Chapter 1: Advent of a National Hero
The Birth of a Hero
· June 19, 1861 - birth date of Jose Rizal.
· Born in Calamba, Laguna Province.
· June 22, 1862 - he was baptized in the Catholic church of his town at the age of 3.
· Father Rufino Collantes - baptized Rizal.
· Father Pedro Casañas - Rizal's godfather.
· Mariano Herbosa - nephew of Casañas who will marry Lucia (Rizal's sister).
· Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda - full name of Jose Rizal. Lieutenant-General Jose Lemary - governor general of the Philippines when Rizal was born.
Meanings of Rizal's Names
· Jose - chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose (St. Joseph).
· Protacio - from Gervacio P. which came from a Christian calendar. Mercado - adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal). The Spanish term "Mercado" means "market" in English.
· Rizal - in Spanish means a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again.
· Y- and
· Alonzo - old surname of his mother.
· Realonda - used by Dana Teodora from the surname of her godmother.
Rizal's Parents
· Francisco Mercado Rizal
- Born on May 11, 1818. .
- Born in Biñan, Laguna.
- Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila. June 28, 1848 - he married Teodora.
- The youngest of the 13 children of Cirila Alejandro and Juan Mercado.
· Teodora Alonzo Realonda
- Born on November 09, 1827.
- Educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well-known college for girls.
- Died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85.
The Rizal Children
A. Saturnina (1850-1913) - oldest of the Rizal children; nicknamed Neneng.
B. Paciano (1851-1930) - older brother and confident of Jose Rizal; second father of Rizal; Pilosopo Tasia in Noli Me Tangere.
C. Narcisa (1852-1939) - pet name: Sisa.
D. Olimpia (185501887) - pet name: Ypia.
E. Lucia (1857-1919) - married Mariano Herbosa, who died of cholera in 1889 and was denied Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Rizal.
F. Maria (1859-1945) - nickname: Biang.
G. JOSE (1861-1896) - the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius; nickname: Pepe.
H. Concepcion (1862-1865) - pet name: Concha; she died of sickness at the age of 3; her death was Rizal's first sorrow in life.
I. Josefa (1865-1945) - pet name: Panggoy; died an old maid at the age of 80.
J. Trinidad (1868-1951) - pet name: Trining; also died an old maid at the age of 83.
K. Soledad (1870-1929) - youngest of the Rizal children; pet name: Choleng.
Rizal's Ancestry
· Patemal Side
- Domingo Lamco -great-great grandfather of Rizal; a Chinese immigrant from Changchow; he
- was married to a Chinese Christian girl of Manila named Ines de la Rosa .
- 1731 - he adopt the name Mercado meaning Market
- Francisco Mercado - Domingo Lamco's son; married Cirila Bernacha.
- Juan Mercado - Francisco's son married to Cirila Alejandro.
- Francisco Mercado - youngest son of Juan Mercado, Rizal's father.
· Maternal Side
- Lakan Dula - descendant; last native king of Tondo.
- Eugenio Ursus - great-great grandfather of Rizal; Japanese married to a Filipina named Benigna
- Regina - daughter of Eugenio, married Manuel de Quintos (Filipino-Chinese lawyer).
- Brigida - daughter of Regina who married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso (Spanish-Filipino mestizo).
The Rizal Home
· A 2-storey building, rectangular in shape, built of adobe stones and hardwoods, and roofed with red tiles.
· Behind the house were poultry yard full of turkeys and chickens, and a big garden of tropical fruit trees (atis, balimbing, chico, macopa, papaya, santol, tampoy, etc.).
A Good and Middle-Class Family
· Principalia - a town aristocracy in Spanish Philippines was one of the distinguished families in Calamba
· Carriage -a status symbol of the ilustrados in Spanish Philippines.
· Private Library - the largest in Calamba, consisted of more than 1,000 volumes.
Chapter 2: Childhood Years in Calamba
Calamba, the Hero's town
· Calamba
- Natal town of Rizal.
- Named after a big native jar.
- Happiest period of Rizal's life was spent in this lakeshore town, a worthy prelude to his Hamlet-like tragic manhood.
- Hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican Order.
