Rizal's Education Journey (1872-1889) PDF

FORMAL SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE Ateneo Education: Refinement of Rizal’s Skills (1872-1877) Managed by the Jesuit priests Passed the admission to Ateneo Obtained his Bachelor of Arts with Highest honors Had good scholastic records His favorite novel: The Count of Monte Crist...

FORMAL SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE Ateneo Education: Refinement of Rizal’s Skills (1872-1877) Managed by the Jesuit priests Passed the admission to Ateneo Obtained his Bachelor of Arts with Highest honors Had good scholastic records His favorite novel: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas Mother was imprisoned while he was in Ateneo Extracurricular activities: Bookworm; Campus leader; “Emperor” in the class room; Member: Marian Congregation; Poetry lessons; Fine arts – sculpture Wrote poems in Ateneo There were only 12 students who graduated, 9 of them (including Rizal) got grades with “excellent” marks Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez: Rizal’s best professor in University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882) Managed by the Dominican priests (Dominicans and Jesuits were rival educators) April 1877, enrolled in Philosophy and Letter for two reasons: His father liked it and he was not certain as to the career he would pursue. Mother opposed son’s pursuit for higher learning that if he gets to know more, they will cut off his head. 1877-1878: finished surveying at Ateneo It was during this period that he experienced the Spanish brutality when he failed to salute a Guardia Civil. Spanish students on campus called the Filipino students “chongos” (monkeys); in return the Filipinos called them “Bangus” (Milkfish). 1880: Founded the secret society in UST called Compañerism (comradeship); this led Filipino students into combats against Disadvantage at UST Dominican professors were hostile. There was racial discrimination. The method of teaching was obsolete. He took up medicine to help the failing eyesight of his mother. Paciano advised him to go to Europe To seek more knowledge on Western medicine Help the Filipino cause Observe the life and culture, language, commerce, government, laws in Europe to liberate the people He left for Europe on May 3, 1882 (SS Salvador) Education in Europe On November 2, 1882, he enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid; On June 21, 1884, he was given the license in medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid; He studied and passed all subjects leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Reasons why he was not awarded his Doctor’s Diploma a. He did not present the thesis required for graduation. b. He did not pay the corresponding fees.  M.D. was conferred to him posthumously – in 1961- 100 years after his birth.  June 19, 1885 (Rizal’s 24th birthday). He was awarded the degree of licentiate in Philosophy and letters by the Universidad Central de Madrid with the rating of “EXCELLENT” (Sobresaliente) The Travels of Dr. Rizal Rizal’s Secret Mission To observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny. Secret Departure for Spain Purpose: to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities and friars. Paciano, his only brother, knew about his secret departure for Spain. To Singapore: Departure: May 3, 1882 on board Spanish Steamer Salvador and arrived in Singapore on May 9, 1882. Registered at Hotel de La Paz (and stayed for 2 days there) From Singapore to Colombo: He boarded the ship Djemnah (French Steamer) on May 11, 1882. On May 18, 1882, he reached Colombo, capital of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He had a brief stop- over at Aden, proceeded to city of Suez, the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal and passed by port Said, to see the interesting sights. To Europe: He reached Naples on June 11, 1882. On June 12, 1882, his ship docked at French harbor, Marseilles where he spent 2 ½ days; he visited the famous Chateau d’ If, the prison house of Dantes in “The Count of Monte Cristo.” On June 15, 1882, left Marseilles by train and reached First visit to Paris In March 1883 – joined Masonic Lodge. His reason why he became a Mason: To ensure aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines. June 17 – August 20 – journeying to Paris Financial worries: failure of farm produce due to drought and locusts Rizal’s Salute to Luna and Hidalgo Spolarium – Juan Luna won first prize Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace – by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo Dr. Miguel Morayta – professor of history; his address resulted to student demonstrations Two sad news he received: Cholera was ravaging Manila according to Paciano’s letter date September 15. Chengoy related the unhappiness of Leonor Rivera. Life in Madrid On November 3, 1882, he enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid. He enrolled in Medicine, Philosophy and Letters all at the same time. He wrote La Senorita, a poem dedicated to C.O.y P.; written on August 22, 1883. He led a SPARTAN (disciplined life): tight budget, spent most of his time reading; his only extravagance was on lottery tickets. Paris to Berlin (1885-1887) November 1885 – left Paris Rizal went to Paris