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CHAPTER 1 – ADVENT OF A NATIONAL
HERO
Dr. Jose Rizal
Unique example of many-splendored genius who became the greatest hero of a nation. A physician (ophthalmic surgeon), poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian, architect, painter, sculptor, educator, linguist, musician, naturalist, ethnologist, surveyor, engineer, farmer businessman, economist, geographer, cartographer, bibliophile, philologist, grammarian, folklorist, philosopher, translator, inventor, magician, humorist, satirist, polemicist, sportsman, traveler, and prophet. Above all, he was a hero and a political martyr who consecrated his life for the redemption of his oppressed people.
The Birth of a Hero
Born on June 19, 1861 & Died on December 30, 1896 o Born on the moonlight night of Wednesday in the lakeshore town of Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines. o His mother almost died during the delivery because of his big head. o He was born between eleven and midnight, a few days before full moon.
Baptized in the Catholic Church of his town
on June 22, aged three days old. o Baptized by the parish priest, Father Rufino Collantes (Batangueño). o His godfather was Father Pedro Casanas, native of Calamba and close friend of the Rizal family.
His name “Jose” was chosen by his mother
who was a devotee of San Jose (St. Joseph).
During the christening, Father Collantes
said “Take good care of this child, for someday he will be a great man”.
During the time when Rizal was Born
The governor general of the Philippines was Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery, former senator of Spain (member of the upper chamber of Spanish Cortes). Governed the Ph from February 2, 1861, to July 7, 1862. On the same date of Rizal’s birth, he sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of War and Ministry of Ultramar in Madrid, denouncing Sultan Pulalun of Sulu and several powerful Morodatus for fraternizing with a British consul. Achievements : (1) Fostering the cultivation of cotton in the provinces and (2) Establishing the politico-military governments in the Visayas and in Mindanao.
Rizal’s Parents Jose was the seventh of the 11 children. Father, Francisco Mercado Rizal -- Born on May 11 ,1818 and died on January 5,1898 at the age of 80. o Born in Biñan, Laguna. o Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila. o Became a tenant-farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda when he moved to Calamba after his parent’s death. o “A model of father.” Mother, Doña Teodora – Born on November 8, 1826, and died on August 16, 1911, at the age of 85. o Born in Manila o Studied at College of Santa Rosa. o Remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talent, business ability, and the fortitude of Spartan women. o Before her death, the government offered her a life pension which she rejected saying “My family has never been patriotic for money. If the government has plenty of funds and does not know what to do with them, better reduce the taxes.
The Rizal Children 11 children – 2 boys and 9 girls.
- Saturnina (1850-1913) – Neneng.
Married Manuel T. Hidalgo
- Paciano (1851-1930) – Confidant of
Rizal. After Jose Rizal’s execution, he joined the Philippine Revolution and became a combat general. He had 2 children, a boy, and a girl.
- Narcisa (1852-1939) – Sisa. Married
Antonio Lopez.
- Olimpia (1855-1887) – Ypia. Married
Silvestre Ubaldo.
- Lucia (1857–1919) – Married Mariano
Herbosa., nephew of Father Casanas and denied Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law pf Dr. Rizal.
- Maria (1859-1945) – Biang. Married
Daniel Faustino.
- Jose (1861-1896) – Pepe. During his
exile on Dapitan he lived with Josephine Bracken, Irish girl from Hongkong. Their baby boy died after a few hours of birth and named as “Francisco” mad was buried in Dapitan.
- Concepcion (1862-1865) – Concha.
Died at the age of 3.
- Josefa (1865-1945) – Panggoy. Died an
old made at the age of 80.
- Trinidad (1868-1951) – Trining. Died an
old made at the age of 83.
- Soledad (1870-1929) – Choleng.
Married Pantaleon Quintero.
Sibling relationship among the Rizal children was affectionately cordial.
Doña or Señora (If married)
Señorita (If single)
Rizal's relation with his only brother
Paciano was more than that of younger to older brother. o He was a second father to him. o Throughout his life he respected him and greatly valued his sagacious advice. o He was immortalized by Rizal’s First novel “Noli Me Tangere” as the wide Pilosopo Tasio
o On June 23, 1888, Letter to Blumentritt, written in London, Rizal regarded Paciano as the “Most noble of Filipinos” and “Though an Indio, more generous and noble that all the Spaniards put together.” o He described his brother as much finer and more serious than him, he is bigger and slimmer’ he is not so dark; his nose is fine, beautiful, and sharp; but he is bow-legged.
Rizal’s Ancestry
Rizal was a product of the mixture races. Veins flowed the blood both East and West — Negrito, Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish. He was a Malayan and was a magnificent specimen of Asian manhood.
