Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

Ateneo was known to be the most prestigious college for boys because of its great teachings. From 1872-1877, under the supervision of the Jesuit priests Rizal studied in Ateneo de Manila. Rizal went to Ateneo Municipal, formerly known asEscuela Pia . In search for Rizal’s formal knowledge as a high school student, his father wanted to send Rizal to Letran but decided to have him enrolled at the latter instead.

Ateneo De Manila

Rizal took first the entrance examination at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran on June 10, 1872. His brother, Paciano, accompanied him when he took the exam. The exams for incoming freshmen in the different colleges for boys were administered or held at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran since the Dominicans exer-cised the power of inspection and regula-tion over Ateneo that time. After passing the exam, Rizal was admitted at the Ateneo Municipal. Although Rizal qualified in the entrance examination, Father Magin Ferrand, who was then the College Registrar, refused Rizal’s admission in the institution for two reasons: first, Rizal was a late registrant and second, he was very pale, thin and undersized for an 11-year old. But, with the help of Manuel Burgos he was accepted in the institution. Jose was not able to use Mercado as his surname when he enrolled at Ateneo. He was registered as Jose Rizal because his real surname had rung a bell to the ears of the authorities — this was because of Paciano’s relation with one of the leaders of the secularization movement, Father Burgos. At that time, Ateneo was offering a six-year program that gives students the academic title of Bachiller en Artes. This program exposed students to five subjects: Christian doctrine; Languages of Spanish, Latin, Greek and French; History and Geography (World History and Geography and History of Spain and the Philippines; Mathematics and Sciences (geometry, trigonometry, mineralogy, chemistry, physics, botany and zoology); and the Classic disciplines (poetry, rhetoric, and philosophy). Ateneo, as a prestigious school, offered the best secondary education for boys that enhances the character of their students through strict religious instruction and discipline. Before the classes start, the students must first hear masses and end with prayers. To encourage the spirit of competition among students in academics, with the help of Atenean teachers, the school proposed a program of dividing the class into two competing groups (empires): the Roman Empire composed of boarding students at Ateneo and the Carthaginian Empire composed of non-boarding students. Both groups have ranks and classifications and they competed through question and answers. When banners are raised, it means victory for the group; there is defeat if banners are lowered.

Rizal’s first professor was Father Jose Bech. At first, Rizal was left behind among his classmates but he knew the severity of his studies, so he organized and seriously observed himself a timetable to manage his studies. He excelled as the emperor in his class, a title given to the most intelligent in the class. The method of instruction used at Ateneo was the ration studiorum, a system of indoctrination under tight and constant discipline but with reward. It applies memorization and understanding of the concepts taught in class. At that time, the Atenean education had one goal: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (or For the Greater Glory of God). A student’s life was centered on the chapel, considered as the highest level of extra-curricular activity. Rizal was able to pass his oral examination on March 14,1877. He finished with the degree, Bachiller en Artes, with the highest academic honors. Looking at Rizal’s scholastic records, it is evident that he excelled in his academic studies during the entire time that he was studying at Ateneo. Racial pride, monastic discipline and seclusion of boarding school life were the factors that gave Rizal the motivation to outshine his classmates. Note that in doing so, he wanted to prove to his Spanish classmates that a Filipino student can compete and beat them academically. The competition inside the classroom was an opportunity to outdo his classmates in the daily activities designed to test the student’s memory and understanding of their lessons in the different curriculum. For Rizal, being in a boarding school was effective as it gave him more time to focus on his studies. Aside from academics, Rizal was also active in extra-curricular activities. He became a member of Marian Congregation and an officer in the religious confraternities at Ateneo. This position is only offered to students who consistently possessed the highest degree of scholarship and leadership. There, he was mentored by Father Pablo Pastells, S.J. He was also a member of two academic societies: Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences, both were considered elite organizations for students who excelled in literature and the sciences.

Sta. Isabel College

Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel College to be proficient in Spanish and develop his skills in poetry writing more. But before he took up lessons, he was guided by Father Francisco Paula de Sanchez in developing his skills in poetry. Through his poetry he was able to finish poems about religion, education, and childhood experiences. It also gave him the opportunity to develop more mature emotions, patriotic sentiments and exquisite sensitivity. Rizal did not waste any time to learn new things during his time. On his vacant time, Rizal took painting lessons from Agustin Saez and sculpture lessons from Teodoro Romualdo de Jesus to enhance his interest in arts. As a result, he was able to sculpt the image of the Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father Jose Villaclara, S.J. encouraged him to pay attention also to the sciences and philosophy.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

