Formal Search for

Knowledge and His Idealism

in Poetry
Teodora

first teacher who taught him the

alphabet and the prayers
Private Tutors

Maestro Celestino
 Maestro Lucas Padua
Maestro Leon Monroy
 At nine years old, it was the first
time that he was separated from
his family.
Accompanied by Paciano, they
went to his aunt’s house where he
was to board together with his
cousin named Leandro. The house
was about 30 meters away from his
school.
 First day of school

he was assigned a seat in the class by Maestro

Justiniano Aquino Cruz, a former teacher of
Paciano
one has to suffer a great deal in order to learn
The teacher asked him whether he spoke
Spanish, Rizal replied “A little, sir” do you know
Latin, “A little Sir”. This prompted one of his
classmates named Pedro, the teacher’s son to
make fun of him.
 Pedro and Andres Salundanan

Although smaller and younger, Rizal was

challenged by Pedro for a fight-wrestling, after
class. Having learned the art of wrestling from his
Uncle Manuel, he defeated the bigger boy. He
gained the reputation of being small but strong.
Another classmate and Andres Salundanan
challenged him to an arm-wrestling match, having
the weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his head
on the sidewalk.
Artistic Skill

Rizal developed his painting skills

from Juancho, who was the faher-in-
law of the school teacher and a local
painter. Later, Rizal called himself as
a “fashionable” painter.
Academic studies

Jose concentrated religiously

and he excelled in all subjects.
Before the Christmas season in 1870, Rizal
received a letter from Saturnina, informing him
that the boat Talim would pass from Biñan to
Calamba. Before leaving, he prayed in the
town church, collected pebbles in the river for
souvenir and said goodbye to his classmates
and teacher.
It was December 17, 1870, after one
year and a half of schooling in Biñan,
he boarded in the boat Talim. He was
taken care of by Arturo Campos, a
Frenchman and a friend of his father,
Rizal spent Christmas with his family.
 Rizal’s Ateneo Education (1872-1877)

On June 10, 1872, Rizal took the entrance

examination at College of San Juan de Letran in
Manila then he returned to Calamba for the
feast in honor of the town’s patron saint.

Father Francisco changed his mind and

decided to send him to Ateneo for his
secondary education
 Ateneo
bitter rival of the Dominican- owned College of
San Juan de Letran
formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity School), a
school for poor boys in Manila which was
established by the city government in 1817.
When the Jesuits, who had been expelled from
the Philippines in 1768, later on returned to
Manila In 1859, they turn over the management
of the Escuela Pia and changed the name to
Ateneo Municipal and later became the Ateneo
de Manila.
 Upon Enrollment in Ateneo
College registrar, Father Magin Fernando
rejected him because of being late for
registration and he was sickly and
undersized for his age as eleven years old.
He had to seek the recommendation of a
Spaniard upon the help of Manuel Xerez
Burgos, nephew of Father Jose Burgos, he
was admitted under the name of “Jose
Rizal, not as Jose Mercado.
Beginning of Class

He understood Spanish but could

not yet speak the language well
so Rizal took private lessons in
Santa Isabel College during the
noon recesses.
 Division of the Class
the “Roman Empire consisting of the
internos (boarders) with red banner

the “Carthaginian Empire” composed of

the externos (non-boarders) with blue
banners for their distinction
Ranks

The best student in each “empire”

was known as emperor
second best is a tribune
third best is Decurion
fourth best is centurion
 last best, known as standard bearer.
First year in Ateneo

His professor was Father Jose Bech. Being a

newcomer and can speak a little Spanish, Rizal
was relegated at the bottom of the class. After
the first week, Rizal improved rapidly and in that
year he obtained the designation of emperor and
was awarded medal.
Second Year
When he entered second year
nothing unusual happened except
that he neglected his studies because
he experienced to be offended by the
teacher’s criticism. Later on he
regained his lost class leadership, he
studied harder and became emperor
again.
Wisdom of books

He read the first favorite novel, “The Count

of Monte Cristo” by Alexander Dumas;
a historical work entitled “Universal History”
by Cesar Cantu and;
 “Travels in the Philippines” by Dr. Feodor
Jagor, a known German scientist-traveler
 Third Year

