JOSE RIZAL IN
THE UNIVERSITY OF
STO. TOMAS
RIZAL AT THE DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
EDHEL MAE P. LAGUISMA – BSAR 5A – SOC. SCI. 1, TF 7:30 – 9:00 AM
OVERVIEW
• One of the highlights of Rizal’s life is his impressive
educational background. He was raised in a
household that valued education, particularly by
his dear mother, Doña Teodora. University of Sto.
Tomas was one of the institutions that shaped
today’s National Hero – albeit not entirely on a
positive note. His time in the university marked a
huge turning point in his life – from his struggles to
the choices that led him to the path of heroism,
one that valued enlightenment and courage
through the power of words.
OBJECTIVES
• By the end of this report, we should be able to determine the following:
1. His reasons for studying in the University;
2. His achievements during his time while being in the University;
3. And the troubles he faced as a student of the University;
All of which are factors to the next phase of his life in Madrid, Spain.
UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS
• Established in April 28, 1611, Colegio
de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo
Rosario
• Founded by Miguel de Benavides, the
third Archbishop of Manila.
• It was administered by the Dominican
Order and initially located in
Intramuros, Manila. It was originally
meant to prepare young men for
priesthood.
UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS
• Overtime, it was renamed Colegio de Santo
Tomas in memory of the Dominican
theologian, Saint Thomas Aquinas.
• It has received various honors and
recognitions from Spanish royalty and the
Vatican. Thus, its official name is
- La Pontificia y Real Universidad de Santo
Tomas de Aquino Universidad Catolica de
Filipinas or
- the Pontifical and Royal University of Sto.
Tomas, The Catholic University of the
Philippines.
UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS
• To this day, it is one of the most prestigious
universities in the Philippines.
1877
THE START OF RIZAL’S UNIVERSITY DAYS
1877
•16 year-old Rizal earned his
Bachiller en Artes from
Ateneo Municipal de Manila
at the top of his class. At that
time, it was the equivalent of
today's high school degree
and is a requirement for
entering university.
1877
• Don Francisco, his father and Don
Paciano, his oldest brother
encouraged him to pursue higher
education
• But his mother, Doña Teodora,
despite being a person who highly
values education, opposed the idea
as she worries for her son's safety.
1877
• This is because, not long ago the martyr
friars, Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were
all executed for crusading reform of
the Spanish colonial government under
the guise of treason and sedition.
• At that time, knowledge and
enlightenment earns you a death
sentence and this is what Doña Teodora
feared. Unfortunately, it was a
foreboding of young Rizal's fate.
FRESHMEN YEAR
UNDECIDED YOUNG RIZAL
Freshman Year
• In April 1877, Rizal took up the Pre-Law
course on Philosophy and Letters for 2
reasons:
1. Don Francisco liked it;
2. He was still uncertain of his career path
• He seeked for an advice from the Rector
of Ateneo, Fr. Pablo Ramon, who was
good to him while being in Ateneo but
was not able to receive a reply right away
Freshman Year
• He excelled in his courses in
Cosmology & Metaphysics,
Theodicy, and History of
Philosophy.
Freshman Year
• He was also taking a vocational course
for expert surveyor or perito
agrimensor at Ateneo, where his loyalty
was truly at. He also excelled in his
courses in agriculture and topography
and ultimately passed his final
examination and earned his title as
surveyor in November 25, 1881.
• The delay in granting him the title was
due to the fact that he was still
underaged (17) when he passed.
Freshman Year
• While considered as a Thomasian,
Rizal continued to become an
active Atenean and took roles in
different school organizations
below:
1. President, Academy of Spanish
Literature
2. Secretary, Academy of Natural
Sciences
3. Secretary, Marian Congregation
POLICE BRUTALITY
INJUSTICE IN THE SUMMER OF 1878
Police Brutality
• During his summer break in 1878,
Rizal experienced first-hand brutality
from a Spanish officer
• He failed to recognize a guardia civil
while walking towards home in
Calamba one evening
• Rizal was brutally punished by being
slash at the back with a sword,
others said with a paging buntot
Police Brutality
• Rizal took his complaint to CaptainGeneral Primo de Rivera about the
incident
• But he was reprimanded instead by
saying he was lucky enough to be still
alive
• March 21, 1887 – His Letter to
Blumentritt, “I went to the CaptainGeneral but I could not obtain any
justice, my wound lasted for two weeks.”
