OSEÑA, RYNZIER V.

BS ChE 1 – 1 SECTION 1

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 4: SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPHS AT ATENEO DE MANILA

(1872 – 1877)

June 10, 1872. Four months after the martyrdom of GOMBURZA, and his mother still in
prison, young Jose Rizal, aged 10 years old, was accompanied by his brother Paciano as they
went to Manila to take the entrance examination at College of San Juan de Letran. He passed
the exam and was ready to study there. However, his father decided that instead of sending his
son to Letran, he wanted Rizal to enter Ateneo de Manila instead.
Now Ateneo de Manila came from a humble beginning. Before it was known as a
prestigious college for boys in Rizal’s time, it was first known as the Escuela Pia, or a Charity
School for poor boys in the walled city of Intramuros. It was established by the City Government
of Manila in 1817 and was then managed by the Jesuits in 1859. The Jesuits were known as
splendid educators, and because they were the teachers of Ateneo, it gained prestige and
recognition as an excellent college for boys.
Rizal was not admitted to Ateneo at first when he, accompanied again by his brother, went
to the college registrar. Father Magin Ferrando, who was the college registrar at that time, did not
admit him for two reasons: he was late for the registration, and he was sickly and undersized for
his age (Rizal was 11 at that time). However, through Manuel Xerez Burgos (nephew of Father
Burgos), Rizal was admitted at the college. It should be noted that the surname Jose chose upon
registration was Rizal as to avoid suspicion from the Spanish authorities.
At Ateneo, its system of education was more advanced than any other colleges in that
period. It trained their students’ character in discipline and religion; and also promoted physical
culture, humanities, and scientific studies. It introduced the “empire,” and the students were
divided into two: The Roman Empire consisting of boarders or the internos, and The Carthaginian
consisting of non-boarders or the externos. Each empire has its ranks, namely in order of
importance: emperor, tribune, decurion, centurion, and standard-bearer. Any student can
challenge any officer in his empire to answer the question on the day’s lesson and his opponent
could lose their position if they committed three mistakes. Rizal was assigned as an externo in
his first year at Ateneo and placed at the bottom of the class as he was a newcomer and knows
little Spanish. However it did not took Rizal more than a month to defeat his fellows and become
an emperor. As he was the brightest pupil in class, he received his first ever prize in Ateneo: a
religious picture. There were times when instead of playing with his other classmates during noon
recesses, he would take Spanish classes at Santa Isabel College in order to improve his Spanish;
while paying 3 pesos.
By the time Rizal was in his second year, his rank in the Carthaginian Empire was tribune,
caused by his neglect in his studies back in his first year, second half, due to him being offended
by his professor’s remarks; but his grades in all subjects were still marked as excellent. So in
order to regain back what he lost, he studied harder. Eventually, he became an emperor once
again; and had excellent grades in all subjects which awarded him a gold medal.
During his time in Manila in his first and second years at Ateneo, he would occasionally
visit his mother in the provincial prison located at Sta. Cruz. He would share with his mother his
stories of his scholastic triumphs and life he had inside the college. This would make his mother’s
gloomy heart cheer up. There was a time where Doña Teodora told her son of her dream one
night. While listening, Rizal interpreted her dream. After she told him of her dream, Rizal
understood and told her that she would be free in three months. Doña Teodora took this half-
heartedly; thinking it could not come true. But, as Rizal predicted, after 3 months she was set free.
In his third year in Ateneo, after the opening of classes, Doña Teodora went to tell Rizal
that she was set free as he had predicted. This made Rizal happy beyond words, which led him
to write his first ever poem written in Ateneo. Dedicated to his mother on her birthday, it was titled
“My First Inspiration.” Throughout this year, he had excellent grades in all subjects. However he
only obtained one medal in Latin, and could not obtain the medal in Spanish as he was bested by
a Spaniard who naturally spoke fluent Spanish in both tone and accent. He went back to his
hometown in Calamba, for summer vacation, not contented with his academic performance.
Rizal became an interno, a boarder in Ateneo, during his fourth year at the college. This
time his professor was Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, who would later become known in
Rizal’s memoirs as a great educator and scholar that loves seeing his students advance, a model
of uprightness and earnestness, and inspired the young Calamba lad to study harder and write
poetry. Because of Father Sanchez, Rizal was inspired to study harder, which led to him becoming
contented with his scholastic work throughout his fourth year; bagging a total of five gold medals
partnered with excellent ratings in all subjects which he presented proudly to his family back in
Calamba.
During his last year in Ateneo, Rizal fared well in all of his subjects, the same as with all
of his other subjects in his previous years, and all were in excellent ratings. This made him known
as the most brilliant Atenean of his time and the pride of the Jesuits. On March 23, 1877,
Commencement Day, Rizal graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with Highest Honors.
Throughout his whole 5 years in Ateneo de Manila, Rizal did not merely focus only on his
academics, but also immersed himself in other extra-curricular activities such as being a campus
leader, a secretary of a religious society, and member of exclusive societies. But most notably,
outside of being an emperor inside the classroom, he was writing poetry with the guidance of
Father Sanchez and studied painting and sculpture under famous artists such as Agustin Saez
and Romualdo de Jesus respectively. Rizal wrote many poems in Ateneo (after the first poem he
wrote which was dedicated to his mother), such as the poem on education titled “Through
Education Our Motherland Receives Light” and “The Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good
Education.” Poems on religion were also conceived, such as “To the Child Jesus” and “To the
Virgin Mary.” He also complied with requests from his professors such as at the request of Father
Sanchez, Rizal wrote a dramatic work “St. Eustace, the Martyr,” and at the request of Father
Lleonart, made an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father Lleonart initially planned to bring
this image with him to Spain, but he forgot to do so. Thus, the Atenean boarding students placed
it in front of their dormitory’s door which will constantly remind them of Jose Rizal, the brightest
Alumnus. This image also played a significant part in Rizal’s final moments at Fort Santiago.
After his graduation, Rizal, at 16 years old, met Segunda Katigbak. His love for her was
what many would call “love at first sight.” He would then make advancements with Segunda during
his weekly visits at La Concordia College, and was then evident that Rizal and Segunda loved
each other. However, Segunda was engaged with Manuel Luz, and their romance was seen as
hopeless. At that time, Rizal was a shy lover, so even if he wanted to, he failed to propose. He
last seen Segunda when their carriage passed by Biñan as she went on her way back to Lipa.
Segunda was smiling at Rizal and waved her handkerchief, while Rizal only managed to doff his
hat unable to say anything. It was his first tragic romance, brought about by his shyness and
reserve. But through this tragedy, Rizal became wiser in the path of love.
OSEÑA, RYNZIER V. BS ChE 1 – 1 SECTION 1

