Education at the ATENEO

Education at the ATENEO

On June 10, 1872, Paciano accompanied Rizal 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 to attend the town fiesta. Don Francisco
changed his mind and decided to send Rizal to
Ateneo Municipal (later on become the Ateneo
de Manila.
Education at the ATENEO

Paciano accompanied Rizal to Manila to

enroll at the Ateneo Municipal. Father Magin
Fernando, the school registrar, refuse to admit
him for these reasons: he was late for
registration and he was sickly and small for his
age. With the intercession of Perez Burgos, a
nephew of Father Burgos, he was admitted to
the Ateneo that was located in Intramuros with
the walls of Manila. Rizal was just quiet and
observant of the different activities in class.
Education at the ATENEO

The Jesuits’ system of education was more

advanced. Its discipline was rigid and the methods
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.
Education at the ATENEO

Rizal’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 Carthaginian
Empire. The other group was the “Roman Empire” consisting
of the internos (boarders). Each group had its ranks, the best
rank is the “emperor”, 2nd best Tribune; the 3rd is the
decurion, the 4th is the centurion, the 5th is the standard
bearer.
Education at the ATENEO

Within the empire, the students aspired for the

position by answering the questions for the day’s lesson. If a
student made three mistakes, he could lose his 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.
Education at the ATENEO

Jose Rizal progressed well in his studies that after a

month he became the “emperor” and was considered the
brightest pupil of the class. He was awarded a prize, namely,
“ä 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 lessons.
Education at the ATENEO

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. Doňa Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that
she and her brother, Jose Alberto tried to poison the latter’s
wife. After her arrest, Doňa Teodora was forced to walk from
Calamba all the way to Sta. Cruz, a distance of 50 kilometers.
She was imprisoned for two and a half years.
Education at the ATENEO

In his second year 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 dungeons of
Chateau and his finding a buried treasure in the rocky island
of Monte Cristo and his revenge on his enemies who had
offended him.
Education at the ATENEO

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 influence on his search for knowledge.
Education at the ATENEO

Another book that his father bought was the Universal

History by Cesar Cantus which was a rich source of historical
facts about the world. He used to read this while studying in
Ateneo.
On his fourth year in Ateneo, Jose Rizal was inspired to
study hard and to write poetry by one of his professors,
Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, a great educator and
scholar. Rizal had the highest affection and respect for Father
Sanchez, whom he considered the best professor in Ateneo.
Education at the 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 expressed his ideas on the value of
education in his poem “Through Education the Country
Receives Light”. 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.
Education at the ATENEO

Por la Education Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education

the Country Receives Light,April 1, 1876). This poem shows
Rizal’s high regard for education. He strongly believed in the
important role which education plays in the development
and progress of a 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”.
Education at the ATENEO

In 1875, Rizal wrote literary pieces. They were as follows:

1. Felicitacion
2. The Departure: Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet
3. And He is Spanish: Elcano, the First to Circumnavigate the
World.
4. The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo
Education at the ATENEO

In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics – religion,

education, childhood memories, and war. They were as
follows:
[Link] tragedy of saint Eustace
[Link] memory of my town
[Link] alliance between religion and good education
Education at the ATENEO

In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics – religion,

education, childhood memories, and war. They were as
follows:
4. Through education the country receives light
[Link] captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the
Imprisonment of Boabdil
[Link] Triumphal Entry of the Catholic Monarchs into
Granada.
Education at the ATENEO

A year later, in 1877, he wrote more poems. It was his last

year in Ateneo. Among the poems written that year were:
[Link] Heroism of Columbus
[Link] and John II
[Link] Solace in Great Misfortune
4.A Farewell Dialogue of the Students
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO
TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

For higher studies, after graduation from Ateneo, he

pursued his studies at the University of Sto. Tomas. The
Bachelor of Arts course during the Spanish times was
equivalent only to high school and Junior College Courses
today.
His mother Dona Teodora was opposed to his son’s pursuing
higher education in Manila because she was reminded of the
fate of intelligent Filipinos like the priests GOMBURZA.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

