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CHAPTER 4: SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPHS AT ATENEO DE MANILA (1872-1877)

Four months after the martyrdom of Gomburza and with Dona Teodora still in prison, Jose, was sent to Manila. He
studied at 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. Ateneo Municipal was formerly called Escuela Pia, a school for
poor boys in Manila which was established in 1817. The educators in the school are splendid that is why students
acquired prestige education.

Rizal enters Ateneo. June 10, 1872, Jose, accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila. He took entrance examination
on Christian Doctrine, Arithmetic, and reading at the College of San Juan de Letran, and passed them yet as they went
home to Calamba, the father of Rizal decided to send him to Ateneo.

At Ateneo, Jose was matriculated. The registrar, Father Magin Ferrando, refused to admit Jose with the following
reasons: (1) he was late for registration to admit him and (2) he was sickly and undersized for his age. However, upon
the intercession of Manuel Xerez Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo. At the
time Jose in the Ateneo, the school was located in Intramuros, within the walls of Manila.

Jesuit System of Education. The system of education given by the Jesuits was more advanced than that of other
colleges during that time. Classes are divided into two groups: Roman Empire(consisting of the internos) and
Carthaginian Empire(composed of externos). Each group has its ranks. Both groups have its distinctive banners, red for
roman empire and blue for Carthaginian empire.

Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo(1872-1873). Rizal’s professor 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 placed at the bottom of the class. “How pleased I was?””when I won my first prize, a
religious picture!” So to improve his Spanish, he took a private lessons in Santa Isable College during noon recesses,
when other Ateneo where playing or gossiping. He paid three pesos for those extra Spanish lessons, but it was money
well spent. At the end of his first year, he placed second in the class with an excellent remark.

Second Year (1873-74). Due to the fact that even Rizal has a excellent remark at his first year, he study hard
for the second year which places him to the top. In that school year, some of his classmates are new, they are from
Biñan. 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 summer vacation. At the time when the
summer vacation was going, Rizal found an interest to read books or novels. The first favourite novel of Rizal was The
Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. As he keep on reading, he help himself to enrich his fecund mind. He also
requested to his father to buy him a book of Cesar Cantu’s historical work entitled, Universal History. Lately, he also
read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines in 1859-
1860.

Third Year (1874-75). June 1874, Rizal Jose went back to school for his Junior year, and the same time a joyous
moment for him as his mother was released from the prison, same to the dream he had from his vacation. However, at
his study, he pursued to maintain his excellent record in class yet he only received one award, it was Latin. He failed to
win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.

Fourth Year(1875-76). 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. Then, he admired the professor and gave him a highest respect as one of the splendid educator in Ateneo whom
became his friend. He was proudly went home to Calamba with a five medals and excellent ratings.

Last Year in Ateneo()1876-77). After summer, he returned to Manila, Juen 1876. His studies continued to fare
well. As a matter-of-fact, he excelled in all subjects. The most brilliant Atenean of his time, he was truly “the pride of
the Jesuits.” He obtained highest grades in philosophy, physics, biology, chemistry, languages, mineralogy, etc.

Graduation with Highest Honors. Rizal graduated at the head of his class. On commencement day, March 23, 1877,
Rizal who was 16 years old, received from his Alma Mater, Ateneo Muncipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with
highest honors.

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First Romance of Rizal. Shortly after his graduation from Ateneo, Rizal, who was then 16 years old, experienced, his
first romance- “that painful experience which comes to nearly all adolescents.” That girl was Segunda Katigbak, a
pretty fourteen year old Batangueña from Lipa. “She was rather short, with eyes that were eloquent and ardent at times
and languid at others, rosy-cheeked, with an enchanting and provocative smile that revealed very beautiful teeth, and
the air of a sylph; her entire self diffused a mysterious charm.”

CHAPTER 5: MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)

Mother’s Opposition to Higher Education. “Did my mother perhaps have a foreboding of what would happen to
me? Does a mother’s heart really have a good sight?”- Rizal

Rizal enters the University. In April 1877, Jose matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas, taking the course
on Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in this course for two reasons: (1) his father liked it and (2) he was still
uncertain as to w hat career to pursue. In his first year at the university, he studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy,
and History of Philosophy. The main reason he chooses to study medicine is that he wanted to cure his mother’s
growing blindness.

