On June 19, 1861, Jose Rizal Mercado was born to Don Francisco and Dona Teodora, a well-to-do couple who originally came from Binan, Laguna but migrated to Calamba after their marriage.
The photo is the birthplace of our national hero. The original house , however, was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt in 1948, by virtue of Executive Order No. 145 signed by President Elpidio Quirino. Architect Juan F. Nakpil in reconstructing Rizal's house used old photos, the written memoirs of Rizal, and the recollections of Rizal's surviving siblings and relatives to come up with a house which looked exactly like the house during Rizal's time. The re-built house was inaugurated in 1950 and opened to public. At present, the shrine serves as a museum containing some original furniture, books, and memorabilia of the Rizal family.
