GE 6: LIFE AND WORKS OF DR. JOSE P.
RIZAL
CHAPTER 4: RIZAL’S LIFE, FAMILY, CHILDHOOD AND EARLY EDUCATION
I. Ateneo Municipal de Manila
A. Academic Program of Rizal in Ateneo
Rizal had his Bachiller in Artes at the School of the Jesuits. Accompanied by his
brother Paciano to Ateneo, he was introduced to Father Minister Magin Ferrando and
at first, the father did not want to accept him because of his weak constitution and short
stature. However, with the help of Manuel Jerez, the nephew of the late Father Burgos,
Rizal was accepted in Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In his stay in Ateneo, he needed to
change his name to Rizal instead of Mercado to avoid being associated with Father
Burgos.
B. Success in Ateneo Municipal de Manila
In the first quarter of his stay in Ateneo, he already achieved the title as Emperor.
The challenge of competition had a positive effect to the academic status of Rizal and
this was very evident in his scholastic records. At the end of his education in Ateneo, he
was able to gain the highest award as the emperor of his class and the title Bachiller in
Artes.
C. Academic Records of Rizal
1st Year (1872-1873) Latin -Sobresaliente
Spanish -Sobresaliente
Greek -Sobresaliente
2nd Year (1873-1874) Spanish -Sobresaliente
Greek -Sobresaliente
World Geography -Sobresaliente
3rd Year (1874-1875) Latin -Sobresaliente
Spanish -Sobresaliente
World History -Sobresaliente
History of Spain and the Philippines -Sobresaliente
4th Year (1875-1876) Rhetoric and Poetry -Sobresaliente
French -Sobresaliente
Geometry -Sobresaliente
Trigonometry -Sobresaliente
5th Year (1876-1877) Philosophy I -Sobresaliente
Philosophy II -Sobresaliente
Mineralogy -Sobresaliente
Chemistry -Sobresaliente
Physics -Sobresaliente
Botany -Sobresaliente
Zoology -Sobresaliente
D. Extra-Curricular Activities at Ateneo
a. Member, literary group under the guidance of Fr. Sanchez
b. Member, Marian Congregation
c. Member, Natural Sciences club
E. Literary Works of Rizal in Ateneo
a. My first inspiration – first poem he wrote in Ateneo for his mother
b. Through education the country receives light
c. Intimate alliance between religion and good education
F. Release of his Mother from Prison
In his summer break, after his second year in Ateneo, his mother told him about a
dream and Rizal interpreted it as a sign of that after three months, she would be
released from prison and Rizal’s prophecy came true.
II. Universidad de Santo Tomas
A. Academic Program of Rizal in UST
He entered the university as a student of Philosophia y Letras from 1877-1878 and
during this year, he took finished a vocational course – Perito Agrimensor – a surveying
course in Ateneo but was only granted a professional license (agrimensor y perito
tasador de tierras) after three years because of his age.
In 1878 he shifted to Medicine course because he considered the situation of his
mother who had failing eyesight.
B. Academic Records of Rizal in UST
Preparatory Course of Theology and Law
1877 - 1878 Cosmology -Sobresaliente
Metaphysics -Sobresaliente
Theodicy -Sobresaliente
History of Philosophy -Sobresaliente
Preparatory Course of Medicine
1878-1879 Advanced Physics -Aprovechado
Advanced Chemistry -Sobresaliente
Advanced Natural History -Aprovechado
Medicine
1st Year (1878-1879) General Anatomy and Histology I -Bueno
Descriptive Anatomy I -Bueno
Exercises of Osteology and Dissection I -Bueno
2nd Year (1879-1880) General Anatomy and Histology II -Bueno
Descriptive Anatomy II -Bueno
Exercises of Dissection -Bueno
Physiology, Private and Public Hygiene -Bueno
3rd Year (1880-1881) General Pathology, its Clinic and Pathology -Aprobado
Histology
Therapeutics, Medicinal Matter, and the Art of -Sobresaliente
Prescribing
Surgical Anatomy, Operations, External Medical -Bueno
Applications and Bandages
4th Year (1881-1882) Medical Pathology -Aprovechado
Surgical Pathology -Aprovechado
Obstetrics, Sicknesses of Women and Children -Aprovechado
Siphilography -Aprovechado
C. Literary Triumph of Rizal in UST
a. El Consejo de los Dioses – a play written by Rizal which recognized Miguel de
Cervantes which was awarded as the highest prize in a literary competition in April
1880which commemorated the 400th death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes
b. La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth) - a poem written by Rizal which
encouraged and inspired the Filipino youth to stand up and work harder to attain
the highest objectives
III. Universidad Central de Madrid
A. Academic Program of Rizal in Universidad Central de Madrid
On June 21, 1884, Rizal completed his medical studies and attained the title
Licenciate in Medicine. In 1884, after earning his Licenciate in Medicine, Rizal continued
his studies for Doctorate in Medicine. However, because of financial difficulties, he was
not able to present his thesis and get the title as Doctor of Medicine. He also took courses
in Philosophia y Letras simultaneously with his Licenciate in Medicine.
B. Academic Records of Rizal in Universidad Central de Madrid
Licenciate in Medicine
1882-1883 Medical Clinic I -Bueno
Surgical Clinic I -Bueno
Obstetrical Clinic -Aprobado
Legal Medicine -Sobresaliente
1883-1884 Medical Clinic II -Bueno
Surgical Clinic II -Aprovechado
Doctor of Medicine (Unfinished)
1884 History of Medical Science -Aprobado
Surgical Analysis applied to the Medicinal -Bueno
Science
Advanced Normal and Pathological Histology -Sobresaliente
Philosophia y Letras
1882-1883 Universal History I -Sobresaliente
General Literature -Sobresaliente
1883-1884 Universal History II -Sobresaliente
Greek and Latin Literature -Sobresaliente
(with prize)
Greek I -Sobresaliente
(with prize)
1884-1885 Spanish Language -Sobresaliente
(with scholarship)
Arabic Language -Sobresaliente
(with scholarship)
