GROUP 3

Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

GLORIOUS STUDENT'S LIFE STARTS AT ATENEO DE MUNICIPAL

Jose Rizal had his Bachiller en Artes at the school of the Jesuits. This religious
order loved Jose so much, in fact in 1892 when he was exiled in Dapitan, the real
sentence tor him was execution but because of the Jesuits he was just exiled. In
Ateneo, he excelled in academics, in extracurricular and vocational education.

Jose P. Rizal was again accompanied by his brother Paciano to Ateneo Municipal.
He was introduced to Father Minister Magin Ferrando and at first, the Father Minister did
not want to accept him because of his weak constitution and short stature. However,
with the help of Manuel Jerez, the nephew of late Father. Burgos, the eleven-year-old
Jose Rizal was accepted in Ateneo Municipal. At first, he was overwhelmed to see
students from different classes, he saw a great number of Spaniards, mestizos and
Filipinos. In his stay in Ateneo, he needed to change his name to Rizal instead of
Mercado to avoid being associated with Father Burgos. He was included in the class of a
Jesuit priest, Father Jose Bech and according to Rizal, he was a tall man, thin, with body
bent forward, with hasty pace, an ascetic, severe and inspired physiognomy, sunken,
small eyes and fine lips. He was able to meet some of his classmates in Biñan.

SUCCESS IN ATENEO DE MUNICIPAL

The teachers in Ateneo encouraged their students to study harder with the use
of competition. The class was divided into two groups, the Carthaginian (the non-
boarder of Ateneo) and the Roman (the boarder inside Ateneo). The two groups
competed in all class discussion and each member could challenge the other members
of the group, the opponent who would commit three mistakes in the questions about
the lesson would lose his position. The best student in each group was called as the
Emperor, the second best was the Tribune, the third best was the Decurion, the fourth
best was the Centurion and the fifth best was the Standard Bearer (Zaide, 1994). In the
first quarter of his stay in Ateneo, he already achieved the title as Emperor. The
challenge of competition had a positive effect to the academic status of Jose P. Rizal and
this was evident in his scholastic records.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT ATENEO

Aside from the academics, Jose also engaged into various extra-curricular
activities like he was part of the literary group under the guidance of Fr. Sanchez, Mary,
Virgin a member of a Marian Congregation who were devoted to Virgin Mary a member
of the club of Natural Sciences. He also continued his painting lessons under Agustin
Saez, and he also studied sculpture under the guidance of Romualdo de Jesus.
 His literary skills were also sharpened because of his passion in reading. During
his Ateneo days, he was able to read and understand complicated novels like The Count
of Monte Cristo written by Alexander Dumas. He also read books in different areas, he
asked his father to buy the expensive historical book of Cesar Cantu entitled, Universal
History and he also became fascinated by the work of Dr. Feodor Jagor entitled, Travels
in the Philippines.

LITERARY WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL IN ATENEO

Along with his success in academics, he also had various achievements in writing
poems, essays and drama in Ateneo. The first poem that he wrote in Ateneo was for his
mother entitled "My First Inspiration." In 1876, he wrote poems about the importance of
education for the development of a country entitled "Through Education the Country
Receives Light" and connection between Education and Religion entitled "Intimate
Alliance Between Religion and Good Education." Aside from poems and essays, he also
ventured in writing manuscripts for play. In June 1876, he handed to Fr. Sanchez the
manuscript entitled "St. Eustache, the Martyr."

