JOSE RIZAL AND THE DOMINICAN CONNECTION
By
Augusto V. de Viana, Ph.D.
Chairperson, Department of History
University of Santo Tomas
Connection with the Land
Rizal’s connection with the Dominicans began even before he was born. During the late 18th
century after his conversion to the Christian faith, Domingo Lam-co, Rizal’s Chinese great grandfather
was befriended by the Dominicans who sent him to Biňan where he helped construct the irrigation
canals in the estate managed by the order. In 1833 the Dominicans purchased the Calamba estate south
of Biňan from a Spanish layman and opened it to tenants. The estate formerly belonged to the Jesuit
order which was confiscated by the colonial government following its expulsion from the islands in 1768.
A Spaniard then acquired it before it was bought by the Dominicans.
As landowners the Dominicans used earnings from their properties to support educational
institutions such as the University of Santo Tomas, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, orphanages and
their missions in the Philippines and abroad such as in China. Rizal’s father Don Francisco, moved to
Calamba from Biňan. He became a primary tenant in the Calamba estate. He then leased the land he
rented to other tenants who did most of the farming. He must have been productive and gained the
favor of the Dominicans because he was able to lease more lands south of the town in the Pansol area
with no obligation to pay for the first five years since Don Mercado and his tenants were the ones doing
the clearing. These lands were very fertile and had access to irrigation because of the presence of
underground streams. They were coveted by other farmer-families which shows Don Mercado’s clout
with the administrators of the estate. In time the farm lands became very productive Rizal’s family to
defray his expenses as a student at the Ateneo, the University of Santo Tomas and later his studies and
ten-year in Europe and other countries. Another sign of the affluence of Don Francisco was that he was
able to build a large bahay na bato with a large yard which was located at the plaza of Calamba, a status
symbol at the time. Later he acquired a second bahay na bato in another part of the town. He became
a member of the principalia or leading citizens of the town and had some political influence. He owned
a flour mill, a ham press while his wife operated a store near the family house. As Don Francisco was
approaching advanced age, the Dominicans allowed additional lands to be leased by Don Francisco’s
family to be managed by his children to tide them over in case Don Francisco’ dies. By the time Rizal
was born his family was part of the economic and political elite of Calamba.
Rizal’s Early Encounter with the Dominicans
When Rizal was a small child in Calamba he played around the town and moved around using a
pony and accompanied by a dog named Usman. A born poet and writer he wrote poems and plays
which he offered to visitors. The most famous was the play he wrote when he was eight years old which
was bought by the gobernadorcillo of Paete for two pesos. The boy Jose was said to have been offering
his services to the Dominicans who called him Pepe Mercado.
Rizal’s most likely first encounter with the University began in 1872 when he was told that there
was a public Aviso or announcement which was signed by Don Antonio Estrada, the University’s
Secretary General informing that students wishing to take up Secondary Education in Manila should go
to Manila and take
an entrance examination.
This announcement was required regulations on
secondary education which was enforced in the Philippines since 1866. In the previous year Queen
Isabella II granted the University the authority to supervise secondary and higher education in the
Islands. The decree made the Rector of the University the ex-officio Inspector of all private colleges.
Estrada’s announcement was dated May 14, 1872 and examination dates were set from June 1
to 15, 1872. It stated that the examinations be held either at the University of Santo Tomas or at the
Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Accompanied by his brother Paciano, Rizal left for Manila on June 10,
1872. It was Rizal’s first trip to the Manila. Paciano brought with him a document signed by their father
declaring that on behalf of Jose, what course has been chosen for him to take, what school, Rizal’s age
and his intended residence in Manila and his baptismal certificate. Rizal took his qualifying examinations
at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Rizal was given a choice where to take up his secondary education
at the Dominican-run Colegio de San Juan de Letran or at Ateneo de Manila which was managed by the
Jesuits. Rizal opted to enter Ateneo. His decision was a personal one which echoed the choice of his
parents.
For the next ten years from 1872 to 1882 Rizal would be a Manila student. This was what he
called himself in his memoirs. Of these years five were spent at the Ateneo and the remaining were at
the University of Santo Tomas. Even as an Ateneo student, Rizal could not help avoiding the influence of
the Dominicans. From time to time instructions, notices and regulations coming from the University
frequently arrived at the Ateneo. Since the Rector of the University of Santo Tomas was the ex-officio
head of all secondary and higher education in the islands, the Dominicans in their habits can be seen
walking in the grounds of Ateneo. They were there to supervise instruction in the Jesuit institution.
Every year the Rector of the University sends examiners to the Ateneo to conduct or supervise the final
examinations. Rizal certainly encountered the Dominicans face to face. These were Fathers Manuel
Puebla and Fr. Jose Ma. Garcia in March 1873; Father Puebla and Fr. Bernardino Nozaleda in March
1874; Fr. Julian Revilla and Fr. Eusebio Escribano in March 1875; Fr. Rivillia and Fr. Marcos Laynez in
1876; and Fr. Santiago Paya and Fr. Laynez in 1877.