Rizal started the third year with more

enthusiasm because he was inspired
knowing his mother was been freed. His
grades remained excellent in all subjects. He
won prizes, plus a medal in Latin. The medal
for Spanish was awarded to a peninsular for
he knew his spoken Spanish was not fluently
perfect.
Fourth Year

He became an intern in the Ateneo. One

of his professors was Father Francisco
Paulo Sanchez, whom he described as a
model of righteousness and has an
unquestionable love for the progress of his
students. He inspired Rizal to study harder
and to write poetry. He finished the year
with highest honors, winning five medals.
 Rizal’s Skills and Extra- Curricular Activities
 He studied painting under Agustin Saez, famous Spanish
painter and sculptor under Romualdo de Jesus known a
Filipino sculptor.
The two pieces his beautiful artworks are still preserved at
the Ateneo: one is the image of The Virgin Mary carved in
batikulin (Philippine hardwood) and the other is the image
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that was requested by Father
Lleonart to carve for him.
 The academic excellence of Rizal and his literary prowess
qualified him for membership in two exclusive societies: the
Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of
Natural Science. He also joined the Marian Congregation,
became a secretary and Apostleship of Prayer.
My First Inspiration

The first poem written during his days

in Ateneo when Rizal was 14 years old
and to be dedicated to his mother’s
birthday was entitled, “My First
Inspiration”. In his poem, he showed
his unconditional love and affections
to his mother.
Through Education Our Motherland
Receives Light
Rizal expressed his ideals on the value of
education by writing a poem, “Through
Education Our Motherland Receives Light”. Rizal
believed “education is power, it emancipates
our motherland from ignorance and
oppression”. He also stressed that responsible
education stills in the youth noble ideas and
sublime virtues.
Intimate Alliance Between Religion
and Good Education
In another poem, “Intimate Alliance
Between Religion and Good Education”,
Rizal makes clear his belief that religions is
important in the education of man.
Religion serves as a guide, as nourishment
to good education.
 SEGUNDA KATIGBAK
The young girl, age 14, Batangueña from Lipa
name Segunda Katigbak, who turned out to
be a close friend and in the same college, La
Concordia College, where his sister Olimpia
stayed as a boarder. He was accompanied by
his friend, Mariano Katigbak, the brother of
Segunda to visit their sisters. From Rizal’s
description, Segunda was “so sweet and
expressive were her eyes, her voice so
melodious and all her actions full of certain
charm”.
Rizal made a pencil sketch of her. It was
apparent that Rizal and Segunda loved each
other. It’s “love at first sight”. But it was hopeless
since Segunda was already engaged her
fiancé, Manuel Luz her town mate. Rizal was a
shy and timid lover so in spite of Segunda’s
affection for him, Rizal did not propose.
Before Christmas vacation, December 1877, the
tow had a last meetings at La Concordia
College to say goodbye with the agreement
that they would see each other when Segunda
passed through Calamba. But when her coach
crossed the town, he just lifted his hat and she
responded with a smile waving her hankerchief.
Rizal returned home, he confessed that “in the
critical moments of my life, I have always acted
against my will, obeying higher aims and
powerful doubts”.
Rizal’s Education at the University of
Santo Tomas (1877-1882)
Rizal enrolled in University of Santo Tomas taking
the course on Philosophy and Letters
During his first year term in UST, Rizal also took up
surveying and agriculture at the Ateneo
At the age of 17, he passed the final
examination in the surveying course but he
could not be granted the title as surveyor until
he was 21 years old. The title was issued to him
on November 25, 1881.
study medicine
he showed his literary progress
He joined a literary contest among
mestizos and Filipinos sponsored by
the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila
in 1879
To The Filipino Youth

won the first prize

 a feather shaped silver pen decorated with a
gold ribbon
 This winning poem of Rizal is a classic in
Philippine literature because it was the first great
poem in Spanish written by a Filipino and
expressed his nationalistic concept that the
Filipino youth is the “fair hope of my
Motherland”.
 “El Consejo de los Dioses”
(The Council of the Gods).
 The Liceo sponsore another competition celebrating the
centenary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, the national
poet of Spain, without discrimination. The title of his play was “El
Consejo de los Dioses” (The Council of the Gods).
 The play in poetic prose narrated the meeting of the gods on
mount Olympus, presided over by Jupiter with goddesses as to
who the greatest poet was- Homer, Vigil or Cervantes. Jupiter was
the final judge who measured the values of each poet’s
masterpiece. His evaluation showed that all three works were
equal value.
 Rizal got the first prize, consisting of a gold ring, with the bust of
Cervantes carved in cameo on top.
 First Trip to Europe