“Through Education the Country The purest current of the streamlet

Receives Light”
(Translation from Spanish to English
was by Dr. Frank C. Laucbach)
Security and peace to lands in which she
The vital breath of prudent Education
Instills a virtue of enchanting power;
She lifts the motherland to highest
station
And endless dazzling glories on her
shower.
And as the zephyr's gentle exhalation
Revives the matrix of the fragrant
flower,
So education multiplies her gifts of
grace;
With prudent hand imparts them to the
human race.
For her a mortal-man will gladly part
With all he has; will give his calm
repose;
For her are born all science and all art,
That brows of men with laurel fair
enclose.
As from the towering mountain's lofty
heart
flows,
So education without stint or measure
gives
lives.
Where Education reigns on lofty seat
Youth blossoms forth with vigor and
agility;
He error subjugates with solid feet,
And is exalted by conceptions of
nobility.
She breaks the neck of vice and its
deceit;
Black crime turns pale at Her hostility;
The barbarous nations She knows how
to tame,
From savages creates heroic fame.
And as the spring doth sustenance
bestow
On all the plants, on bushes in the
mead,
Its placid plenty goes to overflow
And endlessly with lavish love to feed
The banks by which it wanders, gliding
slow,
 Supplying beauteous nature's every
need;
So he who prudent Education doth
procure
The towering heights of honor will
secure.
From out his lips the water, crystal pure,
Of perfect virtue shall not cease to go.
With careful doctrines of his faith made
sure,
The powers of evil he will overthrow,
Like foaming waves that never long
endure,
But perish on the shore at every blow;
And from his good example other men
shall learn
Their upward steps toward the heavenly
paths to turn.
Within the breast of wretched
humankind
She lights the living flame of goodness
bright;
The hands of fiercest criminal doth bind;
And in those breasts will surely pour
delight
Which seek her mystic benefits to find,
Those souls She sets aflame with love of
right.
It is a noble fully-rounded Education
That gives to life its surest consolation.
And as the mighty rock aloft may tower
Above the center of the stormy deep
In scorn of storm, or fierce Sou'wester's
power,
Or fury of the waves that raging seep,
Until, their first mad hatred spent, they
cower,
And, tired at last, subside and fall
asleep, --
So he that takes wise Education by the
hand,
Invincible shall guide the reigns of
motherland.
On sapphires shall his service be
engraved,
A thousand honors to him by his land be
granted:
For in their bosoms will his noble sons
have saved
Luxuriant flowers his virtue had
transplanted:
And by the love of goodness ever lived,
The lords and governors will see
implanted
To endless days, the Christian
Education,
Within their noble, faith-enrapture
nation.
And as in early morning we behold
The ruby sun pour forth resplendent
rays;
And lovely dawn her scarlet and her
gold,
Her brilliant colors all about her sprays;
So skillful noble Teaching doth unfold
To living minds the joy of virtuous ways.
She offers our dear motherland the light
That leads us to immortal glory's height
1. Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First
Inspiration).
First Inspiration
Why falls so rich a spray
of fragrance from the bowers
of the balmy flowers
upon this festive day?
Why from woods and vales
do we hear sweet measures ringing
that seem to be the singing
of a choir of nightingales?
Why in the grass below
do birds start at the wind's noises,
unleashing their honeyed voices
as they hop from bough to bough?
 Why should the spring that glows
its crystalline murmur be tuning
to the zephyr's mellow crooning
as among the flowers it flows?
Why seems to me more endearing,
more fair than on other days,
the dawn's enchanting face
among red clouds appearing?
The reason, dear mother, is
they feast your day of bloom:
the rose with its perfume,
the bird with its harmonies.
and to the radiance of your mantle draw
my voice that rises with so swift a flight.
You are my mother, Mary, and shall be
my life, my stronghold, my defense
most thorough;
and you shall be my guide on this wild
sea.
If vice pursues me madly on the
morrow,
if death harasses me with agony:
come to my aid and dissipate my
sorrow!

And the spring that rings with laughter

upon this joyful day
with its murmur seems to say:
"Live happily ever after!"

And from that spring in the grove

now turn to hear the first note
that from my lute I emote
to the impulse of my love.

2. Al Nino Jesus( To The Child

Jesus)
Child Jesus
Why have you come to earth,
Child-God, in a poor manger?
Does Fortune find you a stranger
from the moment of your birth?

Alas, of heavenly stock

now turned an earthly resident!
Do you not wish to be president
but the shepherd of your flock?