We can only imagine how young boys like Rizal reacted under the inquisitive eyes of the
Dominican inspectors. Perhaps this is reflected in El Filibusterismo which Rizal was to write around
nineteen years later wherein two Dominican professors question the character Basilio who was depicted
by Rizal as a former Letran student.
When Doňa Teodora was accused of attempting to poison his aunt, her namesake, Doňa
Teodora Formoso de Alberto in 1872. Rizal’s family hired the services to two lawyers Don Francisco de
Marcaida and Don Manuel P. Marzano who were both were professors of the University. It was highly
likely that they were recommended through the Dominican administrators at Calamba. Through their
legal services, Doña Teodora was released from the provincial jail of Santa Cruz in 1874.
When Rizal finished his education at the Ateneo, he received his bachiller en artes diploma. It
was not issued by the Ateneo Municipal but by the University of Santo Tomas. No school in the
Philippines except the University of Santo Tomas was empowered to confer academic titles. After
having passed his final examination on March 14, 1878, Rizal went to the University of Santo Tomas to
obtain his coveted diploma which carried the distinction of sobresaliente (excellent) which was issued on
March 20 that year. It read:
EL RECTOR Y CANCELARIO
DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE FILIPINAS
Por cuanto Don JOSE RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO, natural de Calamba, Provincia de Laguna de edad de
quince años, ha acredito en debida forma que reune las circumstacias previstas por la actual legislacion
para obtener el titolo de Bachiller en Artes y hecho constar su suficiencia ante el tribunal de examen de
Segunda Enseñanza en el dia catorce del presente mes, habiendo obtenido la calificacion de
“Sobresaliente,”
Por tanto, en virtud de las facultades cde que me hallo investigado, expido este Titulo por el cual se le
autoriza para el libere ejercicio y uso de las funciones, privilegios y gracias inherentes a lo mismo en los
terminus que previenen las leyes y reglamentos vigentes.
Dado en Manila a veinte de Marzo de mil ochocientos setenta y siete,
(Sello de la Universidad)
El Rector
(Fdo) Fr. Jose Cueto, O.P.
Reg. Pag. 71
El Secretario
(Fdo. Dr. Antonio Estrada)
TITULO de Bachiller en Artes a favor de Don Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonso.
One may notice the name “Universidad de Filipinas” in the diploma. This was a legacy of one of
the decrees of the Spanish Overseas Minister Segismundo Moret on November 6, 1870. The decrees
were intended to secularize the University of Santo Tomas as well as other institutions managed by the
religious orders. The decree would have resulted in taking from the Dominicans the administration and
control of the Island’s center of higher learning. The Dominicans naturally protested the decree and
respectfully sent officials to present the case of the University at the Overseas Ministry. 1
Under the Moret decrees institutions such as the colleges of Letran, Ateneo, Escuela Nautical
or Nautical School and Escuela de Dibujo y Pintura or School of Drawing and Painting along with the
University of Santo Tomas would be suppressed and integrated into a single school called the Instituto
Filipino or Philippine Institute. One may assume that this was the work of anti-clerical forces which
ousted Queen Isabella in 1868 but they also had the objective of modernizing the educational system in
the Philippines. In fact there was a decree authorizing the establishment of the faculties of medicine
1
In Manila arguments for the retention of the University under Dominican control were presented by
University Rector Fr. Domingo Treserra on February 21, 1871. In Madrid by The Dominican Procurator General of
the Philippines Fr. Francisco Rivas on January 26, 1871 and his successor and later Manila Archbishop Pedro Payo
on October 25, 1871.
The Moret Decree would have spelled the end of the University which was then two hundred and sixty
years old. Under the decree the Rector would be a layman and appointed by the Government and two new
faculties would be created, Medicine and Pharmacy which would be the backbone of this center of learning.
See Villaroel, Fr. Fidel, Jose Rizal and the University of Santo Tomas. (Manila: University of Santo Tomas,
1984) p. 63.
and pharmacy in the University in 1871. The decrees suppressing the educational institutions were not
implemented because the change of government in Spain. Amadeo de Savoy was proclaimed King on
January 2, 1871 and began changing ministries and policies.
Along with the change of name to Universidad de Filipinas the University also had another
“secular” name-the “Universidad the Manila.” The use of this name did not last long and the original
name Universidad de Santo Tomas de Manila was reinstated with the revocation of the Moret Decree by
the Royal Decree of October 29, 1875. By the time Rizal entered the University of Santo Tomas it had
the following Faculties consisting of the Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Canon Law, Faculty of Civil Law,
Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy and the Notarial School.
More changes took place in the University while Rizal was a student there. A School for
Midwives was created in 1879. The school was established to reduce infant mortality which was caused
by traditional midwives or hilots. The establishment of this school allowed women for the very first time
to be enrolled in the University. Only married women or widows over the age of 20 were allowed to
enroll in this school and they should be endorsed by their parish priest.
