CHAPTER 5

MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO

TOMAS (1877-1882)

Sanchia Alvarez
John Michael De Torres
Carlo Manalo
Rizal at the University of Santo Tomas
 University of Santo Tomas

He transferred to Medical course where he won more Literary Laurels;

had other romances with pretty girls; and fought against Spanish students
who insulted the brown students.
Run by Dominicans.
MOTHER’S OPPOSITION TO HIGHER EDUCATION
 DOÑA TEODORA
 Opposed the idea of sending Rizal to
University to pursue Higher Education
because she was aware what
happened to Gom-Bur-Za and feared
of might would happen to Rizal.
 Rizal was surprised by his mother’s
opposition, who was a woman of
education and culture.
 Despite her mother’s opposition, Don
Francisco told Paciano to accompany
Rizal to Manila.
 RIZAL’S ENTERS THE UNIVERSITY
 April 1877
 Rizal enrolled at UST, taking the
course on Philosophy and Letters.
Reasons

• 1. His father liked it.

 Fr. Pablo Ramon • 2. He was still
Rector of the Ateneo.
uncertain as to what


career to pursue.
 1877 • Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and
To History of Philosophy during his first year term
1878

1877
• Rizal took up medical course upon the advised of Ateneo’s
To Rector to study medicine.
1879

REASON • To be able to cure his mother’s growing blindness

FINISHES SURVEYING COURSE IN ATENEO (1878)
 While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took vocational
course leading to the title of “Perito Agrimensor” (Expert Surveyor).

 He excelled in all subjects in the surveying course obtaining gold medals an

Agriculture and Topography.

 Vocational Course:
 Agriculture
 Commerce
 Mechanics
 Surveying
 At the age of 17, he passed the final exam in the surveying course but
could not be granted the title as Surveyor because he was under age.

 November 25, 1881

 The title as Surveyor to Rizal was given.

 Extra-Curricular Activities
 President, Academy of Spanish Literature
 Secretary, Academy of Natural Sciences.
 Secretary, Marian Congregation
 ROMANCES WITH OTHER GIRLS
 Segunda Katigbak
 Miss L
 Reason:
The sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart.
His father did not like the family of Miss L.
 Leonor ‘Orang” Valenzuela
 A medical student from Calamba, Laguna
 The charming daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela.
 Tall girl with a regal bearing.
 Rizal sent Leonor a love notes written in invisible ink.
 Fair with seductive and attractive eyes.
 ROMANCES WITH OTHER GIRLS
 Leonor Rivera
 Rizal’s cousin from Camiling
 Born in Camiling, Tarlac on Aril 11, 1867.
 A Student of La Concordia College where Rizal’s sister, Soledad was then studying.
 Frail, pretty girl and tender as a budding flower with kindly wishful eyes.
 Taimis
 Leonor’s pseudonym in order to camouflage their intimate relationship from their parents and
friends.
 Rizal lived in:
 Casa Tomasina No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros
 Antonio Rivera
 Rizal’s landlorn-uncle
 Father of Leonor Rivera
VICTIM OF SPANISH OFFICER’S BRUTALITY

One dark summer vacation night of 1878 in Calamba

when Rizal was a freshman Medical student at the
University of Santo Tomas. He was walking in the
street and dimly perceived the figure of a man while
passing him not knowing that the person was a
Lieutenant of the Guardia Civil, he did not salute nor
say a greetings. With a snarl, he turned upon Rizal,
whipped out his sword and brutally slashed his back.
 VICTIM OF SPANISH OFFICER’S BRUTALITY
 Rizal reported the incident to General Primo de Rivera, the Spanish
Governor General of the Philippines at that time but nothing came out
because he was an Indio and the accused was a Spaniard.

 Later in a letter to Blumentritt dated March 21, 1887, he related, “I

went to the Captain-General but I could not obtain justice; my wound
lasted two weeks.”
 “TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH”
 Liceo Artisco-Literano (Artistic-Literary Lyceum)
 A society of literary men and artist.
 Held a Literary Contest and offered a prize (Silver Pen,
feather-shaped decorated with gold ribbon) for best poem.

 “A La Juventud Filipina” (To the Filipino Youth)

 Rizal’s prize-winning and inspiring poem of flawless for.
 “TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH”
 Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from the lethargy; to let their
genius mind fly swiftly the wind and descend with art and science to
break the chains that have long bound the spirit of the people.

