SOCSCI100: Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings

College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education

Prepared by: Eleonor L. Francisco, Kaye Valerie P. Glorioso & Rizalina L. Mendoza

MODULE 4
RIZAL’S NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS
Brief Introduction or Description
This module will provide the learners with an overview of Rizal’s academic life. Also, this will highlight
his observations, experiences, and accomplishments that became the foundation of his nationalist sensibilities.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. Evaluate Rizal’s scholastic performance and criticize his Philosophy on education;
2. Analyze the experiences Rizal had abroad that helped shaped his nationalist sensibilities.
3. Assess the significance and success of Rizal’s mission abroad.

Pre-Activity - Before Reading Questions

1. Do you think it is sensible to invest on education? Why?
2. If you will be given a chance to further your studies, will you pursue it? Why or Why not?

RIZAL’S HIGHER EDUCATION

The execution of the three martyr priests, Mariano Gomez, Jacinto Zamora, and Jose Burgos stirred the
nationalist sensibilities in Rizal. He even dedicated his second novel, El Filibusterismo to the three priests. The
execution opened Rizal’s eyes to the true conditions of Philippine society under the Spaniards.

In June 1872, Don Francisco sent his son Jose to Manila to further his education. Jose’s brother Paciano
found a boarding house in Intramuros though Jose later transferred to a house on Calle Carballo in Santa Cruz,
Manila. After a year, Jose transferred residence to No. 6 Calle Magallanes. Two years later, he became an intern
(boarding student) at Ateneo and stayed there until his graduation from the institution.

Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo De Manila (1872-1877)

 Ateneo Municipal - a college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits

 Escuela Pia (Charity School) – formerly name of Ateneo
 Escuela Pia Ateneo Municipal Ateneo de Manila
 June 10, 1872 – Rizal accompanied by Paciano went to Manila
 Father Magin Ferrando – college registrar in Ateneo
 Manuel Xerez Burgos – because of him, Rizal was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo
 Jose was the first of his family to adopt the surname “Rizal”
 Rizal was first boarded in a house outside Intramuros, on Carballo Street.

Jesuit System of Education

Jesuits trained the character of the student by rigid discipline and religious instructions.

Students were divided into two groups:

1. Roman Empire
2. Carthaginian Empire
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 SOCSCI100: Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Eleonor L. Francisco, Kaye Valerie P. Glorioso & Rizalina L. Mendoza

 Emperor – best student

 Tribune – second best
 Decurion – third best
 Centurion – fourth best
 Stand-bearer fifth best

• Official uniform of Ateneo students

during Rizal time.

• The coat material was called rayadillo.

Image was retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasRetrostalgia/posts/2273635009551050:0

First-Year in Ateneo (1872-1873)

 Father Jose Bech - Rizal’s first professor in Ateneo

 A Religious picture – Rizal’s 1st prize for being the brightest pupil
 Santa Isabel College – where Rizal took his private lessons in Spanish
 March, 1873 – Rizal returned to Calamba

Second Year in Ateneo (1873-1874)

When summer vacation ended, Rizal returned to Manila for his second-year term in Ateneo. This time he
boarded inside Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes Street.

 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas – first favorite novel of Rizal
 Universal History by Cesar Cantu – a great aid in Rizal’s studies
 Dr. Feodor Jagor – a German scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860 and wrote
Travels in the Philippines

Rizal was impressed by this book because of the following:

1. Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization

2. his prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would come to succeed her
as colonizer
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 SOCSCI100: Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Eleonor L. Francisco, Kaye Valerie P. Glorioso & Rizalina L. Mendoza

Third Year in Ateneo (1974-1875)

 Rizal’s grades remained excellent in all subjects but he won only one medal—in Latin
 At the end of the school year (March 1875), Rizal returned to Calamba for the summer vacation. He
himself was not impressed by his scholastic work

Fourth Year in Ateneo

 June 16, 1875 - Rizal became an interno

 Padre Francisco de Paula Sanchez - Rizal described him as “model of uprightness, earnestness, and love
for the advancement of his pupils”
 Rizal topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term.

Last Year in Ateneo (1976-1877)

 The most brilliant Atenean of his time, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits”
 March 23, 1877 – Commencement Day of Rizal
 Marian Congregation – a religious society in Ateneo
 Father Jose Vilaclara – advised Rizal to stop communing with the Muse\
 Agustin Saez – Spanish painter
 Romualdo de Jesus - Filipino scupltor
 Image of the Virgin Mary – Rizal carved this image using a piece of batikuling
 Father Lleonart – impressed by Rizal’s sculptural talent

Image of Sacred Heart of Jesus – the crafted sculpture

of Rizal during his stay in Ateneo.

