Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo

de Manila (1872 - 1877)

By: Micko Magallanes of 1st Year Block 3
 Escuala Pia/Ateneo Municipal/Ateneo de Manila
At the age of 11, Jose was sent to Manila and entered
the Ateneo Municipal, a college under the supervision
of the Spanish Jesuits. This college has a bitter rivalry
with College of San Juan de Letran which is owned
by the Dominicans.

Rizal passed the entrance exam at the Letran, but

his father’s decision changed and wanted him to study at Ateneo instead. But the Ateneo’s registrar’s
refused to admit him for 2 reasons: 1.) He was late for registration and 2.) he was sickly and
undersized for his age
 Jesuit’s Education System
Jesuit’s system was more advanced than that of other colleges in that period because:

Ø It trained the character of students by rigid discipline and religious instruction.

Ø It promotes physical culture, humanities and scientific studies.
Ø Aside from academic courses leading to AB, it offers vocational course in agriculture,
commerce, mechanics and surveying.
Ø They were given splendid professors.
Ø They acquired prestige as an excellent college for boys.
2 Empires of students
Ø Roman Empire (internos/boarders) - Red Banner
Ø Carthaginian Empire (externos/non-boarders) - Blue Banner

5 Ranks of each empires

Ø EMPEROR
Ø TRIBUNE
Ø DECURION
Ø CENTURION
Ø STANDARD BEARER
 Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-1873)
As a newcomer and knowing only little Spanish, Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class. He
was assigned to the Carthaginians because was a non-boarder. But at first week, he progressed
rapidly. And at end of the month, he became an emperor and was the brightest student in the
whole class, and was rewarded a prize. To improve his Spanish fluency, he took private lessons
in Santa Isabel College during noon recesses. He paid 3 pesos for it, but it is surely worth the
price.

At the second half of the year, Rizal didn’t tried hard to retain his supremacy because of a
professor’s bad remarks at him. He placed second at the end of the year.
 Rizal’s Second Year in Ateneo (1873-1874)

Nothing unusual happened to Rizal during his second term in the Ateneo, except that he repented
having neglected his studies the previous year simply because he was offended by the teacher’s
remarks. So he studied harder, then he became an emperor again. At the end of school year, Rizal
received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal.

He also became interested in reading, and it started during the summer vacation. As a normal
teenager, he became interested in love stories and romantic tales.
 Rizal’s Third Year in Ateneo (1874-1875)

Rizal’s grades were excellent, but he only won 1 medal in Latin. He failed to win the medal in
Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently rich. He returned to Calamba for the summer
vacation. He himself was not impressed by his scholastic work.
 Rizal’s Fourth Year in Ateneo (1874-1875)

Rizal became an interno (boarder) in the Ateneo. One of his professors, Fr. Francisco de Paula
Sanchez, inspired him to study harder and to write poetry. He became an admirer and friend of
Jose.

Rizal won 5 medals and topped in all subjects and on March, 1876 he returned to Calamba.

Rizal became the pride of the Jesuits and he obtained highest grades in all subjects. He received
the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors during commencement exercise.
 Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo

Rizal was active in extracurricular activities. He was an emperor inside the class and a campus
leader outside. He was a secretary of the Marian Congregation. He was a member of Academy
of Spanish Literature and Academy of Natural Sciences. These academies were exclusive
societies in Ateneo. He was writing poetry, studied painting and sculpture, and engaged in
gymnastics and fencing to develop his weak body.
 Sculptural Works in Ateneo

He carved an image of the Virgin Mary with Batikuling (Phil. Hardwood) with his pocket
knife. Father Lleonart requested Rizal to carve an image of Sacred Heart of Jesus, and within few
days he presented it to him. The old Jesuit was so impressed and intended to bring it to Spain. But
he forgot it, and instead, the students placed it in the dormitory.
 Poems Written in Ateneo
Doña Teodora was the first one to discover Rizal’s poetical talent while Fr. Sanchez helped Rizal
to develop his talent.

Poems made by Rizal:

Ø Mi Primera Inspiration (My First Inspiration) - wrote before he was 14 years old for his
mother
Ø Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light
Ø The Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good Education
Ø To the Child
Ø To the Virgin Mary
 Dramatic Work in Ateneo

Father Sanchez requested Rizal to wrote a drama based with ST. EUSTACE THE MARTYR and
on June 2, 1876, Rizal had finished the drama.
 Love at first sight
After graduating from Ateneo (he was 16 years old), he caught a disease that most people want to
have. It was Sunday when he visited his grandma, and Mariano Katigbak accompanied him.
When they reached the house, there were other guests, and one of them is this attractive girl that
made his heart jump at a rate.

She was the sister of Mariano. She was Segunda Katigbak, a pretty 14 year old Batangueña girl
from Lipa. Rizal was urged by other guests to draw Segunda’s portrait, and of course he did. He
came to know more about her, but unfortunately, Segunda was already engaged to be married to
another man :(