Chapter 4

Scholastic triumphs at
Ateneo de manila (1872-1877)

On June 10, 1872 Jose, accompanied by by Paciano (his brother) went to Manila. He took the
entrance examinations on Christian doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at the College of San Juan de Letran,
and passed them. He returned to Calamba to stay a few days with his family.

Jose was the first of his family to adopt the surname “Rizal”. He registered under this name at the
Ateneo because their family name “Mercado” had come under the suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
At this time Rizal studied in the Ateneo this college was located in Intramuros, within the wall of
Manila. He first boarded in a house outside of Intramuros, on Caraballo Street, 25 minutes walk from the
college. This boarding house owned by a spinster named Titay who owned the Rizal family, the amount
of 300.00 boarded with her in order to collect part of the debt.

JESUIT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

The system of education given by the Jesuits in the Ateneo was more advanced that of other college in
that period. It trained the character of the student by rigid disciplines and religious instruction. It
promoted physical culture, humanities, and scientific studies. Aside from academic courses leading to
the degree of Bachelor of Arts, it offered vocational courses in Agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and
surveying.
The students heard mass in the morning before the beginning of the daily class. Classes in every
subject were opened and closed with prayer.

The students were divided into two (2)

1. The “ Roman Empire ( consisting of the eternos) -which means boarders
2. The “ Carthaginian Empire’’ ( composed of the externos)- which means non-boarders

Ranks of Empire

1. Emperor- the best student in classroom

2. Tribune- the second best student
 3. Decurion- the third best student
4. Centurion- the fourth best student
5. Standard bearer- fifth best student

Any students could challenge any officer in his “Empire’’ to answer question on the days lesson. His
opponent could lose his position if he committed three mistake. But if the studied hard and was brilliant,
he could depose the officers one after another and become an emperor.

RIZAL FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-75)

On his first day of his class in the Ateneo, in June 1872, Rizal first heard of mass at the college chapel
and prayed fervently to God for guidance and success. After one week, the frail Calamba boy progressed
rapidly. At the end of the month he became “Emperor” he was the brightest pupil in the whole class, and
he was awarded a prize.’ a religious picture.

SECOND YEAR IN ATENEO (1873-74)

He receives excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal. With a such scholastic honors, he
triumphantly returned to Calamba in March, 1874 for the summer vacation.

Prophecy of mother’s release

Doňa Teodora told her son of her dream the previous night. Rizal, interpreting the dream, told her she
would be released from prison in three months time. And Rizal prophecy became true. Barely three
months passed, and suddenly Doňa Teodora was set free.

THIRD YEAR IN AINEO (1874-75)

In June 1874, Rizal returned to the ateneo for his junior year shortly after the opening of class.
His Mother arrived and joyously told him that she was released from prison.
However despite the family happiness, Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in
previous year. His grade remained excellent in all subjects, but he won only one medal-in Latin. He failed
to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.

FOURTH YEAR IN ATINEO (1875-76)

On June 1875 Rizal went back to manila for his fourth year course, he became an interno in the
ateneo. One of his professor was Fr. Francisco de aula Sanchez a great educator and scholar.

Rizal resumed his studies continued with vigor and zest. He topped all his classmate in all subject and
won five medals at the end of the school term.

LAST YEAR IN ATENEO (1876-77)

After the summer vacation, Rizal returned to Manila in June 1876 for his last year in the Ateneo .
His studies continued to farewell. As a matter of fact he excelled in all subjects. The most brilliant in
Ateneo of his time, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits.”

Rizal finished his last year at the Ateneo in a blaze of glory. He obtained the highest grade in all subject –
philosophy, physics, biology, chemistry \, language, mineralogy etc.

On commencement day, March 23, 1877, Rizal who was 16 years old, received from his alma mater,
ateneo municipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, w/ the highest honors.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO

He was active in extra-curricular activities. An emperor “inside the classroom, he was campus
leader outside. He was an active member, later secretary, of a religious society; the man
ancongregation.He was also a member of the academy of Spanish literature and the academy of natural
science. Aside from writing poetry, he devoted his spare time to fine arts. He studied painting under the
famous Spanish painter, AgustineSaez, and sculpture under rumualdo de Jesus, noted Filipino sculpture.

SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO

He carved an image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood), sacred heart of
Jesus.
POEM WRITTEN BY RIZAL IN ATENEO

1. Felicitation (Felicitation)
2. El Embarque: Himno a la Flota De Magallanes. (The Departure: Hymn to Magellans Fleet)
3. Y ‘Es Espanol: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And Hes Spanish: Elcano, the First to
Circumnavigate the World)
4.El Combate: Urbiztondo,Terror de Jolo (The Battle Urbiztondo, terror of Jolo)
5.Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) A tender poem in honor of Calamba, the hero
natal town.
6.Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Education (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and
Good Education)
7.Por la Education Recibe Lustre la patria (Thruogh Education the Country Receives Light)
8.El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y prision de Boabdil (The Captivity and the Thriumph:
Battle of Lucena and the Imprisonment of Boabdil). This martial poem describes the defeat and
capture of Boabdil, last Moorish sultan of the Granada.
9.La Entrada Triunfil de los Reyes Catolices Granada (The Triumfil Entry of the Catholic Monarchs
into Granada). This poem relates the victorious entry of king Ferdinand and Queen Isabel into
Granada, last Moorish stronghold in Spain.

A year later, in 1877, he wrote more poems. It was his last year in the Ateneo. Among the poems written
that year were:

1. El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus). This poem praises Columbus, the
discoverer of America.
2. Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II). This poem relates How King John II of Portugal
missed fame and riches by his failure to finance the projected expedition of Columbus to the
New World.
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune). This is a legend in
verse of the tragic life of Columbus)
4. Un Dialogo Alusivo a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A farewell Dialogue of the Student). This
was the last poem written by Rizal in Ateneo; it is a poignant poem of farewell to his
classmates.
5. My first inspiration
 6. Through education our motherland receives light
7. The intimate alliance between religion and good education

FIRST ROMANCE OF RIZAL

Shortly after his graduation from the Ateneo, Rizal who was then sixteen years old experienced
his first romance- “that painful experience which comes to nearly all adolescents”. The girl was Segunda
Katigbak, a pretty fourteen-year old Batanguea from Lipa. In Rizal’s own words: “She was rather short,
with eyes that were eloquent and ardent at times and liquid at others, rosy-checked, with an enchanting
and provocative smile that revealed very beautiful teeth, and the air of a sylph; here entire self diffused a
mysterious charm.

One Sunday Rizal visited his maternal grandmother who lived in Trozo, Manila. He was
accompanied by his friend Mariano Katigbak. His old grandmother was a friend of Katigbak family of
Lipa. When he reached his grandmother’s house, he saw other guest. One of whom was an attractive girl,
who mysteriously caused his heart to palpitate with strange ecstasy. She was a sister of his friend Mariano
and her name was Segunda.

His grandmother’s guest, who was mostly college students, knew his skill in painting, so that they
urged him to draw Segunda’s portrait. He complied reluctantly and made a pencil sketch of her. “From
time to time,” he reminisced later, “she looked at me, and I blushed.”

Rizal came to know Segunda more intimately during his weekly visits to La Concordia College,
where his sister Olimpia was a boarding student. Olimpia was a close friend of Segunda. It was apparent
that Rizal and Segunda love each other. Theirs was indeed “a love at first sight”. But it was hopeless since
the very beginning because Segunda was already engaged to be married to her town mate, Manuel Luz
Rizal, for his entire artistic and intellectual prowess, was a shy and timid lover. Segunda had manifested,
by insinuation and deeds, her affection for him but he timidly failed to propose. Three years later, Rizal
recording his first and tragic romance, said: “ended at an early hour my first love! My virgin heart will
always mourn the reckless step it took on the flower-decked abyss. My illusion will return, yes, but
indifferent, uncertain ready for first betrayal on the path of love.”