Jose Rizal Shrine in Calamba, LagunaThe Jose Rizal Shrine in
Calamba, Laguna, the birthplace of the Philippines' national hero,
is one of the most frequented historical and tourist sites in
Laguna. An average of 270,000 tourists visit this shrine annually.
According to the National Historical Institute (NHI), "It was in
that house that the boy (Jose Rizal) was shaped and molded and who
would become the finest expression of his race." The present
house/museum is just a replica of the original ancestral house of
Rizal's family; the old house was destroyed during World War II. It
was President Quirino who ordered the reconstruction of the
national hero's home through the supervision of National
Artist/architect Juan Nakpil and was inaugurated in 1950. According
to the NHI, "Although its woodwork and masonry are new, it occupies
the same area and is made of the same materials as the original
house of the Mercados. Its ground floor of lime and stone, its
upper story of the best hardwood."The only surviving feature of the
Spanish-Colonial house is a deep well that has become a "wishing
well" for tourists and visitors. Unknown to many, the parents of
Jose Rizal (Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonzo) are buried near
the narra tree about 20 meters away from the "wishing well." The
bedroom of Rizal and his brother, and that of his sisters and
parents contains a double bed where Rizal was said to have been
born on June 19, 1861. Other items featured in the museum are
Rizal's books and photographs, native utensils and artifacts used
during the Spanish times, the black coat worn by rizal during his
execution, and many others.In the Dining Room in Rizal's house,
there has been a controversy regarding the repainting of Rizal's
house from the familiar white to a pale shade of green, since June
2009. The repainting was ordered by the National Historical
Institute and according to NHI President Ambeth Ocampo, "the reason
for painting Rizals house green highlights and informs visitors of
the meaning of his surname. ...the Rizals who were also known by
their other surname Mercado (market) chose 'Risal' from the
'Catalogo alfabetico de apellidos.' The word comes from the Spanish
'ricial' which describes a green field ready for harvest. It was
hoped that after asking, 'Why is Rizals house green?' the visitor
will get a relevant answer: the green hues are meant to honor the
memory of the Rizal family and their way of life."
