In the University of Santo Tomas 1877-1882
Family’s Indecisiveness
 Rizal’s mother wanted him to return home and
look after the family business
 According to Dona Teodora, her son had learned
enough
 She feared for his safety, as she knew what
happened to Filipino intellectuals
 She blamed the fate of the Filipino intellectuals
to the level of education they received which they
used to challenge Spanish rule in the islands.
 A family council was held and Don Francisco and
Paciano were able to prevail over Dona Teodora’s
objection.
Freshman Year
 April 1877, Rizal, then sixteen years old,
enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas taking up
Philosophy and Letters.
 At that time, UST was located at its original site
in Intramuros. It was located beside Sto. Domingo
Church fronting a spacious plaza called Plaza Santo
Tomas.
 Rizal was unsure of what course to take but a
lawyer’s course would have been fine and his father
liked it.
 Atenean professors suggested that he takes up
either priesthood or farming.
 Rizal considered going into literature, medicine,
or law.
 Paciano dissuaded him from taking up the last
because it was not worth it due to political situation
in the country.
 For his first term in 1877-1878, Rizal studied
Philosophy – a preparatory course for priesthood or
study of law.
 He took subjects such as cosmology,
metaphysics, theodicy and the history of philosophy.
Preparatory Course of Theology and Law, 1877-1878
Cosmology - Sobresaliente
Metaphysics - Sobresaliente
Theodicy - Sobresaliente
History of Philosophy - Sobresaliente
UST, 1878-1879
The Thomasian Student
 After a year, Rizal decided to shift to medicine.
 According to him, he was prompted by his
desire to cure his mother’s failing eyesight
 Other convincing reasons:
 UST had the first batch of medical students
graduated, and found ready jobs at the
government’s health department.
 Also, university authorities were petitioning the
government to give preference to local graduates
over physicians who graduated in Spain.
 Medical education at UST which began in 1871
was the first in colonial Asia. It represented a new
frontier in Philippine education.
 Further, there was a noticeable decline in the
ecclesiastical faculties at that time while there was a
steady increase in the enrolment of medicine and
pharmacy.
 When he decided to shift to Medicine, Rizal was
given the rare privilege of taking up the Curso de
Ampliacion or the Preparatory Course to medicine
proper and First Year Medicine at the same time.
(This practice was not allowed and it required the
approval of the Governor General of the
Philippines).
  When he entered the UST as a student, Rizal Reprovado - Repeat
entered a very different world.

 They attend classes for three hours, the rest of Sophomore Year, 1879-1880
the day is free time.
 Rizal took up the following subjects namely:
 Many of the students used their spare time to 1879 – 1880 Second Year Medicine
do la cuacha. They would cross over the Pasig River Course Grade
to the neighboring arrabal or district of Binondo, General Anatomy and Bueno
Escolta and San Fernando streets. Histology
Descriptive Anatomy II Bueno
 Rizal’s first class in Medicine consisted of 24 Exercises of Dissection Bueno
students who consisted of 3 Peninsular Spaniards, 3 Physiology, Private and Bueno
Philippine-born Spaniards, and the rest were Public Hygiene
natives.

 Even as he was taking up the Ampliacion and  These subjects were handled by two lay
First Year Medical courses at the same time, Rizal professors Jose Franco and Carlos Nalda. Rizal
found time for other activities. remembered Franco in unfavorable terms. “He was
notorious for failing his students,” “at the beginning
of my career, he used to threaten with failing us all.
1878 – 1879 Preparatory Course of Medicine
Course Grade Rank  Most likely Franco was the model for Padre
Advanced Aprovechado 5/22 Millon in chapter “Klase sa Pisika” in his novel El
Physics Filibusterismo.
Advanced Sobresaliente 4/22
Chemistry  Rizal would meet Franco again as his classmate
Advanced Aprovechado 4/22 at the Universidad Central de Madrid in 1884.
Natural History (very good)

1878 – 1879 First Year Medicine 1879

Course Grade
General Anatomy and Bueno
 joined the literary competition of Liceo
Histology Artistico-Literario of Maynila
Descriptive Anatomy I Bueno
Exercises of Osteology and Bueno  At 18, Rizal submitted poem “A La Juventud
Dissection (good) Filipina” (Sa Kabataang Pilipino) which won the first
prize.

 The sand watch was used during examination

days. Examination days were called Noches Tristes, 1880
meaning “sorrowful nights.”
 El Consejo De los Dioses (The Council of Gods)
(Ang Konseho ng mga Diyos)
The Grading System
 awarded Rizal the grand prize
Sobresaliente - Excellent

Aprovado - Very Good

 the Spanish community was appalled upon
learning that the author was an Indio and howled in
 protest  Most of Rizal’s biographers paint an unfavorable
picture of Rizal when he was in UST. Often Rizal’s
grades with UST were compared with that in
Third Year 1880-1881 Ateneo.

 By this time Rizal’s class dwindled to only 11  Leon Ma. Guerrero wrote about the hostility to
students consisting of 2 Spaniards and 9 Filipinos. him by University professors and that there was
racial discrimination.
 Rizal was enrolled in the following subjects:
 Gregorio Zaide wrote that there was excessive
harping on the alleged intellectual superiority of the
1880 – 1881 Third Year - Medicine Spanish.
Course Grade
General Pathology Aprobado  There was allegation that UST was below
Therapeutics, Medical Sobresaliente standards
Matter and Art of
Prescribing  The chapter “Klase sa Pisika” in El Filibusterismo
Surgical Anatomy, Bueno was used to reflect the type of education in UST.
Operations, External
Medical Applications and
Bandages Distractions

 EL Companerismo
 At the end of the school year, Rizal’s class was
reduced by two students.  Binibining L

 Leonor Valenzuela
Fourth Year 1881-1882
 Leonor Rivera
 By this time Rizal’s class dwindled to only 7
students consisting of 1 Spaniard and 6 Filipinos.
Rizal placed second in ranking.

 Rizal was enrolled in the following subjects:

1881 – 1882 Fourth Year - Medicine

Course Grade
Medical Pathology Notable (good)
Surgical Pathology Notable
Obstetrics, Sicknesses of Notable
Women and Children
Siphilography Notable

 This school year will be the last for Rizal before

deciding to continue his education outside of the
Islands.

The “Discrimination in UST”