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TAGOLOAN Community
College
Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
Tel.No. (08822)740-835/(088)5671-215
College of Arts and Sciences
GEC 9: The Life and Works of Rizal
Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021
Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this chapter, the students will be able to:
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A. Summarize Jose Rizal’s education in Ateneo Municipal and University of Sto. Tomas
B. Remember and glorify the education memories of our hero which served an inspiration in life.
C. Acknowledge Rizal’s impression on his travels abroad and relate it’s significance today.
D. Evaluate Jose Rizal’s medical studies and its impact to his people.
Discussion
School Life at Ateneo Municipal and the University of Sto. Tomas
Jose went to Manila on June 10, 1872 to take the entrance examinations and enrolled in the
Ateneo Municipal, a college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits.
I. Jose Rizal’s First Day and First Year in Ateneo
Fr. Jose Bech - the first teacher of Jose whom he describes as a man of high stature; lean body,
bent forward; quick gait; ascetic physiognomy, severe and inspired; small, sunken eyes; sharp
Grecian nose; thin lips forming an arch with its sides directed toward the chin.” He was somewhat
of a lunatic and of an uneven humor; sometimes he was hard and little tolerant and at times he
was gay and playful as a child.
Groups of Classes:
1. Internos (interns) - constituted the Roman Empire
2. Externos (externs) - constituted the Carthaginian Empire
Dignitaries of Empire:
1. Emperor
2. Tribune
3. Decurion
4. Centurion
5. Standard-Bearer
*As a newcomer, Jose was at first put at the tail of the class, but he was soon promoted and kept
on being promoted so that at the end of one month he had attained to the rank of Emperor.
Sta. Isabel College - where he spent his noon recesses to study and improve his Spanish. He
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spent three pesos for Spanish lessons at that time.
II. The Next Four Years in Ateneo de Municipal (1873 - 1877)
About this time, Jose devoted himself to reading novels and one of these most was Alexander
Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. The sufferings of the character (Edmund Dantes) who was
imprisoned in the Chateau d”If for 12 years because of false accusation stirred Jose’s imagination.
He also asked his father to buy him a copy of The Universal History by Cesar Cantu. According
to Rizal, this valuable work was of great help to his studies and enabled him to win prizes in
Ateneo.
Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez - Rizal’s fourth year professor whom he describes as a model of
rectitud, a solicitude, and love for the student. For him, he was his favorite teacher.
During this time, Rizal studied mathematicd, rhetoric, and Greek. He progressed and by the end of
the year he obtained five medals which pleased himself immensely. His aptitude for poetry
revealed itslef early. With the aid of Fr. Sanchez, this inspires him more to study and write poetry.
Fr. Leoncio Lopez - who was a great friend of Jose’s father and a parish priest of the town, liked
Jose as a little friend. A great addition in the cultivation of Jose’s independence of character due to
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an incedent that happened.
Jose applied himself regularly to gymnastics in college and he also engaged in other physical
exercises, such as fencing. He also devoted time to painting and sculpture as well.
Don Augustin Saez - a Peninsula Ateneo professor who guides and directs Jose in drawing and
painting. He honored Jose with his affection and consideration because of his progress.
Romualdo de Jesus - a Filipino instructor of Jose in sculpture. He felt proud in the last years of his
life of having such an excellent pupil as Jose Rizal.
Fr. Villaclara and Fr. Mineves - professors of Jose Rizal during his 5 th year whom he studied
philosophy, physics, chemistry, and natural history with.
Jose Rizal’s last year in Ateneo de Municipal was very fruitful. He excelled in all his subjects and
gained recognition as the most brilliant Atenean of his time and the “pride of the Jesuits”. He
graduated with highest honor making his family truly proud of him. He did not only excelled in his
academic studies, but at the same time he was active in his extra-curricular activities. He was an
active member of the Marian Congregation and he was also a member of the Academy of Spanish
Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Fr. Leonart - impressed of Jose’s sculpture talent that he requested him to carve an image of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, but eventually, due to his old age, he forgot to bring it with him when he
returned to Spain. The carving was placed on the door of the dormitory of Ateneo and remained
there for almost 20 years.
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - the first poem Rizal wrote during his Ateneo
days. He was just 14 years old at that time. This poem was an expression of good wishes which
was full of endearing filial affection for his mother’s birthday.
III. Jose Rizal Enters the University
April 1877 - at the age of 16, Jose Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas as a
medical student. He was led to that profession, first of all, by the cataracts that caused his
mother’s blindness, and second, by the desperate need of his country. Father Pablo Ramon,
Rector of Ateneo, whom he consulted for advice on the choice of careeer, recommended medical
course.