- Picturesque town nestling on a verdant plain covered with irrigated rice fields and sugar lands.
- A few kilometers to the south looms of the legendary Mt. Makiling and beyond this mountain is the province of Batangas.
- East of the town is the Laguna de Bay.
· Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)
- A poem written by Rizal in 1876 when he was 15 years old and a student of Ateneo de Manila.
- The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the family garden when he was 3 years old. He was given the tenderest care by his parents because he was frail, sickly, and undersized.
- His father built a little nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in the daytime.
- An aya (nurse maid), a kind old woman, was employed to look after him.
- He watched from the cottage, the culiauan, maya, maria capra, & martin pitpit and other birds and listened with "wonder and joy" to the twilight songs.
- The daily Angelus prayer.
- The happy moonlit nights at the azotea after the nightly Rosary.
- The imaginary tales told by the aya aroused Rizal's interest in legends and folklore.
- The aya would threaten Rizal with asuang, nuno, tigbalang, or a terrible bearded and turbaned Bombay would come to take him away if he would not eat his supper.
- The nocturnal walk in the town esp, when there was a moon with his aya by the river.
The Hero's First Sorrow
· Death of Little Concha (Concepcion)
- When I was four years old," he said, "I lost my little sister Concha, and then for the first time I shed tears caused by love and grief..."
Devoted Son of the Church
· Young Rizal is a religious boy. He grew up a good Catholic.
· At the age of 3, he began to take part in the family prayer.
· His mother taught him the Catholic Prayers 5 years old, he was able to read the Spanish family bible.
· He was so seriously devout that he was laughingly called Manong Jose by the Hermanos & Hermanas Terceras.
· Father Leoncio Lopez, town priest, one of the men he esteemed & respected in Calamba during his boyhood.
Pilgrimage to Antipolo
· June 06, 1868. Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo.
· First trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay and his first pilgrimage to Antipolo. They rode in a Casco (barge).
· He was awed by "The magnificence of the water expanse and the silence of the night"
· After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father went to Manila and visited Saturnina, who was then a boarding student at La Concordia College in Santa Ana.
The Story of the Moth
The story of the moth and the flame was told to Rizal by his mother on a night when her mother was teaching him how to read a book entitled "The Children's Friend" (El Amigos de los Niños).
His mother grew impatient of his poor reading and lack of focus and always straying his eyes on the flame of the lamp and the cheerful moths surrounding it. Knowing his interest to stories, his mother decided to stop teaching him and instead read him an interesting story.
Upon hearing the story, it gave a deep impression on Rizal. However, it's not the story's moral that truly struck him, he actually envied the moths and their fate and considered that the light was so fine a thing that it was worth dying for.
Artistic Talents
· Age 5, started making sketches with his pencil and to mould in clay and wax objects which attracted his fancy.
· A religious banner was always used during fiesta and it was spoiled; Rizal painted in oil colors a new banner that delighted the townfolks.
· Jose had the soul of a genuine artist.
· Age 6, his sisters laughed at him for spending so much time making those images rather than participating in their games. He told them "All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments and images of me!"
First Poem by Rizal
· Age 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled "Sa Aking Mga Kabata" (To My Fellow Children). He wrote it in an appeal to our people to love our national language.
First Drama by Rizal
· Age 8, Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which was a Tagalog Comedy. It was staged in a Calamba festival.
· A gobernadorcillo from Paete purchased the manuscript for 2 pesos.
Rizal as Boy Magician
· He learned various tricks such as making a coin appear and disappear in his fingers and making a handkerchief vanish in thin air.
· Entertained his town folks with magic-lantern exhibitions. This consisted of an ordinary lamp casting its shadow on white screen.
· Also gained skill in manipulating marionettes (puppet shows).
· In Chapter XVII and XVIII of his second novel, El Filibusterismo (Treason), he revealed his wide knowledge of magic.
Lakeshore Reveries
· Rizal used to meditate at the shore of Laguna de Bay, accompanied by his pet dog, on the sad conditions of his oppressed people.
· He wrote to his friend, Mariano Ponce: "In view of these injustices and cruelties, although child, my imagination was awakened and I made a vow dedicating myself someday to avenge the many victims. With this idea in my mind, I studied, and this is seen in all my writings. Someday God will give me the opportunity to fulfill my promise."
