Life and Work of Rizal Courses on the life, works and writings of

Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me

TOPIC 1 Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included
RA NO. 1425 or The Rizal Law in the curricula of all schools, colleges and
INTRODUCTION universities, public or private: Provided, That in
Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal the collegiate courses, the original or
Law, mandates all educational institutions in the unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere
Philippines to offer courses about José Rizal. and El Filibusterismo or their English translation
The full name of the law is An Act to Include in shall be used as basic texts.
the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, The Board of National Education is hereby
Colleges and Universities Courses On the Life, authorized and directed to adopt forthwith
Works and Writings of Jose Rizal, Particularly measures to implement and carry out the
His Novels Noli Me Tangere and El provisions of this Section, including the writing
Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and and printing of appropriate primers, readers and
Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes. textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days
The measure was strongly opposed by the from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules
Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines due to and regulations, including those of a disciplinary
the anti-clerical themes in Noli Me Tángere and nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of
El Filibusterismo. this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and
Senator Claro M. Recto was the main regulations providing for the exemption of
proponent of the Rizal Bill. He sought to sponsor students for reasons of religious belief stated in a
the bill at Congress. However, this was met with sworn written statement, from the requirement of
stiff opposition from the Catholic Church. During the provision contained in the second part of the
the 1955 Senate election, the church charged first paragraph of this section; but not from taking
Recto with being a communist and an anti- the course provided for in the first part of said
Catholic. After Recto's election, the Church paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take
continued to oppose the bill mandating the effect thirty (30) days after their publication in the
reading of Rizal's novels Noli Me Tángere and El Official Gazette.
Filibusterismo, claiming it would violate freedom
of conscience and religion (Zaide, 1998). SECTION 2.
It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges
and universities to keep in their libraries an
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
adequate number of copies of the original and
AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere
ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,
and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES
works and biography. The said unexpurgated
ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS
Filibusterismo or their translations in English as
NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in
FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE
the list of approved books for required reading in
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF,
all public or private schools, colleges and
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
universities.
The Board of National Education shall
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period
determine the adequacy of the number of books,
of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication
depending upon the enrollment of the school,
to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for
college or university.
which our heroes lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them,
SECTION 3.
particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose
The Board of National Education shall
Rizal, we remember with special fondness and
cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and
devotion their lives and works that have shaped
El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of
the national character;
Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the
WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose
principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be
Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere
printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause
and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and
them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons
inspiring source of patriotism with which the
desiring to read them, through the Purok
minds of the youth, especially during their
organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the
formative and decisive years in school, should
country.
be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under
SECTION 4.
the supervision of, and subject to regulation by
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
the State, and all schools are enjoined to
amendment or repealing section nine hundred
develop moral character, personal discipline,
twenty-seven of the Administrative Code,
civic conscience and to teach the duties of
prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines
citizenship; Now, therefore,
by public school teachers and other person
engaged in any public school.
SECTION 1.
SECTION 5.
 The sum of three hundred thousand pesos sugar and abaca (hemp) grew apace, and the
is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of volume of exports to Europe expanded even
any fund not otherwise appropriated in the further after the completion of the Suez Canal in
National Treasury to carry out the purposes of 1869.
this Act. The growth of commercial agriculture
resulted in the appearance of a new class.
SECTION 6. Alongside the landholdings of the church and the
This Act shall take effect upon its approval. rice estates of the pre-Spanish nobility there
Approved: June 12, 1956 arose haciendas of coffee, hemp, and sugar,
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, often the property of enterprising Chinese-
p. 2971 in June 1956. Filipino mestizos. Some of the families that
gained prominence in the 19th century have
continued to play an important role in Philippine
B. Theory on Nationalism economics and politics.
Nationalism Not until 1863 was there public education in
Nationalism, in the context of Philippine the Philippines, and even then the church
experience, initially develops as a consciousness controlled the curriculum. Less than one-fifth of
of belonging to one people-the Hispanic and those who went to school could read and write
Catholic Community all over the Spanish empire. Spanish, and far fewer could speak it properly.