After completion of Bachiller en Artes at Ateneo, Rizal was admitted to higher studies at a university. Doña Teodora was against Rizal’s decision to pursue a higher education because of her fear of what might happen to her son due to the martyrdom of Gomburza. However, Don Francisco sent Rizal to UST, the Dominican University of the Philippines. At the beginning, Rizal was not sure of what course to take after graduation. His former mentors in Ateneo suggested priesthood or farming, but Rizal considered taking up literature, law or medicine. Paciano, his brother discouraged him to take law, saying that Rizal will not be able to practice it later on because of the political conditions in the country that time. Rizal was16 years old when he began his freshman year at UST. He enrolled under the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Major in Philosophy. This was the course that his father wanted him to pursue, but then it turned out that he took up courses in Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy and History of Philosophy. He also took up surveying course at Ateneo. Once again, he excelled in the said course while underage. But because of this, he could not practice the surveyor’s profession yet. Instead, Rizal was presented the title on November 25, 1881 for his excellency. After his first year, Rizal changed his course from Philosophy and Letters to Medicine. Rizal believed that he should finish medicine so that he could cure his sick mother who had an eyesight failure.

Poems

To The Filipino Youth
Theme: “Grow, O Timid Flower”

Lift up your radiant brow,
This day, Youth of my native strand!
Your abounding talents show
Resplendently and grand,
Fair hope of my motherland!

Soar high, oh genius great,
And with noble thoughts fill their mind;
The honor’s glorious seat,
May their virgin mind fly and find
More rapidly than the wind.

Descend with the pleasing light
Of the arts and sciences to the plain,
Oh Youth, and break forthright
The links of the heavy chain
That your poetic genius enchain.

See that in the ardent zone,
The Spaniard, where shadow stand,
Doth offer a shining crown,
With wise and merciful hand
To the son of this Indian land.

You who heavenward rise
On wings of your rich fantasy
Seek in the Olympian skies
The tenderest poesy,
More sweet than divine honey;

You of heavenly harmony,
On a calm unperturbed night,
Philomel’s match in melody,
That in varied symphony
Dissipate man’s sorrow’s blight;

You, at the impulse of your mind
The hard rock animate
And your mind with the great pow’r consigned
Transforms into immortal state
The pure mem’ry of genius great;

And you, who with magic brush
On canvas plain capture
The varied charm of Phoebus,
Loved by the divine Apelles
And the mantle of Nature;

Run! For genius’ sacred flame
Awaits the artist’s crowning
Spreading far and wide the fame
Throughout the sphere proclaiming
With trumpet the mortal’s name.

Oh, joyful, joyful day,
For you fair Philippines!
The Almighty blessed be
Who, with loving eagerness
Sends you luck and happiness.

A Filipinas

In February 1880, Rizal wrote a sonnet dedicated to the Philippines that aimed at encouraging Filipino artists to thank the country through their art works. This is the most passionate poem about the Philippines written by Rizal.

To the Philippines

Warm and beautiful like a houri from heaven,
Gracious and pure like the rising dawn
When it colors the sapphire clouds,
There sleeps a goddess of the Indian soil.

The light foam of the sonorous sea
Kisses her feet with a lover’s desire;
The civilized West adores her smile,
And the white Pole her flowered veil.

My muse, stuttering with tenderness,
Sings to her among the naiads and undines;
I offer her my happiness and fortune.

With green myrtle and purple roses
And Madonna lilies crown her pure brow,
O artists, and sing the praises of the Philippines!

Rizal Life's Abroad

Barcelona

Rizal did not continue his studies in the Philippines, instead, he went to Europe to widen his learning and to acquire knowledge about a cure for his mother’s worsening eye condition. He left Calamba on May 1, 1882 and was able to reach Manila in ten hours. He left Manila on May 3, 1882, with his brother Paciano and Uncle Antonio Rivera’s blessing. He decided to go abroad after completing his fourth year in the medical course. But he did not seek his parents’ permission because clearly, they will not approve of Rizal’s plan. Bringing with him his disappointments during his days as a student, he left the Philippines for Europe. Initially, he was going to finish his medical course in Barcelona, Spain. Then again, he wanted to make a name for himself in the field of journalism, to observe and study the European society and to prepare himself from being freed from the tyrants of Spain

At the age of 21, the first piece he made was the essay entitled, El Amor Patrio or Love of Country. While writing this, he used the screen name Laong Laan. It was published in the Diariong Tagalog in Manila on August 20, 1882.

