Kate R. Quinco B.A.

Political Science IV Life and Works of Jose Rizal TTh 1:30 3:00pm ASAB 345
August 8, 2017

Rizal at the University of Santo Tomas 1877-1882

Jose Rizal, having completed his Bachiller en Artes at the Ateneo Municipal, was now
eligible for higher education at a university. His mother, Doa Teodora, had second thoughts about
sending her son to school because of the previous incident involving the execution of friars Gomez,
Burgos and Zamora. However, it was Don Francisco who decided his son should to the University
of Santo Tomas, a prestigious institution run by the Dominican order.

Undecided
Rizal, upon entering the university, was not certain which course of study he wanted to pursue.
The Jesuit priests who had been his former mentors had advised him to take up farming, or to join
the order and be a man of the cloth. However, his tastes went towards law, literature, or medicine.
In the end, he decided to sign up for Philosophy and Letters during his freshman year because of
the following reasons:
1. It was what his father would have wanted for him.
2. He had failed to seek the advice of the rector of the Ateneo, Father Ramon Pablo.
As part of the course, he had to complete units in the following subjects:
Cosmology and Metaphysics
Theodicy
History of Philosophy
His report card was very impressive.

Shifting to Medicine
After completing his first year, Rizal decided to take up medicine as his university course. This
change of heart was due to two factors:
1. Father Ramon Pablo, rector of the Ateneo, had advised him to pursue the course.
2. Rizal's mother had failing eyesight and he thought he owed it to her to become a
doctor and cure her condition.
Rizal's performance at the University of Santo Tomas was not as excellent as his time at the
Ateneo. His grades after shifting to medicine had suffered as well:

Why the poor performance?

Unfortunately, Rizal was not happy at UST and this reflected on his grades (Zaide & Zaide, 1999).
There were three main factors that contributed to his unhappiness at the university, namely:
1. The Dominican professors were hostile to him.
2. Filipino students suffered discrimination.
3. The method of instruction at UST was obsolete and repressive.
Likewise, there were three main reasons for his struggling academic performance (Guerrero,
1998):
1. Rizal was not satisfied with the system of education at the university.
2. There were plenty of things to distract a young man in the peak of his youth.

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Kate R. Quinco B.A. Political Science IV Life and Works of Jose Rizal TTh 1:30 3:00pm ASAB 345
August 8, 2017

3. Medicine was not Rizal's true vocation.

He would later find out that his real calling was in the arts, not in medicine.

Vocational Courses in Ateneo while in UST

In the school year 1877-1878, he finished his vocational course in surveying in Ateneo,
achieving the title of Agrimensor y Perito Tasador de Tierras or Expert surveyor. In the following
year, he had took his Pre-Medical Course which is called Curso de Ampliacion or Advanced course
in Physics, Chemistry and Natural History. Normally, students are duty-bound to take first the
preparatory course before proceeding to medicine the next year. However, he took both courses
in this school year. Out of 28 young men taking Ampliacion, only four including Rizal were granted
the privilege of taking simultaneously the preparatory course and the first year of medicine. Rizal
also received his four year practical training in medicine at the Hospital de San Juan de Dios in
Intramuros. During his last year at the University, Rizal had obtained the global grade
of Notable(Very Good) in all of his subjects, and he was the second best student in a decimated
class of seven who passed the medicine course. After which, Rizal decided to study in Spain.
While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the vocational course
leading to the title of Perito Agrimensor (Expert Surveyor). He excelled in all subjects in the
surveying course obtaining gold medals in Agriculture and Topography.
Vocational Courses: 1. Agriculture 3. Mechanics 2. Commerce 4. Surveying
At the age of 17, he passed the final exam in the surveying course but could not be granted
the title as Surveyor because he was under age. November 25, 1881 the title as Surveyor to Rizal
Extra-Curricular Activities:
1. President, Academy of Spanish Literature.
2. Secretary, Academy of Natural Sciences.
3. Secretary, Marian Congregation.