This sentiment was quite limited, based on the The limited higher education in the colony was
political, religious, social and intellectual entirely under clerical direction, but by the 1880s
perceptions of the archipelago as an integral unit many sons of the wealthy were sent to Europe to
co-equal with the other components of the study. There, nationalism and a passion for
Spanish empire and all united under the reform blossomed in the liberal atmosphere. Out
monarchy. The people of the Philippines, on the of this talented group of overseas Filipino
basis of this perception, was one and equal with students arose what came to be known as the
other peoples of the empire in Spain, America Propaganda Movement. Magazines, poetry, and
and elsewhere. The assumed cultural unity, pamphleteering flourished. José Rizal, this
though universalistic in aspirations, was movement’s most brilliant figure, produced two
modestly nationalistic in program and goals. It political novels—Noli me tangere (1887; Touch
conceived of the unity of the colonies and the Me Not) and El filibusterismo (1891; The Reign
mother country, and stressed the Hispanism of of Greed)—which had a wide impact in the
all peoples composing the imperial cosmopolitan Philippines. In 1892 Rizal returned home and
society. In short the basic concept of nationalism formed the Liga Filipina, a modest reform-
was oneness and identification with a universal minded society, loyal to Spain, that breathed no
and imperial Spanish society. In reality though, word of independence. But Rizal was quickly
when first conceived and disseminated, certain arrested by the overly fearful Spanish, exiled to a
objective facts were gleaned over or ignored. remote island in the south, and finally executed
The cultural integration of the Philippines was in 1896. Meanwhile, within the Philippines there
quite incomplete. Politically and territorially had developed a firm commitment to
Spanish hegemony was only limited to Luzon, independence among a somewhat less
the Visayas and the coastal areas of Mindanao. privileged class.
Even in those places, two problems at least were
never resolved by Spanish power-the interior
and remote areas peopled by the ethnic Filipinos LEARNING CONTENT
and the remontados who represented a counter- Topic Content:
culture were never integrated; and, the A. 19th Century Philippines
administrative dilemma presented by the Philippines before and during Rizal’s Time
struggle between localism and centralism (Zaide, 1998)
continued to pester the Spaniards (Cruz, 1989).  Colonization
 Magellan
 Baptized and converted Datu Humabon
and his followers to Christianity.
 Did not stay long
TOPIC 2  Lapu-Lapu defeated Magellan.
19th century Philippines in Rizal’s context  1565 (Miguel Lopez de Legazpi)
INTRODUCTION  Blood compact with Raja Sikatuna
 Philippines had been under the Spanish
The 19th century Philippines rule for more than 300 years.
By the late 18th century, political and Objectives of the Colonization:
economic changes in Europe were finally  To spread Christianity and establish the
beginning to affect Spain and, thus, the educational system in the country.
Philippines. Important as a stimulus to trade was  To enrich themselves which was the
the gradual elimination of the monopoly enjoyed moving reason why they invaded foreign
by the galleon to Acapulco. The last galleon countries.
arrived in Manila in 1815, and by the mid-1830s  To show the world that Spain had the
Manila was open to foreign merchants almost superior power over all other countries in
without restriction. The demand for Philippine the world and to strengthen it more.
Pre-Hispanic Philippines of the canal and reopened it to commercial
 Filipinos had their own indigenous but shipping.
rich culture, government and belief. - Ten years later, Egypt shut down the canal
 Upon the coming of the Spaniards they again following the Six Day War and Israel’s
were forced to accept foreign culture and occupation of the Sinai Peninsula. For the
Catholicism. next eight years, the Suez Canal, which
separates the Sinai from the rest of Egypt,
B. Economic end of galleon trade, opening of existed as the front line between the
Suez Canal, opening of ports to world Egyptian and Israeli armies. In 1975,
 Suez Canal opens Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat reopened
- The Suez Canal, connecting the the Suez Canal as a gesture of peace after
Mediterranean and the Red seas, is talks with Israel. Today, an average of 50
inaugurated in an elaborate ceremony ships navigate the canal daily, carrying more
attended by French Empress Eugénie, wife than 300 million tons of goods a year.
of Napoleon III.
