Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Other Reformers - 1883

Letters Exchanged Between Rizal and Other Reformers - 1883

009 Basilio Teodoro Moran, Manila, 15 January

Sad story of the death of Diariong Tagalog -- Sends Rizal another set of the paper -- Hopes to republish it.

Manila, 15 January 1883

Mr. José Rizal

Dear Friend,

       I have in my possession the articles that you sent me and your letter delivered to me by your uncle, Don Antonio. A million thanks for the articles that you have done at so much sacrifice and until now are unpublished, because we have not yet resumed publication of our magazine.  As I have a hope of publishing it again, I am not returning your articles in order to publish them in the first issues of its second epoch.

       In my preceding letter I offered to give you a long account of the causes of the death of the newspaper and accordingly I will now relate them to you.

       On the 1^st of June that publication began with one thousand subscribers which increased by three hundred in the following month, but in August it lost many subscribers on account of the cholera which broke out in this city, so much so that the subscribers were reduced to eight hundred, because those who did not die emigrated to other towns.  It began to recover in the month of September so that by the middle of October we had already one thousand two hundred subscribers and the number would have been greater if the typhoon of the 24th of that month did not reduce to poverty this city aswell as the provinces in the Archipelago.  I was one of its victims, for the sugar, which I expected would cover the expenses of that publication, was carried away by the typhoon because the warehouse where it was stored was completely destroyed.  In view of this crisis I called the editor of the publication and I informed him of what had happened to me and at the same time I made known to him that I was in a situation that compelled me, much to my regret, to deduct from his salary the one thousand pesos that I had advanced to him as a salary. l I also made known my misfortune to his colleague who owed me 446 pesos and for this reason there arose a heated dispute between us and they ended by not wishing to work any more, telling me to look for another staff.  At the same time, the aforementioned editor published the paper's farewell on his own responsibility notwithstanding that, though the permit was in his name, he has transferred it to me through a public document, a right which it has not been possible for me to make use of because I cannot find editors.

     This is the sad story of our periodical and you can judge why I would not remember you in these critical moments.

     Through the kindness of Mr. Felipe Zamora I send you a set of the Diariong Taglog because you say that you have not received the set I sent you.

     Your affectionate servant who kisses your hand,

Basilio Teodoro

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010 Miguel Morayta, Madrid 23 January [1883]

Professor Morayta invites Rizal to send him some of his literary works, either in prose or poetry, to be read in a program in honor of Giordano Bruno and the freedom of thought.

9 Hermosilla, Madrid, 23 January [1883]

Mr. José Rizal y Alonzo

Dear Friend,

       I went to the house of our friend Paterno to find out where you live and I am writing you at his house.

       Towards the end of February, our comrades will celebrate with a program the anniversary of Giodano Bruno.  Works exclusively by students will be read.

       And as I know how meritorious you are, I request you to send me some of your works in prose or verse that will be read at this program.

       It deals with a manifestation in favor of freedom of thought and there is a place in it for many more subjects than Giordano Bruno.

       And confident that you will accede to my request I am,

Your very affectionate friend,

Miguel Morayta (1)

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(1) He was a professor of history at the Universidad Central de Madrid, a liberal, and friend of the Filipino reformers in Spain.  Rizal had been one of his students.

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011 Santiago Carrilo, Manila, 26 January [1883]

Rizal’s father would like his son to avoid displeasures and to come home soon.

Manila, 26 January 1883

Mr. José Rizal

Esteemed Friend,

       Before anything else I must request you to excuse me for not having written you immediately after my arrival at his city, but if you knew how busy I was after my arrival, I believe you would excuse such an unintentional oversight.

       With reference to my trip I cannot tell you anything good, for since I left Barcelona, I was completely bored by such tings as, lack of distraction, bad treatment, and lastly by the poor management of that ship.

       On the 12^th instant I went to Calamba and I had the pleasure of talking with your esteemed family.  They told me that your father, as soon as he learned of your departure for that country, fell ill, but now, thank God, has completely recovered and is livelier on account of the pleasant news he has of you.  The only thing your dear father requested me is to tell you to avoid displeasures there and that he is not opposed that you follow all your ideas, but he would like to have the pleasure of seeing you as soon as possible.

