RIZAL’S CHAPTER 5
brutality.
Medical studies at the University of Santo
Tomas (1877-1882).
 Graduated with highest honors from
Ateneo.
 Doña Teodora opposed to the idea of
pursuing his higher learning in
university.
 He was 16 years old when he started in
University of Santo Tomas taking the
course Philosophy and Letters.
REASONS HE ENROLLED IN PHILOSOPHY
AND LETTERS
1. He's father liked it.
2. He's still uncertain as to what career to
pursue.
 He also studied Cosmology,
Metaphysics, Theodicy and History of
Philosophy.
 Father Pablo Ramon (Rector of
Ateneo), advices him to study medicine.
 One of the reasons why he took
medicine for career was to be able to
cure his mother's growing blindness.
 Perito Agrimensor (expert surveyor)
the title he got from vocational courses
in Ateneo. At the age of 17 he passed
the final examination however he did
not get the title yet because he was
underage. November 25, 1881 the title
was issued.
 He was courted a girl named “Miss L”
and later on the romance naturally
died. Two reasons why his change of
heart; the sweet memory of Segunda
was still fresh in his heart and his father
did not like the family of Miss L.
 Months later, he courted Leonor
Valenzuela (Orang) but as Segunda, he
stopped short of proposing marriage.
 His next romance was with Leonor
Rivera (Taimis), his cousin in Camiling.
 He became victim of Spanish officer's
 He won in a literary contest. A La
Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino
Youth )
 Winning poem of Rizal becomes a
classic in Philippine literature for two
reasons.
1. It is a great poem written by
Filipino in Spanish and was
recognized by the Spanish
Literary Authorities.
2. It was the first time that
expressed nationalistic concept
that the Filipinos were the “fair
hope of the fatherland”.
“The Council of the Gods.”
-In 1880, Artistic- Literary Lyceum opened
another literary contest that is open for
Filipinos and Spaniards.
-Many writers participated in the contest-
priest, newspapermen, scholars and professors.
-The judges of the contest are all Spaniards.
-Rizal’s work won as first prize, he was awarded
a gold ring in which was engraved the busy of
Cervantes.
-First time in the history, an Indio- a nineteen
year old Filipino medical student.
-It was based on Greek Classics.
Other Literary Works.
-He produced other poems and a zarzuela,
“Junto al Pasig” (Besid the Pasig), which was
staged by the Ateneans on December 8,1880,
on the occasion of the annual celebration of
feast day of Immaculate Conception, Patroness
of Ateneo.
-Junto al Pasig is mediocre.
-He wrote sonnet entitled “A Filipinas” for
society of Sculptors. -He urged all Filipino Artist
to glorify the Philippines.
-1879, he composed a poem entitled “Abd-el-
Azis Y Mahoma”, it was declaimed by the
Atenean, Manuel Fernandez, on the night of
December 8,1879 in honor of Ateneo’s
Patroness.
-1881, he composed poem entitled “Al M. R. P.
Pablo Roman”, this was written for Father Pablo
Roman, the Ateneo Rector, for expression of
affection, who had been kind and helpful to
him.
Rizal’s visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan.
-Rizal went on a pilgrimage to the town of Pakil,
famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de los
Dolores.
-He was accompanies by Saturnina, Maria and
Trinidad and their female friends.
-They took a casco (flat-bottom sailing vessel)
from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna.
-The stayed at home of Mr. and Mrs. Regalado,
whose son of Nicolas (Rizal’s friend in Manila)
Rizal was fascinated by the famous turumba,
people dancing in the streets during the
possession in honor to Birhen Maria de los
Dolores.
2 reasons why Rizal go to Pagsanjan:
1. It was the native town of Leonor Valenzuela,
Rizal’s girl friends in Manila.
2. To see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls.
Champion of Filipinos
-Rizal was champion of the Filipino students in
their frequent fights against the arrogant
Spanish students.
-Spaniards insulting their brown classmates-
“Indio, chango.”
Filipinos called them “Kastila, bangus”.
-He founded a secret society of Filipino students
in the UST called “Companerismo”
(Comradeship), whose members were called
“Companions of Jehu”.
-He was a chief of this secret society with his
cousin from Batangas, Galicano Apacible, as
secretary.
-Rizal led the Filipino students into combat
against Spanish students in various street fights
and he was wounded on the head.
Unhappy Days at the UST.
-He was not happy 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.
-In “El Filibusterismo”, he described how the
Filipino students were humiliated and insulted
by their Dominican professors.
-Because of the unfriendly attitude of his
professor, Rizal, a most brilliant graduate of the
Ateneo, failed to win high scholastic honors.
Decision to study abroad.
-Rizal decided to study in Spain.
-He could no longer endure the rampant
bigotry, discrimination and hostility in the UST.
-For the first time, Rizal did not seek his parents’
permission and blessings to go abroad, because
he knew his mother would disapprove it.
-Leonor and the Spanish authorities knew
nothing of his decision to go abroad in order to
finish his medical studies in Spain.