Lesson 5

Rizal's Higher
Education in
Manila
Rizal's Romances
Immediately after his graduation from
Ateneo, the sixteen year old Rizal
experienced his first love with
Segunda Katigbak of Lipa, Batangas
who was fourteen year old that
time and sister of his friend
Mariano Katigbak.
 It was a "Love at first sight"

He met Segunda during his visitation

to his maternal grandmother who
lived in Trozo, Manila who also a
guest on his grandmother’s house.
 Rizal described Segunda as
“rather short, with eyes that
were eloquent and ardent at
times, rosy-cheeked with
enchanting and
provocative smile”
Rizal came to know Segunda
more intimately during his
weekly visits to La Concordia
College, where his sister
Olympia was a boarding
student
 But it was hopeless since the
very beginning because
Segunda was already engaged
to her town mate, Manuel Luz.
 Three years later, Rizal
recorded his first romance;
“Ended! At early hour, my first
love! My virgin heart will
always mourn the reckless
step it look on the flower-
decked"
 Rizal also paid court to a young
woman in Calamba
whom he called as “Miss L” a
woman with fair with seductive
and attractive eyes.
Nobody today knows who this woman was,
in fact, he suddenly stopped his wooing and
the romance died
during his second year in UST, he met also two
“Leonors”
during his second year in UST, he met also
two “Leonors”
The first Leonor, Leonor
Valenzuela (Orang) was met by
Rizal when he started to board in
the house of Doña Concha Leyva
in Intramuros
during his second year in UST, he met also
two “Leonors”
He courted her through invisible
ink (1878) and usually visited her
during parties sponsored by
Valenzuela family
but their love did not flourish
because he still in love with
Segunda.
Leonor Rivera, the second
Leonor was his third
cousin from Camiling,
Tarlac who became his
true love during his third
year in UST
They met because Rizal
transferred to “Casa
Tomasina” in No. 6 Calle
Santo Tomas in Intramuros
which was owned by his
land-lord uncle, Antonio
Rivera
 Leonor Rivera was
described as a pretty girl
with tender as a budding
flower with kindly, wistful
eyes
Rizal called her “Taimis”
which means sweet
Rizal left her in May 1882 to
study abroad.
Consequently, Rivera as
convinced by her family to
marry Charles H. Kipping, a
Steam Engineer in Dagupan
(June 1890)
 RIZAL IN
UNIVERSITY OF
SANTO TOMAS
On the same year when Rizal
graduated in Ateneo,

“still uncertain as
to what career
to pursue”
Teodora Alonzo's Opposition to higher Education

Teodora Alonzo opposed sending Rizal to

Manila again
"He knows enough, if he gets to know
more, the Spanish will cut his head"
Paciano and Don Francisco wanted him to
pursue Higher Education in UST
Despite their mother's tears, Paciano
accompanied Rizal to Manila
 Rizal in UST

Rizal went to University of

Santo Tomas where he enrolled
Philosophy and Letters in April
1877
He also enrolled in Ateneo with the
course “Perito Agrimensor”(1877- 1878)
 Rizal in UST

Rizal enrolled Philosophy and

letters for two reasons:
1. His father liked it
2. He was uncertain on what
to pursue
 Rizal in UST

Upon the advice of Ateneo’s

Father Pablo Ramon, he decided
to shift in medicine to took up
medical course in the same
school (UST).

Why?
 Rizal in UST

Rizal excelled in all subjects in

the surveying course in Ateneo,
obtaining gold medals in
agriculture and topography.
He passed the licensing exam in
land surveying in 1878
Gregorio and Sonia Zaide insisted
that Rizal became also a victim of
Spanish
officer’s brutality when he was a
student in UST
One dark night in
Calamba, during the summer vacation
in 1878, he was walking in the street
lieutenant Guardia Civil, whipped out
his sword and brutally slashed the
Rizal on the back.
 Rizal in UST

during Rizal's studies in

UST as they experienced
frequent fights against
arrogant Spanish
students.
 Rizal in UST

Spanish students called their

brown classmates "Indio,
Chongo
Filipinos, in retaliation called
them "Kastila, Bangus"
This hostility exploded in angry
street rumbles
 Rizal in UST

Rizal founded a group of

Filipino UST students called
“Compañerismo”
(comradeship)
Rizal was the chief, while
his cousin, Galicano
Apacible was the
secretary
 Rizal in UST

group was founded to

combat the Spanish
students in various street
fights
Rizal's Performance at
UST
 Rizal in UST

Rizal participated in Liceo

Artistico-Literario of Manila
(Literary Contest)

Rizal submitted his poem “A

La Juventud Filipina" and won
the first place
 Rizal in UST

"A La Juventud Filipina"

relates to the role of youth
in nation building
To the Filipino youth (Para
sa kabataang Pilipino)

"Kabataan ang pag-asa ng Bayan"

 Rizal in UST

In Ateneo, Rizal's grades were

"Sobresaliente“

But in UST, majority of his grades is

only average and above average
 Rizal in UST

Rizal, the most brilliant graduate of

Ateneo, failed to win high scholastic
honors in UST due to unfriendly
attitude of his professors.
 Rizal in UST

Rizal's grades in his first year were all

"Excellent". but his grades in
his medical course were only
"good" or above average
 Rizal's
Medical Studies
and “unhappy days”
in University of
Santo Tomas
 REASONS FOR RIZAL'S “UNHAPPY DAYS AT UST”

The Dominican professors were hostile to him

The Filipino students were racially

discriminated against by the Spaniards

The method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

REASONS FOR RIZAL'S “UNHAPPY DAYS AT UST”

Science subjects were taught without

laboratory experiments. The laboratory
apparatuses were kept inside showcases
be seen by visitors, but the students were not
allowed to touch them.
REASONS FOR RIZAL'S “UNHAPPY DAYS AT UST”

These experiences was reflected on the

Chapter 13 of his El Filibusterismo (The
class in Physics"
Rizal decided to leave the UST in 1882
with his fourth year (with 19 finished
subjects) of his medical course because he
could no longer endure the rampant
bigotry, discrimination, and hostility of
Dominican professors in the university.
Rizal decided to finish his Medical Course in
Europe - Madrid, Spain.
 Thank you!
References:
Castañeda, S.P.C., Ornos, P.S., et al. (2013). Jose
Rizal; The martyr and national hero (2013 Edition).

Mañebog, J.DG., Placio, P.B., et al. (2014). Jose Rizal;

Biography, legacies, love life, and Collaborations

Malabon City.
Zaide, G.F. & Zaide, S.M. (1994). Jose Rizal; Life,
works, and writings of a genius, writer, scientist and

Co. Inc. Quezon City.