𝕾𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖙 𝕷𝖔𝖚𝖎𝖘 𝕮𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖌𝖊

City of San Fernando, La Union

COLLEGE OF COMMERCE, SECRETARIAL, AND ACCOUNTANCY

GE 6 Life and Works of Dr Rizal

LECTURE NOTES
Second Semester, AY 2022-2023

Topics

A. Education - Biṅan
B. Education in Ateneo
C. College Life in UST
D. Education in Madrid Spain
E. Education in Paris, France
F. Education in Germany

Learning Objectives

1. Differentiate the system of education during Rizal’s time and the present educational system in the
Philippines
2. Imitate Rizal’s diligence in studying excellence and ideals of nationalism
3. Trace the relevance of Dr Jose Rizal’s higher education and accomplishments to his desire for
freedom

A. Formal Education

Jose Goes to Biñan

One Sunday afternoon in June 1869, Jose, after kissing the hands of his parents and a
tearful parting from his sister, left Calamba for Biñan. He was accompanied by Paciano, who
acted as his second father. The two brothers rode in a carromata, reaching their destination after
and one-half hours’ drive. They proceeded to their aunt’s house, where Jose was to lodge. It was
almost night when they arrived, and the moon was about to rise.

That same night, Jose, with his cousin named Leandro, went sightseeing in the town.
Instead of enjoying the sights, Jose became depressed because of homesickness. "In the
moonlight," he recounted, "I remembered my home town, my idolized mother, and my solicitous
sisters. Ah, how sweet to me was Calamba, my own town, in spite of the fact that was not as
wealthy as Biñan.

First Day in Biñan School

The next morning (Monday) Paciano brought his younger brother to the school of
Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. He was a severe disciplinarian.

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 The school was in the house of the teacher, which was a small nipa hut about 30 meters
from the home of Jose’s aunt.

Paciano knew the teacher quite well because he had been a pupil under him before. He
introduced Jose to the teacher, after which he departed to return to Calamba.

Immediately, Jose was assigned his seat in the class. The teacher asked him:

"Do you know Spanish?"

"A little, sir," replied the Calamba lad.

"Do you know Latin?"

"A little, sir."

The boys in the class, especially Pedro, the teacher’s son laughed at Jose’s answers.

The teacher sharply stopped all noises and began the lessons of the day.

Jose described his teacher in Biñan as follows: "He was tall, thin, long-necked, with a
sharp nose and a body slightly bent forward, and he used to wear a sinamay shirt, woven by the
skilled hands of the women of Batangas. He knew by heart the grammar of Nebrija and Gainza.
Add to this severity that in my judgement was exaggerated and you have a picture, perhaps
vague, that I have made of him, but I remember only this."

First School Brawl

In the afternoon of his first day in school,
when the teacher was having his siesta, Jose met
the bully, Pedro. He was angry at this bully for
making fun of him during his conversation with the
teacher in the morning.
Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The latter
readily accepted, thinking that he could easily beat
the Calamba boy who was smaller and younger.
The two boys wrestled furiously in the
classroom, much to the glee of their classmates.
Jose, having learned the art of wrestling from his
athletic Tio Manuel, defeated the bigger boy. Through this feat, he became popular among his
classmates.
Frugal and Methodical life
in Biṅan
Jose Rizal’s time was well
budgeted from 4 o’clock in the
morning such as hearing mass,
eating time, studies and leisure
time at times he played in the
street with friends and other boys
when there was the moon. He
concentrated in his studies

After the class in the afternoon, a classmate named Andres Salandanan challenged him to
an arm-wrestling match. They went to a sidewalk of a house and wrestled with their arms. Jose,
having the weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his head on the sidewalk.

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 In succeeding days he had other fights with the boys of Biñan. He was not quarrelsome
by nature, but he never ran away from a fight.

Jose spends his leisure hours with teacher Justiniano’s father–in–law, a master painter
named Juancho. He took the opportunity to become an apprentice together with his classmate
Jose Guevarra.

Best Student in School

The boy Jose distinguished himself in class, and succeeded in surpassing many of his
older classmates. Some of these were so wicked that, even without reason, they accused him
before the teacher, for which, in spite of his progress, he received many whippings and strokes
from the ferule. Rare was the day when he was not stretched on the bench for a whipping or
punished with five or six blows on the open palm. Jose’s reaction to all these punishments was
one of intense resentment in order to learn and thus carry out his father’s will.

After one year and a half in Biñan, he was advised by his Maestro to advance his studies
in Manila.