- In 1854, Ferdinand de Lesseps, the former
French consul to Cairo, secured an TOPIC 3
agreement with the Ottoman governor of Rizal’s Family and Childhood
Egypt to build a canal 100 miles across the INTRODUCTION
Isthmus of Suez. An international team of
engineers drew up a construction plan, and Rizal and his family
in 1856 the Suez Canal Company was José Rizal, in full José Protasio Rizal
formed and granted the right to operate the Mercado y Alonso Realonda, (born June 19,
canal for 99 years after completion of the 1861, Calamba, Philippines—died December 30,
work. 1896, Manila), patriot, physician, and man of
- Construction began in April 1859, and at first letters who was an inspiration to the Philippine
digging was done by hand with picks and nationalist movement.
shovels wielded by forced laborers. Later, The son of a prosperous landowner, Rizal was
European workers with dredgers and steam educated in Manila and at the University of
shovels arrived. Labor disputes and a Madrid. A brilliant medical student, he soon
cholera epidemic slowed construction, and committed himself to the reform of Spanish rule
the Suez Canal was not completed until in his home country, though he never advocated
1869–four years behind schedule. On Philippine independence. Most of his writing was
November 17, 1869, the Suez Canal was done in Europe, where he resided between 1882
opened to navigation. Ferdinand de Lesseps and 1892.
would later attempt, unsuccessfully, to build In 1887 Rizal published his first novel, Noli
a canal across the Isthmus of Panama. me tangere (The Social Cancer), a passionate
- When it opened, the Suez Canal was only 25 exposure of the evils of Spanish rule in the
feet deep, 72 feet wide at the bottom, and Philippines. A sequel, El filibusterismo (1891;
200 to 300 feet wide at the surface. The Reign of Greed), established his reputation
Consequently, fewer than 500 ships as the leading spokesman of the Philippine
navigated it in its first full year of operation. reform movement. He published an annotated
Major improvements began in 1876, edition (1890; reprinted 1958) of Antonio Morga’s
however, and the canal soon grew into the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, hoping to show
one of the world’s most heavily traveled that the native people of the Philippines had a
shipping lanes. In 1875, Great Britain long history before the coming of the Spaniards.
became the largest shareholder in the Suez He became the leader of the Propaganda
Canal Company when it bought up the stock Movement, contributing numerous articles to its
of the new Ottoman governor of Egypt. newspaper, La Solidaridad, published in
Seven years later, in 1882, Britain invaded Barcelona. Rizal’s political program included
Egypt, beginning a long occupation of the integration of the Philippines as a province of
country. The Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936 Spain, representation in the Cortes (the Spanish
made Egypt virtually independent, but Britain parliament), the replacement of Spanish friars by
reserved rights for the protection of the Filipino priests, freedom of assembly and
canal. expression, and equality of Filipinos and
- After World War II, Egypt pressed for Spaniards before the law.
evacuation of British troops from the Suez
Canal Zone, and in July 1956 Egyptian
President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized LEARNING CONTENT
the canal, hoping to charge tolls that would Topic Content:
pay for construction of a massive dam on the 1. Rizal’s Ancestry
Nile River. In response, Israel invaded in late Like many families in the Philippines, the
October, and British and French troops Rizals were of mixed origin. José's patrilineal
landed in early November, occupying the lineage could be traced back to Fujian in China
canal zone. Under pressure from the United through his father's ancestor Lam-Co, a Chinese
Nations, Britain and France withdrew in merchant who immigrated to the Philippines in
December, and Israeli forces departed in the late 17th century. Lam-Co traveled to Manila
March 1957. That month, Egypt took control from Xiamen, China, possibly to avoid the famine
or plague in his home district, and more probably
to escape the Manchu invasion during the Siblings
Transition from Ming to Qing. He finally decided 1. Saturnina
to stay in the islands as a farmer. - Dona Saturnina(1850-1913)
In 1697, to escape the bitter anti-Chinese - Also known as “Neneng”
prejudice that existed in the Philippines, he - Married to Manuel Hidalgo
converted to Catholicism, changed his name to - Studied at La Concordia College
Domingo Mercado and married the daughter of - Published Pascual Poblete’s tagalog
Chinese friend Augustin Chin-co. On his translation of Noli Me Tangere.
mother's side, Rizal's ancestry included Chinese, - Died in 1913 at the age of 63.
Japanese and Tagalog blood. His mother's 2. Paciano (1851-1930)
lineage can be traced to the affluent Florentina - Elder and only brother of Pepe.
family of Chinese mestizo families originating in - Known as Ciano
Baliuag, Bulacan.[15] José Rizal also had - Studied at Colgio de San Jose.
