Rizal in Madrid

 

Early in August, 1890 – Rizal arrived in Madrid

He tried all legal means to seek justice for his family and the calamba tenants, but to no avail.

He almost fought to duels – one with Antonio Luna and the other to Wenceslao E. Retana.

Leonor Rivera married a British Engineer.

Failure to Get Justice for family

Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal immediately sought the help of the Filipino Colony, the Asociacion Hispano – Filipina, and the Liberal Spanish newspapers (La Justicia, El Globo, La Republica, El resumen).

M. H. Del Pilar – acted as his lawyer.

Dr. Dominador Gomez – secretary of Asociacion Hispano – Filipina.

More terrible news reached Rizal in Madrid:

From Silvestre Ubaldo, he received a copy of the ejectment order by the Dominicans against Francisco Rizal and other calamba tenants.

From Saturnina, he learned of the deportation of Paciano, Antonio Lopez, Silvestre Ubaldo, Teong, and Dandoy to Mindoro

His parents were forcibly ejected from their home and were then living in the house of Narcisa.

Rizal’s Eulogy to Panganiban

Jose Ma. Panganiban – his friend and his talented co-worker in the propaganda.

August 19, 1890 – date of the death of Jose Ma. Panganiban because of a lingering illness.

Aborted Duel with Antonio Luna

End of August, 1890 – Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid.

Wine was served in the reunion.

After drinking so many glasses, the guests became more loquacious.

Antonio Luna became drunk.

Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead

He was blaming Rizal for his failure.

Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks for Nellie.

Rizal heard him and challenge for a duel.

The Filipinos were shocked of the incident.

They tried to pacify Rizal and Luna, pointing out to both that such a duel would damage their cause in Spain.

Luna, when he became sober, realized that he had made a fool and he apologized to Rizal

Rizal Challenges Retana to Duel

On another occasion, he challenged another man to duel – Wenceslao E. Retana.

Retana

– The bitter enemy of Rizal in Pen.

– A talented Spanish scholar was then a press agent of the friars in Spain.

– Used to attack the Filipinos, including Rizal, in various newspapers in Madrid.

– He imprudently wrote an article in La Epoca an anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid, asserting that the family and friends of Rizal had not paid their rents so that they were ejected from their lands in Calamba by the Dominicans.

Such an insult stirred Rizal to action.

Immediately, he sent his seconds to Retana with his challenge to a duel.

Retana at once published a retraction and apology in the newspapers.

The incident silenced Retana’s pen against Rizal.

Years afterward, Retana wrote the first book-length biography of the greatest Filipino hero, whose talents he came to recognize and whose martyrdom he glorified.

Infidelity of Leonor Rivera – Rizal lost his gold watch chain with a locket containing the picture of Leonor Rivera, his beloved sweetheart while he attended a play in the Teatro Apollo together with his friends, and that incident proved to be a bad omen.

December, 1890 – Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming married with an Englishman.

February 15, 1891 – Blumentritt replied to the letter of Rizal and comforted Rizal when Rizal confide to him about his agony and broken heart.

Rizal-Del Pilar Rivalry – In 1890, there arise an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and del Pilar for supremacy.

January 1, 1891 (New Year’s Day) – the Filipinos of Madrid met to reorganize the Asociacion Hispano – Filipina and to elect a new leader who would act as a spokesman of the Filipino cause in Europe.

Filipinos were divided into two rival camps:

· Rizalistas or Rizal’s friends

· Pilaristas or del Pilar’s friends

Rizalistas – worked hard for the election of Rizal.

Pilaristas – fought for del Pilar’s election

Back to Brussels – Since Rizal walked out from the election for the new leader because he found out that only 19 people voted him, he go back to Brussels.

February, 1891 – he left Madrid and proceeded to Biarritz, where he was a welcomed guest of the Bousted at their Villa Eliada.

Valentin Ventura – Rizal’s friend and companion in Paris, where Rizal staying with him.

April 4, 1891 – He wrote to Jose Ma. Basa, expressing his wish to live in Hongkong and practice medicine.

Middle of April 1891 – Rizal turned to Brussels for one reason, to finish his second novel.

