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 Ateneo students were playing or gossiping. He paid 3 pesos for those extra Spanish lessons, but it was money well spent.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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

FIRST ROMANCE 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 goodbye She waved and smiled at him while her carriage passed by him when her steamer docked in Binan.

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

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.

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”

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.