Romances with Other girls. Notwithstanding his academic and extra-curricular activities in UST and Ateneo, Rizal
had ample of time for love. He was a romantic dreamer who liked to sip the nectar of love. His sad experience with his
first love had made him wiser in the ways of romance.
Shortly after losing Segunda Katigbak, he paid court to a young woman in Calamba. In his student memoirs, he called
her simply “Miss L”, describing her as fair with seductive and attractive eyes.

Several months later, during his sophomore year at the UST, he boarded in the house of Doña Concha Leyva in
Intramuros. In the next door, Captain Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela of Pagsanjan, Laguna household, who had
a charming daughter named Leonor(Orang). Rizal described her as tall girl with great bearing.

Rizal’s next romance was with another Leonor- Leonor Rivera(Taimis)-his cousin from Camiling, Tarlac. She was
described by Rizal as frail, pretty girl tender as budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes.

To the Filipino Youth (1879). Rizal joined a literary contest and whoever win will be having a prize, so then, he
submitted a poem entitled, To the Filipino Youth (A La Juventud Filipina). Rizal win in the said contest and gave him a
silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with gold ribbon. This winning poem of Rizal is a classic in Philippine
Literature for two reasons: first, it was the first great poem in Spanish written by Filipino, whose merit was recognized
by Spanish literary authorities and secondly, it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos,
and not foreigners were the “fair hope of the Fatherland.”

The Council of the Gods(1880). A year after the literary contest in 1879, Rizal once again joined in the literary
contest in the country where both Spanish and Filipino are qualified to join in the contest which goal is to
commemorate the death of Cervantes- the author of Don Quixote. Rizal, himself, submitted a allegory piece entitled, El
Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods), and he wins. He received a golden ring which was engraved the burst
of Cervantes.

Unhappy days at the UST. Rizal was unhappy at this Dominican institution of higher learning because the
Dominican professors were hostile to him, the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards,
and the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.

Decision to Study Abroad. After finishing the fourth year of his medical course, Rizal decided to study in Spain.
He could no longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in University of Santo Tomas.

CHAPTER 6: IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)

Rizal’s Secret Mission. This mission which Rizal conceived with the approval of his older brother Paciano was to
observe keenly the life, culture, languages, customs, industries, and commerce, government, and laws of the European
nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
However, this secret mission was likely disclosed by Paciano in his letter to his younger brother dated Manila, May 20,
1982.

Secret Departure for Spain. Rizal’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish
authorities and the frias. The following names are those who only know that Rizal will go to Spain: Paciano, his
Uncle Antonio Rivera(father of Leonor), Neneng and Lucia, the Valenzuela family, Pedro A. Paterno, Mateo
Evangelista, the Ateneo Jesuits fathers, and some intimate friends including Jose M. Cecilio. On May 3, 1882,
Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore.
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Singapore. As he travelled, the ship captain, Donato Lecha, from Asturias, Spain, befriended him. Rizal
described him in his travel as an affable man, much more refined than his other countrymen and colleagues that I have
met. As he bounded to Singapore on May 9, he registered at Hotel de la Paz and spent two days. He saw the famous
Botanical Garden, the beautiful Buddhist temples, the busy shopping district, and the statue of Sir Thomas Stanford
Raffles.

From Singapore to Colombo. In Singapore Rizal transferred to another ship Djemnah, a French steamer, which left
Singapore for Europe on May 11. On May 17, the steamer reached the Point Galle, a seacoast town in Southern
Ceylon. He described Point Galle as a picturesque but lonely and quiet and at the same time sad. The following day, the
steamer reached Colombo. Rizal enamoured by Colombo because of its scenic beauty and elegant buildings. He once
said, “Colombo is more beautiful, smart, and elegant than Singapore, Point Galle and Manila.”

Barcelona. On the afternoon of June 15, Rizal left Marseille by train for the last lap of his trip to Spain. He
reached the Barcelona on June 16, 1882. Rizal’s first impression of Barcelona, the greatest city of Cataluna and Spain’s
second largest city, was unfavourable. Some of his classmates in Ateneo welcomed him in Barcelona.

