Lecture Notes on

PI 100: The Life, Works and Writings of Rizal

Higher
Education
LESSON 7
Prepared by: Romeo G. Punelas, Jr. LPT
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
❑ Appreciate how Rizal’s education shaped him as a
person
❑ Compare the phases of Rizal’s life as a student
 Topic outline
LESSON PROPER

❑Scholastic Triumphs in Ateneo de Manila

❑Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the

University of Santo Tomas
 Ateneo Municipal de Manila was a
former “Escuela Pia” or “Escuela
Municipal de Manila,” an elementary
charity school for poor boys in the
city that was established by the in
1817.
Then, in 1865, when the school
started to offer high school courses
(Bachelor of Arts) preparatory to
college, the name was changed to
Ateneo Municipal de Manila.
 On the other hand, the time when Rizal was sent
to Manila, he was guided by his brother Paciano on
June 10, 1872. In at first, he was refused by the
university registrar, Ateneo Fr. Magin Ferrando
because of his size and being late in registration.
He finally enrolled with the degree “Bachelor of
Arts” (High school) through the intercession of Fr.
Manuel Xerez Burgos that was why he started to
use the surname “Rizal” as his brother’s advice.
Their family name “Mercado” had come under
suspicion of the Spanish authorities because of
Paciano’s linkage to Father Jose Burgos.
During his studies in Ateneo that was located
inside the Intramuros that time, he lived in a
boarding house inside the vicinity of the Walled
City , then, transferred to a house of their family
friend Titay (who had a 300 peso debt to them) in
Calle Caraballo in Sta. Cruz, 25 minute walk to their
school.
 The Jesuit System of Education
The education As part of Jesuit educational system,
handled by Jesuits was more Ateneans were divided in two groups:
advanced in line with their 1. Romans/Roman Empire (Internos) that
rigid and religious discipline represented by their red banners
to learners. It offers 2. Carthaginians/Carthaginian Empire
academic courses leading to (Externos) distinguished by blue
Bachelor of Arts degree, banners.
agriculture, commerce, Rizal became a Carthaginian and an
mechanics and land Emperor (leader) of the group a week
surveying. In fact, the school after his first day at the school.
promoted the concept of At that time, Ateneans wore a uniform
physical culture, humanities which consisted of “hemp fabric
and scientific studies. trousers” and “striped cotton coat”
from Rayadillo
The Jesuit System of Education
As part of Jesuit educational system,
Ateneans were divided in two groups:
1. Romans/Roman Empire (Internos) that
represented by their red banners
2. Carthaginians/Carthaginian Empire
(Externos) distinguished by blue
banners.
Rizal became a Carthaginian and an
Emperor (leader) of the group a week
after his first day at the school.
At that time, Ateneans wore a uniform
which consisted of “hemp fabric
trousers” and “striped cotton coat”
from Rayadillo
 Scholastic Triumphs in Ateneo de Manila
• Rizal’s first year in Ateneo (1872-1873) was very
memorable one. He became the brightest pupil in the
whole class and was awarded with prize.

• Along with, in order to improve his Spanish speaking

skills, he took private lessons in Colegio de Santa
Isabel, also in Intramuros during the noon recesses
with the amount of three pesos.

• At the end of his first year in Ateneo, with all his

grades marked as “Sobresaliente,” he placed second
among his colleagues (because of he resented some
remarks from his professors during the second half
of the school year).
 Scholastic Triumphs in Ateneo de Manila

• Nothing usual happened during his second year in Ateneo(1873-1874) except

for (1873 his regaining of lost leadership in class.
• Besides, in the summer vacation of 1874 his “teenage interest in reading”
started. He mastered 22 languages like Arabic, German, French, Latin, Russian
etc.
• On that note, he became interested in the novel “Count of Monte Cristo”of
Alexander Dumas about the spectacular escape of Edmond Dantes from the
dungeon of and his finding a buried tr Chateau d’If easure of Monte Cristo
• He also read the history book of Dr. Feodor Jagor, “Travel in the Philippines”
a German scientist and traveler about the defects of Spanish colonization
about the Philippines and his prophecy that someday, Spain would lose the
Philippines and America would come to succeed.
 Scholastic Triumphs in Ateneo de Manila
• Rizal’s third year in Ateneo (1874 -1875) was in the same track like the previous year, but at
the end of this school year, he only won one medal in Latin but all his grades were in
excellent.

• Variously, on his fourth year at the same university (1875-1876), he became a Roman
(Interno) because of the help of Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez on June 16, 1875. In the
end of the academic year, he won five medals and excellent ratings.

• Towards his graduation, his last year in Ateneo -(1876-1877) was truly remarkable as he
touted as “the pride of the Jesuits.” On his graduation, he received highest grades in in all
subjects (Philosophy, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Languages, Minerology, etc.) with an award
of being the head of his class with eight other students.

• Rizal wrote many poems during his five-year schooling as Atenean, here are some, “Mi
Primera Inspiracion” for his mother’s birthday in 1874, “Felicitacion,”“El Embarque; Himno a la
Flota de Magallanes,”“Y Es Español; Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo,”and “El
Combate; Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo.”
Immediately after his graduation from Ateneo, the sixteen year old Rizal
experienced his first love with Segunda Katigbak of Lipa, Batangas who
was fourteen year old at that time and sister of his friend Mariano
Katibak. As he claimed, Segunda was “rather short, with eyes that were
eloquent and ardent at times, rosy-cheeked with enchanting and
provocative smile.”

Rizal came to know Segunda more intimately during his weekly visits to La
Concordia College, where his sister Olympia was a boarding student. But
it was hopeless since the very beginning in fact that Segunda was already
engaged to her town mate, Manuel Luz. The two last talked on December
1877 he visited Segunda in La Concordia College to bid his goodbye
because he was going to Calamba on the next day.

