SANTOS, JUSTINE M.

LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

BSHM3-C MR. ROMEO SANSON

1. Explain the injustice that Dona Teodora (Jose’s mother) suffered in 187i. Who

were the personalities involved in the case? What were their participations?

 In 1871, Doña Teodora was arrested on the malicious charge that she has

conspired with her brother, Jose Alberto, in the attempt to murder the latter's wife by

poisoning. Jose Alberto was a prominent man in Biñan who owned a big tract of

land, had just returned from Business trip in Europe. During his absence his wife

abandoned his home and their children. When he arrived in Biñan, he found her

living with another man.

He was mad and enraged by her infidelity, so he planned to file an annulment of

their marriage. He planned to divorce her. He believed that his wife sexual infidelity

scandal, and protect the honor of the family. Doña Teodora, to avert family scandal,

persuaded him to forgive his wife. While the family amicably settled, and Jose Alberto

lived again with his unfaithful wife, she connived with the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil

filed a case in court accusing her husband and Dona Teodora of attempting to poison

her.

This lieutenant happened to have an ax to grind against the Rizal family,

because in one occasion Don Francisco refused to give him a fodder for his horse. He

was so unreasonable and virtually took opportunity to avenge himself and got even

against Don Francisco and arrested Doña Teodora.

After arresting Doña Teodora, this lieutenant forced her to walk from Calamba to

Santa Cruz with a distance of 50 kilometers. This was a one day walk. She was then

imprisoned in the Santa Cruz city jail. The case would go on for two years and half, and

Don Francisco would have to use all his resources just to see her wife off from jail. The

case could have ended before Mayor Antonio Vivencio Del Rosario. The case was

reopened in the Royal Audencia. Don Francisco had to hire two of some of the best

lawyers for Manila for the case.

2. How was the Cavite mutiny came about? Accordingly, what were the two root

causes of the mutiny (the root cause as seen by the Filipinos vs. that as seen by

the Spanish authority.) Why were the three priests (GOMBURSA) PUT TO

DEATHE? Was there any connection between the 1872 Cavite mutiny and the

1896 Revolution?

 On the night of January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino soldiers and

workmen of the Cavite arsenal at Fort San Felipe rose in violent mutiny under the

leadership of Sgt. Lamadrid. Unfortunately, this Cavite Mutiny was suppressed two

days later by troop reinforcement from Manila. Lamadrid was defeated by Felipe

Ginoves. The Spanish authorities magnified Jose Burgos as the mastermind of the

incident together with Jacinto Zamora and Mariano Gomez. The case was rebellion.

Evidence coming from the Intramuros investigation included testimonies of those

who are captured in the Cavite Mutiny which includes Francisco Zaldua. According to

the prosecution, Jose Burgos did not only plan a mutiny but a rebellion of which the aim

was the assassination of Izquierdo and attack on the Intramuros. He allegedly financed

and masterminded this move and was supported by native soldiers and citizens, not

only from Cavite but also from Manila and other provinces. The Cavite mutiny was a

mere error that failed the whole ground plan. On February 17, 1872, the GomBurZa

were executed upon the order Governed General Rafael Izquierdo. The search for

those others involved, likewise, commenced. As the result, many of those accused of

direct or indirect involvement were either exiled or executed.

Paciano, who was then a student of Colegio de San Jose and was boarding with

Father Burgos was gravely affected by the event for he was trusted assistant of Burgos

in the fight for the Filipinization of the parishes. His close association with Burgos was

so crucial that after the execution of the three priests, evading arrest or suspicion, he

quit his studies in the college and returned to Calamba. Here, told the heroic story

Burgos to his family and revealed his kept secrects to his father.
 Don Francisco, on his part, made specific instructions to his family that no one

must talk anymore about Burgos (though a family relative) the mutiny, nor the word

insurrection. This was Paciano's protection.

3. Why did Paciano enrolled Rizal at the Ateneo instead of at the Colegio de San

Juan de Letran where he took and passed the entrance exam? Why did Paciano

decide that Jose used the surname Rizal when he registered at the Ateneo?

 On June 10, 1872, Jose was accompanied by Paciano to take the

entrance examinations for the secondary course in the Colegio de San Juan de

Letran, The examinations were on Christian doctrine, Arithmetic and Reading. Rizal

passed the examinations and returned to Calamba to stay a few days with his family

and, perhaps, to attend the town fiesta.

Upon his return to Manila, accompanied again by Paciano, instead of coming

back to Letran (this college was a bitter rival of Ateneo, the Dominican-owned); the

latter enrolled Jose at Ateneo Municipal. At first, the college registrar Father Magin

Fernando refused to admit Rizal for he was too small for his age, physically weak, and

was already too late. However, through the aid of Manuel Xeres Burgos, nephew of

Father Burgos, Rizal was allowed to enroll.