ANCESTRY
Great-great grandfather on his father’s side – Domingo Lamco. Married Ines de la Rosa. o Assumed the surname Mercado in 1731 which was appropriate for him because he was a merchant. Son of Domingo and Ines, Francisco Mercado. Married Cirila Bernacha. o Elected Gobernadorcillo (municipal mayor). One of Francisco’s son, Juan Mercado (grandfather of Rizal). Married Cirila Alejandro. o Elected Gobernadorcillo of Biñan (municipal mayor). One of Juan’s thirteen children and the youngest was Francisco Mercado (Father of Rizal) o He studied Latin and Philosophy in the College of San Jose in Manila. o He met and fell in love with Teodora Alonso Realonda, a student in the College of Santa Rosa. o They were married on June 28, 1848
worthy prelude to his Hamlet-like tragic manhood. o Hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican Order. o Picturesque town nestling on a verdant plain covered with irrigated rice fields and sugar lands. o A few kilometers to the south looms of the legendary Mt. Makiling and beyond this mountain is the province of Batangas. o East of the town is the Laguna de Bay. o In the middle of the lake towers the storied island of Talim. o Beyond it towards the north is the distant Antipolo, famous mountain shrine of the miraculous Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) o A poem written by Rizal in 1876 when he was 15 years old and a student of Ateneo de Manila.
Earliest Childhood Memories
The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the family garden when he was 3 years old. He was given the tenderest care by his parents because he was frail, sickly, and undersized. His father built a little nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in the daytime. An aya (nurse maid), a kind old woman, was employed to look after him. He watched from the cottage, the culiauan, maya, maria capra, & martin pitpit and other birds and listened with “wonder and joy” to the twilight songs. The daily Angelus prayer. The happy moonlit nights at the azotea after the nightly Rosary. The imaginary tales told by the aya aroused Rizal’s interest in legends and folklore. The aya would threaten Rizal with asuang, nuno, tigbalang , or a terrible bearded and turbaned Bombay would come to take him away if he would not eat his supper.
The nocturnal walk in the town esp. when there was a moon with his aya by the river.
The Hero’s First Sorrow
Death of Little Concha (Concepcion) o “When I was four years old,” he said, “I lost my little sister Concha, and then for the first time I shed tears caused by love and grief…”
Devoted Son of Church
Young Rizal is a religious boy. He grew up a good Catholic. At the age of 3 , he began to take part in the family prayer. His mother taught him the Catholic Prayers. 5 years old , he was able to read the Spanish family bible. He was so seriously devout that he was laughingly called Manong Jose by the Hermanos & Hermanas Terceras. Father Leoncio Lopez a town priest, one of the men he esteemed & respected in Calamba during his boyhood.
Pilgrimage to Antipolo
June 06, 1868. Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo. First trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay and his first pilgrimage to Antipolo. They rode in a Casco (barge). He was awed by “ The magnificence of the watery expanse and the silence of the night”. After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father went to Manila and visited Saturnina , who was then a boarding student at La Concordia College in Santa Ana****.
THE STORY OF MOTH
The story of the moth and the flame was told to Rizal by his mother on a night when her mother was teaching him how to read a book entitled “The Children’s Friend” (El Amigos de los Ninos).
His mother grew impatient of his poor reading and lack of focus and always straying his eyes on the flame of the lamp and the cheerful moths surrounding it. Knowing his interest to stories, his mother decided to stop teaching him and instead read him an interesting story.
Upon hearing the story, it gave a deep impression on Rizal. However, it’s not the story’s moral that truly struck him, he actually envied the moths and their fate and considered that the light was so fine a thing that it was worth dying for. And like that young moth, he was fated to die as a martyr for a noble ideal.
Artistic Talents
Age 5 , started making sketches with his pencil and to mold in clay and wax objects which attracted his fancy. A religious banner was always used during fiesta and it was spoiled; Rizal painted in oil colors a new banner that delighted the townsfolks. Jose had the soul of a genuine artist. Age 6 , his sisters laughed at him for spending so much time making those images rather than participating in their games. He told them “All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of me!”
First Poem by Rizal
Age 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” (To My Fellow Children). He wrote it in an appeal to our people to love our national language.
First Drama by Rizal
Age 8, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog Comedy. It was staged in a Calamba festival.
A gobernadorcillo from Paete, a town in Laguna famous for lanzones and woodcarvnigs purchased the manuscript for 2 pesos.
Rizal as Boy Magician
He learned various tricks such as making a coin appear and disappear in his fingers and making a handkerchief vanish in thin air. Entertained his town folks with magic- lantern exhibitions****. This consisted of an ordinary lamp casting its shadow on white screen****. Also gained skill in manipulating marionettes (puppet shows). In Chapter XVII and XVIII of his second novel , El Filibusterismo (Treason) , he revealed his wide knowledge of magic.
