Republic of the Philippines

Bohol Island State University - Bilar

Zamora, Bilar, Bohol

Vision: A premier Science and Technology university for the formation of a world class and virtuous human resource for sustainable
development in Bohol and the country.
Mission: BISU is committed to provide quality higher education in the arts and sciences, as well as in the professional and technological
fields; undertake research and development, and extension services for the sustainable development of Bohol and the country.

LIFE, WORKS & WRITINGS OF RIZAL

LESSON 3: RIZAL’S FORMATION AND EDUCATION

Objectives:

1. Recall significant events that happened to Rizal in his formative years.

2. Identify influences of Ateneo and UST to Rizal’s character.
3. Relate Rizal’s experiences during his formative years to the students’ experiences.

At an early age, Lolay (Rizal’s mother) taught Pepito how to read as the family had a large
collection of books which led to love of reading and thirst for knowledge. One of the memorable
anecdotes between Pepe and his mother was when Doña Lolay was teaching him to read from a
Spanish booklet, El Amigo de los Niños (The Children’s Friend). However, he was very poor in
reading Spanish, thus his mother read the book for him. Noticing him not paying attention his
mother narrated to him the story of a moth, attracted by the brightness, perished in the flames,
(Quirino, 1938). As Doña Lolay narrated to him the story, her words droned on, and farther and
farther away the fool hardly moths came too near, signed it wings, and fell into the thick, sticky
liquid. He saw the moth flutter for a few seconds the lie quiet (Quirino, 1938).

Aside from his mother, Pepe’s three uncles also contributed to the formation of the young mind from
thinking to physical development. At a young gae, Moy demonstrated superior intelligence, leading
to hire tutors. Among them were Lucas Padua and Leon Monroy. His Inclination to poetry ignited
him to compose his first nationalist poem entitled Sa Aking Mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children)
which some historians doubt the credibility or veracity of the claim.
Education in Biñan

In June 1869, Rizal left Calamba for Biñan for private for private schooling. During that time, he
lived at his aunt’s house-the Alonso house. In the private school his teacher was Maestro Justiniano
Aquino Cruz.

Rizal was often picked on at school for his physique. But this boy was not some pushover as he
was trained by his uncles in martial arts and wrestling. He always fought back. At one point, he
challenged and defeated and defeated Pedro (the teacher’s son) who bullied him for deficiency in
his knowledge in Spanish and Latin. Jose lost to another classmate though. Because of this brawls
and Rizal’s naughtiness, he was often lashed by the teacher as he recalled in his Memorias.

While schooling in Biñan, Rizal’s interest in painting was born. He and Jose Guevarra, classmate
became apprentice to Juancho, the teacher’s father-in-law. Furthermore, he became the best
student in academics and even surpassed his classmates in Spanish and Latin. After one and a half
year of schooling, he left Biñan for Calamba.

Ateneo Years

Four months after the execution of the Gamburza priests, Rizal was sent to Ateneo, formerly known
as Escuela Pia or Charity School of Manila which served as the city’s municipal school. The school
was managed by the Jesuits. The religious order emphasized rigid discipline, character building,
and religious instruction.

Jose was able to attend Ateneo with the intervention of Manuel Xeres Burgos. His coming to
Ateneo was also the time for Pepe to change his surname from Mercado to Rizal to avoid being
dragged to the infamous Cavite mutiny because the Mercado family, particularly his brother
Paciano was a close friend of Father Burgos. Later on, his family followed Jose in changing their
surname form Mercado to Rizal. In his letter to Blumentritt: “After the sad catastrophe (1872)
Paciano had to leave the university because he was a liberal and because he was disliked by the
friars for having lived in the same house as Burgos. I had to go to school in Manila at that time and
he advised me too use our second surname, Rizal, to avoid difficulties in my studies… My family
never paid much attention (to our second sur-name) but now I had to use it, thus giving me the
appearance of an illegitimate child!” The Jesuit encouraged competition among students. In Rizal’s
class, it was divided in two groups namely, Romans and Carthaginians, -where he belonged. Every
student fought for the highest position depending on the day’s lesson. Between empires, they
fought for intellectual supremacy with red banner given to the Romans and blue banner for the
Carthaginians. If the empire gets defeated again, it is moved to the inferior position at the right side.
Upon the third defeat, the banner flag inclined on the left side. On the fourth defeat it is reserved
and placed on the right. On the fifth defeat, it is placed on the left. On the sixth defeat, the banner is
replaced by a donkey.