Influences in the Hero's Boyhood
· Hereditary Influence - inherent qualities which a person inherits from his ancestors and parents.
- Malayan Ancestors - love for freedom, desire to travel, and indomitable courage.
- Chinese Ancestors - serious nature, frugality, patience, and love for children.
- Spanish Ancestors - elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to ladies.
- Father - sense of self-respect, love for work, and habit of independent thinking
- Mother religious nature, spirit of self-sacrifice, passion for arts and literature.
· Environmental Influence - environment, as well as heredity, affects the nature of a person; includes places, associates, & events.
- Calamba and the garden of the Rizal family - stimulated the inborn artistic and literary talents of Jose Rizal.
- Religious atmosphere at his home - fortified his religious nature.
- Paciano - love of freedom and justice.
- Sisters - to be courteous and kind to women.
- Fairy tales told by his aya - interest in folklores and legends.
- 3 Uncles: Tio Jose Alberto - artistic ability, who studied 11 years in a British school in Calcutta, India; Tio Manuel - develop his frail body by means of physical exercises including horse riding, walking, and wrestling: Tio Gregorio - Rizal's voracious reading of good books.
- Father Leoncio Lopez - fostered Rizal's love for scholarship and intellectual honesty.
- The sorrows in his family contributed for Rizal to strengthen his character.
- The Spanish abuses and cruelties he witnessed awakened Rizal's spirit of patriotism and inspired him to consecrate his life and talents to redeem his oppressed people.
· Aid of Divine Providence
- A person cannot attain greatness in the annals of the nation despite having everything life (brains, wealth, and power) without this.
- Rizal was providentially destined to be the pride and glory of his nation; endowed by God with versatile gifts of a genius, vibrant spirit of a nationalist, and the valiant heart to sacrifice for a noble cause.
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Chapter 3: Early Education in Calamba and Biñan
The Hero's First Teacher
· Doña Teodora, his mother, was his first teacher,
· Private tutors: Maestro Celestino (first tutor) and Maestro Lucas Padua (second tutor). Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal's father, became the hero's tutor in Spanish and Latin.
Jose Goes to Biñan
· After Monroy's death, Rizal's parents decided to send him to a private school in Biñan.
· June 1869. Jose left Calamba for Biñan with Paciano.
· Carromata - their mode of transportation.
· Aunt's House - where Jose lodge.
First Day in Biñan School
· Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz - owner and teacher of the school.
· Rizal described Maestro Justiniano as "tall, thin, long-necked, and sharp-nosed with a body slightly bent forward."
First School Brawl
· Jose challenged Pedro to a fight and he won having learned the art of wrestling from his athletic To Manuel
· Andres Salandaan challenged Rizal to an arm-wrestling match. Jose, having the weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his head on sidewalk.
Painting Lessons in Biñan
· Old Juancho, father-in-law of the school teacher, freely gave Jose painting lessons. Jose Rizal and his classmate
· Jose Guevarra became apprentices of the old painter,
Daily Life in Biñan
1. Hears mass at 4:00 AM or studies lesson at that hour before going to mass.
2. Goes to the orchard to look for a mabolo to eat.
3. Breakfast: rice and 2 dried small fish.
4. Goes to class until 10:00 AM and goes home for lunch.
5. Goes back to school at 2:00 PM and comes out at 5:00 pm.
6. Prays with cousins and returns home.
7. Studies lesson and draws a little.
8. Supper: one or 2 rice with an ayungin.
9. Prays again and if there's a moon, plays with cousins.
Best Student in School
· Jose surpassed his classmates in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects.
· Jose used Rizal instead of Mercado because the name "Mercado" had come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
· Boarded in a house on Caraballo Street, owned by Titay who owed Rizal family 300 pesos.
Jesuit System of Education
· Jesuit trained the character of the student by rigid discipline, humanities, and religious instruction
· The students heard Mass in the morning before the beginning of daily class.
· Classes were opened and closed with prayers.
· Students were divided into two groups: Roman Empire - consisting of the internos (boarders) with red banners; and Carthaginian Empire - composed of the externos (non-boarders) with blue banners.
