congreSAINT LOUIS COLLEGE

City of San Fernando, La Union

College of Arts and Sciences, Teacher-Educ. and Information Technology

GE 6: Life, Works and Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal

LESSON 5
Rizal’s Life as A Student:
Biṅan to UST

Topics
A. Education - Biṅ an
B. Education in Ateneo
C. College Life in UST
D. Education in Madrid Spain
E. Education in Paris, France
F. Education in Germany

Learning Objectives
1. Differentiate the system of education during Rizal’s time and the present
educational system in the Philippines
2. Imitate Rizal’s diligence in studying towards excellence and ideals of
nationalism
3. Trace the relevance of Dr. Jose Rizal’s higher education and
accomplishments to his desire for freedom

A. Formal Education

Jose Goes to Biñan

One Sunday afternoon in June, 1869, Jose, after kissing the hands of his
parents and a tearful parting from his sister, left Calamba for Biñan. He was
accompanied by Paciano , who acted as his second father. The two brothers
rode in a carromata, reaching their destination after one and one-half hours’
drive. They proceeded to their aunt’s house, where Jose was to lodge. It was
almost night when they arrived, and the moon was about to rise.

That same night, Jose, with his cousin named Leandro, went sightseeing in the
town. Instead of enjoying the sights, Jose became depressed because of
homesickness. "In the moonlight," he recounted, "I remembered my home town,
my idolized mother, and my solicitous sisters. Ah, how sweet to me was
Calamba, my own town, in spite of the fact that was not as wealthy as Biñan.

First Day in Biñan School

The next morning (Monday) Paciano brought his younger brother to the school
of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. He was a severe disciplinarian.

The school was in the house of the teacher, which was a small nipa hut about
30 meters from the home of Jose’s aunt.
Paciano knew the teacher quite well because he had
been a pupil under him before. He introduced Jose to Frugal and Methodical
the teacher, after which he departed to return to life in Biṅ an
Calamba. Jose Rizal’s time was well
budgeted from 4 o’clock in
Immediately, Jose was assigned his seat in the class. the morning such as
The teacher asked him: hearing mass, eating time,
studies and leisure time at
"Do you know Spanish?" times he played in the
"A little, sir," replied the Calamba lad. street with friends and
"Do you know Latin?" other boys when there was
"A little, sir." the moon. He concentrated
in his studies diligently and
The boys in the class, especially Pedro, the teacher’s he excelled in Spanish,
son laughed at Jose’s answers. Latin and all subjects.

The teacher sharply stopped all noises and begun the

lessons of the day.

Jose described his teacher in Biñan as follows: "He

was tall, thin, long-necked, with sharp nose and a
body slightly bent forward, and he used to wear a sinamay shirt, woven by the
skilled hands of the women of Batangas. He knew by the heart the grammars
by Nebrija and Gainza. Add to this severity that in my judgement was
exaggerated and you have a picture, perhaps vague, that I have made of him,
but I remember only this."

First School Brawl

In the afternoon of his first day in school, when the teacher was having his
siesta, Jose met the bully, Pedro. He was angry at this bully for making fun of
him during his conversation with the teacher in the morning.

Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The latter readily accepted, thinking that he
could easily beat the Calamba boy who was smaller and younger.
The two boys wrestled furiously in the classroom, much to the glee of their
classmates. Jose, having learned the art of wrestling from his athletic Tio
Manuel, defeated the bigger boy. For this feat, he became popular among his
classmates.
After the class in the afternoon, a classmate named Andres Salandanan
challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. They went to a sidewalk of a house
and wrestled with their arms. Jose, having the weaker arm, lost and nearly
cracked his head on the sidewalk.
In succeeding days he had other fights with the boys of Biñan. He was not
quarrelsome by nature, but he never ran away from a fight.

Jose spend his leisure hours with teacher Justiniano’s father – in-law, a
master painter named Juancho. He took the opportunity to become an
apprentice together with his classmate Jose Guevarra.
Best Student in School

The boy Jose distinguished himself in class, and succeeded in surpassing

many of his older classmates. Some of these were so wicked that, even without
reason, they accused him before the teacher, for which, in spite of his progress,
he received many whippings and strokes from the ferule. Rare was the day
when he was not stretched on the bench for a whipping or punished with five
or six blows on the open palm. Jose’s reaction to all these punishments was
one of intense resentment in order to learn and thus carry out his father’s will.
After one year and a half in Biñan, he was advised by his Maestro to advance
his studies in Manila.
Rizal returned in Calamba on board the motorboat “Talim”.