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The academic climate at the University of Sto. Tomas was quite different from the Ateneo. Rizal’s
impression was not like that of Ateneo because most Dominican professors seemed hostile to him,
the methods of instruction were traditional and in some cases repressive. Because of the
unfriendly attitude of his Dominican professors, Jose Rizal failed to maintain high scholastic honors
while some of his scholastic grades in medical education were not excellent, however, they were
all passing.
At the age of eighteen, he won the first prize, a silver pen for his novel entitled “A La juventad
Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)” which he submitted for the poetry contest organized for Filipinos by
the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature. This poem was strikingly different from any he had before
written. In the next year, the Lyceum held another poetry contest in which the first prize was
awarded to Jose for his “The Council of the Gods” but when the Spanish judges learned that the
author was a Filipino, they reversed the decision and a Spaniard recevied the first prize instead.
This experience cuts very deep into Jose’s soul.
In 1880, he founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of Sto. Tomas called
“Compañerismo” (Comradship). The group is a brotherhood whose main objective is the
protection of Filipinos from the abusive Spanish students and Dominican professors.
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In spite of Jose’s successes in the literary field, he was no longer happy in his stay in the
Dominican-owned school. He felt he could no longer endure the discriminationand hostility of the
friars, left the University and decided to study abroad.
I. First Trip Abroad (1882 - 1887)
Being discontented with the obsolete method of instruction, the racial prejudice under the
Dominicans, the unfriendliness atmosphere in Sto. Tomas and the rumor that he was on the black
list of the government led Jose to follow the advice of Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor, who urged
him to flee from the country.
This fitted into the ever deepening purpose of his life, for he must get the best education he could
find, and answer his life question: what could he do to help his oppressed Motherland? He has to
study in Madrid but this plan was kept secret and only few people knew about it. Rizal was almost
21 years old on the day he left.
Rizal’s attempt to communicate with the passengers was not only helping him ease the feeling of
loneliness but at the same time started accomplishing his secret mission. When Jose accepted the
plan of finishing his medical course in Madrid, he also envisioned a mission. This was to observed
keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and government
and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself of the mighty task of liberating his
oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
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MAY 3, 1882 • Rizal left for the Philippines for the first time to Spain boarded on the SS
Salvadora bound for using a passport of Jose Mercado.
MAY 9, 1882 • SS Salvadora docked in Singapore. He stayed in Hotel dela Paz for two days
and when in Singapore, Rizal transferred to another ship Djemnah, a French
streamer, which left Singapore for Europe on May 11, 1882.
MAY 17, 1882 • Rizal arrived at Punta de Gales. Rizal wrote on his travel diary: “ The general
appearance of Point Galle that is picturestic but lonely and quiet and at the
same time sad”
MAY 18, 1882 • At 7:30 a.m., he left Punta de Gales for Colombo. In the afternoon, Rizal
arrived at Colombo and in the evening the trip was resumed.
MAY 27, 1882 • He landed at Aden at about 8:30 a.m. He made observation at the time. Aden
– city hotter than Manila; Rizal was amused to see the camels, for the first time.
JUNE 2, 1882 • He arrived at the Suez Canal en route to Marseilles.
• City of Suez – the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal. Rizal was impressed in
the beautiful moonlight which reminded him of Calamba and his family
• Suez Canal – canal which built by Ferdinand de Lesseps (French diplomat-
engineer) which was inaugurated on November 17, 1869
• Port Said – the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal
JUNE 11, 1882 • Rizal disembarked and, accompanied by a guide, went around the City of
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Naples for one hour. This was the first European ground he set foot on.
• Rizal was pleased on this Italian City because of its business activity, its lively
people ad its panoramic beauty
JUNE 12, 1882 • At ten o’clock in the evening, the boat anchored at Marseilles. He slept in
board.
• Rizal visited the famous Chateau d’If, where Dantes, hero of the Count of
Monte Cristo was imprisoned
•Rizal stayed two and a half days in Marseilles.
JUNE 15, 1882 • He left Marseilles for Barcelona in an express train.
• Rizal crossed the Pyreness and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port
Bou
JUNE 16, • At 12:00 noon, Rizal arrived at Barcelona and boarded in the Fonda De
1882 España.
• Rizal’s first impression of Barcelona, the greatest city of Cataluña and Spain’s
second largest city was unfavorable. But eventually, he changed his bad
impression when he knew that the city is the place where freedom and
liberalism were enjoyed by its people. The people are open-hearted, hospitable
and courageous.
II. In Barcelona
Rizal’s stayed in Barcelona had been productive. He wrote an essay entitled “Amor Patrio”
(Love of Country). This is a nationalistic essay, written under the pen name “Laong Laan”. It
was published in two texts - Spanish and Tagalog. The Spanish text was the one originally written
by him in Barcelona while the tagalog text was a Tagalog translation made by Marcelo H. del Pilar.
