Michaela Nicole I.
Pueblos BSN — 1 (Batch 1)
“EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OF RIZAL”
Jose Protacia Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda also known as Dr. Jose Rizal’s first
teacher was his mother. It was his mother, Doña Teodora whose patient, conscientious and
understanding taught the young Jose to read and pray, and who had encouraged him to write
poetry. At the age of 8, Jose wrote a Tagalog poem “Sa Aking Mga Kabata,” the theme which
revolves on the love of one’s language. Although Jose was naturally gifted with intelligence, he
still had some tutors to teach and expand his knowledge named Maestro Celestino and Maestro
Lucas. Later, an old man named Leon Monroy — a former classmate of Jose’s father also
became his tutor. This teacher lived at the Rizal’s home and instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin.
Unfortunately, he did not live long. After Monroy’s death, Jose’s parents decided to send their
gifted son to a private school, Biñan.
Sunday afternoon in June, 1869, Jose left Calamba for Biñan accompanied by his older
brother, Paciano. Paciano enrolled Rizal to the school of Maestri Justiano Aquino Cruz and also
taught him. Jose met myriads of bullies and one of them was Pedro, and his classmate named
Andres Salandaman challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. Unfortunately, he lost. I’ve
always thought that Jose was shy, but he sure knew how to defend himself. Aside from the
bullies, Jose also met Juancho — an old painter who was the father-in-law of the school teacher
and the one who freely give Jose’s lessons in drawing and painting because Juancho was amazed
to the talent of Rizal in drawing and painting. Jose and his classmate, Jose Guevarra became the
apprentices of the old painter. Christmas in 1870, Jose received a letter from his sister Saturnina,
informing him of the arrival of the steamer Talim which would take him from Biñan to Calamba.
And in Saturday afternoon, in the 17th day of December in the year 1870, Rizal left Biñan after
one year and a half of schooling and a Frenchman friend of Jose’s father who took care of him
on board named Arturo Camps.
Jose Rizal entered Ateneo de Municipal established by the Jesuits and took up Bachelor
of Arts in 1887 at the age of 16. He belonged to the class composed of Spaniards, mestizos and
Filipinos, and during his 4th year in Ateneo he received 5 medals and one of the students
declared as sobresaliente. His teacher was Fr. Jose Bech and by the end of the month he became
the emperor and received a prize, a religious picture.
Rizal is not just good in academics, but also in extra-curricular activities. He also joined
many organizations and societies. Moreover, he was an active member and became a secretary,
the Marian Congregation Religious Society, member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and
the Academy of Natural Sciences, studied painting under the famous Spanish Painter, Agustin
Saez, improved his sculpture talents under the supervision of Romualdo de Jesus, engaged in
gymnastics and fencing and continued the physical training under his sports-minded Tio Manuel,
and many more. Doctor Jose Rizal was indeed a brilliant and astounding man.
After graduating, he continued his education at University of Santo Thomas and was
finished a year in Philosophy and Letters. During his first term in 1877-1878 in UST, he studied
Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy and History of Philosophy. It was during the school term
1878-1879 that Rizal shift and pursued his studies in medicine in the reason he wanted to cure
his mother’s failing eyesight. And that’s the time he went to Europe to pursue his dream.
