Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Birth of a Hero June 19, 1861 – birth date of Jose Rizal.
Age 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the Environmental Influence - environment, as
native language entitled “Sa Aking Mga well as heredity, affects the nature of a
Kabata” (To My Fellow Children). He wrote it person; includes places, associates, &
in an appeal to our people to love our events.
national language. - Calamba and the garden of the Rizal
family - stimulated the inborn artistic and
First Drama by Rizal literary talents of Jose Rizal.
- Religious atmosphere at his home - First Day in Biñan School
fortified his religious nature.
- Paciano - love of freedom and justice. Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz – owner and
- Sisters – to be courteous and kind to teacher of the school.
women. Rizal described Maestro Justiniano as “tall,
- Fairy tales told by his aya - interest in thin, long-necked, and sharp-nosed with a
folklores and legends. body slightly bent forward.”
- 3 Uncles: Tio Jose Alberto - artistic ability,
who studied 11 years in a British school in First School Brawl
Calcutta, India; Tio Manuel - develop his
frail body by means of physical exercises Jose challenged Pedro to a fight and he won
including horse riding, walking, and having learned the art of wrestling from his
wrestling; Tio Gregorio - Rizal’s voracious athletic Tio Manuel.
reading of good books. Andres Salandaan challenged Rizal to an
- Father Leoncio Lopez - fostered Rizal’s arm-wrestling match. Jose, having the
love for scholarship and intellectual weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his
honesty. head on sidewalk.
- The sorrows in his family contributed for
Rizal to strengthen his character. Painting Lessons in Biñan
- The Spanish abuses and cruelties he
witnessed awakened Rizal’s spirit of Old Juancho, father-in-law of the school
patriotism and inspired him to consecrate teacher, freely gave Jose painting lessons.
his life and talents to redeem his oppressed Jose Rizal and his classmate Jose Guevarra
people. became apprentices of the old painter.
Doña Teodora, his mother, was his first Best Student in School
teacher.
Private tutors: Maestro Celestino (first Jose surpassed his classmates in Spanish,
tutor) and Maestro Lucas Padua (second Latin, and other subjects.
tutor). Leon Monroy, a former classmate of His older classmates were jealous and
Rizal’s father, became the hero’s tutor in wickedly squealed to the teacher whenever
Spanish and Latin. he had fights.
Jose usually received five or six blows while
laid out on a bench from his teacher.
After Monroy’s death, Rizal’s parents December 17, 1870 – Jose left Biñan using
decided to send him to a private school in the steamer Talim for Calamba.
Biñan. Arturo Camps – Frenchman and friend of
June 1869. Jose left Calamba for Biñan with his father who took care of him during his
Paciano. trip.
Carromata – their mode of transportation.
Aunt’s House – where Jose lodge. Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za
January 20, 1872 – Cavite Mutiny. Doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at
February 17, 1872 – Fathers Mariano College of San Juan de Letran, and passed
Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora them. His father was the first one who
were implicated and executed. wished him to study at Letran but he
The GOMBURZA were leaders of the changed his mind and decided to send Jose
secularization movement. at Ateneo instead.
The martyrdom of the 3 priests inspired Father Magin Fernando – college registrar
Rizal to fight the evils of Spanish tyranny. of Ateneo Municipal, refused to admit Jose
Paciano quit his studies at the College of because: (1) he was late for registration
San Jose and returned to Calamba, where and (2) he was sickly and undersized for
he told the heroic story of Burgos to Rizal. his age (11 years old).
In 1891, Rizal dedicated his second novel Manuel Xerez Burgos – nephew of Father
El Filibusterismo to GOMBURZA. Burgos; upon his intercession, Jose Rizal
was admitted at Ateneo.
Injustice to the Hero’s Mother Jose used Rizal instead of Mercado because
the name “Mercado” had come under
In 1872, Doña Teodora was arrested on a suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
malicious charge that she aided his brother Boarded in a house on Caraballo Street,
Jose Alberto in trying to poison his wife. owned by Titay who owed Rizal family 300
Jose Alberto planned to divorce his wife pesos.
because of her infidelity. His wife connived
with the Spanish lieutenant of the Guardia Jesuit System of Education
Civil and filed a case against Rizal’s
mother. Jesuit trained the character of the student
Antonio Vivencio del Rosario – by rigid discipline, humanities, and
gobernadorcillo of Calamba, helped the religious instruction.
lieutenant arrest Doña Teodora. The students heard Mass in the morning
50 kilometers – Doña Teodora was made to before the beginning of daily class.
walk from Calamba to the provincial prison Classes were opened and closed with
in Santa Cruz. prayers.
Don Francisco de Mercaida and Don Manuel Students were divided into two groups:
Marzan – most famous lawyers of Manila, Roman Empire – consisting of the internos
defended Doña Teodora in court. (boarders) with red banners; and
After 2 ½ years the Royal Audencia Carthaginian Empire – composed of the
acquitted Doña Teodora. externos (non-boarders) with blue banners.
Each of these empires had its rank.
Chapter 4: Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo Students fought for positions. Any student
de Manila (1872-1877) could challenge any officer in his “empire”
to answer questions on the day’s lesson.
Jose was sent to Manila four months after the With 3 mistakes, opponents could lose his
Martyrdom of GomBurZa and with Doña position.
