a student at the ateneo

1. A STUDENT AT THE ATENEO
• A student at the Ateneo (1872-1877)
• Rizal Enters Ateneo
June 10, 1872- Jose, accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila to take the entrance
examinations on Christian Doctrine, arithmetic, and reading at the College of San
Juan de Letran, and passed them. His father was the first one who wished him to
study at Letran but he changed his mind and decided to send Jose at Ateneo
instead.
• FATHER MAGIN FERRANDO (COLLEGE REGISTRAR)
Father Magin Fernando, college registrar of Ateneo Municipal, refused to admit Jose
because: He was late for registration and; He was sickly and undersized for his age
(11 years old).
• MANUEL XEREX BURGOS
Upon the intercession of Manuel Xeres Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was
admitted at Ateneo because of him
• RIZAL
Surname used by Jose Rizal
• JESUITS SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
Jesuits trained the character of the student by rigid discipline, humanities and
religious instruction. They heard Mass early in the morning before the beginning of
daily class. Classes were opened and closed with prayers.
• TWO GROUPS OF STUDENTS
ROMAN EMPIRE- (internos/boarders)
CARTHAGINIAN EMPIRE- (externos/non-boarders)
5 RANKS
Best Student: EMPEROR
Second Best: TRIBUNE
Third Best: DECURION
Fourth Best: CENTURION
Fifth Best: STANDARD BEARER

2. • RAYADILLO
Official uniform of Ateneo students.
• RIZAL’S FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-1873)
On June 1872, Rizal first heard mass at the college chapel and prayed fervently to
God for guidance and success. He went to his class, where he saw a great number
of boys, Spaniards, and Mestizos and Filipinos.
• FATHER JOSE BECH
Rizal's first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Rizal was placed at the bottom of
the class since he was a newcomer and knows little Spanish. He was an externo
(Carthaginians), occupying the end of the line. But at the end of the month, he
becomes emperor' of his Empire.
He was the brightest pupil in the class, and he was awarded a prize. “How pleased I
was,” he said, “when I won my first prize, a religious picture!” He was proud of it
because it was the first prize he ever won at the Ateneo.
• SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE
Where Rizal took his Spanish private lessons during recess and paid it for Php 3.00
pesos.
• SECOND HALF OF THE TERM
Rizal did not try hard enough to retain his academic supremacy because he resented
some remarks of his proffessor. He placed second at the end of the year, although
all his grades were still marked “Excellent.”
• SUMMER VACATION (1873)
Rizal returned to Calamba for his vacation. Saturnina brought him to Tanawan to
visit their mother to cheer him up. This did not cure his melancholy. Without telling
his father, he went to Santa Cruz and visited his mother in prison. He told her his
brilliant grades at the Ateneo and she gladly embraced her favorite son. After the
vacation he returned to Ateneo for his second year.
• DOÑA PEPAY
Jose lives at her place inside Intramuros at No.6 Magallanes Street. She’s an old
landlady with widowed daughter and four sons.
• SECOND YEAR IN ATENEO (1873-1874)
Rizal this time repented having neglected his studies.To regain his lost class
leadership, he studied harder.He again became an emperor;he also
receivedexcellent gradesin all subjects and a gold medal.

3. • PROPHECY OF MOTHER’S RELEASE
Dona 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. Dona Teodora likened his son to the youthful Joseph in the Bible in his ability to
interpret dreams.
• TEENAGE INTEREST IN READING
1.) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
2.) Cesar Cant's historical work entitled Universal History
3.) Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor
• THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1874-1875)
Rizal grades remained excellent in all subjects but he won only one medal-in Latin.
He failed to win the medal on Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently
sonorous. He was beaten by a Spaniard who could speak Spanish with fluency and
with right accentuation.
At the end of the school year (March 1875), Rizal returned to Calamba for the
summer vacation. He himself was not impressed by his scholastic work.
• FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO (1875-1876)
June 16, 1875- He became an interno in Ateneo. Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez,
one of his professors, inspired him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal's best
professor in Ateneo. 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
After the summer vacation, Rizal returned to Manila in June 1876 for his last year in
the Ateneo. His studies continued to fare well. As a matter-of-fact, he excelled in all
subjects. The most brilliant Atenean of his time, he was truly "the pride of the
Jesuits"
Rizal finished his last year at the Ateneo in a blaze of glory. He obtained the highest
grades in all subjects - philosophy. Physics, biology, chemistry, languages,
mineralogy, etc.

4. • GRADUATION WITH HIGHEST HONORS
Rizal graduated at the head of his class. His scholastic records at the Ateneo from
1872 to 1877 were all excellent.
• ON COMMENCEMENT DAY
March 23, 1877, Rizal, who was 16 years old, received from his Alma Mater, Ateneo
Municipal, and the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors. It was a proud
day for his family.
• EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO
He was an active member, later secretary, of Marian Congregation - a religious
society. He was accepted because of his academic brilliance and devotion to Our
Lady of Immaculate Conception, the college patroness. He is also a member of the
Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences. He studied
painting under Agustin Saez, a famous painter, and sculpture under Romaldo de
Jesus.
• SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO
He carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine
hardwood) with his pocketknife. The Jesuits fathers were amazed. Father Lleonart
requested him to carve for him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He intended
to take the image with him in Spain but forgot to do so. So the Ateneo boarders
placed it on the door of their dormitory. It plays a significant part in Rizal's last hours
at Fort Santiago.
• POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO
The first poem Rizal probably wrote during his days in the Ateneo was Mi Primera
Inspiración (My First Inspiration) which was dedicated to his mother on her birthday.
It is said that he wrote it before he was 14 years old which is in the year 1874.
• RIZAL'S POEM ON EDUCATION
Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light- education plays in the progress
and welfare of a nation.
The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education- showed that Education
without God is not true education.
• RIZAL'S RELIGIOUS POEM
Al Nino Jesus (To the Child Jesus)- written when he was 14 years old, expressing
his Catholic faith devotion.
A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary)

5. • MOTHER'S OPPOSITION TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Both Don Francisco and Paciano wanted Jose to pursue higher learning in the
university. But Dona Teodora who is a woman of education and culture objects to
Rizal desire for University education. She knew what happened to the Gom-Bur-ZA,
and toldher husband " Don't send him to Manila again, he knows "enough. If he gets
to know more the Spaniards will cut off his head".