Education at Ateneo
-
> June 10, 1872 - Paciano accompanied
Rizal to take entrance examination at
College of San Juan de Letran and passed
it.
> Don Francisco changed his mind and
decided to send Rizal to Ateneo Municipal
(today's Ateneo de Manila) > Father Magin
Fernando refused to admit Rizal for he was
late for registration and he was sickly and
small of his age.
> With intercession of Perez Burgos,
nephew of Father Burgos, he was admitted
located in Intramuros.
> Jesuits' system of education was more
advanced which discipline was rigid and
the methods were varied. Thus, as a
religious institute, its principal purpose was
to mold the character and the will of the
boys, to comply easily with the precepts of
the church.
> Fr. Jose Bech was rizal first professior in
Ateneo. Rizal as a newcomer with little
knowledge in Spanish and an externo (non-
boarders) placed in Carthaginian Empire
> The other group was the <Roman
Empire= consisting of internos (boarders).
> Each group had its ranks:
1 - Emperor 2 - Tribune 3 - Decurion 4 -
Centurion 5 - Standard Bearer -
Within the empire, the students aspired
for the position by answering the
questions for the day's lesson. - If a
student made 3 mistakes he could lose his
position. - Any student might be at the end
of the line, but if he studies hard and was
brilliant, he could become an Emperor.
Roman Empire and Carthagini Empire were
in constant competition for supremacy in
the class.
> Jose Rizal progressed well in his studies
that after 1 month he became an
<emperor= and was considered the
brightest pupil of the class. > He was
awarded a prize namely: <a religious
picture= - the first prize he ever received.
> He spent his leisure hours by taking
private lessons to improve his Spanish at
Sta. Isabel College - he paid 3 pesos for
Spanish lessons.
> March 1873, end of school year; he
returned to Calamba for summer vacation -
did not enjoy his vacation for his mother
was arrested on a malicious charge that
she and her brother, Jose Alberto tried to
poison the latter's wife.
> Doña Teodora was forced to walk from
Calamba all the way to Sta. Cruz - a
distance of 50 kilometers and was
imprisoned for 2 and a half years.
> In his second year (1873-74), he received
excellent grades in all subject and a gold
medal as a diligent student and voracious
reader.
> Rizal kept reading fiction, non-fiction and
novel like <the Count of Monte Cristo= by
Alexander Dumas and relate himself to the
sufferings of Edmond Dantes (the hero).
> He also read <Travels in the Philippines=
written by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German
scientist-traveler who visited the
Philippines in 1859-1860. The book consist
of keen observation and defects of Spanish
colonization and a prophecy that they will
lose and be succeeded by America as a
colonizer > He also read the <Universal
History= by Cesar Cantus which was a rich
source of historical facts about the world -
used to read this while in Ateneo.
> On his 4th Year, he was inspired to study
hard and to write poetry by one of his best
professors, Father Fracisco de Paula
Sanchez, a great educator and scholar. >
Rizal's formal lesson at the Ateneo
gradually gained him proficiency both in
the art of rhetoric and in the art of
independent thinking. > He expressed his
ideas on the value of education in his
poem <Through Education The Country
Receives Light= (April 1, 1876, Por la
Education Recibe Lustre la Patria) > In this
poem, he stressed that responsible
education instills in the youth, noble ideas
and sublime virtues. Learning infuses truth,
and discipline brings peace, glory and
tranquility to the nation. > In addition, this
poem shows Rizal's high regard for
education. He strongly believed in the
important role which educaation plays in
the development and progress of a nation
> The poem was translated to English by
Dr. Frank C. Laucbach Other Poems Rizal
Wrote while in Ateneo as Inspired by
Father Sanchez: <to make full use of his
God-given talents in poetry and to open his
mind to the rich influence of the world's
literature=. In 1874; 1. Mi Primera
Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - poem
dedicated to his mother on her birthday;
he wrote it when he was 14 years old. He
felt over-joyed for his mother was released
from prison. 2. Al Nino Jesus (To the Child
Jesus) 3. A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin
Mary) In 1875; 1. Felicitacion (Felicitation)
2. El Embarque: Himno A la Flota de
Magallanes (The Departure: Hymn to
Magellan's Fleet) 3. Y Es Espanol: Elcano,
Primiero en dar la Vuelta (And He is
Spanish: Elcano, the First to
Circumnavigate the World) 4. El Combate:
Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle:
Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo) Rizal Wrote
Poems on Various Topics - religion,
education, childhood memories, and war.
In 1876; 1. La Tragedia de San Eustaquio
(The tragedy of St. Eustace) - this poem
recounts the tragic story of St. Eustace. 2.
Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of
My Town) - a tender poem in honor of
Calamba, the hero's natal town. 3. Alianza
Intima Entre la religion y la Buena
Education (Intimate Alliance between
Religion and Good Education) - this poem
shows the importance of religion in
education; education without God is not
education at all for Rizal. 4. Por la
Education Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through
Education the Country Receives Light) - it
was poem which reflects his highest regard
for education. Education has a significant
role which plays in molding of a nation, the
attainment of its progress and welfare. 5.
Ed Cautiverio y el Triunjo; Batalla de
Lucena y Prison de Boabdil (The Captivity
and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the
Imprisonment of Boadbill) - it described
the defeat and capture of Boadbil, the last and The Academy of Natural Science » He
Moorish sultan of Granada. 6. La Entrada also joined the Marian Congregations
Triunfal de los Reyes Catolices en Granada (Sodarity of our Lady and Apostleship of
(The Triumphal Entry of the Catholic Prayer) - where he became the secretary
Monarchs into Granada) - thsi poem
relates the victorious entry of King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabel into Granada,
last Moorish stronghold in Spain. He wrote
more poems; it was his last year in Ateneo
among the poems written are: In 1877; 1.
El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of
Columbus) - this poem praises Columbus,
the discover of America. 2. Colon y Juan II
(Columbus and John II) - this poem related
how King John II of Portugal missed fame
and riches by his failure to finance the
projected expedition of Columbus to the
New World.

3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha

(Great Solace in Great Misfortune) - this is
a legend in verse of the tragic life of
Columbus. 4. Un Dialogo Alusivo a la
Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell
Dialogue of the Students) - the last poem
written by Rizal in Ataneo; it is a poignant
poem of farewell to his classmates. Rizal's
Studies at Ateneo (1872-1877) » He
excelled in all subjects and won five medals
at the end of the school term; and offered
all his excellent ratings and medals to his
parents. » Considered the most brilliant
Atenean of his time - the <Pride of the
Jesuits= » During his stay, his grades were
all Sobresaliente (Excellent) » March 23,
1877; he received his degree of Bachelor of
Art with honors. » The academic
excellence of Rizal and his literary skills
qualified him for membership in two
exclusive organizations at the Ateneo
namely: He became the perfect candidate
for » The Academy of Spanish Literature