27 July 1888

London

London, 27 July 1888

37 Chalcot Crescent

Primrose Hill

Mr. Mariano Ponce

My distinguished Friend and Fellow Countryman:

Many thanks for the things you have promptly sent me, like your photograph, the book, newspapers and speeches of the Filipinos on the occasion of Weyler’s arrival.

I cannot send you yet my photograph because I have none; the one I have was taken some time ago and I wish to present you with a new one. Larra’s book pleased me much, but I find that he is a failure in his dramas. Is Marcelo del Pilar in Barcelona or did he send his article from Manila? This is what it seems to me. I appreciate this is so much that when the second edition is published I will have Father Font’s[1] review printed at the beginning of the work. Thus, we shall appear to posterity as two good friends and let it judge us and condemn us.

I am going to tell you in a few words what has happened to me since my departure from Manila. As I was still sick when I embarked, I got very seasick aboard. We touched Emuy but I did not go down because it was raining and I have been told that it was very cold there and dirty. We went to Hong Kong, which pleased me. There I met various important Spaniards, one of whom was Baranda, who had been secretary of General Terrero, they say. We were together many days and we went together with Basa[2] to visit the Portuguese colony of Macao and Mr. Lecaroz[3] in whose house we stayed. Lecaroz, like Basa and other Filipinos of Hong Kong, are partisans and advocates of the Noli me tangere. In Hong Kong I inquired into the important matters; for example, the wealth of the Dominicans, (who turned out to be the largest shareholders of the Arsenal established there), their missions and those of the Augustinians, etc., etc. There I met Mr. Balbino Mauricio[4]—an unfortunate man who deserved a better lot—whose acquaintance was useful to me because it prepares me for my end which can be much worse than his. Iriarte[5] was also very friendly towards me, helping me in every way and accompanying me everywhere. The young men who are studying there generally are good patriots. In Hong Kong I had also the opportunity to study Chinese customs and the Chinese theatre. After about fifteen days I left for Japan. Again I got quite seasick and I arrived at Yokohama on 28 February [1888]. A few minutes after reaching the hotel, when I had not yet had time to tidy up, I received a call for an interview from the Spanish chargé d’affaires. They were very kind, making me many proposals including staying at the Spanish legation. After various excuses, I accepted the offer, because if their purpose is to watch me, I had nothing to fear. I lived therefore in the legation over a month. I toured some provinces of Japan, sometimes alone, sometimes in the company of the chargé d’affaires, and other times with the interpreter. There I studied Japanese and a little about their theatre. I received many offers of employment which I declined and sailed for America.

In the boat I met a semi-Filipino family, the mother being the daughter of an Englishman, Jackson by name. They brought a servant from Pangasinan. The son asked me if I knew Richal, author of Noli Me Tangere. I answered yes, smiling like Aladdin in Florante. As they spoke well of me, I revealed my identity for it was impossible for them not to find out my name during the voyage. The lady complimented me, etc. etc.

In this voyage I did not get seasick. I got acquainted with a Japanese who was going to Europe after having been imprisoned for being a radical and director of an independent newspaper. As the Japanese spoke only Japanese I served him as an interpreter until our arrival at London.

I visited the largest cities of America with their big buildings, electric lights, and magnificent conceptions. Undoubtedly America is a great country, but it still has many defects. There is no real civil liberty. In some states the negro cannot marry a white woman, nor a negress a white man. Because of the hatred of the Chinese, other Asiatics, like the Japanese, being confused with them, are likewise disliked by the ignorant Americans. The customs is excessively strict. However, as they say rightly, America offers a home to the poor who like to work. There was also much arbitrariness; for example, when we were in quarantine. They placed us under quarantine, in spite of the clearance given by the American consul, of having been at sea for about one month, of not having a single case of illness aboard, and of the telegram of the governor of Hong Kong declaring that port free from epidemic. We were quarantined because there were on board 800 Chinese and, as the elections in San Francisco were approaching, the government wanted to boast that it was taking strict measures against the Chinese to win votes and the people’s sympathy. We were informed of the quarantine verbally, without specifying its duration. However, on the same day of our arrival, they unloaded 700 bales of silk without fumigating them; the ship’s doctor went ashore; many customs employees ate on board, including an American doctor from the hospital of cholera victims. We were in quarantine for about thirteen days. Afterwards only the passengers of the first class were allowed to land; those of the 2nd and 3rd classes—Japanese and Chinese—remained for an indefinite period. It is said that in that way they got rid of about 300 Chinese, letting them gradually die on board. I don’t know if it is true.

