Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad
Ateneo Municipal
While in Calamba, Laguna, Jose Rizal witnessed in full innocence when his family
discussed about his future education. His family agreed that he would be sent to
study in Manila. One June 10, 1872, his elder brother Paciano accompanied him to
Manila where he took the entrance examination at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran
covering the following subjects: Christian doctrine, Arithmetic and Reading. After
the examination, Rizal was given the “approved” mark. He returned home happy after
passing the examination. However, due to the fateful tragedy experienced by Dona
Teodora from the hands of the abusive Spaniards, the family decided to send him to
Ateneo Municipal (known as Escuela Pia-Charity School for Boys) then managed by
Jesuits fathers.
During his first few days at the Ateneo Municipal, Jose Rizal dressed like the
other boys wearing coat and tie. He frequently visited the chapel of Jesuits
fathers to hear Mass and say his prayers. For the first time, he saw a great number
of boys of mixed heritages: Spaniards, Mestizos and Filipinos. He also met his
Jesuit professor Father Jose Bech. Just like the students of today with keen
observation, Rizal described his teacher:
“The priest was a little lazy so that it was not strange that he would
sometimes be found angry and not in a very tolerant mood; at other times
he played and enjoyed himself like a child.”
Among his classmates in his first days at the Ateneo was Florencio Gavino Oliva who
was his town mate from Calamba, Laguna. Rizal described him as having outstanding
talent with an ordinary intelligence; another was Joaquin Garrido, a Spanish
mestizo whom Rizal described as talented and Gonzalo Margalno who held the position
of Roman Emperor, as the best in class.
Interest in Reading
Rizal’s interest in reading never ceased due to the influence of his father Don
Francisco who stored volumes of books in their Calamba residence. This is where he
had read different novels, articles and other writings. Some of his readings were
as follows:
1. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
2. UNIVERSAL HISTORY
3. TRAVELS IN THE PHILIPPINES
RIZAL COMPOSED BY RIZAL IN ATENEO
Rizal wrote poems in various topics, from 1875 to 1877 about discovery,
exploration, religion, war, education, childhood memories, politics and religion.
These poems are as follows:
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1875
1. Felicitation
2. El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure-Hymn to
Magellan’s Fleet”
3. El Cautiverio y el Triunfo (Captivity and Triumph)
4. Y Es Espanol: Elcano el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (Elcano Was a
Spaniard, the first to Circumnavigate the Earth)
5. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of
Jolo)
#POEMS WRITTEN IN 1876#
1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of my Town)
2. Por la Education Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education: Our
Motherland Receives Light)
3. Entrada Triumfal de los Reyes Catolices en Granada (Triumphal Entry of the
Catholic Kings in Granada)
4. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance
Between Religion and Education)
5. A La Virgen de Antipolo (To the Virgin of Antipolo)
POEMS WRITTEN IN 1877
1. Heroismo (Heroism)
2. Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II)
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Dedicha (Great Solace in the Greatest
Misfortune)
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Jose Rizal was only 16 when he graduated at the Ateneo Municipal on March 23, 1877
with highest honors in class, earning him degree of Bachelor Arts. Today, Rizal is
recognized as the great alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University.
RIZAL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
After Rizal’s graduation from the Ateneo Municipal, his father Don Francisco
decided to send him for higher education in Manila. Teodora was hesitant because
she was aware of the sad fate befalling the intelligent young Filipinos who were
critical of Spanish authorities in the Philippines. She was vocal in her opposition
to the decision of Don Francisco. The father of Rizal, however, was convinced of
the great future that awaited his son. He was determined to send Rizal for higher
education.
On April 1877, Jose Rizal returned to Manila and enrolled at the University of Sto.
Tomas, taking the course Philosophy and letters. At the time though, Rizal was
still confused on what course to study.
Upon the advice of Reverend father Pablo Ramon (director of Ateneo Municipal),
Rizal enrolled in a medical recourse a year after, hoping to cure the failing
eyesight of his mother. He eventually specialized in Ophthalmology.