SHIFTING TO MEDICINE
SHIFTER RIZAL AND HIS SCHOLASTIC RECORDS
Shifting to Medicine
• Fr. Pablo Ramon, finally advised him to
take Medicine after he asked for
consultation regarding his career path.
Doña Teodora also had a failing eyesight
and so Rizal thought that he needed to
be a physician, to cure his mother's
condition.
• Unfortunately, while he did not fail his
courses, his performance was
comparatively inferior than when he took
arts.
WHY THE POOR PERFORMANCE?
THE YOUTH OF RIZAL AND HIS TROUBLES
Why the poor performance?
• There were a lot of factors that
contributed to Rizal's
underperformance in Medicine.
It varied from personal to
something bigger.
Why the poor performance?
• There were three main factors that
contributed to Rizal’s unhappy days
at UST (Zaide & Zaide, 1999):
1. The Dominican professors were
hostile to him
2. Racial discrimination against
Filipino Students
3. The methods of instruction was
obsolete and repressive
Why the poor performance?
• There are also three notable
reasons that affected Rizal’s
academic performance (Guerrero,
1998)
1. Rizal was not satisfied with the
system of education at the university
2. There were distractions in the
peak of his youth
First Love and Two Leonors
• Rizal had ample time for love despite his
academic studies in the University of Sto.
Tomas while also finishing his extra courses
in Ateneo
• There are 3 women of which made Rizal a
romantic dreamer in his youth where he
experienced his first love and other
romances that made him wiser in its ways
First Love and Two Leonors
• Segunda Katigbak – Rizal became infatuated
with her and often visited her in the boarding
house she resides. She was to be married
unfortunately.
• Leonor Valenzuela – the daughter of the nextdoor neighbor of his boarding house in his
sophomore year. Her pet name was “Orang” in
his letters with invisible ink.
• Leonor Rivera – his cousin from Camiling whom
he met in his third year while boarding in Casa
Tomasina. She signed her named as “Taimis” in
their letters.
Champion of the Filipino Students
• In 1880, Rizal was the leader of a secret society
in UST composed of Filipino students called
“Compañerismo” (Comradeship)
• Members were called “Companions of Jehu”
after the valiant Hebrew general who fought
the Amaeans
• Spaniards called them “Indio, Chongo” in return
Filipinos called them “Kastila, Bangus”
• Rizal and his companions encounter them once
in a fierce fight which wounded him in the head
(Garcia et. al., 2011)
Why the poor performance?
• There are also three notable
reasons that affected Rizal’s
academic performance (Guerrero,
1998)
1. Rizal was not satisfied with the
system of education at the university
2. There were distractions in the
peak of his youth
3. He found out he was not made
for medicine, but for the arts
TRUE CALLING
THE PATH OF RIZAL’S WRITING CAREER
True Calling
• To encourage the production of literary
works in Manila, the Liceo Artistico
Literario de Manila (Artistic-Literary
Lyceum of Manila) and organization of
art lovers in the city, conducted regular
competitions in literary writing.
• Rizal joined the contests sponsored by
this association in 1879 and 1880
which rewarded some of his entries as
the best ones in the competition.
Notable Literary Works as a Thomasian
• A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)
(1879)
- Rizal’s poem entry in the 1879 literary
contest of Artistic-Literary Lyceum
- It won the grand prize which earned him a
silver quill
- This was recognized as great poem because of
being written in Spanish by a Filipino
- Expresses the nationalistic concept for the
first time that indicated Filipinos as the fair
hope of their motherland
Notable Literary Works as a Thomasian
• A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)
(1879)
“Hold high the brow serene,
O youth, where now you stand;
Let the bright sheen,
Of your grace be seen,
Fair hope of my Motherland!”