Other developments inside the UST was the establishment of
the School for Medical
Practitioners and the School for Pharmaceutical Practitioners were established in 1880. The School for
Midwives, the School for Medical Practitioners and the School for Pharmaceutical Practitioners were
placed under the Faculty of Medicine. The Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy were housed in the
building of the San Jose College which was formerly owned by the Jesuits. This building was located at
the corner of Magallanes and Anda Streets. Classes for Pathology, medical and clinical surgery were
held at the San Juan De Dios Hospital in Muralla Street where the Lyceum of the Philippines stands
today. The Dominicans fitted the building built special halls and with equipment. Rizal would attend his
classes there.
The Thomasian Rizal
By the time Rizal enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas he was at the crossroads of his life
and like many students, he was unsure of what course to take. His mother objected to his getting higher
education after finishing his studies at the Ateneo. She wanted him to help the family in its businesses.
She feared that with additional knowledge, the Spanish authorities might cut off Jose’s head. She
blamed the fate of the Filipino intellectuals to the level of education they received which they used to
challenge Spanish rule in the islands. A family council was held and Don Francisco and Paciano were
able to prevail over Dona Teodora’s objections.
Rizal reviewed his various options at the University. He would have taken up law which his father
preferred. He also loved the arts and was inclined towards it. He would have loved an education in
literature. Rizal tried to seek guidance from the priests at the Ateneo especially its Rector Fr. Pablo
Ramon for guidance but since he was in Mindanao, he was left to decide for himself. Other Atenean
professors suggested that the take up priesthood or farming. For his first term in the school year of
1877-1878, Rizal studied at the philosophy program taking up cosmology, metaphysics, theodicy and
the history of philosophy. This was a preparatory course towards theology and law studies. In the
following term in 1878-1879 Jose decided to shift to medicine. His decision was prompted by his desire
to cure his mother’s failing eyesight. There were other more plausible reasons why Rizal decided to take
medicine. On the year of Rizal’s entry to the University in 1877 the first graduates of the course were
produced.
The University authorities were petitioning the Government to give priority to local
graduates over physicians from the Peninsula for the positions in the Health Department. The glamor
of the profession appealed to him and the employment opportunities offered to its graduates. Another
factor for his decision is that medicine appears to be a new frontier in Philippine education. The
University of Santo Tomas was the first in colonial Asia to introduce education in the profession in 1871
along with pharmacy.
While there was a noticeable decline in the ecclesiastical faculties at the time
there was a steady increase in the enrolment in the medicine and pharmacy faculties.
These
circumstances were the more likely reasons why Rizal decided to take up medicine.
The beginning of the school year at Santo Tomas was marked with the traditional mass of the
Holy Spirit which was attended by the faculty and student bodies. Rizal also attended the traditional
Discurso de Apertura. The speaker was a 29-year old Dominican named Fr. Juan Vila who discussed the
nature of Spiritism. His discourse also mentioned the achievements of the previous school year
including the inauguration of the building and faculties of the Colegio de San Jose to be used by the
Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy. Also mentioned were the graduation of the first graduates of
Medicine and the harmonization of the University’s curricula with that of Spain.
Upon entering the University Rizal noticed a great difference from his experience at the Ateneo.
His student life in the Jesuit institution was regimented and almost every hour of the day was accounted
for between class time, prayer time and recreation time by the Jesuit professors. The University was a
different world from Ateneo. There was more freedom and very little control on one’s private and
scholastic conduct. This was similar to the practice in Europe where the students were considered to be
more mature and therefore more responsible. One does not have to attend early Mass and a student
only spent three hours in class the rest of the day was free. This allowed Rizal to undertake other
activities.
Some students who were lazy used the free time to do la cuacha or play truant. Some would
even cut classes. The students stayed out of Intramuros which Rizal described himself as dismal and
lacking in appeal. Even at that time the Walled City still bore scars of the 1863 earthquake. Buildings
like the Manila Cathedral were still in ruins. The arrabal or suburb of Binondo across the Pasig River was
more attractive with its numerous shops and eateries. It was a short carromata ride away through the
Puente de España across the Pasig River.
The more diligent students made productive use of their time by taking up vocational courses at
the Ateneo. The Jesuit institution offered courses such as agriculture, commerce, mechanics and
surveying for boys. Rizal took and completed the surveyor’s course and was awarded the title of perito
agrimensor. He passed the final examination for the course but he could not practice the surveyor’s
profession since at the age of seventeen, he was under aged. He was issued the certificate on
November 25, 1881, when he was 20 years old. Rizal’s contemporaries such as Rafael Palma were able
to take a two-year course in Commerce also at the Ateneo.
The free time in UST allowed Rizal to keep alive his links to his former alma mater which he
frequently visited. Aside from attending the surveyor’s class there he was still active in the Ateneo’s
extracurricular scene. Rizal was president of the Academy of Spanish Literature and continued his
membership in the Marian Congregation where he held the post of Secretary. He continued to write
and along with his literary accomplishments were his memoirs entitled Memorias de un estudiante de
Manila in which he wrote under the pen name P. Jacinto. We would not have known about its
authorship if not for Riza’s signature which he affixed at the end of the manuscript. Here he made a
detailed account of his life from his childhood up December 1877.