ANG PAGPASOK NI RIZAL SA UST
Pagkaraang makatapos ni Rizal sa Ateneo nang may pinakamataas na karangalan, aynagtungo naman siya sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas upang ipagpatuloy ang kanyang pag-aaral. Noong panahong iyon, panahon ng mga Espanyol, ang pagtatapos sa ilalim ng Batsilyer ngSining, ay katumbas lamang ng mataas na paaralan at unang taon sa kolehiyo kaya naman ito ayisa lamang kwalipikasyon upang makapasok sa isang unibersidad. Dahilan sa ipinamalas nakahusayan sa larangang pang-akademya, naging mataas ang pangarap ng kanyang pamilya parasa kanya kaya naman kapwa ninais ni Don Francisco, ang kanyang ama, at ni Paciano, kanyangnakatatandang kapatid, na makipagkarera siya sa isang unibersidad sa Maynila. Ngunit ang bagay na ito ay lubos na tinutulan ni Donya Teodora sapagkat tumatak ng lubusan sa kanyangalaala ang insidente kung saan binitay sa pamamagitan ng garrote ang tatlong paring martir, ang Gom-Bur-Za, sa harapan ng maraming Pilipino. Nabanggit pa nga niya minsan na sapat na angnalalaman ni Rizal at kung madadagdagan pa ito ay maaring mapugutan din siya ng ulo.Abril 1877, si Rizal, na halos mag- lalabing anim na taong gulang, ay nagmatrikula saunibersidad ng Santo Tomas. Noong una ay naakit si Rizal sa pagpapari, dahilan na rin sanamulat siya sa relihiyosong mga paaralan. Samantala, may mga paring Heswita naman nanagmungkahi sa kanya na kunin niya ang pagsasaka (farming) dahilan sa makakatulong ito sakaniyang pamilya. Ngunit ang pinagpipilian niyang tunay ay sa pagitan ng sining at abogasya.Kaya naman sa bandang huli, nagpatala siya sa kursong Pilosopiya at Sulat (Guerrero). Ito angkinuha niya dahil sa una, ito ay ang gustong kurso ng kanyang ama para sa kanya, at ikalawa hindi pa siya nakapagdedesisyon sa kung anong kurso ang kanyang dapat na tahakin.Nang panahong yon, dahilan nga sa hindi pa siya makapagdesisyon, ay sumulat siya sa Padre Rektor 
ng Ateneo na si Padre Pablo Ramon upang humingi ng payo sa kung ano ang dapat kunin ngunithindi agad nakasagot ang Pari pagkat siya ay kasalukuyan noong nasa Mindanao. Sa unang taonniya sa Unibersidad, nag-aral siya ng Kosmolohiya, Metapisika, Teodisya, at Kasaysayan ngPilosopiya.Matapos ang paghihintay ng isang taon, natanggap din ni Rizal sa wakas ang payo ngPadre Rektor. Iminungkahi nito sa kanya na ang kursong Medisina ang nararapat para sa kanya.Agad-agad naming sumunod si Rizal sa payong iyon, at nagpatala sa kursong Medisina (1878-1879). Bukod sa rekomendasyong ito ng pari, ninais na rin ni Rizal na kunin ang kursong itoupang magamot ang noo’y lumalalang pagkabulag ng kanyang ina sanhi ng katarata.
BUHAY ESTUDYANTE SA UNIBERSIDAD NG SANTO TOMAS
Ang Kursong Pagsasarbey sa Ateneo
Habang nag-aaral si Rizal sa kursong Pilosopiya at Sulat sa unang taon niya sa UST, aynagpatala rin siya para sa isang kusong bokasyonal sa dati niyang kolehiyo sa Ateneo. Noongmga panahong iyon, ang mga kolehiyong panlalaki ay may mga kursong bokasyonal tulad nalamang ng agrikultura, komersiyo, mekaniko, at pagsassarbey. Kinuha ni Rizal ang kursong pagsasarbey sa paniniwalang makatutulong ito sa pagpapa-unlad ng kanilang maliit na tanimansa Calamba. 
Nagkamit si Rizal ng gintong medalya sa agrikultura at topograpiya. Samantala, sa edadnaman na 17, ay naipasa niya ang eksamen sa kursong pagsasarbey na nagbigay sa kanya ngtitulong
 perito agrimensor 
(dalubhasang agrimensor). Ngunit, hindi agad naibigay sa kanya angtitulong ito pagka’t wala pa siya sa wastong edad, kaya naman naibigay lamang ito isang taongang nakalipas, noong Nobyembre 25, 1881. Nanatili pa ring matapat si Rizal sa kolehiyong 
ito kahit na sa UST na siya nag-aaralnoong mga panahong iyon. Hindi lamang siya nanguna sa larangang akademiko, ngunit pati narin sa pamumuno sa iba’t ibang organisasyon sa kolehiyo. Nanatili siyang aktibo sa mgaorganisasyong ito. Naging pangulo siya ng Akademya ng Literaturang Espanyol, kalihim ngAkademya ng Likas na Agham, at nagpatuloy sa pagigingaktibong miyembro ng at kalihim ng Kongregasyon ni Maria.
Pangunguna sa Larangan ng Sining at Panitikan
Dahilan sa si Rizal ay isang tunay na alagad ng Sining,ipinamalas na niya ang kanyang husay kahit noong nasaunibersidad pa lamang siya. 
Ateneo Municipal
