Chapter 4

Scholastic Triumphs at
Ateneo de Manila
(1872-1877)
 Jose Rizal studied in the Ateneo Municipal.
 It was formerly the Escuela Pia a school for poor boys in Manila which was established
by the city government in 1817.

Rizal Enters the Ateneo

 June 10, 1872, Jose accompanied by Paciano matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal.
 Father Magin Ferrando was the college registrar refused to admit him for 2 reasons:
*he was late for registration
*he was sickly and undersized for his age

Jesuit System of Education

 Students are divided into 2 groups, namely: the Roman Emipre and Carthaginian
Empire
 Each of these empires had it ranks
 Best student empire 2nd best tribune 3rd decurion 4th centurion 5th standard bearer
Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-73)
 June 1872 his first day class in the Ateneo
 His first professor was Fr. Jose Bech
 At the end of the month he became an emperor.

Summer Vacation (1873)

 March 1873, end of the school year he returned to Calamba.

Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74)

 He received an excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal.
 With scholastic honors, and in March 1874 he returned for Calamba
Phropecy of Mother’s Release
 Rizal’s prophecy became true, three months passed Doña Teodora was set free.

Teenage Interest in Reading

 Rizal first favorite novel was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.
 He read a fiction a non fiction.
 He also read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German scientist
traveller who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860.

Third year in Ateneo (1874-75)

 June 1874, he returned to the Ateneo for his junior year.

Fourth year in Ateneo (1875-76)

 June 16, 1875 he became an inferno in the Ateneo. His professor this time was Fr.
Francisco de Paula Sanchez.
Last year in Ateneo (1876-77)
 As a matter of fact, he excelled in all subject.
 The most brilliant Atenean of his time, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits”.

Graduation with Highest Honors

 March 23, 1877 his Commencement Day, who was 16 years old received from his
Alma Mater, Ateneo Municapal the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest
honors.

Sculptural Works in Ateneo

 Rizal impressed his Jesuit professors in Ateneo with his artistic skill.
 He carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling with his pocket
knife.
 Father Leonart impressed and he requested to carve him an image of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus.
Poems written in Ateneo
 Doña Teodora discovered the poetical genius of her son.
 His first poem was Mi Primera Inspiracion which was dedicated to his mother on her
birthday ( My First Inspiration).
 The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education, Rizal showed the
importance of religion in education.
 Rizal’s Religious Poems he expressed his devotion to his Catholic faith in melodious
poetry.
 His religious poems he wrote was To the Child Jesus and To the Virgin Mary .
 Dramatic Work in Ateneo- Father Sanchez requested him to write a drama based on
the prose story of St. Eustace the Martyr.
 First Romance of Rizal- he experienced the first romance “the painful experience
which comes to nearly all adolescents”. The girl was Segunda Katigbak a 14 year old
Batangueña from Lipa.