Another activity afforded by his free time was his social life. Rizal formed a group of his fellow
students called El Compañerismo (The Comradeship) which was inspired by Alexander Dumas’ The
Three Musketeers. Its members also called each other Compañeros de Jehu which was again inspired by
Dumas.2 Rizal was its president while Galicano Apacible became its secretary. Other members were
Rizal’s fellow board mates at the Casa Tomasiana including Vicente Gella. The group had no apparent
political agenda and its main interest was mutual assistance to its members. The group broke up after
Rizal left for Europe in 1882.
Another activity afforded by free time was romantic pursuits. After recovering from the loss of
Segunda Katigbak in 1877 he eyed the affection of a young woman whom he hid under the name “Miss
L.” This mysterious girl was probably one of the daughters of Concepcion Leyba, his landlady who was
one of the richest women in Manila. The romance ended when the girl’s father objected to their
relationship. There was also Leonor Valenzuela, the charming daughter of his landlady’s neighbor Juan
Valenzuela. Rizal stopped short of proposing to Leonor. There was another girl whom Rizal wooed
along with Leonor. She was Vicenta Ybardaloza of Pagsanjan. Rizal next love was Leonor Rivera with
whom he continued to write to after he had left for Europe. Leonor’s mother objected to their romance
and hid all his letters. Leonor, thinking that Rizal lost interest in her, later married the Englishman Henry
Kipping.
As a student in the University Rizal’s first subjects in the University belonged to the Preparatory
Course of Theology and Law which consisted of Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy and History of
Philosophy. These were quite heavy subjects especially for students just out of high school. Moreover
2
This was inspired by Dumas’ novel Les Compagnons de Jehu. The novel was about a group of French aristocrats who resisted the
French Revolution. They wanted to restore King Louis XVIII to the French throne. The characters in the novel got their inspiration from the Old
Testament, Jehu was a King of Israel who was anointed by the prophet Elisha to punish and wipe out the family of King Ahab and his wife
Jezebel who promoted the worship of the god Baal. In the novel the remaining eight Compagnons de Jehu were killed at the Battle of the Caves
and the rest including its leader, Morgan, were executed by the guillotine.
these subjects had to be studied in Latin. Teaching these subjects were Fr. Juan Vila, the Orator of the
Discurso de Apertura during Rizal’s first year in UST. He had just received the Doctorate in Theology in
January 1877and Fr. Manuel Puebla. Both professors signed Rizal’s grade sheet in all four subjects. Rizal
fared well in these subjects garnering the grades of sobresaliente or “excellent. “
By June of 1878 Rizal definitely resolved to take up medicine. His visit to his mother for the
Christmas of 1877 must have influenced his decision. His mother could not recognize him at first glance
as she had lost much of her sight.
When Rizal had shifted to Medicine, all prospective students were required to take a
preparatory course called Curso de Ampliacion which consisted of an advanced course in Physics,
Chemistry and Natural History. This course which complemented the studies taken up in the last years
of Secondary Education, should be taken before entering first year of medical studies. Rizal however
was able to take the Preparatory Course of Medicine and First Year of Medicine at same time in 18781879. This was practice was anomalous and forbidden by law. Under only convincing circumstances the
Governor General of the Philippines could make an exception only after consultation with the Rector of
the University.
The Governor General disapproved some requests by students trying to enroll
simultaneously in the Ampliacion and First Year Medicine at the same time.3
Aside from Rizal three
other students were given the privilege to take up the Curso de Ampliacion with First Year Medicine.
These were Agustin Monasterio, Carlos Gatmaitan and Justo Panis.
3
4
The reasons for the exemption
This was Ramon Alaejos whose request was denied by Governor General Domingo Moriones in 1877;
Leon Apacible by Governor General Primo de Rivera in 1881. Apacible who was the brother of Dr. Galicano
Apacible tried to study simultaneously the fourth and fifth years of law. During the school year Rizal shifted to
Medicine, Crescenio Angulo was denied the privilege to take the Curso de Ampliacion with First Year Medicine.
4
The Libro de Matriculas showed a note stating “De orden del P. Vice-Rector, a simultear con el
Preparatorio.
given to Rizal and three others were not given. This showed that Rizal who was described as a victim of
discrimination by the Dominicans was actually favored by them5.
Rizal’s first class in Medicine consisted of 24 students who consisted of three Peninsular
Spaniards, three Philippine-born Spaniards and the rest were natives. Even as he was taking up the
Ampliacion and First Year Medical courses at the same time, Rizal found time for other activities. He
was attracted to the arts like painting enrolled at the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura located nearby in
Cabildo Street inside the Walled City. He also tried to read music and play the piano but found out that
he had no ear for music and concentrated instead on painting. He also wished to study fencing. He was
also attracted to sports like fencing.
Rizal finished his Ampliacion studies without incident. He was not the best student in class but
he ranked high among his classmates. In Advanced Physics he got the grade of Aprovechado (Very
Good) - the fifth best among 22 students who passed the course; Rizal got Sobresaliente in Advanced
Chemistry, one of only four who got such high mark and the grade of Aprovechado for Advanced Natural
History- the fourth best among the class. For his first year medical course all of his grades were bueno
or good.