Three years later, Rizal recorded his first romance; “Ended, at early hour,
my first love! My virgin heart will always mourn the reckless step it look on
the flower-decked abyss.”
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
• On the same year when he graduated in Ateneo, he went to University
of Santo Tomas where he enrolled Philosophy and Letters in April 1877
because his father liked it and he was “still uncertain as to what career
to pursue.”
• Simultaneously, he enrolled also in Ateneo with the course “Perito
Agrimensor” at the same school year (1877- 1878).
• Nevertheless, upon the advice of Ateneo’s rector Father Pablo Ramon,
he decided to shift in medicine to took up medical course in the same
school (UST).
• Rizal excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo, obtaining
gold medals in agriculture and topography. He passed the licensing
exam in land surveying in 1878 (but granted his license in 1881 because
of the age of legality).
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
• On the same year when he graduated in Ateneo, he went to University
of Santo Tomas where he enrolled Philosophy and Letters in April 1877
because his father liked it and he was “still uncertain as to what career
to pursue.”
• Simultaneously, he enrolled also in Ateneo with the course “Perito
Agrimensor” at the same school year (1877- 1878).
• Nevertheless, upon the advice of Ateneo’s rector Father Pablo Ramon,
he decided to shift in medicine to took up medical course in the same
school (UST).
• Rizal excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo, obtaining
gold medals in agriculture and topography. He passed the licensing
exam in land surveying in 1878 (but granted his license in 1881 because
of the age of legality).
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
Rizal’s Romances
Leonor Valenzuela (Orang) Leonor Rivera, was his third
Rizal paid court to a was met by Rizal when he cousin from Camiling, Tarlac
young woman in Calamba started to board in the who became his true love during
whom he called as “Miss house of Doña Concha Leyva his third year in UST. She was
in Intramuros. She was from described by Rizal as a pretty
L,” a woman with fair
girl with tender as a budding
seductive and attractive Pagsanjan, Laguna. He
flower with kindly, wistful eyes.
eyes. Nobody today courted her through invisible Rizal called her “Taimis” but he
knows who this woman ink (1878) and usually visited left her in May 1882 to study
was, in fact, he suddenly her during parties abroad. Consequently, Rivera as
stopped his wooing and sponsored by Valenzuela convinced by her family to
the romance died. family but their love did last marry Charles H. Kipping, a
because he still in love with Steam Engineer in Dagupan
Segunda. (June 1890).

Miss “L” Leonor Valenzuela Leonor Rivera

Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
First Brutality
“When Rizal was a freshman medical student at UST, he
experiences his first taste of Spanish brutality. One dark night in
Calamba, during the summer vacation in 1878, he was walking in the
street. He dimly perceived the figure of a man while passing him. Not
knowing the person but to darkness, he did not salute nor say a
courteous “Good evening.” The vague figure turned out to be
lieutenant of the Guardia Civil. With a snarl, he turned upon Rizal,
whipped out his sword and brutally slashed the latter on the back.”
By the same token, Rizal remembered
it on his letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt on March 21, 1887: “I went to the
Captain General but I could not obtain justice; my wound lasted two
weeks.”
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
Other Recognitions
He wrote the first Spanish poem written by Filipino “La Juventud Filipina” also
during his time in UST (1879). This was because of the literary contest held by
Liceo Artistico-Literario of Manila for Indios and Mestizos. The eighteen year
old Rizal wrote the mentioned poem and won the said contest with the prize of
silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon.

On the following year, the same contest by Liceo Artistico-Literario of Manila

(in commemoration of Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra’s 400th death
anniversary) was held for Filipinos and Spaniards. He participated and won the
literary contest with his entry “El Consejo delos Dioses.” But before he get the
gold ring (engraved the face of Saavedra) prize, he experienced several
objections because he was an Indio.
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
AffLiations
Rizal became a “Champion of Filipino Students” during his studies in
UST as they experienced frequent fights against arrogant Spanish
students. In 1880, Rizal founded a group of Filipino UST students
called “Compañerismo” with his cousin, Galicano Apacible as his
secretary. This group was founded to combat the Spanish students
in various street fights. One time, in a brawl happened in Escolta,
Rizal wounded on the head. Then, he was brought to his boarding
house in Casa Tomasina and his girlfriend Leonor Rivera washed and
dressed his wound.
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
Unhappy Days
Rizal once referred on his diary, “unhappy days at UST” that can be
pondered through his experiences. As being an Ateneo’s boy
wonder, he experienced suffocating atmosphere in UST that was
led by Dominican order.

(1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him,

(2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the
Spaniards, and
(3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive
Medical Studies and “unhappy days” at the University
of Santo Tomas
Unhappy Days
Rizal decided to leave the university in 1882 with his fourth year
(with 19 finished subjects) of his medical course because he could no
longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility of
Dominican professors in the university. Paciano readily approved his
studying in Spain as well as his sisters Saturnina and Lucia and his
Uncle Antonio Rivera.
References: Printed Materials:

Castañeda, S.P.C., Ornos, P.S., et al. (2013). Jose Rizal; The martyr and
national hero (2013 Edition).Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
Malabon City.
Mañebog, J.DG., Placio, P.B., et al. (2014). Jose Rizal; Biography,
legacies, love life, and Collaborations with other heroes. Mutya
Publishing House, Inc. Malabon City
Zaide, G.F. & Zaide, S.M. (1994). Jose Rizal; Life, works, and writings of
a geniu s, writer, scientist and national hero (Second Edition).
All Nations Publishing Co. Inc. Quezon City.

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYXl5SrnIVw