Rizal's Educational Background

EDUCATION BACKGROUND OF RIZAL

  

The Early Years

• At the age of 3, Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother. 

• At the age of 5, while learning to read and write, Rizal already showed an inclination to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives with his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. 

• At the age of 8, Rizal wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," whose theme revolves around the love of one’s language.

 

Rizal in Binan, Laguna

• 1869

• Accompanied by Paciano, his older brother

• Taught by Maestro Justiniano

• Best Student amongst all

 

Life and Studies in Ateneo

• 1872

• Ateneo de Municipal was established by Jesuits

• Belonged to the class composed of Spaniards, Mestizos, and Filipinos

• Taught by Father Jose Bech

• Rizal was considered inferior and was placed at the bottom of the class, but was then given a prize, a religious picture

• Took private lessons at Santa Isabel College to improve his Spanish

• During his 4th year, he received 5 medals and graduated as Sobresaliente

• Graduated on March 23, 1877, when he was 16 years old.

• Received a degree in Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors

 

Extra-Curricular Involvement

• campus leader

• Active member and became a secretary, the Marian Congregation Religious Society

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

• Poet

• Studied painting under the famous Spanish Painter, Agustin Saez

• Improved his sculpture talents under the supervision of Romualdo de Jesus

• Engaged in gymnastics and fencing and continued the physical training under his sports-minded Tio Manuel.

Medical Studies at the University of Sto. Thomas (1877-1882)

• After graduating, he continued his education at UST

• He finished a year in Philosophy and Letters

• He decided to shift to a medical course

• UST was under the Dominicans, rival of the Jesuits in education

• Remained loyal to Ateneo participated in extracurricular activities in Ateneo and completed a course in surveying

• As a Thomasian, he won more literary laurels

• During his first term in 1877-1878 in UST, he studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.

• It was during the school term 1878-1879 that Rizal pursued his studies in medicine

 
Pre-Med Course

• Curso de Ampiacion or Advanced course in Physics, Chemistry, and Natural History.

• Out of the 28 young men taking Ampliacion only four including Rizal were granted the privilege of taking simultaneously the preparatory course and the first year of medicine

• Rizal also received his four-year practical training in medicine at the Hospital de San Juan de Dios in Intramuros

• During his last year at the University, Rizal had obtained the global grade of Notable(Very Good) in all of his subjects, and he was the second-best student in a decimated class of seven who passed the medicine course. After which, Rizal decided to study in Spain.

 

Academic Journey To Spain ( 1882-1885 )

• His departure for Spain was kept secret from Spanish Authorities, friars, and even his parents especially his mother because she would not allow him to go

• To avoid detection, he used the name, Jose Mercado

• On May 3, 1882, he boarded Salvadora bound for Singapore where he was the only Filipino passenger

• On November 3, 1882, he enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid taking up two courses: Philosophy and Letters and Medicine

• On June 21, 1884, he was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine

• The following academic year, he studied and passed all subjects leading to the degree of doctor of medicine

• Unfortunately, he was not able to submit the thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees

• With that, he was not awarded his Doctor’s Diploma

• Jose Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters with higher grades

• He was awarded the Degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by the Universidad Central de Madrid on June 19, 1885, with the rating of excellent.

 

Opthalmology studies and travels in Europe

• Jose Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology. Among all branches, he chose this specialization because he wanted to cure his mother’s failing eyesight.

• In 1885, after studying at the Universidad Central de Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 years old, went to Paris to acquire more knowledge in ophthalmology