CHAPTER2
EDUCATION
2.1 FIRST TEACHER
Rizal was first schooled in their home by his mother, Doña Teodora, a remarkablygood and educated
woman herself. She was Rizal's first teacher. As a loving mother andtutor, she would sit the three-year-
old Pepe on her lap and devotedly taught him the alphabetand the prayers. He also taught Pepe to read
the Holy Bible. In their moments together DoñaTeodora would tell him many stories which later fuelled
his strong interest in poetry. But ofall the stories that his mother told him, the Story of the Moth
touched him so deeply that herecorded it in his diary.
Pepe and The Story of the Moth
One night, all the family, except my mother and myself, went to bedearly. Why, I do not know, but we
two remained sitting alone. The candleshad already- been put out. They had been blown out in their
globes bymeans of a curve tube of tin. That tube seemed to me the finest and mostwonderful plaything
in the world. The room was dimly lighted by a singlelight of coconut oil. In all Filipino homes such a light
burns out through thenight. It goes out just a day break to awaken people by its spluttering.
My mother was teaching me to read in a Spanish reader called "TheChildren's Friend" (El Amigo delos
Niños). This was quite a rare book andan old copy. It had lost its copy and my sister had cleverly made a
new [Link] had fastened a sheet of thick blue paper over the back and then coveredit with a piece of
cloth.
This night my mother became impatient with hearing me read so poorly. I did not understand Spanish
and so I could not read with [Link] took the book from me. First, she scolded me for drawing
funny pictures on its pages. Then, she told me to listen and she began to [Link] her sight was good,
she read very well. She could recite well, and sheunderstood verse-making, too. Many times during
Christmas vacations, mymother corrected my poetical compositions, and she always made valuable
criticisms.
I listened to her, full of childish enthusiasm. I marvelled at the nicesounding phrases which she read
from those same pages. The phrases sheread so easily stopped me at every breath. Perhaps I grew tired
of listeningto sounds that had no meaning to me. Perhaps I lacked [Link], paid little
attention to the reading. l was watching the cheerful flame. Aboutit, some little moths were circling in
playful flights. By chance, too [Link] mother soon noticed that I was not interested. She stopped
[Link] she said to me: “I am going read you a very pretty story. Now, payattention."
On hearing the word 'story' l once opened my eyes wide. The word‘story' promised something new and
wonderful. I watched my mother whilehe turned the leaves of the book, as if she were looking for
something then Isettled down to listen. I was full of curiosity and wonder. l had never evendreamed that
there were stories in the old book which l read withoutunderstanding. My mother began to read me the
fable of the young mothand the old one. She translated it into Tagalog a little at a time.
My attention increased from the first sentence. l looked toward thelight and fixed my gaze on the moths
which were circling around it. Thestory could not have been better timed. My mother repeated the
warning ofthe old moth. She dwelt upon it and directed it to me. l heard her, but it is acurious thing that
the light seemed to me each time more beautiful the flamemore attractive. I really envied the fortune of
the insects. They frolicked so joyously in its enchanting splendour that the ones which had fallen and
beendrowned in the oil did not cause me any dread.
My mother kept on reading and l listened breathlessly. The fate ofthe two insects interested me greatly.
The flame rolled its golden tongue toone side and a moth which this movement had singed fell into the
oil,fluttered for a time and then became quiet. That became for me great event.A curious change came
over me which l have always noticed in myselfwhenever anything has stirred my feelings. The flame and
the moth seemedto go further away and my mother's words sounded strange and uncanny. Idid not
notice when she ended the fable. All my attention was fixed on thefate of the insect. l watched it with
my whole soul. lt had died Martyr to itsillusions.
As she put me to bed, my mother said: "See that you do not behavelike the young moth. Don't be
disobedient, or you may get burnt as it did." Ido not know whether I answered or not. It was a long time
before I fellasleep. The story revealed to me things until then unknown. Moths nolonger were, for me,
insignificant insects. Moths talked, they knew how towarn. They advised, just like my mother. The light
seemed to me more beautiful, more dazzling, and more attractive. l now knew why the mothscircled the
flame.
2.2 PRIVATE TUTOR
Rizal's parents were very passionate of their child's education, as they themselvesalso received good
education. Private tutors were employed to give Jose lessons at home. Hisfirst tutor was Maestro
Celestino and second was Maestro Lucas Padula. Later, DonFrancisco hired his former classmate named
Leon Monroy, who was quite advanced in years,to teach Jose in Spanish and Latin. He was a stay-in
tutor at the Rizal's home but not for long because he died five months later.
The death of Leon Monroy caused Jose's parents to send their nine- year-old Jose to a private school in
Biñan.
2.3 FIRST FORMAL SCHOOLINGBINAN, LAGUNA (1870-1871 )
It was a Sunday afternoon in June 1870, when Jose, after kissing the hands of his parents and a tearful
parting from his sisters left Calamba for Biñan. Accompanied by his brother Paciano, who acted as his
second father, they rode in a "Carromata" headed for theiraunt's house where Jose was to stay. Their
travel lasted for one and a half hours so that it wasalmost dark when they arrived. That very night, Jose
and his cousin, Leandro, wentsightseeing around the town but he did not enjoy because he got
homesick. He rememberedhis parents and sisters back in Calamba.
On Monday morning following their arrival, Paciano brought Jose to MaestroJustiniano Aquino Cruz’s
schoolhouse located about 30 meters away from their aunt's housewhere Jose will be staying. The
school was a small nipa hut. Paciano who had been a pupil ofMaestroCruz, introduced Jose to him, after
which he left for Calamba.
