LIFE AND WORKS OF

RIZAL

CHAPTER 4:
SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPS
AT ATENEO DE MANILA
1872-1877
Jose was sent to
Manila four months
after the Martyrdom
of GomBurZa and
with Doña Teodora
still in prison.
Father Magin Fernando – college registrar
of Ateneo Municipal, refused to admit Jose
because: (1) he was late for registration and
(2) he was sickly and undersized for his
age (11 years old).

Manuel Xerez Burgos – nephew of Father

Burgos; upon his intercession, Jose Rizal
was admitted at Ateneo.
Jose used Rizal instead of Mercado because
the name “Mercado” had come under
suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
Jesuit trained the character of the
student by rigid discipline,
humanities, and religious
instruction.
The students heard Mass in the
morning before the beginning of
daily class.
Classes were opened and closed
with prayers.
Students were divided into two
groups:

Roman Empire – consisting of

the internos (boarders) with
red banners;

and Carthaginian Empire –

composed of the externos
(non-boarders) with blue
banners.
1st best: EMPEROR
2nd best: TRIBUNE
3rd best: DECURION
4th best: CENTURION
5th best: STANDARD-
BEARER
Rizal’s First Year in
Ateneo (1872-73)

June 1872 – first day of

class in Ateneo.

Fr. Jose Bech – first

professor of Rizal.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
June 1876 – last year of Rizal in
Ateneo.

The most brilliant Atenean of his

time, “the pride of the Jesuits”.
Poems Written in Ateneo
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration)
Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblu (In Memory of My Town
El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Colombus)

Rizal’s Religious Poems

Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus) – a brief ode; written in 1875
when he was 14 years old.
A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary).
First Romance of Rizal

Segunda Katigbak
FIN