1.

Title of the Module

Chapter 4: Rizal’s life: Higher Education and

Life Abroad

2. Introduction
This chapter deals with an analysis and evaluation of Jose Rizal's life: his
quest for higher education and struggles and challenges in his life abroad. He was not
only busy academically but he spent much of his time in self-improvement via self-
education. In his spare time he also learned sculpture, painting, languages and kept up
with the latest research in philosophy and science. It will also examine the contributions
of Rizal as the leader of the propaganda movement that awakened the Filipino people
from the abuses of the Spanish colonizers.an unwavering campaign for political and
social freedoms. In this module, students are initiated to a reflective study about the
aspects of Rizal’s life, a genius with many talents and most importantly his good traits
and virtues that are worthy to be emulated.

3. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, the students should be able to:
a. Analyse and evaluate the important events in the life Rizal abroad;
b. Reflect on the importance of Higher Education to the life of Jose Rizal;
c. Explain the principles of assimilation advocated by the propaganda movement;
d. Appraise Rizal’s relationship with other propagandists;
e. Examine Rizal’s growth as a propagandist and disavowal of assimilation.

4. Learning Content
Now, let us discuss important ideas and information regarding Rizal’s life: Higher
Education and Life Abroad.
TOPIC 1- A STUDENT AT THE ATENEO (1872-1877)

Introduction:
Jose was sent to Manila four months after the
martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za and with Dona
Teodora still in prison. He studied in the
Ateneo Municipal - a college under the
supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. Ateneo
Municipal, a bitter rival of the Dominican-owned
College of San Juan de Letran formerly the
Escuela Pia (Charity School)- for poor boys in
Manila established in 1817, In 1859- name was
changed to Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits and
later became the Ateneo de Manila.
RIZAL ENTERS ATENEO
• June 10, 1872- Jose, accompanied by
Paciano, went to Manila to take the entrance
examinations on Christian Doctrine, arithmetic,
and reading at the College of San Juan de
Letran, and passed them. His father was the
first one who wished him to study at Letran but he changed his mind and decided to
send Jose at Ateneo instead. Father Margin Fernando, college registrar of Ateneo
Municipal, refused to admit Jose because: He was late for registration and; He was
sickly and undersized for his age (11 years old). Upon the intercession of Manuel Xeres
Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was admitted at Ateneo. Jose adopted the
surname Rizal at the Ateneo because their family name Mercado had come under
suspicion of the Spanish authorities. Ateneo was located in Intramuros, within the walls
of Manila. He boarded in a house on Caraballo Street, 25 min walk from the college.
The boarding house was owned by Titay, who owed Rizal family P300. Jose boarded
there to collect part of the debt.
JESUITS SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
• Jesuits trained the character of the student by rigid discipline, humanities and
religious instruction. They heard Mass early in the morning before the beginning of daily
class. Classes were opened and closed with prayers. Students were divided into two
groups: Roman Empire- consisting of the internos (boarders) with red banners. Second
group, Carthaginian Empire- composed of the externos (non-boarders) with blue
banners each of these empires had its rank. Students fought for positions. With 3
mistakes, opponent‘s position could lose his position. - 1st best: emperor - 2nd best:
tribune - 3rd best: decurion - 4th best: centurion - 5th best: standard-bearer. Ateneo
students‘ uniform is consisted of hemp-fabric trousers´ and striped cotton coat. The coat
was called Rayadillo and was adopted as the uniform for Filipino troops during the days
of the First Philippine Republic.
RIZAL’S FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-1873)
• Rizal‘s first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Rizal was placed at the
bottom of the class since he was a newcomer and knows little Spanish. He was an
externo (Carthaginians), occupying the end of the line. But at the end of the month, he
becomes emperor´ of his Empire. He was the brightest pupil in the whole class, and he
was awarded a prize, a religious prize. Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel
College during noon recesses to improve his Spanish language paying three pesos for
those extra lessons. He placed second at the end of the year, although all his grades
were still marked Excellent´
SUMMER VACATION (1873)
• Rizal didn‘t enjoy his summer because his mother was in prison so Neneng
(Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan. But without telling his father, he went to Santa
Cruz to visit her mother in prison. He told her of his brilliant grades. After summer, he
returned to Manila and now boarded inside Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes Street.
Dona Pepay, who had a widowed daughter and 4 sons, was his landlady.
PROPHECY OF MOTHER’S RELEASE
• Dona Teodora told her son of her dream the previous night. Rizal, interpreting
the dream, told her that she would be released from prison in 3 months‘ time. It became
true. Dona Teodora likened his son to the youthful Joseph in the Bible in his ability to
interpret dreams.
• Teenage Interest in Reading. The first favorite novel of Rizal was The Count of
Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. His boyish imagination was stirred by the sufferings
of Edmond Dantes (the hero) in prison, his spectacular escape from the dungeon of
Chateau de If, his finding a buried treasure in the rocky island of Monte Cristo, and his
dramatic revenge on his enemies who had wronged him. Rizal also read non-fiction.
He persuaded his father to buy a costly set of Cesar Cantu‘s historical work entitled
Universal History. He also read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a
German scientist-traveler who visited Phil in 1859-60.He was impressed by: Jagor‘s
keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization; and his prophecy that
someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would come to succeed her
as colonizer.
THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1875-76)
• June 16, 1875- He became an interno in Ateneo. Fr. Francisco de Paula
Sanchez, one of his professors, inspired him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal‘s
best professor in Ateneo. Rizal described him as model of uprightness, earnestness,
and love for the advancement of his pupils. He returned to Calamba with 5 medals and
excellent ratings.

FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO

• March 23, 1877- Rizal, 16 years old, received from his Alma Mater, Ateneo
Municipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors. Rizal was the highest in
all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term. He excelled in all his
subjects and was the most brilliant Atenean, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits”
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO
• He was an active member, later secretary, of Marian Congregation - a religious
society. He was accepted because of his academic brilliance and devotion to Our Lady
of Immaculate Conception, the college patroness. He is also a member of the Academy
of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences. He studied painting under
Agustin Saez, a famous painter, and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus. He continued
his physical training under hi sports-minded Tio Manuel.
SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO
• He carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine
hardwood) with his pocketknife. The Jesuits fathers were amazed. Father Lleonart
requested him to carve for him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He intended to
take the image with him in Spain but forgot to do so. So the Ateneo boarders placed it
on the door of their dormitory. It plays a significant part in Rizal‘s last hours at Fort
Santiago.
POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO
• Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - first written poem of Rizal, which
was dedicated to his mother on her birthday. He wrote it when he was 14 years old. El
Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes ( The Departure: Hymn to Magellan‘s
Fleet). Y Es Espanol: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish:
Elcano, the Fist to Circumnavigate the World). El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo
(The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo) In 1876, he wrote poems on religion, education
memories and war. (e.g. In Memory of my Town)

RIZAL’S POEM ON EDUCATION

•Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light- education plays in the progress
and welfare of a nation.
•The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education- showed that Education
without God is not true education
RIZAL’S RELIGIOUS POEM
•Al Nino Jesus (To the Child Jesus)- written when he was 14 years old, expressing his
Catholic faith devotion.
•A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary)

MOTHER’S OPPOSITION TO HIGHER EDUCATION

• Both Don Francisco and Paciano wanted Jose to pursue higher learning in the
university. But Dona Teodora who is a woman of education and culture objects to Rizal
desire for University education. She knew what happened to the Gom-Bur-ZA, and told
her husband “ Don’t send him to Manila again, he knows enough. If he gets to know
more the Spaniards will cut off his head”.