Rizal’s Higher
Education Life
Abroad
Education at the Ateneo
June 1872 – Jose was sent to Manila to study at the
Ateneo Municipal
Ateneo was the former Escuela Pia or Charity
school of Manila under the supervision of Jesuits.
Ateneo was the counterpart of Colegio de San
Juan de Letran
Don Francisco changed his mind and decided to
send Rizal to Ateneo Municipal
Rizal almost did not enroll by the school registrar
Fr. Magin Fernando because of two reasons;
1. He was late for registration
2. He appeared to be frail and sickly
Through the intercession of Manuel Burgos, Jose
was able to enter Ateneo.
Jose used the surname “Rizal” for the first time
Jose was called an “externo” or a living out students
during his days in Ateneo Municipal
Fr. Jose Bech – first professor of Jose in
Ateneo
Jesuits system of education encouraged
competition among students.
Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class and
assigned with the Carthaginians
The class was divided into two groups:
1. Carthaginian (the non-boarder of Ateneo) externo
2. Roman (the boarder inside Ateneo) interno
Emperor: the best student
Tribune: the second best student
Decurion: The third best student
Centurion: The fourth best student
Standard Bearer: The fifth best student
Within the empire, the students fought for these positions
by challenging the ones holding the ranks to answer
questions based on the day’s lesson.
Historia Universal by Cesar Cantu
Favorite books of Rizal
Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Travels to the Philippines by Feodor Jagor
Jose took a private lessons in Santa Isabel College during
break time to improve his knowledge of Spanish.
After a month, Rizal became the emperor and he was
considered as the brightest student of the class.
In his second year and third year in Ateneo, nothing usual
happened to Rizal.
In his fourth year and third year in Ateneo, Rizal was
inspired to study hard and to write poetry by one of his best
professors, Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez – a great
educator and scholar
He expressed his ideas on the values of education in his
poem “Through Education The Motherland Receives
Light”
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) – a poem dedicated to
his mother on her birthday
-he was 14 years when he wrote this poem
In Memory of My Town – a tender poem in honor of Calamba
Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education – it shows the
importance of religion in education
A Farewell Dialogue of the Students – the last poem written by Rizal in
Ateneo
He Excelled in all subjects and won five medals at end of the school term.
March 23, 1877 – he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors.
Rizal’s Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (UST)
After Rizal completed his education at the Ateneo, his mother wanted
him to return home and look after the family business.
April 1877- Rizal was 16 years old, enrolled at the UST taking
Philosophy and Letters.
Rizal was still unsure of what course to take.
He tried to seek guidance from Father Pablo Ramon but since he was
in Mindanao.
For his first term, Rizal studied at the Philosophy program.
In the following term he decided to shift to medicine.
His decision was prompted by his desire to:
cure his mother’s failing eyesight
Fr. Ramon wrote back advising Jose to take up medicine
Highly in demand course
Rizal entered a very different world in UST as a student.
Rizal spent his time studying. He returned to Ateneo to take
up a land surveying course which was then a vocational
course.
He completed the surveyor’s course and was awarded the
title of Perito Agrimensor(EXPERT SURVEYOR)
Experience of Spanish Brutality
Rizal experienced his first taste of brutality during his first
year of medical studies at UST.
One night while he was walking alone a dark street, Rizal
failed to recognize the Spanish civil guard, passing by his
side, thus he did not bow, salute or greet the man. At a
striking distance, the civil guard whipped Rizal mercilessly
at the back with a stingray tail (buntot pagi)
Literary Works of Rizal in University of Sto. Tomas
To the Filipino Youth (Sa Kabataang Pilipino/A La
Juventud Filipina) – a winning masterpiece which he
submitted in the literacy contest held by Liceo-Artistico-
Literario of Manila.
“The youth is the fair hope of our Fatherland”
The Council of Gods (El Consejo De Los Dioses) – it
was another contest of Liceo-Artistico-Literario to
commemorate the death of Miguel Cervantes, the author
of Don Quixote.
The study of Rizal at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST)
was not meaningful and fruitful just like when he was at
Ateneo.
Rizal after completing his four years in Medical School
decided to leave for Europe.
Rizal’s Decision to leave for Spain had the blessings of his
brother Paciano and his uncle Antonio Rivera.
He decided to seek his parents’ blessing knowing that they
will never approve his plan.
