Jose Rizal's Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila
- 2. Ateneo Municipal A college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits Bitter rival of the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran Escuela Pia (Charity School) A school for poor boys in Manila Established by the city government in 1817 Ateneo de Manila Acquired prestige as an excellent college for boys
- 3. Rizal Enters the Ateneo Father Magin Ferrando, who was the school registrar, refused to admit him for two reasons: 1) He was late for registration 2) He was sickly and undersized for his age However, upon the intercession of Manuel Xerez Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo which was located at Intramuros, outside the walls of Manila.
- 4. Jose was the first of his family to adopt the surname Rizal First boarded at Caraballo Street 25-minute walk from the college Owned by a spinster named Titay who owed Rizal family P300 Their family name Mercado had come under the suspicion of Spanish authorities
- 5. Jesuit System of Education The system of education given by the Jesuits in the Ateneo was more advanced than that of other colleges in that period It trained the student by rigid discipline and religious instruction physical culture humanities scientific studies agriculture commerce mechanics surveying
- 6. Students were divided into two groups: • The Roman Empire - consisting of the internos (boarders) • Carthaginian Empire - composed of the externos (non-boarders) Ranks Best student - emperor Second best - tribune Third best - decurion Fourth best - centurion Fifth- best – standard-bearer
- 7. Red for the Romans and Blue for the Carthaginians “Upon the first defeat, the banner of the losing party was transferred to the left side of the room. Upon the second, it was placed in an inferior position on the right side. Upon the third, the inclined flag was placed on the left. Upon the fourth, the flag was reversed and returned to the right. Upon the fifth, the reversed flag was placed on the left. Upon the sixth, the banner was changed with a figure of a donkey.” Uniform hemp-fabric trousers stripped cotton coat The coat material was called rayadillo, which later became popular for it was adopted as the uniform for Filipino troops during the days of the First Philippine Republic
- 8. Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-1873) Fr. Jose Bech - first professor in Ateneo - “Tall, thin man, with a body slightly bent forward, a harried walk, an ascetic face, severe ad inspired, small seep-sunken eyes, a sharp nose that was almost Greek, and thin lips forming an arc whose end fell toward the chin.” • Belonged to the Carthaginians in which he was an externo • Became the “emperor” at the end of the month • Took private lessons in Santa Isabel College during the noon recesses to improve his Spanish, which was actually P3 per session • Placed second at the end of the year
- 9. Summer Vacation (1873-1874) • Went to Calamba • Did not enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison • Brought to Tanawan by his sister Neneng (Saturnina) to cheer him up, but did not cure his melancholy • Went to Santa Cruz without telling his father in order to visit his mother
- 10. Second Year in Ateneo (1873-1874) • Once more, he became “emperor” • Three of his new classmates were boys from Biñan, who had been his classmates in the school of Maestro Justiniano • Received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal at the end of the school year
- 11. Prophecy of Mother’s Release In the course of Rizal and his mother’s conversation, Doña Teodora told her son of her dream the previous night. Rizal, interpreting the dream, told her that she would be released from prison in three month’s time. Rizal’s prophecy became true. Barely three months passed, and Doña Teodora was set free.
- 12. Teenage Interest in Reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas • First favorite novel - made a deep impression on him. His boyish imagination was stirred by the sufferings of Edmond Dantes (the hero) in prison, his spectacular escape from the dungeon of Chateau d’If, his finding a buried treasure on the rocky island of Monte Cristo, and his dramatic revenge on his enemies who had wronged him.
- 13. • Read not only fiction, but also non-fiction • Persuaded his father to buy him a costly set of Universal History by Cesar Cantu • Read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines in 1865-1890. 1) Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization 2) His prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would come to succeed her as a colonizer
- 14. Third Year in Ateneo (1874-1875) • Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in the previous year • His grades remained in all subjects, but he won only one medal—in Latin • He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous and was beaten by a Spaniard who could naturally speak fluently and with right accentuation
- 15. Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-1976) • Became an interno on June 16, 1875 Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez - one of his professors - a great educator and scholar - inspired the young Rizal to study harder and to write poetry - became and admirer and friend of the great Calamba lad - considered by Rizal as his best professor in Ateneo - “model of uprightness, earnestness, and love for the advancement of his pupils” • Topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term
- 16. Last Year in Ateneo (1876-1877) • The most brilliant Atenean of his time • “The pride of the Jesuits” • Obtained the highest grades in all subjects—philosophy, physics, biology, chemistry, languages, mineralogy, etc.
- 17. Graduation with Highest Honors Rizal graduated at the head of his class. His scholastic records at the Ateneo from 1872-1877 were as follows: 1872-1873 Arithmetic – EXCELLENT Latin I – EXCELLENT Spanish I – EXCELLENT Greek I - EXCELLENT 1873-1874 Latin 2 – EXCELLENT Spanish 2 – EXCELLENT Greek 2 – EXCELLENT Universal Geography - EXCELLENT
- 18. 1874-1875 Latin 3 – EXCELLENT Spanish 3 – EXCELLENT Greek 3 – EXCELLENT Universal History – EXCELLENT History of Spain and the Philippines – EXCELLENT Arithmetic and Algebra – EXCELLENT 1875-1876 Rhetoric and Poetry – EXCELLENT French I – EXCELLENT Geometry and Trigonometry – EXCELLENT
- 19. 1876-1877 Philosophy I – EXCELLENT Mineralogy & Chemistry – EXCELLENT Philosophy 2 – EXCELLENT Physics – EXCELLENT Botany & Zoology - EXCELLENT • Received from his Alma Mater, the Ateneo Municipal the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors
- 20. Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo• An “emperor” inside the classroom, a campus leader outside • An active member, later secretary, of a religious society, the Marian Congregation • Devoted to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the college patroness• Member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences • Continued to solicit Father Sanchez’ help in improving his poetry • Devoted his spare time to fine arts - Studied painting under the famous Spanish painter, Agustin Saez - Studied sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus • Engaged in gymnastics and fencing under his sports-minded Tio Manuel
- 21. Sculptural Works in Ateneo • Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with his pocket knife • Requested by Father Lleonart, who was impressed by his sculptural talent, to carve him an image of the Sacred heart of Jesus - Placed at the door of the dormitory of the Ateneo boarding students - Reminded all the Ateneans the greatest alumnus of their Alma Mater, Dr. Jose Rizal - Played a significant part in Rizal’s last hours at Fort Santiago
- 22. Anecdotes on Rizal, the Atenean Felix M. Roxas - Revealed the hero’s resignation to pain and forgiveness Manuel Xerex Burgos - Illustrated Rizal’s predilection to help the helpless at the risk of his own life
- 23. Reference: Zaide, Gregorio F. and Sonia M. Zaide. JOSE RIZAL: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and National Hero (2nd ed.) Philippines: All- Nations Publishing Co., Inc. 2014