TO ALL THE GIRLS
THAT RIZAL LOVED
BEFORE
INTRODUCTION
It can only be with true passion that one can conquer and
accomplish what Filipino hero Jose Rizal had in his thirty-five-year life. He
stopped at nothing when it came to expressing his love not just for his country
but also his women. His travels across the Philippines and the world swayed
him into multifarious relationships that colored almost half his life. There are
nine women on record. It’s not to say that all those relationships were serious,
but he did pursue when he wanted to pursue, cared, at least, and displayed
his attentiveness and charm unapologetically.
JOSE RIZAL’S
LOVE AFFAIR
EGUNDA KATIGBAK
First love never dies they say—unless your first love is
already engaged to be married when you meet. Then
you have to let it go really fast. Such was the case of
Jose Rizal and Segunda Katigbak, a Batangueña,
whom Rizal met when he was only a 16-year-old boy.
They met when the young hero visited his
grandmother with his friend, Mariano Katigbak,
Segunda’s brother. The Katigbaks were close to
Rizal’s grandmother, and coincidentally, Segunda
was at the grandma’s house when Rizal and Mariano
arrived. It was attraction at first sight. Segunda was
also a close friend of Rizal’s sister, Olympia, whom he
visited every week at the La Concordia College. The
two became very close. However, Segunda was
already engaged to be married to a man who lived in
her town, and Rizal had to stop pursuing her.
Some say the two met in Trozo, Manila, while others say it was in
Lipa, Batangas. Given that Segunda studied in the same school
as Rizal's sister, he did the most logical thing: visit La Concordia
College more frequently, ostensibly to see his sister, but primarily
to get a glimpse of the girl he described as having "eloquent
eyes, rosy cheeks, and a smile that reveals very beautiful teeth.“
For about seven months, he became infatuated with her that he
showered her with much attention, writing romantic poems and
catching her beauty in his sketches. His regular visits to Segunda
at the Concordia were often marked with silence. In 1882, Rizal
wrote his Memorias de Un Estudiante where he narrates his
infatuation for her, sketching her beautifully, and in exchange
Segunda giving him a white paper flower which again, was very
symbolic. He wrote again, "Her looks were glorious in their
sweetness and expressiveness; her voice was melodious and I
thought an enchantment accompanied every movement. Langour
penetrated my heart, and I had feelings I had never known
before..."
The story goes that Rizal told Segunda that he was returning
home to Calamba for the New Year. He added that he might see
her when her steamer docks at Biñan and she passes through
Calamba on her way to Lipa. He waited for her and he did see
her pass by on a carriage-in fact, she even waved to him-but
instead of following her, he chose to go home.
Rizal wrote about the incident years later, “Ended, at an early
house, my first love! My virgin heart will always mourn the
reckless step it took on the flower-decked abyss. My illusions will
return, yes, but indifferent, uncertain, ready for the first betrayal
on the path of love.”
EONOR VALENZUELA
Leonor “Orang” Valenzuela, Rizal’s second object of
affection, is literally the girl-next-door. They met when
Rizal was a sophomore medical student at the
University of Santo Tomas, during which time he also
lived at Doña Concha Leyva’s boarding house in
Intramuros, Manila. Orang, who was then 14 years
old, was his neighbor.
During the courtship, Rizal was said to have sent
Leonor private and secret love letters, which he wrote
using invisible ink made with water and salt—he was
adept in chemistry, too. To read the letters, Orang
had to heat the letter over a candle or a lamp. Rizal
also frequented the Valenzuelas’ home, which was a
hang out place of the students in the area.
There are, however, documents that may serve as proof that Rizal’s efforts
were not effective. Some accounts say he was courting Leonor Valenzuela
and and his second cousin Leonor Rivera at the same time—thus the need for
invisible letters. Valenzuela apparently knew of this and gave way to Rivera’s
attraction for Rizal. When Rizal left for Spain in 1882, it was said that he did
say goodbye to Orang, but kept in touch with the help of Rizal’s close friend,
Jose “Chenggoy” Cecilio.
