Not always the best
By Jenn Besonia
Rizal is a genius. Rizal is the best.
That’s what most teachers taught their students. I believed them, until I saw the copy of Rizal’s
grades when he was in college.
Scrutinizing Rizal’s grades made me deduce the following things. He’s a ningas cogon. He’s
controlling his grades. He isn’t over grade conscious. He isn’t pure genius. He has his own flaws.
Sadly, I can say he’s a ningas cogon, just like most of the Filipinos are. This is very evident
because he received Sobrasaliente (1) grades for all his subjects in his first year in University of
Sto. Tomas (UST). And then his grades started to drop down. His last grade was Aprovado (3).
He got this grade when he was in Universidad Central de Madrid, Spain.
I said he’s controlling his grades. Why? It’s very evident too that most of his grades per year
were all the same, all Sobrasaliente (1) for Preparatory Course of Theology and Law, all Bueno
(2) in first year and second year of Medicine , all Notable Aprovechade (1.5) in fourth year.
I couldn’t think of a valid answer how Rizal could control his own grades. Then, I found the
answer on the internet when I googled it up. According to wikipilipinas.org, “In UST, Rizal saw
and experienced the rampant discrimination of Spaniards to Filipinos. One of which was from a
Dominican priest who swore that he would never pass Rizal in any subject under him. Although
records show that Rizal did not receive any failing grades.” But he did receive a passing grade
(3). Perhaps this partly explains the constancy in Rizal’s grades. I don’t fully believe it though. I
don’t know how reliable wikipilipinas.org is. Plus take note of the fact that Rizal got Aprovado
(3) when he was studying in Spain. You cannot use the Filipino-discrimation reasoning there
anymore. I wish I could read Rizal’s diary about his school grades, so I would know the truth.
I am one of the few people who believe that the intelligence of a man can’t be measured through
his grades. After I saw Rizal’s grades, I thought he’s our comrade – a not-over-grade-conscious
student. On second thought, I doubt it. I don’t think being a not-over-grade-conscious already
existed during Rizal’s time. So we will delete the deduction that he’s not over grade conscious.
Furthermore, I’ve read the article “New Questions about Rizal” by Mr. Ambeth Ocampo. In his
article, he also discussed the grades of Rizal. We share the same sentiments – Rizal isn’t the best
student, Rizal isn’t pure genius.
Contrary to what’s written on wikipilipinas.org, Mr.Ocampo doesn’t blame the Dominicans for
Rizal’s not-so high grades. He believes Rizal’s talent is not for medicine because Rizal’s a
natural poet and artist. “A medical degree requires the use of another side of the brain.” This
explanation is reasonable enough.
I guess it’s time for us to accept the fact that Rizal is not always the best, not always the
brightest, and accept the fact that he’s a human, who has his own flaws.
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Rizal’s Grades
Meaning of the words
Sobrasaliente = 1
Notable, Aprovechade = 1.5
Bueno = 2
Mediano = 2.5
Aprovado = 3
Suspenso = 4.0
Reprobado = 5.
PREPARATORY COURSE OF THEOLOGY AND LAW (1877 – 1878)
Cosmology → Sobrasaliente
Metaphysics →Sobrasaliente
Theodicy→ Sobrasaliente
History of Philosophy→ Sobrasaliente
PREPARATORY COURSE OF MEDICINE (1878 – 1879)
Advanced Physics →Notable, Aprovechade
Advanced Natural History→ Notable, Aprovechade
Advanced Chemistry→ Sobrasaliente
FIRST YEAR OF MEDICINE (1878 – 1879)
General Anatomy and Histology I →Bueno
Descriptive Anatomy I→ Bueno
Exercises of Osteology and Dissection →Bueno
SECOND YEAR (1879 – 1880)
General Anatomy and Histology II →Bueno
Descriptive Anatomy II→ Bueno
Exercises of Dissection→ Bueno
Physiology, Private and Public Hygiene→ Bueno
THIRD YEAR (1880 – 1881)
Gen. Pathology, HS Clinic and Pathologic Histology→ Aprovado
Therapeutics Medical Matter and Art of Prescribing → Sobrasaliente
Surgical Anatomy, Operations, External Medical Applications and Bandages → Bueno
FOURTH YEAR (1881 – 1882)
Medical Pathology → Notable, Aprovechade
Surgical Pathology→ Notable, Aprovechade
Obstetrics Sickness of Women and Children → Notable, Aprovechade
Siphilography → Notable, Aprovechade
FIFTH YEAR (1882 – 1883) –Spain
Medical Clinic I→ Bueno
Surgical Clinic I →Bueno
Legal Medical → Sobrasaliente
Obstetrics Clinic →Aprovado
SIXTH YEAR (1883 – 1884)
Medical Clinic II → Bueno
Surgical Clinic II →Notable, Aprovechade
LICENTIATE MED. 2
June 1884 → Aprovado