· Each of these empires had its rank. Students fought for positions. Any student could challenge any officer in his empire" to answer questions on the day's lesson. With 3 mistakes, opponents could lose his position.
1. best: EMPEROR
2. best: TRIBUNE
3. best: DECURION
4. best: CENTURION
5. best: STANDARD-BEARER
· Ateneo students' uniform is consisted of "hemp-fabric trousers" and "striped cotton coat". The coat was called rayadillo and was adopted as the uniform for Filipino troops during the days of the First Philippine Republic.
Rizal's First Year in Ateneo (1872-73)
· June 1872 - first day of class in Ateneo
· Fr. Jose Bech - first professor of Rizal.
· Rizal was placed at the bottom of the class since he was a newcomer and knows little Spanish. He was an externo and was assigned to Carthaginians. At the end of the month, he became emperor of his Empire. He was the brightest pupil in the whole class.
· Took private lessons in Santa Isabel College and paid 3 pesos for extra Spanish lessons.
· Placed 20 at the end of the year, although all his grades were still marked Excellent.
Summer Vacation (1873)
· March 1873 - Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation.
· His sister Neneng (Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan to cheer him up.
· Visited his mother in prison at Santa Cruz without telling his father.
· After vacation, he returned to Manila for his 2 year term in Ateneo.
· Boarded inside Intramuros at No. 8 Magallanes Street.
· Doña Pepay - landlady and old widow with a widowed daughter and four sons
Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74)
· Rizal lost the leadership but he repented and even studied harder, once more he became emperor. He received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal.
· He had 3 classmates from Biñan who had also been his classmates in the school of Maestro Justiniano.
Prophecy of Mother's Release
· Doña Teodora told her son of her dream the previous night. Rizal, interpreting the dream, told her that she would be released from prison in 3 months time. It became true.
· Doña Teodora likened his son to the youthful Joseph in the Bible in his ability to interpret dreams.
Teenage Interest in Reading
· The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - Jose Rizal's first favorite novel
· Also read non-fiction, Cesar Cantu's historical work Universal History.
· He also read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, German who visited the Philippines in 1859-1860. In this book, he foretold that someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would come to succeed here as colonizer.
Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75)
· Shortly after the opening of classes, his mother was released from prison.
· Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies.
· He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken was not fluently sonorous.
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76)
· June 16, 1875 - he became an inferno in Ateneo.
· Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez - Inspired him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal described him as "model of uprightness, earnestness, and love for the advancement of his pupils".
· He returned to Calamba with 5 medals and excellent ratings.
Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
· June 1876 - last year of Rizal in Ateneo.
· The most brilliant Atenean of his time, "the pride of the Jesuits".
· Obtained highest grades in all subjects.
Graduation with Highest Honors
· Excellent scholastic records from 1872-1877.
· March 23, 1877 - Commencement Day. 16 year old Rizal received from his Alma Mater the degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors.
Extra-Curricular Activities
· An emperor inside the classroom and campus leader outside.
· Secretary of the Marian Congregation.
· Member of Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
· Studied painting under the famous Spanish painter Agustin Saez.
· Studied sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, noted Filipino sculptor.
· Engaged in gymnastics and fencing.
· Fr. Jose Villaclara advised him to stop communing with the muses and pay more attention to practical studies such as philosophy and natural science.
Sculptural Works in Ateneo
· Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood).
· Father Lleonart requested him to carve an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ateneo students placed the image on the door of the dormitory and remained there for many years.
Anecdotes on Rizal, The Atenean
· Felix M. Ramos - one of Rizal's contemporaries in Ateneo.
· Manuel Xeres Burgos - whose house Rizal boarded shortly before he became an inferno.
Poems Written in Ateneo
· Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - first poem he wrote for his mother's birthday.
· In 1875, Inspiration by Father Sanchez, he wrote more poems such as: Filicitacion (Felicitation), El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure Hymn to Magellan's fleet), Y Es Espanol: Elcano, the first to circumnavigate the world), and El Combate: Urbiztondo Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo).
