Medical Studies at the University

of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

After finishing the first year of a
course in Philosophy and Letters
(1877-78),he transferred to the
medical course.
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.
Mother’s Opposition to Higher
Education
Doña Teodora, who knew what
happened to Gom-Bur-Za, vigorously
opposed the idea that Rizal will study at
University of Santo Tomas for higher
studies 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.”
 Rizal Enters the University
April 1877, Rizal was then nearly 16
years old, matriculated in the University of
Santo Tomas, 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”
During his first-year term (1877-78)
in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal
studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy,
and History of Philosophy.
 Finishes Surveying Course in
Ateneo (1878)
During his first school term in the University
of Santo Tomas (1877-78), Rizal also studied in
the Ateneo. He took the vocational course leading
to the title of perito agrimensor (expert surveyor).
Rizal, excelled in all subjects in the
surveying course, obtaining gold medals in
agriculture and topography. At the age of 17, he
passed the final examination in the surveying
course, but he could not be granted the title as
surveyor because he was below age. The title was
issued to him on November 25, 1881.
He continued to participate actively in the
Ateneo’s extra-curricular activities. He was
president of the Academy of Spanish Literature
and secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences.
 Romances with Other Girls
After losing Segunda Katigbak, he paid
court to a young woman in Calamba. He called
her simply “Miss L”. After visiting her in her
house several times, he suddenly stopped his
wooing and the romance died a natural death.
He gave two reasons for his change of heart,
namely: 1)the sweet memory of Segunda was
still fresh in his heart and 2) his father did not
like the family of “Miss L”.
During his sophomore year, he boarded
in the house of Doña Concha Leyva. The next-
door neighbor were Capitan Juan and Capitana
Sanday Valenzuela from Pagsanjan, Laguna,
who had a charming daughter named Leonor.
He courted Leonor Valenzuela who was a tall
girl with a regal bearing. But as with
Segunda, he stopped short of proposing
marriage to Orang.
Rizal’s next romance was with another
Leonor – Leonor Rivera – his cousin from
Camiling. Leonor, born in Camiling, Tarlac,
on April 11, 1867, was a frail, pretty girl
“tender as a budding flower with kindly,
wistful eyes.” Between Jose and Leonor
sprang a beautiful romance. They became
engaged. In her letters to Rizal, Leonor
signed her name as “Taimis”, in order to
camouflage their intimate relationship from
their parents and friends.
 Victim of Spanish Officer’s
Brutality
During the summer vacation in 1878, he was
walking in the street. He dimly perceived the figure of
a man while passing him. Not knowing the person due
to darkness, he did not salute nor say courteous
“Good Evening”. The vague figure turned out upon
Rizal, whipped out his sword and brutally slashed the
latter on the back.
Rizal reported the incident to General Primo de
Rivera but nothing came out of his complaint because
he was an Indio and the abusive lieutenant was
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 year 1879, Liceo Artistico-Literario
(Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila, held a
literary contest. Rizal submitted his poem
entitled A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino
Youth).
The board of Judges, was impressed by
Rizal’s poem and gave it the first prize.
This 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)
In the year 1880 – the Artistic-Literary
Lyceum opened another literary contest. And
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).
Despite all objections, the prize was
awarded to Rizal, a gold ring on which was
engraved the bust of Cervantes.
The winning allegory of Rizal was a
literary masterpiece based on the Greek
classics. The allegory established a parallel
among Homer, Virgil, and Cervantes.
 Other Literary Works
Rizal produced other poems and a
zarzuela, this zarzuela was Junto al Pasig
(Beside the Pasig), which was stage by the
Ateneans on December 8, 1880.
In the same year (1880), he wrote a
sonnet entitled A Filipinas for the album of
the Society of Sculptors.
The year before, in 1879, he composed
a poem entitled Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma,
which was declaimed by an Atenean, Manuel
Fernandez.
Later in 1881, he composed a poem
entitled Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon.
 Rizal’s Visit to Pakil and
Pagsanjan
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.
From Pakil, Rizal and his party made a
side trip to the neighboring town of
Pagsanjan for two reasons – it as the native
town of Leonor Valenzuela, one of Rizal’s
girl friends in Manila, and to see the world
famed Pagsanjan Falls.
Champion of Filipino Students
In 1880 he founded a secret society
of Filipino students in the University of
Santo Tomas called Compañerismo
(Comradeship), whose members were
called “Companions of Jehu”. He was the
chief of this secret student society, with
his cousin from Batangas, Galicano
Apacible, as secretary. As chief he led the
Filipino students into combat against the
Spanish students in various street fights.
 Unhappy Days at the UST
Rizal was unhappy at this Dominican
institution of higher learning because 1) the
Dominican professors were hostile to him 2)
the Filipino students were racially
discriminated against by the Spaniards, and 3)
the method of instruction was obsolete and
repressive.
Because of the unfriendly attitude of his
professors, Rizal, the most brilliant graduate of
the Ateneo, failed to win high scholastic
honors. Although his grades in the first year of
the philosophy course were all “excellent”, they
were not impressive in the four years of his
medical course.
 Decision to Study Abroad
After finishing the fourth year of
his medical course, Rizal decided to
study Spain. He could no longer
endure the rampant bigotry,
discrimination, and hostility in the
University of Santo Tomas.
For the first time, Rizal did not
seek his parents’ permission and
blessings to go abroad, because he
knew that they, especially his
mother, would disapprove it.