GE9 – Group 1

Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

ANGELO PART

AT ATENEO DE MANILA
 Ateneo was known to be the most prestigious college for boys because of its great
teachings.
 From 1872-1877, under the supervision of the Jesuit priests Rizal studied in Ateneo de
Manila.
 Rizal went to Ateneo Municipal, formerly known as Escuela Pia.
 His father wanted to send Rizal to Letran but decided to have him enrolled at the latter
instead.
 He excelled in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term.
 Racial pride, monastic discipline and seclusion of boarding school life were the factors
that gave Rizal the motivation to outshine his classmates
 Rizal wanted to prove to his Spanish classmates that a Filipino student can compete and
beat them academically.
 On March 23, 1877 he received his Degree of Bachelor of Arts, with the highest
academic honors.
STA. ISABEL COLLEGE
 Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel College to be proficient in Spanish and develop
his skills in poetry writing more.
 He was guided by Father Francisco Paula de Sanchez in developing his skills in poetry.

 Through his poetry he was able to finish poems about religion, education, and childhood
experiences.
 It also gave him the opportunity to develop more mature emotions, patriotic sentiments
and exquisite sensitivity.
LITERATURE FOR RIZAL
 The first poem that Rizal wrote as a student was entitled Mi Primera Inspiracion (My
First Inspiration).
 This poem was dedicated to his mother during her birthday, but according to some, this
was a work of his cousin.
My First Inspiration
Why do the scented flowers in fragrant fray
Rival each other’s flower this festive day?

Why is the sweet melody bruited in the sylvan dale,

Harmony sweet and fluted like the nightingale?

Why do the birds sing so in the tender grass,

 Flitting from bough to bough with winds that pass?

And why does the crystal spring run among the flowers
While lullaby zephyrs sing like its crystal showers?

I see the dawn in the East with the beauty endowed

Why goes she to a feast in a carmine cloud?

Sweet mother, they celebrate your natal day

The rose with her scent innate, the bird with his lay.

The murmurous spring this day without alloy.

Murmuring bids you always to live in joy.

 When he was a student at Ateneo, he wrote another poem entitled Un Recuerdo de Mi

Pueblo (In Memory of My Town).
 Written in 1876, this poem was his way of giving tribute to his hometown, Calamba.
 The content of the poem shows how Rizal appreciates the beauty of his place, which
made him love nature and to strengthen his faith and beliefs in God.
In Memory of My Town
When I recall the days, that my boyhood saw
By the green banks of a murmuring lagoon;
When I recall the murmur of the wind
That sweetly amused by brow with delicious freshness;

I recall, sadly recall your countenance, infancy precious

That a loving mother Oh! Succeeded in embellishing
I recall a simple town, my contentment, happiness and cradle, by the fresh lagoon, seat
my love.
 The Creator I saw in the grandeur of your secular forests;
Sorrows on your bosom, never did I come to know;
While at your blue sky I gazed, neither love nor tenderness
Did I lack, for in Nature my pleasure depended.

Tender childhood, beautiful town, rich fountain of happiness

Of harmonious melodies that banish sorrows!
Return to my heart, return my gentle hours
Return as the birds return when flowers are in bloom!

But alas! Adieu! Eternally keep vigil over your peace, joy and
Repose, Genie of goodness who kindly his gifts presents with love;
For you my fervent wishes, for you my constant yearning
To learn and to heaven I pray that you your candor keep!

AT UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

 After completion of Bachiller en Artes at Ateneo, Rizal was admitted to higher studies at
a university.
 Doña Teodora was against Rizal’s decision to pursue a higher education because of her
fear of what might happen to her son due to the martyrdom of Gomburza.
 Don Francisco sent Rizal to UST, the Dominican University of the Philippines.
  Rizal was 16 years old when he began his freshman year at UST.
 During his first term in 1877-1878 in UST, he studied Cosmology, Metaphysics,
Theodicy and History of Philosophy.
 It was during the school term 1878-1879 that Rizal pursued his studies in medicine
Reasons why Rizal wanted to study Medicine:
- He wanted to be a physician so that he could cure his mother’s failing eyesight
- Fr. Pablo Ramon, the Father Rector of Ateneo whom he consulted for a choice of career,
finally answered his letter, and recommended medicine
 Rizal was the second best student in a decimated class of seven who passed the medicine
course. After which, Rizal decided to study in Spain.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AT UST

 Rizal’s performance in UST was not as good as his accomplishment in Ateneo
 On the contrary, some of Rizal’s grades in UST were still excellent but he had lower
grades in other subjects.
 This might have been because Rizal was not actually happy while in UST
 Three contributing factors:
1. The attitude of Dominican professors towards Rizal;
2. There was racial discrimination against Filipino students
3. And he was disgusted at the primitive method used in UST.

LITERARY WORKS AS A UNIVERSITY STUDENT:

A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA/ TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH
 This literary work is considered as one of the best work of Rizal.
 Rizal wrote when he was 18.
 Rizal expressed that he wanted to contribute to Spanish-Philippine society.
 He used the term to mean the Philippines. Rizal, for that reason was the first Filipino to
call the country his motherland.

EL CONSEJO DE LOS DIOS

 This is one of Rizal’s entry in the literary contest of 1880.
 The poem was announced as the best entry in the competition that year.
 The jury knew that its author was a Filipino so they decided to confer the grand prize to a
Spaniard.
 Even though Rizal did not receive the best award, he had proven that Filipinos can
compete with other races in a fair play irrespective of the superiority of the Spaniards.