· In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics: Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblu (In Memory of My Town), Alianza Intima Entre la Region Y La Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education), Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre La Patria (Through Education the Country Receive Light), E Cultivero Y El Triunfo (The Captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the Imprisonment of Boabdil), and La Entrada Triuntal de Los Reyes Catolices en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of The Catholic Monarches into Granada)
· A year later, in 1877 he wrote more poems: El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Colombus), Colon y Juan II (Colombus and John II ), Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune), and Un Diarogo Alusivo a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students.
Rizal's Religious Poems
· Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus) - a brief ode; written in 1875 when he was 14 years old.
· A la Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary).
Dramatic Work in Ateneo
· Father Sanchez, his favorite teacher, ask him to write a drama based on the prose story of St. Eustace the Martyr.
· Summer 1876 in Calamba - he wrote the religious drama in poetic verses.
· June 02, 1876 - finished the manuscript.
· He submitted the finished manuscript entitled "San Eustacio, Martir" (St. Eustace, the Martyr) to Father Sanchez in his last academic year in Ateneo.
First Romance of Rizal
· 16 years old - Rizal experienced his first romance,
· Segunda Katigba - a pretty 14 years old Batangueña from Lipa; sister of his friend Mariano Katigbak.
· His sister Olimpia was a close friend of Segunda in La Concordia College.
· Segunda was already engaged to Manuel Luz. His first romance was ruined by his own shyness and reserve.
· Segunda retumed to Lipa and later married Manuel Luz. Rizal remained in Calamba, a frustrated lover, cherishing nostalgic memories of lost love.
Chapter 5: Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)
Mother's Opposition to Higher Education
· Doña Teodora opposed the idea of sending Rizal to UST to pursue higher education because she knew what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and the Spaniards might cut off his head if he gets to know more. Rizal was surprised by his mother's opposition, who was a woman of education and culture. Despite his mother's tears, Don Francisco told Paciano to accompany Rizal to Manila.
Rizal Enters the University
· April 1877- Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas.
· He enrolled in UST taking up Philosophy and Letter for two reasons: (1) his father liked it and (2) he was still uncertain as to what career to pursue
· He asked the advice of Father Pablo Ramon (Rector of the Ateneo) on what career to choose but Father Recto was in Mindanao so he was unable to advice Rizal.
· First-year Term (1877-78) - Rizal studied Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.
· Ateneo Rector's advice - study medicine; reason: to be able to cure his mother's growing blindness.
Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
· While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the vocational course leading to the title of "perito agrimensor" (expert surveyor).
· Colleges for boys in Manila offered vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and surveying.
· He excelled in all subjects in the surveying course obtaining gold medals in agriculture and topography.
· At the age of 17, he passed the final examination in the surveying course.
· November 25, 1881 - he was granted the title as surveyor.
· Because of his loyalty to Ateneo, he continued to participate actively in the Ateneo's extra-curricular activities.
· He was president of the Academy of Spanish Literature and secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Romances with Other Girls
· Miss L
- Fair with seductive and attractive eyes.
- Romance died a natural death.
- 2 Reasons for his change of heart: (1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart and (2) his father did not like the family of "Miss L"
· Leonor Valenzuela
- Daughter of the next-door neighbors of Doña Concha Leyva (her house is where Rizal boarded).
- Tall girl with a regal bearing.
- Pet name: Orang.
- Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible ink. This ink consisted of common table salt and water. He taught Orang the secret of reading any note written in the invisible Ink by heating it over a candle or lamp so that the words may appear.
· Leonor Rivera
- Rizal's cousin from Camiling.
- Bom in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11, 1867.
- A student of La Concordia College where Rizal's youngest sister, Soledad was then studying.
- Frail, pretty girl "tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes".
- They became engaged.
- In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as "Taimis", in order to camouflage their intimate relationship from their parents and friends.
- Rizal lived in: Casa Tamasina No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros Antonio Rivero - Rizal's landlord-uncle is the father of Leonor Rivera.
Victim of Spanish Officer's Brutality
· One dark night in Calamba, during the summer vacation in 1878, when Rizal was walking in the street and dimly perceived the figure of a man while passing him. Not knowing the person was a lieutenant of the Guardia Civit; he did not salute nor say greetings. With a snarl, he turned upon Rizal, whipped out his sword and brutally slashed his back.