Student Secret Society

Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students in their fights against the arrogant Spanish
students. In 1880, Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of Santo
Tomas called Compaerismo(Comradeship), whose members were called Companions of
Jehu, after the valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans. Galicano Apacible (Rizals
cousin from Batangas) was the Secretary. Fierce encounter near the Escolta in Manila where Rizal
was wounded on the head, and tenderly washed and dressed by Leonor Rivera in his boarding
house Casa Tomasina.
Racial Discrimination of Filipino Students
Filipino students were called Indio, Tsonggo while Spanish students were called Kastila,
Bangus

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Kate R. Quinco B.A. Political Science IV Life and Works of Jose Rizal TTh 1:30 3:00pm ASAB 345
August 8, 2017

The Council of the Gods

Another literary contest by the Artistic-Literary Lyceum to commemorate the fourth centennial of
the death of Cervantes, Spanish and author of Don Quixote.
Manuel De Cervantes Spains glorified man of letter
- Rizal submitted an allegorical drama, El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods)
- The allegory was based on Greek classics
- Rizal was aided by Father Rector of the Ateneo in securing the needed reference materials
- The contest was participated by priest, laymen, professors of UST, newspapermen and scholars.
- Rizal won the first price; he received a gold ring engraved with bust of Cervantes.
- D.N. Del Puzo a Spanish writer won the 2nd price
Why Rizals mother was imprisoned
Doa Teodora, before June 1867, was accused, together with her brother, Jose Alberto, as
accomplices in an attempt to poison her brothers wife. Jose Alberto was a rich Bian ilustrado
who had previously left for Europe for a business trip only to find upon his return, that his wife
had abandoned their children and had gone to live with another man.Infuriated by his wifes
adulterous behavior, he contrived to divorce her, but was prevailed upon by his sister, Rizals
mother to forgive her to avoid a family scandal. However, the wife connived with a Spanish
lieutenant of the Civil Guards and with the help of Calambas gobernadorcillo, Antonio Vivencio
del Rosario, who in spite of their being frequent guests at the Rizal home, filed a case. The
lieutenant had taken advantage of the situation to settle an issue he had against the Rizal family,
who had refused him fodder for his horse.
During her arrest, Doa Teodora was forced to walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz or a
distance of 50 kilometers. She was incarcerated in the provincial capital of Santa Cruz, where she
spent two years and a half of her life until the Manila Audiencia or the Supreme Court vindicated
and acquitted her. This was very painful to Rizal, especially when he heard that she had gotten sick
by reason of the treatment she received.
What chapter in El Filibusterismo was the class in physics?
Summary:
Placide Penitente enters Physics class, in which Padre Millon is his professor. The discussion drags
on without the use of any laboratory equipment and other learning aids. The university had
bought a number of instruments, but these remain kept in glass shelves and are never
used. Placido had already been marked as absent, and when Padre Millon calls on him to answer
a question, the priest gives him a very low mark. Placido argues with Padre Millon over this

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 Kate R. Quinco B.A. Political Science IV Life and Works of Jose Rizal TTh 1:30 3:00pm ASAB 345
August 8, 2017

injustice. The unyielding friar continues throwing insults at the youth, and Placido Penitente walks
out of the class.

Points of Note:
A few important facts to note about Padre Millon:
1. He is primarily interested in metaphysics and handles classes in philosophy and theology, after
which he teaches chemistry and physics -- subjects in opposing ends of college education.
2. He only glances at his textbooks during classes in physics and chemistry (little knowledge is
dangerous), barely believes in what the experts are saying, and eventually approaches the subjects
in a philosophical manner (he still does not believe that the earth is round, or that it is revolving
around the sun).
3. He frequently throws insults at his students, and also about the subjects he is teaching.
4. He habitually throws questions to students, but does not want to be questioned himself.
5. He lets his students memorize the book word-for-word, without explaining the lesson.
6. He uses profane language and curses at his students.