3. To the Virgin Mary

Mary, sweet peace and dearest

consolation
of suffering mortal: you are the fount
whence springs
the current of solicitude that brings
unto our soil unceasing fecundation.
From your abode, enthroned on
heaven’s height,
in mercy deign to hear my cry of woe
THE RELEASE OF HIS MOTHER FROM PRISON

 Jose's success in Ateneo was not complete because he still longed for Justice for his
mother who was imprisoned because of the wrong accusation of her sister-in-law
Teodora Herbosa that Teodora Alonzo attempted to poison her. During his summer
break, Jose visited her mother in prison and cheered her up by citing his academic
excellence in Ateneo. In his summer break, after his second year in Ateneo, her
mother told him about her dream and Jose interpreted it as a sign that after three
months, she would be released from prison and Rizal's prophecy came true. The
reason why his mother was released from prison was the request of his sister
Soledad to the Governor General after the latter appreciated her talent in dancing.

THE LOVES OF RIZAL DURING HIS TEENAGE YEARS

 At the age of thirteen, during his stay in the province, Jose met a girl named Julia.
Jose first noticed a sweet voice of a girl who was taking a bath in the river. The
sweet voice made Jose stop and search for the owner of the voice and when he
found her he made a way to know the name of the young lady. He described Julia as
a girl with an oval face, had olive skin and long beautiful hair. And in order to capture
the attention of Julia, he picked flowers and told Julia that in all those beautiful
flowers that he had seen, she was the only one who caught his attention. He brought
Julia and her grandmother to their home but after that he did not make a way to
meet Julia.

COLLEGE LIFE IN UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTO TOMAS

 At the end of education of Jose Rizal in Ateneo, he was able to gain the highest
award as the emperor of his class and the title of Bachiller en Artes. He wanted to
pursue his higher education inspite of the disapproval of his mother who thought that
the higher education would lead to Rizal's disadvantage. He entered the university as
a student of Philosophy and Letter. He was not sure of the course that he would
pursue in college so he sought the advice of his former teacher in Ateneo, Fr. Ramon
but because the latter was in Mindanao his teacher was not able to reply to his
question immediately. Following the course of his father, he took Philosophy and
Letters from 1877-1878 and in 1878 he shifted to Medicine course because he
considered the situation of his mother who had failing eyesight.

 His life in Ateneo as a student was different from UST maybe because in Ateneo his
teachers monitored the students closely since it was considered a school for
secondary education while in UST the students were free to do their other activities.
The students were only required to attend their classes for three hours and they were
free to do their other things for the rest of the time. so even if he was enrolled in
UST he spent his other time in going back to Ateneo to continue his extra-curricular
activities and in 1877-1878 he used his spare time in UST to study a vocational
course. In Ateneo, he studied surveying course and gained the title of Perito
Agrimensor.
 His brilliance in Philosophy was evident in his grades that he attained inhis Philosophy
course in UST and during those time this course was consideredas the preparatory
course of Theology and Law.

 In 1887, he shifted from Philosophy to Medicine. During this time, he had 23

classmates in Medicine consisted of three peninsulares, three i7siiaresand the others
were natives. Among the 24 students, 22 of them finished the courseand Rizal was
part of the four students who gained the mark of Aprovechado.

 Some of the historians who ventured in the life of Jose Rizal commentedthat Rizal
had lower grades in UST than when he studied in Ateneo and theyattributed his low
grades to the discrimination that he experienced in UST.However, according to
Villaroel and De Viana, Jose Rizal was not discriminatedin UST because first among
other students, he was able to get higher grades.Second the story of Placido
Pinetente in Physics class did not happen in USTbecause personally Rizal took
Ampliacion so he did not take Physics in UST, third, the reason why Rizal got lower
grades in UST was the different distractionthat he experienced while studying in UST
like his love life and group that heestablished (Compadrenismo).

THE LITERARY TRIUMPH OF RIZAL IN UST

 In April 1880, Jose joined the competition which Commemoratedi the 400th death
anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes. He wrote a play entitled, El Consejo de los
Dioses, a play which recognized Cervantes as equal to Homer and Virgil and even
if the jury was composed of Spaniards, they awarded Rizal the highest prize.
Rizal's triumph on the said literary award was contested by the Spaniards who
could not accept that the winner came from the natives but the judges stood by
their decision and on the time of the awarding the crowd which was composed of
the Spaniards did not applaud Rizal.

