Rizals Higher Education

Chapter 3: School Days In Biñan
The first formal schooling of Rizal was in Biñan, the natal town of his father. It was an
education with much religion and overly strict discipline.
Early Schooling. The first teacher of Rizal, as we have already stated was his mother.
On her lap, he learned the Latin alphabet and the Catholic prayers. He was given
further instruction by private tutors, such as Maestro Celestino, and later Maestro Lucas
Padua. Later, his father hired an old man, Leon Monroy, who had been his classmate, to
give Rizal the first lessons in Latin. This old teacher lived in the Rizal home, but he died
five months later.
Jose Goes to Biñan. June, 1870, Jose left Calamba for Biñan. He was accompanied
by Paciano. They proceeded to their aunt’s house, where Jose was to lodge. That
same night Jose, with his cousin Leandro, went sightseeing in the town.
First Day in Biñan School. Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. The school was in the
house of the teacher which was a small nipa hut about 30 meters from the home of
Jose’s aunt.
First School Brawl. Jose Challenged Pedro to a fight. Jose, having learned the art of
wrestling from his uncle Manuel, defeated the bigger boy. In succeeding days, he had
other fights with the boys of Biñan. He was not quarrelsome by nature, but he never ran
away from a fight.
Painting Lessons in Biñan. Near the school was the house of an old painter, called
Juancho, who was the father-in –law of the school teacher. Jose and his classmate,
Jose Guevara, who also loved painting, became apprentices of the old painter.
End of Biñan Schooling. Time came when Jose learned all that Maestro Justiniano
could teach him. He left Biñan on Saturday afternoon, December 17, 1871.
Injustice to Hero’s Mother. Doña Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that
she aided her brother, Jose Alberto, in trying to poison Alberto’s wife. She walked on
foot from Calamba to Sta. Cruz, a distance of more than 50 kilometers.
The Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za. Jose was nearly 11 years old when the
tragic martyrdom of GomBurZa took place.
Triumphs in Ateneo,
1872-77 This college was a bitter rival of the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de
Letran. It was formerly known as Escuela Pia (Charity School), a school for poor boys in
Manila that was established by the city government in 1817.
Rizal Enters the Ateneo. On June 10, 1872, Jose accompanied by Paciano, went to
Manila. He took the entrance examinations on Christian doctrine, arithmetic, and
reading at the College of San Jun de Letran, and passed them all. However, his father
changed his mind and decided to send him to the Ateneo instead.
Father Magin Ferrando, who was the college registrar, refused to admit him. Rizal was
then 11 years old.
Jesuit System of Education. The system of education given by the
Jesuits in the Ateneo was advanced from that of other colleges in that period. It
trained the character of the student by rigid discipline and religious instruction.
Students were divided into 2 groups, namely: the Roman Empire consisting
of the internos (boarders) and the Carthaginian Empire composed of the externos
(non-boarders). Each of these empires had its ranks. The best student in each empire
was the emperor, the second best the tribune; the 3rd best, the decurion; the
fourth best the centurion; and the 5th best, the standard-bearer.
Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-73). His first professor in the Ateneo was Fr. Jose
Bech. Being a newcomer and knowing little Spanish, Rizal was placed at the bottom of
the class. To improve his Spanish, Rizal took private lessons in Sta. Isabel College
during the noon recesses. He paid 3 pesos for those extra Spanish lessons.
In the second half of his year in the Ateneo, Rizal did not try hard enough to retain his
scholarship supremacy which he held during the first half of the term.
Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74). Once more he became an “empror.”
Prophecy of Mother’s Release. Her mother’s dream.
Teenage Interest in Reading. The first favourite novel of Rizal was The Count of
Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Later Rizal read Travels in the Philippines by Dr.
Feodor Jagor, German scientist-traveler who had visited the Philippines. What
impressed him in this book were Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of
Spanish colonization and 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). Shortly after the opening of classes, his mother
arrived and joyously told him that she was released from prison. However, despite the
family happiness, Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in the
previous year. His grades remained excellent in all subjects, but he only won only one
medal.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76). One of his professors this time was Fr. Francisco
Sanchez, a great educator and scholar. He inspired young Rizal to study harder and
write poetry. On his part, Rizal has the highest affection and respect for Fr. Sanchez,
whom he considered his most beloved professor in the Ateneo.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77). Rizal excelled in all subjects. The most brilliant
Atenean of his time. 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 at Ateneo. He was a campus leader outside. He was an
active member, later secretary, of a religious society, Marian Congregation. He was also
a member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
He devoted his spare time in fine arts. He studied painting under the famous
Spanish painter, Augustin Saez, and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, noted
Filipino sculptor. Furthermore, Rizal, to develop his weak body, engaged in gymnastics
and fencing.
Sculptural Works in Ateneo. One day he carved an image of Our Virgin
Mary on a piece of batikuling with his pocket-knife. Fr. Lleonart, impressed by
Rizal’s sculptor talent, requested him to carve for him an image of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus.
Anecdote Rizal the Atenean. One of Rizal’s contemporaries in the Ateneo was Felix
M. Roxas. He related an incident of Rizal’s schooldays in the Ateneo which reveals the
hero’s resignation to pain and forgiveness.
Poems Written in Ateneo. The first poem Rizal probably wrote during his days in the
Ateneo was Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) which was dedicated to his
mother on her birthday. It is said that he wrote it before he was 14 years old, that is, in
the year 1874.
First Romance of Rizal. Shortly after his graduation from the Ateneo, Rizal, who was
then 16 years old, experienced his first romance – “that painful experience which comes
to nearly all adolescents.” The girl was Segunda Katigbak, a pretty 14 year old
Batangueña from Lipa.

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Chapter 3: School Days In Biñan

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