Without tears or fanfare. Rizal may have been besotted with Orang, but it's
likely that Orang didn't feel the same way about him. She went on with her
life, entertaining other suitors, and not even shedding a tear when Rizal left
the country.
Chenggoy was the ultimate teaser—and maybe wingman?—who was amused
with the “rivalry” of the namesakes. On one of Chenggoy’s letters to Rizal, he
wrote, “…nagpipilit ang munting kasera (Leonor Rivera) na makita si Orang,
pero dahil natatakpan ng isang belong puti, hindi naming nakilala nang
dumaan ang prusisyon sa tapat ng bahay. Sinabi sa akin ni O(rang) na
sabihin ko raw sa munting kasera na hindi siya kumakaribal sa pag-iibigan
ninyo. Que gulay, tukayo, anong gulo itong idinudulot natin sa mga dalagang
ito!” (Manebog 2013)
Lest it be forgotten, while he was pursuing the two Leonors,
Rizal was in Europe taking courses in medicine at
Universidad Central de Madrid and painting at Real
Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Calle Alcala.
EONOR RIVERA
The Tragic Story of Jose Rizal's Most Significant Love and
Heartbreak
Born as Leonor Bauzon Rivera, a native of Camiling, Tarlac. Rizal's
European biographer, described Rivera as a “pretty woman”
whose physical features included having a “high forehead”, “soft
and wavy hair”, a face that sported “almond eyes”, “small and
pensive mouth”, and “engaging dimples”. Furthermore, Rivera was
a talented, mature, and intelligent lady who played the piano and
was gifted with a “charming singing voice”.
Leonor Rivera was born on April 11, 1867 to Antonio Rivera and
Silvestre Bauzon. She was six years younger than Rizal. Antonio
Rivera and Francisco Mercado (Rizal’s father) were cousins,
making Rizal and Rivera second or third cousins. Making her
Rizal's cousin and his childhood sweetheart.
They met when Rizal was 18 and Leonor was 13, at the boarding
house of Rizal’s uncle in Intramuros, Manila. Leonor was Rizal’s
second cousin.
It was a perfect love story in the beginning: he, the intelligent charmer, and she, the
beautiful student who had a beautiful singing voice and was a talented piano player.
Soon, they fell in love. But as tragic love stories go, they were besieged by obstacles.
Leonor’s parents highly disapproved of their relationship as they were wary of Rizal
being a “filibuster.” In his letters, Rizal called Leonor “Taimis” to hide her identity.
Before leaving for Europe in 1882, Rizal said that he had found the woman he wanted
to marry. But even his brother, Paciano Rizal, disagreed with the idea, saying that it
would be unfair to Leonor if he were to leave her behind after getting married. They
employed codes in their letters because Rivera's mother did not favour Rizal as a
suitor for her daughter. A letter from Mariano Catigbac dated June 27, 1884 referred
to Rivera as Rizal's “betrothed”. Catigbac described Rivera as having been greatly
affected by Rizal's departure, frequently sick because of insomnia.
But their love—as young loves are—wanted to go against all that stood in the way.
Although they did not get married, they tried to continue sending each other love
letters, a lot of which were intercepted and kept hidden by Leonor’s mother. Rizal’s
letters to Leonor went unacknowledged for a whole year, as Leonor married Henry
Charles Kipping, an English railway engineer-but not because she wanted to. In
1890, Leonor wrote a letter to Rizal saying that she was engaged to be married to a
British engineer named Henry Kipping. That same year, the wedding pushed
through.
Her mother preferred Kipping over Rizal, and to convince Leonor to
marry Kipping, she said Rizal was engaged to Ferdinand
Blumentritt's daughter.
Upon the coercion of her mother, Leonor burned Rizal’s letters to
her—but it was said she kept the ashes of those letters. A story goes
that she hid some of these ashes in the hem of her wedding gown.
In 1893, Leonor died during second childbirth. Shortly before she
died, her last wish was to have the silver box containing the ashes
of Rizal's burned letters be buried with her.Documents show that
when Rizal heard of the news through his sister, Narcisa, he didn’t
speak for a few days. It is believed that Rizal immortalized Leonor
through the character Maria Clara in Noli Me Tangere. Like we
said, it’s a Shakespearean kind of dark—and no love story is more
intense than the one that lost the battle with circumstances..
