Rizal studied at the University of Santo Tomas from 1877-1882. He took courses in philosophy, letters, and medicine. As a student, he faced discrimination from Spanish professors and fought against insults from Spanish students. He decided to excel in his studies and literary contests to fight back. However, he was unhappy with the outdated teaching methods and hostility at UST. He ultimately decided to finish his medical studies abroad in Spain where he hoped to find more tolerant professors.

1. CHAPTER 5
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)

2. • Rizal tragic first romance, with its bitter disillusionment, did not
adversely affect his studies in UST.
• His love for higher education proved to be greater than his love for a
pretty girls.
• In first year he take the course in PHILOSOPHYAND
LETTER(18677-78)
• He transfer to medical course under the Dominicans, rival educators
of Jesuits
• He completed vocational course in surveying.
• As THOMASIAN, he won more literary laurels, had more romances
with girls and fought against Spanish student.

3. MOTHER’S OPPOSITION TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Mother’s opposition to higher education
• After graduating with highest honor from the ATENEO. He studied at UNIVERSITY OF
SANTO TOMAS in order to prepare himself for a career
• ( Bachelor of Art degree in Spanish time, is equivalent to high school diploma today)
• His brother Francisco and Paciano want to pursue his higher learning but his mother Doña
Teodora did not want to study anymore
• His mother believed that too much knowledge would imperil her son’s life. She was thinking
of the safety of her son.
• His mother knew the fate of the Filipino intellectuals FATHER BURGOS, DR. ANTONIO
MA. REGIDOR, JOSE MA. BASA and other exiles of 1872-who were executed or exiled by
the Spanish authorities, and she blamed their sad fate to their learning.
• Jose Alberto Alonso(uncle of Rizal)- educated abroad ang could speak Spanish, French,
English, and German
• “Did she have a presentiment of what was going to happen to me ? “ – he wrote in his
memoirs remembering his mothers objection.

4. Rizal Enters the University
• April 1877
• He studied nearly 16 year old at University of Santo Tomas taking PHILOSOPHY
AND LETTER.
• He enroll this course with 2 reason
1. His father like it
2. He was “ still uncertain as to what career to follow” he write this to Father Pablo Ramon
• First year (1877-78) in UST he, studied COSMOLOGY, METAPHYSICS, THEODICY
and HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY.
• Hi took up medicine (1878-79) preparatory medical course, he is regular first student
1. He wanted to be a physician so that he might cure his mothers failing eyesight
2. The father Rector of the Ateneo, whom he consulted for a choice of career, and Fr. Recto
answer his letter, recommending medicine.
• .

5. • FINISHES SURVEYING Course in ateneo(1898)
• He took vocational course leading to the title of Perito Agrimensor(expert
surveyor).
• He excelled in all subject in surveying Course in Ateneo, with gold medals in
agriculture and topography.
• At the age of 17 , he passed the final examination in the surveying course but
he will not granted the title as surveyor because he is below age and the
tittle issued to him on Nov. 25, 1881.
• Even he is studying in UST he frequently visit Ateneo because hi is loyal to
the Ateneo.
• He actively participate in Ateneo’S extra-curricular activities.
• Academic of Spanish Literature( President)
• Academic of Natural Science (Secretary)
• Marian Congregation ( Secretary)
FINISHES SURVEYING COURSE IN
ATENEO(1898)

6. ROMANCE WITH OTHER GIRLS
• He was a romantic dreamer who like to sip the “nectar of love”
• His first love had made him wiser In the ways of romance.
• he paid court to a young woman in Calamba. He called her MISS L. ( Fair with
seductive and attractive eyes).
• Two reason for his change of heart:
1. The sweet memory of Segunda was still in his heart.
2. His father objected to the match.
• During his sophomore year in UST he boarded in the house of Doña Concha
Leyva in Intramuros.
• Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday - neighboor of Doña Concha, parent of
Leonor Valenzuela.
• He courted Leonor Valenzuela who was a tall girl “ almost as tall as jose”

7. • He send her love notes written in invisible ink
• Leonor Rivera- cousin or Rizal from Camiling, Rizal next
romance, Daughter of Antonio Rivera
- She Studied in La Concordia College
- She born in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11, 19867
- She was frail, beautiful girl, “tender as a budding
flower with kindly, wistful eye”
• Rizal and Leonor became engaged.
• Casa Tomasina- boarding house manage by his uncle Antonio
Rivera

8. INVISIBLE INK

9. VICTIM OF SPANISH OFFICER’S BRUTALITY
• During the summer vacation of Rizal in Calamba, he was walking in
the street he was tasted by the spanish brutality and this is first time.
• The reason is that he did not salute nor say a courteous “Good
evening”, to the man reflection , and it is the lieutenant of the Guardia
civil.
• He reported the incident to General Primo de Rivera, but nothing
happen because he was just an Indio.
• In a letter to Blumentrit, dated March 21, 1887 he related “I went to the
Captain-General but I could obtain no justice; my wound lasted two
week.”

10. TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH
• 1887 Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of manila, where the
literary contest was held. It offered a prize for the best poem by native or mestizo
and this time Rizal was already 18. He submitted a poem entitled A La Juventud
Filipino (to the Filipino youth)
• He win the first price, and the price was as silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated
Gold ribbon.
• This is an inspiring poem of flawless form.
• The message of this poem to the Filipino youth is that “rise from lethargy, to let his
genius fly swifter than the wind and descend with art and science to break the chain
that has long bound the poetic genius of the country.
• This poem is a classic in Philippines literature for two reason:
1. Great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by
Spanish authority
2. It gives for the first time nationalistic concept that the Philippines is the
“fatherland of the Filipinos.”

11. THE COUNCIL OF THE GOD’S
• 1880 Artistic-Literary Lyceum opened another literary contest to
commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain’s
glorified man-of-letters
• Don Quirote – the famous author.
• The contest was open for both Filipino and Spaniards.
• El Consejo de los Dioses (The council of the God’s)
• He won and the price was a gold Ring on which was engraved the bust of
Cervantes. The Spanish Writer D.N. del Puzo, won second price
• First time in the history that an Indio and 19 yrs. old Filipino and medical
student beat the Spanish writer.
• The allegory established a parallel among HOMER,VIRGIL, and
CERVANTES.
• Trumpet to Homer, Lyre to Virgil and Laurel to Cervantes.

12. OTHER RIZALIAN LITERARY WORKS
• Aside from studying medicine, Rizal produced other poem, and drama.
• Junto al Pasig (beside the pasig)- drama that stage by Ateneans on Dec. 8,
1880. Performed during the annual celebration of the feast day of the
Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the Ateneo. It was a melodrama and a
mediocre.
• Filipinas – (1880 )this is a sonnet poem, he urged all Filipino artist to glorify
the Philippines.
• Abd-el-Azis y Mohama- (1879) it was declaimed by an Ateneans, Manuel
Fernandez , on the night of December 8, 1879.
• Al M.R.P Pablo Ramon, Recto del Ateneo, en Sus Dias. He wrote this poem
as an expression of affection to Father Pablo Ramon, the Ateneo Rector who
been so kind and helpful to Him.

13. CHAMPION OF THE FILIPINO STUDENT
• It is the frequent fight against the arrogant spanish student.
• INDIO, CHONGO!- term they use to insulted their brown classmate
• KASTILA, BANGUS!- latter retaliated
• Rizal participated to the student brawl, and he owing to his skill in fencing,
his prowess in wrestling, and his indomitable courage.
• The Three Musketeers- his three close friend fired by the duman’s novel
• He is a Treville in the group, the chief, he is also the chief in secret society
of the Filipino student “Campañerismo” (comradeship) it was organize in
year 1880 by Galicano Apacible the secretary in the secret organization and
they called “Companions of Jehu” are the member.

14. RIZAL’S UNHAPPY DAYS AT UST
• UST suffocating to his sensitive spirit.
• He was unhappy at this Dominicans institution because :
1. The dominican proffesor were hostile to him
2. The Filipino Student were racially discriminated and;
3. The method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

15. El Filibusterismo
• He describe how Filipino students were humiliated by their
Dominican professors and how backwards was the method of
instruction especially when teaching natural science.
• In Chapter XIII entitled “The class in physics” this science subject
was taught without using any laboratory experiments. The
microscope and other laboratory instruments are keep for showcases
to be seen by visitors but student could not even touch them.

16. • In his time, the Filipinos are thirst for knowledge was not encouraged by the
Dominican professors of University of Santo Tomas. Because of unfriendly
attitude towards his professors, Rizal the most brilliant graduate of Ateneo
failed to win high scholastic honor. Although his grades in first year of
Philosophy course were all “excellent” but not impressive in his Fourth
years of medicine. His scholastic records in medicine ( 1878-1882) are as
follows:

17. DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD
• Rizal decided to study in Spain.
• He could no longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and
hostility in the UST
• His uncle Antonio Rivers encourage him to study abroad and both
Paciano and Saturnina, whom he contacted secretly.
• Rizal’s parent, Leonor and the Spanish authorities did not know that he
will study abroad in order to finish his medical studies in Spain, which
the professor is more tolerant and understanding than those in UST.

18. Thank You mga daiiiii