Jose used the surname Rizal when he registered at the Ateneo. This was the

decision of Paciano because their first family name Mercado had already come under

the suspicion of the Spanish authorities and was the surname used by Paciano at the

College of San Jose where he was known as Father Burgo's favorite student and

helper. Though Jose was confused of why would he ever need a different surname,

Paciano did not explain further and just told him that it would be better for him that way.

At that time, Ateneo Municipal was located in Intramuros, within the walls of

Manila. It was formerly called Escuela Pia (charity school) which was established by the

city government in 1817. When the Jesuits, who had been expelled from the Philippines

in 1768, returned to Manila in 1859, they were given the management of Escuela Pia,

whose name was changed to Ateneo Municipal, and later became Ateneo de Manila.
4. Describe the Jesuitical system of instruction that Ateneo De Manila offered.

How were the classes in the first two terms arranged at the Ateneo? How did

Rizal perform under this system? Tell something about the following:

 The Jesuitical system of instruction was considered more advanced than

that of other colleges in that epoch. Its discipline was rigid and its methodsless

mechanical. It introduced physical culture as part of its program as well as the

cultivation of the arts, such as music, drawing, and painting. It also establishes

vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, and mechanics as a religious institute,

its principal purpose was to mold the character and the will of the boys to comply

more easily with the precepts of the Church. The students heard mass before the

beginning of the class, which was opened and closed with prayers.

In the first two terms, the classes were divided into groups of interns and externs:

the first constituted the Roman Empire and the second, the Carthaginian Empire. In

each empire there were five dignitaries: Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, and

Standard-Bearer. These dignities were won by means of individual competitions in

which it was necessary to catch one's adversary in error three times. The empires

considered themselves in perpetual warfare, and when an individual of one empire was

caught in error by one belonging to the enemy empire, a point was counted in favor of

the latter. At the end of each week or two, the points in favor of each were added and

the empire, which obtained more point, was declared winner.

There was a fraternity of Mary and Saint Louis Gonzaga, to which only those who

distinguished themselves in the class for their piety and diligence could belong. This

fraternity met on Sundays and after mass held public programs in which poems were

recited or debates were held. With all these inducements it was only natural that these

be a spirit of emulation, a striving to surpass ones colleagues found in the Ateneo.

a. Fr. Jose Beck(Bech)

 The first professor Jose had was Fr. Jose Bech, whom he describes as a man

of high stature; lean body, bent forward; quick gait; ascetic physiognomy, severe

and inspired; small, sunken eyes; sharp Grecian nose; thin lips forming an arch
 with its sides directed toward the chin." He was somewhat of a lunatic and of an

uneven humor; sometimes he was hard and little tolerant and at other times he

was gay and playful as a child.

b. Francisco G. Oliva

 Francisco G. Oliva, very talented but not very studious;

c. Joaquin Garrido

 Joaquin Garrido, endowed with a poor memory but with much talent and

industry;

d. Gonzalo Marzano

 Gonzalo Marzano, who occupied the throne of the emperor.

e. Insulares and Peninsulares

 Jose’s classmates.

 A Spaniard born in Spain was referred as a peninsular, meaning born in the

Spanish peninsula. In contrast, a Spaniard born in the Philippines was referred

as an insular if in the Philippines, or a Filipino if in Spain.

f. Santa Isabel College

 Rizal also took private lessons in Santa Isabel College during vacant periods to

improve his Spanish. He paid three pesos for these. He had reasons to feel

proud of his advancement.

g. Fr. Francisco Sanchez

 On his fourth year of his course, he had Fr. Francisco Sanchez as professor.

Jose describes him as a model of rectitude, a solicitude, and love for the

student, and his studied mathematics, rhetoric, and Greek.

h. Fr. Leoncio Lopez

 Fr. Leoncio Lopez, parish priest of the town, who was a great friend of his

father, also liked Jose as a little friend. He was cultured but at the same time

timid and tender.

i. Julia

 with his friends in Los Baños. Jose met a girl whose name was Julia. She was

around 14. She's beautiful, sweet and kind. They spent the whole day together

just merely knowing each other. Jose met girls before but none seemed to

interest him, at least, not in the way he was with this girl. After the picnic, Jose

planned to visit her. However, he never had an opportunity. It would take him

from a boy into a man.

j. Frs. Vilaclara and Mineves.

 On his fifth year, Jose had other professors: Frs. Vilaclara and Mineves. He

studied philosophy, physics, chemistry, and natural history, but his devotion to

poetry was such that his professor in philosophy advised him once to leave it,

which made him cry.

