RIZAL IN UST

 LESSON 5: RIZAL AS A THOMASIAN

 

Who made the decision to enroll Rizal in UST?

-          His father, Don Francisco

 

Why did Doña Teodora refuse José's higher education? 

- Because she had viewed the fate of intelligent young Filipinos who questioned the Spanish authorities in the Philippines.

 

What course did Rizal pursue at UST?

- Philosophy and Letters

 

Challenges Faced by Rizal

1.      Discrimination and Racism 

2.      Uninspiring Teaching Methods 

3.      Course Dissatisfaction 

4.      Hostile Environment

5.      Physical Attacks

 

1.      Discrimination and Racism – As a Filipino (indio), he experienced racial discrimination from Spanish professors and classmates, who favored Spaniards over native students.

 

Rizal’s Own Writings

 

Memorias de un estudiante de Manila" (Memories of a Manila Student)

·       Excerpt from "Memorias de un estudiante de Manila":“I was frequently humiliated, and my professors often belittled the intelligence of native students while favoring the Spanish students.”

·       📌 This suggests that Filipino students were treated as intellectually inferior. “We Filipinos were mere spectators, while our Spanish classmates were given more opportunities to speak and excel.”

·       📌 This indicates the unequal treatment in class participation and academic recognition.

 

 

Rizal’s Letter to His Friend, Mariano Ponce (1889)

-          In this letter, Rizal recalled his difficult experiences at UST, especially regarding discrimination:

 

📜 Excerpt from his letter to Mariano Ponce (written in Spain, 1889):

“At the University of Santo Tomas, they looked down upon us Indios, treating us as if we were incapable of learning. Many of my classmates were intelligent, yet they were never given the same recognition as the Spaniards.”

·       📌 This confirms that Filipinos were marginalized and their academic abilities were undervalued.

 

 

Rizal’s Letter to His Brother, Paciano Rizal

-          While studying at UST, Rizal frequently wrote to his older brother Paciano, expressing frustration over the way Filipinos were treated.

 

 

📜 Excerpt from his letter to Paciano:“Our professors treat us with contempt, and the Spanish students mock us. It is difficult to excel when you are constantly reminded that you are inferior.”

·       📌 Rizal’s words highlight the discriminatory academic environment and the psychological burden it placed on Filipino students.

 

 

2.      Uninspiring Teaching Methods – Rizal found the education system at UST outdated and uninspiring, relying too much on rote memorization rather than critical thinking.

 

Rizal’s Memoirs – "Memorias de un estudiante de Manila“

📜 Excerpt from his memoirs:“

They valued memory more than intelligence. One had to repeat what the professors said, without question, without discussion.”

📌 Rizal criticized the lack of intellectual freedom and how students were expected to memorize lessons word-for-word instead of analyzing them.“

The lectures were dull, and the professors cared little for discussion. We were merely parrots trained to recite.”

📌 This suggests that students were discouraged from asking questions or forming their own opinions.

·       Rizal’s Essay – “The Philippines a Century Hence”

Rizal wrote about how Spanish authorities kept Filipinos in a state of ignorance, limiting their access to proper education.

·       He described how Filipino students were treated as inferior and discouraged from pursuing higher knowledge.

 

 

3.      Course Dissatisfaction – He initially studied Philosophy and Letters before shifting to Medicine to fulfill his mother’s wish of curing her blindness. However, he was often dissatisfied with how medicine was taught.

 

Excerpt from "Memorias de un estudiante de Manila

“We studied medicine without real practice, without patients. How can one be a good doctor without experience?”

📌 This suggests that medical education at UST was not sufficiently practical.

 

 

From his letter to a friend:

·       “In UST, we are taught to follow, not to think. Medicine should be about discovery, yet here, we are forced to memorize old texts.

·       ”📌 Rizal believed that UST’s lack of innovation held students back.

 

4.      Hostile Environment - He was bullied and mistreated by Spanish students, which made his stay at UST unpleasant.

 

El Filibusterismo (1891) reflects Rizal’s real-life experiences as a student.

📜 Excerpt from El Filibusterismo (Chapter 13 – "The Class in Physics"):

“The Filipino students sat quietly, while the professor focused his attention on the Spaniards. Any slight mistake from a native was met with ridicule, while a Spaniard’s errors were excused.”

 

From Rizal’s memoirs, "Memorias de un estudiante de Manila":

“We were seen as mere indios, unworthy of learning. No matter how much we excelled, we were never their equals.”

·       📌 This shows that Filipino students were treated as inferior, even if they performed better academically.

📜 From Rizal’s letter to his friend, Mariano Ponce (1889):

·       “At the university, we, the natives, were insulted and mistreated. The Spaniards never saw us as equals.”

·       📌 This highlights the prejudice and exclusion Filipinos faced at UST.

Physical Attacks – Rizal’s Near-Death Experience in 1880

During José Rizal’s years at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) (1877–1882), he experienced hostility and discrimination from Spanish students and professors. One of the most traumatic incidents occurred in 1880, when he was nearly beaten to death by a group of Spanish students after a misunderstanding.