Lakeshore Reveries
Rizal used to meditate at the shore of Laguna de Bay, accompanied by his pet dog, on the sad conditions of his oppressed people. He wrote to his friend, Mariano Ponce : “In view of these injustices and cruelties, although yet a child, my imagination was awakened and I made a vow dedicating myself someday to avenge the many victims. With this idea in my mind, I studied, and this is seen in all my writings. Someday God will give me the opportunity to fulfill my promise.”
Influences on the Hero’s Boyhood
Hereditary Influence inherent qualities which a person inherits from his ancestors and parents.
Malayan Ancestors o love for freedom, desire to travel, and indomitable courage.
Chinese Ancestors o serious nature, frugality, patience, and love for children.
Spanish Ancestors o elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to ladies.
Father o sense of self-respect, love for work, and habit of independent thinking.
Mother
memorizing the ABC’s and stimulate her son’s imagination. As Jose grew older, his parents employed private tutors to give him lessons at home.
o The first was Maestro Celestino. o Second was Maestro Lucas Padua. o Later on, Old man named Leon monroy became Rizal’s tutor, a former classmate of Rizal’s Father.
Lived at the Rizal home and instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin. Unfortunately, he did not live long. He died five months later.
After Monroy’s death, Jose’s Parents decided to send him to private school in Biñan.
Jose Goes to Biñan
June 1896, Sunday after noon, Jose, after kissing the hands of his parents and a tearful parting from sisters, left Calamba for Biñan. He was accompanied by Paciano, who acted as his father. The two brothers rode in carromata,
reaching their destination after one and one-half hours’ drive. They proceeded o their aunt’s house, where Jose was to lodge It was almost night when they arrived,
the moon was about to rise. The same night, Jose with his cousin, Leandro, went sightseeing in the town.
o Instead of enjoying the sights, Jose became depressed because of homesickness.
First Day in Biñan School
The next morning (Monday) Paciano brought his younger brother to the school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
The school was in the house of the teacher, a small nipa hut that is about 30 meters from the home of Jose’s Aunt. Paciano introduced Jose to the teacher. and the teacher ask him if he know Spanish, where in he said “A little, sir” and the teacher ask him again if he know Latin and he also said “A little, sir”. Jose described his teacher in Biñan as follows: “He was tall, thin, long-necked, with a sharp nose and a body slightly bent forward, and he used to wear a sinamay shirt, woven by the skilled hands of the women of Batangas. He knew by heart the grammars by Nebrija and Gainza. Add to this his severity, that in my judge was exaggerated, and you have a picture, perhaps vague, that I have made of him, but I remember only this”.
First School Brawl
Jose’s first fight was against Pedro. He was angry at him for making fun of him during his conversation with the teacher.
Jose challenged Pedro to a fight, and Pedro accepted it thinking that he could easily beat Jose. The two boys wrestled in the classroom, Jose, having learned the art of wrestling from his Tio Manuel, defeated Pedro, with that, he became popular among his classmates. After the class in the afternoon, a classmate named Andres Salandanan challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. Jose, having a weaker arm, lost and near;y cracked his head on the sidewalk. In succeeding days, he had other fight with the boys of Biñan and he never ran away from a fight.
Painting Lessons in Biñan
Near the school, there was a house of an old painter, named Juancho, the father- in-law of school teacher. Jose, spent many leisure hours at the painter’s studio.
Old Juancho gave him lesson in drawing and paintings, and he was impressed by the artistic talent of Jose. Jose and his classmate, Jose Guevarra,
who also loved painting, became apprentices of the old painter. They improved their art and became “The favorite painters of the class”.
Daily life in Biñan
Jose led a methodical life in Biñan, almost Spartan in simplicity. In his daily life in Biñan, he recorded in
his memoirs:
o Here was my life. I heard the four o'clock Mass. if there was any, or I studied my lesson at that hour and went to Mass afterwards. I returned home and I went to the orchard to loo for a mabolo to eat. Then I took breakfast, which consisted generally of a dish of rice and two dried small fish, and I went to class from which I came out at ten o’clock. I went home at once. If there was special dish. Leandro and I took some of it to the house of his children (which I never did at home nor would I ever do it), and I returned without saying a word. I ate with them and afterwards i studied. I went to school at two and came out at five. I prayed a short while with some nice and I returned home. I studied my lesson. I drew a little, and afterwards I took my super consisting of one or two dishes of rice with an ayungin. We prayed and if there was moon, my nieces invited me to play in the street together with others. Thank God that I never got sick away from my parents.
