GEC 9: RIZAL, LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS

MODULE 3: RIZAL’S NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS

SECTION 1: HIGHER EDUCATION OF RIZAL

The execution of the three martyr priests, Mariano Gomez, Jacinto Zamora, and Jose Burgos also
known as the GOMBURZA, stirred the nationalist sensibilities in Rizal. He even dedicated his second novel, El
Filibusterismo, to the three priests.

Originally, Francisco Mercado wanted Jose to study at Colegio de San Letran but Paciano convinced him to let
Jose study instead at Ateneo Municipal de Manila. With the help of Manuel Xerez Burgos, the nephew of the
priest Jose Burgos, Rizal was admitted despite objections from the school administration.

At Ateneo, classes were divided into groups of interns and externs namely:
● Roman Empire (Interns)
● Carthaginian Empire (Externs)

In each group, there were five dignitaries:

● Emperor (Highest)
● Tribune
● Decurion
● Centurion
● Standard-bearer (lowest)

Rizal, grouped in the Carthaginian Empire, was ranked at the bottom of the class at the start of the term. He
kept on getting promoted so that by the end of his first month, he had already attained the rank of Emperor.

On March 23, 1877, he obtained the degree Bachiller en Artes (Bachelor of Arts) and was awarded
sobresaliente (outstanding). During his stay in Ateneo, he wrote poems and crafted sculptures. One of these
sculptures was Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (Sacred Heart of Jesus) upon his teacher's request.

After finishing his studies in Ateneo, Rizal pursued further studies at the University of Santo Tomas to study
Philosophy. A year after he shifted to study medicine, where he was allowed to take up preparatory medical
courses and regular first-year courses at the same time.

Rizal’s academic life at UST was full of controversies and hardships. It was reported on various occasions that
Rizal had “unhappy days” at UST for three reasons:
1. Dominican professors were hostile to him.
2. Filipinos were vulnerable to racial discrimination.
3. The method of instruction was repressive and dated.

In 1882, Jose Rizal finished his fourth year at UST and left the Philippines and bound for Spain where he
continued his study of medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He obtained multiple degrees in
philosophy, letters, and medicine in 1884.

SECTION 2: RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD

In 1892, after finishing his fourth year at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Rizal left for Spain to
continue his studies there. According to some accounts, Rizal left the Philippines as a part of a secret pact with
his brother Paciano.

Rizal’s trip was primarily funded by Paciano, who regularly sent him money for his upkeep. Rizal traveled to
Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Egypt, Italy, and France before finally arriving in Barcelona, Spain.

He also wrote articles for a newspaper based in Manila, one of which was his first published essay El Amor
Patrio (Love of Country). In his collection of books, Rizal had two favorites - Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) by Harriet
Beecher Stowe and The Wandering Jew (1844) by Eugene Sue.
 GEC 9: RIZAL, LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS

Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey - a former alcalde of Manila, whose house commonly served as a meeting place for
Filipino students in Madrid.

Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist and traveler, whom he met in Berlin. The biggest contributor to Rizal’s
venture in writing was Dr. Maximo Viola. He financed the publication of Rizal’s first book, Noli Me Tangere, in
1887 with 2,000 initial copies.

After the publication of Noli Me Tangere, Viola accompanied Rizal to Austria to finally meet Dr. Ferdinand
Blumentritt, with whom Rizal exchanged letters and books for several years and whom he considered one of his
advisers.

SECTION 3: THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT AND LA SOLIDARIDAD

Jose Rizal, a renowned Filipino writer, began his literary career at the age of eight, showcasing his
talent through letters and poems. He is best known for his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibuterismo, as well
as numerous poems and articles for La Solidaridad. Rizal used his writing power to voice complaints against the
Spanish government and friars. Before he arrived in Spain, Filipino students like Pedro Paterno and Gregorio
Sancianco were already studying there. In 1882, Rizal arrived in Spain, where the Spanish government was in
disarray due to the 1876 constitution, leading to corruption and a series of government and cabinet
reorganizations. This period saw Rizal's activism and the influence of Filipino nationalists like Pedro Paterno and
Gregorio Sancianco.

