Barcelona
In Barcelona the Filipinos are willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their country – Enthusiasm for the work of Rizal – “Those who criticize acts of heroism and self-denial deserve eternal condemnation in the history of the motherland” – Awaiting the second novel of Rizal.
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Barcelona, 22 June 1888
Rambla Canaletas, 2-3rd
Mr. Jose Rizal
My dearest Friend,
I received your letter dated the 16th of June. I did not want to answer you until I could find a way of sending you the book you are ordering.
Due to my mistake and inaccurate information I did not know that there was another edition of Larra’s works, aside from the one I sent you. I beg you to excuse my stupidity.
I have some difficulty in sending the book that you order. They do not want to accept it at the post office, because it exceeds two kilograms in weight. I cannot send it either as parcel post, because England is not a member of the International Parcel Post Service.
I see no other way out except to send the package to Paris as fright or as parcel post, from where it will be easier to forward it to London. You undoubtedly have friends in the capital who can take care of receiving and forwarding it to you, and therefore I hope you will tell me the name of the persons to whom I should address it, if you consider this a good way.
In your search for friendly hearts in Europe, we felt proud that you have turned to Barcelona. Small as we are, we are ready to make a sacrifice for the sake of our unfortunate country.
I don’t understand, nor can I explain, the unfavorable reception given to Noli me tangere by some of our countrymen. What I can say is that my friends, upon receiving the first copies which I mailed them soon after my arrival at Barcelona last June, asked me for more copies and spoke enthusiastically about your work. Then I found out that you embarked from Marseille in July of that year and I sent you my most enthusiastic felicitation through Mr. Viola.
Your work continues to arouse enthusiasm among our countrymen, with very few exceptions—exceptions which I cannot understand nor explain, considering that it is an eminently patriotic work in which you have staked your name, exposing yourself to vultures of clericalism, just to prescribe some remedy to the infinite maladies of which our unhappy country is complaining. Those who criticize such acts of self-denial and sacrifice deserve eternal condemnation in the history of our motherland.
You are right in saying that we should be solidly united to ward off all the evils in our beloved country. Let us work together, every one of us within his own sphere, towards the same end. Let us have faith.
You ask me why I do not write and my answer is that I have no ability for writing. Some of my poor articles published in a newspaper of this capital told me the truth. Not all those who wish to write can write.
Receive the embraces of your affectionate
M. Ponce
02-303 [Blumentritt V.1]