 

·       From Rizal’s Letter to His Brother Paciano:

“They came at me, fists raised, full of rage. I did not fight back, for what could I do? They were many, and I was alone.”

 

Rizal founded a secret society “ Compaṅerismo (Comradeship) whose members were called Companions of Jehu 

- Rizal led the Filipino students in various street fights.

 

The Incident – What Happened?

·       📌 The Conflict:

In 1880, Rizal had a misunderstanding with a group of Spanish students.

Some accounts suggest that the Spaniards were jealous of Rizal’s academic excellence and mocked him for being an indio (native Filipino).

An argument broke out, escalating into physical violence.

·       📌 The Attack:

The Spanish students ganged up on Rizal, physically assaulting him. He was beaten badly, and some sources claim that he was nearly killed.

Filipino classmates intervened and saved Rizal from further harm.

How did this hostile environment affect Rizal?

·       The discrimination and bullying deepened Jose Rizal  nationalist sentiments and made him more aware of the injustices under Spanish rule.

·       It strengthened his desire to fight for equality and reform in the Philippines.

From Rizal’s letter before leaving for Spain (1882):

“Here, I am nothing but an indio. In Spain, I will be a student, a man, an equal.”

📌 This shows how the hostile treatment at UST pushed him to leave the Philippines and seek better opportunities abroad.

 

 

Experiences/Achievements

1.      Academic Achievements

2.       Artistic Growth

3.       Rizal’s Experience of Civil Guard’s Brutality (1878)

4.      Rizal as a fearless Champion of Filipino students

 

1. Academic Achievements 

·       Rizal’s Excellence at UST. Despite the challenges, discrimination, and hostile environment at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) (1877–1882), José Rizal demonstrated remarkable academic brilliance. He excelled in poetry, literature, and sciences, winning prestigious awards and gaining recognition for his intellectual talents.

 

Excellence in Literature 

-          "A la Juventud Filipina" (To the Filipino Youth)”

📌 What is "A la Juventud Filipina"?

Written in 1879, when Rizal was only 18 years old.

-          A poem encouraging Filipino youth to embrace their talents and contribute to the nation.

-          Won first prize in a literary contest sponsored by Liceo Artístico-Literario de Manila, a Spanish cultural organization.

 

First time a Filipino work was recognized as superior to Spanish-written pieces.

Rizal proved that Filipinos could excel in intellectual pursuits, challenging the belief that only Spaniards were capable of literary excellence.

 

·       Excellence in Poetry – "El Consejo de los Dioses" (The Council of the Gods)

·       📌 What was "El Consejo de los Dioses"?

A literary allegory comparing the greatness of Homer, Virgil, and Cervantes.

Written in 1880, when Rizal was 19 years old.

Won first prize in another writing competition organized by Liceo Artístico-Literario de Manila.

·       📜 From Rizal’s Reflections on Winning the Prize:

"I did not write to win. I wrote to show that the Filipino can think, can dream, and can create.“

·       📌 This statement highlights Rizal’s deep belief in Filipino intellectual capability.

·       Artistic and Intellectual Contributions

📌 Beyond academics, Rizal also showed talents in Sketching and sculpture – Created artworks, including a sculpture of the Virgin Mary.

·       Debates and public speaking 

 Participated in philosophical and literary discussions with fellow students.

·       Linguistics 

·        Became proficient in Spanish, Latin, and other languages.

📜 From Rizal’s Memoirs:"Every talent must be nurtured, every mind must be sharpened, for knowledge is the true power of a nation.“

📌 This reflects Rizal’s belief in lifelong learning and self-improvement.

 

 

2. Artistic Growth Rizal’s Development in Painting, Sculpture, and Writing. 

- While studying at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) (1877–1882), José Rizal not only excelled in academics but also honed his artistic talents in painting, sculpture, and writing. These skills would later play a crucial role in his nationalist movement, as he used art and literature to express his ideas of reform and patriotism.

 

RIZAL AS A PAINTER

·       What were his notable paintings?

·       "A Painting of the Immaculate Conception" – Won second prize in a UST art competition.

·       Portraits of Friends and Family – He painted images of his loved ones, including Leonor Rivera and his mother Teodora Alonso.

 

RIZAL AS A SCULPTOR

·       A statuette of St. Paul – Won an award in a UST sculpture contest.

·       From Rizal’s Letter to a Friend:

“A sculptor breathes life into stone, just as a patriot breathes life into his country.”

 

RIZAL AS A WRITER

·       📌 Notable Works Written During UST Years:

"A la Juventud Filipina" (To the Filipino Youth, 1879) – Encouraged Filipino youth to embrace their talents.

"El Consejo de los Dioses" (The Council of the Gods, 1880) – Won first prize in a Spanish literary contest.

 

3. Rizal’s Experience of Civil Guard’s Brutality (1878)

José Rizal’s time at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) (1877–1882), he encountered brutality from the Spanish Civil Guard, an experience that deepened his resentment toward Spanish colonial rule and strengthened his nationalist ideas.

4. Rizal as a fearless Champion of Filipino students