FIRST YEAR

1. FIRST YEAR • 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 Ateneostudents were playing or gossiping. • He paid 3 pesos for those extra Spanish lessons, but it was money well spent.

2. SUMMER VACATION: FRESHMAN • He did not enjoy his vacation because his mother was in prison. • He visited his mother and told her his grades.

3. SECOND YEAR • PROPHECY OF MOTHER’S RELEASE • three month’s time. • she likened to Joseph the Dreamer (interpreter of dreams)

4. SUMMER: SOPHOMORE • First favorite novel: • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas • sufferings 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 colonization • His prophecy: someday Spain would lose the Philippines • America would come to succeed her as colonizer.

5. THIRD YEAR • Won only • one medal --- • in Latin. • He failed to win the medal in Spanish because: • his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.

6. FOURTH YEAR • Became an • interno • Rizal had the highest affection and respect for Father Sanchez • whom he considered his best professor • He topped all his classmates in all subjects • won 5 medals at the end of the school term

7. GRADUATION IN HIGHEST HONORS • 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.”

8. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES • 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.

9. SCULPTURAL WORKS • 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.

11. ANECDOTES (testimonials) • Felix Roxas (contemporary of Rizal) • Related Jose’s resignation to pain (patience) and forgiveness • Jose 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.

12. POEMS • “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 nation • Education 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

14. FIRST ROMANCE • After his graduation, Jose experience his first romance --- “that painful experience which comes to nearly all adolescents” • SegundaKatigbak, 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 goodbye • She waved and smiled at him while her carriage passed by him when her steamer docked in Binan.

17. CHAP 5: MEDICAL STUDIES AT UST • First course: Philosophy and Letters. He enrolled in this course for 2 reasons: • His father liked it • He was still “uncertain as to what career to pursue” • After a year: Jose received the Ateneo Rector’s advice to study medicine • Reason of Jose: to cure his mother’s growing blindness

18. SURVEYING COURSE IN ATENEO • During his first school term at UST, Rizal also studied in Ateneo • At 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.

19. ROMANCES WITH OTHER GIRLS • “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 Rivera • In order to camouflage their intimate relationship from their parents and friends, Jose knew Leonor under the name of “Taimis”

20. TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH • Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy • It 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.

21. COUNCIL OF THE GODS • 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.

22. VISIT TO PAKIL & PAGSANJAN • PAKIL • Vicenta Ybardolaza, who skillfully played the harp. • PAGSANJAN • It was the native town of Leonor Valenzuela • To see the Pagsanjan Falls

23. CHAMPION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS • 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.

24. DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD • The Dominican professors were hostile to him • The Filipino students were racially discriminated • Method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

25. CHAPTER 6: SPAIN • RIZAL’S SECRET MISSION • To 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.

27. IMPRESSION ON BARCELONA • 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.

28. ROMANCE WITH CONSUELO Y ORTEGA • he backed out for two reasons: • He was engaged to Leonor Rivera • His 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.

29. RIZAL AS MASON • 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.

30. FINANCIAL WORRIES • The harvests of rice and sugarcane failed on account of drought and locusts. • The Manager of the Dominican-owned hacienda • increased the rentals of lands cultivated by the Rizal family. • Dreadful pest killed most of the turkeys. • Because he was broke, he was unable to take breakfast that day.

31. RIZAL'S SALUTE TO LUNA & HIDALGO • 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

32. Las VirgenesCristianasExpuestas al Populacho or The Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace

34. RIZAL INVOLVED IN STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS • 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

36. STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN • 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.