Session 4.

Triumphs in Ateneo, 1872-1877

 Session Objectives
At the end of this session, the student shall be
able to:
1. Know the pretty fourteen year old Batangena
whom Rizal fall in love with.
2. Know where did Jose Rizal start his formal
education.
3. Recall the literary piece of Jose Rizal won the
first prize in Ateneo.
4. Know the life of Rizal in the University.
 I. Rizal Enters University

In April 1877, Rizal nearly 16 years of age, enrolled

in UST taking Philosophy and Letters with 2 reasons:
1. His father liked it; and
2. He was ”still uncertain as to what career to
pursue”.

During the following term (1878-79) Rizal took up

the medical course.
 II. Jesuit System of Education
The Jesuits were considered the best educators
of Spain, and perhaps of Europe, and so, when
they were permitted to return to the Philippines,
although their power to administer parishes was
restricted except in the remote regions of
Mindanao, the privilege of founding colleges, they
had to apply to the City of Manila for subsidies.
That is why the college which began to function in
the year 1865, was called the Ateneo Municipal. 
 The classes were divided into groups of
interns and externs:

1. The first constituted the Roman Empire and

2. The second, the Carthaginian Empire.
 In each empire there were five dignitaries:

1. Emperor;
2. Tribune;
3. Decurion;
4. Centurion; and
5. Standard-Bearer.
 These dignities were won by means of individual
competitions in which it was necessary to catch one’s
adversary in error three times.

The empires considered themselves in perpetual

warfare, and when an individual of one empire was
caught in error by one belonging to the enemy empire, a
point was counted in favor of the latter.

At the end of each week or two, the points in favor of

each were added and the empire, which obtained more
point, was declared winner.
 III. Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo

From the first day, Jose learned to systematize

his work; he fixed a program of what he had to
do in the twenty-four hours of the day and did
not in the least deviate from it. Thus he
disciplined his will and subjected it to the
commands of his reason. 
 IV. Second Year in Ateneo
The second year, Jose had the same professor
as in the previous year; but instead of lodging
outside the City, he resided at No. 6 Calle
Magallanes.

At the end of the term he obtained a medal,

and upon returning to his town, he again visited
his mother in jail alone. This was three months
before her release.
 V. Teenage Interest in Reading
He devoted himself to reading novels, and
one of those he enjoyed most was Dumas’
(father) The Count of Monte Cristo.

He also asked his father to buy him a copy of

The Universal History by Cesar Cantanu, and
according to himself he profited much from its
perusal. 
 VI. Third Year in Ateneo

The rejoicing that her release produced in his

spirit had much influence on the result of his
studies in the third year, for he began to win
prizes in the quarterly examinations. 
 VI. Third Year in Ateneo
The rejoicing that her release produced in his
spirit had much influence on the result of his
studies in the third year, for he began to win
prizes in the quarterly examinations. 
 VIII. First Romance of Rizal
Rizal's supposed first love, Segunda
Katigbak, was but a harmless flirtation
between a 14-year-old convent-bred girl
and a teen-aged Rizal.

Segunda was already betrothed to a

Manuel Luz of Lipa, Batangas, when they
met.