Best Student in School
In academics, Jose beat all Biñan boys, He surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects.
Some of his older classmates were jealous at him. They wickedly squealed to the teacher whenever Jose had a fight, and even told lies to discredit him before the teacher’s eyes. Wherein the teacher had to punish Jose
End of Biñan schooling
Before the Christmas season in 1870, Jose received a letter from his sister Saturnina, informing him of the arrival of the steamer Talim which would take him from Biñan to Calamba. Upon reading the letter, he became sad that knowing he had premonition that he would not return to Biñan. He left Biñan on Saturday afternoon, December 17, 1870, after one year and a half of schooling in that town. He was thrilled to take passage on the steamer talim, because it was his first time he ever rode on a steamer. On board was a Frenchman named Arturo Camps, a friend of his father who took care of him.
Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za
Night of January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino soldiers and workmen of the Cavite arsenal under the leadership of LAamadrid, Filipino sergeant, rose in violent mutiny because of the abolition of their usual privileges by the reactionary Governor Rafael de Izquierdo. Cavite Mutiny was suppressed two days later by troop reinforcement from Manila. Gom-Bur-Za (Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora), despite being innocent, were executed at sunrise, February 17, 1872, by order of Governor General Izquierdo. Their martyrdom was deeply mourned by the Rizal family, and many other patriotic families on the Philippines. Paciano, enraged by the execution of Burgos, his beloved friend, teacher, and housemate.
o He quit his studies and returned in Calamba, where he told the
of the Dominican owned College of San Juan de Letran. It was formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity School) for poor boys in Manila established by the city government in
Rizal Enters the Ateneo
June 10, 1872, He took the entrance examination on Christian doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at the College of San Juan de Letran, and passed them. Upon his return to Manila, he matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal. Father Magin Ferrando, the college registrar, refused to admit him for two reasons. (1) He was late for registration (2) He was sickly and undersized for his age. Upon the intercession of Manuel Xerez Burgos, he was admitted at the Ateneo. He registered under his name at the Ateneo Because their family name “Mercado” had come under the suspicion of the Spanish authorities. He boarded outside Intramuros, on Caraballo St. Owned by a spinster named Titay who owned the Rizal Family the amount of P300.
Jesuit System of Education
The Ateneo was more advanced than that of other colleges in that period. Trained the character of students by rigid discipline, and religious instruction. Promoted physical culture, humanities, and scientific studies. Aside from, degree of Bachelor of Arts , it offered vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and surveying. The students heard Mass in the morning before the beginning of the daily class. Students were divided into 2 groups , the “Roman Empire” consisting of the Internos (boarders) and “Carthaginian Empire” composed of the Externos (non-boarders). The best student in each “empire” was the emperor ; the second best , the tribune; the third best , the decurion ; the fourth best , the
centurion ; and the fifth best , the standard-bearer. Within the “empire” the students fought for positions. Any student could challenge any officer in his “empire” to answer questions on the day’s lesson. His opponent could lose his position if he committed three mistakes. Distinctive banners: Red for Romans and Blue for Carthaginians. Uniform of Ateneo students consisted of “hemp-fabric trousers” and “striped cotton coat.” The coat material was called rayadillo , which later became famous for it was adopted as the uniform for the Filipino troops during the days of the First Philippine Republic.
Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-73)
June 1872, first day of class in the Ateneo, he saw a great number of boys, Spaniards, Mestizos, and Filipinos. Rizal first professor in the Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class because he is a newcomer and knowing little Spanish. He was an Externo and assigned to the Carthaginians. First week, he progressed rapidly. At the end of the month, he became “emperor”, and he was awarded a prize. His first prize he ever won at Ateneo, a religious picture. Rizal took private lessons of Spanish in Santa Isabel College during noon recesses. Dona Teodora told her son of her dream. That she would be released from prison in three months’ time. Rizal’s prophecy became true. Barely three months passed, and she was set free.
Teenage Interest in Reading
Summer vacation of 1874, in Calamba, when Rizal began to take interest in reading Romantic novels. First favorite novel of Rizal was, “The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Stirred by the sufferings of Edmond Dantes (the hero) in prison, his escape from the Dungeon of Chateau d’If; his finding a buried treasure on the rocky island of Monte Cristo, and
dramatic revenge on his enemies who had wronged him. Rizal reads not only fiction , but also non-fiction. He persuaded his father to buy him a costly set of Cesar Cantu’s historical work entitled Universal History. Rizal read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist- traveler who visited Philippines in 1859-
What impressed him in this book were, (1) Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization and (2) his prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would come to succeed her as colonizer.
