Module 3: Rizal’s National Consciousness
Section 1 Rizal’s Higher Education
RIZAL’S EDUCATION AT ATENEO MUNICIPAL DE
MANILA
 Studied in the Ateneo Municipal, which was
under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuit
priests;
 Was refused admission at first, because he
registered last and looked sickly and small for
his age.
 But was nonetheless admitted with the help and
intercession of Manuel Xeres Burgos, nephew of
the martyred priest;
 Jose was the first in the family who adopt the
surname “Rizal”;
 Jose’s first professor at the Ateneo was Fr. Jose
Bech; The Jesuit system of education was more
advanced than that of other colleges in that
period;
 He took private lessons at the Santa Isabel
College to improve his Spanish.
 Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class
however, he progressed rapidly that by the end
of the month he became “emperor”;
 He won a medal in Latin, wrote poems and
crafted sculptures;
 He obtained the degree Bachiller en Artes and
was awarded sobresaliente (outstanding);
 He obtained the highest grades in all his
subjects and graduated with the highest honors.
 After finishing one year in Philosophy and
Letters, Rizal transferred to the medical course;
 Rizal took up medicine following the advice of
Fr. Pablo Ramon, the rector of the Ateneo and
also to cure his mother’s growing blindness;
 He finished a surveying course in the Ateneo but
was not given the title because he was only 17
and underage;
 After finishing four years in the medical course,
Rizal decided to study in Spain
RIZAL’S EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STO.
TOMAS
 Rizal won 1st prize for his poem “A La Juventud
Filipina” means the fair hope of my motherland
dedicated to fil youth, 18yrs old sya nung
sinulat; in the 1st literary contest he joined;
 Another poem he wrote “El Consejo delos
Dioses” means (council of gods), won 1st prize
also but was met with disapproval from the
Spanish community in Manila; abt human
beings have their will/rights
 Rizal was unhappy at the UST because the
Dominican professors were hostile to him;
Filipino students were racially discriminated
against the Spaniards; the method of instruction
was obsolete and repressive.
RIZAL’S LIFE ABROAD
 In 1882, after finishing his fourth year at the
UST, Rizal left for Spain to continue his studies
there;
 He left in secret as part of a secret pact with his
brother Paciano;
 His trip was primarily funded by Paciano, who
regularly sent him money for his upkeep;
 On his way to Spain, he was able to meet many
people and visit many places. He had stopovers
in Singapore, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Egypt and
Naples, Italy , France before arriving in
Barcelona, Spain;
 He witnessed how people in Singapore
displayed a carefree attitude in whatever they
did, citizens’ rights were respected and
authorities were not abusive.
 Rizal regularly met with some of his former
schoolmates from Ateneo Municipal;
 He wrote articles for a newspaper based in
Manila;
 He also spent time growing his personal library;
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) by Harriet Beecher &
The Wandering Jew (1844) by Eugene Sue
became Rizal’s motivation to start drafting his
own book.
 He got interested in Freemasonry with its
principles on courage and camaraderie and
eventually joined the organization;
 He regularly attended meetings and joined
groups organized by Filipino students in Madrid;
 Rizal also busied himself with learning different
languages, and still found time to continue
drafting his book.
 Dr. Jagor’s book inspired Rizal to do something
to emphasize that education is the answer to
the Philippines’ current social condition;
 Dr. Maximo Viola financed the publication of
Rizal’s first book, Noli Me Tangere, in 1887 with
2,000 initial copies which were given to Rizal’s
friends in Spain, some were shipped to the
Philippines that then reached the hands of the
Governor-General and the Archbishop of
Manila;
 Dr. Viola accompanied Rizal to Austria to finally
meet Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt (adviser), with
whom he exchanged letters and books for
several years and whom he considered as one of
his advisers
 Segunda Katigbak 14yrs rs.
 Leonor Rivera – 11yrs. rs
 Antonio Rivera – Tiyuhin ni Rizal
 El amor patrio – love for country
Section 3 Propaganda & LA Solidaridad
Propaganda Meaning & Purpose
- organization founded by rizal
- campaign that is used to persuade
- spreading of information
Purpose
- to influence people and try to get them to
hold a certain beliefs or set
- writing and distributing pamphlets to people is
the best example of propaganda
Propaganda Movement & Background
> Rizal arrived spain in 1882
> Pedro Paterno and Gregorio Sanciano – Both
active Filipinos nationalist
> atmosphere of activism led by students
> this exposed Rizal to the idea of liberalism and
the concept of assimilation
> rizal contribute to short lived bilingual
newspaper Diariong Tagalog( Laong Laan pen
name of rizal in diariong tagalog), with Marcelo
H. Del Pilar
Goals of Propaganda Movement (ESRFR)
> equality and civil rights
> secularization of the clergy
> representation in the Spanish cortes
> freedom of speech and press
> reform of the colonial administration
Propaganda Movement
> most of Rizal contribution focus on education
> Graciano lopez jaena was the first to lead a
series of protest in writing against the injustices
of the Spaniards in the Phil. In the newspaper of
Los Dos Mundos
> 1883, Rizal resentment against the Spaniards
intensified when he was informed about the
new Calamba parish priest, who was threatenng
their father and demanding for advance rental
payments
> 1884, Jaena and Rizal delivered speeches at
the Exposicion de Bellas Artes - meaning
exhibition of fine arts (Juan Luna nakinig at
hidalgo (spoloarium)
La Solidaridad
- organization composed of Fil. Liberals exiled in
Spain
- aimed to raise awareness of spain on the
needs of its colony
- active and significant contributors (Rizal)
- LS serve as the principal organ of the reform
movement (phil becoming a province of spain)
- Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
published on Feb 22, 1889
- The Philippines, A century hence; a fearless
forecast on the future of the Phil within a
hundred yrs. of his work (Rizal Contribution)
- Article published by Rizal in LS (The Indolence
of the Filipino in 1890) – La indolencia de los
filipinos
Section 4 (In the eyes of Noli Me Tangere)
First half of Noli was written in Marid, Spain
from 1884 – 1885;
Second half was published in Berlin, Germany in
1887; there are 63 chapters and about 480
pages;
Rizal personally designed the cover;
- The novel portrays different aspects of gaining
independence which focuses on social climbers,
abusive power, family devotion, self-sacrifice,
and purity and faithfulness.
Symbolism in the cover of Noli me tangere
1. Maria Clara – symbolized the idealized
woman in the Philippines; purity, femineity, and
devotion
2. Cross – symbolizes catholic church
3. Bay Leaves/Laurel leaves – serves as victory
and honor
> Pomelo blossoms – citrus fruit
- symbolizes innocence & purity
4. Burning Torch – symbolizes enlightenment
and education
5. Sunflower – hope & loyalty
6. Year 1887 – the novel was published
7. Bamboo Stalk – resilience of Filipino people
8. Helmet - the Spanish colonial police force
responsible for maintaining order in the
Philippines
9. Hairy Friar Legs – symbolizes
impression/legacy
10. Chain – abusive power & tiranny
and whip – slavery & oppression
11. The title itself, Noli Me Tángere, is Latin for
"Touch Me Not," which is a reference to the
Gospel of John (20:17) in the Bible, where Jesus
tells Mary Magdalene not to touch him after his
resurrection. In the novel, the phrase
symbolizes the social cancer that the Philippines
was suffering from, which Rizal wanted to
expose but was also difficult to address directly.
The cover's symbolism amplifies this idea,
showing the various aspects of Philippine
society that are tainted by corruption and
oppression but also carrying a glimmer of hope
for reform and change.