He sent this article in Manila and Basilio Moran, published this in Diariong Tagalog. His next article
was entitled “Los Viajes” (Travels) and followed by “Revista de Madrid” (Review of
Madrid) but the latter was returned because Diariong Tagalog had ceased publication because of
lack of funds. In September 1882, Rizal moved in to Madrid in order to continue his medical
studies.
III. In Madrid
November 3, • He enrolled in the famous Central University of Madrid (Unibersidad
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1882 Central de Madrid) in two courses - Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.
• He also took up lessons in painting and sculpture at the Academy of Fine
Arts in San Fernando. Took lessons in French, German, and English under
private instructors; and practiced fencing and shooting at the Hall of Arms in
Sanz y Cabornell.
• He also attended operas and concerts to enhance knowledge and taste of
fine music, visited art galleries, museums, and read books on various
subjects.
• Jose joined the Circulo-Hispano Filipino. It is an association formed by
Filipino students in Spain composed both of Filipinos and Spaniards. The
members asked Jose to write a poem and this was entitled “Me Piden
Versos” (They Ask Me for Verses).
March 1883 he joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia. His reason for joining and
becoming a Mason was to secure Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against the
friars in the Philippines. In November 1883, he transferred to Lodge
Solidaridad, where he became a Master Mason.
June 1884 Rizal finished his medical studies. He was conferred the degree of
Licentiate in Medicine. The next year, he passed all his subjects leading to
Doctors of Medicine but was only able to get his Doctor’s Diploma in 1887 for he
wasn’t able to pay corresponding fees.
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JUNE 1885 He also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters and was awarded the
degree on Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by the Universidad Central
de Madrid with the rating of “Excellent” (Sobresaliente).
I. Paris
When Jose Rizal decided to continue his medical studies in Spain, he also made a promise to
himself to help our country. After completing his education at the Central University of Madrid,
Jose continued his travels and observation of European life, practices, laws and government.
Further, Jose specifically went to Paris and Berlin to practice and specialize in Opthalmology.
Dr. Loius de Weckert - is the leading French Opthalmologist during the period and is the leading
authority among the oculists of France, who found Rizal such a competent student and make him
as a clinical assistant.
II. Heidelberg
February 1, 1886 - after working as an apprentice in the clinic of Dr. Lious de Weckert, Rizal left
Paris and moved to Heidelberg - a city in Baden-Wurttemberg in West Germany. He worked at the
University Eye Hospital under the direction of
Dr. Otto Becker - a distinguished German Opthalmologist whom Rizal worked for at the
University Eye Hospital. He also attended his lectures and of Professor Wilhelm Kuehne’s at the
University.
“A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) - Rizal written poem inspired
by the blooming light blue “forget-me-not” flowers along the cool river banks of the Neckar River.
This reminded him of the garden of his home in Calamba which set the mood of his homesickness,
thus made him to write this poem.
Dr. Karl Ulmer - a Pastor whom Rizal spent three months with. He was generous and cordial and
very instrumental in the meeting between Jose Rizal and his best friend, Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt.
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July 31, 1886 - Jose wrote a letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, a director of the Ateneo of
Leitmeritz in Austria. Jose and Professor Blumentritt became good friends that lasted for their
lives.
III. Berlin
Rizal met Dr. Feodor Jagor, the author of “Travels in the Philippines”, one of the books he admired
during his student days. He also met Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a famous German Anthropologist; his son
Dr. Hans Virchow, a Professor in Anatomy; and Dr. W. Joest, noted German Geographer.
In Berlin, Jose lived a realistic, methodical and frugal life. He knew that he was not only a student
and curious tourist but also a person with a mission. By day, he worked as an assistant in the clinic
of Dr. Schweigger, eminent German Opthalmologist. At night, he attended lectures in the
University of Berlin.
Rizal’s Reasons in Staying in Berlin:
1. To gain further knowledge in Ophthalmology
2. To further his studies of sciences and languages
3. To observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation
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4. To associate with famous German scientists and scholars;
5. To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest winter because no money arrived from
Calamba and he was flat broke. The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was in
the pawnshop. It was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons: (1 )it was a painful
episode for he was hungry, sick and despondent in a strange city (2) it brought him great joy
after enduring so much sufferings, because his f irst novel, Noli Me Tangere came off the
press in March, 1887.
Noli Me Tangere (1887)
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE’S UNLCE TOM’S CABIN - inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that
would depict the miseries of his people under the lash of Spanish tyrants.
MAXIMO VIOLA - Rizal’s friend from Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of Rizal
despondency and loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel; savior of Noli
FEBRUARY 21, 1887 - the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing
BERLINER BUCHDRUCKREI- ACTION-GESSELSCHAFT - a printing shop which charged the
lowest rate, that is, 300 pesos for 2,00 copies of the novel
MARCH 21, 1887 - the Noli Me Tangere came off the press. The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin
phrase which means “Touch Me Not”.