Jose was assigned a seat. Then the teacher asked him if he knew Spanish and Latin towhich he answered
“a little, sir". He was laughed at by his classmates especially Pedro, whowas the son of his teacher. The
teacher stopped them sharply and begun the lessons of theday.
Later during the day, Jose met Pedro, who bullied him earlier and challenged him intoa fight. Thinking
that he would defeat Jose because of the latter's young age and small physique, Pedro readily accepted
the challenge. The two boys wrestled furiously amidst theirclassmates' boisterous laughter. Having
learned the art of wrestling from his uncle Manuel, hedefeated the bigger boy. Since that time, he
became popular among his classmates.
The days that followed, Jose was drawn into other fights with the Biñan boys. Thoughthin and not so
sturdy in strength, Jose's courage and spirit were so strong that he never ranfrom a fight. And in those
fights he lost some, and won some.
Jose's life in Biñan was also marked by happiness. It was here that his love for painting was revived and
nurtured. Near the school, lived an old painter whose name wasJuacho. He was the father-in-law of his
teacher, Maestro Justaniano Aquino Cruz. Jose lovedto paint,-so that he spent most of his free time at
old man's studio. Impressed by the lad’sartistic talent, the old Juancho gave him lessons in drawing and
painting. One of hisclassmates, Jose Guevarra who also loved painting joined him. They both became
apprenticesof old Juancho. Expectedly, they improved their art and they became "favourite painters
ofthe class."
His education in Biñan was concentrated on learning the four R's Reading, Writing,Arithmetic, and
Religion. The instruction was more of religion; it was rigid and his teacherwas overly strict. Pupils were
forced to memorize their lessons and discipline was imposedwith a whip.
In school, lose Rizal surpassed all his classmates in Spanish, Latin, and othersubjects. He was the best
student in class. His intellectual superiority made some of hisclassmates jealous. They would tell lies to
their teacher' about Jose which caused him to be punished with five to blows as he was laid out on a
school bench.
2.4 AFTER BIÑAN
Although education in Biñan was limited to the 4 R's, it gave Jose the necessaryknowledge
preparatory for college. After a year and a half of rigid instruction, MaestroJustiniano informed the
parents of Jose that the boy had learnt everything that he could teachhim, and that the boy should be
sent to college in Manila; And so Saturnina, the eldest of theRizal siblings, wrote Jose informing him that
the steamer "Talim" would be arriving to Biñan,which he could board bound for Calamba. Jose became
sad because he knew that returning toBiñan was impossible. He was filled with sorrow when he bade
farewell to his classmates andhis teacher. He left Biñan with a heavy heart on the 17th of December
1870.
lt was Rizal's first time to board a steamer. He was excited. He had many stories totell his brother and
sisters about his experiences in Biñan. He arrived Calamba in time for theChristmas season. His family
welcomed him. He was happy that he could spend Christmaswith his family again.
2.5 THE IMPRISONMENT OF TEODORA
Jose's father, Don Francisco, thought of sending him to college in Manila in [Link] trouble struck
the family. Jose Alberto, the brother of Doña Teodora went on a business trip to Europe. Upon his
return, he found out that his wife abandoned their home andtheir children and lived with another man.
This angered Jose Alberto and decided to divorcehis wife. Doña Teodora advised his brother, persuaded
him to just forgive his wife in order toavoid family scandal. And so the husband and wife lived together
again. However, theadulterous woman connived with a Spanish Lieutenant of the Guardia Civil
fabricatingstories that her husband (Jose Alberto, tried to poison her with Doña Teodora helping him
todo so.
Doña Teodora was arrested and was forced to walk for about 50 kilometers fromCalamba to Santa Cruz.
She was imprisoned there for two years and a half. Jose heard thathis mother got sick while inside her
prison cell, no proper medical treatment was given her,and she was treated unkindly. This saddened the
barely 11-year old Jose. The case reachedthe Manila Royal Audience (Supreme Court) where she was
acquitted.
2.6 THE DEATH OF GOMBURZA
On the night of January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino soldiers and workers of theCavite arsenal rose in
violent revolt under the leadership of La Madrid, Filipino sergeant. Therevolt was caused by the
abolition of the usual privileges of the soldiers and workers; inaddition to not being exempted from
tribute and forced labor, called Polo at that [Link] the mutiny was suppressed after two days
when reinforcement troops from Manilaarrived.
This incident was used by the Spanish authorities to give an order to liquidate FathersMariano Gomez,
Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora for advocating the secularizationmovement to Filipinize the Philippine
parishes, and their supporters Jose Ma. Basa, [Link] Pardo de Tavera and Antonio Ma. Regidor.
The Archbishop plead for clemency because of their innocence but he was denied. On the sunrise of
February 17, 1872, by orderof Governor General Rafael de lzquierdo, the three priests were executed
through a garrote, a method of execution by strangling with an iron collar. The execution deeply
mourned by theRizal family and many other Filipinos.
Father Burgos was a friend and a teacher of Paciano. Enraged by the execution, hequit his studies in
Manila and returned to Calamba. He told the news to his 11-year old brother, Jose. This event had
added to the already rousing indignation that Jose felt for theinjustice done to his family and vowed to
fight against the evils of Spanish tyranny. He sworeto avenge the cruelties that his brother's friend and
the two priests had suffered. Later, Rizalwrote his second novel, El Filibusterismo, that he dedicated to
the three priests.