Bohol
Bohol, Tagbilaran
1st January 1889
MY DEAR BROTHER,
From Manila on 6 October of the year that has just ended I wrote you, telling you among other things that by decree of the Superior Government I am banished to this town for being a filibustero and your representative and besides, because I was spreading anti-religious and subversive ideas and I was not afraid, being supported by France and Germany. I enclosed with that letter a power of attorney in your favor so that you may negotiate for my liberty. Towards the middle of that month I sent you a telegram from Hong Kong informing you of my situation through the kindness of Mr. Basa. Passing through Cebu in the last days of the same month, I wrote you again, reproducing the contents of my previous letter. At the beginning of the following November from here I wrote you once more, repeating the contents of the said letter and informing you that I had arrived at this town. I have not received any reply from you to all these letters. I should like to know whether you worked through official channels or privately through letters of recommendation. I must warn you that the general government is free to give or refuse approval to the orders of the chief magistrate and if it wants to hurt one, it withholds the royal order that is favorable to it and after sometimes denies the approval. It would be better for the present to obtain an efficacious recommendation to this government and afterwards follow up the matter. I have been away from home for four months, 300 leagues distant from the family, and our business is paralyzed.
According to letters from Calamba, my sister Mariquita died on 11 November last of the same ailment from which she was suffering.
In this province the people are still very fanatical for lack of education. I shall write you about things here; I am gathering data.
Regards to you and command your brother who loves you sincerely,
MANUEL TIMOTEO HIDALGO
03-342 [Reformists]