I.

Objectives
a. Explain the principle of assimilation advocated by the Propaganda Movement
b. Appraise Rizal’s relationship with other Propagandists
c. Analyze Rizal’s growth as a Propagandists and disavowal of assimilation

II. Lesson

Scholastic Triumphs in Ateneo De Manila (1872-1877)

Four months after the execution of Gom-BurZa and with Doña Teodora still in prison. Jose, was sent to
Manila; where he studied in the Ateneo Municipal, under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits a bitter
rival of the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran. Formerly EscuelaPia (Charity School),
established by City Government in 1817 for poor boys in manila. On 1768 Jesuits expelled from
Philippines and returned to Manila in 1859. Later, became Ateneo de Manila.

On June 10, 1872, Rizal took his Entrance Exam where Father MaginFerrando was the College Registrar.
He used “Rizal” as his surname instead of Mercado and he Boarded in a house outside Intramuros, on
Caraballo Street, (25 mins. away from college) and Titay (a spinster) owned the boarding house, and
owed the Rizal’s family the amount of P300.

Jesuit System of Education

In Jesuit System of Education, they promotes physical culture, humanities, and scientific studies,
vocational courses on agriculture, commerce, mechanics and surveying. They religiously operate the
school, with mass every morning and classes/subjects are open & close with prayer. Here, students were
divided into two:
 Roman Empire – Internos (boarders)
 Carthaginian Empire – Externos (nonboarders)

Each empires had its Ranks:

 Best Student – Emperor;
 2nd Best – Tribune;
 3rd Best – Decurion;
 4th Best – Centurion;
 5th Best – Standard Bearer;
 Student could challenge any officer in his “empire” to answer questions on the day’s lesson. Failure to
answer correctly (3) times, an officer could lose his position. Both banners were used equally in the
classroom:
1st defeat – left side of the room
2nd – Inferior position on the right side
3rd – Inclined flag was placed on the left
4th – Flag was reversed and returned to the right
5th – Reversed flag was placed on the left
6th – Banner was changed with a figure of a donkey

Their uniform were made of “hemp-fabric trousers” and “striped cotton coat” while Coat material was
called “rayadillo”, the famous uniform.

Rizal's First Year in Ateneo (1872 - 1873)

On June, 1872 was Rizal’s first day of class in Ateneo. His first professor was Fr. Jose Bech. He was an
externo and was assigned to Carthaginians. At the end of the month he became "emperor". He was the
brightest pupil in the whole class. He took private lessons in Santa Isabel College and paid three pesos
for extra Spanish lessons and Rizal placed second at the end of the year although his grades were
marked "Excellent."

Second Year in Ateneo (1873 – 1874)

He repented having neglected his studies the previous year because he was offended by the teacher’s
remarks. Rizal studied harder, and once more he became an “emperor” after losing his class leadership.
He had three (3) classmates from Biñan who had also been his classmates in the school of Maestro
Justiniano. At the end of the school year, he received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal.

Rizal was a voracious reader, actually his first favourite novel was “The Count of Monte Cristo” by
Alexander Dumas. He loved to read also Cesar Cantu’s historical work entitled “Universal History” and
“Travels in the Philippines” by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist-traveler (1859 – 1860).

3rd Year in Ateneo (1874 – 1875)

Shortly after the opening of classes, his mother was released from prison. In the previous years, Rizal did
not make an excellent showing in his studies. He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken
was not fluently sonorous. On March, 1875 Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation.

4th Year in Ateneo (1875 – 1876)

On June 16, 1875, he became an interno in Ateneo. Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez inspired him to study
harder and write poetry "model of uprightness, earnestness and love for the advancement of his pupils"
Here, Rizal won five medals.

Last Year in Ateneo (1876 – 1877)

On June 1876 was last year of Rizal in Ateneo. He was truly "the pride of the Jesuits". In fact, he
obtained highest grades in all subjects.

Graduation with Highest Honors

He had an "Excellent" scholastic records from 1872 to 1877. On March 23, 1877, the Commencement
Day, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honor.

Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo

 An "emperor" inside the classroom and campus leader outside

 Secretary of the Marian Congregation
 Member of Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences
 Studied painting under the famous Spanish painter Agustin Saez (left photo)
 Sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus (right photo), noted Filipino sculptor
 Engaged in gymnastics and fencing
 Father Jose Vilaclara advised him to stop communing with the muses and pay more attention to
practical studies such as philosophy and natural science

Sculptural Works in Ateneo

 Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of “batikuling” (Philippine hardwood)

 Father Lleonart requested him to carve an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
 The old Jesuit forgot to take the image with him to Spain
 Ateneo boarding students placed the image on the door of the dormitory and remain there for
many years

Anecdotes of Rizal

 Felix M. Ramos – one of Rizal’s contemporaries in Ateneo

 Manuel Xerex Burgos – whose house Rizal boarded shortly before he became an interno in
Ateneo Poems Written in Ateneo
 MiPrimera Inspiration (My First Inspiration) – the first poem Rizal probably wrote during his days
in Ateneo.

