MEDICAL STUDIES at the UST (1877-82)

April 1877

Rizal matriculated in the University of

Santo Tomas, taking the course of
philosophy and letters.

He enrolled in this course for two reasons:

1. his father liked it
2. he was still uncertain as to what career
to pursue
Rizal wrote to FR. PABLO RAMON, Rector of the
Ateneo, asking his advice
on what course to
take, who was in Mindanao.
On the second term, he enrolled in MEDICINE. He
also chose medicine to cure the failing eyesight
of Dona Teodora.
Finishes surveying course in Ateneo (1878)

Daughter of his landlord and uncle

ANTONIO RIVERA
She was studying at La Concordia College,
where SOLEDAD (younger sister)
was
studying
LEONOR (born April 11, 1867, Tarlac) was
Frail, Pretty, and Tender as a Budding
Flower with Kindly wistful eyes

VICTIM OF SPANISH OFFICERS BRUTALITY

One dark night in Calamba, summer vacation of
1878, while walking on a dimly lit street, he
perceived the figure of a man passing him.He did
not salute nor say a courteous word GOOD
EVENINGThe vague figure happened to be a
Lieutenant of the Guardia Civil.With a snarl, he
whipped Rizal with his Sword and brutally slashed
Rizals back/
He reported the incident to Gov Gen. PRIMO de
RIVERA, but nothing came out of his complaint.

He took vocational course leading to the title of

Perito agrimensor or Expert surveyor.

On March 21, 1887 he wrote Blumentritt I went

to the Captain-General but I could but obtain
justice; my wound lasted two weeks.

At the age of 17, he passed the examination in

the surveying course, but he could not be granted
the title as surveyor because he was below age.

To the Filipino youth (1879)

A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino youth)

The title was issued to him on November 25,

1881

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT THE

ATENEO

President Academy of Spanish Literature

Secretary Academy of Natural Sciences
Secretary Marian Congregation

Romances with other girls

Miss L described by Rizal as Fair with
seductive and attractive eyes

Leonor Valenzuela Orang

Next door neighbor of Rizal when he

boarded in the house of DONA CONCHA
LEYVA in Intramuros during his sophomore
year
Daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana
Sanday Valenzuela
Rizal sent her LOVE NOTES written in
INVISIBLE INK, consisting of common table
salt
and water, which left no traces at
all

Leonor Rivera Taimis

cousin from CAMILING, Tarlac

Rizals work when he entered the literary

contest of Artistic literary-Lyceum on 1879
It is an inspiring poem of Flawless Form
The first poem in Spanish written by a
Filipino, whose merit was recognized by
Spanish Literary Authority
It expressed for the first time the
NATIONALISTIC concept that the FILIPINOS
and not the FOREIGNERS, were the FAIR
HOPE OF THE FATHERLAND
The board of judges, composed of
Spaniards, was impressed by Rizals poem
and gave it the first prize which consisted
of silver pen

The Council of the gods

El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods)

Rizals work when he entered the literary

contest of Artistic literary-Lyceum on 1880
They awarded the first prize to Rizals
work because of its literary superiority
over the others and The prize was a gold
ring with engraved bust of Cervantes
For the first time in history a 19 year old
Indio (Medical Student at the UST), in a
national literary contest, defeating several
Spanish writers

Cervantes

Spains glorified man-of-letters and

famous author of Don Quixote.
In 1880 the Artistic-Literary Lyceum
opened another literary contest to
commemorate the 4th centennial of his
death

REASONS WHY HE WENT TO PAKIL:

1. Native town of LEONOR VALENZUELA
2. To see the worl famous PAGSANJAN FALLS
CHAMPION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
He championed the Filipinos, in thier frequent
fights, against the arrogance of the Spanish
students, who insultingly called the Filipino Indio,
Chong!
Rizal called them Kastila, Bangus!

Other literary works

Junto al Pasig (beside the Pasig Beside the
Pasig)

A zarzuela written by Rizal in December

8,1880, staged by Ateneans on December
8, 1880, on the feast day of the
Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the
Ateneo

A Filipinas for the album of the society of

sculptors

A sonnet written by Rizal on 1880

COMPANIONS OF JEHU

Abs-el-Azis y Mahoma

Poem composed by Rizal which was

declaimed by an Atenean, MANUEL
FERNADEZ, in honor of the Patroness on
December 8, 1880

Al M.R.P Pablo Ramon

Poem written as an appreciation of

affcetion to Fr. Pablo Ramon, the ateneo
Rector, who had been so kind and helpful
to him.

VISIT TO PAKIL AND PAGSANJAN

Summer of 1881, he went to a pilgrimage to
Pakil, famous for the shrine of THE BIRHEN MARIA
DE LOS DOLORES accompanied by sisters
Saturnina, Maria and Trinida and female friends
Thery took a Casco from Calamba to Pakil and
stayed with MRS. MANUEL REGALADO, whose
NICOLAS was Rizals friend back in Manila
Rizal was delighted to see to the famous
TURMBA, and the people were dancing on the
streets during the procession
In PAKIL, he was INFATUATED by a pretty colegiala
girl VICENTA YBARDOLAZA

a secret society of Filipino students in the

UST that Rizal founded
Named after the valiant HEBREW
GENERAL, who fought the ARMENEANS
and ruled ISRAEL for 28 years (843-816
B.C.)
Rizal was the chief of this secret society,
and GALICANO APACIBLE (cousin from
Batangas) as Secretary
As chief, he led the Filipino students into
combat with the Spanish students in
various street fights
In one encounter in Escolta, he was
wounded in the head, brought to his
boarding house Casa Tomasina, his
wounds dressed by LEONOR RIVERA

Unhappy days at the UST

Reasons:
1. Professors were hostile to him
2. The Filipino students were racially
discriminated against by the Spaniards
3. The methods of instruction was obsolete
and repressive
Decision to study abroad
After finishing the fourth year of his medical
course, Rizal decided to study in spain he could
no longer endure the rampant bigotry,
discrimination and hostility in the University of
Santo Tomas.
His older brother readily approved his going to
Spain and so did his 2 sisters Saturnina (Neneng)
and Lucia, Uncle Antonio Rivera, the Valenzuela
family, and some friends

His parents and LEONOR RIVERA did not know

about his plans to finish his medical studies in
Spain where professors were more liberal than in
the UST