B. Education in Ateneo de Manila

On June 10, 1872, Paciano accompanied Jose to take the entrance

examination at College of San Juan de Letran and passed it. They returned to
Calamba to stay for few days with the family and attend the town fiesta. Don
Francisco changed his mind and decided to send Rizal to Ateneo Municipal
(later became Ateneo de Manila)

Thus Jose matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal. At first, Faather Magin

Ferrando, who was the college registrar, refused to admit Jose for two reasons
(1) he was late for registration and (2) he was sickly and undersized for his age.
However, upon the intercession of ManuelXerez Burgos, nephew of Father
Burgos, he was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo.

Jesuit System of Education

The Jesuit’s system of education was more advanced. Its discipline was
rigid and the method 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 principal
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 closed with
prayers.
Jose’s first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Being a newcomer
and with little knowledge of Spanish and an externo (non-boarders) he was
placed in the Cathaginian Empire. The other group was the “Roman Empire”
consisting of the internos (boarders)
Each group had its rank
Emperor – best rank
Tribune
Decurion
Centurion
Standard –bearer
Within the empire the students aspired for the position by answering the
questions for the day’s lesson. If a student made three (3) mistakes he could
lose the position. Any student might be at the end of the line, but if he studies
hard and was brilliant, he could become an “emperor”. The two groups “Roman
Empire and Carthaginian Empire” were in constant competition for supremacy
in the class.
Jose Rizal Progressed well in his studies that after one month he became
the “emperor” and was considered the brightest pupil in the class. He was
awarded a prize, namely “a religious picture” which he was so proud of
because it was the 1st prize he ever received at Ateneo.
He spent his leisure hours by taking private lessons to improve his
Spanish at Sta Isabel College. He paid three pesos for the Spanish lesson
At the end of the school year in march 1873, he returned to Calamba for
the summer vacation. He did not enjoy his vacation because his mother was in
prison at Sta Cruz Doña Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that she
and her brother Jose Alberto tried to poison the latter’s wife. After her arrest
Doña Teodora was forced to walk from Calamba all the way to Sta Rosa, a
distance of 50 kilometers. She was imprisoned for two and half years.

In his second years in Ateneo (1873-74), nothing unusual Happened to

Rizal. Once again, he received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal
as a diligent student and voracious reader. Rizal kept reading fiction, non-
fiction and novel like the Count of Monte cristo by Alexander Dumas. His
imagination was stirred by the sufferings of Edmond Dantes (the hero), his
escape from the dungeon of Chateau d’If and his finding of buried treasure on
the rocky island of Monte Cristo and his revenge on his enemies who had
offended him.
Rizal also read Travels in the Philippines written by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a
German scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860. The book
consisted of the keen-observations of the defects of Spanish colonization and
the prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America
would come to succeed her as a colonizer. Through his readings, he discovered
the wisdom of books and its influences on his search for knowledge
Another book that his father bought was the Universal History of Cesar
Cantu which was a rich source of historical facts about the world. He used to
read this while studying at Ateneo.

On his fourth year in Ateneo, Jose Rizal was inspired to study hard and
to write poetry by one of his professor, Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, a
great educator and scholar. Rizal has 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 expresses
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

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 of the world’s literature.

Other Literary works of Rizal at Ateneo

a. Mi primera Inspiracion (My First Insiration)
It was a poem dedicated to his mother on her birthday. He was
14 years old when he wrote the poem. He felt over-joyed at that time
because his mother was released from prison
b. Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In memory of My Town) – A tender poem
in honor of Calamba, the hero’s natal town
c. 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
d. Through education the country receives light
It was a poem which reflects his highest regard for education.
Education had a significant role which plays in the molding of a
native attainment of its progress and welfare.

Aside from writing poetry, he also devoted his spare time to fine arts. He
studied painting under the famous painter Augustin Saez, and sculpture
under Romualdo de Jesus, noted Filipino sculptor. Both art masters
honored him with their affection, for he was a talented pupil.

