Summary
Highlights
Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, reportedly had amorous relations with no less than 18 women, with 10 of them being foreign. This lecture will delve into his romantic affairs, including his first heartbreak.
Rizal's first heartbreak was Segunda Katigbak when he was 16 and she was 14. Although his first sorrow was the death of his sister Concha, Segunda was his initial romantic disappointment.
While studying in Santo Tomas, Rizal lived in Chamoras and fell for Leonor Valenzuela, or Orang, a neighbor. He wrote her love notes in invisible ink, made from salt and water, which could be read by heating them over a lamp. Rizal bid her farewell before leaving for Spain. Orang later married an employee of a trade house and did not mourn Rizal's departure much.
Leonor Rivera is often considered Rizal's one true love. They were first cousins and sweethearts for 11 years, a relationship that kept Rizal from falling for other women in Europe. However, Leonor's mother disapproved of Rizal due to his status as a 'filibuster.' Her mother hid Rizal's letters, making Leonor believe he had forgotten her. She eventually married English engineer Henry Kipping under sad conditions, vowing never to sing, play piano, or wear colors again. She died in 1893 while giving birth to her second son.
Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, daughter of a former Manila alcalde, met Rizal in Madrid. Rizal dedicated a poem, "A la Señorita R," to her. Though Consuelo was impressed by Rizal, he backed out of a serious relationship to remain loyal to Leonor Rivera and not to harm his friendship with Eduardo de Lete, who was also in love with Consuelo.
In Japan, Rizal met O-Sei-San, a Japanese samurai's daughter. Rizal had a lucrative job at the Spanish legation and could have married her, but his patriotic mission led him to leave. O-Sei-San later married a British chemistry teacher.
Gertrude Beckett, daughter of Rizal's London landlord, was described as beautiful and supportive. She assisted Rizal with his paintings and sculptures, notably 'Prometheus Bound' and 'Triumph of Death over Life.' Rizal left London to avoid Gertrude, who was deeply in love with him, but left her a carving of the Beckett sisters as a memento.
Nelly Boustead, a half-Filipino, half-British woman, was a resort city resident in France. Rizal courted her after Leonor Rivera's assumed betrayal. A potential duel between Rizal and Antonio Luna over Nelly was averted. Nelly initially discouraged Rizal's advances due to her reserved nature, but their relationship became serious. However, religion became a barrier when Nelly insisted Rizal convert to Protestantism, and her mother disapproved of Rizal's financial situation. They parted as friends.
While in Brussels, Rizal lived in the home of the Jacoby sisters. Suzanne Jacoby fell for him and cried when he left. She continued to write him love letters, hoping to travel with him, even without response.
Josephine Bracken, an Irish-Chinese woman, became Rizal's last love after Leonor Rivera's death. She accompanied her foster father, George Taufer, to Dapitan to seek eye treatment from Rizal. Rizal's sisters initially suspected Josephine of being a spy. Rizal wanted to marry her, but a priest demanded a retraction from Rizal (of his anti-Spanish stance) as a precondition. They lived together and had a stillborn son named Francisco. Josephine later married Vicente Abbad and died in Hong Kong in 1902.