01-050 [Family]
1882.11.13 Calamba, Laguna
From: Josefa and María Rizal
To: José Rizal
Rizal’s parents are losing their sight — Slippers, beaded sandals, and other items for Rizal through Paterno — Flooding caused by the typhoon — Family news.
* * *
Calamba, 13 November 1882
DEAR BROTHER,
We are writing you only now because we have no news to tell you and whatever we want to say is already in Sr. Paciano’s letter. Concerning the typhoon that passed through here, it did not cause any damage, except that the water rose and all the people on the shore came to town, the matter in front of Pio’s house being so deep it reached until the neck.
The casco[1] was able to enter our river and many young women went canoeing and fishing. We have also read your orders in your letter. You will receive them from Paterno, rest assured. We hope that you will become fair and stout and will look like a Spaniard. We are already eating at the table you ordered made.
JOSEFA RIZAL
I wish to tell you that the eyes of Nanay and Tatay are already very dim and they certainly cannot write to you or read your letters. What Tatay is always doing is to wrap up your letters and take them to Sra. Neneng and have them read there. lná, Munda, and Juan succumbed to cholera. You will receive from Paterno the slippers, beaded sandals, and other things ordered by you. Lucío moved to Biñang with his store. Tatay is asking you if you have not seen there a comet like the one we used to see during the cholera epidemic at four o’clock in the morning. Andeng is back with us. Illo, Turninong, Bastian, and Lucas were jailed for burying a dead child they picked up in the river. Millong is sending regards to his Uncle José. Delfina, Icang, and Toñong are always asking when you will come home.
Command your sister who loves you,
MARÍA MERCADO
Loleng, Sulo, Victoria and Marcosa are sending you many, many regards.
[1] A casco is a rather large river craft, partly covered, that take passengers and freight. These river crafts plied between Manila and towns along navigable rivers and lake shores.