Madrid

On September 1882, Rizal moved to the capital city of Spain to continue his studies. Rizal enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid on November 3, 1882 he took up Philosophy and Letters in Medicine. While studying in the university, he also enrolled at the Academy of San Carlos taking up painting and sculpture, and languages in French, German and English. He also took up shooting and fencing at the Hall of Sanz and Carbonell. He also showed great interest in taking the examination in Roman law. Rizal passed the medical examination which he took from June 5 to 26. He was given the degree of Licentiate in Medicine for this and continued his doctorate degree in medicine. However, he was not able to accomplish the diploma because he failed to present the thesis required for graduation. He was allowed to practice medicine but cannot teach medicine. Rizal was saddened by this decision and thought that the education system in Madrid had no difference with that in Manila. He then finished his course in Philosophy and Letters and gained the degree Licenciado en Filosofia y Letras. During this time, Rizal was halfway done with his novel, the Noli Me Tangere.

CIRCULO HISPANO FILIPINO

Circulo Hispano Filipino was a social organization meant to create reforms for the Philippines. The members were mostly Filipino elderlies, who were exiles of 1872. It was led by Juan Atayde, a retired army officer and a Philippine-born Spaniard. They conducted informal programs, which included poetry reading and debates. Even with a busy schedule, Rizal took the time to join his fellow Filipinos in Madrid. The group knew that Rizal is a good writer — he was actually requested to comment or write a few verses to the review published by the group. Rizal was able to do the poem entitled Mi Piden Versos (They Ask Me for Verses). Rizal, while in Madrid, sent a letter to Don Francisco about joining the Circulo Hispano. But later on, he told him that the society was disbanded because of:
1) the differences among its members who were young student expatriates and retired colonials,and
2)due to their age difference.
It was difficult for Rizal during his stay in Madrid. There were delays in his monthly allowance coming from the Philippines, considering the financial status of Rizal’s family caused by crop failures brought by drought and locusts, and the increase in rentals of the Dominican hacienda lands in his hometown. Truth be told, there were times when Rizal attended his classes on an empty stomach. Influenced by Miguel Morayta, a history professor at the Universidad de Madrid, Rizal became a member of freemasonry with “Dimasalang” as its masonic name. It is an organization outlawed by the Catholic Church because its beliefs are contrary to the doctrines of the church. It is said that the mason’s view of life is that, knowledge should be achieved by the light of reason and universal brotherhood of men. He became a Master Mason in Lodge Solidaridad on November 15,1890. Hence, Rizal was immediately removed from the Catholic church. Rizal’s love interest in Madrid was Consuelo, Don Pabolo’s daughter. Because of her good traits and beautiful smile he got attracted and fell for her but he held back his feelings for Consuelo knowing that he was engaged with Leonor Rivera in the Philippines. Aside from this, Rizal did not want to ruin his friendship with Eduardo de Lete, who is the latter’s love interest. Before leaving Madrid in 1883, Rizal composed a poem that expressed his admiration to Consuelo, entitled A La Senorita C.O. y R. On June 25, 1884, in honor of Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo Rizal made a speech, the Brindis which gave him praises from the public audience because for the first time, they heard a Filipino delivering a speech fluently in the Castillan language. He stated that Luna and Hidalgo were the pride of Filipino people. Luna was awarded the top prize for his painting Spolarium while Hidalgo got the second place for his painting Virgines Christianas Expuestas al Populacho (Christian Virgins Exposed to the Population). Both Filipino painters joined the National Exposition of Fine Arts. In his speech, Rizal said that intelligence knows no race and the prizes they got were results of both Philippines and Spain. He also hoped that someday, Spain will accept the changes that the Filipinos have to offer. The speech was published in the newspaper, El Liberal.

RIZAL’S LIFE IN OTHER COUNTRIES

Paris

Rizal arrived in Paris onNovember 1885. At that time, he was 24 years old and a full-pledged surgeon. He decided to migrate to Paris to specialize in Ophthalmology, but prior to doing so, he went to visit Maximo Viola, a friend from San Miguel, Bulacan. Rizal also worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert’s eye clinic for four months. During his stay, Rizal knew how to conduct the operation of the eye, its ailments, and the different techniques of eye operation. He spent his past time with his fellow Filipinos in the city, something that contributed much to learning how to speak French fluently. His friends were Felix Hidalgo, Juan Luna and Pardo de Tavera. For the duration of his stay with Juan Luna, Rizal became a model and posed for two historical paintings of Luna: The Blood Compact (as Sikatuna) and Death of Cleopatra (as a Priest). It was also in Paris that he finished some part of his Noli.