There was one small but interesting event which happened during Rizal’s first year in his medical
studies. The University undertook a fund-raising campaign in December 1878 to erect a statue in honor
of the University’s benefactor and founder, Archbishop Miguel de Benavides. The then University
Rector Fr. Joaquin Fonseca asked Governor General Domingo Moriones to raise funds from students and
professors to fabricate the statue and construct the monument which needed 30,000 pesos. The fund-
5
Villaroel, p. 91.
raising effort was reflected in Chapter 12 of El Filibusterismo in the conversation between Placido
Penitente and Juanito Pelaez in the campaign to collect funds for the statue of “Father Baltasar-”
alluding to Bishop Benavides. “Father Baltasar” by the way is not entirely fictitious. It refers to Fr.
Baltasar Fort, the executor of Archbishop Benavides’ will which led to the founding of the University in
1611. Rizal may have contributed a few pesos to this fund raising effort. The project however was
called off after raising only 4,000 pesos and thirteen years had to pass before the monument is finally
completed. The statue which was cast in France was installed at the Plaza Santo Tomas in front of the
university building in Intramuros in 1891. It witnessed the Philippine Revolution, the transition of the
Islands to American rule and the Second World War before being relocated to its present site in the
Sampaloc campus.
In his second year of Medicine in 1879-1880 Rizal took up the following subjects namely General
Anatomy and Histology 2, Descriptive Anatomy II, Exercises of Dissection, Physiology and Private and
Public Hygiene. These subjects were handled by two lay professors Jose Franco and Carlos Nalda. Rizal
remembered Professor Franco in unfavorable terms. “He was notorious for failing his students. At the
beginning of my career he used to threaten us with failing us all.” Most likely Franco was the model for
Padre Million in the chapter the Class in Physics in his novel El Filibusterismo. Rizal would meet Franco
again, this time as his classmate at the Universidad Central de Madrid in 1884.
It was during his second year in Medicine Rizal wrote three poems, Abd-el Azis y Mahoma in
December 8, 1879; a sonnet entitled A Filipinas which was written in February 1880 and the A la
Juventud Filipina which won first prize at the Liceo Literario de Manila. The poem became known for its
immortal words when it referred the youth as the fair hope of the motherland (La bella esperanza de la
patria mia- the fair hope of my country). It was Jose’s display of patriotism since his first poem Sa Aking
Kabata and he wrote this on his own unlike the poems he wrote at the Ateneo which were guided by his
mentor Fr. Sanchez who inspired him the writing of his literary works. His immortal poem is as follows:
At the end of his second year eleven students passed out of 18. Rizal realized that the threats of
Professor Franco were not empty ones. Rizal got the consistent grade of Bueno (Good) and placed sixth
in the class standing.
In April 1880 Rizal submitted a literary work which he presented to the Liceo Artistico-Literario
which held a contest commemorating the 400th death anniversary of Spain’s national poet, Miguel
Cervantes. Members of the Spanish community which included newspapermen, priests and professors
participated in the contest. Rizal joined the competition with his entry entitled El Consejo de los Dioses.
It was a play written in praise of Spain’s national poet Miguel de Cervantes in which Jose about him
being the co-equal of Homer and Virgil. The jury which was composed of Spaniards awarded Jose the
grand prize. The Spanish community especially the press was appalled upon learning that the author
was an Indio and the Castillian community howled in protest. The Board of Judges of the contest
nevertheless stood firm on their decision and awarded Jose the grand prize consisting of a gold ring on
which there was an engraved bust of Cervantes. The second prize went to a Spaniard named D.N. del
Puzo.
When the prize was finally awarded to Rizal there was practically silence. Nobody clapped or
cheered. It was the first time a Filipino excelled in that national literary contest besting the best Spanish
writers of the Philippines at that time.
During his third year, Rizal was enrolled in the following subjects namely: General Pathology, its
Clinic and Pathologic, Therapeutics, Medical Matter and the Art of Prescribing, Surgical Anatomy,
Operations and External Medical Applications and Bandages. His professors were Dr. Miguel Pina who
handled General Pathology and the Art of Prescribing ; Dr. Mariano Marti, Surgical Application and Dr,
Dimas Corral who handled Surgical Anatomy Operations, External Medical Applications and Bandages.
By this time Rizal’s class dwindled to only eleven to only students consisting of two Spaniards and nine
Filipinos.
Notable events during this period included the political changing of the guard as Governor
General Moriones was replaced by Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera. The school year began
with the University without a Rector, Fr. Fonseca was ordered by the Master General of the Dominicans
to relinquish his post and depart for Spain. He left on May 12, leaving the University in the hands of Fr.
Jose Cueto who became its Acting Rector. The opening of the new school year was marked by
inaugurated by the Discurso de Apertura by Fr. Matias Gomez’ Rizal’s former professor in Natural
History. Classes began on July 3 and on the 18th a very strong earthquake struck leaving the chapel and
several rooms of the University seriously damaged. Classes were suspended for one month to allow the
students to go to the provinces and to allow the priest-professors to occupy other rooms as their living
quarters were rendered uninhabitable. School sessions resumed on August 30.
