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# 114 Another 1,000 pesos
for expenses and printing of the book - Until the town fiesta, God and the
civil guard willing
Calamba, 6 March 1887
Dear brother,
Enclosed in this letter is a letter addressed to Mr. Luna at Paris with a
draft for 1,000 pesos. I don't send it to you directly for fear that it
might be lost, because you yourself tell me that you are thinking of going
to Switzerland. I should like to send you more but I cannot do it, because
last year's sugar is still unsold. Nonetheless, I believe that if this
amount is not enough, it is sufficient for your traveling expenses, doctoral
fees, costs of ophthalmology instruments -- the most essential -- and if
something still remains, use it for the printing of the book. Wait for
better times to buy the other things that you need, as I abstain from having
for the present a bicycle and a German rifle of the kind you describe to me
in your letter. It would not be superfluous to have there a friend who can
take charge of these orders once you are here.
I stopped sending you your allowance for the months of January and February
because, after having sent you 300 pesos we received your letter in which
you tell us that the printing costs at least from 400 to 500 pesos from
which I deduce that it will not be printed and therefore you will use the
money for your personal expenses.
I could write you many things but the milling prevents me from doing so, and
then I hope to tell you verbally on the day of the town fiesta, if God and
the civil guard will permit it.
===============
# 115 Maria tells her
brother about her marriage and her husband.
Biñang, 15 March 1887
Mr. José Rizal
My dear brother,
I received your precious letter and I'm informed of its content. With regard
to what you say that only through Silvestre and our brother that you learned
about my new status rather than through me directly, you should not one like
me who is working and whose mind is troubled my new life to write you.
Perhaps you are also aware of all the things that a person who accepts a
position needs to analyze very well the problems of life, though they are
the will of Heaven. In another letter I'm going to relate to you everything
about my new status which I cannot do now because the cool breeze of
tranquillity not yet blown my way.
Concerning your regards to those here, all are glad to know of your good
wishes and they also send you theirs. With regard to your desire to know the
name of your new brother, he is a very young man from Biñang whose name is
Daniel Faustino Cruz.
As to other things that you say in your letter, you really should not apply
them to me, inasmuch as man either in this life or in the next does not need
all those. I mention this because, according to your letter, I don't
understand your resentment.
This is all, regards to you, and may we live long. And if you would ask how
we are,
I tell well, thank God, though we are not yet in a very peaceful condition.
Please excuse your new brother-in-law for not writing you because he fell
ill.
María R. Mercado
===============
# 116 Good family news -
Asks Rizal to be his son's baptismal sponsor.
Calamba, Laguna, 27 March 1887
Mr. José Rizal
Don't resent that our letters are far apart. Now you are going to get such
happy news that I hardly have enough words to say it.
On the 23rd of this month Lucia gave birth to a very handsome boy, who is
robust and healthy like his mother. To everyone who asks when he will be
baptized, I reply that it will be on your return, or upon the receipt of
your acceptance to be the godfather. For this reason, we beg you to answer
immediately this letter because I have already talked to the parish priest
who told me that your permission is necessary in order that your name may be
put in the record as the sponsor. It seems that he is willing to wait for
your reply.
Tell us also what will be a good name for him and how to take good care of
him so that he will not die soon.
You know we love you.
Mariano Herbosa
===============
# 117 Announces the birth
of her seventh child - Asks Rizal for rule, for child-care.
[Calamba, Laguna, 27 March 1887]
Our dear brother,
I'm writing you to let you know that I survived happily my seventh
childbirth and at present I have no ailment so that he will grow up and you
can teach him when you return.
Through God's mercy father and mother and all of us here are well and not
sick.
Command you sister who loves you.
Lucia Rizal
===========
# 118 Family news
Sta. Cruz, Manila, 31 March 1887
Mr. José Rizal
My dear brother,
This is my second letter to you and I have not received a single letter from
you. Vestre (Silvestre) likewise has written you three times, the last one
being addressed to Berlin containing a draft for 300 pesos, so that he is
waiting for your reply. I have no important news to give you, except about
our family and our acquaintances. Father and mother are well, through God's
mercy, but their aging cannot be prevented. Mother's sight is weakening;
father is already pounding his betel nut; (1) and we your brothers are all
well. Titay, daughter of Lieutenant Tenang is already dead. Dandoy, brother
of Chopen, married Elang, daughter of Captain Faeng. We are now here in
Manila where Vestre is assigned.
