Paris
The International Association of Philippinists in a latent state — Blumentritt’s articles taught Rizal much — “The Peninsular Spaniards can rage and shout, but that will not do them any good.” — “If you are at heart our friend, the friend of six million oppressed Malayans, what can that Sociedad signify to you, that society whose members are the worst enemies of the country?” — Do the prologue to my Annotations to Morga — An impartial critical judgement! – “May my countrymen also sacrifice their passions on the altar of the country!”
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45 Rue de Maubeuge, Paris
20 October 1889
Dear Friend,
Day after tomorrow our friend Doctor F. Pardo de Tavera[1] will be married. I believe you already know it. Before, I wanted to make a trip to London because of my Morga, but I have to postpone it, for I want to attend the wedding ceremony.
I have already received five or six esteemed letters of yours. I have not answered them because I had then many corrections to make. You asked me firstly for news about the Association of Philippinists. My dear, it is in a latent state until I have finished my Morga.
Your articles have taught me very much and they have pleased me extraordinarily. They are seriously, worthy, but also strong and reasonable. I believe that you will become our good genie, for you already know how the Filipinos appreciate your words and with what pleasure they accept your ideas! The Peninsular Spaniards can rage and shout, but that will not do them any good.
Concerning the Sociedad de los Amigos del País,[2] I believe you should not bother much about it. If you are truly a friend of the country, if the country is a loyal friend to you, what need have you of the friendship and the titles that the Amigos del País — among whom are Quioquiap, Retana, Barrantes,[3] and others — can give you? If you are at heart our friend, the friend of six million oppressed Malayans, what can that Sociedad signify to you, that society whose members are the worst enemies of the country? God keep me if someone in the future may select me as a member of that society!
Owing to your observations, I have written Ruy Falero[4] instead of Ryufarelo. I have read much about him in the works of Pigafetta[5] and Navarrete, but I have not said anything about him, because I believe that it is not the place for it.
My most vehement request is this: That you write the prologue as if you did not like me or ever knew me. Criticize what you do not like, praise what you find good. I want to give an example to my people that I do not write for myself or for my personal glory, but for my country, and so I prefer the truth to my fame. May my countrymen also sacrifice their passions on the altar of the country! May they not seek their welfare in honors, employment, bribery, flattery, but in virtues that distinguish and adorn free peoples! So I beg you not to write any friendly word for me, any praise for the author, and that everything be for the people that has suffered so much under the Spanish yoke, many times through fear and other times through love, and always with the hope that they shall be redeemed someday.
My friend, Dr. Aristón Bautista (native, Tagalog, of Manila) greets you.
Yours,
Rizal
02-453 [Blumentritt V.1]
[1] Felix Pardo de Tavera, sculptor, brother of Dr. T. H. Pardo de Tavera, contemporary of Rizal.
[2] Spanish society established in Manila.
[3] Quioquiap (Pablo Feced), Wenceslao E. Retana, and Vicente Barrantes, commentator of the Teatro Tagalo , all three being critics of the Filipino people and things Philippine.
[4] An expert cosmographer attached to the Magallanes expedition and served as an adviser.
[5] The work of Pigafetta, Italian chronicler, who formed part of the Magallanes expedition, is Primo Viaggio in torno al globo terraqueo .