31 August 1884

Sta. Cruz, Manila

Rizal’s speech at the banquet at Madrid in honor of the Filipino painters, Juan Luna and Felix R. Hidalgo favorably commented in Manila – Leonor Rivera’s sickness probably caused by Rizal’s sudden departure for Europe – As a writer Rizal is assured immortality.

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Sta. Cruz, Manila, 31 August 1884

Mr. Jose Rizal y Mercado

My dearest Tocayo[1] and old Co-Babylonian,

I had already a copy of your superb toast taken from the clean draft that you sent to the landlord when I received on the afternoon of the 24th your letter of 16 July last with the receipts for delivery to Friend Zamora and a bundle of newspapers whose wrapper, signed by me, was returned to the mail-carrier to be sent to you for your satisfaction. That same afternoon I took the newspaper for Tincho to his house and the receipts to Zamora. Though I had already read your well-rated model toast, I searched for it avidly in the newspaper in order to read it again and to see if there it had been augmented or if some parts had been modified as I did find one paragraph which was not in the draft that you sent to the landlord and some words substituted for others. That part must have been improvised by you. I believe that there are many here who will not comprehend the real scope and significance of your speech. I give you then my most enthusiastic and complete congratulations on your new and brilliant oratorical glory won in that capital city, on your canary-yellow hood, and the prizes you have won. At the same time I thank you very sincerely for the present of newspapers.

Friend Tincho is very much satisfied with your speech and requests me to thank you on his behalf. If he does not write you, it is not because he has forgotten you but because difficult circumstances of life through which he is passing do not permit him to do so, but he likes you so much that he does want you to take revenge….

Next Wednesday the bundle of newspapers with a letter for your brother Paciano will leave for Calamba. No one in your esteemed family died of cholera. They are well and a few days ago a couple, Don Ubaldo and Doña Olimpia, were in this district. I am sure that they do not write you on account of their numerous tasks, but according to the landlord you will soon receive letters and money from your siblings, if you have not yet received them.

Orang, the disputed Orang of the present day, is very well and requests me to give you her regards. It is rumored that this young woman is going to marry P. who is only one inch from the floor. I don’t know if it is true, but the truth is I see him frequenting Orang’s house.

Titay and Candeng remember you and if they do not write you it is perhaps because they are very busy with their children and husband and the other one for being occupied in dressing very elegantly, much more than her sister who is single.

The three cousins of Mabolo – Menteng, Tentay, and Oñang – are not yet married. The middle one continues with….it seems to me.

It is not known if M. is still engaged to my cousin Miciano.

Margarita, who is as old as you are, is getting old and it seems she has no fiancé.

Orang, one afternoon when she called me and inquired about the health of the little landlady,[2] laughed when I told her that she was so, so. She replied that she was also in the same condition and added that who knows if her sickness and that of the young lady of Intramuros might have the same cause.

The little landlady is now fairly well for she is not as thin as before. I have a reputation as an observer and profound dosimeter and I am going to tell you that the cause of her ailments is your having gone to that land without her consent. That is what I understand and if I am wrong, what can be done, everybody makes a mistake.

From your letter that I am answering, it cannot be deduced that you have received my letter whose bearer was Ceferino in which went an observation made by Miciano and in my preceding letter that had a gold letter, you will see the reply or defense made by Tincho in your favor.

The Yrene affair, Tocayo, is so problematical that it cannot be assured whether the law that the extremes touch each other will be confirmed.

I would regret, dear Tocayo, if you abandon the pen for the bistoury as I am sure that through the first your immortality is more immediate.

I am glad that the majority of those from here write, but if I decide to go there, paper will certainly become scarce, as you say, for so many drafts that will never deserve the glory of being put in clean copy.

By this mail I send a letter to de Leon with your address because I believe he lives there. Receive the most sincere regards of Tincho, Teong, Rosauro, Gella, my parents and brother and an embrace from your very affectionate, sincere servant, who says until the next letter.

Chengoy

P.S.

Regards from the Apacibles. Tomorrow Luis Beaumont sails for that city.[3]

03-106 [Reformists]