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 5: MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

(1877 – 1882)

After his graduation and first tragedy in love, Rizal wanted to pursue higher learning. He
knew he had to enter the University of Santo Tomas, a university administered by the Dominicans,
which was one of the best higher learning institutions at that time. His brother Paciano and father
Don Francisco wanted Rizal to go to the university, but his mother opposed; fearing her son’s
safety for he will surely die if he knows more. Don Francisco kept quiet and told Paciano to
accompany Rizal as he goes to the university despite Doña Teodora’s opposition behind her tears.
On April 1877, Rizal took the course of Philosophy and Letters at UST.
Rizal enrolled in the course because his father liked it and he was still unsure what career
he should pursue. He wrote to his Alma matter’s Rector, Father Pablo Ramon, on his advice on
what course he should take up on. Father Ramon suggested he should pursue medicine, and so
Rizal enrolled simultaneously in the preparatory medical course and the regular first year medical
course. Part of the reason why Rizal chose to take up medicine was he wanted to cure his
mother’s failing eyesight. While studying in UST he also studied in Ateneo simultaneously; this
time taking up the vocational course leading to the title expert surveyor. As usual he got excellent
ratings in all subjects of the course, acquired gold medals in agriculture and topography, and
passed the final exam in the surveying course; all when he was 17 years old. The title of expert
surveyor was not given to him immediately as he was under-aged. Thus it was only then granted
to him when he was 20 years old, on November 25, 1881. Rizal would frequently visit Ateneo
while studying in UST not just because he is taking up his surveying course there, but also
because of his loyalty with them and it provided him peace outside the suffocating atmosphere
inside UST.
There was a time where Rizal was a victim of Spanish brutality. It was during his freshmen
days as a medical student in UST, when he was walking in a street in Calamba. While Rizal was
walking, he saw a man in the street. As the man approached, Rizal could not perceive the man’s
face well; and so he could not give a good evening greeting. The man passed by, snarled,
whipped out his sword and slashed Rizal in the back. It turned out that the man was a lieutenant
of the Guardia Civil. Rizal, after taking the painful slash, reported to General Primo de Rivera
about the incident. But no action was done because he was an Indio and the lieutenant was
Spanish. In that time, no justice was obtained for Rizal.
Rizal also had a fair share of romances during his student days in UST. After Segunda
Katigbak, he met Miss L. He wooed her in several occasions, but had to stop because he was not
yet healed after his first love and his father did not like Miss L’s family. After several months he
met Leonor Valenzuela (also known as Orang), a tall girl with regal bearing. He would court her
in many ways, one of which he would write a letter to her using invisible ink, and only readable by
heating the letter over a candle to make the words appear. But as with Miss L, it stopped short.
Leonor Rivera (also known by her pen name Taimis), a frail, pretty student at La Concordia
College from Camiling, Tarlac, was Rizal’s next lover. Between them sprang a beautiful and
successful romance, which led them to become engaged.
While being a student, Rizal wrote award-winning works such as “To the Filipino Youth,”
a classic in Philippine literature for two reasons: it is the first great poem in Spanish written by a
Filipino recognized by Spanish literary authorities, and it expressed for the first time the
nationalistic concept that the Filipinos are the hope of the Philippines; and the allegory “The
Council of the Gods,” were it was the first time in history were a Filipino bested Spaniards in a
national literary contest.
Throughout his days in UST, he had frequent brawls with Spanish students and
experienced dissatisfaction with the professors at the university. He was the chief of his own
secret society called “Comradeship” and led Filipinos in student skirmishes with the Spanish
students in the campus. He also expressed unhappiness with the Dominican institution for the
professors that were hostile to him, Filipinos were discriminated, and the method of instruction
was not the best; one such example were laboratory lectures that were taught without laboratory
equipment. Rizal then failed to obtain high scholastic honors due to the professors’ attitude, and
because he could no longer endure the unsatisfactory atmosphere in UST, Rizal decided to study
abroad; specifically, in Spain. It was a fact that the professors there were more liberal than the
ones at UST, and so Rizal decided to study there as it was better than the suffocating atmosphere
in the campus.
And so for the first time in his life, Rizal did not ask for his parents’ permission and
blessings, because he knew that they would not allow their son to go study in Spain; and that only
a selected few knew of his plans.
OSEÑA, RYNZIER V. BS ChE 1 – 1 SECTION 1