Sculptural Works in Ateneo

Rizal impressed his Jesuit professors in Ateneo with his Artistic Skill.
One day he carved an image of “The Virgin Mary” on a piece of batikuling
(Philippine Hardwood) with his pocket-knife. The Jesuit fathers were amazed at
the beauty and grace of the image.
Father Lleonart impressed by Rizal’s sculptural talent, requested him to
carve for him an image of “The Sacred Heart of Jesus”. Young Jose complied
and within a few days he presented it to Father Lleonart. The old Jesuit was
highly pleased and profusely thanked the teenage sculptor. He intended to take
the image with him in Spain, but, being an absent-minded professor, he forgot
to do so. The Ateneo boarding students placed it on the door of their dormitory
and there it remained for many years, reminding all Ateneans of Dr. Rizal. This
image played a significant part in Rizal’s last hour at Fort Santiago.

Rizal in Ateneo 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
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
 Scholastic Records at the Ateneo
Bachelor of Arts: 1872-1877

1872-1873
Subjects Ratings
Arithmetic Excellent (sobresaliente)
Greek I Excellent (sobresaliente)
Latin I Excellent (sobresaliente)
Spanish I Excellent (sobresaliente)

1873-1874
Greek 2 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Latin 2 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Spanish 2 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Universal Geography Excellent (sobresaliente)

1874-1875
Arithmetic and Algebra Excellent (sobresaliente)
Greek 3 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Latin 3 Excellent (sobresaliente)
Spanish 3 Excellent (sobresaliente)
History of Spain and the Excellent (sobresaliente)
Philippines Excellent (sobresaliente)
Universal History

1875 -1876
French I Excellent (sobresaliente)
Geometry and Trigonometry Excellent (sobresaliente)
Rhetoric and Poetry Excellent (sobresaliente)

1876-1877
Botany and Zoology Excellent (sobresaliente)
Mineralogy and Chemistry Excellent (sobresaliente)
Philosophy I Excellent (sobresaliente)
Physics Excellent (sobresaliente)

The academic excellence of Rizal and his literary skills qualified him for
membership in two exclusive organizations at the Ateneo, namely “The
Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Science” where he
became the “prefect”

He also joined the Marian Congregation; (Solidarity of our Lady and

Apostleship of Prayer) where he became the secretary of Marian Congregations.

College Life in University of Santo Tomas

With Rizal’s graduation from the Ateneo de Manila, his father Don Francisco, knowing
that his son was gifted with the exceptional intelligence, decided to send him for
higher education in Manila. Dona Teodora was hesitant, because she had viewed the
fate of intelligent young Filipinos who questioned the Spanish authorities in the
Philippines. She was vocal in her opposition to the decision of Don Francisco.
However, the father of Rizal was convinced of the great future that awaited his son
whose intelligence was among the best at that time.

Undecided
On April 1877, Jose Rizal returned to Manila and enrolled at the UST. Rizal, upon
entering the university, was not certain which course of study he wanted to pursue. In
the end, he decided to sign up for Philosophy and Letters during his freshman year
because of the following reasons:
1. It was what his father would have wanted for him.
2. He had failed to seek the advice of the rector of the Ateneo, Father Ramon Pablo

As part of the course, he had to complete units in the following subjects:

 Cosmology and Metaphysics
 Theodicy
 History of Philosophy
His report card was very impressive:

University of Santo Tomas

Scholastic Records

1877-1878
PHILOSOPHY AND LETTERS
Cosmology and Metaphysics - - - - - - - - - - - Excellent
Theodicy - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Excellent
History and Philosophy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Excellent

During his first year at UST, he studied simultaneously at Ateneo taking up

vocational course leading to the title of “perito agrimensor” (expert surveyor)
with grades of ‘Excellent”but was not given the title because he was still 17
years old

The following year, Rizal consulted Rev. Fr. Pablo Ramon, the Director of
Ateneo de Manila, as to what course to take. Father Ramon advised him to take
up Medicine; therefore, he enrolled in the Medical course, with the hope that
he could relieve Dona Teodora’s failing eyesight after he finished the course in
Ophthalmology.