Spanish ancestry. His grandfather was a half - Married to Severina Decena and had 2
Spaniard engineer named Lorenzo Alberto children
Alonzo(Zaide, 1998). - Died at the age of 79 because of tuberculosis
3. Narcisa (1852-1939)
2. Rizal’s Early Childhood - 2nd daughter and 3rd child
José Rizal was born in 1861 to Francisco - Known as Sisa
Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Alonso - Believed to be the only sibling that could
Realonda y Quintos in the town of Calamba in narrate the poems of Pepe.
Laguna province. He had nine sisters and one - Married to a teacher and musician named
brother. His parents were leaseholders of a Antonio Lopez.
hacienda and an accompanying rice farm by the 4. Olimpia/Olympia (1855-1887)
Dominicans. Both their families had adopted the - Known as Ypia.
additional surnames of Rizal and Realonda in - Married to Silvestro Ubaldo.
1849, after Governor General Narciso Clavería y 5. Lucia(1857-1919)
Zaldúa decreed the adoption of Spanish - Married to Manuel Herbosa of Calamba,
surnames among the Filipinos for census Laguna.
purposes (though they already had Spanish 6. Maria (1859-1945)
names). - Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan,
His family fondly called him Pepe. He was Laguna.
christened at the church on June 22, 1861 when - She was known as Biang
he was only 3 days old by Rev. Fr. Rufino 7. Jose Rizal (1861-1896)
Collantes, and his godfather was Rev. Fr. Pedro 8. Concepcion(1862-1865)
Casanas. His baptism was attested by the parish - She was called as Concha.
priest of the town, Rev. Fr. Leoncio Lopez. - Died at the age of 3.
Parents: 9. Josefa(1865-1945)
1. Dona Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda - Was an old maid who died at the age of 80.
y Quintos (Mother) - Known as Panggoy in her family.
- Born in Meisik, Manila on Nov. 9, 1827. 10. Trinidad(1868-1951)
- A native of Sta. Cruz, Manila. - Like her sister Panggoy, she died an old
- She was martinet, devoted, well-mannered maid at the age of 83.
and a diligent mother. - She was the keeper of Rizal’s dirge Mi
- Studied Spanish at Colegio de Santa Rosa. Ultimo Adios.
- Pepe considered her a remarkable woman. 11. Soledad (1870-1929)
- She demonstrated on how to keep families - She became a teacher.
together despite the turmoil of the Spanish - She was known as Choleng.
Regime. - Married to Pantaleon Quintero
- She possessed business ability, a refined
culture, literary giant, and the courage of a
frugal woman. TOPIC 4
2. Don Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Rizal’s Early Education
Alejandra II (Father) INTRODUCTION
- Was born on May 11, 1818 at Binan, Education
Laguna. Education opens up the mind, expands it
- Youngest of Cirila Alejandro and Juan and allows you to improve your life in so many
Mercado. ways. It has evolved through the years. Before,
- He was one of the 4th generations of a traditional ways of teaching were introduced,
Chinese immigrant in the late 1600s named however, these days a lot of things changed.
Domingo Lamco.
- Pepe regarded him as “model of Fathers”
- He was a tenat and also a landowner of the LEARNING CONTENT
Dominican state in Calamba, Laguna. Topic Content:
- He died on January 5, 1898 at the house of 1. Rizal’s Early Education
his daughter Narcisa shortly after the Rizal’s education started at home with the
execution of his son Jose. guidance of her mother. Teodora Alonso, Rizal’s
mother was an educated woman having been history since it helped mold Rizal to becoming a
educated in Manila. She instilled into Pepe the hero for our nation. He never thought that a moth
importance of education at an early age. Her could give him a lesson that he would carry
mother taught him basically the four R’s forever.
