CHAPTER 4
Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and
Life Abroad

Rizal’ first professor in Ateneo was
Fr. Jose Bech

With a little knowledge of Spanish
and an externo (non-boarders) he
was place in the Carthaginian
Empire and the other group was
the Roman Empire.
Best in rank - Emperor
2nd rank - Best Tribune
3rd rank - Decurion
4th rank - Centurion
5th rank - Standard Bearer

On his fourth year in Ateneo, Jose
Rizal was inspired to study hard
and to write poetry by one of his
professors, Father Francisco de
Paula Sanchez, a great educator
and scholar. Rizal had the highest
affection and respect for Father
Sanchez, whom he considered his
best professor in Ateneo.

Rizal's formal lessons at the Ateneo
gradually gained him proficiency
both in the art of rhetoric and in
the art of independent thinking. He
expressed his ideas on the value of
education in his poem “Through
Education The Country Receives
Light" (Por la Education Recibe
Lustre la Patria). He stressed that
responsible education instills in the
youth, noble ideas and sublime
virtues. Learning infuses truth,
and discipline brings peace, glory
and tranquility to the nation.
Education at Biñan, Laguna

Jose Rizal led a frugal and
methodical life in Biñan. His time
was wellbudgeted from 4 o'clock in
the morning such as hearing mass,
eating time,studies and leisure
time at times he played in the
street with friends and other boys
when there was the moon.He
concentrated on his studies
diligently and he excelled
inSpanish, Latin and all subjects.
Education at the Ateneo

The Jesuits system of education
was more advanced. Its discipline
was rigid and the methods are
varied. It promoted physical,
culture, humanities and scientific
studies. It also establishes
vocational courses in agriculture,
commerce and mechanics as a
religious institute, its primarily
purpose was to mold the character
and the will of the boys to comply
more easily with the precepts of the
church. the students hear mass
before the beginning of the class,
which was opened and close with
prayers.



“Through Education The Country
Receives Light"
(Translation from Spanish to
English was by Dr. Frank C.
Laucbach)
There were other poems written by
Jose Rizal while in Ateneo as
inspired by Father Sanchez to
make full use of his God-given
talents in poetry and to open his
mind to the rich influence to the
world’s literature.
In 1874 Rizal wrote literary pieces.
1. Mi Primera Inspiracion ( My
first Impression) - It was poem
dedicated his mother on her
birthday. He was 14 years old
when he wrote the poem. He felt
overjoyed, at that time, because
his mother was released in
prison.
2. Al Nino Jesus ( To the Child
Jesus)
3. A La Virgen Maria ( To the
Virgen Mary)

2. El Embarque: Himno A la Flota
de Magallanes ( The Departure:
Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet)
In 1875, Rizal wrote literary pieces.
3. Y Es Espanol: Elcano, Primiero
en der la Vuelta ( And he is
Spanish: Elcano, the First to
Circumnavigate the World)
4. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror
de Jolo ( The Battle: Urbiztondo,
Terror of Jolo)

In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on
various topics - religion, education,
childhood memories and war.
1. La Tragedia de San Eustaquio (
The Tragedy of St. Eustace).
This poem recounts the tragic
story of St. Eustace.
2. Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo ( In
memory of my Town) - A tender
poem in honor of Calamba, the
hero’s natal town.
3. Alianza Intima Entre la
Religion y la Buena Education
( Intimate Alliance Between
Religion and Good education) This poem shows the
importance of religion in
education. For Rizal education
without God is not education at
all.
1. Felicitacion (Felicitation)
4. Por La Education Recibe Lustre
la patria ( Through Education
the country receives light) - It
was poem which reflects his
highest regard for education.
Education had signigicant role
which plays in the molding of
nation, the attainment of its
progess and
welfare.
.
2. Colon y Juan II- this poem
related how King John II of
Portugal missed fame and
riches by his failure to finance
the projected expedition of
Columbus to the New World.
3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor
Desdicha (Great Solace in Great
Misfortune)- This is the tragic
life of Columbus
5. Ed Cautiverio y el Triunjo:
Batalla de Lucena y Prison de
Boabdil ( The captivity and the
Triumph : Battle of Lucena and
the Imprisonment of Boabdil,
the last Moorish sultan of
Granada.
6. La Entrada Triunfal de los
Reyes Catolices en Granada (
The Triumphal Entry of the
Catholic Monarch into
Granada). This poem relates the
victorious entry of King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabel
into Granada, Last Moorish
stronghold in Spain.

4. Un Dialogo Alusivo a la
Despidida de los Colegiales ( A
Farewell Dialogue of the
Students)- This was the last
poem written by Rizal in
Ateneo; it is a poignant poem of
farewell to his classmates, the
joy, pain and memories they
shared together in the
institution.
Rizal’s studies at Ateneo

He excelled in all subjects and won
five medals at the end of the school
term. He proudly offered all his
excellent ratings and medals to his
parents, a way to repay them for
their sacrifices and love. He was
considered as the most brilliant
Atenean of his time, he was truly
the pride of the Jesuits.

During his stay at the Ateneo,
Rizal’s grades were all
A year later, in 1877, he wrote
more poem. It was his last year in
Ateneo. Among the poem written
that year were:
1. El Heroism de Colon ( The
Heroism of Columbus)- This
poem praises Columbus, the
discoverer of America
Excellent(Sobresaliente). On March
23, 1877, he received his degree of
Bachelor of Art with honors.His
scholastic records at the Ateneo
from 1872 to 1877 were as follow.
Rizal’s Studies at the University of
Santo Tomas(UST) 1882




For higher studies, after
graduation from Ateneo, he
pursued his studies at the
University of Sto. Tomas. The
Bachelor of Arts course during the
Spanish times was equivalent not
only to the high school and Junior
Courses today.
His mother Teodora was opposed to
his son’s pursuing higher education
in Manila because she was
reminded of the fate of intelligent
Filipinos like the priests
GOMBURZA.
Don Francisco believed of the great
future that awaited his son whose
intelligence was among the best
during that time.
During his first year at UST he
studied simultaneously at Ateneo
taking up he simultaneously at
ateneo taking up vocational course
leading to the title of “perito
agrimensor” with grades of
“Excellent” but was not given the
because he was still 17 years old.

He finally decided to take up
medicine with the advice of Fr.
Pablo Ramon the director of Ateneo
de Manila with the intention and
desire to cure Dona Teodora’s
failing eyesight.
Literary works of Rizal in
University of Santo Tomas (UST
The following are the literary
pieces Rizal wrote during hid UST
days:
Year 1879
1. A La Juventud Filipino (To the
Filipino youth)
Year 1880
2. El Consejo De Los Dioses
Other Works
1. Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma - a poem
composed by Rizal for Manuel
Fernandez and which disclaimed
by the latter on the night of
December 7, 1897.
2. Junto Al Pasig (Beside Pasig) A
drama played by Ateneans on the
occasion of the feast of Immaculate
Concepcion on December 8, 1880.
3. A Filipinas (To the Philippines) A
sonnet written in 1880 to praise
the Philippines for its beauty and
to encourage Filipino artist to
glorify the Philippines through
their art works.
4. AI M.R.P. Pablo Ramon, Recto del
Ateneo, en Sus Dias. A poem wrote
by Rizal for Father Pablo Ramon
who had been so kind and helpful
to Rizal.