1).

What are the conditions in Rizal's family that may have contributed to his
intellectual pursuits? Explain.
The imprisonment of Dona Teodora when she was accused of poisoning his brother's
wife was a sorrowful event in Rizal's childhood. This opened his mind to the issue
of injustice at a very young age. In addition, when Rizal learned that his mother's
eyesight is failing, he decided to pursue medicine to personally execute the
operation to cure his mother's eyes.
2). Was the controversial poem, "Sa Aking mga Kabata" really written by Jose Rizal?
Yes. Mula bata pa lang or 2 years old pa lang si Rizal ay natutunan niya na ang
pagbasa at pagsulat. p. 16.
Rizal learned to read and write at a very young age. He writes scribbles of his
poems in the pages of his notebooks as well as in the textbooks of his sisters. His
mother Dona Teodora noticed his poetic inclination and encouraged him to write
poetry. Dona Teodora was his first critic and helped him improve his poetry
writing. At the age of 8, Rizal wrote his Tagalog poem entitled "Sa Aking mga
Kababata".
3). Do you think Rizal was inclined towards poetry? Why? p. 16 and p. 9
Dona Teodora noticed his talent in writing poems and encouraged him to write more.
However, it was Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez who inspired him to use his God-
given gift in poetry and improved the latter's poetical art by opening his mind to
the influence of world literature.
4). What was the outlook of Rizal following incidences of injustices to his family?
same as #1
At a young age, Rizal was able to witness injustice for the first time when his
mother was arrested and imprisoned for a crime that she did not commit. He also
witnessed discrimination, oppression and cruelty to his fellow Filipino students
when he was studying in the University of Santo Tomas.
follow-up: Were these contributory to his view of the country?
Yes. For me, this inspired him to aspire for change and hope for better governance
towards the Filipinos.
5). How did GOMBURZA execution affect Rizal?
The execution of the GOMBURZA was told to Rizal by his brother, Paciano who
witnessed this and was the favorite student and confidant of Father Burgos. This
opened Rizal's mind to the injustice that the Filipinos experience under the
Spanish government.
6). How was Rizal able to enroll at the Ateneo?
At first, Rizal's father was going to enroll him at the College of San Juan de
Letran but decided later to just enroll Rizal at Ateneo. Rizal, was 11 years old
back then and was accompanied by his brother, Paciano on their way to Ateneo. Upon
arriving, Father Magin Ferrando, the college registrar, was unwilling to accept
Rizal for he was late for registration and he appears to be sickly and undersized
for his age. Fortunately, the nephew of Father Burgos, Manuel Xeres Burgos, was
there and helped him to be admitted at Ateneo.
7). Describe his routine at the school. How was he able to adjust to its
activities?
During Rizal's first year at Ateneo, being a newcomer and knowing little spanish,
he was placed at the bottom of the class. He was part of the externo (non-boarders)
back then. According to the book of Gregorio and Sonia Zaide, students at Ateneo
were divided into two groups, namely the Roman empire (composed of internos or
boarders) and the Cathaginian empire (composed of externos or non-boarders). These
two groups were in constant competition for supremacy in their class. At the end of
the first month of his study in Ateneo, Rizal became the "emperor" or the best
student in class. Rizal was also able to learn Spanish there by paying three pesos
for each extra Spanish lessons. At his second year, Rizal placed second at the end
of the year and all his grades were all marked "Excellent". During Rizal's third
year, his mother was released from prison. At the end of the year, Rizal won the
medal in Latin. He was unable to get the medal in Spanish because he is still
fluent in speaking in Spanish. During his fourth year, Rizal met Fr. Francisco de
Paula Sanchez who inspired him to study harder and write poetry. He was able to
bring home five medals at the end of school term. His last year in Ateneo, he was
branded as the most brilliant Atenean and the pride of Jesuits. He excelled in all
his subjects and also obtained the highest grades. Rizal graduated with Highest
Honors.
8). What were his inclinations while he was a student in that school?
Rizal was inclined in studying well at Ateneo and at the same he was active in
extra-curricular activities. In fact, he is an "emperor" inside the classroom but
he was also a campus leader outside. Rizal cultivated his literary talent under the
guidance of Father Sanchez during his leisure hours. In addition, he was able to
impress the Jesuit professors in Ateneo with his artistic skill when he carved an
image of The Virgin Mary made out of a batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with his
own pocket-knife. He wrote poems while he was at Ateneo inspired by his mother and
Father Sanchez. Lastly, he was able to write a drama based on the prose story of
St. Eustace the Martyr. He submitted the finished manuscript of the drama to Father
Sanchez upon the opening of classes of his last year.
Who among Rizal's professors had a profound effect on him? Explain why.
Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez greatly influenced and inspired Rizal. He met
Father Sanchez during his fourth year at Ateneo and was inspired by him to study
better and write more poems. Father Sanchez inspired him to make full use of his
God-given gift in poetry and improved the latter's poetical art by opening his mind
to the enriching influence of the world's literature.
Why did Rizal's mother object to her son's further education? was she justified?
After graduating from Ateneo with Highest honors, Rizal wanted to pursue higher
learning in the University of Santo Tomas however. Dona Teodora opposed this idea
and told Don Francisco not to let Rizal study in Manila again for if he starts to
learn more, the Spaniards might kill him for it. Rizal himself was suprised by his
mother's objection but years later, he was able to write in his journal that
perhaps his mother was right. I think Dona Teodora's opposition is justified
because as a mother she only wants to protect her Rizal.
9). What was the difference in the environment at the University of Santo Tomas and
Ateneo?
In Ateneo, Rizal was free to share his ideas with his schoolmates without worrying
about being dicriminated while in the Univeristy of Santo Tomas the Filipino
students were racially discriminated by the Spaniards. Also, Rizal was able to
learn more from his teachers in Ateneo while in UST the Dominanican professors were
hostile and mean to him. Although, his grades in his first year were all
"Excellent" this began to change in his latter years. Lastly, the method of
instruction in UST was obsolete in repressive. He related this in his El
Filibusterismo novel where Filipino students are humiliated and insulted by the
Dominican professors and the microscope and other laboratory appratuses were kept
inside the showcases merely to be displayed not used by the students themselves in
performing experiments.
10). If you would compare Rizal's academic performance at UST and Ateneo, how will
you account for the difference in these schools?
Rizal was able to perform his best at Ateneo while in UST he was discriminated by
his professors. In Ateneo, liberal ideas are encouraged while in University of
Santo Tomas, Filipino students are humiliated and discriminated not only by their
Spanish classmates but also by their Dominican professors.
11). Was Rizal discriminated when he was a student at the University of Santo
Tomas?
Because Rizal was a Filipino and in the University of Santo Tomas the majority of
students and professors are Spaniards. Also, Rizal kept on accelerating in his
subjects and his classmates as well as his professors cannot accept that a Filipino
like Rizal can be better than the Spaniards not just in academics but also in
extra-curricular activities.