In Spain, many people were illiterate due to the lack of primary and secondary schools, and the church
remained a significant force in Spanish society. Rizal witnessed this situation when he arrived, and was
welcomed in a liberalism atmosphere that exposed the concept of assimilation, allowing Filipinos to be equal
with Spaniards. After arriving in Barcelona, Rizal contributed to the bilingual newspaper Diaryong Tagalong,
focusing on national regeneration through education, alongside Marcelo H. Del Pilar.

Rizal contributed to publications led by Graciano Lopez Jaena, leading protests against Spanish injustices in the
Philippines. Later, he found himself writing alongside Jaena's criticisms against the Spanish colonial regime,
contributing to the newspaper Los Sos Mundos.

In 1883, Rizal's resentment towards the Spanish intensified after receiving a letter from his brother Paciano
about Father Villafranca's threat to their father. In 1884, Jaena and Rizal delivered speeches at the Espasicion
De Bellas Artes in Madrid, where two Filipino painters were recognized. Jaena condemned friar abuses and the
Spanish colonial government, while Rizal encouraged Filipino youth to follow in the footsteps of Puna and
Hidalgo.

Rizal's speech in the Philippines was deemed seditious and believed he could never return to the Philippines as
a Spanish colony.

In 1885, Rizal became more active in contributing to newspapers and joined the La Solidaridad organization in
1888. The organization aimed to raise awareness of Spain's colony, the Philippines, and was edited by Galicano
Apacilbe. La Solidaridad served as the principal organ of the reform movement, with articles discussing the
possibility of the Philippines becoming a province of Spain with equal rights and freedom of speech and
assembly.

Rizal's 1889 letter to the young women of Malolos, published on February 22, acknowledged the bravery of 20
women who petitioned Governor General Valeriano Welyer for a night school to teach the Spanish language
under Teodoro Sandiko. Despite initial rejection due to friar pressure, the women's perseverance prevailed.

Jose Rixal, in his work "The Philippines a Century Hence," made a bold prediction about the Philippines' future
within a century, analyzing the causes of Filipino misery under Spanish colonization. He also wrote an essay in
La Solidaridad in Madrid, "The Indolence of the Filipino," arguing that factors for Filipino indolence can be
attributed to Spanish abuses. Rixal's talent and passion for writing drew criticism from friars.
 GEC 9: RIZAL, LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS

After Jaena quit writing for the group, Del Pilar took over. Rizal was offered an editor position but rejected it to
avoid a rift. He stopped writing for the newspaper to address the Calamba Argentia dispute and the eviction of
the Mercado family.

SECTION 4: IN THE EYES OF NOLI ME TANGERE

ABOUT THE COVER PAGE OF NOLI ME TANGERE

1. Silhouette of a Filipina - believed to be Maria Clara or the“Inang Bayan” to whom Rizal dictates the
novel.
2. Pomelo Blossoms & Laurel Leaves - They represent faith, honor, and fidelity, which are the values
Rizal aspires to embody for Filipinos. Pomelos are used to scent their air commonly during prayers and
cleansing rituals
3. Crucifix/Cross - It represents the Catholic faith as it rises above Inang Bayan and Filipinos (shows
dominance). It also symbolizes suffering and death.
4. Burning Torch - Refers to the Olympic Torch. It pertains to the awakening of Filipino consciousness. It
also sheds light on the text of the manuscript.
5. Sunflower - represents a new beginning. It is compared to happiness which appears to be always
bowing down.
6. Bamboo Stalks - represent the resiliency of Filipinos. Despite their sufferings, Filipinos can still stand
tall and firm
7. Rizal’s Signature - It shows that Rizal experienced and witnessed the ills and abuses that happened
during his time.
8. Chain - It represents slavery and imprisonment.
9. Whip - It shows the abuses and cruelties done by the Spaniards and friars as depicted in the novel.
10. The helmet of a Guardia Civil - represents the arrogance of those in authority.
11. Shoes - represent wealth. It is also the footprints left by friars in teaching Catholicism.
12. Hairy Legs - symbolize the Legend of the Wolf. The wolf shapeshifts just like how friars hide their true
nature and character.

Reference:
https://www.coursehero.com/file/67837752/cover-of-noli-me-tangere-undagpdf/