REVIEWER

LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LIFE ABROAD

HIGHER EDUCATION

MOTHER’S OPPOSITION TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Both Don Francisco, his father, and Paciano, his brother, wanted Jose Rizal to pursue higher
learning in the university. But Dona Teodora, his mother, who is a woman of education and
culture objects to Rizal’s desire for university education. She knew what happened to the Gom-
Bur-ZA, and told her husband “Don’t send him to Manila again, he knows enough. If he gets to
know more the Spaniards will cut off his head”.

RIZAL IN ATENEO (1872-1877)

 Jose Rizal’s first teacher was his mother, who had taught him how to read and
pray and who had encouraged him to write poetry. Later, private tutors taught the
young Rizal Spanish and Latin, before he was sent to a private school in Biñan.
 When he was 11 years old, Rizal entered the Ateneo Municipal de Manila - a
college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. Ateneo Municipal, a bitter rival of
the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity
School) - for poor boys in Manila established in 1817. In 1859 - name was changed to
Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits and later became the Ateneo de Manila.
 During his stay in Ateneo, he was discriminated by teachers and students alike, as he
was from Calamba, Laguna and was late during enrollment.
 He belonged to the class composed of Spaniards, mestizos and Filipinos.
 He was considered as an inferior and was placed at the bottom of the class.
 By the end of the month, he became the emperor and received a prize, a religious
picture.
 During his time in Ateneo, he is excellent in his studies, as usual and accomplished
many things during his stay.

ACCOMPLISMENTS/WORKS IN ATENEO

• Graduated with Highest Honors and won medals at the end of the school term.
• During his time in Ateneo, he also wrote many poems tackling many subjects,
specifically on education, memories, and war. These are some of the examples:
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - first written poem of Rizal, which was
dedicated to his mother on her birthday. He wrote it when he was 14 years old.
El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes ( The Departure: Hymn to Magellan‘s
Fleet)
Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light
Al Nino Jesus (To the Child Jesus) - written when he was 14 years old, expressing his
Catholic faith devotion.
• He also made sculptures during his time in Ateneo.
• Example: The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the image of Virgin Mary

To improve his Spanish, Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel College during recess.
During his 4th year in Ateneo he received 5 medals and graduated as sobresaliente (excellent)

He graduated on March 23, 1877 (16 years old). Received the degree of bachelor of arts, with
highest honors.

Extra-Curricular Involvement

 an emperor inside the classroom

 campus leader
 active member and became a secretary, the Marian Congregation Religious Society
 member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences
 poet
 studied painting under the famous Spanish Painter, Agustin Saez
 improved his sculpture talents under the supervision of Romualdo de Jesus
 engaged in gymnastics and fencing and continued the physical training under his sports-
minded Tio Manuel.

SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO

He carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with his
pocketknife. The Jesuits fathers were amazed. Father Lleonart requested him to carve for him
an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He intended to take the image with him in Spain but
forgot to do so. So the Ateneo boarders placed it on the door of their dormitory. It plays a
significant part in Rizal‘s last hours at Fort Santiago.

RIZAL IN UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)

 He entered the University in 1877.

 The courses he took was Letters and Philosophy.
 Two reasons why Rizal enrolled in these courses: His father like it; and He was still
uncertain as to what career to pursue.
 He also took the Medicine course, primarily on two different reasons;
- To cure his mother’s blindness
- The advice of Father Pablo Ramon, the Father Rector of Ateneo whom he consulted for a
choice of career, finally answered his letter, and recommended medicine
  Rizal also finished a surveying course in his time in UST.
 Upon completing this course, he passed the examination leading to a title “ Expert
Surveyor”.
 He also received gold medals in the fields of Agriculture and Topography
 1877-1878 Rizal took the vocational course leading to the title of ―perito agrimensor”
(expert surveyor). He passed the final examination in the surveying course on November
25, 1881. He remained loyal to Ateneo.
 During his first term in 1877-1878 in UST, he studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy
and History of Philosophy.

UNHAPPY DAYS IN UST

Rizal found the atmosphere at the University of Santo Tomas suffocating to his sensitive spirit.
• The Dominican professors were hostile to him.
• The Filipinos were racially discriminated.
• The method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.

