Chapter 5: Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

Mother’s Opposition to Higher Education

Doña Teodora opposed the idea of sending Rizal to UST to pursue higher education because she knew
what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and the Spaniards might cut off his head if he gets to know more. Rizal was
surprised by his mother’s opposition, who was a woman of education and culture. Despite his mother’s
tears, Don Francisco told Paciano to accompany Rizal to Manila.

Rizal Enters the University

April 1877 – Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas. He enrolled in UST taking up Philosophy
and Letter for two reasons: (1) his father liked it and (2) he was “still uncertain as to what career to pursue”
He asked the advice of Father Pablo Ramon (Rector of the Ateneo) on what career to choose but Father
Recto was in Mindanao so he was unable to advice Rizal. First-year Term (1877-78) – Rizal studied
Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy. Ateneo Rector’s advice – study medicine;
reason: to be able to cure his mother’s growing blindness.

Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)

While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the vocational course leading to the
title of “perito agrimensor” (expert surveyor). Colleges for boys in Manila offered vocational courses in
agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and surveying. He excelled in all subjects in the surveying course
obtaining gold medals in agriculture and topography. At the age of 17, he passed the final examination in
the surveying course. November 25, 1881 – he was granted the title as surveyor. Because of his loyalty to
Ateneo, he continued to participate actively in the Ateneo’s extra-curricular activities. He was president of
the Academy of Spanish Literature and secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Romances with Other Girls

Miss L
Fair with seductive and attractive eyes. Romance died a natural death. 2 Reasons for his change of heart:
(1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart and (2) his father did not like the family of
“Miss L”.
Leonor Valenzuela
Daughter of the next-door neighbors of Doña Concha Leyva (her house is where Rizal boarded). - Tall girl
with a regal bearing. - Pet name: Orang. - Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible ink. This ink
consisted of common table salt and water. He taught Orang the secret of reading any note written in the
invisible ink by heating it over a candle or lamp so that the words may appear.

Leonor Rivera
Rizal’s cousin from Camiling. - Born in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11, 1867. - A student of La Concordia
College where Rizal’s youngest sister, Soledad was then studying. Frail, pretty girl “tender as a budding
flower with kindly, wistful eyes”. They became engaged. In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as
“Taimis”, in order to camouflage their intimate relationship from their parents and friends.

Rizal lived in: Casa Tomasina No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros Antonio Rivero – Rizal’s landlord-uncle
is the father of Leonor Rivera.

Victim of Spanish Officer’s Brutality

One dark night in Calamba, during the summer vacation in 1878, when Rizal was walking in the street and
dimly perceived the figure of a man while passing him. Not knowing the person was a lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil; he did not salute nor say greetings. With a snarl, he turned upon Rizal, whipped out his
sword and brutally slashed his back. Rizal reported the incident to General Primo de Rivera, the Spanish
Governor General of the Philippines at that time, but nothing came out because he was an Indio and the
accused was a

Spaniard. Later in a letter to Blumentritt dated March 21, 1887, he related, “I went to the Captain General
but I could not obtain justice; my wound lasted two weeks.

To the Filipino Youth” (1879)

Liceo Artisco-Literano (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila – society of literary men and artists; held a
literary contest. At the age of 18, Rizal submitted his poem entitled A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino
Youth). The Board of Judges – composed of Spaniards; gave the first prize to Rizal which consisted of 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 people. Reasons why Rizal’s poem was a classic in Philippine Literature:
(1) it was the first great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish
literary authorities and (2) it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos were the
“fair hope of the Fatherland”.

“The Council of the Gods” (1880)

Artistic-Literary Lyceum – opened another literary contest for both Filipino and Spaniards to commemorate
the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and famous author of Don
Quixote. Rizal submitted an allegorical drama entitled El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods)
and he received the first prize, a gold ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes.

Other Literary Works

Junto al Pasic (Beside the Pasig) (1880) – a zarzuela which was staged by the Ateneans on December 08,
1880, on the annual celebration of the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception (Patrones of the Ateneo).
A Filipinas (1880) – a sonnet he wrote for the album of the Society of Sculptors. Abd-el-Azis (1879) – a
poem declaimed by Manuel Fernandez on the night of December 08, 1879 in honor of the Ateneo’s
Patroness. Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon (1881) – a poem he wrote as an expression of affection to Father Pablo
Ramon.

Rizal’s Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan

Summer of May 1881 - Rizal went to a pilgrimage to the town of pakil, famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de
los Dolores. He was accompanied by his sisters—Saturnina , Maria, and Trinidad and their female friends.
They took a casco (flat-bottom sailing vessel) from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna, and stayed at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Regalado, whose son Nicolas was Rizal’s friend in Manila. Rizal and his companions
were fascinated by the famous turumba (people dancing in the streets during the procession in honor of the
miraculous Birhen Maria de los Dolores) Rizal was infatuated by a pretty girl colegiala, Vicenta Ybardolaza,
who skillfully played the harp at the Regalado home. Reasons why Rizal and his company made side trip to
the neighboring town of Pagsanjan: (1) it was the native town of Leonor Valenzuela and (2) to see the world
famed Pagsanjan Falls.

Champion of Filipino Students

Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students in their fights against the arrogant Spanish students, who
insultingly called their brown classmates “Indio, chongo!” In retaliation, the Filipino students called them
“Kastila, bangus!”. In 1880 - Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of Santo
Tomas called “Compaňerismo” (Comradeship), whose members were called “Companions of Jehu,” after
the valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans. Galicano Apacible - Rizal’s cousin from Batangas;
secretary of Compañerismo. Fierce encounter near the Escolta in Manila where Rizal was wounded on the
head, and tenderly washed and dressed by Leonor Rivera in his boarding house “Casa Tomasina”.

Unhappy Days at the UST

He was unhappy at this Dominican institution of higher learning because (1) the Dominican professors were
hostile to him; (2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards, and (3) the
method of instruction was obsolete and repressive. Rizal, the most brilliant graduate of Ateneo, failed to win
high scholastic honors.

Decision to Study Abroad

After finishing the fourth year of his medical course, Rizal decided to study in Spain. He could no longer
endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in the University of Santo Tomas. He did not seek
his parent’s permission and blessings to go abroad; and even his beloved Leonor.