04-020 [Misc.]
1881.01.02 Manila
From: Leonor Rivera
To: Jose Rizal
She explains why she has not written Rizal — She is happy to receive his letters.
* * *
Manila, 2 January 1881
ESTEEMED FRIEND,
I received your letter dated 30 of last Month and I am informed of its contents.
If I have not answered your letters it was not because I am bored corresponding with you. In fact twice I wrote replies, but on the day I did so nobody came to visit me at the college,[1]so I destroyed them, and besides I was already embarrassed.
I am doubtful if the letter is yours because the signature is different. Perhaps you have put another name, fearing that I might despise it and if I despise it, it will not be your name that will be despised but somebody else’s. If that is what you think, you are mistaken for you do not know how glad I am when I receive one of your dear letters; but you did well in putting another name in case, as you say, it may fall into the hands of strangers.
Command your servant who kisses your hand,[2]
Taimis[3]
[1] Leonor Rivera (1867-1893) was then a boarding student at the Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion, popularly called Colegio de la Concordia, established in La Concordia at Sta. Ana, Manila, former country-place of the donor and founder of the colegio, the philanthropist Mrs. Margarita Roxas de Ayala. Rizal’s sisters also studied here.
Though she addressed Rizal as “Esteemed Friend”, the two were blood relations. Her father, Antonio Rivera, was the “Uncle Antonio” in Rizal’s letters. Her letters to Rizal were signed Taimis. She became Rizal’s fiancé.
[2] Literal translation of the formal closing of a letter in Spanish.
[3] Her name in cipher which she and Rizal used.