 Nagkamit si Rizal ng gintong medalya sa agrikultura at topograpiya. Samantala, sa edadnaman na 17, ay naipasa niya ang eksamen sa kursong pagsasarbey na nagbigay sa kanya ng titulong  perito agrimensor (dalubhasang agrimensor). Ngunit, hindi agad naibigay sa kanya angtitulong ito pagka’t wala pa siya sa wastong edad, kaya naman naibigay lamang ito isang taongang nakalipas, noong Nobyembre 25, 1881. Nanatili pa ring matapat si Rizal sa kolehiyong ito kahit na sa UST na siya nag-aaralnoong mga panahong iyon. Hindi lamang siya nanguna sa larangang akademiko, ngunit pati narin sa pamumuno sa iba’t ibang organisasyon sa kolehiyo. Nanatili siyang aktibo sa mgaorganisasyong ito. Naging pangulo siya ng Akademya ng Literaturang Espanyol, kalihim ngAkademya ng Likas na Agham, at nagpatuloy sa pagigingaktibong miyembro ng at kalihim ng Kongregasyon ni Maria.
Pangunguna sa Larangan ng Sining at Panitikan
Dahilan sa si Rizal ay isang tunay na alagad ng Sining,ipinamalas na niya ang kanyang husay kahit noong nasaunibersidad pa lamang siya.“A La Juventud Filipina”. Ang Liceo Artistico-Literario, isang samahan ng mgamahihilig sa sining at panitikan, ay nagdaos ng isang paligsahang 
pampanitikan noong 1879. Naglaan sila ng isang natatanging gantimpala para sa pinakamagandang tulang maisusulat ngisang katutubo o mestiso. Ang tulang pinamagatang “A La Juventud Filipina” (Para saKabataang Pilipino) ay isinumite ni Rizal, na noo’y 18 taong gulang pa lamang, bilang panlabansa paligsahan.Gaya ang inaasahan, nakamit ni Rizal ang unang gantimpala. Pinahanga ng tulang niyangito ang inampalan na siyang binubuo ng pawang mga Español.Kapalit ng pagkapanalong ito, ginawaran siya ng isang gantimpala – isang pilak na panulat,hugis pakpak at dekorasyong gintong laso. Lubos na nasiyahan si Rizal sa atensyon at papuringnatamo niya mula sa kanyang mga malalapit na kaibigan, kapamilya at siyempre kasama na rinang mga propesor niya sa Ateneo. Ang tulang A La Juventud Filipina ay isang tula ng ispirasyon,at sa pamamagitan nito, ipinahayag ni Rizal ang hiling niya sa kabataang Pilipino na huwagmagbulag-bulagan at imulat ang kanilang mga mata sa nangyayayri sa kanilang paligid athayaang “pumailanlang ang kanilang talino sa sining at agham, at lagutin ang tanikalang pumipigil sa diwa nila bilang tao.” (Zaide). .
Itinuring ang tulang “Para sa Kabataang Pilipino” bilang isa sa mga klasiko sa panitikangFilipino pagka’t una, ito ay isang napakagandang tula sa wikang Español na isinulat ng isangPilipino na kinilala ng mga Español na awtoridad sa panitikan, at isa pa, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay nagpahayag ng konsepto ng pagiging makabayan ang isang Pilipino, at hindiisang dayuhan, - na ang kabataan ang siyang magiging pag-asa ng bayan.
“El Consejo de los Dioses”.
 Nang sumunod na taon ay nagdaosmuli ng paligsahan sa panitikan ang Liceo Artistico-literario upangipagdiwang ang ika-apat na sentenaryo ng pagkamatay ni Cervantes, ang pinakadakilang manunulat na Español at siyang sumulat ng Don Quixote.Dahilan sa bukas ang paligsahang ito sa kapwa Pilipino at Español,maraming nga manunulat 
na kinabibilangan ng mga pari, mamamahayag, iskolae, at mga  propesor, ang lumahok. Hawak ang inspirasyon ng pagkakapanalo noong nakaraang taong sa parehong patimpalak, si Rizal na noo’y 19 na taong gulang ay naglakas loob muling sumali atisinumite ang kanayang dulang alegorikal na pinamagatang “El Consejo de los Dioses” (AngKonseho ng mga Diyos).Gaya ng nauna, binubuong muli ng pawang mga Español ang inampalan ng paligsahan.Matapos ang masusing deliberasyon, sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay iginawad muli kay Rizal angunang gantimpala kung saan nagkamit siya ng isang gintong singsing na may nakaukit na mukhani Cervantes. Samantala, si D.N. Del Puzo naman, na isang manunulat na Español, ang pumangalawa sa kanya. Mahigpit itong tinutulan ng Español na kumonidad sa Maynila, sa pangunguna na din ng pahayagang Español paka’t hndi nila matanggap na ang nagwagi ay isangindio.Ngunit nagmatigas ang inampalan pagka’t nakita nila na karapat-dapat parangalan anggawang ito ni Rizal. Masayang-masaya siya pagka’t napatunayan niya na “hindi lamang mgaEspañol ang may karapatang makahigit sa anumang larangan dahil kung mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga katutubo ay kaya rin nilang maipakitana maari silang itapat sa kahit anumang lahi.”Ang nagwaging alegorya ni Rizal ay base sa mgatanyag na klasikong Griyego. Upang mabuo ang nasabingdula, si Rizal, bagamat estudyante na ng UST, ay tinulungan pa rin ng Padre Rektor ng Ateneo sa pangangalap ng mgakakailanganing materyales para matapos ang obra. Ipinakitani Rizal ang pagkakatulad nina Homer, Virgil at Cervantes.Pinag-usapan ng mga diyosa ang pagkakatulad-tulad ng mgakani-kanilang katangian bilang mga makata at sa huli ay nagpasya silang ibigay ang trumpeta kay Homer, ang lira kay Virgil, at ang lawrel naman kayCervantes. Ang alegorya ay masayang nagtapos sa pagsasaya ng mga ada, diwata, at iba pangmga tauhanng mitolohikal.