When Rizal entered his fourth-year in the Ateneo, Rizal honed his poetic language leading to write
numerous poems under the themes of history, childhood memories, religion, education, and war
under Professor Fr. Francisco Paula d Sanchez guidance. All were pro-Spanish in nature. This
were-Felicitation (Felicitation); El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure:
Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet); Y Es Espanyol: Elcano, El Primero en dar la Vuelta del Mundo (And He
is Spanish: Elcano the first to Circumnvigate the World); El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terrorde Jolo
(The battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo); Por la Education Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through
Education the Motherland Receives Enlightenment); Alianza Intima Entra la Religion y la Buena
Education (Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good Education); Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In
Memory of My Town).

Table1. A table showing Rizal’s grade in Ateneo from W.Retana (Bonoan, 1979)
1871 – 1872 Aritmetica --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
1872 – 1873 Latin, primer curso -------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Castellano ---------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Griego --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
1873 – 1874 Latin, Segundo curso --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Castellano --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Griego --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
GeografiaUniversal --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
1874 – 1875 Latin, tercer curso --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Castellano --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Griego --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Historia Universal --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Historia de Espafia y Filipinas------------------------------------------------ Sobresaliente
Aritmetica y Algebra --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
1875-1876 Retorica y Poetica --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Frances --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Geometria Y Trigonometria --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
1876 – 1877 Filosofia, primeracurso --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
 Mineralogia y Quimica --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Filosofias, Segundo curso --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Fisica --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Botanica y Zoologia --------------------------------------------------- Sobresaliente
Bachiller en Artes el 14 de Marzo de 1877
Important note: Bachiller en Artes (Bachelor of Arts) during the Spanish period is equivalent to a
high school degree today.

Other side of Rizal

Aside from being poetic, Jose also developed his potentials for painting under Agustin Saez and
sculptor under Teodoro Romuald de Jesus. As a result of such training, Rizal impressed the Jesuit
priests by carving an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the image of Sacred Heart. Those
carvings were placed at the door of the dormitory which later shown to him in his final hours at Fort
Santiago in 1896.

It was not all about studying for the young Jose, at 16 he was attracted to a fine young woman from
Lipa, Batngas names Segunda Katigbak. The young man had the chance to know more Segunda
as he often visited his sister at the La Concordia College who was a boarding student. Lack in effort
to express flattery and put heart in language, Segunda was married to his townmate Arturo Luz.
Later Jose would recount his young love saying; “Ended at an early hour, my first love! My virgin
heart will always mourn the reckless step on the flower-decked abyss. My illusions will return, yes
but indifferent, uncertain, ready for the betrayal on the path of love.

Santo Tomas

“My mother said that I had enough with what I knew and I should not return to Manila anymore. Had
my mother a presentiment of what was going to happen to me?”

-Rizal prior entry to Santo Tomas.

The dissatisfaction of the Filipino men of wealth and intellect was centered on the abuses of the
Spanish authorities, civil as well as clerical. In attempt to win a place, some educated themselves
for them, the reformers believed in the power of words, and not of the sword, in achieving their
purpose. Leading to some students to be involved in secret societies and express their dismay in
writings, which to some gave them a sad end of fate. Spanish grew suspicious of most Filipino
intellectuals and labeled by clerics as heretics as a warning to people who would sympathize. For
that reason, Rizal’s mother feared that her son might lose his faith and head as a result of acquiring
higher level of education.

In April 1877, Jose Rizal enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and took up Philosophy
and Letters despite his mother’s plea. For his first term in 1877-1878, he studied Philosophy and
Letters. This was because he was still undecided on what program to take and his father liked the
course. The program had cosmology, metaphysics, theodicy and history of Philosophy. In the
following term, he shifted to medicine. His decision was prompted by the failing eyesight of his
mother and Fr. Ramon’s advice, his former professor at Ateneo.

While studying at UST, he returned to Ateneo (1877-1878) and took up vocational courses for boys
and completed the title perito agrimensor (expert surveyor). However, due to his age at that time
the certificate was granted to him only on November 20, 1881, when he was 20 years old already.
Way back those days, the college boys in Manila were offered vocational courses agriculture,
commerce, mechanics, and surveying.

Biographers would give different accounts on Rizal’s stay in UST. Some would say that the
university atmosphere led him to criticize the Dominican school saying that (1) Filipino students
were racially discriminated by the Spaniards; (2) the method of instruction was obsolete nad
repressive; and (3) the Dominican professors were hostile to him. Others defended that institution
by countering that Rizal was simply not inclined to sciences, but to the arts and fine arts.