5. What did Rizal do at the end of each school year? Narrate each.

 (First Year) – At the end of school year in March, 1873, he returned to

Calamba. He did not enjoy his vacation because her mother was in prison. To

cheer up, his sister brought him to Tanawan, Batangas. He then went to Santa

Cruz to visit his mother. Rizal told her of his brilliant grades in the college and

embraced her. Doña Teodora advised him to be strong and not to worry much

about her. The summer vacation ended and Rizal returned to Manila for his

second year term in Ateneo.

 (Second Year) – He turned to Calamba for his summer vacation. Jose visited

again his mother in jail. He told her about his scholastic triumphs and funny tales

about his professors and fellow students. His mother was happy for his splendid

progress in Ateneo. While talking, his mother told him about the dream she had.

Rizal interpreted the dream, told her that she would be released from prison in

three months' time. Jose's prophecy was about to come true. After Jose had left

to come back to Manila, a fiesta was held in Calamba. Incidentally, at the time,

Gov. Izquierdo was on the provincial visits to Laguna. Learning of the occasions,

he proceeded to Calamba. A warm welcome was made by the town folks. One

of the dances presented to him was that the little children. While watching,
 Izquierdo got fond of one the title girls. He called for her and asked her to dance

again. When she refused Izquierdo, not wanting to be turned down, offered the

girl a deal.

 (Third Year) – Shortly after the opening of the classes, he was surprised by his

mother’s visit. He was very happy for his mother. He returned to Calamba for his

summer vacation not impressed with his scholastic work.

 (Fourth Year) – Jose was in Calamba and had a picnic with his friends in Los

Baños, where he met a girl named Julia.

6. How did Rizal perform his academic studies at the end of each school year?

 (First Year) – he obtained marks of excellent in all the subjects and in the
examinations.

 (Second Year) – he obtained a medal, and an excellent grade in all subjects.

 (Third Year) – although his grades remained excellent, he was dissatisfied

because he was not able to speak Spanish in its accents fluently with his
Spanish classmates. He only received one medal in Latin.

 (Fourth Year) – he obtained five medals, which pleased him immensely because
with them he could repay somewhat his father for his sacrifices. His aptitude for
poetry revealed itself early, and from that time on he did not cease to cultivate it.

 (Fifth Year) – he studied philosophy, physics, chemistry, and natural history, but
his devotion to poetry was such that his professor in philosophy advised him
once to leave it, which made him cry. But in his rest hours he continued
cultivating the muses under the direction of his old professor, Father Sanchez.
Jose had then written a short story, which was enacted at the end of the course,
alluding to the collegians’ farewell.

7. What were Rizal’s academic and religious affiliations?

 Rizal was very active in school. He was always curios of joining

extracurricular activities in Ateneo. He became an active member, later the

secretary, of the Marian Congregation, as a religious society because of his

devotion to Our Lady Immaculate Conception, the college patroness. Later, he

likewise joined the Academy of Spanish Literature, of where he became a president

of, and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

8. How did Rizal finish his last year in Ateneo and what honors were conferred

upon him on his graduation?

 Jose became the most brilliant Atenean in his time. He finished his last year in

Ateneo being the pride of Jesuits. Although there were only few who graduated,

he had left out the rest of the class in terms of grades and achievements. He

graduated on March 23, 1877 at the age of 16 and received the degree of

Bachelor of Arts win the highest honors. His family was very proud of him.

9. How did Rizal improve his artistic and poetic skills?

 Rizal also devoted some of his spare time to fine arts. Part of it, he

studied painting under Aguztin Saez, a famous Spanish painter and sculpture under

Romualdo de Jesus, a Filipino sculpture. Many Jesuit professors were impressed

by Rizal's artistic skills. One of his most loved works in Anteneo was an image of

the Virgin Mary which he carved from a batikuling wood with a pocketknife. Father

Leonart was amazed at the beauty and grace of the image that he requested Rizal

to carve him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Rizal made it and gave it to Fr.

Lleonart who thanked him for a wonderful work. The priest wanted to take the image

to Spain but when he left, he forgot to do so because of his absent-mindedness.

The Ateneans later decided to better display the image of the color of their

dormitory where it stayed there for several years.

Rizal was a book lover also. Some of the favorite readings of Rizal while in

Ateneo were Cesar Cantu's "Historical Universal", which was bought for him by his

father, and the "Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas, which became his favorite

novel. Another one that interested him was "Travelers in the Philippines" by Feodor

Jagor.

 By 1874, Rizal begun to become an ardent lover of poetry. By the time he

graduated, he had already written so many. Many of such works were made out of

passion and inspiration, although they may have only been required from him since

his major was literature. Nevertheless, grace and refinement may be seen in most

of his works which was truly amazing for a teenager to accomplish. Rizal's first

poem in Ateneo was "Mi Primera Inspiration" (My First Inspiration) in 1874. It was
solemnly dedicated to his mother on her birthday. In the occasion of Christmas in

that the same year, he wrote "A la Virgen Maria" and "Al Nino Jesus".