Iba pang Pampanitikag Gawain.
Bukod sa dalawang matagumpay na obra ni Rizal,marami pa rin siyang naisulat nang siya ay nag-aaral sa UST. Bagaman abala sa pag-aaral samedisina, nagkakaroon pa rin siya ng oras upang ipagpatuloy ang hilig niya. Ang ilan sa mganaisulat niya ay ang mga sumusunod:
1. Junto Al Pasig (Sa Tabi ng Pasig) – isang sarswela na itinanghal ng mga Atenista noongDisyembre 8, 1880, pista ng mmaculada Concepcion, ang Patron ng Ateneo. Isinulat niyaito nang siya ay naninilbihan pang Pangulo ng Akademya ng Literaturang Español saAteneo. Hindi ganoon katampok ngunit kakikitaan pa rin ng mga satirika ng mgamakabayang ideya ni Rizal.
2 .A Filipinas – (1880) sonata na isinulat para sa album ng Samahan ng mga Iskultor.Hinihikayat nito ang mga artistang Pilipino na magbigay-dangal sa Pilipinas.
3.  Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma – (1879) binigkas g isang Atenistang nagngangalang ManuelFernandez, noong Disyembre 8, 1879 bilang parangal sa Patron ng Ateneo.4.Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon – isang tulang nagpapakita ng pagmamahal kay Padre PabloRamon, ang butihing Rektor ng Ateneo, na naging mabuti at matulungin sa kanya sahalos lahat ng bagay.
MALULUNGKOT NA ARAW SA UST
Bukod sa ligayang naranasan ni Rizal dahil sa pag- ibig na dumating at lumipas sa kanya,nakaranas din siya ng mga paghihirap sa unibersidad na ito.
Biktima ng Kalupitan ng Opisyal na Español.
Nang si Rizal ay nasa unang taon saMedisina, naranasan niya ang kalupitan ng mga Español. Isang madilim na gabi sa Calamba,naglalakad si Rizal sa kalsada. Hindi niya napansin ang lalaking nakasalubong niya kaya namanhindi niya nabati ng “Magandang gabi” o nasaluduhan man lamang. Natuklasan na lamang niyana isa pala itong 
tinyente ng Guardia Civeles nang nagalit at hinarap siya nito. Hinampas siyanito ng kanyang espada at sinaktan ang likuran. Hindi naman naging malalaim o malala angsugat ngunit napinsala pa rin nito ang pagato ni Rizal.
Si Rizal at ang Compañerismo.
Dahilan sa pagkakaiba ng mga lahi na nagaganap saunibesidad, laging nag-aaway ang mga estudyanteng Pilipino at Espanyol. Hindi natatanggap ngmga Espanyol na nahihigitan sila ng mga Pilipino kaya naman iniinsulto nila ang mga ito attinatawag na “Indio, chongo!” Samanatal, bilang ganti, tinatawag naman ng mga Pilipino angmga estudyanteng Espanyol “Kastila, bangus!” At dahil dito, madalas na nauuwi ang mga alitanito sa mga away lansangan.Dahil sa katapagan ni Rizal at sa husay niya sa eskrima at wrestling, nakilala siya sa mgaaway na tio. Kaya naman noong 1880, bilang kinikilalang kampeon ng mga estudyantengPilipino sa UST, itinatag niya ang isang sikretong samahan na tinawag niyang “Compañerismo”(Pagsasamahan). Samantala, ang mga kasapi naman ditoay tinawag na “Mga Kasapi ni Jehu”. Itoay isinunod sa pangalan ng isang heneral na Ebreo na nakipaglaban sa mga Arminiano at  
namuno sa Kaharian ng Israel sa loob ng 28 taon. Siya ang pinuno ng lihim na samahansamantala ang kanyang pinsang taga-Batangas na si Galicano Apacible ang nagsilbing kalihim.Isang beses ay nagkaroon ng away sa pagitan ng mga Pilipino at Espanyol sa may Escoltakung saan nasugatan si Rizal. Duguan, dinala nila si Rizal sa tinutuluyan nitong “Casa tomasina”kung saan masuyo niyang ginamot ni Leonor Rivera.
Dahilan ng Kalungkutan sa UST (Zaide).
Bagamat si Rizal at isang mahusay naestudyante sa Ateneo, maging sa UST, hindi niya nagustihan ang atmospera sa UST dahilan sainstutusyon ng mga paring Dominikano. Una, dahil sa hindi maganda 
ang tingin sa kanya ngmga Dominikanong propesor. Ikalawa, mababa ang pagtingin sa mga estudyanteng Pilipino. Atikatlo, sinauna at mapang- api ang pagtuturo.
DESISYONG MAKAPAG-ARAL SA IBANG BANSA
Pagkaraang matapos ni Rizal ang ika-apat na taon ng Medisina sa UST,nagpasya si Rizalna mag-aral sa Espanya. Agad siyang sinang-ayunan ng kanyang naktatandang kapatid na siPaciano, kasama na rin ang kanyang dalawang kapatid na babae, sina Saturnina at Lucia, kasmana rin si Antonio Rivera, ang mag-anak na Valenzuela at ilan pang kaibigan.Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay hindi humingi ng permiso si Rizal sa kanyang mgamagulang dahilan sa alam niyang pipigilan lamang siya ng mga ito. Inilihim niya rin ito magingsa kanyang pinakamamahal na si Leonor Rivera dahil alam niya na magdadamdam lamang ito.Pati na rin ang awtoridad ng mga Espanyol ay walang ideya. Nanatiling sikreto ang kanyang pag- alis para makapagpatuloy ng pag-aaral sa liberal na bansa ng Espanya.
PAGLILINAW NG UNIBERSIDAD NG SANTO TOMAS