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75)
June 1874, his mother arrived and joyously told him that she was released from prison, just as he had predicted during the last visit to her prison cell in Santa Cruz, Laguna. Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in the previous year. He only won one medal- in Latin. He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76)
June 16, 1875, he became an Interno in Ateneo. His professor Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez a great educator and scholar, inspired the young Rizal to study harder and to write poetry. He considered him his best professor in Ateneo. Inspired by Father Sanchez, Rizal resumed his studies with vigor and zest. He won five medals at the end of the school term.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
His studies continued to fare well. He was truly “the pride of the Jesuits” He obtained the highest grades in all subjects – philosophy, physics, biology, chemistry, languages, mineralogy, etc. ‘
Graduation with Highest Honors
Rizal graduated at the head of his class. On commencement Day, March 23, 1877, Rizal who was 16 years old, received from his alma mater, Ateneo Municipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors.
Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo
He was an active member, later secretary, of a religious society, the Marian Congregation. He was accepted not only because of his academic brilliance but also because of his devotion to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the college patroness. He was also a member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences. In his leisure hours, Rizal cultivated his literary talent under the guidance of Father Sanchez. Another professor, Father Jose Villaclara , advised him to stop communicating with the Muses and pay more attention to more practical studies, such Philosophy, and natural sciences. Rizal did not heed his advice. Aside from poetry, he devoted his spare time to arts. He studied painting under the famous Spanish painter, Agustin Saez , and the sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus , noted Filipino sculptor. Rizal, to develop his weak body, engaged in gymnastics and fencing. He continued the physical training he began under his sports minded Tio Manuel.
Sculptural Works in Ateneo
He carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with his pocket- knife. Father Lleonart, who was impressed, requested him to carve for him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Ateneo boarding students placed it on the door of their dormitory. This image played a significant part in Rizal’s last hours at Fort Santiago.
Anecdotes on Rizal, the Atenean
During his student days, Rizal expressed his devotion to his Catholic faith in melodious poetry. One of the religious poems he w rote was a brief ode and this poem was written in 1875 when he was 14 years old. o To the Child Jesus. He wrote another religious poem. This poem is undated, that is why it is not stated the exact date when it was written but probably Rizal wrote it after his ode to the Child Jesus. o To the Virgin Mary.
Dramatic Work in Ateneo
When he was still a student at Ateneo, his favorite teacher was Father Sanchez. Father Sanchez requested him to write a drama based on the prose story of St. Eustace, the Martyr. During the summer vacation of 1876, he wrote the religious drama in poetic verses at his home in Calamba. He finished it on June 2, 1876. On the opening class at the Ateneo in June 1876. He submitted the finished manuscript of the drama to Father Sanchez, the good priest read it and felicitated Rizal for work well done.
First Romance of Rizal
After his graduation in Ateneo, Rizal who was 16 years old, experienced his first romance. The girl was “ Segunda Katigbak ” – pretty girl and 14 years old Batanguena from Lipa. Rizal visited his grandmother in Trozo, Manila and he was accompanied by his friend, “ Mariano Katigbak ”. His grandmother was a friend of the Katigbak family in Lipa. Segunda Katigbak is the sister of his friend, Mariano Katigbak. His grandmother’s guest knew of his painting skill, so they urged Rizal to draw Segunda’s portrait – he made a pencil sketch of her. His sister Olimpia was a boarding student in La Concordia College wherein Rizal weekly visits to know more Segunda. Olimpia was a close friend of Segunda.
It was a “love at first sight” but it was hopeless since the very beginning because Segunda was engaged to her town mate, Mariano Luz. Segunda had manifested, by insinuation and deeds, her affection to him, but Rizal failed to propose because he is shy and timid lover. The last time they talked was one Thursday in December, 1877 when Christmas vacation was about to begin. He visited Segunda at La Concordia College to say good bye because he was going home the following day. Also, Segunda was also going home one day later. The next day, Rizal arrived in his hometown however his mother did not recognize him because of her failing eyesight. Rizal was saddened because of his mother growing blindness. His sisters welcomed him and teased him about Segunda because they knew of is romance through Olimpia. That Night, he demonstrated his fencing skill to his family and had a friendly fencing with the best fencer in Calamba and bested him. The following day, Saturday, Segunda and her family would not anchor at Calamba because of the strong wind; it would stop in Biñan. Rizal saddled in hid white horse and waited in the road. A Cavalcade of carromatas from Biñan passed by. One of whom was Segunda smiling and waving her handkerchief at him and Rizal doffed his hat and tongue- tied to say anything. After that, Rizal returned home, he was dazed and desolate because his first romance ruined by his shyness. The first girl whom he loved, was lost to him forever. Segunda returned to Lipa, and married Manuel Luz. While Rizal remained in Calamba, cherishing nostalgic memories of a lost love. 3 years later, Rizal, recording his first and tragic romance, said “Ended, at an early hour, my first love! My virgin heart will always mourn the reckless step it took on the flower- decked abyss. My illusions will return, yes, but indifferent, uncertain, ready for the first betrayal on the path of love.”
