Chapter 4 Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872-1877)
Escuela Pia (Charity School) – a school for poor boys in manila which was established by the city government in 1817. The Escuela Pia is the First name of Ateneo de Manila. The Ateneo is acquired prestige as an excellent college for boys.
Rizal Enters the Ateneo – June 10, 1872
Father Magin Ferrando – the college registrar when jose entered at the Ateneo municipal. There are two reasons why father Magin Ferrando refuse Rizal (1) he was late for registration (2) he was sickly and under sized for his age. But by the help of the nephew of father Burgos --- Xerez Burgos, Rizal was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo.
Jesuit System of Education – The system given by the Jesuits in the Ateneo was more advance than that of other colleges in that period.
Two Groups in Ateneo
1. The Roman Empire – internos (boarders). Their banners colour is red.
2. The Carthagainian Empire – externos (non-boarders). Their banners colour is blue.
Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-1873) – on his first day of class in the Ateneo June 1872, Rizal first heard mass at the college chapel and prayed fervently to God for guidance and success.
Father Jose Bech – Rizal’s first professor in Ateneo.
Summer Vacation (1873) – at the end of the school year in March 1873, Rizal returns to Calamba for summer vacation. He did not particularly enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison.
Second Year in Ateneo (1873-1874) – nothing unusual happened to Rizal during his second term in the Ateneo, except that he repented having neglected his studies the previous year simply because he was offended by the teacher’s remarks.
Prophecy of Mother’s Release – Rizal lost no time in going to Santa Cruz in order to visit his mother in the provincial jail. He cheered up Dona Teodora’s lonely heart with news of his scholastic triumphs in Ateneo and with funny tales his professors and the fellow students. But Rizal’s prophecy became true and suddenly his mother was set free.
Teenage Interest in Reading – The first favourite novel of Rizal was The Count on Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-1875) – in June 1874, Rizal return to the Ateneo for his junior year. Shortly after the opening of classes, his mother arrived and joyously told him that she was released from prison.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-1876) – after a refreshing and happy summer vacation, Rizal went back to Manila for his fourth year course. On June 16, 1875, he became an internal in the Ateneo. One of his professors this time was Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez – a great educator and scholar.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-1877) – Rizal finish his last year at the Ateneo in a blaze of glory. He obtained the highest grade in all subjects.
Extra Curricular Activities in Ateneo – he was active in extra-curricular activities. An emperor inside the class room, he was a campus leader outside.
Sculpture Works in Ateneo – he curved an image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of Batikuling (Philippine hard wood) with his pocket knife.
Poems Written in Ateneo - Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration), first poem of Rizal.
Writings of Rizal: (1875)
1. Felicitacion (Felicitation)
2. El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure: Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet)
3. Y Es Espanol: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish: Elcano, The First to Circumnavigate the World)
4. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of the Jolo)
(1876)
1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)
2. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education)
3. Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education the Country Receives Light)
4. El Cautiverio y Triunfo: Battala de Lucena y Prision de Buadbil ( The Captivity and Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the Prison of Buabdil)
5. La Entrada Triunfal de Los Reyes Catolices en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of the Catholic Monarchs into Granada).
(1877)
1. El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus)
2. Colon y Juan (Columbus and John II)
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune)
4. Un Dialogo Alusivo a la Despedida de los Colegielos (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students)

Chapter 5: Medical Studies at the University of Sto. Tomas (1877-1882) When Rizal finished studying at Ateneo, he had to go to the UST for higher education. Both Don Francisco and Paciano wanted Jose to pursue higher learning in the UST, but Dona Teodora, vigorously opposed the idea of his husband.
Rizal Enters the University – he take the course of Philosophy and Letters. Rizal enrolled the course for two reasons (1) his father liked it and (2) he was still uncertain on what career to pursue. Rizal decided to take medicine for a career to be able to cure his mothers growing blindness.
Finishing Surveying Course in Ateneo – Rizal also studied in the Ateneo. He took the vocational course leading to the title of Perito Agrimensor (expert surveyer).
- As usual, Rizal excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo, obtaining gold medals in agriculture and topography
- At the age of 17 he passed the final examination in the surveying course, but he could not be granted the title as surveyer because he was below age. The title was issued to him on November 25, 1881.
Romances with Other Girls – Rizal had ample time for love. His sad experience with his first love had made him wiser in the way of romance.
Two reasons for his change of heart: (1) the sweet memories of Segunda was still fresh in his heart (2) and his father did not like the family of his “miss L”. Rizal court the daughter of Kapitan Juan and Kapitana Sanday Valenzuela from Pagsanjan, Laguna. Named Leonor Valenzuela.
Victim of Spanish Officer’s Brutality – when Rizal was a freshman medical student at the UST, he experience his first taste of Spanish brutality.
“To the Filipino Youth” (1879) – the poem of Rizal won a first prize which consisted of a silver pen, feather shaped decorated with a gold ribbon.
“The Council of the Gods” (1880) – Rizal inspired by his poetical triumph, entered the literary joust, submitting an allegorical drama El Consejo de Los Dioses (the Council of the Gods). The judges of the contest were all Spaniards. After a long and critical appraisal of the entries they awarded the first prize to Rizal’s work because of its literary superiority over the others.
Other Literary Works
1. Junto al Pasig (beside the Pasig)
2. A Filipinas (1880)
3. Abd – el – Azis Y Mahoma (1879)
4. Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon (1881)
Rizal’s Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan (1881)
Champion of Filipino Students – Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students in their frequent fights against the arrogant Spanish students. In 1880 he founded a secret society of Filipino students in the UST called Campanerismo (comradeship), whose members were called “companions of Jehu”.
Unhappy Days at the UST – Rizal, Ateneo’s Boy Wonder, found the atmosphere at the UST suffocating to his sensitive spirit. He was unhappy because (1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him (2) the Filipino students was racially discriminated against by the Spaniards and (3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.
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 UST.