London
“The Spaniards did us much good.” — But we gave them the most valuable things they demanded: “blood, lands, lives”, says Rizal — The tyrannical rule of the Encomenderos — The country would have been absorbed by Islam — Manuel Hidalgo was deported for being Rizal’s brother-in-law — His brother and other brothers-in-law were despoiled of their lands by Weyler.
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37 Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill, N.W.
London, 22 November 1888
My dear Friend,
Your esteemed letter of 18 November gives me much joy because in it you show that we hold the same opinion on the Philippines.
I agree with you that the Spaniards did us much good, but we also gave them a great deal — the most valuable things that they demanded from us — blood, lands, lives, and freedom, the last being the foremost and best gift of humankind. You know well our history, the encomenderos,[1] etc. I have nothing more to add. I agree with you that if the Philippines had not been acquired by Spain, she would have been absorbed perhaps by Islam. Whether this would have been better or worse, I don’t know. The Spanish régime deported my brother-in-law just for being my brother-in-law; that is what Weyler said. The Spanish regime deprived my four brothers-in-law and my brother of their lands despite the fact that all of them had paid their tributes. What do you think? Will my brothers and relatives bless Rizal whose name has brought them so many mishaps? Perhaps the Muslims might have been worse, but perhaps they would take vengeance on the person of their real enemy and not on those of his relatives.
I agree with you regarding the periodical. I shall do everything I can so that its editors may follow your advice.
The Hong Kong Telegraph writes the following in its issue for 18 October: “A correspondent, referring to the rank religious intolerance which prevails in the Philippine Islands writes: On the 4th ult., Don Manuel Hidalgo was taken prisoner by the Governor of Laguna, Don Eugenio del Saz Orozco. Two days afterwards the prisoner was exiled to one of the islands of the Archipelago. The cause of this shameful proceeding on the part of the Governor of Laguna is to be found in the fact that Señor Hidalgo is a brother of the author of the celebrated anti-clerical pamphlet Noli me tángere. It is well known that all those who have perused that work have been relegated to prison.”
Dr. Rost in indisposed; he has foot trouble.
Dr. Regidor sends you his regards and wants to know your opinion on Geler’s book.
It seems to me that Geler (Raymundo) is the anagram of Manuel Regidor who is a brother of Dr. Antonio Regidor, but he does not want to admit it and says that I am mistaken.
I have had bad news about Weyler. The Manila newspapers published recently a decree giving preference to the mestizos over the natives. You know that it is sheer folly to make this distinction between mestizos and natives, for it is offensive to the majority and fosters stupid antagonisms.
In a newspaper on 23 September I read that a native was arrested for playing ball. But everywhere monte and chapdiqui are played, but each manager of these prohibited games pays Php 150 a day! At times — believe me — I wish that the day of judgement would come.
I don’t want to write anymore because my heart is full of bitterness and I don’t want to contaminate you. The news I received from home are painful . . . .
Twice I have written to the minister and I have not received any reply. I believe God will show us another way.
Greetings to Dr. Czepelack and to your family,
Your friend,
Rizal
03-352 [Reformists]
[1] Spanish gentlemen invested with military orders who took part in the conquest of the Islands or rendered here some signal service to the Crown and among whom lands were distributed with the right to collect rentals or tributes in money or in kind from their occupants.