CHAPTER 5: MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-
● Rizal’s first romance, with its bitter dis- illusionment, did not adversely affect his studies in the University of Santo Tomas.
● After finishing the first year of a course in Philosophy and Letters (1877-78) he transferred to the medical course.
● During the years of his medical studies in this university which was administered by the Domanicans, rival educators of the Jesuits, he remained loyal to Ateneo, where he continued to participate in extracurricular activities and where he completed the vocation course in surveying.
● As a Thomasian, he won more literary laurels, had other romances with pretty girls, and fought against Spanish students who insulted the brown Filipino students.
Mothers Opposition to Higher Education
● After graduating with the highest honors from the Ateneo, Rizal had to go to the University of Santo Tomas for higher studies.
● The Bachelor of arts during Spanish times was equivalent only to the high school and junior college courses today.
● Both Don Francisco and Paciano wanted Jose to pursue higher learning in the university.
● But Dona Teodora, who knew what happened to Gom-Bur-Za. Opposed the idea and told her husband: “Don’t send him to Manila again; he knows enough. If he gets to know more, the Spaniards will cut off his head.
● Don Francisco kept quiet and told Paciano to accompany his younger brother to Manila, despite their mothers’ tears.
● Jose Rizal was surprised why his mother should object to his desire for a university education.
● Years later, he wrote in his journal: “Did my mother perhaps have a foreboding of what would happen to me? Does a mother’s heart really have a second sight?”
Rizal Enters the University
● April 1877, Rizal was then nearly 16 years old, matriculated in the UST, taking the course on Philosophy and Letters.
● He enrolled in this course for two reasons: (1) His father liked it and (2) He was “still uncertain as to what career to pursue”
● He had written to Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of the Ateneo, who had been good to him during his student days in that college, asking for advice on the choice of his career. But Father Rector was in Mindanao so that he was unable to advise Rizal.
● During his first-year term (1877-88) in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.
● It was during the following term (1878-
- Rizal having received the Ateneo Rector’s advice to study medicine, took up the medical course, enrolling simultaneously in the preparatory medical course and the regular first year medical course
● Another reason why he chose medicine for a career was to be able to cure his mother’s growing blindness.
Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
● During his first term in the UST (1877- 78), Rizal also studied in the Ateneo.
● He took the vocational course leading to the title of perito agrimensor (expert surveyor).
● In those days, the colleges for boys in Manila offered vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and surveying.
● Rizal, excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo, obtaining
● One dark night in Calamba, he dimly perceived the figure of a man while passing him. Not knowing the person due to darkness, he did not salute nor say a courteous “Good Evening”. The vague figure turned out to be a lieutenant of the Guardia Civil. With a snarl, he turned upon Rizal, whipped out his sword and brutally slashed the latter on the back.
● The wound was not serious, but it was painful. When recovered, Rizal reported the incident to General Primo de Rivera, the Spanish governor general of the Philippines at that time.
● But nothing came out of his complaint, because he was an Indio and the abusive lieutenant was a Spaniard.
● In a letter to Blumentritt, dated March 21, 1887, he related: “I went to the Captain-General but I could not obtain justice; my wound lasted two weeks.”
To the Filipino Youth (1879)
● In 1879, the Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic- Literary Lyceum) of Manila, a society of literary men and artists, held a literary contest. It offered a prize for the best poem by a native or a mestizo.
● Rizal, who was then 18 years old, submitted his poem entitled A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)
● The board of judges, composed of Spaniards, was impressed by Rizal’s poem and gave it the first prize which consisted of a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon.
● He was congratulated by the Jesuits, especially his former professors at the Ateneo, and by his friends and relatives.
● The prize-winning poem, A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth), is an inspiring poem of flawless form.
● In exquisite verses, Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than the wind and descend with art and science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of the people.
● The winning poem of Rizal is a classic in Philippine literature for two reasons: First, it was the first great poem in
Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary authorities, and secondly, it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos, and not the foreigners, were the “fair hope of the Fatherland”.
The Council of the Gods (1880)
● The following year (1880) the Artistic- Literary Lyceum opened another literary contest to commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and famous author of Don Quixote.
● The contest was opened to both Filipinos and Spaniards.
● Many writers participated in the contest
- priests, newspapermen, scholars, and professors.
● Rizal, inspired by his poetical triumph the previous year entered the literary joust, submitting an allegorical drama entitled El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods).
