STUDIES IN UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS.

DOŇA TEODORA  opposed the idea of sending Rizal to University to pursue Higher Education
because she was aware what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and feared of might would happen to
Rizal. Rizal was surprised by his mother’s opposition, who was a woman of education and
culture. Despite her mother’s opposition, Don Francisco told Paciano to accompany Rizal to
Manila. April 1877 Rizal enrolled at UST, taking the course on Philosophy and Letters. Reasons:
1. His father liked it. 2. He was still uncertain as to what career to pursue. Fr. Pablo Ramon
rector of the Ateneo 1877 – 1878 Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History
of Philosophy during his first year term. 1877 – 1879 Rizal took up medical course upon the
advised of Ateneo’s Rector to study medicine. Reason: -- To be able to cure his mother’s
growing blindness. While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the
vocational course leading to the title of “Perito Agrimensor” (Expert Surveyor). He excelled in
all subjects in the surveying course obtaining gold medals in Agriculture and Topography.
Vocational Courses: 1. Agriculture 3. Mechanics 2. Commerce 4. Surveying. At the age of 17, he
passed the final exam in the surveying course but could not be granted the title as Surveyor
because he was under age. November 25, 1881 the title as Surveyor to Rizal Extra-Curricular
Activities: 1. President, Academy of Spanish Literature. 2. Secretary, Academy of Natural
Sciences. 3. Secretary, Marian Congregation.

REFERENCE: https://www.slideshare.net/roycapangpangan/rizal-course-chapter-5-medical-
studies-at-university-of-santo-tomas#:~:text=1877%20%E2%80%93%201878%20%EF
%83%A0%20Rizal%20studied,cure%20his%20mother's%20growing%20blindness.&text=5.
The University of Santo Tomas is one of the oldest existing universities and holds the oldest
extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia. It was founded on April 28, 1611, by the
third Archbishop of Manila, Miguel de Benavides, together with Frs. Domingo de Nieva and
Bernardo de Santa Catalina. It was originally conceived as a school to prepare young men for
the priesthood. Located Intramuros, it was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo
Rosario and later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomás in memory of Dominican theologian Saint
Thomas Aquinas. In 1624, the Colegio was authorized to confer academic degrees in theology,
philosophy and arts. On November 20, 1645 Pope Innocent X elevated the college to the rank of
a university and in 1680 it was placed under royal patronage.

REFERENCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_University_of_Santo_Tomas
https://youtu.be/QQCsoUmJzOY
 At the age of 17, he passed the final exam in the surveying course but could not be granted
the title as Surveyor because he was under age Rizal eventually earned a land surveyor's and
assessor's degree from the Ateneo Municipal while taking up Philosophy and Letters at the
University of Santo Tomas. Upon learning that his mother was going blind, Rizal opted to study
ophthalmology at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery He, however, was not able to
complete the course because “he became politically isolated by adversaries among the faculty
and clergy who demanded that he assimilate to their system.

REFERENCE: https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/articles/rizals-education/