On the Path of Love

A friar, beautiful girl, tender as a budding

Flower with kind beautiful eyes.
Rizal on Leonor Rivera’s beauty

After his first love and reckless step on the decked-abyss, Pepe had several attempts to step the
path of love. He courted a young woman hidden under the name “Miss L” (Jacinta Ibardo Laza)
describing her as fair with seductive and attractive eyes, but the romance ended. Later, Jose
courted a girl almost as tall and with a regal bearing calling her Orang (Leonor Valenzuela), a
daughter’s near his boarding house in Intramuros which also ended. His next bemusement of
beauty was in the name of Leonor Rivera, Hailed from Camiling, Tarlac. The romance between the
two was intimate which lasted for eleven years, but ended because of Rizal’s growing association
and heretic approach to religion as described by the religious conservatives.

Rizal’s Hellenic Piece

Unfold, oh timid flower! Lift your radiant brow,

This day, Youth of my native strand!
Your abounding talents show
Resplendently and grand,
Fair hope of my Motherland!
-Rizal, La Juventud Filipina
(To the Filipino Youth)

In 1879, the Liceo Artistico Literio de Manila, a society of literary and art, enthusiasts held a
competition, offering a prize for the best poem. This was in connection with the fourth centennial
commemoration of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, a noted Spanish an author of “Don Quixote.”
The prize was a gold ring on which the bust of Cervantes was engraved. Rizal submitted an entry to
the said competition entitled,”El Consejo de los Dioses” and won the prize, describing his piece by
the judges as: “an admirable richness of details, delicacy of thought nad figures, and lastly, a taste
so Hellenic that the reader images himself relishing some delicious passage of Homer with such
frequency the Olympic sessions describe to us in their works.”

Republic of the Philippines

 Bohol Island State University - Bilar
Zamora, Bilar, Bohol

Vision: A premier Science and Technology university for the formation of a world class and virtuous human resource for sustainable
development in Bohol and the country.
Mission: BISU is committed to provide quality higher education in the arts and sciences, as well as in the professional and technological
fields; undertake research and development, and extension services for the sustainable development of Bohol and the country.

Name:____________________________________ Class Schedule:_____________________

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

First Semester 2020 – 2021

The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Exercise 4.A

A. Multile Choice. Identify who or what is referred to in each number. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer.

1. Rizal’s first teacher

a. Teodora Alonso
b. Leon Monroy
c. Lucas Padua
d. Celestino

2. Location of Rizal’s first school

a. Biñan
b. Calamba
c. Lipa
d. Manila

3. Rizal’s teacher in his first private school

a. Juan Alonso
b. Fr. Bech
c. Fr. Ramon
d. Justiniano Cruz
4. The boy Rizal challenged on his first brawl
a. Juan
b. Pancho
c. Pedro
d. Pablo

5. Which of these events happen before Rizal went to Ateneo?

a. Execution of Gom-Bur-Za priests
b. Arrest of his mother
c. Rizal took the entrance examination for college of San Juan de Letran
d. Rizal graduated with a grade sobresaliente
6. A congregation of priests which owns Ateneo de Manila
a. Dominicans
b. Augustinians
c. Jesuits
d. Diocesan

7. The priests who guided Rizal on his fourth year

a. Fr. Francisco Paula de Sanchez
b. Fr. Vicente Balaguer
c. Fr. Xerex Burgos
d. Fr. Obach

8. Rizal was part of this division in this class

a. Roman
b. Greek
c. Carthagenian
d. Pesrsian

9. Rizal’s first love was ___________at 16 years old

a. Leonor Rivera
b. Segunda Katigbak
c. Maria Clara
d. Leonor Valenzuela
10. The grade received by Rizal as an Ateneo graduate
a. Fair
b. Good
c. Very Good
d. Excellent

11. In 1877, Rizal enrolled in University of Santo Tomas in this program

a. Medicine
b. Fine Arts
c. Philosophy and Letters
d. Agriculture

12. While studying in UST, Rizal graduated from this vocational course at Ateneo
a. Surveying
b. Carpentry
c. Cooking
d. Baking

13. On his second year in UST, Rizal shifted to this course

a. Medicine
b. Fine Arts
c. Philosophy and Letters
d. Agriculture

14. Rizal’s longest relationship which lasted 11 days

a. Leonor Rivera
b. Segunda Katigbak
c. Maria Clara
d. Leonor Valenzuela

15. The title of Rizal’s piece which won a prize in the Liceo Artistico Literio de Manila on 1879
a. A La Juventud Filipina
b. Consejo de los Dioses
c. Felicitation
d. Mi Primera Inspiration
Republic of the Philippines
 Bohol Island State University - Bilar
Zamora, Bilar, Bohol

Vision: A premier Science and Technology university for the formation of a world class and virtuous human resource for sustainable
development in Bohol and the country.
Mission: BISU is committed to provide quality higher education in the arts and sciences, as well as in the professional and technological
fields; undertake research and development, and extension services for the sustainable development of Bohol and the country.

