by:Leny Enriquez

1. RIZAL’S LIFE IN UST

2. Fortunately, Rizal’s tragic first romance, with
its bitter disillusionment, did not adversely
affect his studies in the University of Santo
Tomas. His love for higher education
proved to be greater than his love for a
pretty girl.Even his mother disapproved his
decision in enrolling to UST for higher
education because she believed that too
much knowledge will make Rizal a hot item
by the Spaniards.

3. In April, 1877, Rizal, who was then nearly 16 years
old, matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas,
taking 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 follow.”
He had written to the Father Pablo Ramon, Rector
of Ateneo, who had been good to him during his
student days in that college, asking for advice on the
choice of career. Unfortunately, the Father Rector
was in the Mindanao and during those days it took
several months for a letter to travel between Manila
and Mindanao.

4. Consequently, during his first
year term (1877-79) in the
UST, he studied :
1.Cosmology
2. Metaphysics
3. Theodicy
4. History of Philosophy

5. It was during the following school term
(1878-1879) that Rizal took up medicine,
enrolling simultaneously in the preparatory
medical course and the regular first year
medical course. The reasons why he studied
medicine were: (1) he wanted to be a
physician so that he might cure his mother’s
failing eyesight and (2) the Father Pablo
Ramon, Rector of Ateneo, whom he
consulted for a choice of career, finally
answered his letter, recommending
medicine.

6. When Rizal was a freshman medical student at
the University of Santo Tomas, he got his first
taste of Spanish brutality. One dark night in
Calamba, during his summer vacation in 1880, 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 or
say a courteous “Good Evening.” The vague
figure was a lieutenant of the Guardia Civil. With
a snarl, he turned upon Rizal, whipped out a
sword and brutally slashed the later on the back.

7. The wound was not serious, but it was
painful. When he recovered, Rizal reported
the incident to General Primo de Rivera, the
Spanish Governor-General of the
Philippines at that time. But nothing came
out of his complaint, because he was an
indio, and the abusive lieutenant was a
Spaniard. In a letter to Blumentritt, dated
March 21, 1887, he related: “I went to the
Captain-General but I could not obtain any
Justice; my wound lasted two weeks.

8. TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH (1879)
-Literary contest by Artistico-Literario (Artisitic-
Literary Lyceum)
- Rizal, 18 years old, submitted his poem entitled A
La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)
- The first prize, a feather shaped, gold ribbon
decorated silver pen was given to Rizal
- In the poem, Rizal beseeched the Filipino to rise
from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than
the wind and descend with art science to break the
chains that have long bound the spirit of
the people.

9. THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS (1880)
Another literary contest by the Artistic-Literary Lyceum to
commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes,
Spanish and author of Don Quixote.
Manuel De Cervantes – Spain’s glorified man of letter
- Rizal submitted an allegorical drama, El Consejo de los Dioses
(The Council of the Gods)
- The allegory was based on Greek classics
- Rizal was aided by Father Rector of the Ateneo in securing the
needed reference materials
- The contest was participated by priest, laymen, professors of
UST, newspapermen and scholars.
- Rizal won the first price; he received a gold ring engraved with
bust of Cervantes.

10. OTHER LITERARY WORKS
1879: Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma
A poem, declaimed by an Atenean, manuel Fernandez on
December 8, 1879 in honor of the Ateneo’s Patroness
1880: Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)
A zarzuela, staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880 on
the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the Ateneo.
Rizal wrote it as President of the Academy of Spanish Literature
1880: A Filipinas
A sonnet, for the album of the Society of Sculptors .Rizal
urged all Filipino artist to glorify the Philippines
1881: Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon
A poem, an expression of affection to Father Pablo Ramon,
the Ateneo rector

11. CHAMPION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
- There were frequent student brawls between
the Filipinos and the Spaniards
- 1880: Rizal founded Companerismo
(Comradeship), a secret society of Filipino
UST students. The members were called
“Companions of Jehu”.
- He was the chief of the society.
- His cousin, Galicano Apacible was the
secretary.

12. UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST
Rizal was unhappy in the Dominican
institution because:
* The Dominican professors were hostile to him
* The Filipino students were racially discriminated
against by the Spaniards
* The method of instruction was obsolete and
repressive.
* He failed to win high scholastic honors due to
the attitude of his professors.

13. ASSIGNMENT:
1. How would you compare the
Companerismo founded by Rizal in UST to
the fraternities nowadays?
2. Did the life of Rizal inspired you? In what
way?
3. Why do you think it is so easy for Rizal to
write poems, dramas and other written
works with exemplary results?