Not always the bestBy Jenn Besonia

Rizal is a genius. Rizal is the best.

That’s what most teachers taught their students. I believed them, until I saw the copy of Rizal’s grades when he was in college.

Scrutinizing Rizal’s grades made me deduce the following things. He’s a ningas cogon. He’s controlling his grades. He isn’t over grade conscious. He isn’t pure genius. He has his own flaws.

Sadly, I can say he’s a ningas cogon, just like most of the Filipinos are. This is very evident because he received Sobrasaliente (1) grades for all his subjects in his first year in University of Sto. Tomas (UST). And then his grades started to drop down. His last grade was Aprovado (3). He got this grade when he was in Universidad Central de Madrid, Spain.

I said he’s controlling his grades. Why? It’s very evident too that most of his grades per year were all the same, all Sobrasaliente (1) for Preparatory Course of Theology and Law, all Bueno (2) in first year and second year of Medicine , all Notable Aprovechade (1.5) in fourth year.

I couldn’t think of a valid answer how Rizal could control his own grades. Then, I found the answer on the internet when I googled it up. According to wikipilipinas.org, “In UST, Rizal saw and experienced the rampant discrimination of Spaniards to Filipinos. One of which was from a Dominican priest who swore that he would never pass Rizal in any subject under him. Although records show that Rizal did not receive any failing grades.” But he did receive a passing grade (3). Perhaps this partly explains the constancy in Rizal’s grades. I don’t fully believe it though. I don’t know how reliable wikipilipinas.org is. Plus take note of the fact that Rizal got Aprovado (3) when he was studying in Spain. You cannot use the Filipino-discrimation reasoning there anymore. I wish I could read Rizal’s diary about his school grades, so I would know the truth.

I am one of the few people who believe that the intelligence of a man can’t be measured through his grades. After I saw Rizal’s grades, I thought he’s our comrade – a not-over-grade-conscious student. On second thought, I doubt it. I don’t think being a not-over-grade-conscious already existed during Rizal’s time. So we will delete the deduction that he’s not over grade conscious.

Furthermore, I’ve read the article “New Questions about Rizal” by Mr. Ambeth Ocampo. In his article, he also discussed the grades of Rizal. We share the same sentiments – Rizal isn’t the best student, Rizal isn’t pure genius.

Contrary to what’s written on wikipilipinas.org, Mr.Ocampo doesn’t blame the Dominicans for Rizal’s not-so high grades. He believes Rizal’s talent is not for medicine because Rizal’s a

natural poet and artist. “A medical degree requires the use of another side of the brain.” This explanation is reasonable enough.

I guess it’s time for us to accept the fact that Rizal is not always the best, not always the brightest, and accept the fact that he’s a human, who has his own flaws.

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Rizal’s Grades

Meaning of the wordsSobrasaliente = 1

Notable, Aprovechade = 1.5Bueno =  2

Mediano = 2.5Aprovado =  3Suspenso = 4.0Reprobado = 5.

PREPARATORY COURSE OF THEOLOGY AND LAW (1877 – 1878)Cosmology → SobrasalienteMetaphysics →SobrasalienteTheodicy→ SobrasalienteHistory of Philosophy→ Sobrasaliente

PREPARATORY COURSE OF MEDICINE (1878 – 1879)Advanced Physics →Notable, AprovechadeAdvanced Natural History→ Notable, AprovechadeAdvanced Chemistry→ Sobrasaliente

FIRST YEAR OF MEDICINE (1878 – 1879)General Anatomy and Histology I →BuenoDescriptive Anatomy I→ BuenoExercises of Osteology and Dissection →Bueno

SECOND YEAR (1879 – 1880)General Anatomy and Histology II →BuenoDescriptive Anatomy II→ BuenoExercises of Dissection→ BuenoPhysiology, Private and Public Hygiene→ Bueno

THIRD YEAR (1880 – 1881)Gen. Pathology, HS Clinic and Pathologic Histology→ AprovadoTherapeutics Medical Matter and Art of Prescribing → SobrasalienteSurgical Anatomy, Operations, External Medical Applications and Bandages → Bueno

FOURTH YEAR (1881 – 1882)Medical Pathology → Notable, AprovechadeSurgical Pathology→ Notable, AprovechadeObstetrics Sickness of Women and Children → Notable, AprovechadeSiphilography → Notable, Aprovechade

FIFTH YEAR (1882 – 1883) –SpainMedical Clinic I→ BuenoSurgical Clinic I →BuenoLegal Medical → SobrasalienteObstetrics Clinic →Aprovado

SIXTH YEAR (1883 – 1884)Medical Clinic II → BuenoSurgical Clinic II →Notable, Aprovechade

LICENTIATE MED. 2June 1884 → Aprovado