Rizal's Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882) PDF

CHAPTER V. MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF S ANTO TOMAS (1877- 1882) o OBJECTIVE: ANALYZE AND DESCRIBE THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL IN UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS  MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882) After finishing the first year of a course in Philosophy a...

CHAPTER V. MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF S ANTO TOMAS (1877- 1882) o OBJECTIVE: ANALYZE AND DESCRIBE THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL IN UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS  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 was surprised by his mother’s opposition, who was a woman of education and culture. Despite his mother’s opposition, Don Francisco told Paciano to accompany Rizal to Manila.  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. During the following term (1877-79) Rizal took up medical course upon the advised of Ateneo’s Rector to study medicine to be able to cure his mother’s growing  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  ROMANCE WITH THE 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  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. Rizal lived in Casa Tomasina No. 6 Calle Sto. Tomas, Intramuros Antonio Rivero – Rizal’s landlord-uncle and Leonor R I Z A L A S H E S TA RT H I S J U N I O R Y E A R S I N C A S A T O M A S I N A N O. 6 CALLE STO. TOMAS, INTRAMUROS 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  “ T O T H E F I L I P I N O YO U T H ” Hold high the brow See how in flaming zone And thou, in accents clear serene, Amid the shadows Of Phoebus, to Apelles O youth, where now thrown, dear ; you stand; The Spaniard’s holy Or by the brush’s magic Let the bright sheen hand art Of your grace be seen, A crown’s resplendent Takest from nature’s store Fair hope of my band a part, fatherland! Proffers to this Indian To fig it on the simple land. canvas’ length; Come now, thou genius grand, Thou, who now wouldst Go forth, and then the And bring down rise sacred fire inspiration; On wings of rich Of thy genius to the laurel With thy mighty hand, emprise, may aspire ; Swifter than the wind’s Seeking from Olympian To spread around the violation, skies fame, Raise the eager mind to Songs of sweetest And in victory acclaim, higher station. strain, Through wider spheres the Softer than ambrosial human name. Come down with rain; pleasing light Day, O happy day, Of art and science to Thou, whose voice divine Fair Filipinas, for thy land! the fight, Rivals Philomel’s refrain So bless the Power to-day  “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.  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’ and permission and blessings to go abroad, because he knew that they, especially his mother, would disapprove it. THANK YOU! GROUP 2