Rizal’s Life: Higher

Education
Week 5 Group
INTRODUCTION

• Dr. Jose P. Rizal was born and raised on a quite wealthy family, and
their family roots on both sides came from a noble lineage, both
maternal and paternal, can be traced to principalian roots. A well
knowned Filipino elites during colonial era.
• This explains Dr. Jose Rizal’s academic life to be easier for him as
he has easier access on education especially on prestigious
universities, he even went to Europe to study.
Ateneo Municipal de Manila (1872-1877)

• The first school where Rizal is interested with is the Colegio de san
Juan de Letran as he actually took an entrance examination there,
but as his father requested, he instead enrolled at the Ateneo
Municipal de Manila or as we know it Ateneo de Manila.
• He took a Land surveyor and Assessor's degree at the age of 11
• During this academic years, He was considered as an inferior and
was placed at the bottom of the class
• But by the end of the month, he became the emperor of his class
and received a prize, a religious picture.
Ateneo Municipal de Manila

• Rizal also took private lessons in Santa Isabel College

• He received 5 medals and graduated as sobresaliente, He graduated on
March 23, 1877(16 years old) with the degree on Land surveying and assessor.
• Received the degree of bachelor of arts, with highest honors but not a
Valedictiorian.
• Other extara curricular activities of Rizal includes being campus leader a
secretary of the Marian Congregation Religious Society a member of the
Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences, studied
painting under the famous Spanish Painter, Agustin Saez, improved his
sculpture talents under the supervision of Romualdo de Jesus and engaged in
gymnastics and fencing and continued the physical training under his sports-
minded Tio Manuel.
University Of Sto.Tomas (During Ateneo
Municipal de Manila)

• Rizal also took Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo

Tomas while he studying at Ateneo Municipal de Manila, he took it
as his Pre-Law and finished with a mark of excelente or excellent.
He finished the course of Philosophy.
University Of Sto.Tomas (1877-1882)

• But upon learning that his mother was going blind, Rizal opted to
study ophthalmology at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
He, however, was not able to complete the course because “he
became politically isolated by adversaries among the faculty and
clergy who demanded that he assimilate to their system.”
• He instead received his four-year practical training in medicine
at Ospital de San Juan de Dios in Intramuros. And also received a
mark of sobresaliente in courses of Patologia Medica (Medical
Pathology), Patología Quirúrgica (Surgical Pathology) and
Obstretics.
University Of Sto.Tomas (1877-1882)

• Despite this achievements, He actually had some struggles on

certain subjects like Física (Physics) and Patología
General (General Pathology).
 Universidad Central de Madrid

• Without the knowledge of his parents (But secretly supported by

his brother), Rizal traveled to Europe in May 1882, On November
3, 1882, he enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid taking up
two courses: Philosophy an Letters and Medicine.
• His departure for Spain was kept secret from Spanish Authorities,
friars.
• And to avoid detection , he used the name Jose Mercado.
• It was in Madrid that he began writing Noli Me Tangere.
Universidad Central de Madrid

• Rizal also encountered some several setbacks during his stay on

Europe including not able to submit the thesis required for
graduation nor paid the corresponding fees.
• With that, he was not awarded his Doctor’s Diploma.
• Despite this, He was awarded the Degree of Licentiate in Philosophy
and Letters by the Universidad Central de Madrid June 19, 1885 with
the rating of excellent.
University of Paris and University of
Heidelberg

• In order to specialize in ophthalmology, Jose Rizal went to Paris

and Germany to achive his goal on being an Opthalmologist and
cure his mother’s failing eyesight.
• He first went to University of Paris to gather some experience in
ophthalmology.
• He then left for Germany and went to Heidelberg, Germany. He
worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr.
Otto Becker, a distinguished German ophthalmologist
University of Paris and University of
Heidelberg

• On April 22, 1886, Rizal wrote a poem entitled A Las Flores de

Heidelberg (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) because he was
fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, which
was the light blue flower called “forget-me-not”.
• On August 14, 1886, Rizal arrived in Leipzig. There, he attended
some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and
psychology.
University of Heidelberg

• In 1887, he completed his eye specialization course at the age of

25 under the renowned professor, Otto Becker. at the University of
Heidelberg.
• It was also in that year that Rizal’s first novel was published in
Berlin.