RIZAL’S HIGHER EDUCATION AND LIFE ABROAD Flashcards
I. ANG GOMBURZA
The Jesuits’ education promotes Physical courses, humanities, and scientific studies.
● Aside from earning a Bachelor of Arts (high school diploma today,) they also offer
vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics and surveying.
● The Jesuits trained their students to have rigid discipline and religious instructions.
● In June 1872, it had been four months since the priests were brutally killed. Rizal’s
mother, Donya Teodora, was still in prison on unproven charges of poisoning.
● Despite the chaos, Rizal had to focus on his future and prepare for high school.
● On June 10th, Rizal and his brother traveled to Manila. He took and passed an exam at
the College of San Juan de Letran.
● Upon returning to Calamba, Don Kiko changed his mind, opting for Rizal to study at the
prestigious Ateneo instead
● This was the right decision, as Ateneo in the 19th century was renowned for providing
top- notch secondary education in the Philippines.
● Ateneo, led by Jesuits, maintained rigorous academic standards, to college-level
courses.
● Rizal returned to Manila with his brother Paciano, but they faced obstacles before he
could enroll.
● Father Magin Ferrando, who was then the College Registrar, initially refused Rizal’s
admission for two reasons.
1. He was a late registrant.
2. He was pale, thin, and undersized for his age.
● However, with the help of Manuel Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was accepted
into the institution.
● Rizal was not able to use Mercado as his surname and was instead registered as Jose
Rizal.
II. ATENEO DAYS
● Teaching at Ateneo was unique as classes were divided into two groups that constantly
competed against each other to foster healthy competition.
● The Roman Empire, comprised of interns (boarders)
● The Carthaginian Empire, consisted of externs (non-boarders)
● Within an empire, members were also in continuous competition as they vied for top
ranks, called dignitaries.
● One of Rizal’s most impactful lessons at Ateneo was the power of education. He wrote a
poem comparing it to a lighthouse, illuminating the path of individuals’ behavior and
actions.
THE ATENEAN CLASSROOM
Rizal enrolled in the six-year “Bachiller en Artes” program at Ateneo, which exposed
students to five subjects.
1. Christian Doctrine
2. Language of Spanish, Latin, Greek, and French
3. History and Geography: (World History and Geography, History of Spain and
Philippines)
4. Mathematics and Sciences (Geometry, Trigonometry, Mineralogy, Chemistry,
Physics, Botany, and Zoology)
5. Classic Disciplines (Poetry, Rhetoric, and Philosophy)
● Rizal was well at home in Ateneo. He was happy and content with his stay at Ateneo.
● His literary skills developed greatly while studying at Ateneo.
● He developed great respect for his Atenean Professors, and the Jesuits for their
innovative teaching methods.
● His academic performance made him a foremost alumni of Ateneo.
● Rizal considered education crucial not just for personal endeavors, but for society’s
progress.
● He envisioned educated youth leading the nation to a brighter future, recognizing
education’s vital role in building a strong nation.
● As a fiction writer, nationalist, and medical doctor, Rizal’s accomplishments were
undeniably influenced by his solid foundation at Ateneo.
● the breadth of his achievements would have been unattainable without the knowledge
and skills cultivated during his formative years.
ASSESSMENT OF RIZAL AS AN ATENEAN
● Ateneo Municipal de Manila Campus in Intramuros, Manila
● Main Portal
● St. Joseph Courtyard
● Campanas de Herencia (Heritage Bells), both bells used to signal that start and end of
Classes at the Ateneo de Manila Campuses in Intramuros and Padre Faura Street
● Grand Staircase
● Science Laboratory
● Chapel
● Library
● Music Room
● Art Room
ATENEO MUNICIPAL FACILITIES
● After studying at Ateneo, Rizal enrolled in University of Santo Tomas (UST), a Dominican
school that was established in 1611.
FAMILY OPINIONS
● DON KIKO AND PACIANO
- Pepe must continue his study at the University.
● DONA LOLAY
- Pepe must not continue his study.
- For her, Pepe’s education is enough as it might endanger his life.
● PEPE’S REACTION
- HIs mother’s opposition surprised him since she herself value education.
- Pepe wondered whether his mother had foreseen the future.
● Donya Teodora surprised her son when she forbade him from studying at the university.