 Like in Ateneo, Jose Rizal also had various literary works in UST. In 1879, Rizal
joined the Liceo Artistico-Literario of Manila and won the competition. He wrote the
"La Juventud Filipina" (To the Filipino Youth) , this poem encouraged and inspired
the Filipino youth to stand up and work harder to attain the highest objectives.

THE FIRST JOURNEY TO EUROPE

The secret mission to Spain was the agreement between Jose and his brother
Paciano. After his four years of Medicine course in UST, Jose decided to follow the
advice of his brother Paciano to leave the country and travel to Spain. The first reason
why he needed to leave was to pursue his medical course and second was to observe
the political situation in Madrid. It was only Paciano, Antonio Rivera, his friend Chenggoy
and the family of Orang who knew about his departure. His former teacher in Ateneo
also gave him a letter of recommendation to the Jesuit House in Barcelona in case he
needed assistance. His parents did not know that when he kissed their hands before he
left Calamba on May 1, 1882, that it would take many years before they could see their
son again. Before he left, his brother handed him $56 that he would use for his travel,
his passport using the name Jose Mercado and a first-class ticket for the cruise
Salvadora.

On May 2, 1882, he visited the family of Orang. Orang's mother gave him a can
of cookies called sopas and a box of chocolate that he would consume on his travels.
The night before he left, he had the opportunity to talk to Orang Valenzuela.

On May 3, 1882 at 5:00, he heard Mass at Santo Domingo church and then
Chenggoy, Antonio Rivera and his cousin Gella accompanied him to the dock near
Magallanes monument. He rode the cruise Salvadora and as the ship started to leave
Manila, Jose became emotional because he was not able to say goodbye to his parents
and to Leonor Rivera. On May 8, 1882, their cruise reached Singapore. He immediately
traveled to different parts of the country and visited the gardens, the Buddhist temple,
the monument of Stamford Raffles and the market where he bought his personal things.
He admired the Chinese architecture and the freedom of religion in Singapore which was
evident in different churches in the country.

On May 11, 1882, he rode the cruise of Djemah going to Ceylon (old name of Sri
Lanka). His ticket was for first class so he would enjoy a first-class cabin, with carpeted
floor, bed with springs, curtain and wash basin. Most of the passengers of the cruise
were French and because of this Jose practiced the French language that he learned
during his Ateneo days but he knew that he needed to study more to become fluent in
the language. They reached Ceylon on May 17, 1882. Jose was enchanted because of
the beautiful scenery in the island and according to Rizal this was one of the most
beautiful islands that he had seen, however, it was full of loneliness. From Ceylon they
travelled to North Africa and Rizal described Africa as a country with hot climate. Then,
they travelled to Suez Canal for five days. Their next stop over was in Port Said in Egypt,
in this place Rizal observed the multicultural city since he saw different people speaking
in different languages like Arabic, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Egyptian.

On June 11, 1882, Djemnah reached Naples in Italy. Rizal admired the
panoramic beauty by the bay and then their cruise reached Marseilles. He enjoyed his
tour in this city because he wanted to visit the place of his favorite writer Alexander
Dumas. After three days, he travelled to Barcelona using train.

On June 16, 1882, he reached Barcelona and he learned that he ran out of cash
and the money that left to him was only seven pesos which was not enough to rent a
dormitory. So, he used the letter, of recommendation that his teachers from Ateneo
handed to him and the Jesuit in Barcelona helped him and lent him money. Because of
insufficient money, he first rented a room in Barcelona which cost only 11 pesos.

The room did not pass the taste of Rizal but he had no other choice. His room
had a brick floor, dirty, hard bed there was no mirror and the wash basin was broken.
His first impression of Barcelona was negative because he viewed it as an ugly and dirty
place. However, when his brother Paciano was able to send him money, he transferred
to a more expensive room that suited his taste.