Image was retrieved form http://fonsetculmen.blogspot.com/2011/06/jose-rizals-statue-of-sacred-heart.html

Poems Written in Ateneo

Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - dedicated to his mother on her birthday

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 SOCSCI100: Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Eleonor L. Francisco, Kaye Valerie P. Glorioso & Rizalina L. Mendoza

In year 1875

 Felicitacion (Felicitation) –
 El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure: Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet)
 Y Es Espanol; Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish: Elcano, the First to
Circumnavigate the World)
 El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo)

In the year 1876

 Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)

 Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good
Education
 Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education the Country Receives Light)
 El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y Prision de Boabdil (The Captivity and the Triumph:
Battle of Lucena and the Imprisonment of Boabdil)
 La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes Catolices en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of the Catholic
Monarchs into Granada

A year later, in 1877

1. El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus)

2. Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II)
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune)
4. Un Dialogo Aluviso a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students)

Other Poems Written by Rizal

 Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus) – this poem was written in 1875, a brief ode
 A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary) - another religious poem
 San Eustacio, Martir (St. Eustace, the Martyr) – a drama based on the prose of St.

Medical Studies at The University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

 After finishing the first year of a course in Philosophy and Letters (1877-1878), Rizal transferred to the
medical course.
 April 1877 – matriculated at the University of Santo Tomas.
 Father Pablo Ramon - Rector of Ateneo
 Perito agrimensor (expert surveyor) – the title he earned after taking a vocational course
 Obtained gold medals in agriculture and topography – Rizal excelled in all subjects
 November 25, 1881 – the title “surveyor” was issued to Rizal for passing the final examination in the
surveying course
 Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila - a society of literary men and artists
 A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth) El Consejo de los Dioses (The Councils of the
Gods) - the winning poem of Rizal when years 18 years’ old
 Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig) – a zarzuela which was stagedby the Ateneans

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 SOCSCI100: Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Eleonor L. Francisco, Kaye Valerie P. Glorioso & Rizalina L. Mendoza

Other poems written by Rizal:

A Filipinas
Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma
Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon
Vicenta Ybardolaza
Compañerismo (Comradeship)
Companions of Jehu
Galicano Apacible

Rizal’s academic life at UST was full of controversy and hardships compared to his time in Ateneo. It
was reported on various occasions that Rizal had “unhappy days” at UST for three reasons.

1. the Dominican professors were hostile to him

2. the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards
3. the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

Rizal’s sudden decision to leave the Philippines was compounded with speculations. According to some
accounts, Rizal left the country as part of a secret mission co-orchestrated by his brother to observe life abroad
and initiate a campaign for reforms in the Philippines.

Activity - After Reading Questions/Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think can students learn from Rizal as regards to his endless pursuit in knowledge?
2. Why did the hero's mother opposed him to acquire higher education in a university?
3. What is your reflection on Rizal’s higher education?

Learning Tasks:
1. Online Quiz
2. Essay: Discuss the reasons and the significance of Rizal’s travel abroad.

RUBRIC FOR ESSAY

Very Needs
Excellent Adequate Poor
Satisfactory Improvements
(20) (14) (8)
(17) (11)
Contents The answers are The answers are The answers are Assess is partial or The answers
20 pts. comprehensive, accurate and comprehensive or incomplete. Key are
accurate, and complete. Key completely stated. points are not clear. incomplete.
complete. Key points are stated Key points are Questions are not
ideas are clearly and supported. addressed, but not adequately answered
stated, explained, well supported.
and well
supported.

*From our institutional rubric.

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 SOCSCI100: Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education
Prepared by: Eleonor L. Francisco, Kaye Valerie P. Glorioso & Rizalina L. Mendoza

Major References:
Clemente & Cruz, G.R., (2019). The life and works of Rizal. Quezon City, Philippines: C&E Publishing, Inc.
Mañebog, J. D.G., Paragas, R. Y., Barrientos, M. O. B., and Francisco, R. P. (2018). Life and works of Rizal.
Biography, writings, and legacies of our Bayani. Malabon City, Philippines: Mutya Publishing House,
Inc.
Zaide, G. F., & Zaide, S. M. (2014). Jose Rizal: Life, works, and writings of a genius, writer, scientist, and
national hero. Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Anvil Publishing.

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