       Pepe, I suppose that you have already received from Antonio Paterno the 10 I sent you including what I sent him so that he can give something to Calero (1) in payment of my debt to him before I left that country.  I wish you to divide between you the 10 as I owe both of you the same amount.  I wish you to spend the balance drinking to my health or in any way that seems to you best.

       With nothing more in particular, I shall wish that you continue enjoy good health in the company of all our friends and countrymen.  Give my regards to all, specially Calero, Gonzales, Paternos, (2) and others I cannot remember at this moment and command your best friend.

Santiago Carrillo

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(1)         Federico Calero, Spaniard of Manila, a medical student, friend of Rizal.  He did not finish the medical course, but he engaged in business.

(2)         The Paterno brothers were Antonio, Pedro, and Maximo.

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012 Mariano Catigbac, (1) Lipa, 16 October

Nothing happens at Lipa -- No news, except the havoc wrought by the cholera -- Appearance of beri-beri -- Rizal is one of three excellent Filipinos at Madrid -- Sends Rizal silk handkerchiefs woven in Lipa.

Lipa, 16 October 1883

Mr. José Rizal

Madrid

My dearest Friend,

       In my possession are your two letters, the first from Barcelona of 20 July and the second from Madrid of 29 December and I am informed of their contents.

       I have the greatest pleasure to answer you but you already know that nothing can be related or said about Lipa, inasmuch as everything that is seen is the same every day.  I want to say that we have to variety here as you see and feel there . . . .  You do well in not relating anything to me, for otherwise I would be excited.

       The only change that we had was during the time of the Asiatic cholera morbidity.  This terrible disease wrought havoc here in such a way that we went to bed at night and we doubted if we would see the light the following day and vice versa, we woke up in the morning and we doubted if we would last until the night.  There was great fear, very great.  Many have died of fear, among them Brigida Rojas who, at the age of 15 summers, delivered her soul to the Creator with her insignia and diadem of virginity. Captain José Luz and a coadjutor, performing his mission, were also victims of the disease, the prevailing sickness.  With the exception of the three I have mentioned there had been no others within the town but in the country many died.  Deaths number 400 of all ages, among men, women, boys and girls, a number that is nothing considering the number of inhabitants of this town.

       Another epidemic disease recently known in the Philippines as beriberi, which also made ravages here, but it is very benign and patients are immediately cured after the first treatments.  However, others for carelessness do not mind it and when the patients are icy cold their cure is difficult and consequently they die.

       This sickness carried away from here three women: Josefa, aunt of Isabel, Antera, widow of J. Luz and Crisóstoma, wife of Simeón Luz.

       None of the country folks, whom you would call villagers, was attacked.  This is understandable for the first prescription is exercise and as they are necessarily compelled to work for their daily bread, hardly had there been any symptom among them for the prescription has already been filled before the disease sets in.

       The men there always are inclined to be liars and braggarts wherever they may be, so that I shall not say any more.  You already know the few who live here.

       `Laureano and Tomás Mayo are still bachelors but the last one has devoted himself to . . . . such a way that nobody can pull him away.  F. Laotin follows the line of students of medicine and I believe he is now in the 3^rd or 4^th year.

       In September just past, I spent one night at the house of your brother-in-law Marianito.  I did not want to spend it at your house in order not to bother your parents now old, but I went to visit them.

       They say that there are three excellent Filipinos there and I congratulate myself in knowing that you are one of them.  I congratulate you for this. 

       As you ask me about Felisa, let me tell you that it seems she is going to marry a widower with four children, but very soon, and perhaps when you receive this letter they would already be married.  If you want to know who the favored one is, or whatever you want to call him, it is Simeón Luz.  All this is projected.

       Don’t judge ill my long silence for it was due to the fear of not hitting right your whereabouts, so that for your address I am availing myself of your family.

       I send you two pictures of my children -- Pepito and Benigno.  Teofilo died of smallpox.  I am on the eve of having another one, boy or girl, whatever God disposes.  In return I want a picture of yours.

       I delivered to your sister Saturnina two dozens of silk handkerchiefs to be sent to you and to tell you that they are a remembrance.  They were woven here, one dozen with yellow lines and the other dozen, pink.

       I am interested in knowing your graduation and in what studies you are engaged.

       My regards to the Paternos and other friends and this, your friend, embraces you.

M. Catigbac

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(1) Also written “Katigbak,” according to Tagalog orthography.  A reformists he had been Rizal’s friend wince his student days at Manila.