· Rizal reported the incident to General Primo de Rivera, the Spanish Governor General of the Philippines at that time, but nothing came out because he was an Indio and the accused was a Spaniard. Later in a letter to Blumentritt dated March 21, 1887, he related, "I went to the Captain General but I could not obtain justice; my wound lasted two weeks."
To the Filipino Youth" (1879)
· Liceo Artisco-Literano (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila - society of literary men and artists; held a literary contest.
· At the age of 18, Rizal submitted his poem entitled A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth).
· The Board of Judges - composed of Spaniards; gave the first prize to Rizal which consisted of a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon.
· Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy, to let their genius fly swifter than the wind and descend with art and science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of people.
· Reasons why Rizal's poem was a classic in Philippine Literature: (1) it was the first great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary authorities and (2) it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos were the "fair hope of the Fatherland".
"The Council of the Gods" (1880)
· Artistic-Literary Lyceum - opened another literary contest for both Filipino and Spaniar commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain's glorified man-of-letters and famous author of Don Quixote.
· Rizal submitted an allegorical drama entitled El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods) and he received the first prize, a gold ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes.
Other Literary Works
· Junto al Pasic (Beside the Pasig) (1880) - a zarzuela which was staged by the Ateneans on December 08, 1880, on the annual celebration of the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception (Patrones of the Ateneo).
· A Filipinas (1880) - a sonnet he wrote for the album of the Society of Sculptors.
· Abd-el-Azis (1879) - a poem declaimed by Manuel Fernandez on the night of December 08, 1879 in honor of the Ateneo's Patroness.
· Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon (1881) - a poem he wrote as an expression of affection to Father Pablo Ramon.
Rizal's Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan
· Summer of May 1881 - Rizal went to a pilgrimage to the town of pakil, famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de los Dolores.
· He was accompanied by his sisters-Saturnina, Maria, and Trinidad and their female friends.
· They took a casco (flat-bottom sailing vessel) from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna, and stayed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Regalado, whose son Nicolas was Rizal's friend in Manila.
· Rizal and his companions were fascinated by the famous turumba (people dancing in the streets during the procession in honor of the miraculous Birhen Maria de los Dolores)
· Rizal was infatuated by a pretty girl colegiala, Vicenta Ybardolaza, who skillfully played the harp at the Regalado home,
· Reasons why Rizal and his company made side trip to the neighboring town of Pagsanjan: (1) it was the native town of Leonor Valenzuela and (2) to see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls.
Champion of Filipino Students
· Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students in their rights against the arrogant Spanish students, who insultingly called their brown classmates "Indio, chongo!" In retaliation, the Filipino students called them "Kastila, bangus!".
· In 1880 - Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in the University of Santo Tomas called "Compañerismo" (Comradeship), whose members were called "Companions of Jehu," after the Valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans.
· Galicano Apacible - Rizal's cousin from Batangas, secretary of Compañerismo.
· Flerce encounter near the Escolta in Manila where Rizal was wounded on the head, and tenderly washed and dressed by Leonor Rivera in his boarding house "Casa Tomasina".
Unhappy Days at the UST
· He was unhappy at this Dominican institution of higher learning because (1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him; (2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards, and (3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.
· Rizal, the most brilliant graduate of Ateneo, failed to win high scholastic honors.
Decision to Study Abroad
· After finishing the fourth year of his medical course, Rizal decided to study in Spain. He could no longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in the University of Santo Tomas.
· He did not seek his parent's permission and blessings to go abroad, and even his beloved Leonor.
Chapter 6: In Sunny Spain (1882-1885)
Rizal's Secret Mission
· To observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries, commerce and government and laws of the Europian Nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating of oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
· Approval of his older brother Paciano
· Rizal has no permission and blessings to his parents.
Secret Departure for Spain
· The people who knows Rizal will go to Spain:
Older brother (Paciano)
- His unde (Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor Rivera)
- His sisters (Neneng and Lucia)
- Valenzuela family (Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday and their daughter Orang)
- Pedro A. Paterno
- Mateo Evangelista - his compadre
- Ateneo Jesuit fathers
- Some intimate friends, including Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio).
· Jose Mercado - the name he used; a cousin from Biñan.