family; the original one was destroyed during World War II. The shrine, as seen today, was restored/reconstructed through Executive Order No. 145 of the then President Elpidio Quirino, under the supervision of Architect Juan Nakpil. It was funded mainly by the contributions made by the Filipino school children and was inaugurated on June 19, 1950.
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| the grand staircase... |
I can imagine how shiny (and slippery) this stairs might have been during Rizal's time, considering the penchant for a clean and shiny stairs (and flooring) by the elders in the olden times. I remember the house I grew up with (that of my aunt), our stairs (and flooring) should always be clean, newly-waxed and shiny; able to create reflections, almost like that of a mirror. :D Anyway, this stairs (the stone steps, that is) including the red-tiled flooring (as well as the deep well) are said to be the remaining original part of the Rizal house.
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| living room/bedrooms @ Rizal Shrine |
Inside the Shrine on the second floor are the living room and bedrooms (
photo above, CW: living room, boy's bedroom, girl's bedroom, master's bedroom), kitchen and dining rooms (
photo below) of the Rizal family. Wondering why there's only one bed in the children's bedroom? Well, Rizal Shrine's FB page said that only the eldest use the bed, all the rest slept on the floor with woven mats. (
Hmmm...I should have the same privilege then...hehe.) :P
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| kitchen/dining area @ Rizal Shrine |
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| we used to have this at home, although ours was a desk lamp... |
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| clay pots for cooking... |
Back home and up until now, we're still using clay pots (same as in the above photo) for cooking fish and vegetables. We're also still using a traditional stove, much like the one in the photo below (only that ours is made of bamboo instead of wood). It is said that foods cooked in these traditional pots and stove taste better, "extra delicious" as indicated in the shrine's marker. And I agree! :)
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| traditional stove @ Rizal Shrine |
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| bathroom/CR @ Rizal Shrine |
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| below this window is the deep well (now a wishing well)...forgot to make a wish, though ;) |
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| statue of young Rizal and his pet dog Berganza |
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| nipa hut, playhouse of Jose Rizal and his sisters, far back is the museum/gallery of the Shrine... |
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Rizal's famous revolutionary books: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
on display at the Rizal Gallery/Museum |
Did you know that......one of Rizal's favorite foods for breakfast is sardinas secas, commonly known as tuyo?
...Jose Rizal used natural dyes from plants for his paints?
Wanna know more about our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal? Check out/read the texts in the photo below. Or better yet, head off to Calamba and visit the Rizal Shrine, too. :)
How to get to Rizal Shrine Calamba?
From Edsa-Cubao: Ride the HM Transport bus (fare is 88 PhP as of travel date) going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna; get off at Calamba Crossing; ride a jeepney (signboard: Calamba - Halang; fare is 8 PhP) and ask the driver to drop you off at the Rizal Shrine or at the town's church. Rizal Shrine is opposite St. John the Baptist Parish Church. As an alternative, you can take a tricycle to Rizal Shrine from Calamba Crossing.
Note: Though you can take a jeepney from Calamba Crossing to Rizal Shrine (as mentioned above), there's no jeepney plying the route back to Crossing so you have no choice but to take a tricycle. Special trip is usually 40 Php but I haggled and got it for 30 PhP. By the way, I went there two times. The first one was a road trip (as the title suggests), the second one a week after (via public transport) for some personal reasons. :)
~ oo00oo ~
Jose Rizal Shrine
Calamba City, Laguna
Shrine Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday
8:00AM to 4:00PM
Entrance Fee: Free
(donations are welcome, though)
Date of Visit: October 15, 2013
