Chapter 3: School Life at Ateneo

and the University of Sto. Tomas

Jose accompanied by Paciano went to
Manila on June 10,1872 to take exams
and enrolled in Ateneo Municipal
(Jesuit)
Ateneo Municipal was a rival of
Dominican owned college of San Juan
de Letran
Ateneo is open to everyone without
discrimination but screening of
applicants were strictly observed
Rizal in his Memorias de un estudiante
de Manila was almost denied because of
poor health and short structure
Ateneo was located in Intramuros,
within the walls of old Manila
First professor in Ateneo is Father Jose
Bech
2 empires were establish
 1) Roman empire to stimulates students
2) Greek empire at war for supremacy
in class, successful if opponent
commits 3 mistakes
After a week Rizal becomes an
emperor being the brightest in the
class. He was awarded a saint’s picture
as his prize
Spent noon recess in Sta. Isabel
College where he spent 3pesos for
Spanish lesson
 My First Inspiration
Expression of good wishes, endearing
filial affection to his mother’s birthday
Wrote in Ateneo
Leon Ma. Guerrero Jr.- translate the
poem from Spanish to English
Don Agustin Saez- teach painting and
drawing
Prized- winning pieces were “ To the
Filipino youth” (poem) and The
Council of God’s (an allegory)…parable
Wrote melodrama entitled “ Along the
Pasig” which was staged at Ateneo
auditorium on December 8, 1880
Through Education Our Motherland
Receives Light- Rizal’s poem on
education. Wrote when he was 15 years
old
The ultimate goal of education is the active
participant of the individual on the total
process of social interaction in the society
Dr. Frank C. Laubach- translate the poem
from Spanish to English
Father Francisco Sanchez- Rizal call him a
great educator and scholar
To the Filipino Youth was written when
Rizal was 18 years old in University of Santo
Tomas
It is connected with literary contest
sponsored by Liceo Aristico-Literario, a
society of men interested in literature
and arts
Judges were impressed with Rizal’s
poem and awarded the first prize
A La Juventud Filipina ( To the
Filipino Youth) is an open and explicit
expression of love of country
Gives manifestation that the
Philippines is the “fatherland of the
Filipinos” and not the Spaniards who
were born in our country
Charles E. Derbyshire- translate the
poem from Spanish to English
 Sculpture
Sculpture is the art of curving, molding
welding or producing works of art in three
dimensions
Rizal curved the image of Virgin Mary on
a piece of Philippine hardwood-
batikuling with a pocket-knife
Father Leonard- request Rizal to curved
image of Sacred Heart of Jesus
The image was placed at the dormitory
of Ateneo for almost 20 years
Government subsidized Ateneo from
municipal treasury
Students belong to wealthy group paid
a monthly fee of P2.00 and those who
are classified poor, nothing
Medical Studies at Sto. Tomas
Doña Teodora believed Jose had enough
education from Ateneo so she opposed
going back to Manila for further studies
but Don Francisco thought otherwise
June 1877- Rizal was enrolled in
University of Sto. Tomas taking first
course of philosophy
16 years old Rizal take Phlosophy and
Letters in Sto. Tomas (Dominican)
Rizal study medicine to become
physician to look at her mother’s failing
eyesight
Father Pablo Ramon- recommended
medical course
El Filibusterismo- Rizal describe how
some Dominicans insulted Filipino
students and called them Indio
University of Sto. Tomas- the oldest
university in the Philippines
Segundiwa Katigbak- 14 year old,
Rizal’s first love, boarder at La
Concordia College, engaged to another
young man
Leonor Rivera- daughter of Antonio
Rivera, his uncle, Rizal’s sweetheart for
11 years
 The Council of the Gods
Allegory in prose
El Consejo delos Dioses
Another literary contest sponsored by
Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary
Lyceum)
In connection with 4th centennial
commemoration of death of Miguel de
Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes- Spanish novelist
and famous author of Don Quixote
(person inspired by lofty and
chivalrous but impractical ideas)
Rizal won the first prize- gold ring
which bust of Cervantes was engraved