Dapitan
Congratulations on the arrival of an addition to the family — Christmas lanterns — “Nanay and Trining are satisfied with my land.” — “Here there are no civil guards, nor neighbors, nor gossip.” — ₱10 for a Christmas lottery ticket – Requests special pincers.
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Dapitan, 25 October 1893
MR. MANUEL T. HIDALGO
MY DEAR BROTHER-IN-LAW MANENG,
I received your three letters and I congratulate you on the happy addition to your family that worried us so much here. Nanay did nothing else but inquire about Sra. Neneng.
I approve of all that you did in the treatment of the mother and may God will that she may be cured completely. I was very sad because they told me that Sra. Neneng was sick. I reiterate then my congratulations.
As I want to celebrate Christmas properly, I would appreciate it if you would send me a bale of Japanese paper and some sheets of colored paper for making paper lanterns. I bother you because Antonino is going to Bay.
You will do well to enroll in medicine if you like it very much. It is eminently a humanitarian career.
Mr. Padillo is in fact a good man and I am glad that he got a good position. He was very much bored here and I can understand it. He did not speak the local language. Lipa is already another thing.
Nanay and Trining are sending you many regards and are wishing to see you here. More and more they like my land and tranquility. Here we have no civil guards, nor neighbors, nor gossip.
I am sending you ₱20 with which to please buy me a whole lottery ticket for the special December lottery. The ₱10 are for the payment of the rice and other things that you have sent me. I should like to play the lottery only to find out my luck.
I would also appreciate it if you would buy me at Arevalo’s a pair of pincers for extracting an abnormal incisor.
Enclosed is a letter for Sra. Neneng.
Yours,
JOSÉ RIZAL
01-798 [Family]