Rizal returned to Calamba on board the motorboat “Talim”.

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 Education in Ateneo De Manila

On June 10, 1872, Paciano accompanied Jose to take the entrance examination at the
College of San Juan de Letran and passed it. They returned to Calamba to stay for a few days
with the family and attend the town fiesta. Don Francisco changed his mind and decided to send
Rizal to Ateneo Municipal (later became Ateneo de Manila)

Thus Jose matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal. At first, Father Magin Ferrando, who
was the college registrar, refused to admit Jose for two reasons (1) he was late for registration and
(2) he was sickly and undersized for his age. However, upon the intercession of Manuel Perez
Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was reluctantly admitted to the Ateneo.

Jesuit System of Education

The Jesuit’s system of education was more advanced. Its discipline was rigid and the
method are varied. It promoted physical culture, humanities and scientific studies. It also
establishes vocational courses in agriculture, commerce and mechanics as a religious
institute, its principal purpose was to mould the character and the will of the boys, to
comply more easily with the precepts of the church. The students hear mass before the
beginning of the class, which was opened and closed with prayers.

Jose’s first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Being a newcomer with little
knowledge of Spanish and an externo (non-boarders), he was placed in the Cathaginian Empire.
The other group was the “Roman Empire” consisting of the internos (boarders)

Each group had its rank

● Emperor – best rank

● Tribune
● Decurion
● Centurion
● Standard –bearer

Within the empire, the students aspired for the position by answering the questions for
the day’s lesson. If a student made three (3) mistakes he could lose the position. Any student
might be at the end of the line, but if he studies hard and was brilliant, he could become an
“emperor”. The two groups “Roman Empire and Carthaginian Empire” were in constant
competition for supremacy in the class.

Jose Rizal Progressed well in his studies that after one month he became the “emperor”
and was considered the brightest pupil in the class. He was awarded a prize, namely “a religious
picture” which he was so proud of because it was the 1st prize he ever received at Ateneo.He
spent his leisure hours by taking private lessons to improve his Spanish at Sta Isabel College. He
paid three pesos for the Spanish lesson

At the end of the school year in march 1873, he returned to Calamba for the summer
vacation. He did not enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison at Sta Cruz Doña
Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that she and her brother Jose Alberto tried to poison
the latter’s wife. After her arrest, Doña Teodora was forced to walk from Calamba all the way to
Sta Rosa, a distance of 50 kilometres. She was imprisoned for two and a half years.

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 In his second year in Ateneo (1873-74), nothing unusual Happened to Rizal. Once again,
he received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal as a diligent student and voracious
reader. Rizal kept reading fiction, non-fiction and novel like the Count of Monte Cristo by
Alexander Dumas. His imagination was stirred by the sufferings of Edmond Dantes (the hero),
his escape from the dungeon of Chateau d’If and his finding of buried treasure on the rocky island
of Monte Cristo and his revenge on his enemies who had offended him.

Rizal also read Travels in the Philippines written by Dr Feodor Jagor, a German scientist-
traveller who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860. The book consisted of keen observations of
the defects of Spanish colonization and the prophecy that someday Spain would lose the
Philippines and that America would come to succeed her as a colonizer. Through his readings, he
discovered the wisdom of books and their influences on his search for knowledge.

Another book that his father bought was the Universal History of Cesar Cantu which was
a rich source of historical facts about the world. He used to read this while studying at Ateneo.

On his fourth year in Ateneo, Jose Rizal was inspired to study hard and to write poetry by
one of his professors, Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, a great educator and scholar. Rizal has
the highest affection and respect for Father Sanchez, whom he considered his best professor in
Ateneo

Rizal’s formal lessons at the Ateneo gradually gained him proficiency both in the art of
rhetoric and in the art of independent thinking. He expresses his ideas on the value of education
in his poem “Through Education the Country Receives Light” (Por la Education Recibe Lustre la
Patria) He stressed that responsible education instils in the youth, noble ideas and sublime virtues.
Learning infuses truth and discipline brings peace, glory and tranquillity to the nation

There were other poems written by Jose Rizal while in Ateneo as inspired by Father
Sanchez: to make full use of his God-given talents in poetry and to open his mind to the rich
influence of the world’s literature.