● The judges of the contest were all Spaniards. After long and critical appraisal of the entries, they awarded the first prize to Rizal’s work because of its literary superiority over the others.
● Despite all the objections, the prize was awarded to Rizal, a gold ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes. A Spanish writer, D.N. del Puzo, won the second prize.
● First time in history, an Indio - a 19 years old Filipino medical student at that
- excelled in a national literary contest, defeating several Spanish writers of his time in Manila.
● Rizal was happy, for he proved the fallacy of the alleged Spanish superiority over the Filipinos and revealed that the Filipino could hold his own in fair competition against all races.
● The winning allegory of Rizal was a literary masterpiece based on the Greek classics.
● In writing it, Rizal was aided by the kind Father Rector of the Ateneo in securing the needed reference materials. The allegory established a parallel among
Homer, Virgil and Cervantes. The gods discuss the comparative merits of these great writers and finally decide to give the trumpet to Homer, the lyre to Vigil, and the Laurel to Cervantes.
● The allegory closes with naiads, nymphs, satyrs, and other mythological characters dancing and gathering laurels for Cervantes.
Other Literary Works
● Rizal, although studying medicine, produced other poems and a zarzuela, this zarzuela was Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig), which was staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880, on the occasion of the annual celebration of the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the Ateneo.
● He wrote it as President of the Academy of Spanish Literature in Ateneo.
● As a piece of literature Junto al Pasig is mediocre. But there are passages in it which express in subtle satire the author’s nationalist ideas. For instance, Rizal makes Satan say that the Philippines - “Now without comfort, sadly groans in the power of a foreign people, and slowly dies In the impious clutch of Spain.”
● In the same year (1880) He wrote a sonnet entitled A Filipinas for the album of the Society of Sculptors. In this sonnet, he urged all Filipino artists to glorify the Philippines.
● The Year before, in 1879, he composed a poem entitled Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma, which was declaimed by an Atenean, Manuel Fernandez, the night of December 8, 1879 in honor of the Ateneo’s Patroness.
● In 1881, he composed a poem entitled Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon. He wrote this poem as an expression of affection to Father Pablo Ramon, the Ateneo rector, who had been so kind and helpful to him.
Rizal’s Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan
● In the summer month of May, 1881, Rizal went on a pilgrimage to the town of Pakil, famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de los Dolores. He was
accompanied by his sisters - Saturnina, Maria, and Trinidad and their female friends.
● They took a casco (Flat-Bottom sailing vessel) from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna, and stayed at the home of Mrs. and Mrs. Manuel Regalado, whose son Nicolas was Rizal’s friend in Manila.
● Rizal and his companions were fascinated by the famous turumba, the people dancing in the streets during the procession in honor of the miraculous Birhen Maria de los Dolores.
● In Pakil Rizal was infatuated by a pretty girl colegiala, Vicenta Ybardolaza, who skillfully played the harp at the Regalado home.
● Rizal and his party made a side trip to the neighboring town of Leonor Valenzuela, one of Rizal’s girl friends in Manila, and to see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls.
● Years later, Rizal mentioned the Turumba in Chapter VI of Noli Me Tangere and Pagsanjan Falls in his travel diary (United States - Saturday, May 12,
- where he said that Niagara Falls was the “greatest cascades I ever saw” but “not so beautiful nor fine as the falls at Los Banos, (sic) Pagsanjan”.
Champion of Filipino Students
● Rizal was the champion of the FIlipino students in their frequent fights against the arrogant Spanish Students, who were often surpassed by the Filipinos in class work and who insultingly called their brown classmates - “Indio, chongo!” In retaliation, the Filipino students called them “Kastila, bangus!”
● Rizal participated in these student brawls. Owing to his skill in fencing, his prowess in wrestling, and his indomitable courage, he distinguished himself in these student skirmishes.
● In 1880, he founded a secret society of Filipino students in the UST called compañerismo (Comradeship), whose members were called “Companions of Jehu” after the valiant Hebrew general who fought the
● This mission which Rizal conceived with the approval of his older brother Paciano wherein to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
● This was evidenced in his farewell which was delivered to his parents shortly after his departure in Spain.
● In the letter, he is begging his parent’s forgiveness for leaving the Philippines without their permission and blessings.
● This Rizalian secret mission as likewise disclosed by Paciano in his letter to his younger brother dated Manila, May 20, 1982.
● In the letter, it is said that Rizal will finish the medical course in Barcelona and not in Madrid. Also, Paciano thinks that the principal purpose of Rizal departure is not to finish this course but to study other things of greater usefulness or that which Rizal are more inclined. So, Paciano thought that Rizal ought to study at Madrid.
