Rizal's Early Education and Ateneo Years

• Ateneo Municipal de Manila (1872-1877) and Rizal in his Eraly Years
• Teodora Alonso Realonda, Rizal's mother, taught him to read and write by age three, fostering a lifelong love of learning
• At eight years old, Rizal studied under Justiniano Aquino Cruz in Biñan before attending Ateneo in Manila, and initially thought Rizal was Spanish

Education From His Uncles

• Jose Alberto, an artist, nurtured Rizal's appreciation for nature and the arts, teaching him painting, sketching, and sculpture
• Gregorio, a scholar, instilled in Rizal a love for education, critical thinking, curiosity, and reading
• Manuel focused on Rizal's physical well-being, training him in athletic skills such as swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other martial arts

Other Private Tutors

• Juancho Carrera, an old painter, taught Rizal painting in Biñan, and was the father-in-law of Rizal's teacher, Justiniano Aquino Cruz
• Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal's father, honed Rizal's skills in basic Latin, reading, and writing
• At age 11, Rizal moved to Manila to attend the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, previously known as Escuela Pia

In Manila

• In June 1872, Rizal, accompanied by his brother Paciano, passed the entrance exams in Christian Doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at the College of San Juan de Letran
• Despite his father's initial preference for Letran, Rizal enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila
• Rizal adopted the surname "Rizal" to distance himself from "Mercado" due to suspicions by Spanish authorities linked to Paciano and the Spanish opposition
• Father Magin Fernando deterred Rizal's matriculation because Rizal was a late enrollee, appeared frail and sickly, and was too small for his age
• Manuel Xerex Burgos aided Rizal's acceptance into Ateneo

Ateneo Education System

• The Atenean education system was one of the best trainings for boys second to Letran at that time
• The students were divided into two groups
• Roman Empire consisted of the internos (boarders) with red banner
• Carthaginian Empire: composed of the externos (non-boarders) with blue banners
• Rizal was an externo, living in Caraballo St. in Santa Cruz, 25 minutes from Ateneo

Romans vs. Carthaginians Ranks

• Emperor
• Tribune
• Decurion
• Centurion
• Bearer
• Initially a struggling student due to the Spanish medium and discrimination, Rizal excelled in philosophy, arts, and sciences
• Rizal's fifth year, climbed to the top of his class because the Jesuit education system emphasized intellectual growth and character formation, instilling discipline and moral integrity
• Beyond academics, Rizal was a member and later secretary of the Marian Congregation, and also joined the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences
• Under Father Francisco de Paula Sánchez's mentorship, Rizal honed his literary skills and studied painting with Agustin Saez and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus
• Father Lleonart was impressed and requested Rizal to sculpt the Virgin Mary from batikuling wood
• In Ateneo, Rizal was very much interested in reading, inspiring his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, and some of the notable books he read were
• The Count of Monte Cristo- written by Alexander Dumas, tackling the social justice of society, led the struggle for his people which consequently made him the Count of Monte Cristo
• Universal History- written by Cesar Cantu, opening his awareness of world history
• Travels in the Philippines- written by Feodor Jagor, realizing Spain's weaknesses and motivated the Filipinos would raise arms against them thereafter

Significant Figures In Ateneo

• Paciano Rizal steadily supported Jose's education, accompanied him to Manila, facilitated his enrollment at Ateneo, and ensured he had the resources for his studies
• Manuel Xerez Burgos, nephew of Father José Burgos, intervened on José's behalf when Father Magin Ferrando initially refused admission
• Father José Bech, Rizal's first professor at Ateneo, introduced him to the rigorous Jesuit education system. Also his perseverance led Rizal to excel academically
• Father Francisco de Paula Sánchez recognized Rizal's potential and became his mentor and supporter with extended relationships even beyond the classroom
• Don Agustin Saez nurtured Rizal's artistic talents, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the arts
• Romualdo de Jesus guided Rizal in sculpture, leading to the creation of notable works, including an image of the Virgin Mary carved from batikuling wood
• Father Lleonart encouraged Rizal and his sculptural endeavors, resulting in aforementioned Virgin Mary image

