“Two-timing two Leonor’s: Who did Rizal really love more?” “You cannot love two people at the same time, if so, it’s not love.” As we are all aware, Dr. Rizal played a significant role in the Philippines' independence. He has served as a testament to morality and nationalism. He possesses a patriotic outlook, a brave heart, a sharp mind, and wit. In addition to these traits, Rizal was considered a "heartthrob" in his generation. He has been involved with a lot of girls. His remarkable talents in arts mixed with his impressive academic capacity helps him capture the hearts of many girls. In an article on the Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation, it was claimed that there were nine women who have been linked with Rizal - Segunda Katigbak, Leonor Valenzuela, Leonor Rivera, Consuelo Ortiga, O-Sei San, Gertrude Beckette, Nelly Boustead, Suzanne Jacoby and Josephine Bracken. And he two-timed the two Leonor's - Leonor Rivera and Leonor Valenzuela. Many critics said that Leonor Rivera is Rizal’s greatest love. Thus, even if he pursued Leonor Valenzuela, in his heart, there still lies Leonor Rivera. Yet, why did Rizal two-time her with Orang with invisible love letters if she really loves Leonor Rivera? Leonor Rivera was lovely, had smooth, wavy hair, attractive dimples, and a seductive singing voice, according to Austin Coates, a historian. She was also a talented pianist and an intellectual woman. She had the perfect feminine qualities: she was quiet, soft-spoken, and reserved. Therefore, in his two books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Rizal idealized Leonor as a Filipina and immortalized her as Maria Clara. However, Leonor Rivera is different from Maria Clara. If you could remember, Maria Clara patiently waited for Crisostomo Ibarra’s comeback, while Leonor Rivera did not wait for Rizal’s homecoming. Instead, he married Kipping. Therefore, the comparison cannot be justified by just looking at their traits. Conversely, despite the romantic involvement between Rizal and Rivera, Rizal also expressed admiration and affection towards Leonor "Orang" Valenzuela due to her remarkable stature that exuded elegance and grace. He consistently received warm reception due to his prior notoriety resulting from his adeptness in performing sleight-of-hand maneuvers. The assertion that Rivera was Rizal's greatest love appears incongruous given Orang’s existence, who was the object of Rizal's pursuit. He courted and sent her affectionate letters inscribed with invisible ink that can only be read by exposing it to heat from a candle or lamp. This prompted many to conclude that, notwithstanding Rizal's pursuit of Orang, Leonor Rivera was his true love. Despite Rizal's various relationships, his love for Leonor Rivera remained undiminished. The fact that he had been with his long-term girlfriend for 11 years kept him from developing feelings for anyone else. When Rizal went to Europe, however, distance and familial pressure ended their relationship. Silvestra, her mother, read their love letters so Rizal suspected that Rivera no longer remembered him, and the fact that Rizal changed his mind devastated Rivera. Because of this, many people believe that Leonor Rivera was Rizal's greatest love. Their love aspired to conquer obstacles in its path. They kept writing each other, but many of their letters were taken away by Leonor's mother and hidden from sight. Rivera announced her engagement to Henry Kipping, in a letter to Rizal in 1890. But the wedding nevertheless went ahead that year. It is evident from a comparison of the two relationships that Rizal’s romance with Rivera was more conventional than his romance with Orang. Although largely personal, Rizal and Rivera’s relationship was founded on love and affection for one another. Few others were aware of their relationship, and they generally interacted through letters. On the other hand, Rizal and Orang had a special link that could not be broken and was invincible. Orang’s knowledge, hospitality, and character were qualities that Rizal respected. In a male-dominated society where women were not valued and respected, Orang stood for the very essence of feminism. Additionally, Orang and Rizal shared a strong intellectual bond, but there was no physical connection between them. Her opinions and wisdom were highly regarded by Rizal. Thus, when Rizal wanted to talk about his ideas, problems, and difficulties with his writings, Orang was the person he resorted to. Meanwhile, Rizal and Rivera’s connection was built on a foundation of affection and admiration shared by both individuals, and he really loved Rivera deeply. Rizal never ceased loving Rivera despite their separation and her marriage to another man. In conclusion, it can be challenging to pinpoint which Leonor Rizal cherished more. His relationship with Rivera was more conventional and centered around mutual passion and love while his connection with Orang was more ideological with an emphasis on intellectual and patriotism. Both relationships were significant, because they influenced Rizal’s thoughts on love and revolution. Rizal’s love for both women was genuine and sincere. It is a credit to his character that he was capable of genuinely loving both females regardless of their entirely distinct relationships. With all of the abovementioned things, even though Rizal and Rivera didn't end up together after an event in particular, Rizal's true and greatest love continued to be Leonor. Written by: Rosete, Allyssa Nadiah / Ruiz, Franze Darlin / Santiago, Chrisline Jeiah References: Limos, M. (2018). Leonor Rivera: The Tragic Story of Jose Rizal's Most Significant Love and Heartbreak. Retrieved from https://www.esquiremag.ph/the-good-life/pursuits/leonor-rivera-the-tragic-story-of-joserizal-s-most-significant-love-and-heartbreak-a1957-20180612lfrm2#:~:text=According%20to%20historian%20Austin%20Coates,how%20to%20play%20the%20piano Monde, J. (2019). Jose Rizal Love Story With Leonor Valenzuela & Their Invisible Love Letters. Retrieved from https://philnews.ph/2019/09/19/jose-rizal-love-story-leonor-valenzuela-invisible-loveletters/?expand_article=1&fbclid=IwAR13yu46AzFU3jz_1VhirE9-ocShjpb1n9SSzRwYoatVcjvqEJXM7FKxnE. Retrieved, June 2023. Quirino, E. (2015). Leonor Rivera, A Hero's Sweetheart. Positively Filipino. Your Window on the Filipino Diaspora. Retrieved from https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/leonor-rivera-aherossweetheart?fbclid=IwAR0n9udcXUt8W0MMSwbhix_0WFz13JHyEHzqgOdTXFexvucpRiyIdSU5 2nk. Retrieved, June 2023. Women of Jose Rizal. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://philippinefolklifemuseum.org/exhibit-rizal-women/. Retrieved, June 2023.