With this go your nephew's many kisses, Aris and César. Many regards to you.
When shall we meet again?
Your sister,
Olimpia Rizal
____________
(1) Older people, on account of their lack of teeth, pound the betel nut
before chewing it.
===============
# 119 Rizal's family
persecuted -- Rizal's father was evicted from his house -- "Our objective is
the welfare of the country..." He advises Rizal not to come home.
[Manila, first semester of 1887?]
.................................................. .
Concerning Paciano, Antonino, Ubaldo, Dandoy, and Teong, I send you enclosed
a copy of all that was written against them that one of the government
employees furnished me; there had been no formal accusation at all. They
write me from Calapan, capital of Mindoro, where they are deported, that
they are in good health. They rent a furnished house for 7 pesos a month.
They say that it is very sad there. Forests and the sea surround it. For me
that is very poetic, but as they are not in the mood to be inspired, I agree
with them.
Don't come, we are very much persecuted. With the present ministry and this
governor general, God knows where we are going to end. However, we have more
than enough courage; all this here does not frighten us, come what may. We
are not doing anything bad. Our objective is the welfare of the country and
the government and we trust in God. But you, who are beyond these
persecutions here, ought not to expose yourself to them. There, free from
these fetters, you can work with freedom of action toward the same end.
One of the Fernández of Siniloan, Lagura, a family, I believe you know, has
given 10 pesos to be sent to you, an amount included in what Paciano sent
you last June.
Buy me there, if you can, and send them to me through a person who is coming
home: Ley de Enjuiciamienco Civil para Filipinas, Código Civil para
Filipinas, and the 5 or 6 books of Compilación Legislative del Gobierno y
Administración Civil de Ultramar -- all official publications and are sold
at the concierge of the Ministry of the Colonies. Here they are very dear.
In addition, I want to know the prices there of Viada's Código Penal,
annotated, the work that comprises Código Penal del 70 and Códigos o
Estudios fundamentales sobre el derecho civil Español by Gutierrez, also
Tratado Completo de Hemeopatía by the best author of this science. They tell
me that the work of Aneman is the best.
The boys live with me. Alfredo and Adela are studying they read well
already; they are very studious and have sufficient aptitude; they write a
little. Abelardo, I see, is neither mute nor an idiot, he hears and his
manners are the same as those of a normal boy. Perhaps it will take him many
years to be able to talk, when some of the nerves for locution are
sufficiently developed. They tell me that there have been children who began
talking at 7 or 8 years. All of them are in good health and stout, including
Neneng who is very stout and has grown more. In the hygiene that we follow,
we make much use of the hydropathic method and it agrees with us; it is very
suitable for this burning climate. Our parents are also healthy, according
to what they write me. Father does not show his age; he is always gay, but
firm and energetic in his purposes. On the occasion of the execution of the
order for eviction, Attorney Hilagan told him to beg and compromise with the
Syndic. He replied that he would never resort to financing and he left and
went to Narcisa's house. I don't know why he was ordered to leave the house
when the order was eviction from the lot and not from the dwelling; it was a
violation of domicile. It will be better for the lawyer there to denounce
it.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Manuel T. Hidalgo
===============
# 120 Rizal announces his
return to his father
POST CARD
Rome, 29 June 1887
To Mr. Francisco Rizal
Calamba, Laguna de Bay
Philippine Islands
My dear parents,
I was at Turin, Milan, Venice, and Florence and I have been here since some
days ago. I have already visited St. John the Lateran, St. Clement, and the
Roman Forum, the Capitol, the Coliseum, the Catacombs, the Palatine, etc.
etc. Today I'm going to visit the Vatican, taking advantage of the feast of
St. Peter and St. Paul.
On the 15th July, at the latest, I shall embark for that country, so that we
shall see each other between the 15th and 30th of August.
Your son who loves you,
Rizal
===============
# 121 Sorrow for the
death of Olimpia -- Choleng (Soledad) is ill.
