Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Rommel M. Quiped
BS CE-1A

Jose Rizal was a man of incredible intellectual power, and his ideals and philosophies
were a product of his childhood and early education, his higher education and his life in Europe.

From an early age, Jose Rizal showed a precocious intellect. His first teacher, his
mother together with his uncles, and brother first molded him to become the person he is known
today. As there was no formal schooling for primary education, his mentors were able to instill in
him physical education, life values, and the morals of a true Christian. His early education was
the same as the other children from an Ilustrado family which was rigid and strict, but Rizal grew
up to be religious, prayerful, and god-fearing. Another event in his childhood which started the
sparks of his ideals and philosophies was his visits to the town priest, Fr. Leoncio Lopez. He
would listen to his stimulating opinions on current events and sound philosophies of life. What
he have learned from him could have contributed to his own ideals and philosophies and which
made the Filipinos open their hearts and minds into making changes to their current position.
Also, the story of a moth, which died with its beliefs and illusion, could have inspired him that
dying for your ideals is something brave and worthwhile. Rizal at an early age saw the injustices
through the malevolent case against his mother and the execution of the three famous martyr
father Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora collectively known as GOMBURZA. At this stage of Rizal’s
life, Rizal acquired his inspirations: his love for country, God, family, justice, freedom, education
and language. These were the foundations in his childhood that strengthened him and guided
him.

Rizal entered Ateneo de Manila for his higher education. He was considered inferior and
placed at the bottom when he belonged to a class of Filipinos and mestizos. But then he
became a boarder in Ateneo and befriended his professor Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez,
whom he regarded as great educator and scholar. He inspired him to write poetry and to study
harder. Fr. Sanchez recognized his God-given talents. Because of the inspiration and
recognition given, he regarded the Jesuit professor as “model of uprightness, earnestness, and
love” for the advancement of his students. The Jesuits didn’t fail to impress Jose Rizal and
evoke him to venerate the Spanish culture and Catholicism. Consequently, he resumed his
studies with vigor and dedication and topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five
medals at the end of the school term. Rizal was captivated and astonished of the Spanish
culture and believes that the Spanish way of life is supreme, and every Filipino must strive to be
of the kind. He now believes that Filipinos must study, hone skills and abilities, and exhibit the
Spanish culture to be successful. At this stage of Rizal’s Life, Rizal was Hispanized. The
Jesuits’ way of teaching, of enforcing discipline as well as promoting a culture of learning
inspired Rizal to great heights of achievement. Since the Jesuits also teach foreign literature,
Rizal eventually became fascinated by stories and ideas from abroad, leading to a widening of
perspectives and also an appreciation of foreign culture. After finishing his studies at Ateneo
Municipal with flying colors, Rizal prepared to pursue further studies on Medicine at the
University of Sto. Thomas, which were ran by Dominican priests. In Ateneo, Rizal was treated
as an equal by the Jesuits, no discrimination nor racism. In the University of Sto. Thomas
However, Rizal experienced firsthand the racism and discrimination from the hands of the
Dominican priests and his fellow classmates. Proof of this is Rizal’s statement that: “The
Lyceum held another poetry contest for Filipinos, Mestizos, and Spaniards. The competitors
entered with assumed names. The first prize was awarded to a beautiful allegory called “The
Council of the Gods”. But when the Spanish judges learned that its author was a Filipino they
reversed the decision, an experience which cut very deep into José’s soul.” -Laubach, F.
(1909). Rizal: Man and Martyr. Community Publishers. It was also during this time that Rizal
wrote A La Juventud Filipina, a poem for his fellow Filipino youth. He expressed here his views
that Filipinos are not inferior to any race especially to the Spaniards, and that they should hone
their skills and talents, for God, for the Philippines and for Spain. Rizal also revealed the flaws in
the educational system of the Dominicans, for instance, they would not let the students use the
laboratory equipments unless there are important visitors in the institution. The Professors were
hostile and their method of teaching in a repressive manner was obsolete. Rizal accused the
Dominicans of having a unilateral grading scheme that if one is a Filipino, he/she will receive a
lower grade. Through these experiences it is inevitable that Rizal would become one who is
against the friars. At this stage of Rizal’s life, Rizal started to become an anti-friar. Rizal’s
experienced injustices made him think ill of the friars. Due to Rizal’s “race jealousy” caused by
the friar’s favoritism towards Spanish students, Rizal was more than ever intent to prove that
Filipinos are equal or even greater than any foreign race.
Rizal traveled to different parts of Europe, namely, Berlin and Madrid. When Rizal set
foot on those countries he was amazed by the liberty, equality and freedom that the residents of
those countries were experiencing. People had the right to speak their minds and express
themselves without any restrictions from the Church or Government. Rizal was able to compare
the state of his own country to the state of the countries he had been to, and he noted the
significant difference between the Philippines from Madrid and Berlin, specifically differences
regarding rights and freedom of speech. Rizal traveled to different parts of Europe, namely,
Berlin and Madrid. When Rizal set foot on those countries he was amazed by the liberty,
equality and freedom that the residents of those countries were experiencing. People had the
right to speak their minds and express themselves without any restrictions from the Church or
Government. Rizal was able to compare the state of his own country to the state of the
countries he had been to, and he noted the significant difference between the Philippines from
Madrid and Berlin, specifically differences regarding rights and freedom of speech. Rizal also
joined the Masonic Order, an organization composed of numerous liberal minded men. These
people were against oppression and the restriction of various human rights, and like Rizal, the
members of the Masonic Order are in approval of proposing for reforms for the Philippines. It
was also in this Order that Rizal relinquished his Catholic Faith. In Germany, he met the pastor
Karl Urllmer, and the ophthalmologist Dr. Luis de Wecker. Both Germans became friends of
Rizal. Rizal was very content when he stayed in Germany, since he noted the Germans’ good
qualities of industriousness and liberalism.
After a lot of hard work and advocacies for Philippine freedom, Rizal finished one of his
immortal novels, the Noli Me Tangere. The Noli Me Tangere is Rizal’s first novel, in this novel,
he stated his idea that reforms are greater than any revolution, expressed by the immense
character of Ibarra overshadowing that of Elias’. Rizal also expressed in this novel his anti-friar
sentiments and reasoned through many passages in the novel that they are a hindrance to
progress. The Noli Me Tangere is also a window through which people can have a glimpse of
Filipino society under the Spaniards, and it is very accurate. The characters are representatives
of people living in the Philippines in the Spanish Era.
At this stage of Rizal’s life, Rizal with Del Pilar and other Filipinos, resolved that what he
began to believe in UST was true that the friars indeed are the ones oppressing the Filipino
people, that it is true that the Friars are the obstacle to progress, prosperity and freedom. Rizal
had high hopes for his plans of reform and abhorred the thought of any revolution. Rizal
believed that reforms, once the friars have been weakened, will be undertaken by the Spanish
Government.