During that year Rizal
Jose wrote a one-act play entitled Junto al Pasig at the request of the Jesuits and it was staged at the
Ateneo on the occasion of the feast day of the Immaculate Concepcion. It was a subtle satire which
showed his nationalist ideas.
At the end of the school year Rizal’s class had two casualties. Rizal obtained the grade of
Aprobado in General Pathology. This is the grade of all except two students who have passed the
course. In the other subjects Rizal got Sobresaliente in Therapeutics and Bueno in Surgical Anatomy.
These grades do not appear to be outstanding and only two other students, Jose Luna Novicio, Antonio
Luna’s elder brother and Cornelio Mapa only fared better.
The opening of School Year 1881-1882 was began with the Discurso de Apertura by Fr. Jenaro
Buitrago de la Rosa, Rizal’s former professor in Ampliacion de Fisica three years earlier. In his fourth
year of medical studies Rizal had the following subjects: Medical Pathology, Surgical Pathology,
Obstetrics, Sicknesses of Women and Children and Siphilography, His professors were Jose de Antelo
for Medical Pathology and Siphilography; Dr. Quintin Maynet for Surgical Pathology, Dr. Mariano
Cuadrado for Obstetrics and Sicknesses of Women and Children. This school year will be the last for
Rizal before deciding to continue his education outside of the Islands. At the end of the school year ,
Rizal garnered a grade of Notable in all of his subjects.
Based on the Libro de Matriculas in the University he was able to garner the following grades:
1877-1878
Preparatory Course of Theology and Law
Cosmology
Metaphysics
Theodicy
History of Philosophy
Sobresaliente (Excellent)
Sobresaliente
Sobresaliente
Sobresaliente
1878-1879
Preparatory Course of Medicine
Advanced Physics
Advanced Chemistry
Advanced Natural History
Aprovechado (Very Good)
Sobresaliente
Aprovechado
First Year of Medicine
General anatomy and Histology I
Descriptive Anatomy I
Exercises of Osteology and Dissection
Bueno (Good)
Bueno
Bueno
1879-1880
Second Year of Medicine
General Anatomy and Histology 2
Descriptive Anatomy II
Exercises of Dissection
Physiology, Private and Public Hygiene
Bueno
Bueno
Bueno
Bueno
1880-1881
Third Year of Medicine
General Pathology, its Clinic and Pathologic
Histology
Therapeutics, Medical Matter and the Art of
Prescribing
Surgical Anatomy, Operations, External
Medical Applications and Bandages
1881-1882
Fourth Year of Medicine
Medical Pathology
Surgical Pathology
Obstetrics, Sicknesses of Women and Children
Siphilography
Aprobado (Passed)
Sobresaliente
Bueno
Notable (Very Good)
Notable
Notable
Notable
All in all, Rizal took twenty one subjects in the University of Santo Tomas. He garnered one
“passing grade,” eight “good” grades, six “very good” grades and six “excellent” grades. Like all students
of the University, he was exempted from the polos y servicios or compulsory community labor required
from all male inhabitants of age and from paying the donativo de Zamboanga imposed on all taxpaying
citizens by the Royal Order of November 30, 1853.
Most of Rizal’s biographers paint a rather unfavorable picture of the University and its
Dominican administrators. Often Rizal’s grades with UST were compared with those at the Ateneo.
Some authors like Leon Ma. Guerrero wrote about the hostility to him by university professors and that
there was racial discrimination against Filipino students. Gregorio F. Zaide writes that there was
excessive harping on the alleged intellectual superiority of the Spanish. There was also the allegation
that the education at the University was below standard.
The chapter “Class in Physics” in El
Filibusterismo was used by teachers to reflect the type of education in UST. Rizal’s decision to study
abroad was attributed to these reasons.
It would be unfair to compare Rizal’s Ateneo grades with those at UST. Rizal’s educational
attainment at the Ateneo the Bachiller en Artes, was only equivalent to today’s high school. This is not
today’s Bachelor of Arts (AB) Degree. The medical course was more advanced, intensive and grueling.
Most students would have been satisfied with Rizal’s grades at UST and Rizal himself never said or wrote
anything complaining about his grades in the University. Rizal got excellent grades in the Preparatory
Course of Theology and Law and in his Fourth Year; he placed second in class behind his classmate
Cornelio Mapa.
Regarding the charge of discrimination, Rizal was given the rare privilege of studying
simultaneously the Preparatory Course of Medicine and First Year of Medicine. It cannot be said that
the Dominicans discriminated against Rizal but actually but actually favored him. In the first year of
Rizal’s class in Medicine there were 24 students, only seven managed to reach the fourth year with Rizal
placing second. If Rizal was really persecuted, he would not have lasted until this stage. There were also
six Spaniards enrolled in his class during the first year. At the fourth year only one, a Philippine-born
Spaniard named Jose Resurreccion y Padilla remained. If there was discrimination these six Spaniards
would have stayed. This last Spaniard received the grade of suspenso or failing grade in his fifth year
when Rizal already left for Spain.