Other Literary works of Rizal at Ateneo

a. Mi primera Inspiracion (My First Insiration)

It was a poem dedicated to his mother on her birthday. He was 14 years old when
he wrote the poem. He felt over-joyed at that time because his mother was
released from prison

b. Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In memory of My Town)

A tender poem in honour of Calamba, the hero’s natal town

c. Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education

This poem shows the importance of religion in education. For Rizal education
without God is not education at all

d. Through education the country receives light

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 It was a poem which reflects his highest regard for education. Education had a
significant role which plays in the moulding of native attainment of progress and
welfare.

Aside from writing poetry, he also devoted his spare time to fine arts. He studied
painting under the famous painter Augustin Saez, and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus
noted Filipino sculptor. Both art masters honoured him with their affection, for he was a
talented pupil.

Sculptural Works in Ateneo

Rizal impressed his Jesuit professors in Ateneo with his

Artistic Skill. One day he carved an image of “The Virgin Mary”
on a piece of batikuling (Philippine Hardwood) with his pocket-
knife. The Jesuit fathers were amazed at the beauty and grace of
the image.

Father Lleonart impressed by Rizal’s sculptural talent,

requested him to carve for him an image of “The Sacred Heart of
Jesus”. Young Jose complied and within a few days he presented it
to Father Lleonart. The old Jesuit was highly pleased and
profusely thanked the teenage sculptor. He intended to take the
image with him in Spain, but, being an absent-minded professor,
he forgot to do so. The Ateneo boarding students placed it on the
door of their dormitory and there it remained for many years,
reminding all Ateneans of Dr. Rizal. This image played a
significant part in Rizal’s last hour at Fort Santiago.

Rizal in Ateneo excelled in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school
term. He proudly offered all his excellent ratings and medals to his parents, a way to repay them
for their sacrifices and love. He was considered the most brilliant Atenean of his time, he was
truly the “Pride of the Jesuits”

During his stay at the Ateneo, Rizal’s grades were all Excellent (Sobresaliente)

On March 23, 1877, he received his degree of Bachelor of Art with honours. His
scholastic records at the Ateneo from 1872 to 1877 were as follow

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 Scholastic Records at the Ateneo
Bachelor of Arts: 1872-1877

1872-1873

Subjects Ratings
Arithmetic Excellent (sobresaliente)
Greek I Excellent (sobresaliente)
Latin I Excellent (sobresaliente)
Spanish I Excellent (sobresaliente)

1873-1874

Greek 2 Excellent (sobresaliente)

Latin 2 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Spanish 2 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Universal Geography Excellent (sobresaliente)

1874-1875

Arithmetic and Algebra Excellent (sobresaliente)

Greek 3 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Latin 3 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Spanish 3 Excellent (sobresaliente)
History of Spain and the Excellent (sobresaliente)
Philippines Excellent (sobresaliente)
Universal History

1875 -1876

French I Excellent (sobresaliente)

Geometry and Trigonometry Excellent (sobresaliente)
Rhetoric and Poetry Excellent (sobresaliente)

1876-1877

Botany and Zoology Excellent (sobresaliente)

Mineralogy and Chemistry Excellent (sobresaliente)
Philosophy I Excellent (sobresaliente)
Physics Excellent (sobresaliente)

The academic excellence of Rizal and his literary skills qualified him for membership in two
exclusive organizations at the Ateneo, namely “The Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of
Natural Science” where he became the “prefect”

He also joined the Marian Congregation; (Solidarity of our Lady and Apostleship of Prayer)
where he became the secretary of Marian Congregations.

College Life in University of Santo Tomas

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 With Rizal’s graduation from the Ateneo de Manila, his father Don Francisco, knowing that his
son was gifted with exceptional intelligence, decided to send him for higher education in Manila. Dona
Teodora was hesitant because she had viewed the fate of intelligent young Filipinos who questioned the
Spanish authorities in the Philippines. She was vocal in her opposition to the decision of Don Francisco.
However, the father of Rizal was convinced of the great future that awaited his son whose intelligence
was among the best at that time.

Undecided

On April 1877, Jose Rizal returned to Manila and enrolled at the UST. Rizal, upon
entering the university, was not certain which course of study he wanted to pursue. In the end, he
decided to sign up for Philosophy and Letters during his freshman year because of the following
reasons:

1. It was what his father would have wanted for him.

2. He had failed to seek the advice of the rector of the Ateneo, Father Ramon Pablo

As part of the course, he had to complete units in the following subjects:

● Cosmology and Metaphysics

● Theodicy
● History of Philosophy

His report card was very impressive:

University of Santo Tomas

Scholastic Records
1877-1878

PHILOSOPHY AND LETTERS

Cosmology and Metaphysics - - - - - - - - - - - Excellent

Theodicy - - - - - - -- - - - - - - – - - - - - Excellent
History and Philosophy - - - - - - - - - - - - Excellent

During his first year at UST, he studied simultaneously at Ateneo taking up

vocational course leading to the title of “perito agrimensor” (expert surveyor) with grades
of ‘Excellent” but was not given the title because he was still 17 years old

The following year, Rizal consulted Rev. Fr. Pablo Ramon, the Director of
Ateneo de Manila, as to what course to take. Father Ramon advised him to take up
Medicine; therefore, he enrolled in the Medical course, with the hope that he could
relieve Dona Teodora’s failing eyesight after he finished the course in Ophthalmology.

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 University of Santo Tomas
Scholastic Records
1878-1879

Medicine Year I

Physics - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fair
Chemistry - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Excellent
Natural History- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fair
Anatomy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Good
Dissection - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - Good

University of Santo Tomas

Scholastic Records
1879-1880

Medicine Year 2

Anatomy 2 - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - Good
Dissection 2 - -- - - - -- - -- - - - - - - Good
Physiology -- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -Good
Private Hygiene - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Good
Public Hygiene- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Good

University of Santo Tomas

Scholastic Records
1880-1881

Medicine Year 3

General Pathology - - - - - - - - - - - - Fair

Therapeutics - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - Excellent
Surgery- -- - - - -- --- -- - - - - - - Good

University of Santo Tomas

Scholastic Records
1881-1882

Medicine Year 4

Medical Pathology - - - - - - - - - - - Very Good

Surgical Pathology - - - - - - - - - - - Very Good
Obstetrics -- - - - - - - - -- - - - - Very Good
Why the poor performance?

Unfortunately, Rizal was not happy at UST and this was reflected on his grades
(Zaide & Zaide, 1999). There were three main factors that contributed to his unhappiness
at the university, namely:
1. The Dominican professors were hostile to him.

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 Rizal compared how the Jesuit Fathers treated him. In the Ateneo, Jesuit
professors were encouraging and understanding. This motivated Rizal to
develop his skills and talents.
2. Filipino students suffered discrimination.
3. The method of instruction at UST was obsolete and repressive.

Likewise, there were three main reasons for his struggling academic performance
(Guerrero, 1998):

1. Rizal was not satisfied with the system of education at the university.
2. There were plenty of things to distract a young man in the peak of his
youth. Rizal became fascinated with women during this time, as any
young man would.
a. Segunda Katigbak
b. Leonor Valenzuela
c. Leonor Rivera

Some historians point out that Rizal "joined parties, took part in gang
fights and even cut classes." [Garcia, et.al., 2011]

3. Medicine was not Rizal's true vocation. He found out later that he was
made not for medicine, but for the arts.

Experience of Spanish Brutality

Rizal was accustomed to going home during vacation in Calamba to join his
family and spending time with them after a long arduous study as a medical student at
UST.

“One night in 1878, while he was walking alone along a dark street, Rizal failed
to recognize the Spanish Civil Guard who was passing by his side; thus, he did not bow,
salute or greet the soldier. At a striking distance, the Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) whipped
Rizal mercilessly at the back with a dry stingray tail (buntot pagi). He suffered from
wounds inflicted on his back that lasted for two weeks before it completely healed. Rizal
could not accept such brutal treatment inflicted by the Civil Guard; he went to Captain
General Primo de Rivera and complained of the Spanish soldier. Instead of adhering to
Rizal’s complaint, the Captain General even reprimanded him, said that Rizal should
even be thankful for being alive, and was spared by the Guardia Civil.”

Rizal’s Artistic Works

While at UST, Jose showed his literary prowess. In the year 1879, the Artistic –literary
Lyceum of Manila (Liceo Artistico-Literario) a society whose members were the artists in
literature held a contest in poetry writing and composition

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 The contest is open to native or mestizos, Rizal joined the contest and submitted his poem
“To the Filipino Youth/A La Juventud Filipina. It is an inspiring poem of very significant form.
Rizal pleaded to the Filipino youth to rise from their complacency and show their talents and
skills

After the expert reading and scrutiny, discussion of all entries, the Board of Judges had
chosen Rizal’s poem as superior and had won the first prize and recognition. The prize consisted
of a feather shaped silver pen decorated with a gold ribbon

The following year (1880) The Artistic – Literary Lyceum opened another literary contest
to commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters
and famous author of Don Quixote. This time the contest was opened to both Filipinos and
Spaniards.