REFLECTION ON THE LIFE OF JPR AS A STUDENT IN ATENEO AND UST

“Mag-aral tayo tulad ni Rizal”

As a student, I was not gifted with smarts nor gifted with a hardworking attitude. As long
as I can remember, I would frequently try to neglect my studies, frequently cram deadlines, and
frequently think that as long as I can get a passing grade, everything should be fine. There are a
lot of students like me, that thinks and does things like me, and I personally thought that because
majority of students are the same, what I was doing was considered normal. But as I became
wiser as time passed, I began to question if my notion on what is “normal” was “right.” Thus I
changed my study habit; only after I knew the answer to my question. Looking back, I expressed
regret that I, while I did spent it quite well on other things, should have spent my free time
developing my skills on various fields. Compared to my life with Rizal’s, Rizal did not waste his
leisure in playing with other children or with his siblings, but instead spent it on reading, sculpting,
painting, and writing great literary masterpieces even as a child. As he grew older, now a student
in Ateneo and UST, Rizal still spent his leisure in arts and academics. This resulted in him creating
award-winning literary pieces and classics, sculptures whose quality are on par with masters, and
also having excellent ratings in all of his subjects, all because he started to develop his study
habits at an early age. Truly, as one could infer, Rizal was not an ordinary student in the past nor
will it be in the present.
A student in both prestigious schools, Rizal’s life as a student in Ateneo and UST was
extraordinary and purely academic. Gifted with smarts brought about by his hardworking attitude
and curious mind when he was young, Rizal always had excellent marks in all subjects in his 5
years in Ateneo which led him to become known as the greatest Alumnus in the college in his
time. When he was a student in UST, even faced with harsh discrimination and unfair treatment
by his professors, he still managed to achieve high marks on various subjects. He also manaeged
to simultaneously study surveying, and in both the preparatory and regular courses in medicine.
It can be seen that he distinguished himself from other students, past or present, and further
supported with facts such as winning contests with his works like “To the Filipino Youth” and the
allegory “The Council of the Gods.” Both works were recognized by Spanish authorities, which
was considered a first, and defeated numerous Spanish literary officials across the country; all
this when he was just a teen boy. In parallel with this, he was also a young expert surveyor at 17
years old, but the title was not given to him until he was 20. Compared to other students in the
country from past to present, Rizal was truly distinguished; as no other student of his time, nor
today, can achieve what he achieved when he was a teenager. But behind this humble, genius
lad was an inspiration to all Filipinos. He was an example to all, young or old, students or non-
students, as he attained greatness because he was hardworking, and he used this greatness to
spark the love for ones’ country in the heart of every Filipino.
Rizal was truly an inspiration to his fellow students, and still holds true to every person
who knows him today across the country. A hardworking boy, a genius, a distinguished individual
of his period, a champion of his people. At first glance it seems impossible for us average students,
who are not as gifted as he, to attain what he had attained in his life. But, just like Rizal, everyone
has to start from something. And what is that you ask? Only you can answer. But a hint for this
exists, and that is: “Mag-aral tayo tulad ni Rizal.”