LIFE IN BARCELONA AND MADRID

Since he arrived in Spain during the summer vacation, he had the opportunity to
travel to different parts of the city and meet the other Filipinos living in the city. His
former classmates in Ateneo who resided in Madrid prepared a party for Rizal which was
held at Plaza Cataluna. And while waiting for the start of the classes, he wrote an essay
which reflected how he loved and missed his country. He wrote his first nationalistic
essay in Barcelona entitled El Amor Patrio. This essay was published in Diariong
Tagalog on August 20, 1882 and was translated in Tagalog by Marcelo H. del Pilar.

When his brother Paciano learned that he was staying in Barcelona, he wrote a
letter to Jose and reminded him about his secret mission in going to Spain. On
November 3, 1882, Rizal was enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid under the course
of Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. However, while waiting for the start of classes
in Madrid, he also enrolled in Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando for painting and he
also travelled to different historical places and museums. Because of his engagement in
different lessons and the difficulty, Paciano was having in sending him money for his
allowance, he had a hard time budgeting his money. Sometimes, according to his diary,
he would only eat biscuit for each meal or sometimes he would just go to different
restaurants in Madrid and let his eyes enjoy the food because his money was not
enough to buy food for his meal.

Aside from his studies and other art lessons, he had the opportunity to meet
Consuelo Ortiga y Perez, the daughter of Don Pablo, the former mayor of Manila during
the time of administration of Governor General Carlos Maria de la Torre. He fell in love
with Consuelo but because Eduardo de Lete was courting Consuelo, he did not pursue
his feelings for Consuelo and instead he wrote a poem which showed his admiration to
this lady.

MI PIDEN VERSOS

 In his stay in Madrid, he also joined the Circulo Hispano Filipino, an organization
of the Filipino and Spaniards who wanted to ask for reform from the
government. And under this organization, he wrote Mi Piden Versos (They Ask
Me for Verses), a poem which showed the sadness of the son of art who lived on
a place away from his origin.

RIZAL IN PARIS

 On July 17, 1883, he travelled to Paris. He visited the different tourist spots in
the city, the museums, the Opera House, Cathedral of Notre Dame, Bois de
Boulogne, Madelaine Church, the Column of Vendome, the lnvalides and the
libraries. But because he was mistaken as a Japanese, the prices for his food,
accommodation and entrance fees were more expensive than other people of
other nationalities. Aside from the different historical places, Rizal had the
opportunity to visit some restaurants in Paris and this was described in the letter
that he sent to his sister Maria.

Speaking...of the dining room in Europe, there is a general feeling that it would
be made pleasing, graceful, agreeable. In the houses of the very rich, you will see
paintings of landscapes, fruits and animals by the great masters. You will see the
paintings of oysters, prawns, lobster, fishes, etc. Others who cannot pay so much,
content themselves with copies and the poorest ones with chromolithographs.

In some houses in Germany, particularly in Holland, what I see with regard to

painting is that they hang on the walls very old plates, with more or less colors, with
more or less designs. In some houses they would show you grandfather's and
grandmother's plates.
In the house of the Pardos in Paris, I saw a big plate, 50 years old, a century old
perhaps, side by side with some plates of Chinese porcelain nearly two centuries old, a
big plate like many plates from China that we have there for daily use, if my memory is
not bad, and which has this form.

Rizal could not afford the high cost of living in Paris so he decided to go back to Madrid.

RIZAL JOINED THE MASONRY

  In Madrid, Rizal was able to meet different personalities with liberal ideas like
Miguel Morayta, Francisco Pi v Margal and other people who were brave to
openly criticize the government and friars during their time. Ala these people
were part of the Masonic Lodge so Rizal also joined the Masonry hoping that he
could utilize the Free Masonry as his shield against the friars who according to
him were the hindrance for the development and reform of the society in the
Philippines. On February 15, 1884, he received his diploma as the Master Mason.

THE TOAST FOR LUNA AND HIDALGO

 On June 25, 1884, the Filipinos in Madrid had a gathering to celebrate Juan
Luna's success because his painting Spolarium gained gold medal and Felix
Resurrecion Hidalgo's Christian Virgins Exposed to Populance received a Silver
medal on a prestigious painting competition in Madrid. And Jose Rizal, who was
not able to take his meal for the whole day was requested to deliver an
impromptu speech that would be a salute for the two Filipino painters.