Amor Patrio. In progressive Barcelona, Rizal wrote nationalistic essay entitled, “Amor Patrio”(Love of Country),
his first article written on Spain’s soil. He sent this article to his friends in Manila, Basilio Teodoro Moran, publisher
of Diariong Tagalog, the first Manila bilingual newspaper. Rizal used his pen-name “Laong Laan” which appeared
in Diariong Tagalog on August 20, 1882. It was published in two texts- Spanish and Tagalog. The tagalong text was
translated by M.H. del Pilar. The article cause quite a sensation among the readers in the Philippines because of its
nationalistic flavour. The idea of this article is all about, reminding countrymen to love their fatherland, the Philippines.
Basilio Moran deeply impressed by Amor Patrio and later on congratulated Rizal for it and requested for more articles.
In response, Rizal wrote the second article for Diariong Tagalog, entitled “Los Viajes”(Travels): his third article
entitled, “Revista de Madrid”(Review of Madrid), which he wrote in Madrid on November 29, 1882, yet it was
returned back due to lack of fund for publication. Evidently, Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and established
himself to Madrid, Spain.

Life in Madrid. On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid in two courses-
Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San
Fernando; took lessons in French, German, and English under private instructors; and assiduously practised fencing and
shooting in the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell.

Romance with Consuelo Ortiga y Perez. The Daughter of former City mayor of Manila during Carlos Maria de la
Torre, Don Pablo Ortiga y Perez fell in love with Rizal. Rizal is not a handsome guy and not a type of man whose
height is tall yet the daughter still kept fall in love with Rizal because of its notable talents and charisma. And because
of the lonely moments in the Spain, Rizal also fell in love in the lady. He even composed a lovely poem on August 22,
1883 dedicated to Consuelo, it was entitled, “A La Señorita C. O. y P.”, where he expressed his admiration for her. He
found solace and joy in her company. However, the love wasn’t blossom for too long because of two reasons: (1) he
was still engaged to Leonor Rivera and (2) his friends and co-worker in the Propaganda Movement, Eduardo de
Lete, was madly in love with Consuelo and he had no wish to break their friendship because of a pretty girl.

Rizal’s first visit in Paris(1883). During his summer vacation, he went to Paris, sojourning in this gay capital of
France from June 17 to August 20, 1883. He then said, “Paris is the coolest capital of Europe.”

Rizal as Mason. In Spain, Rizal came in close contact with prominent Spanish liberal and republican Spaniards, who
were mostly Masons, including Miguel Morayta, a statesman, professor, historian and writer; Francisco Pi y
Morgal, journalist, statesman and former president of short-lived First Spanish Republic; Manuel Becerra,
Minister of Ultramar(Colonies); Emilio Junoy, a journalist, and member of Spanish Cortes; and Juan Ruiz
Zorilla, a parliamentarian, and head of the Republican Progressive Party in Madrid. In due time, in March 1883,
Rizal joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid. The main reason why he joined is that, to secure
Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against friars in the Philippines. Later, he transferred to Lodge Solidaridad(Madrid),
where he became a Master Mason on November 15, 1890. And on February 15, 1892, he was awarded the diploma as
Master Mason by Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.

Rizal’s salute to Luna and Hidalgo. The banquet on the evening of June 25, 1884 was sponsored by the Filipinos
community to celebrate the double victory of the Filipino artist in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid-
Luna’s Spoliarium winning first prize and Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins Exposed to Populace, second prize.

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Studies Completed in Spain. Rizal completed his medical course in Spain. He was conferred the degree of
Licentiate in Medicine by Universidad Central de Madrid on June 21, 1884. He also passed all the subjects leading to
the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters with higher grades. He was
awarded the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by Universidad Central de Madrid on June 19, 1885, with a
rating of Excellent. And also because he finished his Doctors in Philosophy and Letters, he became qualified to be a
professor of humanities in any Spanish university.

ACTIVITIES:

1. IF YOU WERE DOÑA TEODORA, WOULD YOU ALLOW DR. JOSE RIZAL TO PURSUE HIGHER
EDUCATION AND STUDY ABROAD? WHY OR WHY NOT?

2. EXPLAIN: “HE DOES NOT KNOWHOW TO LOOK BACK AT WHERE HE CAME FROM WILL
NEVER GET TO HIS DESTINATION.”- DR. RIZAL.

PREPARED BY: SAMUEL JOHN COCHING, MAEd