The
Education of Rizal
1.
The world was opened to Rizal through
his mother, his first teacher. Doña Teodora Alonzo, the
icon of culture and refinement furnished her house with all the basic stuff
that Rizal had to accumulate to strengthen his soul, which became his weapon in
the combat against the Cancer of Society.
2.
Different books were available in the
house and stories for the children that shaped Rizal into a man of culture. The
moth was one of the stories told to him by his mother which appeared in his
diary.
3.
At the age of three, he learned the
alphabet and his first exposure to the world was at the age of eight. He was
sent to Biñan to study under Maestro Justiniano Cruz. A
series of tutors followed after his studies in Biñan.
4.
At the age of he wrote his first
literary piece – a poem, “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” though at five he already
demonstrated his inclinations to be an artist.
5.
He had pencil drawings, sketches, and
molding of clay, which astounded his family, relatives and friends.
6.
The wide knowledge of Rizal made
Calamba a small place for him. He moved to Manila and erolled at Ateneo
Municipal de Manila.
7.
In 1872 at the age of 16, he obtained
his Bachelor of Arts with an average of excellent. Still craving for knowledge,
in the same year he enrolled Philosophy and Letters at the University of Sto.
Tomas, while at the same time took courses in surveyor at Ateneo. He finished
the surveying course at March 21, 1877 and almost a year after, passed the
Licensure examination. But the license to practice the surveying profession was
granted after three years later because he was too young when he finished it in
1877.
8.
Again at the University of Sto. Tomas
in 1878 he enrolled in Medicine. But his medical course at UST did not progress
well. He had to stop because the Filipino students were discriminated by their
Dominican teachers.
9.
In his heart lingered the desire to
finish his medical studies. The Philippines could no longer provide him
satisfaction. It was beyond his parents’ consent and it was a desire colored by
a dream to help the Filipinos. He secretly set sail for Spain on May 3, 1882.
The heart of a hero rooted not only for the happiness of his own family, but a
heroic heart which cried for the liberation of the whole nation.
10. He
continued his medical studies at Universidad Central de Madrid, Spain. On June
21, 1884 at the age of 23, the university granted him the degree, Licentiate in
Medicine. In the year that followed he finished the degree, Philosophy and
Letters with a grade of excellent.
Rizal as Student
1.
Rizal studied and graduated Bachelor of
Arts, Surveying, Philosophy and Letters and Medicine. It was recorded also that
he also had other studies like Music and other branches of sciences.
2.
Rizal wasted no single moment as a
student. While taking the course Philosophy and Letters at the University of
Sto. Tomas, he cross-enrolled at Ateneo in surveying. It was recorded that
while at Ateneo, he enrolled Music at Sta. Isabel College. One can see further
that his performance in all these endeavors was beyond average. His grades are
excellent and he finished these studies at young age.
3.
His busy hours at the academe did not
surmount other exertion as a student. He himself had felt the discrimination of
the Filipino students by the Dominican friars at the University of Sto. Tomas.
He was involved in the clashes between Filipino and Spanish students in the same
campus of UST. These were what have pushed him to put up the secret
organization called “Companerismo” or comradeship.
4.
Rizal’s longing for knowledge brought
him to several fields of human endeavors so that as genius “Jose Rizal is like
a beautiful diamond…It has many facets.” It is true that we have now a crop of
physicians, poets and others that can do beyond what Rizal can do. But what is
something unusual is that Rizal combined all these fields into himself alone.
5.
It was his ambition that put him to
success; ambition backed up by a passion to do. It was not superiority of the
brain that put him high. It was sacrifice and willingness that gave him the
many splendored titles. It is not inferiority that fails anyone. It’s not that
there is superior or inferior brain. What matter is the person’s determination
to do what he is supposed to do?
ACTIVITY:
Answer the following
questions in 15 minutes.
A.
What influences did Rizal’s mother had
on him? Explain your answer?
B.
If Rizal were alive today, will he
join student’s rallies at Mendiola? Why or why not?
C.
Write something about Rizal’s dismay
toward the Dominican friars. Do you think that is still happening today?
Explain your answer.
D.
What student’s values in the life of
Rizal do you like to be highlighted or to be embraced by the contemporary
students or millennials? Explain your answer.
After answering these questions,
find a partner and share your views and opinions on these issues.
ADDITIONAL VIDEO REFERENCE:
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