CHAPTER 4
2nd rank - Best Tribune
Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life
Abroad
Education at Biñan, Laguna
 Jose Rizal led a frugal and methodical
life in Biñan. His time was wellbudgeted
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 on
his studies diligently and he excelled
inSpanish, Latin and all subjects.
Education at the Ateneo
 The Jesuits system of education was
more advanced. Its discipline was rigid
and the methods 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 primarily purpose was to
mold 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 close with
prayers.
 Rizal’ first professor in Ateneo was Fr.
Jose Bech
 With a little knowledge of Spanish and
an externo (non-boarders) he was place
in the Carthaginian Empire and the other
group was the Roman Empire.
Best in rank - Emperor
3rd rank - Decurion
4th rank - Centurion
5th rank - Standard Bearer
 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 had 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 expressed 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 instills in the
youth, noble ideas and sublime virtues.
Learning infuses truth, and discipline
brings peace, glory and tranquility to the
nation.
 “Through Education The Country
Receives Light"
(Translation from Spanish to English
was by Dr. Frank C. Laucbach)
 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 to the
world’s literature.

 In 1874 Rizal wrote literary pieces.
1. Mi Primera Inspiracion ( My first
Impression) - It was poem dedicated
his mother on her birthday. He was
14 years old when he wrote the
poem. He felt overjoyed, at that time,
because his mother was released in
prison.
2. Al Nino Jesus ( To the Child Jesus)
3. A La Virgen Maria ( To the Virgen
Mary)
 In 1875, Rizal wrote literary pieces.
1. Felicitacion (Felicitation)
2. El Embarque: Himno A la Flota de
Magallanes ( The Departure: Hymn
to Magellan’s Fleet)
3. Y Es Espanol: Elcano, Primiero en
der la Vuelta ( 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.
1. La Tragedia de San Eustaquio ( The
Tragedy of St. Eustace). This poem
recounts the tragic story of St.
Eustace.
2. Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo ( In
memory of my Town) - A tender
poem in honor of Calamba, the
hero’s natal town.
3. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y
la Buena Education ( 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.
4. Por La Education Recibe Lustre la
patria ( Through Education the
country receives light) - It was poem
which reflects his highest regard for
education. Education had signigicant
role which plays in the molding of
nation, the attainment of its progess
and
welfare.
5. Ed Cautiverio y el Triunjo: Batalla
de Lucena y Prison de Boabdil ( The
captivity and the Triumph : Battle of
Lucena and the Imprisonment of
Boabdil, the last Moorish sultan of
Granada.
6. La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes
Catolices en Granada ( The
Triumphal Entry of the Catholic
Monarch into Granada). This poem
relates the victorious entry of King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabel into
 Granada, Last Moorish stronghold in
Spain.
 A year later, in 1877, he wrote more
poem. It was his last year in Ateneo.
Among the poem written that year were:
1. El Heroism de Colon ( The Heroism
of Columbus)- This poem praises
Columbus, the discoverer of
America
. Rizal’s Studies at the University of
2. Colon y Juan II- this poem related
how King John II of Portugal missed
fame and riches by his failure to
finance the projected expedition of
Columbus to the New World.
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor
Desdicha (Great Solace in Great
Misfortune)- This is the tragic life of
Columbus
4. Un Dialogo Alusivo a la Despidida
de los Colegiales ( A Farewell
Dialogue of the Students)- This was
the last poem written by Rizal in
Ateneo; it is a poignant poem of
farewell to his classmates, the joy,
pain and memories they shared
together in the institution.
Rizal’s studies at Ateneo
 He 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 as 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
honors.His scholastic records at the
Ateneo from 1872 to 1877 were as
follow.
Santo Tomas(UST) 1882
 For higher studies, after graduation from
Ateneo, he pursued his studies at the
University of Sto. Tomas. The Bachelor
of Arts course during the Spanish times
was equivalent not only to the high
school and Junior Courses today.
 His mother Teodora was opposed to his
son’s pursuing higher education in
Manila because she was reminded of the
fate of intelligent Filipinos like the
priests GOMBURZA.
 Don Francisco believed of the great
future that awaited his son whose
intelligence was among the best during
that time.
 During his first year at UST he studied
simultaneously at Ateneo taking up he
simultaneously at ateneo taking up
vocational course leading to the title of
“perito agrimensor” with grades of
“Excellent” but was not given the
because he was still 17 years old.
 4.
 He finally decided to take up medicine
with the advice of Fr. Pablo Ramon the
director of Ateneo de Manila with the
intention and desire to cure Dona
Teodora’s failing eyesight.
AI M.R.P. Pablo Ramon, Recto del
Ateneo, en Sus Dias. A poem wrote by
Rizal for Father Pablo Ramon who had
been so kind and helpful to Rizal.

Literary works of Rizal in University

of Santo Tomas (UST

The following are the literary pieces

Rizal wrote during hid UST days:
Year 1879

1. A La Juventud Filipino (To the

Filipino youth)
Year 1880

2. El Consejo De Los Dioses

Other Works

1. Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma - a poem

composed by Rizal for Manuel
Fernandez and which disclaimed by the
latter on the night of December 7, 1897.

2. Junto Al Pasig (Beside Pasig) A drama

played by Ateneans on the occasion of
the feast of Immaculate Concepcion on
December 8, 1880.

3. A Filipinas (To the Philippines) A

sonnet written in 1880 to praise the
Philippines for its beauty and to
encourage Filipino artist to glorify the
Philippines through their art works.