Don Francisco believed of the great future that awaited his

son whose intelligence was among the “best” during that time.
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 a title because he was still 17
years old.
He finally decided to take up medicine with the advice of Fr.
Pablo Ramon, the Director of Ateneo de Manila with the
intention and desire to cure Doňa Teodora’s failing eyesight.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

Rizal experience his first taste of Spanish brutality when he

was in Calamba spending summer vacation after a long
tedious study as medical student of UST.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

One night while he was walking alone a dark street, Rizal

failed to recognize the Spanish civil guard, passing by his side,
thus, he did not bow, salute or greet the man. At a striking
distance, the civil guard (Guardia Civil) whipped Rizal
mercilessly at the back with a stingray tail. He suffered from
the wounds inflicted on his back that lasted for two weeks
before it was completely healed. He could not accept such
brutal treatment. When the incident was reported to the
Captain General Primo de Rivera, he was even reprimanded
and even told Rizal that he should be thankful for being still
alive and spared by the civil guard.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

RIZAL’S ARTISTIC WORK

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.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

The contest is open to natives or mestizos. Rizal joined

the contest and submitted his poem “To the Filipino Youth”
(Sa Kabataang Pilipino/ A 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.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

After the expert reading and scrutiny, discussion of all the

entries, the Board of judges had chosen Rizal’s poem as
superior and had won the first prize and recognition.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

Literary works of Rizal in University of Santo Tomas (UST)

1879

1. A La Juventad Filipina (To the Filipino Youth). It was Rizal’s winning

masterpiece which he submitted in the literary contest held by Liceo-Artistico-
Literario of Manila. He received silver pen, feathered shape and decorated
with golden ribbon. This poem was dedicated to the Filipino Youth and
directed them to give their best to contribute to the betterment of our nation,
to use their God given gifts to become great singers, poets, artists, painters,
and thank Almighty God for everything they had. Finally, it was in this poem
he had mentioned hi infamous quote “The youth is the fair hope of our
Fatherland”.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

Literary works of Rizal in University of Santo Tomas (UST) (1880)

1. El Consejo De Los Dioses (The Council of Gods). It was another
contest of Liceo-Artistico-Literario to commemorate the death of
Miguel Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote. It was an allegory
that depicts the equality of Cervantes, Homer and Virgil. The prize
was gold ring bearing the engraved bus of Cervantes. Rizal won the
first prize but the certificate conferred to him showed that he was
the second placer. The jury, consisting of Spaniards, upon learning
that the author was a Filipino decided to give the first prize to a
Spaniard.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

Both the winning poem of Rizal bore a great impact. A

literary masterpiece can be made by a native, proving the
fallacy of Spanish superiority over Filipinos and deserved to
be recognized. There was an imprint of nationalism in A La
Juventad Filipina and the concept of equality and fairness in
El Consejo De Los Dioses.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

The study of Rizal at university of St. Tomas (UST) was not

meaningful and fruitful:
The atmosphere at UST suffocating to his sensitive spirit.
Unhappy
The professors were hostile to him
The method of teaching was far from brilliant method at
Ateneo
Prejudice and racial discrimination were prevalent.
RIZAL’S STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST) 1877-1882

Rizal after completing his four years in medical school

decided leave the country for Europe. He was no longer happy at
the school. He can no longer contain the hatred, discrimination
and discontentment he had towards the Spanish students and
teachers. He heard that teachings abroad were much better and
far more advanced. The family, friends and acquaintances believed
that he was going to Europe to finish his medical schooling. But it
is more than that. From the letter Paciano sent to Rizal, the real
purpose of Rizal’s journey to Europe was to make a name for him
in realm of journalism and to observe and study Europe way of
life.
Thank you for listening