GEC9 Life and Works of Rizal
Chapter 5
Medical Studies at the
University of Santo Tomas
(1877-1882)
Contents of Chapter 5
Here’s what you’ll find in this Chapter:
● Mother’s Opposition To Higher Education
● Rizal Enters The University
● Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
● Romances with other Girls
● Victims of Spanish Officers Brutality
● “To the Filipino Youth” (1879)
● ‘The Council of the Gods” (1880)
● Other Literary Works
● Rizal’s visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan
● Champion of Filipino Students
● Unhappy Days at the UST
● Decisions to Study Abroad
I. Objectives
• Learn and understand the life and experience of Jose Rizal
during his Medical studies at University of Santo Tomas
and;
• Get to know the ladies he met while in the University and
how he fought Spanish students who insulted brown
Filipino students
● Mother’s Opposition To Higher
Rizal’s
Education
● Rizal Enters The University
● Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo
(1878)
Medical Studies at ● Romances with other Girls
the University of
Santo Tomas
Reporter:
Maridel B. Babagay April Clyde Blanca John Peter Miranda
Chapter 5
After finishing the first year of a course in
Philosophy and Letters (1877-78), Rizal transferred
to the medical course at University of Santo
Tomas; which was administered by Dominicans
(rival educators of Jesuits). As a Thomasian, he
won more literary laurels and had other romances
with pretty girls. He also fought against Spanish
students that insulted brown Filipino students.
Mother’s Opposition to Higher Education
• Both Don Francisco and Paciano wanted Jose to pursue higher learning in the
university but Doña Teodora vigorously opposed to their idea, knowing what
happened to “GOM-BUR-ZA”.
“Don’t send him to Manila again; he
knows enough. If he gets to know
more, the Spaniards will cut off his
head.”
- Doña Teodora
• Jose Rizal himself was surprised why his mother, who was a mother of
education and culture, should object to his desire for a university education.
Mother’s Opposition to Higher Education
Jose Rizal himself was surprised why his mother, who was a mother of
education and culture, should object to his desire for a university
education. Years later he wrote in his journal:
‘Why did my mother perhaps have a foreboding of
what would happen to me? Does a mother’s heart
really have a second sight?’
Rizal enters the University
1877 – take the course of Philosophy in Letters at the University of Santo Tomas for
two reasons:
(1) his father liked it and
(2) he was “still uncertain as to what career to pursue”
He had written to Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of the Ateneo, who had been good to
him during his student days in that college, asking for advice on the choice of a
career. But Father Pablo was in Mindanao so he was unable to advice Rizal.
First-year term (1877-78) in university of Santo Tomas – COSMOLOGY,
METAPHYSICS, THEODICY, and HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY
Rizal enters the University
(1878-1879) - Rizal had receive the Ateneo Rector’s advice to study
medicine
Took up medicine course, enrolled simultaneously in the preparatory
medical course and regular first year medical course
To cure his mother’s growing blindness
Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
During his first school terms in the University of Santo
Tomas (1877-78), Rizal also studied in the Ateneo
Took the vocational course leading to the title of Perito
Agrimensor (expert surveyor)
Rizal excelled in all subject in surveying course in
Ateneo, obtaining gold medals in agriculture and
topography
At 17 y/o, passed the final exam in surveying course but he
could not be granted the title as surveyor due to under age
The title was issued to him on November 25, 1881
Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
Although Rizal was then a Thomasian, he frequently
visited the Ateneo, where he had so many beautiful
memories and whose Jesuit Professors, unlike the
Dominicans loved him and inspired him to ascend to
greater heights of knowledge
President of the Academy of Spanish Literature and
Secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences
Continued his Membership in the Marian
Congregation, of which he was the Secretary
Romances with other Girls
“Miss L”
Young woman in Calamba
He called her, “Miss L”, describing her as “fair with seductive and attractive
eyes
After vising her house several times, he suddenly stop his wooing and
romance died a natural death
(1) sweet memories of Segunda was still fresh in his heart
(2) his father did not like the family of Miss L
Nobody today knows this woman was
Romances with other Girls
LEONOR VALANZUELA
Daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela from Pagsanjan, Laguna
tall girl with a regal bearing
sent his love note with an invisible ink (consisted of common table salt and water
Rizal who knew his chemistry, taught Orang (Leonor’s pet name) the secret of
reading any notes written in invisible ink by heating it over a candle or lamp
Romances with other Girls
In 1879, at the start of Rizal’s junior year at the university, he
lived in “Casa Tomasina” at No.6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros
LEONOR RIVERA
Born on April 11, 1867
Daughter of his landlord-uncle Antonio Rivera
A frail, pretty girl, “tender as a budding flower, with kindly, wistful eyes”
Between Jose and Leonor sprang a beautiful romance. They became engaged. In her
Letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as “Taimis”, in order to camouflage their
intimate relationship from their parents and friends.
Thank you!