THE CONCEPTS OF BRINDIS

1. The independence of the Philippines in the future because the Filipinos already
had education from Spain and their achievements were recognized abroad.
2. The genius could come from any nations so the people in a particular race
should not treat themselves as superior.
3. The talents and intelligence of the Filipinos are innate and Spain gave them
education which polished their capabilities.
4. The Filipinos are ready for the reforms that the Spanish government will give.
5. The Union of Spain and the Philippines is not impossible and he recognized the
contributions of Spain for our country.
6. The credit should be given to Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, to the students who
choose to be apart from their families to continue their education and to the
parents who worked hard and bore the longing for their children for the sake of
their education.

THE ACADEMIC RECORDS OF RIZAL IN UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE MADRID

 Despite of his financial difficulties, Jose Rizal was able to do his responsibilities as
a student in Madrid. During his vacant time, he did not waste time but he
consumed his free hours in going to the library, attended different seminars and
lectures and went to various feasts. On June 21, 1884, Rizal completed his
medical studies and attained the title of Licentiate in Medicine.

 In 1884, after earning his Licentiate in Medicine, Rizal continued his studies for
Doctorate in Medicine. However, because, of financial difficulties, he was not
able to present his thesis and get the title as Doctor of Medicine.

RIZAL, ASSIMILATION AND PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT

 The Filipino illustrado in Madrid between the year 1880 to 1885 had a secret
mission to inform the Spanish government in Madrid about the true condition of
the Philippines under their colonial government. This is due of their assumption
at the administration of Spain is not aware about the abusive policies of the
assigned Spanish officers in the Philippines. Equipped with high education their
 literary talents, the Filipino illustrado contributed articles to their newspaper, La
Solidaridad to enlighten the minds of the Spaniards and other Filipinos about the
real condition of the country. The triumvirates of the organization were Marcelo
H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena and Dr. Jose Rizal. Among the contributors of
the newspaper, it was Jose Rizal who was the most diligent in writing and brave
to defend the Filipinos.

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN JOSE RIZAL AND ANTONIO LUNA

Antonio Luna and Jose Rizal were close friends but when Antonio knew at Nely
Boustead, the lady whom he was courting had special feelings for Jose Rizal their
friendship was shaken. In one incident, when Antonio was drunk, he stated negative
things about Nelly and Rizal did not like the words that Antonio said so he challenged
Luna to a duel. Being an expert in guns and swords, Rizal was confident that he would
win the duel but the other Filipinos present prevented the duel to happen. After the
incident, Antonio realized his mistakes and talked to Rizal. Upon realizing that Nelly was
in love with Rizal, Antonio just helped Rizal win the heart of Nelly Boustead.

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN RIZAL AND WENCESLAO RETANA

Wenceslao wrote an article which stated that the Domican friars evicted Rizal’s
family from their land in Calamba which they rented from the Dominicanbecause Rizal's
family did not pay enough amount to the corporation. And becauseof the negative
comments of Retana about his family, he challenged Retana to aduel but again having in
mind that Rizal was an expert in gun and sword, Ketanadid not agree to the challenge.

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN MARCELO H. DEL PILAR AND RIZAL

Marcelo H. del Pilar and Rizal had a conflict because of leadership. The members
in the association were divided as Pilarist (for del Pilar) and Rizalist (for Rizal) and to
end the conflict they held an election. On the first election, Rizal won the presidency but
did not get the minimum vote needed, in the second election, Rizal again won the
presidency but again did not get the minimum vote needed and in the third election
finally Rizal got the minimum vote needed. However, Rizal did not accept the leadership
because of the lack of unity. The conflict between Rizal and Marcelo was published in La
Solidaridad which was opposed by Rizal. The conflict of Rizal with other reformists made
him think that his real battle was in the Philippines so inspite of the advice of his other
friends and family for him not to go back to the country, he decided to return to the
Philippines.