“Goodbye to Leonor” was written by Rizal for his childhood
sweetheart, Leonor Rivera, when she married Henry Kipping, a
British railway engineer.
“And so it has arrived — the fatal instant,
the dismal injunction of my cruel fate;
so it has come at last — the moment, the date,
when I must separate myself from you.
Goodbye, Leonor, goodbye! I take my leave,
leaving behind with you my lover’s heart!
Goodbye, Leonor: from here I now depart.
O Melancholy absence! Ah, what pain!”
It is believed that Jose Rizal was in love to Leonor Rivera for almost 11 years
that she was his inspiration of “Maria Clara” from his novel and is declared
as his one true love.
ONSUELO ORTEGA Y REY
Consuelo Ortega Y Rey was the daughter of Don Pablo
Ortiga Y Rey, who was Mayor of Manila when Maria dela
Torre was the governor. While Rizal was in Madrid, he
would hang out at Don Pablo’s house, which became a
place where Filipino students would often get together.
Through one of these gatherings, Rizal met Consuelo.
Consuelo wrote in her diary that she first met Rizal in
Madrid on September 16, 1882, and apparently they
talked the whole night (always a promising start to any
relationship). Sources say she had a penchant for asking
Rizal to write her poems and verses, and he would
happily comply. The most well-known of these is entitled
A La Señorita C.O. y R.
He showed affection towards Consuelo but was not
serious in his pursuit as he was still engaged to Leonor
Rivera at the time. Yes, he loved the company of women,
but during that brief period, he too was lonely and
yearning for the physical void left by Leonor.
Circumstances happened. One of Rizal's compatriots, Eduardo de
Lete, apparently had his eye on Consuelo, which forced Rizal to
back out of whatever budding relationship he had with her. Also, he
was still engaged to Leonor Rivera, which he probably should have
thought of before even considering starting something with
another woman.
Although most accounts say the dalliance didn’t turn serious, Rizal
wrote a poem for her, entitled, “A La Señorita C.O.y.P.” Of course,
these days, when you write a poem for someone, that’s like a
marriage proposal. In the end, Consuelo got engaged to Rizal’s
friend, Eduardo de Lete. It is said that Eduardo’s love for Consuelo
was also the reason Rizal didn’t pursue the mestiza. Or maybe, in
modern parlance, theirs was a classic case of a rebound fling.
EIKO USUI (O Sei San)
In many of his diary entries, Rizal wrote about how he
was charmed by Japan’s beauty, cleanliness, and peace
and order. But if there was one thing that almost kept him
in the country where cherry blossoms bloom most
beautiful, it was a woman named Seiko Usui,
affectionately called O-Sei-San.
It was in 1888. Rizal had just arrived in Japan from
Hongkong upon an invitation to take a job offer at the
Spanish Legation. One day, while he was in the office
grounds, he saw O-Sei-San walk past the legation’s gate
and was immediately enthralled by her beauty. With the
help of a Japanese gardener, he asked to be introduced
to the woman who captured his eyes—and the gardener
acquiesced. Rizal spoke little Japanese at the time, so
the gardener had to serve as a translator. However, a few
minutes into the conversation, they both found O-Sei-San
spoke English and French, which was a relief as Rizal
spoke both languages. When the language barrier broke,
they started to build a relationship.
As days went by, O-Sei-San taught Rizal the ways of the Japanese.
They went gallivanting, visiting museums, galleries, and
universities. They talked about the arts and culture, switching their
language from French to English and back as they pleased. Their
love was childlike and spirited. According to many accounts, Rizal
was ready to move to Japan, stay with O-Sei-San, and live a
peaceful life with his love.
Unfortunately for this relationship, country-saving duties would call
and he had to leave Japan for San Francisco. After a month-long
relationship, Rizal had to leave for San Francisco in April 1888. He
never saw O-Sei-San again. Their affair lasted for around two
months.