II. UST DAYS
● APRIL 1877
- He first considered taking up priesthood.
- He was first advised by his Ateneo Professors to take up agriculture since it was
their family business
- He enrolled in that course since Don Kiko wanted him to pursue Law.
- Also, he is still undecided what course to take.
● 1878
- Upon the advice of Fr. Pablo Ramon SJ, rector of Ateneo, he decided to take
medicine
● In April 1887, Rizal took a course of Philosophy and Letters in the Dominican school.
● Rizal’s father wanted him to study metaphysics to give him a solid foundation in the
liberal arts, which could prepare him for a career in law.
● At the same time, he took a course of surveying in Ateneo.
● After one year of studying Philosophy and Letters at UST, Rizal shifted to Medicine.
● The reason behind this is that his mother was going blind from cataracts, and he hoped
that he would be able to cure her.
● Rizal finished his surveying training in Ateneo in 1877 and passed his licensing
examination in 1878.
● However, he was underage, so he had to wait a few years before he could receive his
license/title.
PEPE’S ENTRY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
● Rizal’s UST academic performance didn’t match Ateneo, possibly due to his
unhappiness there.
● Historian Gregorio Zaide cites three reasons for Jose Rizal’s unhappiness at UST.
1. The Dominican professors were hostile to him.
2. Filipino students suffered discrimination.
3. The method of instruction at UST were obsolete and repressive
● Likewise, historian Leon Ma. Guerrero identified three main reasons for Rizal’s struggling
academic performance.
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.
3. Medicine was not Rizal’s true vocation
● While Jose Rizal may not have excelled in his studies like in Ateneo, he made a name
for himself in other activities.
PEPE’S ENTRY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
● 1879
- He resided at the Casa Tomasina located at 6 Calle Santo Tomas
- It was owned by his uncle, Antonio Rivera
- Pepe wrote the poem, “A La Juventud Filipina” (To the Filipino Youth)
- He submitted it to the literary contest sponsored by the Liceo
Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum).
- His poem impressed the judges, mostly Spaniards, and gave him the first
place. His prize was a silver quill decorated with a golden ribbon.
● He won first prize for his poem “A la Juventud Filipina” in a literary contest, boldly
asserting the Philippines as the motherland of Filipinos, not Spain.
THOMASIAN LIFE
● It was written by a native
● It was recognized as a masterpiece by Spanish literary authorities.
● The poem’s tone is very nationalistic.
● Pepe stated that the Filipino – native Indios to the Spaniards, were the hope of the
nation.
● In another literary contest, Rizal won first prize using an assumed name. The contest
was dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes, the writer of Don Quixote.
● Rizal’s winning piece was the allegory “The Council of the Other Gods.“
SIGNIFICANCE OF A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA
● 1880
- Pepe Wrote another poem, “El Consejo de los Dioses” (The Council of the
Gods).
- It was again sponsored by the Liceo Artistico-Literario in commemoration of the
400th death Anniversary of Miguel Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote.
● Upon discovering the author was Filipino, the Spanish judges reversed their decision,
awarding the prize to a Spaniard.
● Jose Rizal was also active in activism during his time at the University of Santo Tomas
(UST).
● Rizal and Filipino students often faced discrimination through derogatory names like
“indio” or “chongo.”
● In retaliation, Rizal and his friends would sometimes call their Spanish and mestizo
classmates “Kastila” or “bangus.”
● This led to frequent student fights on campus and in the streets of Manila.
● In response to discrimination, Rizal founded the secret society “Compañerismo” for
Filipino students.
● Rizal’s activism was also expressed in his criticism of the faulty and outmoded system of
education at UST.
● He condemned the humiliation of Filipino students, who were often insulted by their
Dominican mentors.
● He also criticized the archaic method of instruction at UST. For example, he ridiculed the
teaching of physics, which was taught without any laboratory experiments.
● Rizal also believed that grades were often given based on favoritism and skin color,
rather than on academic merit.
EL CONSEJO DE LOS DIOSES
● Everything you have heard up to this point comes from textbooks, biographies, and
articles that portray Rizal’s experience in the university.
● In order to be unbiased, let us also hear the side of UST.
● The Nostalgic Thomasian clarified misconceptions about José Rizal’s UST experience in
a Facebook post.
IN DEFENSE OF UST
