Paciano rizal biography

© by Jensen DG. Mañebog

Editor’s note: This is the sequel to the author’s well-read article, “Paciano Rizal: Pinoy Hero’s Big Brother”

ON HIS ADVICE, the national hero dropped the last three names in his full name and thus enrolled at the Ateneo as ‘Jose Protasio Rizal.’

Paciano Mercado Rizal, the second of eleven children of Don Francisco and Doña Teodora, is the only brother of Dr.

Jose Rizal. When he was a student at the College of San Jose, Paciano had used “Mercado” as his last name. But because he had gained notoriety with his links to Father Burgos of the ‘Gomburza,’ he suggested that Jose use the surname ‘Rizal’ for his own safety.

The Surname Rizal

Had their forefathers not adopted other names, then Jose and Paciano could have been known as ‘Lamco’ brothers.

Their paternal great-great grandfather, Chinese merchant Domingo Lamco, adopted the name ‘Mercado’ which means ‘market’.

But Jose’s father, Francisco, who eventually became primarily a farmer,