Experience of Spanish Brutality
Rizal was accustomed to rejoining his family in Calamba for vacation during school
breaks from his medical studies at UST. While He was walking alone along a dark
street one night (1878), Rizal failed to recognize the Spanish civil guard the
soldier. At a striking distance, the civil guard (Guardia Civil) whipped Rizal
mercilessly at the back with a dry stingray tail (buntot pagi). He suffered from
the inflicted wounds that lasted two weeks to cure.
Experience of Spanish Brutality
Rizal could not accept the brutal treatment inflicted by the civil guard to him; he
went to Captain General Primo de Rivera and complained about the incident. Instead
of hearing Rizal’s complaint, the Captain General even reprimanded him, admonishing
him that he should be thankful he is still alive.
ARTISTIC WORKS
Jose Rizal manifested his literary genius at the University of Santo Tomas. In
1879, the artistic and literary Lyceum, a society whose members include artists in
literature, sponsored a contest in poetry, writing and composition. “A la Juventud
Filipina” (To the Filipino Youth) as his entry to the composition. After expert
reading and scrutiny by the board of judges among all entries submitted by
Filipinos, Spaniards and mestizos, Rizal’s poem was adjudged superior from other
entrees.
Today, politicians, statesmen scholars, historians and teachers lifted the
line “The youth is the hope of the motherland” from the poem. Rizal also championed
the use of Filipino as a national identity.
Rizal also compared other literary works whule an active alumnus of Ateneo
Municipal and a medical student of UST. He wrote the following artistic pieces
during this time:
1. Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)
2. A Filipinas (To the Philippines)
Academic Performance in University of Santo Tomas
As a student at UST, Rizal did not fare well in his grades as what is
expected of him. Historians and Rizalists stated the following reasons for his
unhappiness at UST:
-Rizal Dominican professors at UST manifested their prejudice and indifference.
They are perceived as racially discriminating to Filipinos.
-Their method of instruction was obsolete and far from the brilliant method of
education employed at the Ateneo.
RIZAL’S FIRST SOJOURN IN EUROPE
On May 3, 1882, Rizal left the Philippines for Europe for the first time. He was
disillusioned with his studies at the University of Santo Tomas. He received
mediocre grades in this school owing to the repressive governance of the Spanish
regime. His decision to study abroad was made secret with only a few of his close
relatives knowing his plan. His parents, especially Dona Teodora, objected his
plans of pursuing higher education. From the start, Rizal’s mother already sensed
the danger in Rizal’s desire for advanced studies. She had witnessed the tragic
incident that ended the lives of those who were highly critical of the Spanish
government.
Rizal’s brother Paciano silently supported Rizal in his libertinian struggles.
Rizal’s education in Europe was largely instrumental to the shaping of his
character and idealism. He practically arranged Rizal’s secret departure on board
the streamer Salvadora with the help of his uncle Antonio and his brother-in-law
Manuel T. Hidalgo.
Paciano sent P50.00 monthly allowances to Rizal between 1882-1887 while Rizal was
studying at the Central Universidad de Madrid.
FINAL ACTIVITIES BEFORE LEAVING FOR EUROPE
May 2, 1882 in Manila
-Rizal’s friend, Mateo Evangelista, helped him acquire his passport going to Europe
and introduced him to the ship Captain named Donato Lecha who would look after him
while at sea.
-Pedro Paterno gave him a letter of recommendation to his friend in Europe.
In the afternoon, Rizal went to Ateneo Municipal and visited his Jesuit mentors who
gave him strong letters of recommendation to the Jesuit Fathers in Barcelona. He
also bade farewell to his art Professor Agustin.
May 3, 1882, Departure for Europe
At 5:00am Rizal heard Mass at the Sto. Domingo Church. It was his last mass before
leaving the country,; this was the first time in his life to go abroad. The same
morning, the steamship Salvadora left the Philippines with the student Rizal who
embarked on a mission for his motherland in Europe.
While at sea, Rizal wrote a letter to his parents stating his mission to fulfill
for the Philippines.