(Reading, Writng, Arithmetics, and Religion “Ang mga gamugamo pala ay hindi
during his early childhood days. These skills natatakot mamatay sa paghanap ng liwanag.”
were the compulsory among children during That lesson struck Rizal until he grew older.
those days, most especially, religion since we Hindi siya tumigil na hanapin ang liwanag para
were under the Spanish colonial rule. iligtas ang bansang Pilipinas na kahit ito ay
At an early age of three years old, Rizal was kanyang ikamatay. Ang maliit na kulisap ay
already advanced for his age. He was able to parang si Rizal, hindi siya natakot lumapit sa
read at such age and was taught how to solve liwanag kahit na marami pang banta o balakid
arithmetic problems and most especially recite ang naroroon, kahit pa ito’y ikamatay niya.
prayers in Latin. He was also given a lot of Naging matigas man ang ulo ni Rizal sa di
storytelling by her mother. The story of the pagsunod sa pangaral ng kanyang ina na:
Moth was the most memorable and touching “Huwag mong paparisan ang ginawa ng
story that Pepe liked the most. batang gamugamo. Makikinig ka sa pangaral
The parents of the Mercado siblings upang ikaw ay hindi mapahamak.”
assured the education of their children. They Ngunit, ito naman ang nagturo kay Rizal
hired private tutors, especially for Pepe, to upang maging matapang sa pakikipaglaban para
provide good and knowledgeable lessons at sa kanyang inang bayan.
home. Maestro Celestino was his first tutor
and Maestro Lucas Padua was his second 3. First Formal Schooling- Binan, Laguna
tutor. For his third tutor, Don Francisco later (1870-1871)
hired his former classmate, Leon Monroy, to Sunday afternoon in June 1870, Pepe left
teach Pepe Spanish and Latin. He was a hired Calamba for Binan for his first schooling. He was
stay-in tutor but died after five months. The accompanied by Paciano and they rode in a
death of Senor Leon Monroy caused Pepe’s carromata, and headed to their aunt’s place
parents to send him to a private school in Binan. where Pepe was to stay. In Binan, Pepe and his
cousin Leandro went for sightseeing around the
2. The Story of the Moth town.
Rizal’s Mother, Teodora Alonzo, was the  Pepe’s life in Binan was marked by
first teacher of Rizal who taught him to read and happines. Pepe nurtured his skills on painting.
write. Most times, when Rizal got tired reading, Senor Juancho taught him how to do drawing
Teodora Alonzo was the one reads a story to and painting. His classmate, Jose Guevarra
Rizal while Rizal is listening. They use a lamp joined Pepe for drawing and painting lessons
most of the time to provide light while reading. during their free time.
One night, seeing that Rizal is tired her mother Pepe, along with his classmates,
started to read a story. The story goes like this: concentrated much of their learning on Reading,
Mayroon daw dalawang gamugamo, isang Writing, Arithmetic, and Religion. They focused
matanda at isang bata. Maibigin silang maglaro on Religion, since it was more rigid and their
sa tabi ng ilaw na kandila. Isang gabi ang batang teacher was overly strict. They were forced to
gamugamo ay lumipad nang lubhang malapit sa memorize each lessons and discipline was
ningas ng kandila. “Mag-ingat ka!” ang tawag ng imposed with a whip. Jose excelled on all the
matandang gamugamo. “Baka masunog ang subjects and lessons. There well jealousy
pakpak mo ay hindi ka na makalipad.” occurred among them, and by that they made
“Hindi ako natatakot,” ang mayabang na sagot wrong stories about Pepe which caused him with
ng batang gamugamo. At nagpatuloy siya ng five to six blows as he was laid out on a school
palipad sa paligid-ligid ng magandang ningas. bench.
Minsan, sa kanyang paglipad ay nadikit sa  After passing all the necessary requirement
ningas ang kanyang pakpak at siya ay nalaglag in his studies, Maestro Justiniano informed the
sa mesa. parents of Pepe that he had learnt everything
“Sinabi ko na nga ba sa iyo,” ang sabi ng that he could teach him, and recommended that
matandang gamugamo. “Ngayon ay hindi ka na Pepe should be sent to college in Manila. Her
makalilipad na muli. Samantalang nakikinig si sister Saturnina wrote to Pepe about the arrival
Rizal sa kwento nalilibang naman siya sa maliliit of the steamer Talim to Binan, saying that he
na gamugamong naglalaro sa kanilang ilaw. could board bound for Calamba. Pepe was sad
Napansin nya ang malaking hangad ng maliliit to left Binan and move for another schooling. He
na kulisap na makalapit sa ilaw sa paghanap ng left Binan at the 17th of December 1870.