Teodora still in prison. He studied in the Ateneo
Municipal, a college under the supervision of 1st best: EMPEROR
the Spanish Jesuits. 2nd best: TRIBUNE
3rd best: DECURION
4th best: CENTURION
5th best: STANDARD-BEARER
Ateneo Municipal
Ateneo students’ uniform is consisted of
Bitter rival of the Dominican-owned College “hemp-fabric trousers” and “striped cotton
of San Juan de Letran. coat”. The coat was called rayadillo and
Formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity School) – was adopted as the uniform for Filipino
for poor boys in Manila established in 1817. troops during the days of the First
In 1859, name was changed to Ateneo Philippine Republic.
Municipal by the Jesuits and later became
the Ateneo de Manila. Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-73)
Rizal Enters the Ateneo June 1872 – first day of class in Ateneo.
Fr. Jose Bech – first professor of Rizal.
June 10, 1872 – Jose, accompanied by Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class
Paciano, went to Manila to take the since he was a newcomer and knows little
entrance examinations on Christian Spanish. He was an externo and was
assigned to Carthaginians. At the end of Rizal did not make an excellent showing in
the month, he became emperor of his his studies.
Empire. He was the brightest pupil in the He failed to win the medal in Spanish
whole class. because his spoken was not fluently
Took private lessons in Santa Isabel College sonorous.
and paid 3 pesos for extra Spanish lessons.
Placed 2nd at the end of the year, although Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76)
all his grades were still marked Excellent.
June 16, 1875 – he became an inferno in
Summer Vacation (1873) Ateneo.
Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez – inspired
March 1873 – Rizal returned to Calamba for him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal
summer vacation. described him as “model of uprightness,
His sister Neneng (Saturnina) brought him earnestness, and love for the advancement
to Tanawan to cheer him up. of his pupils”.
Visited his mother in prison at Santa Cruz He returned to Calamba with 5 medals and
without telling his father. excellent ratings.
After vacation, he returned to Manila for his
2nd year term in Ateneo. Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
Boarded inside Intramuros at No. 8
Magallanes Street. June 1876 – last year of Rizal in Ateneo.
Doña Pepay – landlady and old widow with The most brilliant Atenean of his time, “the
a widowed daughter and four sons pride of the Jesuits”.
Obtained highest grades in all subjects.
Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74)
Graduation with Highest Honors
Rizal lost the leadership but he repented
and even studied harder, once more he Excellent scholastic records from 1872-
became emperor. He received excellent 1877.
grades in all subjects and a gold medal. March 23, 1877 – Commencement Day. 16
He had 3 classmates from Biñan who had year old Rizal received from his Alma Mater
also been his classmates in the school of the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest
Maestro Justiniano. honors.
Doña Teodora told her son of her dream the Extra-Curricular Activities
previous night. Rizal, interpreting the
dream, told her that she would be released An emperor inside the classroom and
from prison in 3 months time. It became campus leader outside.
true. Secretary of the Marian Congregation.
Doña Teodora likened his son to the Member of Academy of Spanish Literature
youthful Joseph in the Bible in his ability to and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
interpret dreams. Studied painting under the famous Spanish
painter Agustin Saez.
Teenage Interest in Reading Studied sculpture under Romualdo de
Jesus, noted Filipino sculptor.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Engaged in gymnastics and fencing.
Dumas – Jose Rizal’s first favorite novel. Fr. Jose Villaclara advised him to stop
Also read non-fiction, Cesar Cantu’s communing with the muses and pay more
historical work Universal History. attention to practical studies such as
He also read Travels in the Philippines by philosophy and natural science.
Dr. Feodor Jagor, German who visited the
Philippines in 1859-1860. In this book, he Sculptural Works in Ateneo
foretold that someday Spain would lose the
Philippines and that America would come Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a
to succeed here as colonizer. piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood).
Father Lleonart requested him to carve an
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75) image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ateneo
students placed the image on the door of
Shortly after the opening of classes, his the dormitory and remained there for many
mother was released from prison. years.
Anecdotes on Rizal, The Atenean He submitted the finished manuscript
entitled “San Eustacio, Martir” (St. Eustace,
Felix M. Ramos – one of Rizal’s the Martyr) to Father Sanchez in his last
contemporaries in Ateneo.
academic year in Ateneo.
Manuel Xeres Burgos – whose house Rizal
boarded shortly before he became an
inferno. First Romance of Rizal
First Meeting with Blumentritt They stayed from June 2 to 3 1887 and
continued tour to Basel (Bale), Bern, and
At 1:30 pm of May 15, 1887 the train arrived at Laussane.
the railroad station of Leitmeritz. Professor
Blumentritt was at the station carrying a pencil Geneva
sketch of Rizal which he sent to identify his
Rizal and Viola left Laussane in a little boat
friend. Blumentritt get a room at Hotel Krebs,
crossing the foggy Leman Lake to Geneva. On
after which he bought them to his house and
June 19, 1887, his 26th birthday; Rizal treated
stayed Leitmeritz May 13 to 14 1887.
Viola to a blow-out. Rizal and Viola spent
Beautiful Memories at Leitmeritz fifteen days in Geneva. On June 23, they parted
ways. Viola decided to return to Barcelona
They enjoyed hospitality of Blumentritt family. while Rizal continued his tour to Italy.
The professor¶s wife, Rosa, was a goodcook.
She prepared Austrian dishes which Rizal¶s Rizal Resents Exhibition of Igorots in 1887
liked very much. Blumentritt proved to be Madrid Exposition
agreat tourist as well as hospitable host. He
Rizal received sad news from his friends in
showed the scenic and historical spots of
Madrid of the deplorable conditions of
Leitmeritz tohis visitors. The Burgomaster
the primitive Igorots who were exhibited in this
(town mayor) was also amazed by
exposition. Some of these Igorots died. Rizal
Rizals privileged talent.
was outraged by the degradation of his fellow
Prague countrymen.