“My First Inspiration”

Why falls so rich a spray

of fragrance from the bowers
of the balmy flowers
upon this festive day?

Why from woods and vales

do we hear sweet measures ringing
that seem to be the singing
of a choir of nightingales?

Why in the grass below

do birds start at the wind's noises,
 unleashing their honeyed voices
as they hop from bough to bough?

Why should the spring that glows

its crystalline murmur be tuning
to the zephyr's mellow crooning
as among the flowers it flows?

Why seems to me more endearing,

more fair than on other days,
the dawn's enchanting face
among red clouds appearing?

The reason, dear mother, is

they feast your day of bloom:
the rose with its perfume,
the bird with its harmonies.

And the spring that rings with laughter

upon this joyful day
with its murmur seems to say:
"Live happily ever after!"

And from that spring in the grove

now turn to hear the first note
that from my lute I emote
to the impulse of my love.

In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez, he wrote more poems such as:

 Filicitacion (Felicitation)
 El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure Hymn to Magellan’s fleet)
 Y EsEspanol: Elcano, the first to circumnavigate the world)
 El Combate: Urbiztondo Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo)

In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics:

 Un Recuerdo a MiPueblu (In Memory of My Town)
 Alianza Intima Entre la Region Y La Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and
Good Education)
 Por la EducacionRecibe Lustre La Patria (Through Education the Country Receive Light)
 E Cultivero Y El Triunfo (The Captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the Imprisonment
of Boabdil)
 La EntradaTriuntal de Los Reyes Catolices en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of The Catholic
Monarches into Granada

A year later, in 1877 he wrote more poems:

 El Heroismo de Colon (The heroism of Colombus)
  Colon y Juan II (Colombus and John II )
 Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune)
 Un DiarogoAlusivo a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students)

Dramatic Work in Ateneo

Father Sanchez, his favoriteteacher ask him to write a drama based on the prose story of St. Eustace the
Martyr. Summer of 1876 in Calamba, he wrote the religious drama in poetic verses. On June 2, 1876,
finished the manuscript and he submitted the finished manuscript entitled “San Eustacio, Martir” (St.
Eustace, the Martyr) to Father Sanchez in his last academic year in Ateneo.

First Romance of Rizal

When Rizal was 16 years old, he experienced his first romance.

A woman named SegundaKatigbak, a pretty 14 years old
Batanguena from Lipa, who happened to be a sister of his friend
Mariano Katigbak and his sister Olimpia was a close friend of
Segunda in La Concordia [Link] was already engaged
to Manuel Luz. His first romance was ruined by his own shyness and
reserve. Segunda returned to Lipa and later married Manuel Luz.
While Rizal remained in Calamba, a frustrated lover, cherishing nostalgic memories of lost love

- - - - - - - - - - - -

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

Mother’s Opposition to Higher Education

Both Don Francisco and andPaciano wanted Rizal to pursue higher learning in the university. But Doña
Teodora, who knew what happened to Gom-Bur-Za, vigorously opposed the idea and told her husband:
“Don’t send him to Manila again; he knows enough. If he gets to know more, the Spanish will cut off his
head .” Don Francisco kept quiet and told Paciano to accompany his younger brother to Manila, despite
their mother’s tears.

Rizal Enters the University

On April 1877, Rizal at 16 years old, entered University of Santo Tomas. He had two (2) reasons why he
enrolled Philosophy and Letters; first, His father liked it and second, he was not sure what career to
pursue. However, Rizal asked for advice to FATHER PABLO RAMON - Rector of the Ateneo, on the
choice of career Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy. Eventually,
he took up a medical course 1878-1879 because; first, hefollowed Ateneo Rector’s advice and second,
wanted to be able to cure his mother’s growing blindness.

Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo 1878

He took a vocational course in Ateneo during his first term in UST . The course lead to the title
peritoagrimensor (expert surveyor). He passed the final examination at the age of 17 , but he could not
be granted the title as surveyor because he was below age. The title was granted the to him on
November 25, 1881.

His loyalty to Ateneo continued; in fact, he became the President of the Academy of Spanish Literature,
a Secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences and also a Secretary of the Marian Congregation.

