Reflect on Rizal's educational influences: "How does my Ateneo de Davao

University education influence me to serve Mindanao?"

When Rizal was three years old, his mother worked as his teacher.
His mother instilled in him the alphabet, prayers, as well as politeness and
proper behavior. He learnt Latin and Spanish during his primary education.
He had a keen interest in the arts, which led to his becoming a painter and
impressing others. Jose Rizal was moved to Manila in 1872 to further his
study. He attempted to enroll at Colegio San Juan de Letran, but his father
preferred a Jesuit institution. He was allowed admission to the Ateneo
through the efforts of Manuel Xerez Burgos. A candidate had to pass an
admission exam on Christian doctrine, reading, writing, grammar, and basic
arithmetic in order to enroll at the Ateneo. Jose didn't take his admission
exams Jose didn't stay in Manila; instead, he traveled back to his
hometown to participate in the celebration honoring its patron saint. At that
point, his father decided to send Jose to the Ateneo instead.

Doa Teodora, Pepe Rizal's mother, had a vision that warned her
son's life would be in danger if he learned too much. She finally agreed to
let him enroll in college after Don Francisco and Paciano had a lengthy
conversation with her family. Jose Rizal was appalled by the racial
prejudice of Dominican professors toward Filipino students in the
Philippines as well as the rudimentary teaching methodology used there. At
the University of Santo Tomas, he witnessed and personally experienced
the widespread discrimination against Filipinos by Spaniards. He made the
decision as a result to quit UST and continue his medical studies in Spain.
It should be recalled that in those days, the college for boys in Manila
offered vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and
surveying. During his time at the University of Santo Tomas (1877–78),
Rizal also studied at Ateneo, where he completed the vocational course
leading to the title of porito agrimensor.

Jose Rizal left for Spain, but it was kept a secret from the friars, the
Spanish government, and even his parents—especially his mother, who
would not let him go. Only a small number of close family friends and family
members were told. On June 21, 1884, the Universidad Central de Madrid
awarded him the Licentiate in Medicine degree. He studied and passed all
of the courses necessary for the Doctor of Medicine degree the following
academic year.