30 September 1885

Manila

30 September 1885

MR. JOSE RIZAL

MY VERY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND AND OLD COMRADE,

In my possession are your two esteemed letters of 28 June and 12 August last which I have the pleasure to answer.

I’ll begin with the second, informing you that Gonzaga and Tincho are out of the city, the former in Cagayan with a law office and the latter in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan, as Directorcillo del Tribunal[1] of that town, and consequently it is not possible to speak with them of. . . [illegible]. Cayetano de Arellano, whom neither you nor I have the honor to know. In order to comply with what you desire, I went to Pandacan to see Arcadio del Rosario who promised to look carefully for the “objects” that you ask us and sent them directly to you, though without any accompanying letter.

I received some numbers of the magazine Salon de Modas, addressed to the “Question of the Orient”[2] and three copies of Paterno’s novels and I thank you for the present of one copy of them. If this work is called [a] novel, I see neither plot nor puzzle in it and consequently it has no merit for me, and indeed it is only an exposition of the customs of the country. I do not understand the purpose of the author.

I felicitate you on your works that will be published which I hope will not be of the class of Ninay.

The port works I believe will be seen by our children if we get married very soon. The same about the Palace of Manila, whose construction has not begun yet.

I congratulate you on your wise selection of the woman who will be your faithful companion. She is not at La Concordia College but in Dagupan, Pangasinan, beside her parents and I believe that she will not come to Manila until next December, and I do not know if she will enter again La Concordia to finish her education.

It is heard that Orang is getting married to one J.J., employee of a commercial firm, nephew-in-law of Attorney F. G. This is what the aunts of the young man say at the house of a relative of mine. This lad is a friend of mine and I know that he loves the mysterious Orang, as you call her, but I do not know if they [are] informed about the love affairs of their nephew with the girl.

My presumed brother-in-law has his eyes fixed on B. E., daughter of the secretary of the University, A. E., but he does not go up the house, speaking with the young woman from the street by pure signs and creating scandal with his walking to and fro, which led the brother to beat his sister, thus disturbing the neighbors. But in spite of this he has not forgotten the “Question of the Orient”, because sometimes he asks me when would that family come back, but I answer him not to worry …… [destroyed portion]

I have stopped going to the house of M. for a long time. I do not know if she is still waiting for G., her old fiancé. I believe T. continues with her. . . and O. with S. de C., brother of Fr. Luis and Crispiniana.

It is about three months ago that D. H. died and therefore T., your intimate friend, is a widow who is at present on the family way. Nevertheless, she has suitors. According to what they say, one of the aspirants is a widower also, called M.L., present gobernadorcillo[3] of the mestizos[4] of Binondo.

My love affairs with I. M. neither advance nor recede. I am almost ready not to marry another woman unless it be she. I like her so much that I myself cannot explain why I do.

Pacita of Quiapo, that is, Salgado by surname, already got married two or three weeks ago with a noted lawyer who is surnamed Siquia, son of a rich Chinese of Binondo.

Mr. P.O is already married also to J.Z. of San Sebastian. This was much talked about because he abducted her at two o’ clock in the afternoon, that is, two minutes after she had left her house on her way to the Quiapo Church. Much can be said against our friend O.

I congratulate you on obtaining the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters.

After the aforesaid marriages, I do not know what more to tell you.

Sixto Lopez is in Manila and it seems that he continues frequenting the house of O., but I do not know if he has already declared his love.

Our Compadre Rosauro continues suffering from constipation but not as much as before, nor does he fight much with the gunners. He looks better in a coat than in a shirt.

Your Comadre Miguela gave birth to a boy weeks ago. Teong, in order to try if his son will live by having a fool for his sponsor, chose one whose surname is D. The boy is named Amado.

Nena Salcedo, wife of Veloso, already has a little boy. N. C., the winsome lass of San Jacinto, seems to have a fiancé who is a captain of artillery, called Diaz Lavanderas, but, it seems, he does not go up to her house but stands only in front of it.

It seems that here also are weddings.

I am glad that Ceferino has already taken his examination and passed it. So, he is a Doctor also.

We are on the eve of novenarios[5]. What pleasant memories they give us! Holy Rosary of Manila, Our Lady of the Pillar in Sta. Cruz, Holy Rosary of Binondo, and what attendance, what lasses!

I am going to enjoy these fiestas while you there abroad are studying diseases; such is the world.

Tincho offers you his services at San Miguel de Mayumo, as directorcillo and the resident of the said town.

Perez, pharmacist, who has a drugstore in Sta. Cruz, is also the father of a girl and I believe the godmother… of Chengoy.

Nothing more for the present, keep in good health, and command your very affectionate friend and sincere servant,

CECILIO

P.S.

Regards of friends and compadres.

01-130 [Family]