Rizal the Romantic


SEGUNDA KATIGBAK

When Jose Rizal first experienced love, it was with Segunda Katigbak, a young woman from Lipa, Batangas, who was two years younger than him.  In the words of Rizal, "She was rather short, with eyes that were eloquent and ardent at times and languid at others, rosy-cheeked, with an enchanting and provocative smile that revealed very beautiful teeth, and the air of a sylph; her entire self-diffused a mysterious charm."

One day, Rizal traveled to Trozo, Manila, to see his grandma.  Mariano Katigbak, a buddy, was with him.  When they arrived at Lipa, Segunda, a relative of Mariano's who was close to Rizal's grandmother, welcomed them to her home along with other visitors. Rizal was attracted to her right away.  

Some of the other visitors requested Rizal to paint a portrait of Segunda because they knew he was an accomplished painter.  He complied and began drawing the female in pencil with reluctance. "From time to time, she looked at me, and I blushed."

Segunda was a close friend of Rizal's sister Olympia, who attended La Concordia College. Rizal visited Olympia every week, which allowed him to get to know Segunda better.  With each new encounter—each of which was marked by "love at first sight"—their love for one another grew stronger.



LEONOR VALENZUELA

In Intramuros, where Rizal was boarding as a sophomore at the University of Santo Tomas, he met Leonor "Orang" Valenzuela, who lived next door and was the daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela. She was a tall girl with a graceful, refined demeanor.

At the Valenzuela residence, Rizal was always welcome.  Later, he began to court Leonor by sending her love letters that he had written in invisible ink, which he had created from a solution of water and table salt.  He heated his letters over a lamp or candle to allow the text to surface before teaching Leonor how to read them.

Unfortunately, Jose did not ask the woman for her hand in marriage like he had done with his first love.



LEONOR RIVERA

Jose Rizal's cousin Leonor Rivera was a young woman from Camiling.  When Rizal was just beginning his third year of college, Leonor's father paid for him housing and board in Casa Tomasina, Intramuros. At the time, the young girl attended La Concordia College, where Soledad, Rizal's younger sister, was also enrolled.

Leonor had "tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes."  Later, she and Rizal became engaged.  She signed her name as "Taimis" in her letters to the girl's parents to conceal their close friendship.

However, in the fall of 1890, Leonor wrote Rizal a letter pleading for his forgiveness and informing him of her impending marriage to the Englishman her mother had chosen as her partner.  This really hurt Rizal's heart.



CONSUELO ORTIGA Y PEREZ

Rizal visited Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, the previous city mayor of Manila, frequently while he was a student at the Universidad Central de Madrid in 1882.  He shared a home with his daughter Consuelo and son Rafael.

Despite not being particularly attractive, Rizal had a lot of charisma, was endowed with many talents, and had a genuinely noble nature.  This is why it is understandable that Consuelo, the more attractive of Don Pablo's daughters, would be attracted to him. 

Rizal, who was somewhat alone and lonely in a strange land, sought solace in Consuelo's lively companionship.  A La Senorita C.O. y P. (To Miss C.O.y P.), a poem he penned for her, was dedicated to the woman and expressed his deep affection for her.



O-SEI-SAN

A few days after relocating to the Azabu neighborhood of Tokyo, Rizal saw a gorgeous Japanese girl passing by the legion gate.  The lady's regal aura and magnetism captivated him, and he made an effort to arrange a meeting with her.  She went by the name Seiko Usui.  She frequently strolled by the legation in the afternoons while living with her parents.  One afternoon, Rizal waited outside the gate and presented himself.

Nearly every day, Rizal saw O-Sei-San, as he affectionately called her.  They took in the scenery, visited the attractive shrines, and explored the lovely downtown areas.  Rizal was a young, alone doctor at that time, disheartened by his failed romance with Leonor Rivera and burdened by dashed expectations for justice in his nation.  He desperately needed a lovely escape, and he found it in O-Sei-San, who embodied all he wanted in a partner.  Her first love was him.



GERTRUDE BECKETT

Rizal spent a brief amount of time in London in May 1888, staying at the home of the Beckett family, which included Mr. & Mrs. Beckett, their two sons, and their four daughters.  The name of the oldest daughter was Gertrude.