Rizal’s Travel
-Singapore
-Sri Lanka
-Africa
-Italy
-France
-Barcelona Spain
Rizal in Madrid, Spain
Rizal found Barcelona a pleasant place and he intended to stay in the city to
continue his study in the field of Medicine. However, through a letter sent by his
eldest brother Paciano Rizal from Manila he noted:
“It is said here that you will finish the medical course at Barcelona and not
at Madrid. To me, the principal purpose of your departure is not to finish this
course but to study other things of greater usefulness or that to which you
are more inclined. So, I think that you ought to study in Madrid, center of all
provinces, because though education it is true that there is more life, more
work and better education in Barcelona, you have not gone there either to
take part in that kind of life or much less to work. And regard to instruction, in
case it is not found in Madrid, the diligence of the students will make up
for it. It is therefore, convenient for you to be there beside you our fellow
countrymen who can guide you while you are not yet familiar with things”.
Rizal followed the advice of his elder brother Paciano. He enrolled at the Central
University of Madrid in November 3, 1882, both in Medicine (Ophthalmology) and in
Philosophy and Letters. He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academia of
San Fernando. While studying, he was engaged in physical fitness, practicing,
shooting and fencing at the Hall of Arms Sanz y Carbone.
A Mason
While in Madrid, Rizal was exposed to the idealism carried by Masonry through well
known Spaniards such as Miguel Morayta and Francisco Pi y Margal. In March 1883,
Jose Rizal officially joined the Masonic lodge Acacia in Madrid Spain where he was
further exposed to liberalism and views that openly criticized the Catholic Church
and friars in the Philippines.
The issue of Masonry that led to the retraction controversy before Rizal’s
execution in Bagumbayan (Luneta) raged over centuries and had not been resolved up
to this moment by Rizal scholars.
Visit to France
Rizal also visited Paris, France on June 17, 1883. In his account, he described the
city as:
“Champs Elysees is an extensive park, wide and long, filled umn is tall and big,
full of base reliefs depicting the wars of Napoleon in Germany. Peace de la
Concorde is an immense and wide circle inside where the Obelisk of Luxor stands.
Church of Madeline is at stately, beautiful and purely Greacian style. Theater of
the Opera is the most sumptuous public edifice I’ve seen until the present.
He also visited other places like Luxembourg Garden, Museum of Orfila and Louvene
Museum in France.
Literary Works while in Madrid
-Dudas (Doubts)
-Revista de Madrid (Review of Madrid)
-Mi Piden Versos (They Ask Me for Verses)
-A La Senorita
Scholastic Record of Rizal in Madrid
Rizal’s scholastic records in the Degree of Licentiate in Medicine at the Central
University of Madrid in June 21, 1884.
RIZAL IN FRANCE AND GERMANY
As early as 1884, Rizal wanted to go home to the Philippines while in Madrid. He
started this in his letter to his family dated November 26, 1884 where he wrote: “I
expressed to you my desire to return in the Philippine as soon as possible”. On
January 1, 1885, however, Paciano replied “I think that you should continue your
studies there and end them when our resources are exhausted”. With this answer,
Rizal felt that Paciano was against his decision to return home.
In Paris, Rizal’s compatriots were Juan Luna, Felix Ressureccion Hidalgo and the
Tavera brothers who were both physicians. In a letter coming from Paciano, Rizal
was advised: “you are very correct in saying that you are not being sent your
allowance, not due to lack of will but indeed economic crisis or lack of work”. He
only survived through the help of his Filipino compatriots such as Juan Luna who
wholeheartedly lent or gave him money for his daily needs.
-Rizal also possessed a remarkable talent in painting which he manifested while in
Paris, France.
“THE MONKEY AND THE TURTLE”-Sketched by Rizal for Paz Pardo De Tavera, the love
then of Juan Luna.
French Literary Works
-Marie Colombier: The Pistol of the Little Baromess
-The Kite and the Hen
-The fisherwoman and the fish
GERMANY
On February 1, 1886, Rizal left Paris, France and proceeded to Heidelberg, Germany.
He arrived there in February 3. He stayed in a boarding house.
-Heidelberg
Leipzig and Dresden
-Berlin
WRITING IN BERLIN
Noli Me Tangere
Rizal’s Second European Sojourn
Hongkong
Macau
Japan
Rizal in America
England
Brussels, Belgium
Ghent Belgium
El Filibusterismo
