ST.

ANTHONY COLLEGE Life and Works of Rizal

CALAPAN CITY INC.

INFORMATION SHEET No. 4

Rizal’s Education in Ateneo

Objecvtives:
At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:
1. Describe Rizal’s education in Ateneo.
2. Analyze the poems written by Rizal in Ateneo.
3. Appreciate how the Jesuit’s educational system contributed to the development of Rizal as a
young student/ teenager.

Education in Ateneo (1872-1877)

Francisco Mercado chose Ateneo Municipal or Escuela Pia, one of the best-known schools for boys
for Jose Rizal’s secondary education. However, Rizal took his first entrance examination at College of
San Juan de Letran in Manila before the feast of their patron saint in Calamba prior to enrolling in Ateneo
where he was accompanied by Paciano. Jose Rizal passed all the qualifying test in Christian doctrine,
reading and arithmetic in College of San Juan de Letran.

When enrolling in Ateneo, Fr. Magin Fernando rejected Jose Rizal because he was late for
registration being sickly and undersized for his age of eleven years old. Manuel Xerez, a Spaniard,
nephew of Father Jose Burgos, recommended him for admission in Ateneo. Paciano advised him to use
the surname Rizal instead of Mercado as Paciano feared that Jose Rizal will be in trouble once they
discovered Paciano’s links to Jose Burgos.

The Jesuit’s System of Education

1. More advanced.
2. It trained the character of the student by rigid discipline and religious instruction.
3. It promoted physical culture, humanities, and scientific studies.
4. It offered vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanic & surveying.
5. Students heard Mass in the morning before the beginning of the daily class.
6. Classes in every subject were opened and closed with prayers.

Major Division of the Class

He found himself in an atmosphere of competition based on incentive or motivation, and this was carried
out with the division of the class into:
First, the “Roman Empire” consisting of the internos (boarders) with red banners and
the “Carthaginian Empire” composed of the exterrnos (non-boarders) with blue banners for their distinction.

Empire Rankings
Emperor - the best student in each “Empire”
Tribune - second best
Decurion – third best
Centurion - fourth best
Standard bearer - the last best

He himself confesses that he had an unpleasant incident with his teacher and lost all incentive. However, in a
week’s time, he was promoted and after a month, he became the top student of his class.

He was a consistent medalist and his grades in all subjects were excellent.

Lesson 4: Rizal’s Education in Ateneo 1

ST. ANTHONY COLLEGE Life and Works of Rizal
CALAPAN CITY INC.

The School Uniform

The Ateneo students in Rizal’s time wore a uniform which consisted of:

◦ 1. Hemp-fabric trousers
◦ 2. Stripped cotton coat – the coat material was called rayadillo.

Ateneo Education (1872 – 1877)

Jose Rizal’s first year in Ateneo appeared to be an adjustment period for him because he was
placed at the bottom of the class. This was due to his inarticulation to the Spanish language. But he
improved rapidly, obtained the designation of emperor, and awarded a medal at the end of the year. He
returned to Calamba for summer vacation, but he was not happy during that time because his mother was
in prison. He visited his mother without the knowledge of his father. In this event, Saturnina tried to cheer
him up by bringing him to Tanauan.
In his second year, he neglected his studies because he was offended by the teacher’s criticisms.
Although he lost, he gained again his class leadership and became emperor again. He returned to
Calamba and visited his mother in prison. Jose Rizal dreamt that his mother would be freed in 3 months
and the prophecy became a reality.
Jose Rizal was inspired in his studies during his third year because his mother was freed in
prison. He got excellent grades in all subjects, won prizes. He even received a medal in Latin though he
was not speaking Spanish fluently. He received a medal usually given only to Spaniards. He found
wisdom from books. His favorite novels were “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexander Dumas; Historical
work “Universal History” by Cesar Cantu and “Travels in the Philippines” by Dr. Feodor Jagor.
Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez was his professor in fourth year. He was inspired to study
harder and to write poetry. In his fourth year, he became an intern, received the highest honor and 5
medals.
He finished his studies on March 23, 1877 with highest honor at the age of 16 years old with the
degree of Bachelor of Arts. He received 5 medals and became proficient in the art of rhetoric and
philosophical independent thinking. Ateneo had taught him that the mind would achieve its purpose for as
long as one sought truth in a spirit of love and understanding of one’s fellowmen. The Jesuits were proud
of him. He was very happy, for he was able to repay his “father somewhat, for his sacrifices”.

Scholastic Records in Ateneo

872 -1873

Arithmetic . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Latin 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Greek . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent

1873 -1874

Latin 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Greek . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Lesson 4: Rizal’s Education in Ateneo 2
ST. ANTHONY COLLEGE Life and Works of Rizal
CALAPAN CITY INC.