University of Santo Tomas

Scholastic Records
1878-1879
Medicine Year I

Physics - - - - - - - - - - - Fair
Chemistry - - - - - - - - -Excellent
Natural History- - - - - Fair
Anatomy - - - - - - - - - -Good
Dissection - - - - - - - - -Good

University of Santo Tomas

 Scholastic Records

1879-1880
Medicine Year 2

Anatomy 2 - - - - - - - - - -- - - -Good
Dissection 2 - -- - - - -- - -- - - - Good
Physiology -- - - - - - - - -- - - --Good
Private Hygiene - - - - - - - - - - Good
Public Hygiene- - - - -- - - - - - Good

University of Santo Tomas

Scholastic Records

1880 – 1881
Medicine Year 3

General Pathology - - - - - - - - -Fair

Therapeutics - - - - - - - - -- - - - -Excellent
Surgery- -- - - - -- --- -- - - - - - -Good
University of Santo Tomas
Scholastic Records

1881 – 1882
Medicine Year 4

Medical Pathology - - - - - - - Very Good

Surgical Pathology - - - - - - -Very Good
Obstetrics -- - - - - - - - -- - - - Very Good

Why the poor performance?

Unfortunately, Rizal was not happy at UST and this reflected on his grades
(Zaide & Zaide, 1999). There were three main factors that contributed to his
unhappiness at the university, namely:
1. The Dominican professors were hostile to him.
Rizal compare how the Jesuit Fathers treated him. In the
Ateneo, Jesuit professors were encouraging and
understanding. This motivated Rizal to develop his skills and
talents.
2. Filipino students suffered discrimination.
3. The method of instruction at UST was obsolete and repressive.

Likewise, there were three main reasons for his struggling academic
performance (Guerrero, 1998):
1. Rizal was not satisfied with the system of education at the
university.
2. There were plenty of things to distract a young man in the peak of
his youth. Rizal became fascinated with women during this time,
as any young man would.
Segunda Katigbak
Leonor Valenzuela
 Leonor Rivera
Some historians point out that Rizal "joined parties, took part in
gang fights and even cut classes." [Garcia, et.al., 2011]

3.  Medicine was not Rizal's true vocation.

He found out later that he was made not for medicine, but for
the arts.
. 

Experience of Spanish Brutality

Rizal was accustomed to going home during vacation in Calamba to join his
family and spending time with them after a long arduous study as a medical
student at UST.
“One night in 1878, while he was walking alone along a dark street, Rizal
failed to recognize the Spanish Civil Guard who was passing by his side;
thus, he did not bow, salute or greet the soldier. At a striking distance,
the Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) whipped Rizal mercilessly at the back with
a dry stingray tail (buntot pagi). He suffered from wounds inflicted on his
back that lasted for two weeks before it completely healed. Rizal could
not accept such brutal treatment inflicted by the Civil Guard; he went to
Captain General Primo de Rivera and complained of the Spanish soldier.
Instead of adhering to Rizal’s complaint, the Captain General even
reprimanded him, said that Rizal should even be thankful for being alive,
and was spared by the Guardia Civil.”

Rizal’s Artistic Works

While at UST, Jose showed his literary prowess. In the year 1879, the
Artistic –literary Lyceum of Manila (Liceo Artistico-Literario) a society whose
members were the artists in literature held a contest in poetry writing and
composition
The contest is open to native or mestizos, Rizal joined the contest and
submitted his poem “To the Filipino Youth/A La Juventud Filipina. It is an
inspiring poem of very significant form. Rizal pleaded to the Filipino youth to
rise from their complacency and show their talents and skills
After the expert reading and scrutiny, discussion of all entries, the Board
of Judges had chosen Rizal’s poem as superior and had won the first prize and
recognition. The prize consisted of a feather shaped silver pen decorated with a
gold ribbon

The following year (1880) The Artistic – Literary Lyceum opened another
literary contest to commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of
Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and famous author of Don Quixote.
This time the contest was opened to both Filipinos and Spaniards.

