UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

Biglang Awa St. EDSA, Caloocan City

Name: Jenicka Juni and Regine Lopez Rating: ______________

Course: Bachelor of Science in Psychology 2A Prof: Aaron Benedict B. Enriquez

Chapter 4: Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872-1877)

I. Objectives
• To know Rizal’s Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila.
• To know Rizal’s hobby during his College life at Ateneo.
• To learn about Rizal’s works at Ateneo.
• To know Rizal’s first Romance.

II. Introduction

Four months after the martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za and Donya Teodora still in
prison, the 10-year-old Jose Rizal was sent to Manila to study in the Ateneo Municipal,
a college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. This college was a bitter rival of
the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran.

III. Learning Content

Rizal Enters the Ateneo

June 10, 1872 Jose accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila. He took the
entrance examinations on Christian doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at the College of
San Juan de Letran, and passed them. His father, who first wished him to study at
Letran changed his mind and decided to send him to Ateneo. Thus, upon his return to
Manila, Jose, again accompanied by Paciano, matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal.

Jesuit System of Education

The system of education given by the Jesuits in the Ateneo was more advanced than
that of other colleges in that period. The students were divided into two groups, namely:
the Roman Empire consisting of the internos (boarders) and the Carthagi-nian
Empire composed of the externos (non-boarders). Each of these empires had its
ranks. The best student in each "empire" was the emperor; the second best, the
tribune; the third best, the decurion: the fourth best, the centurion; and the fifth
best. the standard-bearer. Within the "empire", the students fought for positions. The
Atenco students in Rizal's time wore a uniform which consisted of "hemp-fabric
trousers" and "striped cotton coat." The coat material was called rayadillo, which
later became famous for it was adopted as the uniform for Filipino troops during the
days of the First Philippine Republic.

Rizal's First Year in Ateneo (1872-1873)

Rizal's first professor in the Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. whom he described as a
"tall, thin man, with a body slightly bent forward, a harried walk, an ascetic face, severe
and inspired, small deep-sunken eyes, a sharp nose that was almost Greek, and thin
lips forming an arc whose ends fell toward the chin.” Being a newcomer and knowing
little Spanish, Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class. He was an externo, hence he
was assigned to the Carthaginians, occupying the end of the line. Rizal took private
lessons in Santa Isabel College during the noon recesses. He paid three pesos for
those extra Spanish lessons, but it was money well spent. in the second half of his first
year in the Ateneo, Rizal did not try hard enough to retain his academic supremacy
which he held during the first half of the term. This was because he resented some
remarks of his professor. He placed second at the end of the year, although all his
grades were still marked "Excellent".
Summer Vacation (1873)
At the end of the school year in March, 1873, Rizal returned to Calamba for
summer vacation. He did not particularly enjoy his vacation because his mother was in
prison. To cheer him up, his sister Neneng (Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan with her
and visited his mother in prison. He told her of his brilliant grades at the Ateneo.

Second Year in Ateneo (1873-1874)

Nothing unusual happened to Rizal during his second term in the Ateneo, except
that he repented having neglected his studies the previous year simply because he was
offended by the teacher's remarks. So, to regain his lost class leadership, he studied
harder. Once more he became Emperor. Some of his classmates were new. Among
them were three boys from Biñan, who had been his classmates in the school of
Maestro Justiniano. At the end of the school year, Rizal received excellent grades in all
subjects and a gold medal. With such scholastic honors, he triumphantly returned to
Calamba in March, 1874 for the summer vacation.

Prophecy of Mother's Release

Rizal’s cheered up Doña Teodora's lonely heart with news of his scholastic
triumphs in Ateneo and with funny tales about his professors and fellow students. The
mother was very happy to know that her favorite child was making such splendid
progress in college. In the course of their conversation, Doña Teodora told her son of
her dream the previous night. Rizal, interpreting the dream, told her that she would be
released from prison in three months’ time. Doña Teodora smiled, thinking that her
son's prophecy was a mere boyish attempt to console her. But Rizal's prophecy became
true. Barely three months passed, and suddenly Doña Teodora was set free.

Teenage Interest in Reading

Rizal began to take interest in reading romantic novels. As a normal teenager, he
became interested in love stories and romantic tales. The first favorite novel of Rizal
was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. This thrilling novel made a
deep impression on him. He persuaded his father to buy him a costly set of Cesar
Cantu's historical work entitled Universal History. According to Rizal, this valuable
work was of great aid in his studies and enabled him to win more prizes in Ateneo. Later
Rizal read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist-
traveler who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860.

Cesar Cantu's Dr. Feodor Jagor

Third Year in Ateneo (1874-1875)
Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in the previous year. His
grades remained excellent in all subjects, but he won only one medal - in Latin. He
failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently
sonorous. He was beaten by a Spaniard who, naturally, could speak Spanish with
fluency and with right accentuation.

Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-1876)

On June 16, 1875, he became an interno in the Ateneo. One of his professors
this time was Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez a great educator and scholar. He
inspired the young Rizal to study harder and to write poetry. He became an admirer and
friend of the slender Calamba lad, whose God-given genius he saw and recognized. On
his part, Rizal had the highest affection and respect for Father Sanchez, whom he
considered his best professor in the Ateneo,

Last Year in Ateneo (1876-1877)

Rizal finished his last year at the Ateneo in a blaze of glory. He obtained the
highest grades in all subjects - philosophy. physics, biology, chemistry,
languages, mineralogy, etc. Rizal graduated at the head of his class. His scholastic
records at the Ateneo from 1872 to 1877. March 23, 1877, Rizal, who was 16 years old,
received from his Alma Mater, Ateneo Municipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with
highest honors. It was a proud day for his family.
Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo
He was active in extra-curricular activities. An "emperor" inside the classroom, he
was a campus leader outside. He was an active member, later secretary, of a religious
society, the Marian Congregation. Rizal was also a member of the Academy of
Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences. In his leisure hours, Rizal
cultivated his literary talent under the guidance of Father Sanchez. Aside from writing
poetry, he devoted his spare time to fine arts. He studied painting under the famous
Spanish painter, Agustin Saez, and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, noted
Filipino sculptor. Furthermore, Rizal, to develop his weak body, engaged in gymnastics
and fencing. He thereby continued the physical training he began under his sports-
minded to his Uncle Manuel.

Sculptural Works in Ateneo.

He carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine
hardwood) with his pocket-knife. Father Lleonart, impressed by Rizal's sculptural
talent, requested him to carve for him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Young
Rizal complied and within a few days he presented it to Father Lleonart. The old Jesuit
was highly pleased and profusely thanked the teenage sculptor.

The Virgin Mary Sacred Heart of Jesus

Anecdotes on Rizal, the Atenean

Felix M. Roxas shared an incident revealing Rizal's resignation to pain and
forgiveness after being hit in the face during a quarrel. Manuel Xeres Burgos
recounted an anecdote demonstrating Rizal's willingness to help the helpless, climbing
a cathedral tower to retrieve a small boy's kite.

Discovery of Rizal's Poetic Talent

Doña Teodora, Rizal's mother, discovered his poetic talent and encouraged him
to write poems. Father Sanchez inspired Rizal to embrace his gift in poetry and
introduced him to world literature, enriching his poetic art. Rizal's first poem, "Mi
Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration)," dedicated to his mother for her birthday,
was likely written before he turned 14 in 1874, after his mother's release from
imprisonment.

Poems Inspired by Father Sanchez (1875)

• Felicitacion (Felicitation)
• El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure: Hymn to
Magellan's Fleet)
 • Y Es Espanol: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish:
Elcano, the First to Circumnavigate the World)
• 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. They were as follows:
• Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)
• Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between
Religion and Good Education)
• Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education the Country
Receives Light)
• El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y Prision de Boabdil (The Captivity
and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the Imprisonment of Boabdil)
• La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes Catolicos en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of
the Catholic Monarchs into Granada)

A year later, in 1877, he wrote more poems. It was his last year in the Ateneo.
Among the poems written that year were:

• El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus)

• Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II)
• Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune)
• Un Dialogo Alusivo a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell Dialogue of the
Students)

Dramatic Work in Ateneo

His favorite teacher, Father Sanchez, requested him to write a drama based on
the prose story of St. Eustace the Martyr. Rizal wrote a religious drama, "San Eustacio,
Martyr," during his last academic year at Ateneo. Completed on June 2, 1876, and
received praise from his teacher, Father Sanchez.