I crossed America: I saw Niagara, the majestic cascade. I was in New York, a big city. But there everything is new. I visited some relics of Washington, the great man whom I believe has no second in this century.

I sailed for Europe on board the City of Rome, considered to be the largest boat in the world today. A newspaper was published on board towards the end of the voyage. I got acquainted there with many people and as I was carrying a yo-yo the Europeans and the Americans marveled as to how I could use it as an offensive weapon. Also, I could talk with all of them in their respective languages.

If you write Plaridel, please tell him that I rejoice with our country and all our good countrymen that we are united and solid so that we can help one another. His articles seem very well written and not only I should be grateful to him but all our fellow countrymen, because all of us work for our country and our pen writes not for anybody but for our motherland. On the day when all Filipinos should think like him and like us, on that day we shall have fulfilled our arduous mission which is the formation of the Filipino nation.

This is all, thank you for everything, and I bid you goodbye.

Your friend who esteems you,

Rizal

03-317 [Reformists]

1888 Manila

From: Pedro Serrano Laktaw

To: Jose Rizal

Serrano has a school in Binondo – Incidents in the hearing on the petition for the expulsion of the friars – News about various friends – Viado is imprisoned on account of the Noli.

* * *

Manila, 1888

My ever dear Laon Laan,

In my previous letters to Naning I always requested him to send you the mail after he has read it so that you may be informed of everything that is going on here.

Now, I make this letter pass through your hands so that you may take note of it before sending it along. In this way, I save myself from writing much, for I have no time.

Serrano got second place in the competition held and now lives in 12 Jolo, Binondo, where he has a school. The poor one has not finished settling with the censor about his book.

The celebrated petition for the expulsion of friars has given birth to so many incidents which are extremely curious to the history of the Philippine judiciary.

Instead of dealing with it administratively, Mr. Terrero, while he was still here, endorsed the petition to the Audiencia. The first judge was.…Mr. Sunye charged the signers with the crime of holding a secret meeting. After a few days, the judge was replaced by Galvan to whom Doroteo Cortes objected. At that time there was only one imprisonment, that of Doroteo Jose, gobernadorcillo of the natives of Santa Cruz.[6]

After Galvan, Mascaros succeeded. He threw out the charge of secret meeting and advanced that of offence against the constituted authority (that of the Archbishop). At this time Terrero left and Vice Governor General Molto became acting governor general. Immediately there was whispering about, spreading among the masses in the city of Manila a thousand harrowing varieties of deportation, executions by the garrote and shooting that they said Molto was planning with the friars in revenge. Five successive telegrams were sent via Hong Kong to Her Majesty the Queen informing her of the schemes and the armed conspiracy that the friars are plotting with Molto in their frequent meetings held by them at Navotas, Malinta, and Lolomboy.

In the meantime some gobernadorcillos who showed their loyalty to the authorities in the question of burials were being removed from office.

One Saturday, eve of the day….when the friar simulacra, feigning an uprising, was to take place. Providence who watches over our holy cause and his faithful children, will that Her Majesty send over a telegraphic dispatch ordering Mr. Molto to turn over his office to Mr. Lobaton, naval commander. This made general Molto hold over until the arrival of Weyler.

As it was to be expected, these occurrences disconnected the weak among us; and Doroteo Jose, Celestino Aragon, and Justo Trinidad, who at the beginning already were feeling triumphant, were frightened.

Mascaros and Galvan quarreled, because the latter, according to what they say, did not want to share with the first absolutely any of the 10,000 [pesos] that had been received from the friars. For this reason, the two, who were formerly intimate friends, separated.

Then the defense lawyer, who was Pilar, presented a plea of lack of jurisdiction and for the nullification of the proceedings, asking at the same time that before proceeding against the informers, the crime denounced be clarified.

The judge, seeing this attitude and with the purpose of getting also something for himself, decided to satisfy the friars by making use first of threat against the accused signers; but as this procedure did not produce the desired result, he changed his plan. Deceiving them he promised to drop the case provided they withdrew the plea of lack of jurisdiction and for nullification of proceedings. Though he might wish to drop the case, he could not do it, because he had no jurisdiction. In fact they withdrew and thus the special court acquired a jurisdiction that it did not have, recognized if not expressly but in tacit manner by the incident of withdrawal. Having done this, the judge resigned. Mr. Gomez Planas assumed the office.

