The Mysteries behind the Alberto Ancestral Mansion in Biñan

When I was ordained priest in December 2007, many people would ask “Kanino kaya s’yang anak?” (Whose son might he be?). On my primera misa cantada (first sung mass), I met many distant relatives whom I never knew before. They say that many generations ago, the paternal side of my family, migrated from Guagua, Pampanga to Bulacan, my home province. Furthermore, they say that I am the only priest and religious from both sides of the family. And from then on, many have begun to trace my roots. That’s why, I am not surprised to know that until now, the roots of our national hero, Jose Rizal, matter for many Filipinos especially historians. It must’ve been an honor if one can trace one's roots and find out that Rizal is a distant relative! But would it be a disgrace to know that his family is not that perfect?

JOSÉ RIZAL'S ROOT

José Rizal himself described his maternal grandfather, Don Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, in a letter to his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt. He said that he was a deputy for the Philippines in the [Spanish] Cortes (Court), and that he was educated in Europe and spoke German, English, Spanish and French. He was honored as a Knight of the Order of Isabel la Catolica. And he generously aided the Dominican mission in Indo-China.

According to researches, he was married to a 12 y/o girl from Vigan named Paula Florentino but they never had a child. Ten years after, Brigida Querubin came into picture in Lorenzo's life. He was not married to Brigida making all her children with Lorenzo illegitimate.

Lorenzo and Brigida had 5 children, namely: Narcisa, Gregorio, Teodora (José Rizal's mother), Manuel and the youngest, José, to whom José Rizal was named after (and whose blood relation to the other siblings is in question).

Doña Teodora Alonso

The Rizals of Calamba are related to the Albertos of Biñan. Biographers agree that there is a blood relationship between the two families. However, they disagree on the exact nature of such relationship. José Alberto was argued to be either a brother or a half-brother of Teodora Alonso.

Don José Alberto

THE HOUSE IN BIÑAN

The wealthy maternal grandparents of José Rizal, Lorenzo and Brigida, had a mansion in Biñan. The two-storey ancestral home was built in the 1800's with a floor area of approximately 600 square meters. 

As a pre-novice in Calamba City in 1999, I have been to Biñan for countless times. I might have passed by the “Alberto Ancestral House” without even knowing its importance in history. The photo above shows Biñan in the 1950's. The Alberto House with the enclosed courtyard can be seen in the lower right, in front of the plaza (town square), at the very heart of the población (town center). 

The children of Lorenzo and Brigida grew up in this bahay na bato (stone house) which the descendants of José Alberto refuted. They say that Teodora Alonso did not stay in that house since José Alberto was just his half-brother. They did so in order to justify that the house has no connection with José Rizal. 

When José Rizal studied in Biñan at age 9, he did not even stay in this bahay na bato but in his aunt's. This shows that there might had been a tension with the family of Rizal and his uncle José Alberto.

Below is a documentary on this issue:

THEORIES ON THE INCIDENCES THAT HAPPENED INSIDE THE ALBERTO ANCESTRAL HOUSE

The following theories are based on the "i-Witness" documentary entitled "Ang Lihim ng Pamilya ni Rizal" (The Secret of Rizal's Family) which was aired in the Philippines on 31 January 2011 over GMA-7. The documentary was well-researched and balanced. It is, however, thought-provoking and leaves the mystery unresolved.

Theory 1: Teodora Formoso's unfaithfulness

José Alberto was married to Teodora Formoso. It is said that she had been unfaithful to José especially when he was out of the country. She had an affair with an officer of the civil guards. Upon knowing what had happened, José Alberto imprisoned Teodora Formoso inside their mansion.

Teodora Alonso came to the aid of her hurting brother, the bunso (youngest) in the family, even against the will of her husband, Francisco Mercado.

Theory 2: Teodora Alonso attempted to poison Teodora Formoso

One time, Teodora Alonso with her eldest, Saturnina, brought snacks for Teodora Formoso. Immediately, Teodora Formoso put the food on the floor and called her dog to eat it. The dog died instantly and she accused her sister-in-law of attempted murder. She suffered two years in jail as a consequence. A descendant of Teodora Alonso believed that this was a frame-up. For what reason? Let's see the third theory.

Theory 3: José Alberto had an affair with Saturnina

It is believed that José Alonso had a love child with her niece Saturnina. Soledad, the youngest child of Teodora Alonso and Francisco Mercado might had not been really their daughter but the daughter of Saturnina and José Alberto.

It was evident that Soledad was the prettiest according to eyewitnesses and different from her other siblings. It is important to note that José Alberto was a mestizo; and that Teodora and Saturnina once left their house and returned after some time with a baby that Teodora claimed her own. Would this be a reason for Teodora Formoso to frame up José Rizal's mother?

Theory 4: José Alberto is an illegitimate child but assumed to be legitimate

A theory has been presented by a cultural heritage advocate in the documentary above about the legitimacy of José Alberto. Prof. Santa Maria theorized that the children of Lorenzo and Brigida might had talked about the succession of the family's wealth after the death of their father, Lorenzo. José Alberto might have had stood as the legal heir, though he is their true blood brother, and as a consequence disowned his mother Brigida for the sake of the family. If this theory is plausible, then it would appear that Teodora Alonso, her other siblings and her own family were illegitimate (as claimed by the descendants of José Alberto).

Furthermore, José Rizal's writings in the Rizal section of the Ateneo de Manila University Library stated that Teodora Alonso and José Alberto really came from one set of parents.

EPILOGUE

Every family has its secrets, even the Rizals of Calamba, among the most important families in Philippine history. In the year that he died, 1896, José Rizal made his family tree. Interestingly, he left out the branches leading to his mother Teodora Alonso. Was he trying to hide something? Or are we just over-rationalizing a simple unfinished work?

The Alberto Ancestral House has been a mute witness to these mysteries. José Rizal's family might have a story of unfaithfulness, betrayal, children out of wedlock, incest, conspiracy, family quarrels, and attempted murder. Certainly, these have been shocking stories in the late 19th century and even today. But only the persons involved knew what really happened aside from the Almighty God. Unfortunately, they have all departed from our world.

Did Teodora Alonso try to poison her sister-in-law? Or did the latter frame up the former because of personal issue? Did Rizal’s sister, Saturnina, have an affair with her uncle? Was José Alberto really a half-brother of Teodora Alonso or not? Many speculations and opinions may arise but the truth is kept locked in the past.

A descendant of the Alonso clan said in an interview: "You don't have to come from a perfect family to become a hero." Come to think of it, does it matter if José Rizal’s family had a troublesome past? Will that make him less of a hero? I personally don’t think so. He was loved and protected by a family who inspired and influenced him. These theories, true or not, cannot reduce José Rizal from hero to zero.

Sources:

i-Witness, GMA Channel 7 News and Public Affairs

"Secrets locked in Alberto house about Rizal’s mother" by Ambeth Ocampo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 06/13/2010

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