Calamba

Calamba, an hour's drive from Metro Manila, looks like any small town

- jeepneys, buses, tricycles, private cars fighting for space on a road

that was clearly not meant to take today's population.

The poblacion or town center is about ten

minutes from the town's boundary. The

signs of urban progress are starting to

creep into this town center. Walter Mart,

711's, movie houses, a car wash, corner

stores selling ice, a computer shop, a

massage parlor, a disco. Beside them

exist native restaurants.

But Calamba is not just any town. It is a

town which every Filipino student comes

to know early in life as the birthplace of

our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Today, the town carries the name Rizal on almost

anything - the main street (J.P. Rizal Street), a

hospital (Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital) to a

school (Jose Rizal Elementary School).

Rizal's birthplace lies at the foot of the mystical

Mt. Makiling; bounded on the east by the Laguna

de Bay; on the north by Cabuyao; on the South

by Los Baqos and on the west by Sto. Tomas,

Batangas. It is 54 kilometers from the Luneta

marker.

RIZAL SHRINE

The central attraction of the town is the house

where Rizal was born on June 19, 1861. The Rizal

Shrine faces the old Calle Real (now J.P.Rizal

Street).

The two-storey,

red-tiled roof house

with the period's

Spanish influence is

being maintained by

the national

government. It was

first reconstructed

during the Quirino

administration.

According to Maria

Luisa Valesa, curator

of the Rizal Shrine

Calamba, "this house

is a reproduction

based on historians'

perspective of the

period when Rizal

was just a little boy."

The colonial appeal of

the house is still

maintained through

various reproduction

of the furniture used

during the young Rizal's time.

The house-museum keeps faithful reproductions of how life was when Rizal

lived there.

Life was different then. A banquet hall was furnished for visitors to dine in,

while a simpler dining table and wooden bench was for the family's daily dining

use.

The other rooms in the house are: a library of Don Francisco Mercado, Rizal's

father; the sala where the family entertained visitors; the kitchen and dining

room; the bedrooms shared by Rizal and his older brother Paciano; the

bedroom of his sisters and his parents.

The azotea or balcony - made famous by its mention in several stories about

Rizal while he was a child and where the family spent evenings on moonlit

nights - now has an independent lift for handicapped visitors.

Except for the old well, everything else was meticulously reconstructed. The

repainting of the interior and exterior facade of the house to its original requires

accuracy.

Nevertheless, the Rizal Shrine can transport a visitor's imagination to another

era, another time.

Unfortunately, the Rizal house does not come with its original artifacts and

materials. These are exhibited in the National Historical Institute office at

Kalaw St., Manila.

The house sprawls on a 7,000 square-meter lot. In one corner of the garden

lies the remains of Rizal's parents, Don Francisco and Doqa Teodora, which

were transferred there a few years ago.

Across the house, a Rizaliana memorabilia hall exhibits photographs,

paintings of the hero, the women in his life, his sculptures and sketches and

some well-preserved clothings worn by Rizal.

According to Ms. Valesa, the Rizal Shrine is a regular field trip destination of

students.

The museum offers guided tours for groups. It is open everyday except

Monday, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Admisision is free;

donations are welcome.

CALAMBA CHURCH

Our national hero was baptized in this church by Father Pedro Casaqas. The

church is just beside the Rizal's house, an indication of a family's importance

in the community.

Ms. Valesa explained that during that time, the proximity of one's house to the

church implies the family's influence and wealth.

The same baptismal cistern is still being used today. In fact Ms. Valesa said

her son was baptized there.

PALINGON SA APLAYA

During those days, traveling to Manila meant taking a boat ride accross the

Laguna lake. Rizal took his boat ride from the Palingon sa Aplaya. There is no

marker which cites this fact, though.

His brother Paciano, accompanied him on his journeys.

Today, this is the docking place of boats that can take you to Talim Islands,

which is two hours away.

You can also choose to visit Calamba Island where the Wonder Island Resort

is located. Just ask for the booth of the resort where a small banca waits to

bring you to this island, 30 minutes away.

LECHERIA HILL

We followed Rizal's path and found out from the natives that he used to play in

what is known as Lecheria Hills. Today, this part of Calamba is the

headquarters of a religious sect which honors Rizal.

Their church can be reached by following a road at the foot of a small hill,

passing by several old cemeteries to get there.

If you're just looking around, come on Sunday to witness them go to church

which sits on top of a hill facing a small monument of Rizal. The members of

the group can fill your curiosity with Rizal items not even cited in history

books.

We talked to their Supreme Chancellor Pidyo Neron, who told us that the

Lecheria Hill is the place where the adolescent Rizal used to ride his horse.

RIZAL STATUES

Our drive around Calamba showed us at least six statues of Rizal.

If you want to trace more of his steps, drive to Biqan where Rizal went to

pursue his studies when he was only nine years old. There, he attended a

class under Justiniano Cruz.

You can also help historians locate the already dried up Ilog ng San Pedro

where the young Rizal used to fish.

Or you can go farther to Lipa City in Batangas where Rizal courted a girl

named Segunda Katigbak. Didi Dimayuga, a great granddaughter of Katigbak,

transformed the house into a museum. Its just a half-an-hour drive to Lipa City

from Los Baqos. (Reprinted from Manila Bulletin's Cruising magazine,

September issue)