Mission: to observe 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 very challenging
task of liberating his oppressed people
from Spanish tyranny.
Rizal left for Europe aboard and steamer named
“Salvadora” on May 3, 1882 and arrived at Barcelone
on June 16, 1882, the greatest city of Cataluna and
Spain’s second largest city. He discovered the great
city had an atmosphere of freedom and liberalism,
the people was hospitable, open-hearted and
friendly. He also enjoyed the most famous street
known as “Las Ramblas”.
“Amor Patrio” (Love of Country)

his first nationalistic essay

his pen-name “Laong-Laan” means Eveready
This article has been sent in Manila to Basilio
Teodora Moran, publisher of Diariong Tagalog,
the first Manila bilingual newspaper-Spanish and
Tagalog. The Tagalog translation was been
made by Marcelo H. del PIlar. The message of
this article argued to love their fatherland, the
Philippines.
 Love of country is the purest, most heroic and most
sublime human sentiment, it is gratitude, it is affection for
everything that reminds us of something of the first days of
our life; it is the land where our ancestors are sleeping. Love
of country is never wipe out once it has penetrated the
heart, because it carries with it a divine stamp which
renders it eternal and imperishable. Of all loves, that the
country is the greatest, the most heroic and the most
disinterested. Some have sacrificed for her their youth, their
pleasures others have dedicated to her splendors of their
genius; others shed their blood all have died, bequeathing
to their Motherland an immense future, liberty and glory.
A letter to Mariano Ponce

“If one has to die, at least one must

die in his own country, by his country
and for his country”
Jose Rizal wrote his second article for
Diariong Tagalog entitled “Los Viajes”
(Travels) and his third article entitled
“Revistas de Madrid” (Review of Madrid),
which he wrote in Madrid on November 29,
001882, but it was returned to him because
of lack of funds.
 Madrid
medical education was reportedly cheaper
there
He enrolled at the Central University of Madrid on
November 3, 1882 for the licentiate in medicine
he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters and to
enhance his artistic talents, he also took up
lessons in painting and sculpture at the
Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and
also lessons in German and French at the Ateneo
de Madrid
Paris

Rizal stopped at Barcelona to visit his friend

for a week, Maximo Viola, a medical
student and a member of a rich family of
San Miguel, Bulacan. He also studied French
language to a well known teacher in Paris.
Madame Lucille Cerdolle, the French
teacher of the imperial family.
He went to Paris for advanced studies in
ophthalmology, together with other foreigners. He
worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Louis de
Wecker, learned the medical techniques of an eye
operation.
After his working hours at Dr. Wecker’s clinic, Rizal
spent many hours at the studio of Juan Luna, a great
painter. In Luna’s canvas, “The Death of Cleopatra”
Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest and a great
painting, “The Blood Compact”, Rizal posed as
Sikatuna, with Trinidad Pardo de Tavera who posed
as Legazpi.
 Germany
 the cost of living was cheaper

 He practiced in a hospital of Heidelberg under the supervision

of the hospital director himself Dr. Otto Becker, a distinguished
German ophthalmologist.

 During weekends, Rizal visited the scenic spots around

Heidelberg, including the famous Heidelberg Castle, the
romantic Neckar River, the theater and the old churches. This
river, with its Roman bridge, had been maintained throughout
the centuries as a historic link and as the gate to the oldest
university of Germany, founded in 1386.
When spring came, he went to the left
bank of the Neckar, from where he
contemplated the beauty of the river and
fascinated by the blooming flowers,
among them was his favorite flower, the
light blue “forget-me-not”.
“To The Flowers of Heidelberg”

The message of the poem

show that Rizal’s love’s nature
and of his native land.
After writing “To The Flowers of Heidelberg”, Jose
spent three months summer vacation at
Wilhelmsfeid. He stayed at the vicarage of a kind
Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer, who became his
good friend.
Three days after the fifth centenary celebration of
the University of Heidelberg Rizal went to Leipzig,
attended some lectures on History and
Psychology, he befriended Professor Friedrich
Ratzel, a famous German historian and Dr. Hans
Meyer, German Anthropologist.
 For Dresden he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director
of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
 Berlin, Germany
The reasons why Rizal lived Berlin:

*To gain further knowledge in ophthalmology.

