What was Paciano Rizal's role in his brother Jose's life?

Paciano was very protective of Jose Rizal and acted as the latter's second father. It was Paciano who brought 9-year old Jose from their home in Calamba, Laguna to Binan, Laguna so Jose could continue his studies in Latin and Spanish. Later, it was Paciano who brought Jose to Manila so he could study at the Ateneo Municipal. Paciano helped Jose look for a lodging house in Sta. Cruz. Much later, it was also Paciano, together with an uncle, who financed Jose Rizal's trip to Spain, without their parents' knowledge.

Actually, Paciano was not known as a Rizal but as a Mercado. He used the family's first surname, Mercado, while studying under Father Burgos, one of the three Filipino priests beheaded by the Spaniards. When the surname Mercado came under the Spanish authorities' suspicion, Paciano advised Jose to use the family's second surname, Rizal.