RIZAL – L4
RIZAL’S EDUCATION AT ATENEO AND UST
ATENEO
(1872 – 1877)
- Sent by his father to Ateneo Municipal to study
Ateneo Municipal, which was a Jesuit-run
school, that was known to be more advanced
than the other colleges at that time
- It was established primarily to mold the
character of young boys according to the
teachings of the Church.
1st Year
o Accompanied by his brother, Paciano.
o Then, he lodged in a house at Calle Carballo,
Sta. Cruz, Manila.
First teacher: Father Jose Bech
Classmates (some): peninsulares
The class was divided into two groups:
1. The Roman Empire (boarders)
2. The Carthaginian Empire
boarders).
- These empires compete through earning
points.
o At first, Jose was not in rank.
But:
At the end of the month:
Promoted to the Emperor (the highest in rank)
- Sobresaliente
At end of the term:
Excellent marks in all subjects.
He announced this to his mother when he got home
for a vacation. But during that time:
- Teodora Alonzo – was in prison as she was
tricked by the judge for a crime that she did
not commit.
2nd Year
o Rizal transferred to another lodging house
located at No. 6 Calle Magallanes.
At the end of the term:
He received a medal.
He visited again his mother in jail and shared the
good news.
3rd Year
He received prizes for his quarterly examinations.
He was probably inspired to study when he knew
that his mother was already released from jail.
4th Year
Studied: Mathematics, Rhetoric, and Greek.
Favorite Teacher:
Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez
- a model of uprightness and love for his
students.
- Inspired by: he inspires and motivates JR to
improve especially in writing
At the end of the year:
Jose received five medals.
5th Year
Teachers: Father Vilaclara and Mineves
Studied: Philosophy, Chemistry, Physics, and
(non- Natural History.
Rizal finished:
Bachiller en Artes (Bachelor of Arts) at Ateneo
- With excellent marks in all subjects.
- The highest in the graduating class.
Schedule
(throughout his Ateneo years)
1. Morning: attended mass
2. He studied hard and disciplined himself.
3. He read novels such as the Count of Monte
Cristo which he liked best.
4. Free time: wrote poems with the guidance of his
favorite teacher, Father Sanchez
5. In his last year at Ateneo: he wrote a drama
entitled “San Eustacio, Martir” (St. Eustace,
the Martyr).
Co-curricular Activities
(Rizal joined various organizations in Ateneo)
1. Secretary – Marian Congregation
2. Member – Academy of Spanish Literature
3. Member – Academy of Natural Sciences
Extracurricular Activities
1. Gymnastics
2. Fencing
 3. Painting (still active in different organizations in Ateneo)
4. Sculpture
1. President- Academy of Spanish Literature
As his body was small in build, he tried to correct his 2. Secretary- Academy of Natural Sciences
defect through various physical exercises.
1879
Works: He won the first prize at Liceo Artistico-Literario of
Manila
1. Carving the image of The Virgin Mary (He His winning piece: “A La Juventud Filipina” (To the
even amazed the Jesuit priests with this) Filipino Youth)

2. “Christ Crucified” painting - The famous line “Kabataan, pag-asa ng aking

bayan” was used in this poem.
3. “Sacred Heart of Jesus” sculpture
- Also, in this poem, he pleaded to the Filipino
4. Poems: youth to rise from their weakness and show what
they have got.
 “Mi Primera Inspiracion” (My First
Inspiration) 1880
- when his mother was released from prison in (In the following year)
1874.
He again won first prize.
 “The Intimate Alliance Between His winning piece: Allegorical drama - “El
Religion and Good Education” Consejos de los Dioses” (The Council of the Gods).
- Again, he won against Spanish writers.
 “To the Child Jesus”
He also wrote, “Junto Al Pasig” (Beside the Pasig)
 “To the Virgin Mary” which was staged in 1880 at the feast of the
Immaculate Conception at Ateneo.
 The Tragedy of St. Eustace
He founded a secret student organization in UST
6. “San Eustacio, Martyr” (St. Eustace, the “Compañerismo” (Comradeship).
Martyr) drama - They were involved in various street fights
against Spanish students.
- The Spanish students called them “Indio,
chongo!” and they would call them
“Kastila, bangus!”

Romance
(Rizal still had time for romance)

He courted Leonor Valenzuela and Leonor Rivera

consecutively.

2nd Year
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
(1877 – 1882) Shifted: Medicine

Father: - He wanted to treat his mother’s failing eyesight.

Enrolled Rizal in UST to pursue a university education.
Mother:
Did not like the idea at first because she was afraid that
the fate of the GomBurZa would also happen to Jose.
1st Year
He was a good student at UST but was not as good
when he was in Ateneo.
His grades range from “Excellent,” “Very Good,”
“Good” and just passing grades.

Studied: Philosophy and Letters
- In the same year, he also took a vocational
course in Ateneo and he was given the title of
“perito agrimensor” (expert surveyor) in 1881.
He was unhappy at UST because the Dominican
professors were hostile
- Filipinos were discriminated and the method of
teaching was obsolete and repressive.

Co-Curricular Activities After 4th Year in Medicine

He decided to study in Spain.

He wanted to:
1. widen his knowledge, avail of more conducive
conditions in Europe
2. learn how to cure his mother’s eye