WORKS IN UST

 During his time in UST, he wrote many Literary Works

 He was also a part of the Liceo-Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila, a
society of literary men and artists
 Some of the works he wrote:
 A La Juventud Filipino (to the Filipino youth) - a poem written by Rizal, it was the
first prize winner. Two reasons why Rizal‘s poem is a classic in the Philippine literature:
1. It was the first great poem in Spanish written by the Filipino, whose merit was
recognized by Spanish literary authorities. 2. It expressed for the first time the
nationalistic concept that the Filipino, and not the foreigners, was the ―fair hope of the
fatherland.
 THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS - An allegorical drama written by Rizal which he entered
in the literary contest of Artistic Literary Lyceum in 1880 to commemorate the fourth
centennial of the death of Cervantes. It was a literary masterpiece based on the Greek
classics. The prize was awarded to Rizal, a gold ring on which was engraved the bust
(figure) of Cervantes.
 Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig) - Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig) a zarzuela,
written by Rizal. It was staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880,on the occasion of
the annual celebration of the Feats Day of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the
Ateneo.
 During his time here also, he was hailed as the “ Champion of the Filipino
Students”.
 In 1880. Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students. He became the chief of the
secret student society.
LIFE ABROAD

RIZAL IN SPAIN

(1882-1885)
• After his study in UST, Rizal went to Spain.
• His transfer to Spain was caused by two primary reasons. Which is;
o Secret Mission
o Studies

SECRET MISSION IN SPAIN

• to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and
governments and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of
liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny

STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN

 June 21, 1884- conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine.

 The Following academic year, he studied and passed all subjects leading to the degree
of doctor of medicine. Unfortunately, he was not able to submit the thesis required for
graduation nor paid the corresponding fees. With that, he was not awarded his Doctor’s
Diploma
 June 19, 1885- Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters with the rating of “Excellent”
(Sobresaliente).

RIZAL IN BARCELONA, SPAIN

June 16, 1882

• Rizal reached his destination, Barcelona.
• During his time in Barcelona, he wrote several articles.

ARTICLES WRITTEN BY RIZAL

 Amor Patrio (Love of Country) - a nationalistic essay written by Rizal under his pen
name Laong Laan which urged his compatriots to love their fatherland, the Philippines.
• Los Viajes (Travels)
• Revista de Madrid (Review of Madrid)

RIZAL IN MADRID, SPAIN

• November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid in two courses-

Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.
 • He studied Painting and Sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts and took
language lessons in French, German and English.
• In Madrid, he also joined a group called CIRCULO HISPANO-FILIPINO (HISPANO-
PHILIPPINE CIRCLE).
• Rizal became a Mason, and joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia in Madrid under his
Masonic name “Dimasalang”.

The reasons behind this were;

• The bad friars in the Philippines, by their abuses unworthy of their priestly habit or
calling, drove Rizal to desperation and Masonry
• He needed the help of the Masons to fight the bad friars in the Philippines
• To Rizal, it was a shield to use in his fight against the evil forces of tyranny.

RIZAL IN PARIS, FRANCE (1885-1886)

• Rizal was attracted by the beautiful sights of Paris, and he visited important landmarks.
• He also visited Hospitals for his observation.
- Laennec Hospital
-Lariboisiere Hospital
• He was also the guest speaker for a banquet held in the Victory of the Filipino artists in
National Exposition of Fine Arts.

RIZAL IN GERMANY (1886-1887)

• He worked as an assistant in a University Eye Hospital.

• Rizal devoted his free time visiting Heidelberg Castle, Neckar River, the theatre and
some old churches found in the city.
• He wrote a touching poem entitled “To the Flowers of Heidelberg”.

RIZAL IN WILHELMSFELD, GERMANY

• This is where he spent his summer vacation.

• Rizal stayed in a protestant pastor’s family.

RIZAL IN BERLIN, GERMANY

• November 1886, Rizal arrived in Berlin.