First Romance of Rizal

Rizal experienced his first romance shortly after graduating from the Ateneo at
the age of sixteen. His first love was Segunda Katigbak, a fourteen-year-old from Lipa,
Batangas. He described as short, with eloquent and ardent eyes, rosy-cheeked,
and possessing an enchanting smile. Rizal visited his maternal grandmother's house
in Trozo, Manila, accompanied by his friend Mariano Katigbak. Segunda, the
attractive girl and sister of Mariano, was present, causing Rizal's heart to palpitate with
strange ecstasy. Guests, mostly college students, knew of Rizal's painting skills and
urged him to draw Segunda's portrait. Rizal complied reluctantly, making a pencil sketch
of Segunda. He reminisced that as he drew, Segunda looked at him, causing him to
blush. Rizal became intimately close with Segunda through his weekly visits to La
Concordia College, where his sister Olimpia was a student and a close friend of
Segunda. Despite Rizal and Segunda experiencing "love at first sight," their love was
considered hopeless from the beginning as Segunda was already engaged to Manuel
Luz, a townmate. Rizal, despite his artistic and intellectual abilities, was a shy and timid
lover, failing to propose to Segunda. The last time they spoke was in December 1877,
before Christmas vacation. Rizal visited Segunda to bid farewell before returning to
Calamba. Segunda revealed she would be leaving one day later. During their farewell,
Rizal was unable to express his feelings, merely mumbling a goodbye and mentioning
seeing her when she passed through Calamba on her way to Lipa. The next day Rizal
arrived by steamer in his hometown. His mother did not recognize him at first, due to
her failing eyesight. He was saddened to find out about his mother's growing blindness.
His sisters gaily welcomed him, teasing him about Segunda, for they knew of his
romance through Olimpia. The following day (Saturday) he learned that the steamer
carrying Segunda and her family would not anchor at Calamba because of the strong
winds; it would stop in Binan. He saddled his white horse and waited at the road. A
cavalcade of carromatas from Biñan passed by. In one of whom was Segunda smiling
and waving her handkerchief at him. He doffed his hat and was tongue-tied to say
anything. Her carriage rolled on and vanished in the distance like "a swift shadow". He
returned home, dazed and desolate, with his first romance "ruined by his own
shyness and reserve". The first girl, whom he loved with ardent fervor, was lost to him
forever. She returned to Lipa and later married Manuel Luz. He remained in Calamba,
a frustrated lover, cherishing nostalgic memories of a lost love.

Segunda Katigbak
IV. Vocabulary Words

1. The "internos" (boarders) - modern term "intern" - staying inside the school.
2. The "externos" (non - boarders) - modern term "extern" staying outside the
school.
3. Roman Empire - consisting of internos (boarders); red banner.
4. Carthaginian Empire - composed of the externos (non-boarders); blue banner.
5. Emperor - the best student in a group or class (empire).
6. Tribune - the second-best student in a group or class.
7. Decurion - the third-best student in a group or class.
8. Centurion - the fourth-best student in a group or class.
9. Stand-bearer - the fifth-best student in a group or class.
10. Rayadillo - coat material for “hemp-fabric trousers” and “striped cotton coat”
11. Cavalcade - A formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in
vehicles.

V: Post Test

1. What date did Jose Rizal enter Manila for his entrance examinations?
2. Where did Jose Rizal take his entrance examinations before going to Ateneo?
3. Who was Rizal's first professor in Ateneo?
4. What was Ateneo de Manila formally called?
5. What was Rizal's favorite novel?
6. What was Rizal's first poem in Ateneo?
7. Who told Rizal to stop communing with the Muses and pay more attention to
more practical studies?
8. Who was Rizal's favorite teacher in Ateneo?
9. Who was Rizal's first love?
10. What was Rizal's dramatic work in Ateneo?

“Key Correction”

1. June 10, 1872

2. College of San Juan de Letran
3. Fr. Jose Bech
4. Escuela Pia/Charity School
5. Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
6. "Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration)"
7. Father Jose Vilaclara
8. Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez
9. Segunda Katigbak
10. Father Magin Ferrando
VI: Summarization

In June 1872, Jose Rizal, accompanied by his brother Paciano, went to Manila to
take entrance exams at the College of San Juan de Letran. After passing, his father
decided to send him to Ateneo Municipal instead. At Ateneo, Rizal encountered the
Jesuit system of education, where students were divided into "empires" and competed
for academic positions. Despite starting at the bottom due to his limited Spanish
proficiency, Rizal excelled academically, though he faced challenges due to his
professor's remarks.

During summer vacation in 1873, Rizal returned to Calamba, where he shared

news of his academic success with his mother, who was in prison at the time. Rizal's
second year at Ateneo saw him regain academic leadership through hard work, earning
excellent grades and a gold medal. A notable event during this time was Rizal's
prophecy of his mother's release from prison, which came true within three months.

Rizal's interest in reading grew, particularly in romantic novels like "The Count of
Monte Cristo." His academic journey continued with varying success, including winning
a medal in Latin but falling short in Spanish due to language fluency issues. In his last
year at Ateneo, Rizal graduated with top honors and engaged in various extracurricular
activities, including sculpting and poetry. Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, one of his
professors, played a significant role in inspiring Rizal's love for poetry. Rizal's first poem,
"Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration)," dedicated to his mother, marked the
beginning of his poetic journey. Additionally, anecdotes from fellow Ateneans
highlighted Rizal's resilience and kindness. Despite experiencing his first romance with
Segunda Katigbak, it ended sadly due to Rizal's shyness.

VII: Recommendation and Conclusion

The chapter was well explained; thus, no further recommendations or alterations are
needed.

VIII: Bibliography

REFERENCES:

Zaide, Gregorio F. & Zaide, Sonia M. (1957). Jose Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings
of a Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National Hero. All NATIONS Publishing Co., Inc.