Name:____________________________________ Class Schedule:_____________________

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

First Semester 2020 – 2021

The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Exercise

B. Answer intelligently. The rubric below will serve as the general guide for scoring the answers. In
accordance to academic freedom, the teacher reserves the right to change the scoring as he/she
pleases.

Criteria
Scor Focus Content Organization Style Conventions
e
6 Sharp and Substantial, Sophisticated Precise, Evident control of
distinct specific arrangement of illustrative grammar, spelling
Controlling and/or content with and plentiful and usage of
point about the illustrative evident or subtle variety of sentence formation
topic content, transitions words used
1.5 Apparent point Sufficient Functional Sufficient Sufficient control of
made with content with arrangement variety of grammar, spelling
sufficient adequate with logical words used and usage of
control elaboration orders sentence formation
1 Minimal point Superficial Minimal control Minimal Minimal control of
given points of arrangement variety of grammar, spelling
elaborated words used and usage of
sentence formation

1. Discuss his student life and performance at Ateneo and UST.

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Compare and contrast Ateneo and UST educational system based on Rizal’s experience.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. As a student, what were your unforgettable experiences in school that may have similarities to
Rizal’s experience in school?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

RIZAL’S NATIONALISM

Objectives:

Reflect on Rizal’s nationalism as how historians see him.

Paciano’s contribution to the nationalism of Rizal was evident in most narratives. From boyhood
towards his death, his elder brother served as his informant keeping him updated on the events and
happenings in the country. At first, it was against the will of Rizal to leave the country because he
did not want to be far from his family especially that he was already in love with own advancement
but, to observe the culture, the people, and the kind of government Spain had.

The conditions during Rizal’s time greatly influenced him in the formation of his character. The
sense of nationalism can never be seen because of a chaotic society. Not only the Philippines
experienced such crisis but even in the other parts of the world. Why is there such a struggle on
nationalism? First thing to note is to have a clear understanding of what is nationalism is. In Its
literal sense, nationalism is a feeling of oneness by a group of people who believe that they
possess common traditions, culture, nad common ideas or goals. (Rizal’s Impact of National
Identity).

In Benidect Anderson’s Imagined Community (1991), he stressed that nationhood is not lost even
when one is not living in his own nation. Nation is imagined as limited because even the largest of
them, encompassing perhaps a billion living human beings, has finite, elastic, boundaries, beyond
which lie other nation. Nation is also imagined as sovereign because the concept was born in an
age when Enlightenment and revolution were destroying the legitimacy of the divine-ordained,
hierarchical dynastic realm. Lastly, nation is imagined as community because regardless of the
actual inequality and exploitation that may prevail in each, it is always conceived as a deep
horizontal comradeship.

Republic of the Philippines

Bohol Island State University - Bilar
 Zamora, Bilar, Bohol

Vision: A premier Science and Technology university for the formation of a world class and virtuous human resource for sustainable
development in Bohol and the country.
Mission: BISU is committed to provide quality higher education in the arts and sciences, as well as in the professional and technological
fields; undertake research and development, and extension services for the sustainable development of Bohol and the country.

Name:____________________________________ Class Schedule:_____________________

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

First Semester 2020 – 2021

The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Exercise 5

E. Write an essay reflecting Rizal’s nationalism in the Filipinos of today. The rubric below will serve
as the general guide for scoring the answer. In accordance to academic freedom, the teacher
reserves the right to change the scoring as he/she pleases.
Criteria
Scor Focus Content Organization Style Conventions
e
2 Sharp and Substantial, Sophisticated Precise, Evident control of
distinct specific arrangement of illustrative grammar, spelling
Controlling and/or content with and plentiful and usage of
point about the illustrative evident or subtle variety of sentence formation
topic content, transitions words used
1.5 Apparent point Sufficient Functional Sufficient Sufficient control of
made with content with arrangement variety of grammar, spelling
sufficient adequate with logical words used and usage of
control elaboration orders sentence formation
1 Minimal point Superficial Minimal control Minimal Minimal control of
given points of arrangement variety of grammar, spelling
elaborated words used and usage of
sentence formation