“Kinamumuhian ni Rizal ang UST”. Ito ang palasak na paniniwalang sinusunod pa rinhanggang ngayon ng maraming mga sikat na manunulat at tagapagtala ng buhay ni Rizal(http://varsitarian.net) tulad nina Retana, Craig, Russel, Laudback, Coates, Hernandez, at Zaide.Maraming mga manunulat ang kumopya lamang sa mga isinulat. Ito ang ideyang sinikap baguhin ni P. Fidel Villaroel, O. P. katuwang na archivist ng UST sa kanyang akdang “Rizal andthe University of Santo Tomas” (UST Press, 1984). Sinabi ni P. Villaroel na wala ni isa sa mgamanunulat na ito ang nag-abalang tingnan ang mga orihinal na dokumento na matatagpuan saUST. Ang mga sumusunod ay ayon sa mga puntos na ginawa ni Villaroel sa kanyang pag-aaral.
Ang mga nakasaad sa ibaba ay mga ideyang binanggit ng ilang mga manunulat:
1. Hindi naging maganda ang ippinakita ni Rizal sa UST, at hindi siya gusto ng mga ParingDominikano
2. Nagkaroon ng Diskriminasyon sa mga Pilipino sa UST (Zaide)
3. Mababa ang pagtingin sa kanya kahit na ang kanyang kakayahan at talino ay mas higit samga Espanyol dahilan sa siya ay kayumanggi ang balat, isang Pilipino at isang Indio(J.M. Hernandez)
Ito at iba pang mga puntos ang pinasinungalingan ni Villaroel sa kanyang akda.
Hindi naging maganda nag mga grado ni Rizal sa UST at hindi siya tinrato ng mabuti ng mga paring Dominikano.
 Nang pumasok si Rizal sa UST noong 1877, kinuha niya ang kursong Pre-Law ometapisika (Pilosopiya at Sulat sa ibang libro). Dahilan sa ito ay tunay na interes ni Rizal, nakapasa siya sa unang taon ng may matataas na grado. Sumunod naman nito ay kumuha siya ngmedisina. Nang mga panahong yun ay kailangan munang kunin ang kursong pre- medikal bagomakuha ang kursong medikal. Ngunit pinayagan siya ng unibersidad na kunin ito ng sabay. Angkursong pre-medikal ay tinatawag din Ampliacion dahilan sa kukunin lamang ng estudyante angmas mataas na antas ng kursong Pisika, Kemika, at Natural na Kasaysayan na kinuha na nila samataas na paaralan. (Ito ay isang patunay na ang “Klase sa Pisika” ay hindi naganap sa USTkung totoo mang ang ito ay personal na karanasan ni Rizal.)Sa kursong medisina, mahusay ang ipinakita ni Rizal, ngunit hindi pinakamahusay – atwala ring pinakamahusay sa kanyang mga kamag- aral. Dalawampu’t isang mga “subject” angkinuha niya sa paaralang ito kung saan nakakuha siya ng isang aprobado (pasado), walong bueno (mahusay), anim na notable(mahusay na mahusay), at anim na sobresaliente (pinakamahusay).Ang isang normal 
na estudyante ay makokontento na sa mga ganitong grado. Maaaring hindi ngasiya nakontento sa ganitong grado, ngunit wala ni isa sa kanyang mga gawa ang nagpapakita nghindi pagkagusto at pagrereklamo sa patakaran ng UST.Isa pang puntos ay ang pagkukumpara ng kanyang grado sa grado niya sa Ateneo. Kungmapapansin, ang unibersidad ay mas mataas ang antas kumpara sa isang mataas na paaralan.Kaya hindi maaaring ipagkumpara ang galing niya sa Ateneo, kundi sa kanyang mga kamag-aral.Sa unang taon ni Rizal ay 24 silang kumuha ng medisina, ngunit dahil sa mga bagsak na gradolabing pito sa kanila ang natanggal at tanging piyo na lamang ang nakakuha ng hulingeksaminasyon noong ikaapat na taon nila. Sa ikaapat na taon na ito ni Rizal (at huli para sakanya), pumangalawa siya sa klase kung saan ang nanguna ay si Cornelio Mapa. Kung totoongsiya ay diniskrimina at hindi ginusto ng mga propesor sa UST, hindi niya maabot ang kanyangmga naabot sa unibersidad na ito, ang pagpayag pa lamang ng unibersidad na kunin niya angkursong pre-medikal at medikal ng sabay ay isa nang malakas na ebidensya na mali ang sinasabing karamihan sa mga manunulat.Base sa mga rekord ng UST, anim na mga Espanyol ang nakapagmatrikula sa kursongmedisina sa unang taon kasama si Rizal, kung saan tatlo ay Peninsular, at tato ay ipinanganak saPilipinas. Kung totoong pinaburan ng mga Dominikano ang mga Kastila, ang anim na ito dapatang natira sa para kumuha ng huling eksaminasyon. Ngunit, sa kasamaang palad, tanging isangKastilang ipinangank dito sa Pilipinas ang natira na nagngangalang Jose Resurreccion y Padilla, na may gradong aprobado (pasado) lamang, at sa sumunod na taon naman ay nakatikim ng pagkasuspinde. Isa pa ay ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ganon katataas ang nakuha niyang grado saunibersidad. Nasabi ni Leon Ma. Guerrero na marahil ay hindi para kay Rizal ang kursongmedisina, dahilan sa hindi na rin naman maitatanggi ang kanyang pagkahilig at galing sa 