University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

• After Ateneo, Dona Teodora wanted him to return home and manage the family business because she feared educational background could lead to the son's death
• A family council session was held and Don Francisco and Paciano were able to prevail over Dona Teodora's objections
• In April 1877, Rizal enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas taking Philosophy and Letters
• Rizal sought guidance from the priests at Ateneo, however Fr. Pablo Ramon was in Mindanao
• Paciano dissuaded him from taking up law because it would not be worth it due to the country's political situation
• For his first term in 1877-1878, Rizal studied at the philosophy program taking up cosmology, metaphysics, theodicy, and the history of philosophy
• In the following term in 1878-1879, Rizal decided to shift to medicine because he wanted to cure his mother's failing eyesight, and Fr. Ramon's letters advising Jose to take up medicine.
• While studying at UST, Rizal returned to Ateneo in 1877-1878 to take up land surveying course, and was awarded the title of perito agrimensor
• Rizal could not practice the profession at the age of 17, and was issued the certificate on November 25, 1881
• Even as a student in the University of Santo Tomas, Jose frequently visited Ateneo, and was the president of the Academy of Spanish Literature and Marian Congregation
• As a student at UST, Jose's academic performance paled with that in Ateneo, and the Dominican professors caused his low grades
• Professor Jose Franco threatened to fail an entire class of which Rizal was in because racial discrimination towards indios or Filipinos were common in the university
• Rizal was actively involved in extracurricular activities and was part of El Compañerismo (The Comradeship), a student group inspired by Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers with a theme of resistance against tyranny resonated with them
• Rizal's past love for Segunda Katigbak still lingered and Later, he courted Leonor Valenzuela, exchanging secret messages with her using water mixed with table salt as invisible ink.
• Rizal's most significant love during this period was Leonor Rivera but their romance had to be kept secret due to her family's disapproval. Also they communicated through coded letters, with Rivera signing as "Taimis"

UST Contests

• Academic contests, UST gave him opportunities to excel in literary contests
• In 1879, he won a prize at the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila for his poem A La Juventud Filipina
• In 1880, he won another literary contest held by the Liceo Artistico Literario to commemorate the 400th death anniversary of Spanish poet Miguel de Cervantes with Rizal's play El Consejo de los Dioses

Literary Works

• praised Cervantes and incorporated elements of Homer and Virgil
• Despite Spanish outrage that an "Indio" won, a gold ring with Cervantes' image was awarded because the judges upheld their decision
• wrote a satirical one-act play. Junto al Pasig staged at Ateneo during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and some viewers predicted a future revolution and foreign invasions in the Philippines
• also composed other significant poems, including A Filipinas, and Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma, and wrote A M. R. P. Pablo Ramon in honor of the Ateneo rector

Influential and Significant Figures in UST

• Dominican Professors at UST favoritism toward Spaniards and unfair treatment fueled Rizal's nationalist ideals and satirical portrayals of corrupt friars in Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
• Paciano Mercado also against studying law with advise to go with medicine and also shaped Rizal's anti-colonial sentiments
• Leonor Rivera and the tragic love story of María Clara and Crisostomo Ibarra in Noli Me Tangere
• Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila and El Consejo de los Dioses, proved his intelletual and that Filipinos could match Spaniards intellectually
• El Compañerismo was a brotherhood of Filipino students who supported each other academically and socially, similar to Dumas' musketeers
• Alexander Dumas literary style inspired Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo

Rizal's Travels to Spain

• primary reasons were the inadequacy of medicine from UST's medical training to treat his mothers blindness
• On May 3, 1882 he left Manila to study abroad, beginning his journey toward national awakening and resistance to foreign rule
• Observed fellow passengers, and began disliking those that spoke poorly of the Phillipines
• His first stopover was in Singapore, where he admired its development and confident citizens
• Later his journey through Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Aden (Yemen)
• Passing the Suez Canal, he arrived in Port Said, Egypt, and later stopped in Naples, Italy, before reaching Marseille, France and bought a French novel
• Barcelona later appreciated it compared to other European places in that European City
• stayed there for the summer, writing essays and articles for local newspapers

Rizal Studies in Madrid

• José Rizal enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid on November 3, 1882, studying Medicine and Philosophy while also taking lessons in languages, painting, sculpture, shooting, and fencing

Romantic Episodes

• Rizal developed a romantic interest in Consuelo Ortega but refrained from pursuing her due to loyalty to Leonor Rivera and respect for his friend Eduardo de Lete
• Rizal also became involved with the Circulo Hispano-Filipino, a reformist group. and composed a poem titled Me Piden Versos

Entry Into Freemasonry

• Liberal and republican-minded people whom Rizal met and befriended were freemasons and Rizal joined the Freemasons in Madrid in 1883

The Speech

• On June 25, 1884, Rizal, delivered a speech honoring Filipino painters Juan Luna and Felix Resurrección Hidalgo
• He emphasized that genius is not exclusive to any race, which angered reactionary Spaniards

Completion of Studies

• Rizal earned the title Licenciado en Medicina from the Universidad Central de Madrid, and friend Máximo Viola helped him pay for his certificate and practice license
• Rizal completed his studies in Philosophy and Letters, and during this time he began writing Noli Me Tangere
• Rizal continued to specialize in ophthalmology, training under Dr. Louis de Wecker in Paris, Dr. Otto Becker in Heidelberg, and other German eye doctors

France

• November 1885, he arrived in Paris and started writing his novel Noli me Tangere in Spain, and he worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Wecker, where he focused on studying eye ailments

germany

• February 1886, he arrived in Heidelberg, and he worked at the University Eye Hospital under Dr. Otto Becker to further his specialization in Ophthalmology
• Berlin, where he associated with prominent scientists and scholars, which influenced his nationalist ideals, shaping his vision for the future of the Philippines