 Reasons why Rizal’s Poem was a Classic in the Philippine Literature:

 It was the first great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was
recognized by Spanish Literary Authorities.
 It was expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos were the
“fair hope of the Fatherland.”
 “THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS” (1880)
 Artistic – Literary Lyceum Opened  The Coucil of the Gods
another literary contest (to both  Was based on the Greek classics.
 Aided by Fr. Rector of Ateneo
Filipinos and Spaniards) to
commemorate the 4th Centennial of
the death of Cervantes.  Prize: Gold Ring engraved the bust of
Cervantes
 Cervantes
 Was a Spain’s glorified man-of-letters
and famous author of Don Quixote.
 Winners:
 1st Place: Jose Rizal (19yrs. Old)
 Rizal submitted an allegorical drama
 2nd Place: D. N. Del Puzo (Spanish)
entitled “El Consejo de los Dioses”
(The Council of the Gods.)
 Because of its literary superiority
 OTHER LITERARY WORKS
 “Junto Al Pasig” (Besides the Pasig)
 (Zarzuela)staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880 of the Annual Celebration of the Feast Day of Immaculate
Conception (Patroness of Ateneo).

 A Filipinas
 (a sonnet, 1880) Rizal urged all Filipino artists to glorify the Philippines.

 Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma
 (poem, 1879) was declaimed by an Atenean, Manuel Fernandez on the night of December 8, 1879 in honor of the
Ateneo’s Patroness.

 AI M. R. P. Pablo Ramon
 (a poem, 1881) Rizal wrote a poem as an expression of affection to Father Pablo Ramon, the Ateneo Rector, who
had been so kind and helpful to him.
 RIZAL’S VISIT TO PAKIL AND PAGSANJAN
 Summer of May 1881
 Rizal went to a pilgrimage to the town of
Pakil, famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de
los Dolores.

 He was accompanied by his sisters—

Saturnina, Maria and Trinidad and their
female friends.

 They took a casco (flat-bottom sailing

vessel) from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna and
stayed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel
Regalado, whose son Nicolas was Rizal’s
friend in Manila.
 RIZAL’S VISIT TO PAKIL AND PAGSANJAN
 Rizal and his companions were
fascinated by the famous Turumba
(people dancing in the streets during
the procession in honor of the
miraculous Birhen Maria de los
Dolores)
 Rizal was infatuated by a pretty girl
colegiala, Vicenta Ybardolaza, who
skillfully played the harp at the
Regalado home.
 Reasons why Rizal and his company
made side trip to the neighbouring
town Pagsanjan:
 It was native town of Leonor
Valenzuela
 To see the world famed Pagsanjan
Falls.
 CHAMPION OF THE FILIPINO STUDENTS
 Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students in their fight against
the arrogant Spanish students.
 In 1880, Rizal founded a secret society of the Filipino students in the
University of Santo Tomas called “Compañerismo”(Comradeship),
whose members were called “Companions of Jehu,” after valiant
Hebrew general who fought the Armaneans.
 Galicano Apacible (Rizal’s cousin from Batangas) was the Secretary.
 Fierce encounter near the Escolta in Manila where Rizal was wounded
on the head, and tenderly washed and dressed by Leonor Rivera in his
boarding house “Casa Tomasina”.
 UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST
 The Dominican were hostile to him.
 The Filipino students were racially discriminated by the Spaniards.
 The method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.

 RESULT:
 Rizal, the most brilliant graduate of Ateneo failed to win high scholastic grade.
 RIZAL’S SCHOLASTIC RECORDS IN THE UST
(1879-1882)
 1877 – 1878 (Philosophy & Letters)
Cosmology & Metaphysics ------ Excellent
Theodicy ------ Excellent
History of Philosophy ------ Excellent

 1878 -- 1879 (Medicine) -1st Year

Physics ------ Fair
Chemistry ------ Excellent
Natural History ------ Good
Anatomy I ------ Good
Dissection I ------ Good
 RIZAL’S SCHOLASTIC RECORDS IN THE UST
(1879-1882)
 1879 – 1880 (Medicine) – 2nd Year
 Anatomy 2 ------ Good
 Dissection 2 ------ Good
 Physiology ------ Good
 Private Hygiene ------ Good
 Public Hygiene ------ Good
 1880 – 1881 (Medicine) – 3rd Year
 General Pathology ------ Fair
 Therapeutics ------ Excellent
 Surgery ------ Good
 RIZAL’S SCHOLASTIC RECORDS IN THE UST
(1879-1882)
 1881 – 1882 (Medicine) – 4th Year
 Medical Pathology ------ Very Good
 Surgical Pathology ------ Very Good
 Obstetrics ------ Very Good
 DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD
 After finishing the Fourth Year of his medical course, Rizal decided to
study in Spain. He could no longer endure the rampant bigotry,
discrimination, and hostility in the University of Santo Tomas.

 He did not seek his parent’s permission and blessings to go abroad;

and even his beloved Leonor.
END OF CHAPTER 5

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