• He got acquainted with people whom he admired here in Berlin, such as;
• Dr. Feodo Jagor
• Dr. Ernest Schweigger
• He also joined the Anthropological Society, Ethnological Society , and the Geographical
Society of Berlin
• He also liked the customs, and the women in Berlin.

NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN

 • March 21, 1887, the “Noli Me Tangere” came off the press.
• Rizal dedicated his “Noli Me Tangere” to the Philippines—“To My Fatherland”. It contains
63 chapters and an epilogue.

TOUR IN GERMANY TO ITALY

 During his tour, Rizal visited many cities in Europe such as;
• Prague
• Vienna
• Rich
• Nuremberg
• Rome
 Rizal was also accompanied by Viola and Dr. Blumentritt during his travel.

TRAVELS IN ASIA (1887-1888)

BACK TO PHILIPPINES

• After his travels in Europe, Rizal went back to Philippines.

• The reasons for this were;
o To perform an operation to his mother,
o To defend the country proactively than in foreign lands,
o To find out how his novel, “Noli Me Tangere” was received by the Filipinos,
o Leonor Rivera’s silence.

RIZAL IN HONG KONG, CHINA

• February 1888, Rizal reached Hong Kong. He was welcomed by Filipino residents there.
• During his stay, Rizal engaged with many cultural activities, which were;
o Firecrackers in New year,
o Chinese lauriat parties,
o Chinese Theatres,
o And he visited churches.

RIZAL IN MACAO (OR MACAU)

• Rizal visited Macao, a Portuguese colony near Hong Kong.

• In his diary, he wrote it as “a small, low, and gloomy, there are junks, sampans, but few
steamers. It looks sad, and almost dead.”
• He also visited casinos, theatres, and churches during his stay.

RIZAL IN JAPAN
• During his stay, Rizal admired the scenic view of Japan.
 • He also spent a month and half, learning their language.
• He was also impressed by the beauty of the country;
o The cleanliness,
o Politeness,
o The industry,
o And the charm of Japanese women.

RIZAL IN UNITED STATES (APRIL-MAY 1888)

• On May 4, 1888, Rizal arrived in San Francisco and registered at the Palace Hotel and
stayed for two days.
• May 6, 1888, he was in Oakland, he boarded the train for his grand transcontinental trip
to the American continent.
• He was able to see places such as Sacramento, Reno, (Nevada), Colorado, Nebraska,
Chicago, Albany and on May 13 he reached New York.
• In his trip in United States, Rizal was able to travel to different places in the American
Continent, such as;
o Colorado
o Chicago
o New York
o Sacramento
o Nevada

RIZAL’S IMPRESSION OF AMERICA

Good impressions
a) the material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing
industries and busy factories;
b) the drive and energy of the American People
c) the natural beauty of the land
d) the high standard of living;
e) the opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants.

Bad impression:
a) the lack of racial equality: “America is the land par excellence of freedom but only for
the whites”.

REFORMIST WORKS IN EUROPE (1899-1891)

LA SOLIDARIDAD
• It is an all Filipino staff newspaper established in Spain.
• The newspaper crusaded for Philippine reforms and rights for the Filipinos.
“We are persuaded that no sacrifices are too little to win the rights and the liberty
of a nation that is oppressed by slavery.”
RETIREMENT IN REFORMIST WORK (APRIL-SEPTEMBER 1891)

THE PRINTING OF “EL FILIBUSTERISMO”

• After his work as a reformist, Rizal went to Ghent in Belgium to publish his second novel
“El Filibusterismo”
• During this time, he faced many difficulties to complete the printing, especially on
financial matters.
• With the help of Valentin Ventura, he was able to complete the printing of the Novel.

BACK IN HONG KONG (1891-1892)

• After publishing his second novel, Rizal went back to Hong Kong.
• During his time here, he also practiced his medical career.
• His time here in Hong Kong was one of the happiest in his life, because Rizal celebrated
Christmas with his family.
• Hereafter, he went back to Philippines without knowledge of what awaits him.

His travels abroad ended in Hong Kong, as he went back to the Philippines in hopes to clear
some of the allegations and elaborate his plans.

These were his primary reasons, although what awaits him was unexpected, and the rest is
history.