On the alleged below standard education in the University, though the Faculty of Medicine was
relatively new having established six years before Rizal entered the University. The University of Santo
Tomas was actually in the continuing process of modernization. It was recruiting competent faculty and
acquiring new equipment. The University rejected applicants for teaching positions until it met the
qualifications set by Spain. It also sent professors such as Fr. Marcos Laynez to pursue specialized
studies in Chemistry, Physics and Natural History before allowing him to teach Chemistry. In terms of
equipment and teaching aids, Fr. Ramon Martinez in his Discurso de Apertura reported that the
University has increased its teaching aids especially those necessary for Drawing, Physics, Chemistry and
Mechanics. The University also obtained precious specimens for Mineralogy, Stereography and Geology
and countless samples of various animals, birds, mollusks, reptiles and minerals. The UST Museum also
acquired samples of carnivorous animals, ophidians and crustaceans including a brown bear from
Europe and birds from the Moluccas. In 1883 the UST Museum reported having a collection of 5,747
biological and physical specimens.
The UST Library had 12,000 books in its shelves. The Physics laboratory had 300 instruments
related to the physical sciences and had the latest inventions including Gramme’s Electrodynamic
machine, Morin’s machine for measuring gravity, Faraday’s electromagnet and Cooke’s radiometer.
There were also phonographs and the telephone which were recent inventions at the time. In 1885
That year University inaugurated an amphitheater in the Faculty of Medicine for students
viewing the dissection of cadavers. A depository for cadavers was also completed. The university had
the facilities, trained staff and materials which were at par with other institutions of the era.
The University’s greatness is measured in the quality of its graduates. Many of the Islands’
brilliant minds were Rizal’s contemporaries at UST who became its statesmen, heroes and eminent
personalities. Among them were Rizal’s classmates from the Preparatory Course of Theology and Law
such as Enrique Mendiola, known as the Educator of the Revolution; Edilberto Evangelista, the hero of
Zapote Bridge; Leon Apacible, Vicente Gella. Not far from his classroom in the Faculty of Civil Law was
Apolinario Mabini, the Brains of the Philippine Revolution and greatest mind in Aguinaldo’s government.
In Medicine there were Manuel Xeres Burgos, Cornelio Mapa and Jose Luna Novicio. An earlier
graduate was Nicanor Padilla who became the chief of the Medical Corps of the Philippine Revolutionary
Army. Freshmen in the Faculty of Medicine during Rizal’s final year in the University were Dominador
Gomez, Galicano Apacible, Mariano Ponce and Edilberto Evangelista. In Pharmacy there were Anacleto
del Rosario who is known as the Prince of Philippine Pharmacists and Mariano V. del Rosario. Most of
the delegates of the Malolos Congress in 1898 and the Philippine Assembly in 1907 were graduates of
the University.
Through the examination of historical documents the allegations of racial discrimination, bias,
bigotry and substandard education peddled by many historical writers had no basis in fact. Rizal’s
depiction of the Class in Physics in El Filibusterismo did not reflect the true situation in the University.
The scenes and the characters in his book only existed in his mind. Rizal’s decision to leave for Spain to
continue his medical studies was caused by other reasons.
After completing his fourth year medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas Jose decided
to finish his education abroad.
Rizal’s biographers attribute Rizal’s decision to study abroad to
discrimination and bigotry in the University of Santo Tomas. This has been disproven earlier in this
chapter.
The next encounter of Rizal with the Dominicans was after his return from Europe in 1887. This
marked the start of his adversarial relations with the order. By the time of his return furor broke out
over his Noli Me Tangere. Copies of the novel have arrived weeks before and it stirred a hornet’s nest
among the friars. The Archbishop of Manila, Pedro Payo, O.P sent a copy of the novel to the Rector of
the University of Santo Tomas, Fr. Gregorio Echavarria, O.P. , who formed a panel of faculty members to
review it. . Later the committee sent a report to the Archbishop denouncing the Noli as “heretical,
impious and scandalous in the religious order, anti-patriotic, subversive of public order, injurious to the
government of Spain and of the Philippine Islands in the political order.” The hostile situation prompted
Governor General Emilio Terrero to assign Rizal a bodyguard, Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade.
Later during his visit to the Philippines Rizal got involved in a dispute with the Dominican
administrators of the Calamba estate in what is known as the Protesta de Calamba. Governor Terrero
suspected the Dominican administrators of not paying the proper taxes to the government. Rizal got
involved in the matter when he helped draft an informative report complaining against the Dominicans.
He said that the tenants reported that they were losing money to the advantage of the Dominican
administrators. He said that the Dominican landholdings comprised not only the lands around Calamba
but the whole town including the houses of the people. Secondly Rizal alleged that the Domincans
increased their income by arbitrarily increasing the rent of the tenants. According to them the hacienda
raised rent every year. Thirdly, it was said that the hacienda owner, the Dominicans did not contribute a
single centavo for the town fiesta; fourthly the tenants who worked clearing the lands were
dispossessed of such lands and lastly there were high rates of interests were charged for delayed
payment of rentals and if the rentals could not be paid the management of the hacienda would
confiscate the carabaos, tools and homes of the tenants.