siningkung saan nabibilang ang kursong Pilosopiya at Sulat. Ngunit para sa isang estudyante na hindinaman gaanong gusto ang kursong kinukuha, ang pagkakaroon ng mga gradong tulad kay Rizalay isa nang malaking biyaya. Nang pumunta si Rizal sa Espanya upang ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral ng Medisina saUnibersidad ng Madrid, nakakuha rin siya ng mga gradong sobresaliente sa mga “subject” nakauganay sa mga humanistikong pag- aaral at nakakuha ng mga gradong sapat lamang para saMedisina. Pareho lamng ang kalagayan ni Rizal dito at sa UST ngunit hindi nabanggit nadiniskrimina siya sa paaralang ito.Lingid sa kaalaman ng nakararami, nagkaroon rin si Rizal ng mga kaibigang paringDominiko sa UST. Kaabilan dito sina Padre Evaristo Aria at Padre Joaquin Fonseca. Kungmatatandaan, sa mga panahong nag- aaral siya sa UST kung saan siya nakilala bilang isangmanunula. Habanag nasa Santo Tomas ay nalikha niya ang ilan sa mga pinakamamagalingniyang obra, kasama na rito ang A La Juventud Filipina na nanano ng unang gantimpala sa patimpalak ng Liceo Artistico- Literario.
Nilisan ni Rizal ang UST dahil sa sumusunod:
a)may ilang mga propesor na hindi niya nagustuhan sa unibersidad (P. Pastells, SJ, 1897)
b)hindi niya nagustuhan ang atmospera sa unibersidad (E. Retana, 1907)
c)sa kanyang klase sa medisina, may isnag propesor na binasa ang nakasulat sa librongunit hindi na pumayag na magtalakay at magtanong sa kanya ng tanong ukol ditokaya naman nawalan siya ng amor sa patakaran (Craig, 1909)d)dahilan sa ayaw sa kanya ng mga propesor sa Ateneo (Lauback, 1936)e)dahilan sa hindi naibibigay ng UST ang kinakailangang kaalaman, at ang gamit ng  paaralan ay wala, kung hindi ay kaunti lamang (D. abella, 1965)
Maraming mga manunulat na ang nagsabi ng iisang bagay sa daan-daang paraan. Angmga nakasaad itaas ay may iisa lamang na pagkakatulad: hindi ito binase sa kahit anongebidensya tulad na lamang ng mga aktwal na pakikipagsulatan ni Rizal o ang mismongtalaarawan nito. At kung meron man silang pinagbabasihan, tanging sa mga nobela lamang niRizal nila ibinatay ang konklusyon. Ang isang nobela ay isang kathang isip lamang kaya namanhindi ito maaaring pagbasihan ng mga katotohanan sa buhay ng tao. Kung ano ang totoong ibigsabihin ng mga sulat at letra sa kanyang nobela ay si Rizal lamang ang nakaaalam, kaya namanhindi maaaring gumawa ng interpretasyon base dito at sabihin iyon ay pawang katotohananlamang.Bilang paglilinaw, una, nabanggit na may isang propesor sa UST na tumanggingmagbigay ng eksplanasyon at sumagot ng mga tanong mula sa mga estudyante niya tungkol saitinuturo niya. (Pastels at Craig) Ang propesor na ito ay pinangalanan ni Craig bilang si Dr. JoseFranco na kalaunan ay naging kamag-aral ni Rizal sa Medisina sa Unibersidad ng Madrid. Ngunit kung iisiping mabuti ay imposibleng maging dahilan ito n pag-alis ni Rizal sa Pilipinas,lalung-lalo na kung hindi naman siya ibinagsak nito sa huling pagsusulit. Ipinakita rin ng mgakamag-aral niya ang pagpapatunay na wala siyang naka-alitang propesor sa UST pagkat ikinagulat nila ang biglaang pag-alis ni Rizal dahil wala naman silang nakikitang dahilan paradito.
Ang Kabanata XII Ang Klase Sa Pisika ng El Filibusterismo ay isang kabanata na sumsalamin sa buhay niya sa unibersidad at ang mga gawa niyang kontra sa mga prayle aynagpapakita lamag ng pagkamuhi niya sa Unibersidad.
 Nabago ng pamamalagi ni Rizal sa Europa ang paniniwala niya ukol sa relihiyon.Marami siyang binitiwang mga prinsipyo at mga bagay na haligi ng kanyang relihiyon hindidahil sa kinamuhian niya ng isang unibersidad na pinamamalakaran ng relihiyon 
kundi dahilansa nakasalamuha niya ang mga tang rasyonal at liberal ang kaisipan. Ang mga oag-atake sarelihiyon ay hindi naging kakaiba nang mga panahong yun dahilan sa halos lahay na ngunibersidad sa buong mundo ay may nagaganap na mga ganitong bagay. Nakaapekto ng malaki sa pagsulat niya ng El Fili ang nangyaring panggigipit ng mgaDominikano sa kanyang pamilya sa Calamba. Kaya maaring sabihin na nakaimpluwensiya ito sakanyang opinyon para sa mga paring dominikano na siyang nagpapatakbo s aUST kaya namanganun na lamang ang deskripsyong ginawa ni Rizal sa El Fili.Ang palasak na sinabi ni Retana at Coates na ang klase sa pisika ay isang repleksyon ng buhay estudyante ni Rizal sa UST ay isang ideya na walang pinagbabasihan. Isa pa, hindi kinuhani Rizal ang paunang kurso ng Pisika sa UST kundi sa Ateneo. Si Rafael Palma na kumuha ngPisika at Kemika sa Ateneo noong 1890 ay nagsabing ang mga pasilidad sa mga laboratoryo ayhindi sapat at bihirang gamitin, at ang kanya namang nakuhang grado sa Pisika ay “very poor”. Nagpapatunay lamang na hindi ni Rizal naranasan ang ganitong bagay sa UST, kung sasabihinna ito ay isang personal na karanasan nga. (Rafael Palma, My Autobiography, Manila 1953)

