Rue Philippe de Champagne, Brussels
Everything has been sacrificed, nothing remains but ruins! – My fiancé is marrying an Englishman, an engineer of the railroad – The first blow of the railroad is for me – My whole family is courageously united and faithful to the Filipino party! – And now they use the name Rizal, the oriflamme of battle – Will return to the Philippines to share in his family’s fate – His new novel to be printed soon – Gold pen with diamonds, gift of the Pampangos to Blumentritt.
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38 Rue Philippe de Champagne, Brussels
23 April 1891
Jose Rizal
My Brother,
It seems to me that the tempest is over. The sun comes out, for everything, everything has been sacrificed and nothing more remains but ruins. Thank God! We have lost everything, I have lost everything, and we cannot lose more. Now they have to improve things.
My fiancée, who was faithful to me for more than eleven years, is going to marry an Englishman, an engineer of the railroad. Well, the first blow of the railroad is for me. However, I prefer this progress to our former situation! When I received the news, I thought I would lose my mind, but that has already passed away and I have to smile, for I must not cry. Oh, do not be surprised that a Filipino woman should prefer the name Kipping [of the engineer] to Rizal. No, don’t be astonished. An Englishman is a free man and I am not. Enough! Let this be the last word!
My father and my entire family remain courageously united and faithful to the Filipino party, and my brother is even braver in his exile than he was before. All my family now bear the name Rizal instead of Mercado, because the name Rizal signifies persecution! Good! I want also to join them and be worthy of this family name. My countrymen are obstinately persisting their rights and with Blumentritt and their Rizal they want to continue fighting.
For this reason, I believe that it is now the opportune time for me to return to the Philippines and share with them all the dangers. For I have always been of the opinion that I can do more in my country than abroad. What good have I done in these three years, and what evil had occurred because I was [not] in my country?
I have finished the second part of the Noli. Now I am copying it again. I am planning to have it printed soon.
Have you received a gold pen with diamond incrustations? It was sent to you some time ago, but you have not written me anything about it. It is a gift of the Pampangos.
Greetings and kisses.
Yours,
Rizal
04-621 [Misc.]