Manila, 23 September 1887
Mr. José Rizal
My esteemed José,
With sorrow we saw a telegram, seemingly from your mother that says: "Ipia
dead, come with Choleng." As they know that Sra. Anday is very credulous, we
took it as a joke believing that some naughty person had taken advantage of
her credulity so that Choleng and the one who would go with her would be
greatly disappointed. All night long we had been thinking whether to go or
not, and unintentionally at about 12:30 I approached Conchita and found her
delirious with fever after having gone to bed in very good health.
Choleng went to bed very late and woke up very early, but she could not get
up from bed on account of continued dizziness. She made an effort to get up
and looked for Sra. Anday to go with her, though neither did she believe the
aforesaid telegram; but she fell and could not stand up. I was also ready to
go but as Conchita still had a fever, I decided not to go, because this
unhappy child would look for me continually. Being in this difficulty, at
about 7:30 in the morning, your father's telegram arrived which removed our
doubters, and we realized the truth with sorrow. Choleng remained lying down
and because of the pain that afflicted her, neither could she open her eyes
nor much less raise her head.
Mother, seeing this very sad spectacle, solved the problem and said, "If you
are like that, don't go any more, because she is already dead and if you
become worse, your family's sorrow would be increased. Now she is lying down
crying, as it is she is not in a condition to make the trip, though she
feels already fairly well. We immediately called the famous Galicano, (1)
our family physician who treated them and said they were not seriously ill.
We would have made the trip with pleasure were we not detained by this
providential accident. Our determination was great but our strength was very
limited and I believe that you will bear this in mind and excuse us this
failure.
Choleng requests me to tell you that when she gets well and her head clears,
she will write you.
Do me the favor of presenting this letter to your parents, brothers, and
brothers-in-law and especially to Silvestre.
We accompany them in their sorrow and we believe that you have enough
eloquence to convince them to be resigned.
You must have already received our telegram.
Of what did poor Olimpia die? How are the children? Unhappy children!
Regards to all from Mother and the whole family particularly from Choleng,
kisses to your nephews, and you can command your very affectionate relative
who esteems you.
Concha
______________
(1) Galicano Apecible, Rizal relative.
NOTE: Concepción Leyba, daughter of Basilia Bauson, Rizal's Lola Ilang, was
an aunt of Rizal. Her brother, Colonel José Leyba of the Revolutionary Army
was assassinated by members of a society called "Santa Iglesia" in Northern
Luzon in 1901.
===============
# 122 Regrets Olimpia's
death
Trozo, Manila, 26 September 1887
Mr. José Rizal
Calamba, Leguna
Dear brother,
I received your letter and, informed of its content, I see that you are very
right.
I don't know how to describe in this letter the sorrow that I felt when I
realized the truth in the last telegram. My hands are useless, without
strength to hold the pen and make it describe my suffering. I suffer indeed
and I believe this is inevitable among brothers who love one another and
have always loved one another since the cradle. I'll conclude this in order
not to make you suffer what I suffer.
I gave the two copies of the Noli to Daniel. They are the only ones brought
by your compadre, though in my other letter, I told you that he was going to
bring many, as he promised, but he did not.
Mr. Tomás del Rosario told me that he could get your diploma next Thursday.
Regards to all and you know your sister esteems you.
Soledad
P.S.
Please tell our sisters to take the trouble of looking for my black blouses
and to send them to me if they can. Don't forget also my former requests:
clothes and books.
Soledad
Another: Aunt Concha (Concepción Leyba) says she received your letter and
she sends you regards.
I forgot to tell you that I was sick for three days.
Excuse this poor writing because I can't write on unruled paper.
===============
# 123 Concerning a book
and a diploma -- Soledad asks for her mourning clothes.
Trozo, Manila, 18 October 1887
Mr. José Rizal
Dear brother,
The bearer is Mr. Cenón de Salinas, cousin of Pepay, and carries the book
that Thómas brought for you. This gentleman did not want to accept the cost
of the book because he says that he has unsettled accounts with you. Your
diploma has not yet arrived; Galicano is trying to get it.
Love to all; kiss the hand of our parents for me.
Your sister,
Soledad
P.S.
Enclosed is the letter for Mother. Please also tell any maid to look for my
black jusi blouse that is in the wardrobe because I have no black blouse
here. I thank you in advance.
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Letters
Between Rizal and Family - 1887