Many writers participated in the contest- priests, newspapermen, scholars and professors.
Rizal, inspired by his poetical triumph the previous year, entered the literary joust, submitting an
allegorical drama entitled “El Consejo de los Dioses” (The Council of the Gods)

The judges of the contest were all Spaniards. After a long and critical appraisal of the
entries, they awarded the first prize to Rizal’s worj because of its literary superiority over the
others. The Spanish community of Manila spear-headed by the Spanish press, howled in great
indignation against the decision because the winning author was an Indio. Despite, all objections,
the prize was awarded to Rizal, a gold-ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes. A
Spanish writer, D.N. del Puzo, won the second prize.

For the first time in history, an Indio- a nineteen-year-old Filipino medical student at that-
excelled in a national literary contest, defeating several Spanish writers of his time in Manila.
Rizal was particularly happy, for he proved the fallacy of the alleged Spanish superiority over the
Filipinos and revealed that the Filipino could hold his own in fair competition against all races.

The winning allegory of Rizal was aliterary masterpiece based on the Greek classics. In
writing it, Rizal, although a student of the University of Santo Tomas, was aided by the kind
Father Rector of the Ateneo in securing the needed reference materials. The allegory established a
parallel among Homer, Virgil and Cervantes. The gods discuss the comparative merits of these
great writers and finally decide to give the trumpet to Homer, the lyre to Virgil and the laurel to
Cervantes. The allegory gloriously closes with the naiads, nymphs, satyrs and other mythological
characters dancing and gathering laurels for Cervantes.

Rizal other literary works

1. Abd-el-Azis Y Mahoma. A poem composed by Rizal for Manuel Fernandez and
declaimed by the latter on the night of December 7, 1879,
2. Junto Al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)
3. A drama played by Ateneans on the occasion of Feast of Immaculate Concepcion on
December 8, 1880. It was a religious satire where the main character, Leonardo, together
with a choir of angels successfully drove out Satan and his devils.
4. A Filipinas (To the Philippines)
5. A sonnet is written in 1880 to praise the Philippines for its beauty and to encourage
Filipino artists to glorify the Philippines through their artworks
6. Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon, Recto del Ateneo, en Sus Dias

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 7. A poem written by Rizal for Father Pablo Ramon who had been so kind and helpful to
Rizal

Rizal, Champion of Filipino Students

Rizal was the champion of Filipino students in their frequent fights against the arrogant
Spanish students, who were often surpassed by the Filipinos in class work and who insultingly
called their brown classmates- “Indio Chongo”. In retaliation, the Filipino students called them
“Katila Bangus”. Hostility between these two groups of students often exploded in angry street
rumbles.
Rizal participated in these students’ brawls. Owing to his skills in fencing, his prowess in
wrestling and his indomitable courage, he distinguished himself in these student skirmishes. In
1880 he founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of Santo Tomas called
Compañerismo (Comradeship), whose members were called “Companions of Jehu”, after the
valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans and ruled the Kingdom of Israel for 28 years
(843-816 B.C.) He was the chief of this secret student society, with his cousin from Batangas,
Galicano Apacible, as secretary. As chief, he led Filipino students in various street fights.
In one of the fierce encounters between Filipino students and their pale-skinned
detractors near the Escolta in Manila. Rizal was wounded in the head. His friends brought him
bleeding and covered with dust to his boarding house, “Casa Tomasina”. Leonor Rivera tenderly
washed and dressed his wound.

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 University of Santo
Tomas. His older brother readily approved his going to Spain and so did his two sisters Saturnina
(Neneng) and Lucia. Uncle Antonio Rivera, the Valenzuela family and some friends.
For the first time, Rizal did not seek his parent’s permission and blessings to go abroad,
because he knew that they, especially his mother, would disapprove it. He did not bring his
beloved Leonor into his confidence either. He had enough common sense to know that Leonor,
being a woman, young and romantic at that, could not keep a secret. Thus Rizal’s parents, Leonor
and the Spanish authorities knew nothing of his decision to go abroad in order to finish his
medical studies in Spain, where the professors were more liberal than those of the University of
Santo Tomas
At that time the government of Spain was a constitutional monarchy under a written
constitution which granted human rights to the people, particularly freedom of speech, freedom of
the press and freedom of assembly. Rizal had another reason in going to Spain, which was more
important than merely completing his studies in Spain. This was his Secret Mission, which many
Rizalist biographers (including Austin Craig and Wenceslao E. Retana) never mention in their
writings.

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