In his diary entry, this is what he wrote when he decided to leave
Japan and Seiko after a month of bliss staying in there and being
with her:
More than a month, the happy relationship sadly needs to end as
the man of our nation had to leave Japan.
“Japan has enchanted me. The beautiful scenery, the flowers, the
trees, and the inhabitants – so peaceful, so courteous, and so
pleasant. O-Sei-San, Sayonara, Sayonara! I have spent a happy
golden month; I do not know if I can have another one like that in all
my life. Love, money, friendship, appreciation, honors –these have
not been wanting.To think that I am leaving this life for the
uncertain, the unknown. There I was offered an easy way to live,
beloved and esteemed…”
I need to leave Japan. I'm very O Sei San! But it is my duty. Always
remember that I love you.
ERTRUDE BECKETT
In May 1888 Rizal visited London for a short time,
boarding the house of the Beckett family: Mr. & Mrs.
Beckett, their two sons, and their four daughters. In
the same year he began and ended his relations with
O-Sei-San, and Jose Rizal at 27 years old, went to
London and met a woman named Gertrude Beckett,
the eldest daughter of his landlord.
The Artist's Right Hand
Gertrude was a buxom young lady with blue eyes and
brown hair. Gertrude showered Rizal with all the love
and attention of a girl who is hopelessly in love. She
fell in love with Rizal and gave him all of her attention
during the family picnics and gatherings. When Rizal
stayed indoors during rainy days painting and
sculpting, she helped him mix his colors and prepare
his clay. She even assisted Rizal as he finished some
of his popular sculptures, “Prometheus Bound,” “The
Triumph of Death over Life,” and “The Triumph of
Rizal enjoyed her company. Eventually their flirtatious friendship
drifted towards a blossoming romance. He affectionately called her
"Gettie," and in return she called him "Pettie." But all documents lead
to say one thing: the feelings weren’t mutually shared. Some
sources say that it was only Gettie who wanted more out of their
friendship, while others say that Rizal got cold feet, which made him
decide to leave London for Paris in March 1889, possibly in an
effort to let Gettie down easy.
Leaving for a Higher Cause
Rizal withdrew before his relationship with Gettie could become more
serious, realizing that he had a greater mission to fulfill and that in order to
accomplish it he could not yield to the option of marrying her. He suppressed
the yearnings of his heart and decided to leave so that the lady may forget
him. Before he did, however, in 1889 he finished a number of sculptural
works, one of which was a carving of the heads of the Beckett sisters.
Marcelo del Pilar, Rizal’s friend, said Rizal left London to move away from
Gertrude, whose idea of their relationship was more than what it really was—
the most tormenting kind: an unrequited love.
UZANNE JACOBY
Maybe Rizal was repulsed with the idea of having an
idle mind. With all the loneliness and anxiety from the
turmoil of his country and family, he was even able to
fill his resting moments learning new things—like
flirting with women. When he arrived in Belgium in
1890, he lived at a boarding house that was run by
two sisters whose last name was Jacoby. The sisters
had a niece named Suzanne. You probably can guess
now what happens with Rizal and his caretaker’s kin.
If it’s not a neighbor, it’s a caretaker’s kin.
Someone keep Rizal away from boarding houses. His
six-month stay in the city saw him spending a lot of
time with Suzanne, and they attended the city's
summertime festival together.
It seems that he just wasn’t into her. Rizal left her a box of
chocolates, which she didn't even open, possibly to keep as a
memento. She wrote him two months later, telling him about the
unopened box of chocolates and urging him to hurry back. In
another letter she sent him, Suzanne wondered if Rizal even
thought about her, and resigned herself to the fact that she might
not see him again.
The relationship was probably a fling, too, as Rizal made no
mention of Suzanne when he wrote letters to his friends about his
stay in Belgium. Rizal left the country in August that year. Suzanne
was heartbroken. Rizal continued writing El Filibusterismo, writing
for La Solidaridad, and worrying about his family back home. It was
said that Suzanne wrote Rizal letters. Rizal may have replied once.
In 1891, Rizal went back to Belgium—not for Suzanne—but to finish
writing El Filibusterismo. He stayed for a few months, left, and never
returned. Maybe she got the point after that.
