STUDIES IN UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS.

DOŇA TEODORA  opposed the idea of sending Rizal to University to pursue Higher Education
because she was aware what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and feared of might would happen to
Rizal. Rizal was surprised by his mother’s opposition, who was a woman of education and
culture. Despite her mother’s opposition, Don Francisco told Paciano to accompany Rizal to
Manila. April 1877 Rizal enrolled at UST, taking the course on Philosophy and Letters. Reasons:
1. His father liked it. 2. He was still uncertain as to what career to pursue. Fr. Pablo Ramon
rector of the Ateneo 1877 – 1878 Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History
of Philosophy during his first year term. 1877 – 1879 Rizal took up medical course upon the
advised of Ateneo’s Rector to study medicine. Reason: -- To be able to cure his mother’s
growing blindness. While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the
vocational course leading to the title of “Perito Agrimensor” (Expert Surveyor). He excelled in
all subjects in the surveying course obtaining gold medals in Agriculture and Topography.
Vocational Courses: 1. Agriculture 3. Mechanics 2. Commerce 4. Surveying. At the age of 17, he
passed the final exam in the surveying course but could not be granted the title as Surveyor
because he was under age. November 25, 1881 the title as Surveyor to Rizal Extra-Curricular
Activities: 1. President, Academy of Spanish Literature. 2. Secretary, Academy of Natural
Sciences. 3. Secretary, Marian Congregation.
https://www.slideshare.net/roycapangpangan/rizal-course-chapter-5-medical-studies-at-
university-of-santo-tomas#:~:text=1877%20%E2%80%93%201878%20%EF%83%A0%20Rizal
%20studied,cure%20his%20mother's%20growing%20blindness.&text=5

1877 – 1878  Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics,

Theodicy, and History of Philosophy during his first
year term. 1877 – 1879  Rizal took up medical course
upon the advised of Ateneo's Rector to study
medicine. Reason: -- To be able to cure his mother's
growing blindness.
(STUDIES IN UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS)

BACKGROUND OF SANTO TOMAS.

The University of Santo Tomas is one of the oldest

existing universities and holds the oldest extant
university charter in the Philippines and in Asia. It was
founded on April 28, 1611, by the third Archbishop of
Manila, Miguel de Benavides, together with Frs.
Domingo de Nieva and Bernardo de Santa Catalina. It
was originally conceived as a school to prepare young
men for the priesthood. Located Intramuros, it was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del
Santísimo Rosario and later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomás in memory of Dominican
theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas. In 1624, the Colegio was authorized to confer academic
degrees in theology, philosophy and arts. On November 20, 1645 Pope Innocent X elevated the
college to the rank of a university and in 1680 it was placed under royal patronage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_University_of_Santo_Tomas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_University_of_Santo_Tomas

In 1927, with the continuing increase in enrollment, the university

moved from Intramuros to its present site which covers an area of
21.5 hectares in the district of Sampaloc, Manila. Since its
foundation, the university's academic life has been interrupted
only twice: 1898 to 1899, during the Philippine revolution against
Spain; and 1942 to 1945, during the Japanese occupation of
Manila, when the University of Santo Tomas was transformed by
the Japanese military into an internment camp
(Campus of University of Santo Tomas in 2015)

The institution started its operation

with courses in theology, arts, and philosophy as the College of
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Spanish: Colegio de Nuestra
Señora del Santísimo Rosario).In 1617, the college was
renamed as College of Santo Tomas (Spanish: Colegio de
Santo Tomás) after the Dominican theologian St. Thomas
Aquinas (1225–1274)
(The Benavides Monument facing the University of Santo Tomas
building in Intramuros)

ACHIEVEMENTS OF RIZAL.

At the age of 17, he passed the final exam in the surveying course but could not be granted
the title as Surveyor because he was under age Rizal eventually earned a land surveyor's and
assessor's degree from the Ateneo Municipal while taking up Philosophy and Letters at the
University of Santo Tomas. Upon learning that his mother was going blind, Rizal opted to study
ophthalmology at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery He, however, was not able to
complete the course because “he became politically isolated by adversaries among the faculty
and clergy who demanded that he assimilate to their syster.
https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/articles/rizals-education

Rizal eventually earned a land surveyor's and assessor's degree from the Ateneo Municipal
while taking up Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas. Upon learning that his
mother was going blind, Rizal opted to study
ophthalmology at the UST Faculty of Medicine
and Surgery.
(RIZAL EDUCATION)