He in turn cast aside these incidents and advanced the charge of falsification against the signers. However, according to the definite rules of the present penal code on falsification of public documents, only those cited in judicial decree apply. On the 11th instant a total of eleven gobernadorcillos entered prison: Doroteo Jose and Felix del Rosario, residents of Santa Cruz, Celestino Aragon of Malate, Velez of Paco, Timoteo Lanuza of Binondo, Baldomero Cacnio of Navotas, and others whose names I don’t know. After holding them incommunicado for three days, that is, on the 13th instant, they seized Pedro Alvarez, a private citizen, and held him incommunicado also.

In the afternoon of the same day, Doroteo Jose was removed from the prison cell and accompanied by the Special Judge Gomez Planas, Prosecuting Attorney Abdon Gonzales, a Filipino, Abraham Garcia, clerk of the court, and the lieutenant of the civil guard of Quiapo, Mr. Raez, they went to Serrano’s house at 12 Jolo to search his papers. As Serrano was out of the house, his wife refused to open the dressers and writing desk. The judge told her that he would do it as judge and sent for a carpenter. Before the carpenter’s arrival, Serrano came. He was asked to show the two permits for the feasts of two barrios of Santa Ana, Manila, which according to Doroteo Jose were in his possession.

As Serrano replied that he could not do so because he did not have them nor did he know about them, they threatened him with deportation to Jolo or Paragua, and they proceeded to search his house. I do not know what remote or close relation can two permits for feasts have to the case of falsification. Blessed judge!

The judge, seeing that this time they remained equally firm, he used first threats, then cajolery, and promises, for some days. Six were incommunicado; namely, Pedro Alvarez Santos, Doroteo Jose, Felix del Rosario, Velez, Celestino Aragon, and Jose…..Frightened or bought they declared what the judge wanted, that is, they said that if they made the petition it was because Messrs. Quiroga and Centeno knew about it and these two threatened them if they would not sign, which is a lie.

What is certain is that Doroteo Jose, brother-in-law or uncle-in-law of Moreno Lacalle, professor of law at the University, seems to have been won by this with many promises, among others, to provide him with the money to enable him to escape to another country; and going up from one convent to another in the company of the prison warden, he himself accused Pedro Alvarez by showing his correspondence to the judge.

It was lucky that the other six, who were Lanuza, Cadorniga, Cacnio, one from Sampaloc, one from San Miguel, and another one, supported the case and appealed against the conduct of the first six prisoners. It seems that this ought to encourage the weak, for now they are planning to challenge the judge and retract what they had said.

In truth, looking at it well, ……..is to justify what the first declared against Terrero and others who were not concerned with it. Public opinion is inflamed against the apostates. If they can extricate themselves from prison, they cannot escape public execration and they have lost ……….and friends.

In spite of the pressure that the curates exert upon the signers, I believe that they realize that their future is becoming dark. As the parish census diminishes from day to day, the sumptuous funeral rights are disappearing. These measures increase the number of indifferent persons. Are they trying to compel us to resort to violent measures?

Your compadre Teo has been in prison for a month for this same reason—the petition.

And so you may have an approximate idea of the state of mind in this community, I enclosed a poem written by a young woman of ……..years who leads a group of young women in Malolos.

Overlook it if until now we have not been able to send you another remittance of money. Epizooty, which decimated our cattle, the financial crisis, and the lawsuit have exhausted our funds. However, we shall try what is humanly possible and we shall explore other means. Have a little patience and all this will be remedied.

Mr. Manuel Crisostomo was one of those removed by Molto. Now Mr. Gatmaytan, his brother-in-law, is occupying the first place in the ternary. The curate of Malolos is working against him, but he has not yet succeeded to remove him. Mr. Laong Laan, now we are, now we live.

Pardo [Trinidad] no longer makes visits and I believe he will soon leave the Subdelegacion de Medicina. They have demanded of him I don’t know what things, not to say he is persecuted. The consequent troubles for all those who are strangers in their own country. You have said the truth.

For your novel one Viado,[7] student of medicine, has been imprisoned. Serrano at last is released, but expelled from teaching. He appealed to His Excellency Governor General Weyler who ordered him to study again so that he would not lose his profession.

My regards and embraces and may Providence keep you.

Simon l’Aktaw [Pedro Serrano Laktaw]

03-318 [Reformists]