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Bayhon , Ara Jean

Enrijo, Kristine Section: AF-4
Miranda, Arvel Grace

TOPIC:
CHAPTER 5 - Medical Studies in University of Santo Tomas (1878- 1881)

Mother’s opposition to Higher education. Both Don Francisco and

Paciano wants Jose to pursue higher learning in the University of Santo Tomas. But
his mother, who knew what happened to Gom- Bur- Za, opposed the idea.

Rizal Enters the University. In April 1877, a nearly 16 years old Rizal
matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas, taking the course on Philosophy and
Letters. He enrolled for 2 reasons namely:
• because it was liked by his Father
• because he is still of what career to pursue
He had written to Fr. Pablo Ramon, a Rector of Ateneo, asking for advice on career
choice. But the Rector can’t send him a reply for it was in the Mindanao that time.
It was the following term when he received a reply letter from the Rector,
advising him to take medicine course. He enrolled to medicine course in favor of the
Rector’s advice and also to cure his mother’s growing blindness

Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878). During the first year term in
the University, he also studied a vocational course in Ateneo, that leading him to the
title of Perito agrimensor ( expert surveyor)
Rizal excelled in all of his subject in surveying course, obtaining Gold
medals in Agriculture and Topography. At the age of 17 he already passed the final
examination of surveying course but it can’t be grated to him because he was an
under age. The title is issued to him November 25, 1881.

Romances with other girls. Rizal had ample time for love. He was a romantic
dreamer who liked to sip the “nectar of love”.
•”Miss L”- He described her as a fair with seductive and attractive eyes. After
visiting to their house several times, he suddenly stopped his wooing and the
romance died a natural death. The reasons behind why he stopped are: (1) the
sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart and (2) His father doesn’t like
the family of Miss L.
•Leonor Valenzuela- the daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday
Valenzuela who lived next door. Rizal was welcome to Valenzuela’s house. He sent
her love notes written with invisible. Rizal who knows chemistry taught Orang (pet
name of Leonor) the secret of reading the notes with invisible ink by heating it over a
candle or lamp. But as with Segunda, he stopped short of proposing marriage to
Orang
• Leonor Rivera- daughter of Uncle landlord , Antonio Rivera. She was born
on April 11, 1867 in Camiling, Tarlac. She was a frail, pretty girl “tender as budding
flower with kindly wistful eyes. They sprang a beautiful romance and became
engage. When Leonor sent her letters, She signed her name as “Taimis” to
camouflage their intimate relationship.
 Victim of Spanish Officer’s Brutality. Rizal was a freshman medical student
when he experience the first taste of Spanish brutality. One dark night in Calamba,
during his summer vacation in 1878. Walking passed through a figure of a mam, not
paying any sign of respect. The man happened to be the lieutenant of Guardia Civil.
With a snarl, He turned upon Rizal and slashed the latter on his back.
The wound is not serious but it was painful. After recoveries, he reported it to
Gen. Primo de Rivera but nothing came out of his compliant. Because he was an
Indio and the lieutenant was a Spaniard. Later he related to his letter to, Blumentrit,
March 21,1887: “ I went to the Captain- General but I could not obtain justice; the
wound lasted for two weeks.

To the Filipino Youth. in the year 1879, the Liceo Artistico – Literario
( Artistic- Literary Lyceum) of Manila, a society of literary men and artist, held a
literary contest. Offered a prize for best poem by a native or mestizo, Rizal won, his
poem entitled A la Juventud Filipina ( To the Filipino Youth). the board of judges was
Spaniards, the first prize consist of silver pen, feather shaped and decorated with a
gold ribbon.
The prize winning poem, is an inspiring poem of flawless form. Rizal
beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than
the wind and descend with art and science to break the chains that have long bound
the spirit of people.
The winning reason of Rizal, first, it was the great poem in Spanish written by
a Filipino, was recognized by Spanish Literary authorities, second, it expressed for
the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos and not the Foreigners, were
the “ fair hope of the Fatherland.

The Council of the Gods (1880). Opened for both Filipinos and Spaniards
competition. He won another 1st prize, the poem entitled El Consejo de los Dioses
( The Council of the Gods). The prize was a gold ring. The second winner, a Spanish
writer named D.N del Puzo. The allegory established a parallel among Homer, Vigil
and Cervantes.

Other Literary works. A Zarzuela was Junio Al Pasig ( Beside the Pasig),
which was staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880 on the feast of Immaculte
Conception. The same year he wrote a sonnet entitled Abd-el-Azis Y Mahoma
declaimed by Manuel Fernandez in honor of Ateneo’s Patroness.
Later in 1881, he composed a poem entitled Al M.R.P. Fr. Pablo Ramon, he
wrote the poem as an expression of affection. The Ateneo rector who had been so
kind and helpful to him.

Rizal's Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan . May 1881 (summer month)- Rizal
went on pilgrimage to the town Pakil famous shrine of Birhen Maria de los Dolores
Accompanied by his sisters Saturnina, Maria, and Trinidad and their female friends.
They took casco from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna . They stayed at the house of Mr
and Mrs Manuel Regalado who's son Nicolas (Rizal's friend in Manila) Rizal and his
companions were fascinated by the famous turumba. The people dancing in the
streets during procession in honor of the miraculous Birhen Maria de los Dolores

In Pakil, Rizal was infatuated by a Pretty girl colegiala, Vicenta Ybardolaza

(skillfully played harp at Regalado home)
 Rizal and his party made a side trip for two reasons
1. It was the neighboring town of Pagsanjan, the native town of Leonor Valenzuela
2.) to see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls

Years later Rizal mentioned the turumba in Chapter VI of Noli Me Tangere

and Pagsanjan Falls in his travel diary (United States-Saturday May 12, 1888)
Champion of Filipino Students.

Champion of Filipino Students. Rizal was the champion of Filipino students

in their frequent fights, against the arrogant Spanish students, who were often
surpassed by Filipinos in class work and insultingly called their brown classmates
"Indio, Chango!" In retaliation, Filipino students called them Kastila, Bangus"

1880-Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of

Santo Tomas called Compañerismo (Comradeship). The members are called
"Companion of Jehu" after the valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armen Aro
and ruled the Kimp dom of Israel years (543-816 B.C. Rizal as chief of secret society
and Galicano Apacible (his cousin from Batangas) as secretary

In one of the fierce encounters between the Filipino students and their pale
skinned detractors near the Escolta in Manila, Rizal was wounded on the head.

Unhappy Days at the UST. Rizal found the atmosphere at the University of
Santo Tomas suffocating to his sensitive spirit. He was unhappy at thes Dominican
institution of higher learning because
(1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him,
(2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards,
(3) the method of instruction was obsolete and represive

In his novel, El Filibusterismo, he described how the Filipino students were

humiliated and insulted by their Dominican. He related it in Chapter XIII," The Class
in Physics"that his science subject was taught without laboratory experiments. The
microscope and other laboratory were kept inside the showcases to be seen by
visitors, but the students cannot even touched them. Because of the unfriendly
attitude of his professors, Rizal the most brilliant graduate of the Ateneo, failed to win
high scholastic honors.

Decision to Study Abroad. After finishing the fourth year of his medical
course, Rizal decided to study in Spain. He could no longer endure the rampant
bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in the University of Santo Tomas. His older
brother readily approved his going to Spain and so did his two sisters Saturnina
(Neneng) and Lucia, Uncle Antonio Rivera, the Valenzuela family, and some friends.
However, for the first time he did not seek permission to his parents and Leonor
Rivera because he know they will disapprove about it.