Early Education In Calamba and Calamba

At the age of 3, Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother.

At the age of 5, while learning to read and write, Rizal already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay.

At the age of 8, Rizal wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of ones language.

Sa Aking Mga Kababata

Kapagka ang baya'y sadyang umiibig Sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng langit, Sanglang kalayaan nasa ring masapit Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid. Pagka't ang salita'y isang kahatulan Sa bayan, sa nayo't mga kaharian, At ang isang tao'y katulad, kabagay Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan. Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda, Kaya ang marapat pagyamaning kusa Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala.

Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin Sa Ingles, Kastila at salitang anghel, Sapagka't ang Poong maalam tumingin Ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay sa atin. Ang salita nati'y huwad din sa iba Na may alfabeto at sariling letra, Na kaya nawala'y dinatnan ng sigwa Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una.

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Early Education In Calamba And Bian

Rizals parents employed private tutors to give him lessons at home. The first was Maestro Celestino and the second, Maestro Lucas Padua. Later, an old man named Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizals father became his tutor. This teacher lived at the Rizal home and instructed Rizal in Spanish and Latin. Unfortunately, he did not live long. He died five months later. After Monroys death, Rizals parents decided to send their gifted son to a private school in Bian.

First Day In Bian School

Paciano enrolled Rizal to the school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. Rizal met the bully, Pedro. Rizal, who was angry at this bully for making fun of him during his conversation with the teacher, challenged Pedro to a fight. Rizal having learned the art of wrestling from his athletic Uncle Manuel defeated the bigger boy. After class, a classmate named Andres Salandanan challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. Rizal having the weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his head on the sidewalk.

Best Student In School

In academic studies, Rizal beat all Bian boys. He surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects. They were all jealous of his intellectual superiority that they wickedly squealed to the teacher whenever Rizal had a fight outside the school, and even told lies to discredit him before the teachers eyes. Consequently the teacher had to punish Rizal.

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He received many whippings and strokes from the ferule. Rare was the day when he was not stretched on the bench for a whipping or punished with five or six blows on the open palm.

Painting Lessons In Bian

Near the school was the house of an old painter, called Juancho, who the father - in law of the school teacher. Jose, lured by his love for painting, spent many leisure hours at the painters studio. Old Juancho freely gave him lessons in drawing and painting. He was impressed by the artistic talent of the Calamba lad.

Education In Manila

Ateneo Municipal De Manila Bachelor Of Arts Degree In 1877 At The Age Of 16 Graduated As One Of The Nine Students Declared Sobresaliente Continued His Education To Obtain A Degree In Land Surveying And Assessor

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Ateneo Municipal De Manila

Rizal was a member of the academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences. Wrote his first poem Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) which was dedicated to his mother on her birthday. He also wrote Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light and The Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good Education which showed the importance of religion in education.

Mi Primera Inspiracion
Why falls so rich a spray of fragrance from the bowers of the balmy flowers upon this festive day? Why from woods and vales do we hear sweet measures ringing that seem to be the singing of a choir of nightingales? Why in the grass below do birds start at the wind's noises, unleashing their honeyed voices as they hop from bough to bough? Why should the spring that glows its crystalline murmur be tuning to the zephyr's mellow crooning as among the flowers it flows? Studies In Manila Page 4
Why seems to me more endearing, more fair than on other days, the dawn's enchanting face among red clouds appearing? The reason, dear mother, is they feast your day of bloom: the rose with its perfume, the bird with its harmonies. And the spring that rings with laughter upon this joyful day with its murmur seems to say: "Live happily ever after! And from that spring in the grove now turn to hear the first note that from my lute I emote to the impulse of my love!

Education In Manila

University of Santo Tomas

Studied Philosophy and Letters during his first year

Shifted to Medicine specializing in Ophthalmology when he found out that his mother was going blind.

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University Of Santo Tomas

Rizal was unhappy at this Dominican Institution of higher learning because:

1. the Dominican professors were hostile to him

2. the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards

3. the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

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 the hostility in the University of Santo Tomas.

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