Romances with Other Girls

Shorlty after losing SegundaKatigbak, he paid court to a young woman in calamba. In his student
memoirs, he called her simply “Miss L,” describing her as “fair seductive and attractive eyes.” Hence, her
identity is lost to history,. However, he gave two reasons for his change of heart, namely: (1) the sweet
memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart and (2) his father did not like the family of “Miss L.”

During his sophomore year at the University of Santo Tomas, he courted Leonor Valenzuela , who was a
tall girl with a regal bearing. He sent her love notes written in invisible ink. But, as with Segunda, he
stopped short of proposing marriage to Orang.

His next romance was with Leonor Rivera, his cousin from Camiling. In 1879, at the start of his junior
year, his landlord uncle, Antonio Rivera had a pretty daughter, Leonor, a student at La Concordia
College, where Soledad (Rizal’s youngest sister) was studying. Leonor was a frail, pretty girl “tender as a
building 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.

Victim of Spanish Officer’s Brutality

One dark night in Calamba, during the summer vacation 1878, he was walking in the street. He passed
by a lieutenant of the Guardia Civil but failed to recognize the latter. Insulted, the lieutenant slashed
Jose’s back with his sword. Jose reported the incident to General Primo de Rivera, Spanish governor
general, but no resolution was done because of racial discrimination.

To the Filipino Youth (1879)

The LiceoArtistico-Literario ((Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila, a society of men and artists,
held a literary contest. Rizal, who was then eighteen years old, submitted his poem entitled A
La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth).

The Board of Judges, composed of Spaniards, was impressed by Rizal’s poem and gave it the
first prize which consisted of a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a good ribbon.
The prize-winning poem, A La Juventud Filipina, is an inspiring poem of flawless form. This
poem is as follows:

To the Filipino Youth

Theme: “Grow, O Timid Flower”

Hold high the brow serene,

O youth, where now you stand.
Let the bright sheen
Of your grace be seen,
Fair hope of my fatherland!

Come now, thou genius grand,

And bring down inspiration;
With thy mighty hand,
Swifter than the winds volation,
Raise the eager mind to highest station.

Come down with pleasing light

Of art and science to the flight,
Of youth, and there untie
The chains that heavy lie,
Your spirit free to bright.

See how in flaming zone

Amid the shadows thrown,
The Spaniard’s holy hand
A crown’s resplendent band
Proffers to this Indian land.

Thou, who know wouldst rise

On wings of rich emprise,
Seek from Olympian Skies
Songs of sweetest strain,
Softer than ambrosial rain.

Thou, whose voice divine

Rival’s Philomel’s refrain,
And with varied line
Through the night benign
 Frees mortality from pain.

Thou, who by sharp strife

Wakest thy mind to life;
And the memory bright
Of thy genius light
Makest immortal in its strength.

And thou, in accents clear

Of Phoebus, to Apollos dear;
Or by the brush’s magic art
Takest from nature’s store a part
To fix it on the simple canva’s length.

Go forth, and then the sacred fire

Of the genius to the laurel may aspire;
To spread around the flame,
And in victory acclaim,
Through wider spheres the human name.

Day, O happy day,

Fair Filipinas, for thy land!
So bless the power day
That places in thy way
This favour and this fortune grand.

This winning poem of Rizal is a classic in Philippine Literature for two reasons: First, It was the first great
poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish Literary authorities, and
secondly, it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos, and not the
foreigners, were the “Fair hope of the Fatherland.”

Champion of Filipino Students

There were frequent student brawls between the Filipinos and the Spaniards. In 1880, Rizal founded
Companerismo (Comradeship), a secret society of Filipino UST students. The members were called
“Companions of Jehu”. He was the chief of the society. His cousin, GalicanoApacible was the secretary.
In one of the skirmishes, Rizal was wounded on the head and his friends brought him to Casa Tomasina
where Leonor Rivera took care of him.

Unhappy Days at the UST

Rizal was unhappy in the Dominican institution for three main reasons: first, the Dominican professors
were hostile to him; second, the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards,
and third, the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive. Thus, he failed to win high scholastic
honors due to the attitude of his professors.

Decision to Study Abroad

Rizal decided to study in Spain after finishing the fourth year of his medical course. It was approved by
his older brother Paciano, his sisters Saturnina (Neneng) and Lucia, his Uncle Antonio Rivera, the
Valenzuela family and some of Rizal’s friends. However, Rizal’s parents, Leonor Rivera and some of the
Spanish authorities didn’t know his decision.

III. Activities

Activity will be posted on the Moodle Stream.

IV. Assessment

Assessment will be given through Moodle Classwork as an assignment.

V. Suggested Reference

Zaide G &Zaide S. Jose Rizal Life, Works, and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist,
and National [Link] Edition, All Nations-Publishing Co. Inc. Quezon City 1109
Philippines.