Notable Literary Works as a Thomasian
• El Consejo de los Dioses
(The Council of the Gods) (1880)
- Another literary contest of the ArtisticLiterary Lyceum was conducted in honor of the
4th centennial death of the renowned Spanish
author of Don Quixote, Manuel De Cervantes
- Rizal submitted this allegorical drama based
on the Greek classics which he consulted with
Fr. Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo
- Despite the Spanish community’s scrutiny for
an Indio winning the grand prize, it was still
deemed as the winner due to its superior
quality
- A gold ring with Cervantes’ bust engraved
was awarded to Rizal
Notable Literary Works as a Thomasian
• Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig) (1880)
- A one act play, written by Rizal at the
request of the Jesuits and was staged at
Ateneo
- It was done in celebration of the Feast Day
of the Immaculate Concepcion, Patroness of
Ateneo, in December 8, 1880
Notable Literary Works as a Thomasian
• Abd-el Azis y Mohammed (1879)
- A poem which was declaimed by an
Atenean, Manuel Fernandez on December 8,
1879 to honor the Ateneo’s Patroness
- It is a piece recalling the conflict between
the Spaniards and the Moors in Spain
Notable Literary Works as a Thomasian
• A Filipinas (1880)
- A sonnet written by Rizal to not only praise
the Philippines for its beauty but to also
encourage Filipino artists in the glorification
of the country through their artworks
- It was for the album of the Society of
Sculptors in the Philippines at that time
Notable Literary Works as a Thomasian
• Al M.R.P.: Pablo Ramon, Rector del Ateneo
en sus Dias (1881)
- A poem of admiration to the Atenean rector,
Fr. Pablo Ramon, S.J.
- It was Rizal’s birthday greeting to the priest
on January 25, 1881 for honoring him as a
kind priest who raised his spirits and
intelligence
“Most Loving Hand of
God,
A father and example
thou,
Whose sincere love,
Despite the bitter path
of life,
Still guides us
tenderly.”
DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD
THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST
Decision to Study Abroad
• Rizal decided after finishing his fourth
year of medical course in University of
Sto. Tomas that he will study in Spain
• His reasons were his unhappy days at
the University which ultimately
discourage him to continue there
• With the help of his siblings Paciano,
Saturnina, and Lucia he took off without
the knowledge of his parents, especially
his mother as she would disapprove it.
THOMASIAN RIZAL
• Rizal’s educational experience in the Dominican
University of the Philippines as a teenager made him
bloom towards adulthood which shaped a lot of
foreshadowing beliefs that he practice and preach in the
days ahead before he made a name in history
• The troubles he experienced in his youth was the door
for him to not only feel the oppression Filipinos were in,
but also to scrutinize the unfairness that surrounds him
by using his innate passion for writing
• Rizal’s days in UST was the first chapters in his life where
he have seen the truth which eventually encourage him
to act. It was because of these experiences that
enlightened the young Rizal.
REFLECTION
• It eases my heart and it gladdens me to think that
we relate so much with young Rizal especially as a
college student. The struggles may not be as graved
as what he had experienced but the moments of
getting lost because of what awaits you in the
future is truly relatable. We all have our dreams
since we were kids, but overtime we will realize
what future role would we want to take as a
responsible member of the society. Unless
something triggers our passion, we will never know
what we need or want.
REFLECTION
• Rizal is admirable for his passion driven by the thirst
for freedom. Today, the youth is still out there
making use of their talents before facing a harsher
world. What is worrying to think and know is these
talents nowadays are put into bad practice. I hope
that through studying and reflecting Rizal’s life and
works, the youth will still be guided towards the
honorable path and whatever may encourage them
must be done with respect. Even Rizal fought against
oppression physically but still maintained a proper
outlook of the real issue and he addresses it through
what he knows he is best at peacefully: Writing.
THE END
THE YOUTH IS THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE – JOSE RIZAL
REFERENCES
• www.google.com
• http://www.joserizal.ph/in01.html
• http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com
• http://allaboutjoserizal.blogspot.com/2013/09/refer
ences.html
• https://www.gutenberg.org/files/48438/48438h/48438-h.htm#references