Secret Departure for Spain
● Rizal’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities and the friars.
● Even his own parents did not know, because he knew that his mother would not allow him to go.
● These people are the ones who knew Rizal's departure for Spain.
○ Paciano (older brother)
○ Antonio Rivera (his uncle & father of Leonor Rivera)
○ Neneng & Lucia (his sisters)
○ Valenzuela family (Capitan Juan, Capitana Sanday, and Orang - their daughter)
○ Pedro A. Paterno
○ Mateo Evangelista (his compadre)
○ Ateneo Jesuit Fathers
○ Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio)
○ Some intimate friends
● Jesuit priests gave him letters of recommendation to the members of their society in Barcelona.
● Rizal used the name Jose Mercado , a cousin from Binan.
● He wrote a farewell letter for his parents and his sweetheart Leonor Rivera before his secret departure.
● On May 3, 1882 , Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore.
Singapore
● During his voyage to Singapore he carefully observed the people and things on board the steamer.
● There were sixteen passengers , including him, five or six ladies, many children and the rest were gentlemen. They are Spaniards, British, and Indian Negroes, he is the only Filipino.
● Donato Lecha was the ship captain from Asturias, Spain.
● Spaniards spoke ill of the Philippines.
● Rizal played chess with his fellow passengers who were much older than he, because of his sea voyage boredom.
● He defeated his fellow passenger many times because he was a good chess player.
● On May 8, 1882 , Rizal saw a beautiful Island which is the “Talim Island with the Susong Dalaga”.
● On May 9 the Salvadora docked at Singapore, Rizal landed, registered at Hotel de la Paz, spent two days on a sightseeing soiree of the city, which was a colony of England.
● He saw a famous Botanical garden, Buddhist temples, a busy shopping district, and a statue of Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles (founder of Singapore.)
From Singapore to Colombo
● In Singapore Rizal transferred to another ship Djemnah , a French steamer, which left Singapore for Europe on May 11.
● Among these passengers were British, French, Dutch, Spaniards, Malays,
Siamese, and Filipinos (Mr. and Mrs. Salazar, Mr. Vicente Pardo and Jose Rizal).
● By conversing daily with French passengers, he was able gradually to improve his knowledge of the French language.
● On May 17, the Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Rizal was unimpressed by this town.
● The following day, Djemnah resumed the voyage towards Colombo, the capital of Ceylon. Rizal was enamored by its scenic beauty and elegant buildings.
First Trip Through Suez Canal
● From Colombo, the Djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Guardafui, Africa.
● For the first time, Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa, which he called an “inhospitable land but famous.”
● At the next stop over, in Aden, Rizal went ashore to see the sights. He found the city hotter than Manila. He was amused to see the camels.
● From Aden, the Djemnah proceeded to the city of Suez, the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal. Upon arrival at Suez, Rizal went sightseeing and what he was impressed the most was the moonlight which reminded him of Calamba and his family.
● It took five days to traverse the Suez Canal.
● It was Rizal's first trip and he was thrilled because the Suez Canal was built by Ferdinand de Lesseps (French diplomat-engineer). It was inaugurated on November 17, 1869.
● At Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal, Rizal landed for sightseeing. He was fascinated to hear multi-racial inhabitants speaking a babel of tongues - Arabic, Egyptian, Greek, French, Italian, Spanish etc.
Naples and Marseilles
● On June 11, Rizal reached Naples.
● This Italian city pleased him and he was fascinated by Mount Vesuvius, the Castle of St. Telmo, and other historic sights of the city.
● On the night of June 12, the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles.
● He visited the famous Chateau d'if where Dantes, hero of The Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned.
● He had enjoyed reading this novel of Alexander Dumas when he was a student at Ateneo.
● He stayed two and a half days in Marseilles, enjoying every day of his sojourn.
Barcelona
● On the afternoon of June 15, Rizal left Marseille by train for the last lap of his trip to Spain.
● He crossed the Pyrenees and stopped by a day at the frontier town of Port Bou. He noticed here the indifference accorded by the Spanish immigration officers to tourists.
● After the passport inspection at Port Bou, Rizal continued his trip by rail, finally reaching Barcelona on June 16, 1882.
● Rizal’s first impression of Barcelona, the greatest city of Catalonia and Spain’s second largest city, was unfavorable and ugly. However, later on he changed his bad impression and he found the city as a great city, with an atmosphere of freedom and liberalism, the people were open-hearted, hospitable, and courageous.
● He enjoyed promenading along Las Ramblas, the most famous street in Barcelona.
● The Filipinos in Barcelona were some of his schoolmates in Ateneo.
● They gave him a party at their favorite cafe in Plaza de Cataluna.
“Amor Patrio”