Many writers participated in the contest- priests, newspapermen,

scholars and professors. Rizal, inspired by his poetical triumph the previous
year, entered the literary joust, submitting an allegorical drama entitled “El
Consejo de los Dioses” (The Council of the Gods)

The judges of the contest were all Spaniards. After a long and critical
appraisal of the entries, they awarded the first prize to Rizal’s worj because of
its literary superiority over the others. The Spanish community of Manila
spear-headed by the Spanish press, howled in great indignation against the
decision because the winning author was an Indio. Despite, all objections, the
prize was awarded to Rizal, a gold-ring on which was engraved the bust of
Cervantes. A Spanish writer, D.N. del Puzo, won the second prize.
For the first time in history, an Indio- a nineteen-year-old Filipino
medical student at that- excelled in a national literary contest, defeating
several Spanish writers of his time in Manila. Rizal was particularly happy, for
he proved the fallacy of the alleged Spanish superiority over the Filipinos and
revealed that the Filipino could hold his own in fair competition against all
races.

The winning allegory of Rizal was aliterary masterpiece based on the

Greek classics. In writing it, Rizal, although a student of the University of
Santo Tomas, was aided by the kind Father Rector of the Ateneo in securing
the needed reference materials. The allegory established a parallel among
Homer, Virgil and Cervantes. The gods discuss the comparative merits of these
great writers and finally decide to give the trumpet to Homer, the lyre to Virgil
and the laurel to Cervantes. The allegory gloriously closes with the naiads,
nymphs, satyrs and other mythological characters dancing and gathering
laurels for Cervantes.

Rizal other literary works

1. Abd-el-Azis Y Mahoma.
A poem composed by Rizal for Manuel Fernandez and which
declaimed by the latter on the night of December 7, 1879
2. Junto Al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)
A drama played by Ateneans on the occasion of Feast of
Immaculate Concepcion on December 8, 1880. It was a religious
satire where the main character, Leonido, together with a choir of
angels successfully driven out Satan and his devils.
3. A Filipinas (To the Philippines)
A sonnet written in 1880 to praise the Philippines for its beauty
and to encourage Filipino artists to glorify the Philippines through
their art works
4. Al 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

Rizal, Champion of Filipino Students

Rizal was the champion of Filipino students in their frequent fights

against the arrogant Spanish students, who were often surpassed by the
Filipinos in class work and who insultingly called their brown classmates-
“Indio Chongo”. In retaliation, the Filipino students called them “Katila
Bangus”. Hostility between these two groups of students often exploded in
angry street rumbles.
Rizal participated in these students’ brawls. Owing to his skills in
fencing, his prowess in wrestling and his indomitable courage, he distinguished
himself in these student skirmishes. In 1880 he founded a secret society of
Filipino students in the University of Santo Tomas called Compañerismo
(Comradeship), whose members were called “Companions of Jehu”, after the
valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans and ruled the Kingdom of
Israel for 28 years (843-816 B.C.) He was the chief of this secret student
society, with his cousin from Batangas, Galicano Apacible, as secretary. As
chief he led the Filipino students in various street fights
In one of the fierce encounters between Filipino students and their pale-
skinned detractors near the Escolta in Manila. Rizal was wounded on the head.
His friends brought him bleeding and covered with dust to his boarding house,
“Casa Tomasina”. Leonor Rivera tenderly washed and dressed his wound.

Decision to Study Abroad

After finishing the fourth year of his medical course. Rizal decided to
study in Spain. He could no longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination
and hostility in University of Santo Tomas. His older brother readily approved
his going to Spain and so did his two sisters Saturnina (Neneng) and Lucia.
Uncle Antonio Rivera, the Valenzuela family and some friends.
For the first time, Rizal did not seek his parent’s permission and
blessings to go abroad, because he knew that they, especially his mother,
would disapprove it. He did not bring his beloved Leonor into his confidence
either. He had enough common sense to know that Leonor, being a woman,
young and romantic at that, could not keep a secret. Thus Rizal’s parents,
Leonor and the Spanish authorities knew nothing of his decision to go abroad
in order to finish his medical studies in Spain, where the professors were more
liberal than those of the University of Santo Tomas
At that time the government of Spain was a constitutional monarchy
under a written constitution which granted human rights to the people,
particularly freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly.
Rizal had another reason in going to Spain, which was more important than
merely completing his studies in Spain. This was his Secret Mission, which
many Rizalist biographers (including Austin Craig and Wenceslao E. Retana)
never mention in their writings.