Main Topic 3: His Education and Career

• What are the two main institutions where Rizal received his secondary education?

  • Ateneo Municipal & University of Santo Tomas
• What was the original surname of Jose Rizal?

  Mercado
• Who was Manuel Xerez Burgos in relation to Rizal?


  He was a significant figure in Rizal's life.
• When were the Jesuits expelled from the Philippines?

  1768
• When did the Jesuits return to the Philippines after their expulsion?

  1859
• What was the primary purpose of the Jesuits' return to the Philippines?

  To convert the Mindanao population
• What was Ateneo de Manila considered by 1865?


  The finest school in the Philippines
• Why was Ateneo de Manila regarded as the finest school?

  Due to the rigorous intellectual standards of the Jesuits
• How did Rizal's education at Ateneo influence his political thoughts?

  It solidified his political thoughts
• What were the two flags associated with Rizal's experience in Ateneo?

  • Imperyong Romano (Internos) - Red flag
  • Imperyong Carthagena (Externos) - Blue flag
• Who ignited Rizal's passion to study and rekindled his interest in literature?

  Francisco de Paula Sanchez
• What are some of the literary works that influenced Rizal during his time at Ateneo?

  • The Count of Monte Cristo
  • Universal History
  • Travels in the Philippines
• What were some of Rizal's productive works during his last years in Ateneo?

  • Mi Primera Inspiracion
  • Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo
  • Por La Educacion Recibe Luestre la Patria
  • A La Juventud Filipina
• Who was Segunda Katigbak in relation to Rizal?


  Rizal's first romance
• What course did Rizal initially decide to take at the university?

  Philosophy and Letters
• What were the reasons Rizal chose to study Philosophy and Letters?

  1. He failed to seek advice from Father Ramon Pablo
• What subjects did Rizal have to complete in his Philosophy and Letters course?

  Cosmology and Metaphysics, Theodicy, History of Philosophy
• Why did Rizal switch to studying medicine after his first year?

  Due to advice from Father Ramon Pablo and his mother's failing eyesight
• What were the three main factors contributing to Rizal's unhappiness at the university?

  • Hostile Dominican professors
  • Discrimination against Filipino students
  • Obsolete and repressive method of instruction
• What were the three main reasons for Rizal's struggling academic performance?


  • Dissatisfaction with the education system
  • Distractions of youth
  • Medicine was not his true vocation
• What did Rizal later discover about his true calling?

  His real calling was in the arts, not in medicine