and Germany to specialize in ophthalmology Reason: he wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment German scientists he met: Dr. Feodor Jagor, Dr. Hans Meyer, Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, and Dr. Rudolph Virchow Maximo Viola was his friend in Barcelona (a medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan. Rizal served as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Wecker, French ophthalmologist (1852 -1906) Visit to United States He arrived on April 28, 1888 Positive Impressions of America Material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing industries and busy factories; Drive and energy of the American people; Natural beauty of the land; High standard of living; Opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants Negative Impressions of America Lack of racial equality “America is the land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites” London (1888-1889) On May 16, 1888, he left New York for Liverpool On May 24, 1888, he arrived at Liverpool, England On May 25, 1888, he went to London Three reasons why he chose to live in London To improve his knowledge of the English language. To study and annotate Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, a rare copy of which he heard to be available in the British Museum. Safe place for him to carry on his fight against Spanish tyranny. Other activities in London Completed annotating Morga’s book. Wrote many articles of La Solidaridad. Penned a famous letter to the young women of Malolos.  Carried on his voluminous correspondence with Blumentritt and relatives. Romance with Gertrude Beckett. He came to know Dr. Reinhold Rost, librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; he called Rizal, “a pearl of a man.” Bad News from Home Persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed the “Anti-Friar Petition of 1888” Persecution of the Calamba Tenants. Furious attacks on Rizal in Spanish newspapers. Manuel T. Hidalgo was executed by Gov. Gen. Weyler to Bohol without due process of law. Laureano Viado was arrested and jailed in Bilibid Prison Good News Rev. Vicente Garcia’s defense of the Noli against the attacks of the friars. On December 11, 1888, he went to Spain visiting Madrid and Barcelona and met Marcelo H. del Pilar and Mariano Ponce for the first time. On February 15, 1888, Graciano Lopez Jaena founded La Solidaridad in Barcelona. On December 31, 1888, inauguration of Association La Solidaridad; chosen as honorary president. He wrote La Vision del Fray Rodriguez (The vision of Fray Rodriguez), a pamphlet in defense against the attack on his Noli and used the pen name “Dimas Alang” in Barcelona. March 19, 1889, he bade goodbye to London. Paris On March 19, 1889, he arrived in Paris. He organized a society called Kidlat Club; its members pledged to excel in the intellectual and physical prowess in order to win the admiration of the foreigners, particularly the Spaniards. He published his annotated editions of Morga’s Sucesos. Founded three Filipino societies, the Kidlat Club, Indios Bravos, RDLM (RDLM Society –founded by Rizal in Paris during the Universal Exposition. Dr. Leoncio Lopez-Rizal – the grand nephew of the hero, the society has a symbol of countersign represented by the circle divided into three parts by two semi-circles placed outside an upper, lower, left, and right sides of the circle. RDLM is believed to be stand for Reddecion de los Malayos(Redemption of the Malays). Belgium On January 28, 1890 – left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium. Wrote his second novel which was a continuation of his Noli. Wrote articles for La Solidaridad and letters for his family and friends. Bad news from home: The Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse. Dominican order filed a suit in court to dispose the Rizal family of their lands in Calamba. Paciano, Antonio Lopez, and Silvestre Ubaldo were deported to Mindoro. He planned to go home but something happened that made him change his mind. (They lost the case against the Dominicans in Manila, but they appealed it to the Supreme Madrid (1890-1891) Leonor Rivera (his long-time girlfriend) married a British engineer. Failure to get justice for family. Unfortunate deportees were arrested in Calamba and shipped out in Manila in September 6, 1890. Towards the end of August 1890, Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid. After drinking so many glasses of wine, the guests became more loquacious and the conversations flow freely. One of them, Antonio Luna, became drunk. At that time, Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nelly Boustead. Rizal heard him and they had a duel. And then Luna realized that he made a fool of himself and apologized for his bad remark which was accepted by Rizal and they became good friends again. Del Pilar, the fearless lawyer and journalist, was gaining prestige in Madrid for his vigorous editorials in La Solidaridad, which he came Aims of La Solidaridad Portray vividly the deplorable conditions of the Philippines. Work peacefully for political and social reforms. Combat the evil forces of medievalism and reaction. Advocate liberal ideas and progress. Champion the legitimate aspirations of then Filipino people for democracy and happiness. Thank You