Tour de Europa
May 11, 1887 - Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train to Dresden, Germany where he met Dr. Adolph
Meyer and Dr. Feodor Jagor.
May 13-16, 1887 - when Rizal and Blumentritt met for the first time in Leitmeritz, Bohemia. After
their stay in Leitmeritz, they preceded their European tour in Prague.
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May 20-24, 1887 - Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, the capital of Austria. On
May 24, they left the city on boat to see the Danube River. After they reached Lintz, they traveled
overland in Salzburg to Munich where they sojourned for a short time to savor Munich beer. From
Munich, they went to Nuremburg, one of the oldest cities in Germany. After Munich, they visited
Ulm. From Ulm, they went straight to Stuttgart, Baden and then to Rheinfall (Cascade of Rhine).
From Rheinfall, they crossed the frontier to Schffhaussen, Switzerland. They continued their tou to
Basel, Bern, and Lausanne. After sightseeing, Rizal and Viola left Lausanne on a little boat crossing
the foggy Leman to Geneva.
June 19, 1887 - Rizal’s 26 th birthday. He treated Viola on a sumptuous meal before they parted
ways.
June 23, 1887 - Rizal and Viola parted ways. Viola return to Barcelona while he continued his tour
in Italy. From Geneva, Rizal proceeded to Italy where he visited Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence.
June 27, 1887 - he reached Rome.
June 29, 1887 - the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, Rizal visited for the first time the Vatican, the
city of Popes.
COURSE MODULE
1. August 5, 1887 – Rizal arrived at Manila boarded SS. Hayfony after five years of study and
patriotic labors in Europe.
2. Because the publication of the Noli Me Tangere and the uproar it caused among the Friars,
Rizal was warned by his family and other friends not to return home.
3. Rizal was determined to return to the Philippines for the following reasons:
a) To operate on his mother’s eye
b) To serve his people who had long been oppressed by Spanish tyfants.
c) To find out for him how Noli and his other writings were affecting the Filipinos and Spaniards in
the Philippines.
d) To inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent.
4. He established a medical clinic and his first patient was his mother who almost got blind.
5. He called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany, treated their ailments and soon he
acquired a lucrative medical practice.
1. HONGKONG
February 8, 1888 – Rizal boarded in the house of Jose Mana Base after 5 days trip from Philippines.
2. JAPAN
February 28, 1888 – he studied the habits and custom of the Japanese people, their language,
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theaters and commerce.
3. United States of America
April 16, 1888 – Rizal arrived at San Francisco, California and he boarded at the Palace Hotel and
he went around for observation of the city.
4. England (United Kingdom)
May 16, 1888 – He arrived at Liver pool, England and boarded at the Adelphi Hotel.
In London, he published the second edition of the Noli Me Tangere.
5. Belgium
February 12, 1890 – he arrived at Brussels, Belgium.
·September 25, 1891 – Valen Ventura sent Rizal in Ghent, Belgium 200 frames for the publications
expenses of the Fill.
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6. France
February 11, 1891 – Rizal finished writing his book El Filibusterismo in Biarritz, France.
1. France
October 17, 1891 – Rizal arrived at Marseilles with boxes of Morga and Fili.
2. Hong Kong
October 18, 1891 – Rizal arrived Hong Kong boarded the Melbourne.
Rizal sent to Manuel Camus in Singapore 20 copies of the Fili and he gave Camus 25% commission
for the books sold.
1. June 26, 1892 – Rizal arrived in the Philippines from Hong Kong boarded the boat Don
Juan.
2. Rizal firmly believed that the fight for Filipino liberties had assumed a new phase: it must
be fought in the Phil. No in Spain.
3. July 3, 1892 – Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina in Calle Ilaya, Tondo.
4. July 7, 1892 – Despujol released his gobernational decree ordering the deportation of Jose
Rizal to Dapitan.
5. June 15, 1892 – Rizal began his exile in lonely Dapitan for his last 4 years.
Resources
The Life and Works of Rizal; Wani-Obias, Mallari, Estella
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The Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal by Leland C. Reyes
Additional Resources:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/
#:~:text=REPUBLIC%20ACT%20NO.-,1425,THEREOF%2C%20AND%20FOR%20OTHER
%20PURPOSES
https://nhcp.gov.ph/historical-context-and-legal-basis-of-rizal-day-and-other-
memorials-in-honor-of-jose-rizal/#:~:text=The%20most%20prominent%20is
%20the,erected%20in%20honor%20of%20Rizal.
https://myinfobasket.com/why-study-the-jose-rizal-subject/
https://bshmjoserizal.weebly.com/our-hero-jose-rizal/chapter-six-rizals-trips-abroad-
and-homecomings
Instructor’s Contact Details
Grapesy Pink M. Alsonado, MSc.Bio.
09263305573 - TM
09291601428 - SMART
[email protected]COURSE MODULE
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