CHAPTER V

GLORIOUS STUDENT'S LIFE STARTS AT

ATENEO DE MUNICIPAL

Jose Rizal had his Bachiller en Artes at

the school of the Jesuits. This religious
0rder loved Jose so much, in fact during
1892 when he was exiled in Dapitan, the
real sentence for 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 Atenco
Municipal . Ile was introduced to Father Minister Magin Ferrando and
at first , the Father Minister did not want to accept him because of
his werk earstitution and short stature . However , with the help of
Manuel Jerez , the nephew of late Father Burgos , the eleven year
old Juse Rizal was accepted in Ateneo Vanipai . At first he was
overwhelmed to see students from different classes , he saw a great
number of Spaniards , Meat zos and Filipinos . In his stay in Aleneo
, he needed to change his name to Rizal instead of Mercedo le avoid
being associated with Tather 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, 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."
 FIRST INSPIRATION
Why falls so rich a spray of fragrance Why should the spring that glows
from the bowers of the balmy its crystalline murmur be tuning to
flowers upon this festive day? the zephyr's mellow crooning as

among the flowers it flows?

Why from woods and vales do we

hear sweet measures ringing that

seem to be the singing of a choir of Why seems to me more endearing,
nightingales? more fair than on other days, the

dawn's enchanting face among red
Why in the grass below do birds start clouds appearing?
at the wind's noises, unleashing their

honeyed voices as they hop from

bough to bough?

 The reason, dear mother, is

they feast your day of bloom: And from that
the rose with its perfume, the spring in the grove
bird with its harmonies. now turn to hear the

first note that from
And the spring that rings with
my lute I emote to
laughter upon this joyful day
with its murmur seems to say: the impulse of my
'Live happily ever after!' love.
 TO VIRGIN MARY
Mary, sweet peace, From thy throne, from Thou art my Mother, Mary,
solace dear Of pained heaven high, Kindly hear pure; Thou'll be the fortress
mortal ! You're the fount my sorrowful cry! And of my life; Thou'll be my
guide on this angry sea. If
Whence emanates the may thy shining veil
ferociously vice pursues me,
stream of succor, That protect My voice that If in my pains death
without cease our soil rises with rapid flight. harasses me, Help me, and
fructifies. drive away my woes!
 EDUCATION GIVES
LUSTER TO MOTHERLAND
MEMORIES OF MY
TOWN
 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 stating 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
tru e. 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.

Thank You