A Broken Heart
Suzanne fell in love with Rizal, and wept when he left for Madrid in
July 1890. She wrote to him 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?"
ELLIE BOUSTEAD
In 1891, Rizal took a vacation in Biarritz in order to find
reprieve from his troubles in Madrid. Nellie was the
daughter of British businessman Eduardo Boustead
and was half-Filipina. She was also the fiancée of
Antonio Luna.
Remember that famous time when Antonio Luna and
Jose Rizal almost got into a duel because of a girl? The
girl in the middle of that madness was Nellie Boustead.
Rizal and Nellie met in Biarritz, where Nellie’s wealthy
family hosted Rizal’s stay at their residence on the
French Riviera. Before Biarritz, Rizal already made
friends with the Boustead family a few years back, and
even played fencing with Nellie and her sister.
During his stay at the beautiful Biarritz vacation home,
Rizal learned of Leonor Rivera’s engagement and
thought of pursuing a romantic relationship with Nellie,
who was classy, educated, cheerful, and athletic.
After strengthening their relationship, Rizal wrote letters to his
friends, telling them about his intention to marry her. They were all
supportive, including Antonio Luna.
Although they seemed like the ideal couple, marriage for Rizal was
still not meant to be. First, Nellie’s mother did not think Rizal had the
resources to be a good provider for her daughter. Second, Nellie
wanted Rizal to convert to Protestantism. Rizal refused. But their
friendship must have been strong enough because they ended up
being friends after all the drama.
Before Rizal left Paris in 1891, Nellie wrote him a letter: “Now that
you are leaving I wish you a happy trip and may you triumph in
your undertakings, and above all, may the Lord look down on you
with favor and guide your way giving you much blessings, and may
your learn to enjoy! My remembrance will accompany you as also
my prayers.”
OSEPHINE BRACKEN
Josephine Bracken was the woman who stayed with Rizal
until his execution in 1896. She was also, allegedly, the
woman whom Rizal married. However, accounts of their
marriage have been much-debated over the years.
Josephine was the adopted daughter of one George
Taufer, whom she lived with in Hongkong for years before
she needed to seek help from an ophthalmologist due to
George’s blindness. They then sought the help of Jose
Rizal, who was already exiled in Dapitan, Zamboanga del
Norte at the time. Rizal and Josephine fell in love and in a
month made the announcement that they wanted to get
married. But just like the other Rizal great loves, this one
was once again complicated. No priest would marry the
two, for reasons that are still unclear—but perhaps it was
because of Rizal’s status in politics. Without a legal paper,
Rizal and Josephine lived together, and had a son, who
died a few hours after birth. Rizal named his son after his
father, Francisco.
Up to this day, there is no legal proof that Josephine and Rizal ever got
married.
In retrospect, maybe Rizal was not meant for a long commitment, like
marriage—with all his travels and freedom-fighting obligations. Maybe
heroes can only be alone with their thoughts. Left alone, they will naturally
think too much, and thinking for an entire country, we assume, can be
exhausting. Maybe Rizal just always needed a companion.
But if there’s one thing his dalliances and longings and pursuits remind us, it
is that heroes are humans, too. Humans have needs. And he did die for our
country.
After Rizal's death, Josephine returned to Hong Kong and lived with her
father. In 1900, she married Vicente Abad and they had a daughter named
Dolores. Josephine died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. Others say she
actually returned to the Philippines and lived in Cebu with her husband and
taught English at various institutions.
Rizal’s Women
Leonor
Valenzuela
Segunda
Katigbak
Leonor
Rivera
Suzanne
Jacoby
Nellie
Bousted
Seko Usui
Consuelo
Ortega Y Rey
Gertrude
Beckett
Josephine
Bracken
RESOURCES
REPORTED BY
Lopez, Danielle Grace
Rangas, Erbie Marie
Pagayon, Angela
Remegio, Keith Dennizza Rose
Platon, Ronie Mae
Retes, Murfe
Quinanola, Leah
Rubinos, Leanna CJ Lois
THANK YOU!
Do you have any questions?
Feel free to ask !
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