Jose Rizal descendants Anton and Matteo Azurin: A sense of pride and responsibility
By Cristina DC Pastor
This article is being republished with permission from www.Thefilam.net.
New York - To interview Jose Rizal’s descendants, I went through Paciano Rizal’s branch of the family because the unmarried Jose had no children of his own.
Paciano and Jose are the two boys of 11 children of Francisco and Teodora of Calamba and Biñan, Laguna. I met Paciano’s great great grandson Paolo Antonio Lopez Azurin through an introduction by the Philippine Consulate, whose assistance I sought. Azurin, an investment banker who specializes in Mergers and Acquisitions, introduced me to his two boys Anton, 14, and Matteo, 10. I met all of them by Zoom and conducted my interview by Zoom and email.
Anton, who is in Grade 10, and Matteo, a fifth grader, struck me as very reserved. They both enjoy playing basketball and they are not on social media. They help out in the house with Anton doing the laundry and Matteo setting the dinner table. Azurin’s wife, Apple, is a corporate lawyer who has her own private practice. “She spends a lot of time with the boys,” he said.
Like most siblings, they fight occasionally. What do they fight about? “Anything that we don’t agree on,” quipped Anton with a faint smile. Matteo said he does not call Anton “Kuya.”
Anton (left) and Matteo Azurin at the General Paciano Rizal tomb in the Paciano Rizal Shrine in Los Baños, Laguna
The closeness of the Azurin boys can be compared to a certain extent to the special bond between Paciano and Jose. Paciano recognizing his brother was a talented young man, took him under his wings, sent him to Europe to study and paid his tuition.
Unknown to many, the two brothers even made a pact: They would not marry but instead serve the country.
“There was a pact between Lolo Paciano and Jose Rizal that neither would get married in the service of the Philippines,” said Azurin. “This was verified by the sister Narcisa who was in that conversation.”
But Paciano, who was a general in the Katipunan founded by Andres Bonifacio, had a common-law wife Severina Decena from Calamba. They only had one daughter, Emiliana Rizal Lopez, the mother of Azurin’s grandfather, Edmundo Rizal Lopez.
“These stories get passed around among family, they don’t come out in history books,” said Azurin.
How was Paciano able to send Jose to Europe to study?
The Rizals were not a poor family. They were tenant farmers, cultivating and managing landholdings owned by the friars. When Paciano sent Jose to study abroad, he was running the business. In fact, the parents did not know Jose had gone to Europe until they got a letter from him stating he had left the Philippines.
The Rizals still keep an ancestral house in Los Banos where Paciano and his family had lived. The room where he passed away and his dinner table are still there.
“He loved that place, there’s a hot spring there.” said Azurin.
It is in this house, a sort of historical shrine, where the sprawling clan would hold their reunions. It has an NHI marker. No one lives here but a caretaker paid for by the family. Some of the remains of the family were transferred here.
“Aside from being the house of Paciano Rizal,” Azurin added, “it was also significant because it was designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro, the son of Juan Luna, one of the first architects in the Philippines.”
On the Mercado side, the Rizals actually descended from Domingo Lam-co from Fujian province. He moved to the Philippines in the 17th century and settled in Laguna and raised a family. The name underwent several evolutions – from Lam-co to Lamco to Mercado to Rizal. On the Rizal’s mother’s side, Teodora Alonso was descended from Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a Spanish mestizo who was municipal captain of Biñan. The name Rizal, according to Azurin, comes from the Spanish word “ricial” meaning a “green field ready for harvest”. The name was aptly chosen by the family because of their roots in agriculture.
Paolo Azurin and sons Anton and Matteo Azurin at the wreath laying ceremony in Luneta during Rizal Day 2019. Photos courtesy of Paolo Azurin
The FilAm (TF): How exactly are you related to Jose Rizal?
Anton Azurin (AA): I am a sixth generation Rizal, although I am not directly related to Jose Rizal, as he died without any children. Instead, I am descended from his lone brother Paciano, who served as a general in the Philippine army and would often take care of his brother when they were children.
TF: When did you find out you were related? What was your reaction?
AA: I found out early on when I was very young, and I felt honored and grateful to be related to one of the biggest influences of our country.
TF: Now that you know how important a person he is, how do you feel?
AA: I feel a sense of pride being related to him, but also a sense of responsibility. Rizal is an inspiration, not only because of his heroism, but also his relatability. Being related to Rizal shows me that he was just a normal person, not much different from me, and so I too, can also make an impact on the country, albeit in smaller and different ways.
TF: Do your classmates and teachers know? Do they treat you differently?
AA: Majority if not all of my friends, classmates and teachers don’t even know that I am related to Rizal, and I personally do not feel they need to. Being related to someone important doesn’t mean one should be treated differently. After all, even as a relative of Rizal, I still have my own responsibilities, and my lineage should not impact them. As a descendant, the most I can do is strive to embody his traits in the best ways I can.
The Azurins on a family vacation: Paolo and Apple with their sons Anton and Matteo
TF: Do you feel it is a burden being a descendant? Or would you rather be just a regular guy?
AA: Being a Rizal is less of a burden and more of an obligation to serve one’s country. A Rizal must live up to the name, even by simply being a good citizen. More importantly, a Rizal must inspire others to love and serve the country the best they can. Anyone can do these things for our country, but as a Rizal, we must set the example for others.
TF: If he were alive, what do you want to talk to him about?
AA: If he were alive, I’d simply thank him for everything he’s done for the Philippines. In his love for our country, he put his life on the line to criticize the abuse that had plagued his home for many years. Although it may have led to his death, he inspired countless people to do the same. Without him, the Philippines may not even exist today.
TF: Have you read Noli and Fili?
AA: Yes, I have read both Noli and Fili, as well as a few of his shorter stories. In my opinion, his writings are very enjoyable to read, as they often delve into societal problems that one can find every day, while also maintaining an entertaining storyline. In addition, these books are also considered the spark that led many to revolt against the Spanish Occupancy, which is the primary reason Rizal is considered our national hero.
Anton and younger brother Matteo enjoy playing basketball with each other.
TF: What do you think is Jose Rizal saying when he said the youth is the ‘hope of the future?’
AA: Our country is constantly evolving and changing. Every day new problems arise in the blink of an eye. The youth are the most important part of our country because all these burdens will eventually rest on their shoulders. As a member of the youth, I must do my part to make our country a better place for everyone, as we, as the future of our country, are a source of hope that things can and should get better.
TF: He talked of ‘malansang isda’ referring to people who do not give worth to where they come from? Any thoughts?
AA: The saying “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit sa hayop at malansang isda” simply tells us that we must love our country and our language. Being a Filipino is something everyone must take pride in at all times.
TF: He was killed by firing squad. How did that make you feel?
AA: Despite being a Rizal, I never met him personally so I don’t feel that much emotional attachment to him. However, his death is still very important. He showed that true heroism, bravery and love for one’s country can overcome death itself. And in some way, his death brings his story full circle, as he was executed for his country, just as the Gomburza, the very people who inspired him as a kid, did. He, along with the many heroes like him, make me proud to be a Filipino. #
