How well did Rizal Perform in the University?

The Royal and Pontifical University of the Philippines, The University of Santo Tomas’ Faculty of Medicine’s record of Jose Rizal with a grade of Aprovado.  The grades were Notable (Excellent), Sobresaliente (Very Good), Aprovado (Passed) and Reprovado (Failed).

Most biographers of Rizal paint a bleak picture of his stay at the University of Santo Tomas. An examination of the records at the archives, however, presents a more balanced view. All of this has been presented by Fr. Fidel Villarroel, OP, in his book “Jose Rizal and the University of Santo Tomas” (1984), with so much more enriching detail and context.


Grades of Rizal in UST (1877-1882)

Preparatory Course of Theology and Law (1877-1878)
Cosmology—Sobresaliente [Excellent; equivalent grade: 1.0]
Metaphysics—Sobresaliente [Excellent: 1.0]
Theodicy—Sobresaliente [Excellent: 1.0]
History of Philosophy—Sobresaliente [Excellent: 1.0]
Preparatory Course of Medicine
(1878-1879)
Advanced Physics—Aprovechado [Very Good: 1.5]
Advanced Chemistry—Sobresaliente [Excellent: 1.0]
Advanced Natural History—Aprovechado [Very Good: 1.5]

1st Year of Medicine (1878-1879)
 Note: Rizal was one of four allowed out of 28 to take these courses simultaneously with those above, which was highly irregular, but it reveals the Dominicans’ recognition of their students’ intellectual preparation.
General Anatomy and Histology—Bueno [Good: 2.0]
Descriptive Anatomy—Bueno [Good: 2.0]
Exercises of Osteology and Dissection—Bueno [Good: 2.0]

2nd Year of Medicine (1879-1880)
General Anatomy and Histology II—Bueno [Good: 2.0]
Descriptive Anatomy II—Bueno [Good: 2.0]
Exercises of Dissection—Bueno [Good: 2.0]
Physiology, Private and Public Hygiene—Bueno [Good: 2.0]

3rd Year of Medicine (1880-1881)
General Pathology, Its Clinic, and Pathologic Histology—Aprobado [Passed: 3.0]
Therapeutics, Medical Matter and Art of Prescribing—Sobresaliente [Excellent: 1.0]
Surgical Anatomy, Operations, External Medical Applications and Bandages—Bueno [Good: 2.0]

4th Year of Medicine (1881-1882)
Medical Pathology—Notable [Very Good: 1.5]
Surgical Pathology—Notable [Very Good: 1.5]
Obstetrics, Sicknesses of Women and Children—Notable [Very Good: 1.5]
Siphilography—Notable [Very Good: 1.5]

Current Project 2: Rizal Learning Center in Bohol

Tagbilaran City, the capital of the island province of Bohol, is the recipient of the second current Philippine project of the KOR and LFR Bonn Chapter. The organisation, in cooperation with barangay chairman Odysseus C. Glovasa and other local officials, developed the barangay library of Poblacion 3, one of the 15 barangays comprising the city. 

Rizal Learning Center in Poblacion 3, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

In 2007, when the barangay hall building was upgraded, a Learning Center was added in the basement of the new building. Although construction officially finished in 2008, the Learning Center remained incomplete until 2011.  Chapter Commander Peter Plueckebaum and Adviser Jeni Plueckebaum initiated contact to the Barangay and after presenting the situation of the Learning Center to the oganisation, garnered the strong support of the LFR LOR Bonn Chapter. In the months thereafter, bookshelves, tables, chairs and writing boards were gradually supplied to the Learning Center. 

Current Project 1: The Ormoc Project

The biggest and longest -running project of the Knights of Rizal and Ladies for Rizal Bonn Chapter is the Support for the Educational Programme of a Flood Resettlement Community in Ormoc Philippines or simply, the ORMOC PROJECT. The project is in cooperation with St. Philippine Duchesne's Ormoc Workers Foundation (SPDOWF), through its branch office, the Sacred Heart Children's Educational Center, headed by Sister Iraida E. Sua-An. 

Flashback to 1991, more than 8,000 people in Ormoc City perished from flash floods caused by illegal logging and denuded forests. In response to the pressing needs of the victims of flash floods, the St. Philippine Duchesne’s Ormoc Workers Foundation, Inc. (SPDOWFI) was organized. In addition,  the International Society of the Sacred Heart pulled their resources together to offer help for the rehabilitation of poor victims.

Ormoc City is one of the oldest towns and the pioneer city of Leyte, in southern Philippines.  It is a coastal city and due to its geographical location, Ormoc serves as a catch-basin of the rain water coming from the mountains of the province.

For the past years the SPDOWFI survived through donations from donors and friends of the Sacred Heart.   In 2005, The SPDOWFI was able to provide a resettlement area for 40 families who were not able to avail of the government’s housing program.  These families are now settled within a one hectare compound called Barangay Luna.  Half of the property was allocated for the housing project and the other half has been converted into a herbal organic garden and a learning center for children.