Jose was sent to Manila four months after the martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za and with Dona Teodora still in prison. He studiedin the Ateneo Municipal,, a college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. Ateneo Municipal
Bitter rival of the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran
Formerly the Escuela Pia(Charity School)- for poor boys in Manila established in 1817
In 1859- name was changed to Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits and later became the Ateneo de Manila. Rizal Enters the Ateneo:
June 10, 1872- Jose, accompanied by Paciano, went to Manila to take the entrance examinations on Christian Doctrine,arithmetic, and reading at the College of San Juan de Letran, and passed them. His father was the first one who wishedhim to study at Letran but he changed his mind and decided to send Jose at Ateneo instead.
Father Magin Ferrando, college registrar of Ateneo Municipal, refused to admit Jose because:
He was late for registration and;
He was sickly and undersized for his age (11 years old).
Upon the intercession of Manuel Xeres Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was admitted at Ateneo. Jose adopted thesurname ³Rizal´ at the Ateneo because their family name ³Mercado´ had come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
Ateneo was located in Intramuros, within the walls of Manila. He boarded in a house on Caraballo Street, 25 min walk Fromthe College. The boarding house was owned by Titay, who owd Rizal family P300. Jose boarded there to collect part of thedebt.
Jesuits System of Education:
Jesuits trained the character of the student by rigid discipline, humanities and religious instruction. They heard Mass earlyin the morning before the beginning of daily class. Classes were opened and closed with prayers.
Students were divided into two groups:
1. Roman Empire- consisting of the internos (boarders) with red banners
2. Carthaginian Empire- composed of