Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila
(1872-1877)
Rizal enters the Ateneo
 On June 10, 1872, Jose, accompanied by
Paciano, went to Manila. He took the entrance
examinations on Christian doctrine, Arithmetic,
and Reading at the College of San Juan De
Letran, and passed them.
 He matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal, at first
Father Magin Ferrando, who was the college
registrar, refused to admit him for two reasons:
1. he was late for registration
2. He was sickly and undersized for his age.
 He registered Rizal under this name at the
Ateneo.
 At the time Jose studied in the Ateneo, this
college was located in Intramuros, within the
walls of Manila.
Jesuit System of Education
 The system of Education given by the Jesuits in
the Ateneo was more advanced than that of
other colleges in that period.
 Students were divided into two groups, namely:
 The Roman Empire consisting of the Internos
 The Carthaginian Empire composed of the
Externos
 Emperor- first best student in each
empire
 Tribune- second best
 Decurion- third best
 Centurion- fourth best
 Standard-bearer- the fifth best
 The two groups, “Roman, and Carthaginian
Empire” were in constant competition for
supremacy in the class.
 The students in Rizal’s time wore a uniform
which consisted of “hemp-fabric trousers” and
stripped cotton coat”
Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-1873)
 On his first day of class in the Ateneo, in June
1872, Rizla first heard mass at the college
chapel and prayed fervently to God for guidance
and success.
 Rizal’s first professor in the Ateneo was Fr. Jose
Bech.
 Being a newcomer and knowing little Spanish,
Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class.
 After the first week, Jose progressed rapidly
 To improve Spanish, Rizal took private lessons
in Santa Isabel College during the noon
recesses, when the other Ateneo students were
playing or gossiping.
 In the second half of his first year in the Ateneo,
Rizal did not try hard enough to retain his
academic supremacy which he held during the
first half of the term.
Summer Vacation (1873)
 At the end of the school year in March 1873,
Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation.
 When the summer vacation ended, Rizal turned
to Manila for his second year term in the
Ateneo.
Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74)
 Nothing unusual happened to Rizal during his
second term in the Ateneo, except that he
repented having neglected his studies the
previous year simply because he was offended
by the teacher’s remarks.
 Some of his classmates were new.
 At the end of the school year, Rizal received
excellent grades in all subjects and a gold
medal.
Prophecy of Mother’s Release
 Rizal lost no time in going to Santa Cruz in
order to visit his mother in the provincial jail.
 In the course of their conversation, Dona Teodora
told her son of her dream the previous night.
 Rizal’s prophecy became true
Teenage Interest in Reading
 It was during the summer vacation in 1874 in
Calamba when Rizal began to take interest in
reading romantic novels.
 Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
 Universal History set by Cesar Cantu
 Travels in the Philippines by Feodor Jagor
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75)
 In June 1874, Rizal returned to the Ateneo for his
junior year.
 However, despite the family happiness, Rizal did not
make an excellent showing in his studies as in the
previous year.
 At the end of the school year (March 1875),
Rizal returned to Calamba for the summer
vacation.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76)
 After a refreshing and happy summer vacation
Rizal went back to Manila for his fourth year
course.
 In his student memoirs, Rizal wrote of Father
Sanchez in glowing terms, showing his affection
and gratitude.
 Inspired by Father Sanchez, Rizal resumed his
studies with vigor and zest.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
 After the summer vacation, Rizal returned to Manila
in June 1876 for his last year in the Ateneo.
 Rizal finished his last year at the Ateneo in blaze of
glory.
Graduation with Highest Honors-Rizal graduated at
the head of his class
Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo.
 Rizal, unsurpassed in academic triumphs, was
not a mere bookworm.
 Secretary of Religious Society
 Member of the Academy of Spanish Literature
 In his leisure hours, Rizal cultivated his literacy
talent under the guidance of Father Sanchez.
 Aside from writing poetry, he devoted his spare
time to fine arts.
 Agustin Saez, famous Spanish painter
 Romualdo de Jesus, noted Filipino sculptor
 Furthermore, Rizla develop his weak body, engaged
in Gymnastics and Fencing
Anecdotes on Rizal, the Atenean
 One of Rizal’s contemporaries in the Ateneo was
Felix M. Roxas. He related an incident of Rizal’s
schooldays in the Ateneo which reveals the hero’s
resignation to pain and forgiveness.
 Another anecdote on Rizal the Atenean was related
by Manuel Xeres Burgos, in whose house Rizal
boarded shortly before he became an interno in the
Ateno.
Poems written in Ateneo
 Father Sanchez who inspired Rizal to make full use
of his God-given gift in poetry and improved the
latter’s poetical art by opening his mind to the
enriching influence of the world’s literature.
 Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration)
 In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez, he wrote more
peoms
1. Felicitacion (Felicitation)
2. El Embarque: Himno A La Flota de Magallanes
(The Departure: Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet)
3. Y Es Espanol: Elcano, el Primero en dar la
Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish: Elcano,
the First to Circumnavigate the world)
4. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The
Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo)
 In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics---
religion, education, childhood memories, and
war. They were as follows:
1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of
My Town)
2. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena
Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between
Religion and Good Education)
3. Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria
(Through Education the Country Receives
Light)
4. El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de
Lucena y Prison de Bodabil (The Captivity
and the Triumph : Battle of Lucena and the
Imprisonment of Bodabil)
5. La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes Catlolices
en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of the
Catholic Monarchs into Granada)
 A year later, in 1877, he wrote more poems. It
was his last year in the Ateneo.
1. El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of
Colombus)
2. Colon y Juan II (Colombus and John II)
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great
Solace in Great Misfortune)
4. Un Dialogo Alusivo a la Despedida de los
Colegiales (A Farewell dialogue of the Students)
Rizal’s Poems on Education
 Through Education Our Motherland receives
Light
 The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and
Good Education
Rizal’s Religious Poems

 Al Nino Jesus (To the Child Jesus)

 A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary)
Dramatic Work in Ateneo
 San Eustacio, Martir (St. Eustace, The Martyr)
First Romance of Rizal

 Shortly after his graduation from the Ateneo,

Rizal who was 16 yrs. old, experienced his first
romance--- “that painful experience which
comes to nearly all adolescents”
 Rizal’s words “She was rather short, with eyes
that were eloquent and ardent at times and
languid at others, rosy-cheeked, with an
enchanting and provocative smile that revealed
very beautiful teeth, and the air of a sylph; her
entire self-diffused a mysterious charm”
“Ended, at an early hour, my first love! My virgin heart
will always mourn the reckless step it took on the
flower-decked abyss. My illusions will return, yes, but
indifferent, uncertain, ready for the first betrayal on the
path of love”