Ateneo Municipal de Manila in 1865
The Jesuits were considered the best educators of Spain, and perhaps of Europe,
and so, when they were permitted to return to the Philippines, although their power
to administer parishes was restricted except in the remote regions of Mindanao, they
exercised the privilege of founding colleges, they had applied to the City of Manila for
subsidies and soon the Ateneo Municipal began to function in the year 1865. To be
able to study in Ateneo, a candidate must be subjected to an entrance examination
on Christian doctrine, reading, writing, grammar, and elementary arithmetic.
Okay so, year 1865 the Ateneo Municipal began to function. The educators in this institution were the
Jesuits and they are the member of the society of Jesus, a roman catholic order priests. Just like other
universities you have to passed the entrance examination to study here and the candidate must passed
he said topics.
June 10, 1872, Rizal was accompanied by Paciano on his way to Manila to purse his
studies in Ateneo Father Magin Ferrano, the college registrar at that time, refused to
admit Rizal in the said school for two reasons:
a) he already was late for registration; and
b) he was sickly and undersized for his age.
Fortunately, through the help of Manuel Xerez Burgos, the nephew of Father Burgos,
Rizal was reluctantly accepted in Ateneo.
On june 10 1872, together with Jose’s brother Paciano they went to the Ateneo to register and was not
accepted because of the said two reason. With the help of Manuel Xerez burgos the nephew of father
Burgos Rizal was accepted and registered. Since Mercado is under suspicion at that time Jose chose his
second last name Rizal to carry through his college life.
Paciano, who traveled with Jose, helped him find a home in the Walled City, but Jose thought Intramuros
was depressing and eventually taken shelter outside in the home of a bachelor on Calle Carballo in the
Santa Cruz neighborhood. He became familiar with a variety of mestizos born to friars in that house, as if
fate were going to provide him with information for his next campaigns.
The Jesuitical system of instruction was considered more advanced than that of
other colleges in that epoch. Its discipline was rigid and its methods less mechanical.
It introduced physical culture as part of its program as well as the cultivation of the
arts, such as music, drawing, and painting. It also establishes vocational courses in
agriculture, commerce, and mechanics as a religious institute.
At the time, the Jesuitical system of education was seen as being more comprehensive than that of
other universities. Its methods were less mechanical, and its discipline was strict. Its agenda included the
introduction of physical culture in addition to the promotion of the arts, including music, drawing, and
painting. As a religious institution, it also establishes vocational programs in agriculture, business, and
mechanics. Its main goal was to shape the boys' personalities and wills so that they would more readily
adhere to Church doctrine. Prior to the start of class, the pupils attended mass, which was opened and
closed with prayers.
In the first two terms the classes were divided into groups of interns and externs: the
first class constituted the Roman Empire and the second, the Carthaginian Empire.
Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, and Standard-Bearer.
There was a fraternity of Mary and Saint Louis Gonzaga, to which only those who
distinguished themselves in the class for their piety and diligence could belong. This
fraternity met on Sundays and after mass, held public programs in which poems
were recited or debates were held. With all these inducements it was only natural
that the spirit of emulation, a striving to surpass one’s colleagues, could be found in
Ateneo.
The classes were split into intern and extern groups for the first two terms; the first class represented
the Roman Empire, and the second, the Carthaginian Empire.
Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, and Standard-Bearer.
Only those who stood out in the class for their piety and diligence were allowed to join the fraternity of
Mary and Saint Louis Gonzaga. This fraternity met on Sundays and held public events after mass where
poems were read aloud or discussions took place. With all these incentives, it was only logical that
Ateneo would exhibit an emulation-based mindset and a desire to outperform its peers.
The first professor Jose had was Fr. Jose Bech, A man of high stature; lean body, bent
forward; quick gait; ascetic physiognomy, severe and inspired; small, sunken eyes;
sharp Grecian nose; thin lips forming an arch with its sides directed toward the chin.
He had an inconsistent sense of humor and was a bit of a crazy; occasionally he was harsh and intolerant,
and other times he was gay and playful as a child.
Peninsulares and the Peninsulares family's sons, Francisco G., were classmates of Jose's. Oliva, who had
great talent but was not very diligent; Joaquin Garrido, who had great talent and industry but a weak
memory; and Gonzalo Marzano, who held the position of Emperor.
