Rizal Enters the Ateneo On June 10, 1872, Jose, accompanied by Paciano, went to manila.

t to manila. Jose took the entrance examinations at the college of San Juan de Letran and passed. They returned in calamba for few days to attend the town fiesta. His father, who first wished him to study at Letran changed his mind and decide to send him in Ateneo instead. Upon return to manila, jose accompanied by paciano, matriculated at the Ateneo Municipal. Father Magin Fernando (college registrar), refused to admit him for two reason. (1)He was late for registration and (2)He was sickly and Undersized for age.(He was then 11 y/o). He was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo, upon the intercession of Manuel Xerez Burgos. He was the first of his family to adopt the surname Rizal. family name Mercado become suspicious of Spanish authorities. Ateneo during his time was located in Intramuros, within the walls of manila. He first boarded in a house outside Intramuros, 25 min. walk from college. The boarding house was owned by a spinster named titay, who owned the rizal family the amount of 300.

Jesuit System of Education System of education given by the Jesuit at the Ateneo is advanced from other colleges. Rigid discipline, religious instruction, physical features , fine arts and scientific studies is promoted. Student heard mass in the morning. Class is opened and closed with prayers. Students are divided into two groups and student fought for position. (1) Roman empire consisting of the internos (boarder) (2) Carthaginians empire consisting of the externos (non-boarder).. Each of these empires has its rank. Best student (emperor), second Best (tribune), third best( Decurion), fourth best (centurion) and the fifth best (standard bearer). Student could challenge any officer in his empire , his opponent could lose his position if he committed three mistakes. Two groups were in perpetual warfare for supremacy. They had distinctive banners, red for the roman and blue for the Carthaginians During Rizals time student wear uniform. The coat material was called Rayadillo.

Rizals First year in Ateneo (1872-1873) During his first day he heard mass at the college chapel and prayed for guidance and success. He went to class, where he saw a great number of Spaniards, mestizos and Filipino boys. Rizals first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. He was an externo, hence he was assigned under the Carthaginians, occupying the end ofd the line. As if to prove to his Spanish and mestizos classmates the intellectual capacity of an Indio. In a months time , however, he was at the head , the class emperor. To improve his Spanish, he took private lessons in Santa Isabel College during the noon recess and paid three pesos for that. In the second half of the year in Ateneo, he placed second at the end of the year although all his grades were still marked excellent.

Summer Vacation (1873) Rizal returned to Calamba but did not enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison. To cheer him, up sister Nenemg (Saturnina) brought her to tanawan with her. He told her his brilliant grades in the Ateneo and tearfully embraced each other. Summer vacation ended and went back to manila. This time he boarded inside Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes steet. His land lady was an old widow named Doa pepay.

Second Year in Ateneo( 1873-74) To regain his lost class leadership, he studied harder. Once more, he became emperor. Some of his classmates were new. Some of them were three boys from Bian, who had been his classmates in the school of Maestro Justiniano. At the end of school year Rizal received excellent grades and a gold medal. With scholastic honor he returned in Calamba in March, 1874 for summer vacation.

Prophecy of mothers release Rizal lost no time in going top Santa Cruz to visit his mother in the provincial jail. He gladdened Doa Teodora with his scholastic triumph at the Ateneo and tell some tales about his professors and fellow students. Doa Teodora told her favorite son about her dream the previous night. Rizal interpreting such dream, said that she would be released from prison in three months time Rizals prophecy became true, barely three months Doa Teodora was set free. Doa Teodora went back in Calamba, was more proud of her son Jose who was like the youthful Joseph in the bible.

Teenage Interest in Reading During summer vacation in the year 1874 in Calamba, Rizal had interest in reading romantic novels. The first favorite novel of Rizal was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. He read numerous other romantic novels, with deep interest, enriching his fecund mind. He asked his father to buy him a complete set of the Hisstoria Universal of Cesar Cantus which he conscientiously read. Enabling him to won more prizes in Ateneo. Later Rizal read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor (German scientist) What impressed him in this book where (1) Jagors keen observation of defects of Spanish colonization and (2) his prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines and America would come to succeed as a colonizer

Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75) Rizal returned to Ateneo for his junior year. After the opening of classes her mother arrived and joyously told him that she was released. Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies as in the previous year. His grade remained excellent in all subjects but he only won one medalin latin. He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken in Spanish in not fluently sonorous. At the end of the school year (march, 1875) he returned in Calamba for summer vacation. He was not impressed by hi s scholastic work. He said I returned dissatisfied to my home town.

Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76) On June 14, 1875 he became an internee in the Ateneo. One of his professors this time was Fr. Francisco Sanchez, a great educator and scholar ( whom he considered his most beloved professor in Ateneo). He inspired Rizal to study harder and write poetry. Rizal resumed his studies with vigor and zest. He topped all his classmates and won five medals at the end of the school term. He returned to Calamba for his summer vacation (march 1876) and proudly offered his five medals and excellent rattling to his parents. He was happy that he was able to repay his father somewhat for his sacrifices.

Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77) After summer vacation, Rizal went back in manila in June,1876 for his last year in Ateneo. His studies continued to fare well. He excelled in all subjects. The most brilliant atenean of his time, He was truly The pride of the Jesuit. Rizal finished his last year in Ateneo in a blaze of glory. Obtaining the highest grade in all subjects.

Graduation with Highest Honor Rizal Graduated at the head of his class. 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 the highest honor. The night before graduation, his last night at the college dormitory, he could not sleep. Early the following morning, the day of graduation , he prayed fervently at the college chapel and commended my life, as he said, to the virgin so that she might protect me when I set foot in that world which inspired me with such dread Rizal did graduate with a grade of Sobresaliente or excellent in all the subjects at the Ateneo municipal. But, we must never assume that he graduated valedictorian or top of his class. The record shows that of the 12 graduating students in Rizals batch, nine had Sobresaliente grades. Eight other people had the same grade! By Rizals own admission, one of his classmates was better than he.

Extra-curricular Activities at Ateneo An emperor inside the classroom, he was a campus leader outside. He became the secretary of the exclusive Marian Congregation. He composed poems that earned praise and admiration from his Jesuit teachers. He studied painting under the famous Spanish painter, Agustin Saez Sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus(Filipino sculptor). He continued his membership in the Academy of Spanish Literature of which he became the president, and in the Academy of Philosophical and Natural Sciences, of which he was elected secretary. He was also engaged in gymnastic and fencing.

Sculptural Works in Ateneo Rizal carved statuette the most admirable of which were those of the sacred heart of Jesus and of Our Blessed Lady on a piece of Batikuling(Philippine hardwood).

Anecdotal on Rizal the Atenean One of Rizals contemporaries in the Ateneo was Felix M. Roxas, He related an incident of Rizals school days in the Ateneo which reveals the heros resignation to pain and forgiveness. Rizal was studying his lesson at the study-hall when two ateneans , Manzano and Lesaca quarreled and violently hurled book to each other. Rizal was hit in the face by one of the thrown books. He did not raise a cry of protest. He went to the infirmary and undergone treatment for several days and continued to attend his class with no feeling of bitterness toward the guilty party. Another anecdote on Rizal was related by Manuel Xeres Burgos. Heard Julio Melliza from Iloilo, one of the smallest boarders cryingbecause his kite was caught by the vines growing on the belfry of the manila cathedral, which is near the boarding house. Rizal closed the book he was reading and told Julio not to cry, for he would try to retrieve the kite. True to his promise he climbed the high cathedral tower and recovered the kite.

Poems Written in Ateneo It was Doa 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 Fr. Sanchez who inspired Rizal. The first poem Rizal probably wrote during his days in the Ateneo was Mi Primera Inspiration. Which was dedicate to his mother on her birth day. He also wrote poems in education he believe d in the significant role which education plays in the progress and welfare of a nation. He also wrote Religious poems to express his devotion to his catholic faith in melodious poetry.

First Romance of Rizal After his graduation in Ateneo ,who was sixteen years old, experienced his first romance. The girl was Segunda Katigbak, a pretty fourteen- year old It all started when he and mariano segunda visited his grandmother who lived in trozo, manila The last time they talked to each other was one Thursday in December ,1877, when Christmas vacation was start to begin. He visited Segunda at La Concordia College to say good-bye. The next day Rizal arrived and her mother did not recognize him at first due to his failing eye sight. His sister gaily welcomed him, teasing him about segunda. The following day segunda and her family would not anchor in Calamba because of the strong wind. She returned to lipa and married Manuel Luz.

References: Rizal without the overcoat (revised edition) by Ambeth Ocampo Rizals life, works and Writings: Their impact in our national identity by Diosdado G. Capino Jose Rizals life, works and Writings by Gregorio F. Zaide

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY School of Nursing Baguio City

RIZAL IN ATENEO
(THFS 6:00-7:00) s403
Submitted by: Victorio, Leo Marjo R. Prades, Joji Waren Tan, Queenie Jade Q ,Aileen , Joseph

Submitted to: Mr. Gabriel Pinas