Jose Rizal at the University of Santo Tomas: A Crucial Decision (1877-1882)

Question 1

• José Rizal enrolled at ________ in 1877, initially pursuing a degree in Philosophy and Letters 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.

Answer 1

the University of Santo Tomas (UST)

Question 2

After completing his first year, Rizal decided to take up _____ as his university course. This change of heart was due to two factors:
1. Father Ramon Pablo, rector of the Ateneo, had advised him to pursue the course.

 2. Rizal's mother had failing eyesight and he thought he owed it to her to become a doctor and cure her condition.

Answer 2

medicine

Question 3

• Rizal faced _____ discrimination from Spanish professors and an oppressive academic environment which made him feel that UST did not provide the academic freedom he needed for intellectual growth.
• This led him to seek alternatives, influencing his decision to leave the Philippines for further studies in Europe.

Answer 3

racial

Question 4

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 \_\_\_\_\_ professors were hostile to him.
 2. \_\_\_\_\_students suffered discrimination.    3. The method of instruction at UST was obsolete and repressive.

Answer 4

1. Dominican
2. Filipino

Question 5

Won first prize in another contest celebrating the centenary of Miguel de Cervantes, proving that Filipinos could write as well as Spaniards.

Answer 5

El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods)

Question 6

Won first prize in a literary contest in 1879. The poem promoted education as a path to national progress and upliftment for Filipinos.

Answer 6

A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)

Question 7

Who morally and financially supported and encouraged him to go to Europe to broaden his perspective and knowledge.

Answer 7

Paciano

Question 8

In 1882, after years of discontent at UST, Rizal decided to leave the Philippines to study in ______. This crucial decision set him on a path to becoming a revolutionary and national hero.

Answer 8

Spain