Kimberly Aragon

BSE-IV

1. What are the conditions in Rizal's family that may have contributed to his intellectual pursuits?
Explain.
Teodora Alonso, Rizal's mother, was the person who had the most significant impact on
his development as a person. He learned the importance of self-improvement from his mother,
and as a result, when he grew older, he worked hard to understand the logic of mathematics,
write poems, sketch and sculpt, and paint. Apart from administering a household, Teodora
instilled in him the value of working with one's hands, self-reliance, and entrepreneurship by
taking the lead in running the family's businesses—farms, wheat, and sugar milling tending a
store, even creating fruit preserves. She also taught him charity and how to make the world a
better place for those who had less in the material world by giving to others. Rizal's childhood
was filled with his parents' and siblings' love and concern.

2. Was the controversial poem, "Sa Aking mga Kabata" really written by Jose Rizal?
"A Filipino who does not appreciate his language is worse than a smelly fish," says "Sa
Aking Mga Kabata/Kababata" (To My Fellow Children, 1869, eight years old). The poem talks
about the necessity of religious education working together—a person who succeeds in securing
a fair and just future for all of humanity.
3. Do you think Rizal was inclined towards poetry? Why?
He developed an early interest in reading books, even at a young age. He enjoyed
spending time with his mother in their home library. Rizal's mother would eventually realize his
poetic abilities. She would also beg him to compose verses for her. She later realized that the
little Rizal needed a private teacher.
4. What was the outlook of Rizal following incidences of injustices to his family?
Follow-up: Were these contributory to his view of the country?
Teodora Alonzo, Rizal's mother, was imprisoned and forced to walk more than 30
kilometers from their home to a detention cell, despite being 54 years old and nearly blind at the
time. The family was then expelled from their properties because the Dominican friars claimed
ownership of the entire city of Calamba. It has contributed to his of our country because they are
the family of Jose Rizal, and they are part of his life being a national hero of our country.

5. How did GOMBURZA execution affect Rizal?

Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora (Gomburza), all Filipino
priests, were killed by Spanish conquerors on charges of sedition on February 17, 1872. Fathers
Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora were accused of participating in a workers' insurrection at the
Cavite Naval Yard. The death of Gomburza sparked widespread outrage and indignation among
Filipinos.
Jose Rizal was regarded as the Propaganda Movement's greatest novelist. He was the first
Filipino to achieve international recognition for his writings. When he was eight years old, he
authored a poem called "Sa Aking Mga Kababata." Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, two
of his books, vividly highlighted the Filipinos' miseries and the friars' rampant abuses in the
colony. Rizal created many enemies because of his critiques of the government and the friars.

6. How was Rizal able to enroll at the Ateneo?

Rizal was sent to Ateneo Municipal by his father for a six-year curriculum called
Bachiller en Artes. On June 10, 1872, he took the entrance exam, and his brother, Paciano,
advised him to take the name Jose Rizal instead of Jose Mercado. He was afraid that if his
brother's connections to Jose Burgos, one of the leaders of the secularization movement and one
of the three priests were murdered, he would be in danger.
7. Describe his routine at the school. How was he able to adjust to its activities?
Before the commencement of classes, Ateneo students were compelled to attend morning
masses. Ateneo was also known for its strict discipline and religious education, which helped
students develop their character. Moreover, students at Ateneo were separated into two groups,
the Romans and the Carthaginians, to encourage a competitive atmosphere among the students.
Rizal initially trailed behind his peers, but his perseverance and dedication to his studies earned
him the title of "emperor," a designation granted to the class's most excellent student. His
academic achievement was consistently outstanding.

8. What were his inclinations while he was a student in that school?

 He studied medicine and philosophy, and letters at the Universidad Central de Madrid in
Madrid. He also studied painting and sculpting at the Madrid Ateneo and French, English, and
German. Not satisfied with these pursuits, he enrolled in fencing classes at the Sanz and
Carbonell academies.

Who among Rizal's professors had a profound effect on him? Explain why?
Fr. Jose Bech was Jose Rizal's first professor at the Ateneo. Jose attended private Spanish
classes during his lunch breaks at Santa Isabel College to enhance his Spanish. Jose Rizal
regarded Fr. Sanchez as his best Ateneo professor.

Why did Rizal's mother object to her son's further education? Was she justified?
Doña Teodora was opposed to the plan because she was afraid of what had happened to
Gomburza.

9. What was the difference in the environment at the University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo?
The Ateneo de Manila, previously the Ateneo Municipal, was a boys' school whose
graduates received the title Bachiller en Artes, equivalent to today's high school in Rizal's day.
The University of Santo Tomas, on the other hand, was the only college-level institution in the
Philippines. In terms of the academic climate at both universities, lessons at Ateneo last the
entire day, beginning with a 7 a.m. mass. Such crowds are mandatory for all students. The
students are closely monitored by their teachers.
Students at the University of Santo Tomas, on the other hand, were granted more autonomy. The
first half of the day was dedicated to studying, and the second half was free time. Students are no
longer obligated to attend church. It is not leniency; rather, it was granted by university officials
because college students thought to be more mature and responsible.

10. If you would compare Rizal's academic performance at UST and Ateneo, how will you
account for the difference in these schools?
In summary, the academic environments at the Ateneo and UST during Rizal's
time were very different. One was stricter with students, while the other gave them more latitude.