28 May 1890

Brussels

Rizal writes del Pilar, “I’m not sending you articles so that our other fellow countrymen might write and be known.” – Ramiro Franco is one of the few who have dared to express publicly his ideas about the Noli – Del Pilar’s writing style – A vigorous novel by Franco – The Filipino does not come to Europe to gamble, for in the Philippines there is already much gambling.

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Brussels, 28 May 1890

38 Rue Philippe de Champagne

[Mr. Macelo H. del Pilar]

MY FAVORITE FRIEND:

I have purposely refrained from sending you any article for La Solidaridad so that the readers can rest and our other fellow countrymen who should be known by all can write. We have many hidden pearls or uncut diamonds who only need to step out into the light to be seen by all. It is for this reason that I wish to stay in the shade so that others might emerge into the light.

Give my sincerest thanks to Mr. Ramiro Franco [Dominador Gomez] for the kind words he dedicates to me in his Ponganle titulo. He is one of our few compatriots, who, like you and Ponce, have dared come out openly to express their ideas on Noli me tangere: “I look forward eagerly to reading the continuation of your novel.”

If you would allow me to make a friendly remark, which I pray you not to take ill, I should say that in your writings the aristocratic-sportsmanlike note is very noticeable, as when you describe the details of the carriage and house or the scenes, and reproduce the dialogues of your personages. I do not wish to say that this is a defect, no; it is even a virtue if the one writing it were not a Filipino. But in our present condition, when we are their spirit, to speak of gilt, the reflection of the mirrors and the groom and luxurious carriages in preferences to our social and political status is like telling one suffering from eye-trouble of paintings, sculpture, and spectacles, and panoramas. Undoubtedly the continuation will be worthy of the beginning, for the novel begins with much vigor and promises to be a critical study of the life of the Filipinos in Europe. It would be desirable that these articles be reprinted in the form of booklets and sold in the Philippines.

Our fellow countrymen in Paris are complaining because they are not receiving the copies of La Solidaridad. Whenever I receive copies, I send them there. Send the paper to Mme. Boustead, 3 Rue des Bassins.

When Calvo Munoz[1] introduces his bill, send me copies of the newspaper which report the sessions of Congress.

Luna, in Paris, complains about the gambling of the Filipinos in Madrid; so does Ventura.

They say that, according to news from the Philippines, parents are very dissatisfied. It seems that it is Mr. Felipe Roxas who has informed them of the gambling. I fear that we are playing into the hands of the friars. Is there nothing there that can remind them that a Filipino comes to Europe, not to gamble and amuse himself, but to work for his liberty and the dignity of his race? It is not necessary to leave the Philippines to gamble for there is already too much gambling there. If we who are called upon to do something, we, in whom our people place their modest hopes, spend our time in these things, precisely when youthful years should be utilized in something noble and lofty – for youth is noble and generous – I fear that we are not struggling for a vain illusion and instead of being worthy of liberty, we would only be worthy of slavery.

I appeal to the patriotism of all the Filipinos to prove to the Spanish people that we are superior to our misfortune and that we cannot be brutalized nor can our noble sentiments be corrupted.

Yours,

RIZAL

02-533 [Blumentritt V.2]