*To further his studies of sciences and languages.
*To observe the economic had political conditions
of the German nation.
*To associate with German scientist and scholars.
*To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere
 NOLI ME TANGERE
literally means ”Touch Me Not”, was taken from
the Gospel of St. John
printed in Berlin on March 21, 1887
the price was 300 pesos for 2,000 copies.
MAXIMO Viola offered him a loan, which, only
after much insistence by Viola. Rizal accepted so
that the printing could be started.
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the
Philippines “To My Fatherland”.

 Sypnosis of the “Noli Me Tangere”
(contains 63 chapters and an epilogue)

It begins with a reception given by the Capitan Tiago

at his house in Calle Anloague on the last day of
October. This dinner was given in honor of Crisostomo
Ibarra, a young and rich Filipino, who had just returned
after seven years of study in Europe. Ibarra was the only
son of Don Rafael Ibarra, friend of Capitan Tiago, and a
fiancé of beautiful Maria Clara, supposed daughter of
Capitan Tiago.
 Among the guests during the reception
were Padre Damaso. A fat Franciscan friar
who had been parish priest for 20 years of
San Diego Calamba, Ibarra’s native town;
Padre Sybila, a young Dominican parish
priest of Binondo, Senor Guevarra, an
elderly and kind lieutenant of the Guardia
Civil; Don Tiburcio de Espadana, a bogus
Spanish physician, lame and henpecked
husband of Dona Victorina and several
ladies.
 During the dinner the conversation
centered on Ibarra’s studies and travels
abroad. Padre Damaso was in bad mood
because he got any bony neck and a hard
wing of the chicken tinola. He tried to
discredit Ibarra’s remarks.
 After dinner, Ibarra left Capitan Tiago’s house to
return to his hotel. On the way, the kind Lieutenant
Guevarra told him the sad story of his father’s
death in San Diego, Don Rafael, his father, was a
rich and brave man. He defended a helpless boy
from the brutality of an illiterate Spanish tax
collector, pushing the latter and accidentally killing
him. Don Rafael was thrown in prison, where he
died unhappily. He was buried in concentrated
ground, but his enemies, accusing him of being
heretic, had his body removed from the cemetery.
 The following morning, he visited
Maria Clara, his childhood sweetheart.
Maria Clara teasingly said that he had
forgotten her because the girls in
Germany were beautiful. Ibarra replied
that he had never forgotten her.
 After the romantic reunion with Maria
Clara, Ibarra went to San Diego to visit his
father’s grave. It was All Saint’s Day. At the
cemetery, the grave-digger told Ibarra that
the corpse of Don Rafael was exhumed by
the order of the parish priest to be buried in
Chinese cemetery; but the corpse was
heavy and it was a dark rainy night that he
simply threw the corpse into the lake.
 Ibarra was angered by the grave digger’s story.
He left the cemetery. On the way, he met Padre
Salvi, Franciscan parish priest of San Diego. Ibarra
pounced on the priest, demanding redress for
desecrating his father’s mortal remains. Padre Salvi
told him that he had nothing to do with it, for he
was not the parish priest at the time of Don Rafael’s
death. It was Padre Damaso, his predecessor, who
was responsible for it.
 In his town, Ibarra met several interesting
people, such as the wise old man, Tasio
the philosopher, whose ideas were too
advanced for his times so that the people,
who could not understand him, called him
“Tasio the Lunatic”, the progressive school
teacher, who complained to Ibarra that
the children were losing interest in their
studies because of the lack of proper
school house.
 A most tragic story in the novel is the tale of Sisa,
who was formerly a rich girl but became poor because
she married a gambler. She became crazy because
she lost her two boys, Basilio and Crispin, the joys of her
wretched life. These boys were sacristans in the church,
working for a small wage to support their mother.
Crispin, the younger of the two brothers, was accused
by the brutal sacristan mayor of stealing the money of
the priest. He was tortured in the convent and died.
Basilio, with his brother’s dying cries ringing in his ears,
escaped. When two boys did not return home, Sisa
looked for them everywhere and, in her great sorrow,
she became insane.
 Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines “To My Fatherland”.