Life and Studies at Ateneo

The Jesuits were considered the best educators of Spain, and perhaps of Europe, and so, when they were permitted to return to the Philippines, although their power to administer parishes was restricted except in the remote regions of Mindanao, the privilege of founding colleges, they had to apply to the City of Manila for subsidies. That is why the college which began to function in the year 1865, was called the Ateneo Municipal. To enter the Ateneo a candidate was subjected to an entrance examination on Christian doctrine, reading, writing, grammar, and elementary arithmetic. Jose did not take his entrance examinations Jose did not remain in Manila but returned first to his town to celebrate the fiesta of its patron saint; it was then that his father changed his mind and decided to send him to the Ateneo instead. Since Mercado, the first surname of the family, had come under suspicion of the authorities because it was the name used by Paciano when he was studying and working with Father Burgos, in whose house he lived, Jose adopted the second surname, Rizal. Paciano who accompanied Jose, found him a house in Walled City, but Intramuros looked gloomy to Jose, and he later found lodging outside, in the house of a spinster situated on Calle Carballo, district of Santa Cruz. As if chance would furnish him data for his future campaigns, he became acquainted in that house with various mestizos, begotten by friars. The Jesuitical system of instruction was considered more advanced than that of other colleges in that epoch. Its discipline was rigid and its methods less mechanical. It introduced physical culture as part of its program as well as the cultivation of the arts, such as music, drawing, and painting. It also establishes vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, and mechanics as a religious institute, its principal purpose was to mold the character and the will of the boys to comply more easily with the percepts of the Church. The students heard mass before the beginning of the class, which was opened and closed with prayers. In the first two terms the classes were divided into groups of interns and externs: the first constituted the Roman Empire and the second, the Carthaginian Empire. In each empire there were five dignitaries: Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, and Standard-Bearer. These dignities were won by means of individual competitions in which it was necessary to catch one’s adversary in error three times. The empires considered themselves in perpetual warfare, and when an individual of one empire was caught in error by one belonging to the enemy empire, a point was counted in favor of the latter. At the end of each week or two, the points in favor of each were added and the empire, which obtained more point, was declared winner. There was a fraternity of Mary and Saint Louis Gonzaga, to which only those who distinguished themselves in the class for their piety and diligence could belong. This fraternity met on Sundays and after mass held public programs in which poems were recited or debates were held. With all these inducements it was only natural that should be a spirit of emulation, a striving to surpass ones colleagues found in the Ateneo. The first professor Jose had was Fr. Jose Bech, whom he describes as a man of high stature; lean body, bent forward; quick gait; ascetic physiognomy, severe and inspired; small, sunken eyes; sharp Grecian nose; thin lips forming an arch with its sides directed toward the chin." He was somewhat of a lunatic and of an uneven humor; sometimes he was hard and little tolerant and at other times he was gay and playful as a child. Among Jose’s classmates were Peninsulares and sons of Peninsulares; Francisco G. Oliva, very talented but not very studious; Joaquin Garrido, endowed with a poor memory but with much talent and industry; and Gonzalo Marzano, who occupied the throne of Emperor. From the first days Jose learned to systematize his work; he fixed a program of what he had to do in the twenty-four hours of the day and did not in the least deviate from it. Thus he disciplined his will and subjected it to the commands of his reason. As a newcomer, Jose was at first put at the tail of the class, but he was soon promoted and kept on being promoted so that at the end of one month he had attained to the rank of Emperor. At the end of the term he obtained marks of excellent in all the subjects and in the examinations. He had reason to feel proud of his advancement; and so when he went home on vacation that year, he ran alone to see his mother in the prison and tell her the happy news. He must have uttered this exclamation on learning from his mother that they had played her a mean trick. The judge, who was a blind partisan of the friars having been a domestic of theirs, told her that if she confessed her culpability he would release her at once. With the desire to see her children again, she pleaded guilty; but the judge, instead of releasing her, convicted her. In a few months the judge asked her forgiveness for what he had done because according to him his conscience hurt him, but the case had no remedy because it was already on appeal. The second year, Jose had the same professor as in the previous year; but instead of lodging outside the City, he resided at No. 6 Calle Magallanes. At the end of the term he obtained a medal, and upon returning to his town, he again visited his mother in jail alone. This was three months before her release. The rejoicing that her release produced in his spirit had much influence on the result of his studies in the third year, for he began to win prizes in the quarterly examinations. About that time he devoted himself to reading novels, and one of those he enjoyed most was Dumas’ (father) The Count of Monte Cristo. The sufferings of the hero of the twelve years. He also asked his father to buy him a copy of The Universal History by Cesar Cantanu, and according to himself he profited much from its perusal. The family, who saw in Jose great aptitude for study, decided to place him as intern or boarding student in the college the following year. In the corner of the dormitory facing the sea and the pier Jose passed his two years of internship. In the fourth year of his course he had Fr. Francisco Sanchez as professor. Jose describes him as a model of rectitude, a solicitude, and love for the student, and his studied mathematics, rhetoric, and Greek, and he must have progressed much, for at the end of the year he-obtained five medals, which pleased him immensely because with them I could repay my father somewhat for his sacrifices. His aptitude for poetry revealed itself early, and from that time on he did not cease to cultivate it. An incident which demonstrates Jose’s independence of character took place at this time. Fr. Leoncio Lopez, parish priest of the town, who was a great friend of his father, also liked Jose as a little friend. He was cultured but at the same time timid and tender. One day Jose’s mother showed Father Lopez a poem of his young friend and that the latter must have copied it from a book. Jose, who heard this, answered the priest violently, for which his mother reprehended him. Afterward Father Lopez came to know from the Jesuits themselves that Jose was a pupil who excelled in poetry; and, in spite of his age, made a trip to Manila expressly to apologize to Jose. That gesture of Father Lopez’ won him Jose’s esteem and they became good friends again, lending each other the books they had. In the fifth years Jose had other professors: Frs. Vilaclara and Mineves. He studied philosophy, physics, chemistry, and natural history, but his devotion to poetry was such that his professor in philosophy advised him once to leave it, which made him cry. But in his rest hours he continued cultivating the Muses under the direction of his old professor, Father Sanchez. Jose had then written a short story (leyenda), which was only slightly corrected by his professor, and a dialogue, which was enacted at the end of the course, alluding to the collegians’ farewell. However, philosophy, just and serve, inquiring into the wherefores of things, interested him as much as poetry; physics, drawing back the veil that divine drama of nature was enacted, natural history seemed to him somewhat uninteresting although he much liked the shells and sometimes imagined seeing a goddess in each shell he was on the shelf. Jose was considered small of stature and he tried to correct this defect by applying himself regularly to gymnastics in the college. He also engaged in other physical exercises, such as fencing. After his baccalaureate, he surprised his family with his skill in handling the sword when he gave an exhibition bout with the best swordsman of the town. He also devoted time to painting and sculpture. In drawing and painting he was under the guidance and direction of the Ateneo professor, the Peninsula Don Augustin Saez, who honored him with his affection and consideration because of his progress. In sculpture his instructor was a Filipino, Romualdo de Jesus, who felt proud in the last years of his life of having had such an excellent pupil.