From the first days of school, Jose learned to systematize his work; he fixed a
program of what he had to do in the twenty-four hours of the day and did not deviate
from it. Thus, he disciplined his will and subjected it to the commands of his reason.
Because he was a newbie, Jose was first seated toward the back of the class. However, he soon made
progress, and after one month, he had achieved the rank of Emperor. Before the end of the semester,
he received excellent grades on all of his exams and assignments. He had good reason to be happy with
his development, so when he went home for the summer break that year, he hurried by himself to visit
his mother in jail and tell her the good news.
During this time his mother was deceive, the judge that time made her mother confess for the wrong she
did not do because they promise that if she confessed they will release her, and after confessing they put
her in the prison. But after few months the judge felt guilty and ask for forgiveness to Dona Teodora but
it didn’t change anything because the case at that time was already on appeal.
During his second year as a student in Ateneo, Jose had the same professor as in the
previous year. At the end of the term, he obtained a medal, returned to his
hometown and visited his mother in jail once again. This was three months before
her release.
Third year, for he began to win prizes in the quarterly examinations. About that time,
he devoted himself to reading novels, and one of those he enjoyed most was Father
Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo”. He also asked his father to buy him a copy of
“The Universal History” by Cesar Cantanu, and according to him, he profited much
from its perusal.
He started reading novels at about that time, and "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Father
Dumas was one of the books he enjoyed reading the most. Additionally, he requested that his
father buy him a book of "The Universal History" by Cesar Cantanu. According to him, reading
it helped him greatly.
Jose's outstanding ability for his studies was recognized by the Rizal family, who chose to hire him as an
intern the next year. Jose finished his two years of internship in a dorm room with a view of the pier and
the sea.
In his fourth year in Ateneo, he had Fr. Francisco Sanchez as a professor. Jose
described him as a model of rectitude, a solicitude, and a man full of love for his
students.
During this year, Jose studied mathematics, rhetoric, and Greek. He must have been
so diligent in his studies that he-obtained five medals at the end of the year. This
pleased him immensely for he thought that with these achievements, he could
somehow repay his father’s sacrifices.
So during this time he thought with this achievement of his he can finally pay is fathers hardwork.
Fr. Leoncio Lopez, the parish priest of the town, who was a great friend of his father,
also liked Jose as a little friend. According to the priest, the boy was cultured, but at
the same time timid and tender. One day Jose’s mother showed Father Lopez a poem
of his young friend and the priest mockingly said in awe that he must have copied it
from a book. Jose, who happened to hear this comment, answered the priest
violently, for which his mother reprimanded him. Afterwards, Father Lopez who
came to know from the Jesuits that Jose was a pupil who excelled in poetry, made a
trip to Manila inspite of his age, to express his apologies for Jose. Father Lopez’s
gesture won him Jose’s esteem and they became good friends once again, lending
each other the books they had.
In the fifth year, his last year in Ateneo, Jose had other professors: Fathers Vilaclara
and Mineves. He studied philosophy, physics, chemistry, and natural history, but his
devotion to poetry was much deeper. When his professor in philosophy advised him
once to leave it, Jose cried. In his resting hours, he continued cultivating his talent
under the direction of his old professor, Father Sanchez. Jose had then written a
short story, which was slightly corrected by his professor, and a dialogue enacted at
the end of the course, alluding to the collegians’ farewell. Philosophy also caught his
interest, and valued it just as much as poetry.
Jose was considered small of stature. He, who tried to correct this defect, had
regularly enrolled himself to gymnastics in college. He also engaged himself in other
physical exercises, such as fencing. After his baccalaureate, he surprised his family
with his skill in handling the sword when he performed an exhibition with the best
swordsman in town.
He also devoted time to painting and sculpture. In drawing and painting, he was
under the guidance and direction of the Ateneo professor, Don Augustin Saez. In
sculpture, his instructor was a Filipino, Romualdo de Jesus, who felt proud in the last
years of his life having such an excellent pupil.
Rizal‘s studies went well as usual. As a matter-of-fact, he excelled in all subjects. He w
as the most brilliant Atenean of his time and was indeed the pride of the
Jesuits.Consequently, Rizal who was just 15 years old then, received from his Alma
Mater the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with the highest honor during the
Commencement Day that transpired on the 23rd day of March 1877.