04-084 [Misc.]
1883.07.29 Manila
From: Rosauro de Guzman
To: Jose Rizal
José M. Cecilio (Chengoy) is promoted – Begs Rizal to be his future compadre – Asks Rizal to be the godfather of any future child of his.
* * *
29 July 1883
MR. JOSE RIZAL Y MERCADO
MY VERY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND AND FUTURE COMPADRE,
Through the kindness of my never sufficiently esteemed Compadre Pepe,[1] I received the expression of your affection that from that adorned and aristocratic city you had the kindness to send to a poor dweller of the most gloomy and desolate corner of the world.
How many times have I had the pleasant satisfaction of being complimented by this tender proof of your kindness which my unworthy smallness is far from deserving, so many times have I wished to transmit to you the feeling of sincere gratitude that overflows from my heart, but I am so unfortunate that hardly do I know that sweet language with which at this moment you are enriching your lips and I would prefer silence to the fear of appearing cold and indifferent in your eyes. However, the nobility of your soul is not unknown to me as neither to you the place that you occupy in my humble consideration. What have I to say to you then? I do not know how to express myself. I beg you only to please overlook my stupid incapacity and deign to accept my muteness as the most eloquent testimony of what I could express under the ineffable impression that agitates
Convinced of my innate dullness I would conclude this letter with the above if I did not trust in your indulgence of which you have given me proofs. Because of this I will permit myself to continue writing on other details that compel me to take advantage of this occasion
The friendship that binds me to my Compadre Pepe has several times afforded me very pleasant moments, hearing him relate some details that embellish the happiness that surrounds you, for it is happiness and it is not little, to be able to contemplate, not as a dream, the only medium that we enjoy here, but with the senses of the soul, in the same way that a lover, prostrate at the feet of his adored object, contemplates all that sublimity, infallible image of genius and learning which are the powerful lever that induces man to perform wonders that excite eternal admiration. That Heaven may continue to shower on you its graces is my most vehement desire and permit you to scale without any mishap that grand universal ladder that many climb and few reach its topmost step.
Though I have no doubt that my Compadre Pepe will not omit a pleasant news in his letter to you, I give myself the pleasure of informing you that he was appointed First Class Aspirant for Official of Administration, one of the posts recently created by the Government of His Majesty for the sons of this country. He deserves it fully and the Government has rewarded him worthily. I applaud it infinitely, telling you of my joy which I am sure you will receive with the same enthusiasm.
I would leave a gap for which you would not forgive me if I should omit stating my reasons for greeting you at the beginning of this letter with the strange addition of “future”. Before your departure for abroad I had the boldness to request you to grant me the honorable title of “Compadre” for the confirmation of my two boys Eduardo and Honorato. I have not been able yet, despite my wishes, to realize, the desired agreement for lack of opportunity due to various circumstances that are very sad indeed which had prevailed in this country since last year and which are undoubtedly known to you.
But I trust you there shall be an opportunity for this purpose as soon as our venerable prelate, who is presently at Rome, returns to this city which will be, according to the news coming from that capital city, in the month of October or November next. I have already requested our dear friend Mr. Vicente Gella to represent you at that solemn act whose date I shall have the pleasure of announcing to you in advance. Though blushingly, I am obliged to unload to you my conscience, confessing to you that in the month of November of last year I was at the point of abusing your kindness in conspiracy with my Compadre Pepe, trusting in your natural complacency and without your previous acquiescence. I was going to ask you to be godfather to another offspring that my wife delivered in that month, but this offense remained an intention for unfortunately the boy was born sick and lived only seven days and was baptized in an emergency, Pepe acting as sponsor. Despite this, once my plans are conceived, I am ready not to change them should Heaven favor me again, and I beg you to receive them with pleasure informing me in advance of your consent by which you will give one more proof of your exquisite amiability.
I understand my insignificance, but I have the certainty that your good heart will not disdain to know something of your poor friend. Thus I will take the liberty of informing you that I am hale and hearty in the company of my family, despite the sad effects on health caused by that terrible disease from the Ganges which since last year has been lording it over this unlucky country. Topping so much ill-luck was a series of horrible hurricanes that in the last 40 years had never been known in these latitudes, according to old folks. I did not escape them, for in October I lost my house, completely destroyed, as if a gigantic hand had seized it and had squeezed it in the same way as if it were made of a simple paper cone. You know the disposition of that construction and you can imagine the intensity of those phenomena and our agony in witnessing them. They say that God’s mercy is as great as His ire and it is true, for thanks to God’s mercy our house is now reconstructed where I am as before.
I conclude this letter expressing to you my fervent wishes that at the receipt of this, you may be enjoying the inestimable benefit that Heaven has been bestowing on you. I beg you to accept kindly my humble but sincere regards joined to those of my wife, your future Comadre.
Your very affectionate friend, future compadre and servant who kisses your hand,
ROSAURO DE GUZMAN
[1] That is, Jose M. Cecilio.