Rizal’s allegations were not entirely true. The allegations of the tenants were not entirely true.
A study of the other side of the controversy uncovers the truth. Firstly while it was true that the
Dominicans controlled vast landholdings not only in Calamba, but also in the neighboring towns of
Biñan, San Pedro and Santa Rosa these lands were actually titled in the name of the Order. Moreover
many lands were rent free for settlers for many years. The Calamba landholdings actually extend to as
far as Los Baños. In 1885 Paciano was allowed to clear the land in Barrio Pansol and cultivate it. These
were very fertile lands coveted by other families. Under the contract with the Dominican administrators
they will not receive a single cent from Paciano for five years during which it was reported that the land
produced bountiful harvests.
In anticipation of Don Francisco Mercado’s death, the Dominican
administrators also allowed Rizal’s sisters to hold land leases under very favorable terms.
Furthermore the income from the Dominican landholdings do not necessarily enrich the
Dominican Order as rent earned from these lands are used to maintain churches and institutions like
the University of Santo Tomas and The College of Letran. Since it was given the status of a royal
university, the University of Santo Tomas was prohibited from receiving any subsidy from the
government. Income from the landholdings also supported the Dominican seminary and missionary
work within and outside the country especially in China. On the other hand the Dominicans attributed
the loss of farmer’s income to the laziness of the Filipinos. They said that they were attracted to the vice
of gambling and that the gambling took place at Lucia’s house.
While still in Calamba, Rizal was portrayed as a troublemaker and a rabble-rouser. His family
received threats on his life. Word was spread that he was a mason and that he was a sorcerer, a spy of
German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Rumors were spread against him that he and Lt. Taviel de
Andrade raised a German flag atop Mt. Makiling and claimed the Philippines for Germany. During the
dispute the tenants refused to pay the Dominican administrators. During his second visit to Governor
Terrero Rizal was advised to leave the islands for his own safety.
After Rizal left in February 1888 the tenants now openly defied the Dominicans by refusing to
pay rent. An amicable settlement failed and the case was filed with the Justice of the Peace of Calamba.
They won their case there and according to Spanish sources Paciano practically dictated the decision of
the court. The administrators then appealed the case to the provincial court at Santa Cruz which they
won. When the tenants refused to obey the decision of the tribunal of Santa Cruz, agents of the court
supported by a detachment of soldiers destroyed 50 houses. When the tenants began to return
Governor General Valeriano Weyler who by that time replaced Governor General Terrero sent more
soldiers and ordered the deportation to Mindoro twenty-five individuals including Paciano and Rizal’s
brother-in-law Silvestre Ubaldo. Another brother-in-law Manuel Hidalgo, was banished to Bohol.
Rizal’s next encounter with the Dominicans was after his deportation to Dapitan in 1892. The
Jesuit emissaries to Talisay had no doubt the blessings of the Archbishop of Manila who wanted him
returned to the Catholic fold. When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896, Archbishop Bernardino
Nozaleda, O.P. strongly believed that Rizal had something to do with the outbreak of hostilities and the
Katipunan. He strongly urged that the authorities arrest Rizal and bring him back to Manila for trial.
After Rizal was condemned to die by musketry, Bernardino sent the Jesuits to convince him to retract his
Masonic beliefs to save his soul. Rizal finally relented in the evening of December 29, 1896. Nozaleda
sent a draft of the retraction but Rizal rejected it saying it was too long. He then composed his own
version which was finally signed at 11:30 in the evening. To the Church Rizal was once again a Catholic
and his Masonic and anti-Catholic views were disowned. Rizal died a Catholic.
Aftermath
The heavy hand of the Church made it a villain of Filipino nationalists. Despite good intentions
the Dominicans were part of the perceived oppressive order. It paved the way for the continued
popular support for the Philippine Revolution and schism of Filipinos through the establishment of the
Philippine Independent Church.
In conclusion, Rizal’s connection with the Dominicans was characteristic of that period of heavy
church influence which Filipino nationalists fought against. The Dominicans like the Jesuits played an
important role in his formation and the development of his heroism. Today it is important to distinguish
propaganda portrayed by nationalist authors against historical fact. It is suggested that students read
the primary historical information to promote its better understanding and the proper veneration of
heroes like Rizal.
References
Dery, Luis, C. Remember the Ladies Essays of the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War.
Quezon City: 2002.
Del Rosario, Leon. “Ladislao Diwa, Friend of Bonifacio,” Philippines Free Press. August 28, 1965.
Guerrero, Leon, Ma. The Young Rizal. Manila: 1949.
Majul, Cesar Adib. Apolinario Mabini Revolutionary. Manila: National Heroes Commission, 1964.
National Historical Institute. Reminiscenes and Travels of Jose Rizal. Manila: 1961.
Villaroel, Fidel, Fr. Jose Rizal and the University of Santo Tomas. Manila: University of Santo Tomas,
1984.
Zaide, Gregorio, F. Jose Rizal, Life, Works and Writings. Manila: National Book Store, 2002.