Gertrude was a beautiful young woman with brown hair and blue eyes.  When the family went on picnics and got together, she fell in love with Rizal and gave him her undivided attention.  She helped Rizal prepare his clay and mix his colors when he painted and sculpted inside on wet days.

Rizal liked being with her.  Their flirty acquaintance eventually turned into a blooming romance.  She nicknamed him "Pettie" and he called her "Gettie" with affection.




SUZANNE JACOBY 

For Brussels, Belgium, Rizal departed on January 28, 1890.  He paid for lodging and food during his extended stay.  Petite Suzanne Jacoby was a lovely niece of his landladies.  She was won over by Rizal's attractiveness and bravery and was a pleasant companion for him.  Given that his beloved Leonor was far away and he was alone in a strange and exotic nation, Rizal could have flirted with the woman, but he realized he could not fool her.

When Rizal went for Madrid in July 1890, Suzanne grieved because she had fallen in love with him.  

She wrote him a letter in French:

"Where are you now? Do you think of me once in a while? I am reminded of our tender conversations, reading your letter, although it is cold and indifferent.  Here in your letter I have something which makes up for your absence.  How pleased I would be to follow you, to travel with you who are always in my thoughts.

You wish me all kinds of luck, but forget that in the absence of a beloved one a tender heart cannot feel happy.

A thousand things serve to distract your mind, my friend; but in my case, I am sad, lonely, always alone with my thoughts -- nothing, absolutely nothing relieves my sorrow.  Are you coming back?  That's what I want and desire most ardently -- you cannot refuse me.

I do not despair and I limit myself to murmuring against time which runs so fast when it carries us toward a separation, but goes so slowly when it's bringing us together again.

I feel very unhappy thinking that perhaps I might never see you again.

Goodbye! You know with one word you can make me very happy.  Aren't you going to write to me?"

 


NELLIE BOUSTEAD

In order to escape his problems in Madrid, Rizal took a holiday in Biarritz in 1891.  He was staying at Villa Eliada, the Boustead family's winter home.  Adelina & Nellie, the two lovely daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Boustead, were born.

After lamenting his failed romance with Leonor Rivera due to the woman's engagement to another man, Rizal was very fond of Nellie, the younger and more attractive daughter of Mr. Eduardo Boustead.  She impressed him with her intelligence, morality, and vitality.  Rizal announced his decision to marry her in a letter to his closest friends.

The news that Rizal had finally met a suitable female with whom he desired to start a family made his friends very happy.  Even Antonio Luna, who had once adored Nellie, advised Rizal to court her and propose to her. Rizal courted Nellie (also known as Nelly) with the support of the friends he treasured, and she reciprocated his feelings. 

Rizal's exile in Dapitan was one of the most lonesome and sorrowful periods of his life.  He missed the company of his friends and family, and the death of Leonor Rivera on August 28, 1893 left a gaping void in his heart.



JOSEPHINE BRACKEN

In his life, Rizal's exile in Dapitan was among the most lonely and depressing times.  He missed spending time with his friends and family, and Leonor Rivera's passing on August 28, 1893, left a huge hole in his heart.

Josephine Bracken and her blind adoptive father, Mr. George Taufer, arrived at the Dapitan coast. They sought the help of the renowned Dr. Jose Rizal because no ophthalmologist in Hong Kong, where they were from, could treat the man's eyesight.

Rizal and Josephine hit it off right away.  They engaged in a brief romantic fling for approximately a month before deciding to get hitched. However, the Dapitan priest declined to preside over the event without the Bishop of Cebu's approval.  

Mr. Taufer attempted suicide by holding a razor to his throat after learning of his daughter's engagement. He was so furious at the prospect of losing Josephine.  Rizal held the man's wrists back to avert this calamity. In order to prevent further difficulty, Josephine boarded the first steamer to Manila with her father.  The venereal nature of Mr. Taufer's eyesight rendered it irreversible.

Josephine stayed in Manila with Rizal's family while Mr. Taufer returned to Hong Kong by himself.  She eventually went back to Dapitan.  Rizal and Josephine tied the knot before God by holding hands, exchanging vows, and holding hands because no priest would marry them.  








REFERRENCE

https://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2012/02/rizals-romances.html


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