Germany

Due to high cost of living, Rizal left Paris for Germany on February 1886. He arrived at an old university town in Heidelberg. He worked as an assistant of Dr. Otto Becker at the University Eye Hospital. It is where Rizal mastered the techniques of diagnosing eye ailments, which he learned from Dr. Louis de Wecker. But before transferring to the university, Rizal resided in a German boarding house where he became friends with a number of German law students. He became a member of the Chess Players’ Club of Heidelberg. He was known among the students not because he was good at chess but because he also joined them in their drinking sessions. While in Heidelberg, he used to write letters to his sis-ters Maria and Trinidad in the Philippines, telling them good things about Germany, the good traits of the German students including the women. The letter was to show her sisters that they can imitate the virtues of German women. There, he wrote a poem entitled, A Las Flores de Heidelberg (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) to express his homesickness for his loved ones.

Calamba

Rizal lived five years of his life abroad and away from his loved ones. He left Rome and rode the train going to Marseilles, France on July 3,1887. He then boarded the Djemnah, the vessel that ferried him to Saigon, and from Saigon, he transferred to the steamer Haiphong in Vietnam and reached Manila on August 5,1887. He stayed in Manila for three days and tried to visit and call Isabelo de los Reyes twice but unfortunately, he was unable to reach him. Later on, he visited Ateneo wherein the Jesuits attempted to get Rizal back to his old faith. Rizal was able to talked to Padre Faura, the priest who showed him the Sacred Heart of Jesus that he carved during his student days. Then, Padre Faura told Rizal all the wrong points that he said in his novel, Noili Me Tangere. But for Rizal, everything he wrote was the truth. Upon Rizal’s arrival in Calamba on August 8, 1887, there were rumors spreading that Rizal was a German spy, a mason and many more. Because of these, Rizal received death threats each day and his family was worried about the possible consequences of such. So Paciano accompanied him whenever he goes out— even his father, Don Francisco, had hesitations on allowing Rizal to go out of their house. Nevertheless, Rizal kept himself busy while in Calamba. He established a medical clinic and his first patient was his mother. He cured the sick and soon he was known to be an eye specialist and surgeon. Rizal successfully removed the cataracts on his mother’s eyes. In the town, Rizal was called Doctor Uliman, because he was mistaken for a German. On August 30, 1887, Rizal left Calamba and went to Manila for he was invited to see Governor-General Emilio Terrero as regards his Noli.

TRIP TO HONG KONG

Rizal arrived in Hong Kong on February 8,1888. His fellow Filipinos namely Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio and Manuel Yriarte, who were all exiled in 1872, met Rizal. In Hong Kong, he was able to study the Chinese language, Chinese drama and theater, Chinese cultures and Chinese values. Rizal even became friends with some Spaniards that were based in Hong Kong. He met Barranda, Terrero’s secretary, together with other Spaniards and went to visit Macao, a Portuguese colony near Hong Kong. Rizal and his friends visited the botanical garden, theatre, casino, cathedral and churches, pagodas and bazaars. They lived in the house of Juan Lecaroz and on February 20, 1888, he went back to Hong Kong. Two days after, he left for Japan on Board the SS Oceania on February 22, 1888.

TRIP TO JAPAN AND SHORT ROMANCE WITH O-SEI-SAN

Rizal arrived in Yokohama, Japan and stayed at Tokyo Hotel on February 28, 1888f or a few days. He was then invited by Juan Perez Caballero to live at the Spanish Legation for a month. On March 7,1887, he left the hotel and lived at the Spanish legation. During his stay in Japan, he studied the Japanese language or Nippongo, Japanese culture, theatres, martial arts and visited Japanese provinces. Rizal appreciated the cleanliness, politeness, and industry of the Japanese. Rizal then met O-Sei-San and their romance began when he lived at the Spanish legation. They became friends and later on developed to become lovers. O-Sei-San or Seiko Usui and Rizal fell in love for each other. Because of this, Rizal thought of staying in Japan for good. Nonetheless, Rizal had duties to fulfill for his country. So he decided to leave Japan and said his goodbyes to O-Sei-San.

TRIP TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Aboard a steamer on April 28,1888, the entire boat was quarantined when it stopped in San Francisco because accordingly, the ship came from a country where cholera was epidemic. Rizal knew that this was not the fact — he found out that the ship was halted for the Chinese and Japanese laborers who accepted cheap labor, replacing the American laborers. On May 4, 1888, after a week of the quarantine, some passengers were allowed to disembark, except for the Japanese and Chinese passengers who were quarantined for a longer period. Rizal went to different cities in America like Reno, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Chicago, Albany, and New York City. He was very much impressed with all the cities for its natural beauty, the hardworking Americans, the material progress and the high standard of living, and the opportunities offered for poor immigrants for a better life. The negative impressions include the lack of racial equality and the presence of racial prejudice against other nations. The Americans value valued money more than human life and fairness and justice were only offered to white people.