Geography . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent

1874 -1875
Latin 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Excellent
Greek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
General History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Excellent
Hist. of Spain and Phil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Arithmetic and Algebra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent

1875 -1876

Rhetoric and Poetry . . . .. . ……............. Excellent

French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................Excellent
Geometry and Trigonometry . . . . . . . . .. Excellent

1876 -1877
Philosophy 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Mineralogy and Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Philosophy 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Physics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Botany and Zoology. . . . . . . . . . Excellent
Bachelor in Arts. . . . . . . . . . . Excellent

Rizal’s Skills and Extra- Curricular Activities

His formal lessons at the Ateneo refined his artistic sensibility, resulting in the further
development of his skills in writing and in sculpture. He studied painting under Agustin Saez, famous
Spanish painter, and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, a known Filipino sculptor. The two pieces
of beauty are still preserved at the Ateneo: one is the image of The Virgin Mary carved in batikulin
(Philippine hardwood) and, the other is the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that was requested by
Father Lleonart to carve for him.
The academic excellence of Rizal and his literary prowess qualified him for membership in two
exclusive societies: The Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Science. He also
joined the Marian Congregation, became a secretary and Apostleship of Prayer.

Sculpture Drawings by Rizal Wood carving by Rizal By Rizal

when a mere student

Lesson 4: Rizal’s Education in Ateneo 3

ST. ANTHONY COLLEGE Life and Works of Rizal
CALAPAN CITY INC.

"The Power of Science over Death"

Some interesting anecdotes on Rizal while in Ateneo According to Felix M. Roxas, there were two Ateneans,
(Manzano and Lesaca) who quarreled, violently hurled books at each other and accidentally hit Rizal on his face who was
then studying. His classmates brought him to the infirmary where he had to undergo medical treatment for several days.
After the incident, he continued to attend his classes, feeling neither bitterness nor rancor towards the guilty party.
Another story was from Manuel Xeres Burgos. One day, a certain Julio Meliza the smallest boarder cried because his kite
was caught in the vines growing in the belfry of the Manila Cathedral. Rizal courageously climbed the high cathedral tower
and successfully recovered the kite.
Cultivating Literary Talent
During leisure hours, Rizal cultivated his literary talent under the guidance of Father Sanchez. However, Father
Jose Villaclara, another professor, advised him to stop communing with the Muses and pay more attention to more
practical studies, such as philosophy and natural sciences. Rizal did not heed his advice.
Poems Written in Ateneo
It was Doña Teodora who first discovered the poetical genius of her son, and it was also she who first encouraged
him to write poems. However, it was Father Sanchez who inspired Rizal to make full use of his God-given gift in poetry
and improved the latter’s poetical art by opening his mind to the enriching influence of world literature.
“Mi Primera Inspiracion” (My First Inspiration)
The first poem Rizal wrote during his days in Ateneo when he was 14 years old was dedicated for his mother’s
birthday entitled, “My First Inspiration”. In his poem, it showed his unconditional love and affection to his mother.
“Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light”
Rizal expressed his ideals on the value of education by writing a poem, “Through Education Our Motherland
Receives Light”.
Rizal believed in:
The significant role education plays in the progress and welfare of a nation.
Education is power, it emancipates our motherland from ignorance and oppression”.
He also stressed that responsible education instills in the youth noble ideas and sublime virtues.
“Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education”
In another poem, “Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education”, Rizal makes cleared his belief that:
Religion is important in the education of man.
It also serves as a guide, as nourishment to good education.
To him, “Education without God is not true education.”

Religious Poems
During his student days, Rizal expressed his devotion to his Catholic faith in melodious
poetry:
“Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus)” – this poem was written in 1875 when Rizal was 14 years old.
“A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary)” – Undated. Probably written after his ode to the Child Jesus.

Rizal’s First Love

Rizal was very cautious and righteous, not only as a general principle
but also because he was aware of the possible consequences of his acts.
Jose Rizal and Mariano Katigbak visited their sisters Olimpia and
Segunda in Jose Rizal’s maternal grandmother’s house in Tronzo,(Tondo)
Manila. Rizal made a pencil sketch of Segunda, a Batanguena from Lipa and a
friend of Olimpia. He reminisced later their first meeting, “she looked at me and
I blushed”.
Jose and Segunda love each other, it is ‘love at sight’. But Segunda
was engaged to her fiancé Manuel Luz. Rizal was shy and timid. He did not

Lesson 4: Rizal’s Education in Ateneo 4

ST. ANTHONY COLLEGE Life and Works of Rizal
CALAPAN CITY INC.

propose to her. December 1877 was their last meeting at La Concordia

College. They agreed that they will be meeting each other in Calamba but when
her coach crossed the town, she just lifted her hat and responded with a smile
waving her handkerchief.
The end of Rizal’s first love, Rizal returned home, he confessed that “in the critical moments of my
life, I have always acted against my will, obeying higher aims and powerful doubts”.

“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 different, uncertain, ready for the first
betrayal on the path of love.”

REFERENCES:

My First Inspiration: A Translation by Nick Joaquin Retrieved from

http://filipinosongsatbp.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-first-inspiration-english.html
Works by Rizal. Retrieved from
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html Zaide G. F. and Zaide S. M. (2007), Jose
Rizal: life, works and writings of a genius, writer,scientist and national hero,
All nations publishing co., inc.p.1-426.

Learning Tasks

1. Answer the short quiz on Education in Ateneo (Module 4)

Lesson 4: Rizal’s Education in Ateneo 5