01-062 [Family]
1882.12.30 Madrid
From: Jose Rizal
To: Leandro Lopez
Rital writes to a Kalamba friend about the girls of Kalamba – His impression of Spanish women.
* * *
Madrid, 30 December 1882
MR. LEANDRO LOPEZ
MY DEAR FRIEND:
I received on the 20th of this month your letter of 26 September and I thank you for the news you have sent me.
Although I am far from there and gone are my happy days in Calamba; although if I return, I shall find the flowers I left turned into fruit; although the few young ladies I have met have already wiped me off from their memory, because everything can be killed by distance and time, still I receive with sadness and joy whatever news awaken my dormant memory.
While I was still there, I could read in the eyes and behavior of some of my acquaintances what would happen. That Loleng should accept Cordoba is not new to me. I could glean it in the vagueness of our conversation in the month of December of ’81. I am sorry that a desire of mine has been spoiled and hipped in the bud. The town of Calamba is not lacking in fine young men and if compared with an ordinary town, it cannot be greatly surpassed. However, why do our young ladies marry outsiders? I do not want to delve in this matter because we shall all be hurt.
May Albino, Carias, Mamerto, Andoy, and Simeon who are courting Talia… have good luck. But let us not waste words.
If Titay Biangue marries Carias, I hope God will save you from peril. What son will dare?
Let the suitors of Ipay who lost amuse themselves.
I have nothing to tell you about the women here because I have no acquaintances yet. In order that you may have an idea of them, I am going to tell you about some of their customs. There are many who are pretty, with pretty eyes, nose, mouth, complexion, shape of the face, etc., etc. However, they lack what in Spanish is called expresion (expression). They lack gentleness and coolness, the sweet look, and others. If you were here, you would be satisfied because you would like them, your ways being similar to theirs. Guerra patani![1] Here there are many fine young ladies born there. Sometimes they have six or seven suitors each, so much preferred are those born and raised there. Very, very different are the women there from the women here.
Please give my regards to Loleng, Julia (yours), Sula, Felipe, Victorio, Marcosa, Titay, and others. Also to Albino, Cirilo, Pio, Vito, and other friends.
At your command.
J. RIZAL
[1] literally “bean’s war,” figuratively plenty of harmless action