Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872-1877) Ateneo Municipal

under Jesuit supervision Formerly Escuela Pia (charity school) Bitter rival of College of San Juan de Letran Located in Intramuros, within the walls of Manila

RIZAL ENTERS THE ATENEO Fr. Magin Ferrado, the college registrar refused to accept Rizal because 1) he was late for registration and 2) he was sickly and undersized for his age. Through the help of Manuel Xerez Burgos (the nephew of Fr. Burgos) Rizal was admitted to Ateneo. Registered under the name Rizal because their surname Mercado was under suspivion. He boarded in a house on Caraballo Street, owned by Titay who owed their family P300.

JESUIT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION More advanced than other colleges at that time Trained the character of student by rigid discipline and religious instruction. Promoted physical culture, humanities and scientific studies. Offered Bachelor of Arts and vocational courses on Agriculture, Commerce, Mechanics and Surveying. Students were divided into two groups: 1. Roman Empire- internos (boarders); red banner 2. Carthaginian Empire- externos (non-boarders); blue banner Each empire has its ranks: 1. Emperor 2. Tribune 3. Decurion 4. Centurion 5. Standard Bearer Students fought for position and may challenge any officer to answer the questions on the day's lesson. (3 mistakes, then your out)

RIZAL'S FIRST YEAR AT ATENEO Fr. Jose Bech- first professor in Ateneo Ranked last but progressed rapidly in the first week and became emperor at the end of first month. Took Spanish lessons in Santa Isabel College during noon recess. Paid 3 pesos for the lessons Didn't try hard enough on the 2nd term. Ranked 2nd at the end of first year although all his grades were still marked Excellent.

SUMMER VACATION (1873) He didnt enjoy his vacation because his mother is in prison To cheer him up, his siste Saturnina brought him to Tanauan He went to Santa Cruz to visit his mother without telling his father

SECOND YEAR AT ATENEO (1873-74) He boarded inside the Intramuros at No.6 Magallanes Street withDoa Pepay as his landlady Nothing unusual happened except that he repented having neglected his studies last year because he was offended by his teachers remarks He studied hard this year and became emperor once again

PROPHECY OF MOTHERS RELEASE Went to visit his mother and upon their conversation Doa Teodora told Rizal about her dream and Rizal interpreted the dream that in 3 months time his mother will be released form prison

THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1874-75) Shortly after the start of classes his mother was released from prison Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies though his grade remains excellent He only won one medal in Latin and failed to won the medal in Spanish because he was beaten by a Spaniard

FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO (1875-76) He became an interno onJune 16, 1875 Fr. Franciso de Paula Sanchez- best professor in Ateneo (1) great educator and scholar and (2) inspired Rizal to study harder and to write poetry

LAST YEAR IN ATENEO (1876-77) His studies continued to fare well and he excelled in all his subjects. He obtained the highest grades in all his subjectsPhilosophy, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Languages, Mineralogy, etc.

GRADUATION WITH HIGHEST HONORS On March 23, 1877 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the of 16 Graduated at the head of his class

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO

An active member and later on the secretary of the Marian Congregation because of his devotion to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception He was a member of the Academy of SpanishLiterature and Academy of Natural Sciences. These academies were exclusive to Ateneans and only those who were gifted in literature and Sciences could qualify for membership Cultivated his literary talent under Fr. Sanchez Studied painting under the famous Spanish painter Agustin Saez Studied sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, a noted Filipino Sculptor

FIRST ROMANCE OF RIZAL Segunda Katigbak, 14 y/o from Lipa Met her on his grandmothers house in Trozo, Manila Got to know more during his visit to La Concordia College where his sister Olimpia was studying Segunda was engaged to Manuel Luz and got married after. Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

Mothers Opposition to Higher Learning Don Francisco and Paciano wanted Jose to go to University while DoaTeodora didnt want Jose to pursue higher education because of the fear that he end up like GOMBURZA Bachelor of Arts in the Spanish times is only equivalent to high school today

Rizal Enters the University Matriculated at UST on April 1877 at the age of 16 Took up Philosophy of Letters because (1) his father liked it and (2) he was uncertain on what course to pursue Wrote a letter to Fr. Pablo Ramon (rector of Ateneo) to ask advice on the choice of a career. Received reply from Fr. Ramon on the second term (1878-79) to study medicine. Another reason for shifting to medicine was to cure his mothers growing blindness

Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)

Took up a vocational course leading to the title of perito agrimensor (expert surveyor). Excelled in all subjects in surveying and obtained gold medals in agriculture and topography

Passed the final examination in the surveying course at the age of 17, but could not get the license because he was underage Title was issued to him on November 25, 1881 President of the Academy of Spanish Literature and Secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences and Marian Congregation

Romances with Other Girls Courted a young woman in Calamba called Ms. L but stopped his wooing because (1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart and (2) his father did not like the family of Ms. L

Sophomore Year Boarded in the house of Doa Concha Leyva in Intramuros who was next door neighbour of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela from Pagsanjan. Capitan Juan and Capitan Sanday Valenzuela had a daughter named Leonor Valenzuela. Courted Leonor because of her regal bearing and called her Orang. He wrote her love notes in invisible ink (salt and water). Same with Segunda, Rizal stopped short of proposing to Orang

Junior Year Next Romance is with Leonor Rivera, born on April 11, 1867 at Camiling, Tarlac Boarded in Casa Tomasina at No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros. His landlord is his uncle, Antonio Rivera (Leonors father) Leonor studied at La Concordia College where Soledad was also studying In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her letters Taimis to camouflage their relationship Rizal became engaged to Leonor

Victim of Spanish Officers Brutality On his freshman year at UST he was brutally slashed on the back by a Lieutenant of the Guardia civil because he didnt salute or said good evening since he didnt recognize him due to the darkness that evening Reported the incident to Gov. General Primo de Rivera but nothing came out of it because he was an Indio and the lieutenant was a Spaniard

To the Filipino Youth (A la Juventud Filipina)- 1879

won the literary contest held by the Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) first prize winner was given a silver pen, feather shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon. Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than the wind and descend with art and science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of the people. A classic in the Philippine literature because (1) first great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary authorities and (2) expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept of the Filipinos, and not the foreigners were the fair hope of the fatherland.

The Council of the Gods (El Consejo de los Dioses)- 1880

The following year the Liceo Artistico-Literario hold another contest to commemorate the 4th centennial of Cervantes Rizal won the first prize despite many objections. He was awarded with a gold ring in which the bust of Cervantes was engraved.

Rizals Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan On May, 1881 Rizal went on a pilgrimage to the town of Pakil, famous for the shrine of Birhen Maria de los Dolores He was accompanied by her sistersSaturnina, Maria, Trinidad and their female friend They took a casco, a flat bottomed sailing vessel from Calamba to Pakil Rizal and his companions was fascinated by the turumba, the people dancing in the streets during the procession in honor of the miraculous Birhen Maria de los Dolores Rizal was infatuated to a pretty girl Vicenta Ybardolaza, who skilfully played the harp at the Regalado home Rizal and his companions made a side trip to Pagsanjan because (1) it was Leonor Valenzuelas home town and (2) to see the world famous Pagsanjan falls.

Unhappy Days at UST Domican professors were hostile to him The Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards The method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

Decision to Study Abroad

After finishing 4th year, Rizal decided to study in Spain because he could no longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in UST Paciano, Saturnina and Lucia as well as Uncle Antonio Rivera, the Valenzuela family approved his going to Spain He did not seek his parents permission because he knew that they would disapprove He didnt bring Leonor into his confidence because being a woman, young and romantic; he felt that she could not keep a secret