TRIP IN LONDON

After Rizal’s trip to the United States of America, he left New York City on May 16, 1888 and arrived in Liverpool, England on May 24 of the same year. He stayed for a day at Adelphi Hotel and left for London the following day. He was welcomed by Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor on May 25, 1888 and stayed as a guest in their home. Dr. Regidor was an exile of 1872 and a practicing lawyer in London. Rizal had reasons why he chose to live in London. First, he wanted to enhance his knowledge on the English language; he sought to have further study on Antonio Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas; to do research on the Philippine history; and to continue to write for La Solidaridad in defense of his people against the Spanish tyranny.

IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

On January 28,1890, Rizal left Paris for Brussels, Belgium. He was accompanied by Jose Alberto when he moved to Brussels. When Jose Alberto left the country, an engineering student, Jose Alejandro stayed with Rizal at the boarding house owned by Suzanne and Marie Jacoby. Aside from the cost of living in Paris, which was too much, Rizal cannot focus on writing his second novel El Filibusterismo because of the social life in Paris that interfered with his writings. While doing the chapters of the novel, he continued to write articles for La Solidaridad and they were: 1. “ A La Defensa” (To la Defensa) on April 30, 1889 as his answer to an Anti-Filipino writing of Patricio de la Escorura;
2. “La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth For All) on May 31, 1889 as his reply against the Spanish accusations that the Filipino officials were ignorant and immoral;
3. “Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo” on June 15, 1889;
4. Barrantes’ ignorance on the theatrical art of the Tagalog;
5. “Una Profanacion” (A Profanation) on July 31, 1889 as his attack against the friars for ignoring and not allowing Christian burial for his brother-in-law, Mariano Herbosa;
6. “Crueldad” (Cruelty) on July 31, 1889 defending Blumentritt from mocking and insulting attacks of his rivals;
7. “Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths) on August 15, 1889, that because of the letter written by Vicente Belloc Sanchez, saying that if reforms were granted, it will start in the destruction of the peaceful ruling of the friars in the Philippines;
8. “Diferencias” (Differences) on September 15, 1889 in response of the attacks of the article, saying mean and bad comments to the Filipinos who were then protesting for reforms from the Spanish government;
9. “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences) on November 30, 1889 to defend Antonio Luna against the attacks of Pablo Mir Deas’s article in El Pueblo Soberano, a newspaper in Barcelona;
10.“LLanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughters) on November 30, 1889 as Rizal’s way of saving the Filipinos from the Spaniards racial prejudice;
11.“Ingratitudes” (Ingratitudes) on January 15, 1890 in response to Governor-General Weyler’s words, that people of Calamba should not be fooled by empty promises of their ungrateful sons.

On the other hand, Rizal received bad news coming from home that his family and relatives were forced to leave and go to different places because the Calamba land problem had worsened, that the Dominican management raised the rents for the land. This was the reason why the tenants, including Rizal’s father, refused to pay the rent, which resulted for the filing of a case by the Dominicans to strip the ownership of Calamba land from the Rizal family. The illegal eviction of his family angered him and made him depressed. Rizal planned to go home to the Philippines because he could not bear the pain about what happened to his family. Rizal then wrote a poem entitled “A Mi Musa” (To My Muse) to address his disappointments on the land problems of Calamba. This poem was published in La Solidaridad with Laong Laan as Rizal’s pen name on December 15,1890. Rizal failed to defend the case against the Dominicans and justice was not received for his family and the tenants of Calamba. While in Madrid, Rizal attended a gathering of Filipinos where he had a fight with Antonio Luna and dared Wenceslao Retana to a duel. Retana, was a Spanish scholar and Rizal’s rival in writing.

LIFE IN HONG KONG

Rizal left Madrid and went to Hong Kong after he published the El Fili in Europe. He did not like the political situation between him and del Pilar, and the other Filipinos in Spain. It was during this time that Rizal heard that his friend, Jose Ma. Panganiban (his pen name was Jomapa), bid his farewell to the world. As saddened as he was, he recognized Jomapa’s talent, intelligence, and industry through a eulogy, considering him as a lost for the country. Due to his unpleasant experiences in Madrid, Rizal planned on leaving the political life in Europe to focus on his mission instead. On November 20,1891, he arrived in Hong Kong. He then decided to practice medicine, through his association withDr. Lorenzo P. Marquez, so he applied for a license and the license and was eventually granted. His family went to Hong Kong and he supported them in the city.