Early Education in Calamba and Biñan

Rizal had his early education in Calamba and Biñan. It was a typical schooling that a son of an ilustrado family received during his time, characterized by the four R’s- reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion. Instruction was rigid and strict. Knowledge was forced into the minds of the pupils by means of the tedious memory method aided by the teacher’s whip. Despite the defects of the Spanish system of elementary education, Rizal was able to acquire the necessary instruction preparatory for college work in Manila. It may be said that Rizal, who was born a physical weakling, rose to become an intellectual giant not because of, but rather in spite of, the outmoded and backward system of instruction obtaining in the Philippines during the last decades of Spanish regime. The Hero’s First Teacher The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was a remarkable woman of good character and fine culture. On her lap, he learned at the age of three the alphabet and the prayers. "My mother," wrote Rizal in his student memoirs, "taught me how to read and to say haltingly the humble prayers which I raised fervently to God." As tutor, Doña Teodora was patient, conscientious, and understanding. It was she who first discovered that her son had a talent for poetry. Accordingly, she encouraged him to write poems. To lighten the monotony of memorizing the ABC’s and to stimulate her son’s imagination, she related many stories. As Jose grew older, his parents employed private tutors to give him lessons at home. The first was Maestro Celestino and the second, Maestro Lucas Padua. Later, an old man named Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the boy’s tutor. This old teacher lived at the Rizal home and instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin. Unfortunately, he did not lived long. He died five months later. After a Monroy’s death, the hero’s parents decided to send their gifted son to a private school in Biñan. Jose Goes to Biñan One Sunday afternoon in June , 1869, Jose, after kissing the hands of his parents and a tearful parting from his sister, left Calamba for Biñan. He was accompanied by Paciano , who acted as his second father. The two brothers rode in a carromata, reaching their destination after one and one-half hours’ drive. They proceeded to their aunt’s house, where Jose was to lodge. It was almost night when they arrived, and the moon was about to rise. That same night, Jose, with his cousin named Leandro, went sightseeing in the town. Instead of enjoying the sights, Jose became depressed because of homesickness. "In the moonlight," he recounted, "I remembered my home town, my idolized mother, and my solicitous sisters. Ah, how sweet to me was Calamba, my own town, in spite of the fact that was not as wealthy as Biñan." First Day in Biñan School The next morning (Monday) Paciano brought his younger brother to the school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. The school was in the house of the teacher, which was a small nipa hut about 30 meters from the home of Jose’s aunt. Paciano knew the teacher quite well because he had been a pupil under him before. He introduced Jose to the teacher, after which he departed to return to Calamba. Immediately, Jose was assigned his seat in the class. The teacher asked him: "Do you know Spanish?" "A little, sir," replied the Calamba lad. "Do you know Latin?" "A little, sir." The boys in the class, especially Pedro, the teacher’s son laughed at Jose’s answers. The teacher sharply stopped all noises and begun the lessons of the day. Jose described his teacher in Biñan as follows: "He was tall, thin, long-necked, with sharp nose and a body slightly bent forward, and he used to wear a sinamay shirt, woven by the skilled hands of the women of Batangas. He knew by the heart the grammars by Nebrija and Gainza. Add to this severity that in my judgement was exaggerated and you have a picture, perhaps vague, that I have made of him, but I remember only this." First School BrawlIn the afternoon of his first day in school, when the teacher was having his siesta, Jose met the bully, Pedro. He was angry at this bully for making fun of him during his conversation with the teacher in the morning. Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The latter readily accepted, thinking that he could easily beat the Calamba boy who was smaller and younger. The two boys wrestled furiously in the classroom, much to the glee of their classmates. Jose, having learned the art of wrestling from his athletic Tio Manuel, defeated the bigger boy. For this feat, he became popular among his classmates. After the class in the afternoon, a classmate named Andres Salandanan challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. They went to a sidewalk of a house and wrestled with their arms. Jose, having the weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his head on the sidewalk. In succeeding days he had other fights with the boys of Biñan. He was not quarrelsome by nature, but he never ran away from a fight. Best Student in School In academic studies, Jose beat all Biñan boys. He surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects. Some of his older classmates were jealous of his intellectual superiority. They wickedly squealed to the teacher whenever Jose had a fight outside the school, and even told lies to discredit him before the teacher’s eyes. Consequently the teacher had to punish Jose. Early Schooling in Biñan Jose had a very vivid imagination and a very keen sense of observation. At the age of seven he traveled with his father for the first time to Manila and thence to Antipolo to fulfill the promise of a pilgrimage made by his mother at the time of his birth. They embarked in a casco, a very ponderous vessel commonly used in the Philippines. It was the first trip on the lake that Jose could recollect. As darkness fell he spent the hours by the katig, admiring the grandeur of the water and the stillness of the night, although he was seized with a superstitious fear when he saw a water snake entwine itself around the bamboo beams of the katig. With what joy did he see the sun at the daybreak as its luminous rays shone upon the glistening surface of the wide lake, producing a brilliant effect! With what joy did he talk to his father, for he had not uttered a word during the night! When they proceeded to Antipolo, he experienced the sweetest emotions upon seeing the gay banks of the Pasig and the towns of Cainta and Taytay. In Antipolo he prayed, kneeling before the image of the Virgin of Peace and Good Voyage, of whom he would later sing in elegant verses. Then he saw Manila, the great metropolis , with its Chinese sores and European bazaars. And visited his elder sister, Saturnina, in Santa Ana, who was a boarding student in the Concordia College. When he was nine years old, his father sent him to Biñan to continue studying Latin, because his first teacher had died. His brother Paciano took him to Biñan one Sunday, and Jose bade his parents and sisters good-bye with tears in his eyes. Oh, how it saddened him to leave for the first time and live far from his home and his family! But he felt ashamed to cry and had to conceal his tears and sentiments. "O Shame," he explained, "how many beautiful and pathetic scenes the world would witness without thee!" They arrived at Biñan in the evening. His brother took him to the house of his aunt where he was to stay, and left him after introducing him to the teacher. At night, in company with his aunt’s grandson named Leandro, Jose took a walk around the town in the light of the moon. To him the town looked extensive and rich but sad and ugly. His teacher in Biñan was a severe disciplinarian. His name was Justiniano Aquino Cruz. "He was a tall man, lean and long-necked, with a sharp nose and a body slightly bent forward. He used to wear a sinamay shirt woven by the deft hands of Batangas women. He knew by memory the grammars of Nebrija and Gainza. To this add a severity which, in my judgement I have made of him, which is all I remember." The boy Jose distinguished himself in class, and succeeded in surpassing many of his older classmates. Some of these were so wicked that, even without reason, they accused him before the teacher, for which, in spite of his progress, he received many whippings and strokes from the ferule. Rare was the day when he was not stretched on the bench for a whipping or punished with five or six blows on the open palm. Jose’s reaction to all these punishments was one of intense resentment in order to learn and thus carry out his father’s will. Jose spent his leisure hours with Justiniano’s father-in-law, a master painter. From him he took his first two sons, two nephews, and a grandson. His way life was methodical and well regulated. He heard mass at four if there was one that early, or studied his lesson at that hour and went to mass afterwards. Returning home, he might look in the orchard for a mambolo fruit to eat, then he took his breakfast, consisting generally of a plate of rice and two dried sardines. After that he would go to class, from which he was dismissed at ten, then home again. He ate with his aunt and then began at ten, then home again. He ate with his aunt and then began to study. At half past two he returned to class and left at five. He might play for a short time with some cousins before returning home. He studied his lessons, drew for a while, and then prayed and if there was a moon, his friends would invite him to play in the street in company with other boys. Whenever he remembered his town, he thought with tears in his eyes of his beloved father, his idolized mother, and his solicitous sisters. Ah, how sweet was his town even though not so opulent as Biñan! He grew sad and thoughtful. While he was studying in Biñan, he returned to his hometown now and then. How long the road seemed to him in going and how short in coming! When from afar he descried the roof of his house, secret joy filled his breast. How he looked for pretexts to remain longer at home! A day more seemed to him a day spent in heaven, and how he wept, though silently and secretly, when he saw the calesa that was flower that him Biñan! Then everything looked sad; a flower that he touched, a stone that attracted his attention he gathered, fearful that he might not see it again upon his return. It was a sad but delicate and quite pain that possessed him.