liwanag kahit mapanganib. At nang masunog
ang pakpak at malaglag sa mesa ang batang 4. Imprisonment of his mother
gamugamo sa kwento ay siya ring pagkasunog The story of Dona Teodora’s imprisonment
ng pakpak at pagkalaglag ng isang tunay na started when she tried to help and persuaded his
gamugamo sa langis ng tinghoy. brother, Senor Jose Alberto, to just forgive his
 Rizal was too focused on watching the wife who went along with another man and then
moth in the flame that he didn’t notice that her after, abandoning and leaving their children at
mother was done reading the story. Then there’s home, in order to avoid scandal. However, the
one thing that he learned that is very important in woman connived with the Spanish authority and
told that Teodora and her husband tried to Emperor. He received his first ever prize for
poisoned her. being the top in their class, a religious picture
Teodora was arrested and forced to walk for and he was so happy.
about 50 km from Calamba to Sta. Cruz and was Pepe attended private lessons in Spanish at
imprisoned for almost 2 years and a half. The the San Isabel College. Although he was
incident saddened the whole Mercado family, regarded with excellent marks in the class, some
especially the 11 year old Pepe, after hearing professors had remarks about him and that
that his mother was treated unkindly, no proper made Pepe disliked it. He landed second place
medicine and accommodation. The case at the end, even with excellent marks.
reached the Manila Royal Audiencia where she Pepe returned home to Calamba for a
was acquitted (Zaide, 1998). vacation, but before that, he visited first his
mother and told her about his achievements in
the school. After, Pepe returned to school, met
TOPIC 5 his former classmates from Bina, and regain
Rizal’s Ateneo Experiences again the status of being the Emperor.
After the school year, Pepe once again
INTRODUCTION visited her mother in the prison. Then he went
The right kind of education is not concerned back to Calamba, to his family. By the time Pepe
with any ideology, however much it may promise returned again for his studies, as an adolescent,
a future utopia: it is not based on any system, he begin reading books and novels like the
however carefully thought out, nor is it a means Count of Montecristo by Alexander Dumas and
of conditioning the individual in some special “Travels in the Philippines” by Dr. Feodor Jagor.
manner. Education in the true sense is helping In June 1874, Pepe is in his junior year in
the individual to be mature and free, to flower college. His mother was freed and arrived to met
greatly in love and goodness. That is what we him and informed him that she was freed. Pepe
should be interested in, and not in shaping the was unhappy because he was not excellent the
child according to some idealistic pattern. The previous year because of his grades in his
highest function of education is to bring about an Spanish course. In the end of the school year,
integrated individual who is capable of dealing March 1875, he returned to Laguna, dissatisfied
with life as a whole. with the result of his performance in the school.
On June 16, 1875, Pepe became an interno to
Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez, who admired
LEARNING CONTENT
his skills and intellectual capacity.
Topic Content:
Pepe became the “Pride of the Jesuits”. He
1. Rizal went to Ateneo
graduated with flying colors. He received awards
After the execution of the GomBurZa and
and medals for attending and passing academic
the imprisonment of Dona Teodora, Pepe was
subjects and extra-curricular activities; like
sent to Manila to study at the Ateneo de
Marian Congregation and etc. Member of the
Municipal. On his first day in Manila, he was
Academy of Spanish Literature
accompanied by Paciano. He took the entrance
examination at the College of San Juan de
Letran. After returning and attending the town
fiesta in Calamba, Don Francisco changed his
mind about Pepe’s education. And decided
finally to attend at the Ateneo de Municipal.
 At first, he was refused admittance in the
said school for 2 reasons: a) he was already late
for registration and b) he was so frail and sickly,
aside from being too small for his age. However,
due to the intervention of Manuel Xeres Burgos,
Pepe was finally admitted.
Pepe enrolled at Ateneo under the surname
“Rizal.” Ateneo was ruled by the Jesuits. The
system of education was more advanced than
the other schools during that time. The school
offered different subjects related to sciences,
arts, agriculture and even mechanics.
The students were divided into two the
externos (non-boarders) and the
internos(boarders). The internos were known as
Roman Empire and the externos were the
Carthaginian Empire. The best student in each
group was called the Emperor.
The students are required to wear a hem-
fabric uniform trousers called rayadillo.
Pepe was assigned in the Carthaginian Empire
because he was an externos. He progressed
rapidly in the class and then became the