Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class. Being a new comer and

knowing little Spanish He was an externo

To improve his Spanish: Rizal took private lessons in

Santa Isabel College during the noon recesses, when other Ateneo students were playing or gossiping.

He paid 3 pesos for those extra Spanish lessons, but it was money well spent.

He did not enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison.

He visited his mother and told her his grades.

PROPHECY OF MOTHER’S RELEASEthree month’s time.she likened to Joseph the Dreamer (interpreter of dreams)

First favorite novel: The Count of Monte Cristo by

Alexander Dumassufferings of Edmond Dantes (the

hero) in prison, his escape from the dungeon, his finding a buried treasure on the island of Monte Cristo

revenge on his enemies Travels in the Philippines’ by Dr.

Feodor Jagor, Rizal was impressed:Jagor’s observations: defects of

Spanish colonizationHis prophecy: someday Spain

would lose the Philippines America would come to succeed

her as colonizer.

Won only one medal --- in Latin.

He failed to win the medal in Spanish because: his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.

Became an interno

Rizal had the highest affection and respect for Father Sanchezwhom he considered his

best professorHe topped all his

classmates in all subjectswon 5 medals at the

end of the school term

At 16: received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors.

Commencement Day was a time of bitter sweetness.

Prayed to the Virgin: “when I should step into

that world, which inspired me with so much terror, she would protect me.”

Was a campus leader outside the classroom

Secretary of a Marian Congregation

Member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Aside from writing poetry, he devoted his spare time to fine arts. He studied painting and sculpture.

Gymnastics and fencing.

Carved the image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of

Batikuling (Philippine Hardwood) = pocket knife.

Fr. Lleonart, was impressed:requested him to carve

for him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Felix Roxas (contemporary of Rizal)Related Jose’s resignation to pain

(patience) and forgivenessJose was hit in the face by one of

the thrown books from two quarreling students.

He did not raise a cry of protest, although his wounded face was bleeding.

Manuel Xeres Burgos:Rizal’s predilection to help the

helpless at the risk of his own life.Jose courageously climbed the high

cathedral tower and retrieved the kite of his board mate.

“My first Inspiration”Dedicated to her mother on her birthday

“Through Education, Our Motherland receives Light”significant role which education plays in the

progress and welfare of a nationEducation knows how to tame barbarous nations

--- from savages create heroic fame“To the Child Jesus”A Celestial King would rather choose to be a

shepherd for his sheep than to be sovereign“To the Virgin Mary”

Mary was her spiritual fortitude/ sustenance His anguish from death is set free because of his

faith with her

After his graduation, Jose experience his first romance --- “that painful experience which comes to nearly all adolescents”

Segunda Katigbak, a pretty 14 y.o. Batanguena from Lipa.

His grandmother’s guests urged him to draw Segunda’s portrait. Jose was blushing every time that she was looking at him.

Their love was hopeless :Segunda was already engaged to be married to her

townmate, Manuel Luz. His first romance was ruined by his own shyness:

He visited La Concordia to say goodbyeShe waved and smiled at him while her carriage

passed by him when her steamer docked in Binan.

First course: Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in this course for 2 reasons:His father liked itHe was still “uncertain as

to what career to pursue”After a year: Jose

received the Ateneo Rector’s advice to study medicineReason of Jose: to cure his mother’s growing blindness

During his first school term at UST, Rizal also studied in AteneoAt 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.

Although he was a Thomasian, he frequently visited Ateneo.

“Miss L” The sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh

in his heart

His father did not like the family of Ms. L

Leonor Valenzuela (“Orang”)Daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitan

Sanday: next-door neighbors of Dona Concha Leyva (where Jose boarded)

Jose taught Orang the secret of reading in the invisible ink by heating it over a candle or lamp

Leonor RiveraIn order to camouflage their

intimate relationship from their parents and friends, Jose knew Leonor under the name of “Taimis”

Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargyIt expressed the

nationalistic concept that the Filipinos, and not the foreigners:were the fair hope of the fatherland.

Prize: silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon.

Artistic-Literary Lyceum opened a contest to commemorate the 4th centennial death of Cervantes,Spain’s glorified man-of-letters

and famous author of Don Quixote.

The Spanish community in Manila, howled in fury : winning author was an Indio.

Prize: a gold ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes

Rizal proved:the fallacy of the alleged

Spanish superiority over the Filipinos

The gods discuss the comparative merits of these great writers

They decide to give the trumpet to Homer, lyre to Virgil, and the laurel to Cervantes.

PAKIL Vicenta

Ybardolaza, who skillfully played the harp.

PAGSANJAN It was the native

town of Leonor Valenzuela

To see the Pagsanjan Falls

Hostility between Spanish & Filipino students often exploded in angry street rumbles.

founded a secret society of Filipino Students: Companerismo (Comradeship)

Members were called “Companions of Jehu” --- after the valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans and ruled the Kingdom of Israel for 28 years.

Led the members in street fights.

The Dominican professors were hostile to him

The Filipino students were racially discriminated

Method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

RIZAL’S SECRET MISSIONTo finish Medicine in Spain

Jose was to observe keenly the life, culture, and laws of the European nations

to prepare himself in liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.

Jose thought it was: ugly, with dirty little inns and inhospitable residents

Because he happened to stay upon his arrival at a dingy inn situated on an unimpressive narrow street in the town’s most ugly side.

he backed out for two reasons:He was engaged to

Leonor RiveraHis friend in the

Propaganda movement, Eduardo de Lete,was madly in love

with Consuelo had no wish to break

their friendship because of a pretty girl.

Rizal was impressed freely criticized the

government policies and the friars.

His only Masonic writing was a lecture titled: “Science, Virtue and Labor.”

Humanity cannot be redeemed while reason is not free,

while faith would want to impose on facts, while whims are laws, and while there are nations who subjugate others.

victory of the Filipino artist in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid

Artistic achievements transcended geographical frontiers and racial origins,

for genius is universal --- “genius knows no country, genius sprouts everywhere

Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho or The Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace

Caused by the address of Dr. Miguel Morayta, professor of history, at the opening ceremonies of the academic year

freedom of science and teacher ---

such a liberal view was condemned by the Bishops

Two Filipinos were taken prisoners. This is why Jose needs to disguise himself three times

He was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid

He did not bother to secure the post-graduate degree of Doctor in Medicine because :

it was only for teaching purposes.

He knew that with his brown color and asian racial ancestry no friar-owned university or college in the Philippines would accept him in its faculty staff.