5 January 1893

Dapitan

Writes as a son’s duty to his mother – Wish for ‘93 to be happier than ‘92 or ’91 – Christmas and New Year in Dapitan weren’t bad – Christmas eve feast with foreigners – Aquilino Gecolea, from Kalamba, came looking to buy land – Rizal’s new house and land – His trees and animals – Heat is affecting him – More stable climate than Kalamba – Enjoins other families from Kalamba to settle in Dapitan – Will arrange for his possessions to be delivered here – His sisters should continue learning languages – A prescription of lenses for a client in Hong Kong – Asks for a few favors.

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Dapitan, January 5, 1893

Mrs. Teodora Alonzo

My dearest Mother:

Although since the time I have been in this situation I have tried not to write letters except those extremely necessary and those that relate to unimportant matters or problems, nevertheless, as the year begins I believe it my duty to write to you even only a few lines because it is also a necessity to do so, and I believe it is more than necessity for you to know how your son fares here.

First, it is neither an ordinary desire nor a ceremonial compliance, believe me, that I wish you as well as my two sisters who are there and all the good friends a happy year ’93, at least to be a little better than the ’91 and ’92 of most unhappy memories. You, more than anybody else, have need for it, and to you more than anyone I wish it, because you deserve it well.

I, here, have not spent Christmas and the New Year badly; I could have passed them better, without any doubt, if I were in different circumstances; but because of these I could not wish any better. Everything is relative and the aspect of things changes according to the point of view from which they are contemplated. Three Spaniards from a neighboring town came, and with the Commandant, a peninsular of this town, and a Frenchman we had a happy feast on Christmas Eve. We heard mass at 12:00 midnight, for you know that here I go to mass every Sunday.

Somebody from Calamba has come to look for land: he is Aquilino Gecolea, the son of an old tenant of ours. He found land to his liking, where two towns like Kalamba can be established. The Commandant, the Jesuits here, and I believe His Excellency also, will help the people of Kalamba and the neighboring towns who like to establish themselves and settle here. -Aquilino says that the land is more fertile than that of Kalamba. In one of the sites there is even a marble quarry, something that could come in handy in building our houses.

Speaking of houses, mine of nipa and bamboo still is not finished. But it shall soon be, thank God. Henceforth I shall be able to say that I have land and house of my own. For the information of my sisters: I have more than fifty lansones trees, twenty mangoes, macupa, some fifty lanka[1], santol, balonos,[2] eighteen mangosteen (these do not bear fruit yet and have only from two to six leaves!!)

In a few months I shall have lanzones, lanka, santol in abundance, etc. I have planted some 1400 coffee seeds, 200 cacao; I have paho besides. The boundary of my land cannot be gone over in four hours. All of it is paid and I have my title in order. Over my land runs a small river where one can take a bath, only that it needs to be improved. For a beginning I have now one pig which the commandant gave me; I had one hen and eight ducklings, but it was lost and these died. A big mango tree gives shade to the bath; the water comes down from high up the mountain in small cascades: this for my sisters and nephews. I have besides 16 coco trees for making oil and from which we get tender coconut meat.

I am in very good health; however, I notice that the heat is affecting me somewhat; I do not feel my usual gaiety and I am less active. Besides I have become more brown, almost black. I am walking under the sun every day. What for should I take care of myself?

The climate here is more uniform than in Kalamba: it is not as cold as there in December, nor as hot as ill July or August. There is no such thing that can be called baguio,[3] and the earthquakes are rare and insignificant. If many families would come from Kalamba, I venture to advise all parents and brothers to settle here; among themselves there could be commerce, activity and life! Here they do not make nor know how to make poto,[4] bibinka,[5] nothing; there are no bakers and everybody wants to eat bread; there is the sea and fish but there are no fishing nets and consequently they lack fish.

Take good care of my furniture and books because if matters can be arranged and I build a big house, it will have all my things there brought here.

I advise Pangoy and Trining to continue studying English; it is always something and thus they can read my English books and novels. It is not to no purpose that they learn Chinese and Portuguese. All knowledge is useful.

It remains for me to tell Mr. Da Cunha that the number of his lenses is +- 4D. Aquilino is now working here in the house while waiting for the plow to arrive, and for his family to decide to come.

Together with this goes a letter for Mr. Marques and other friends: I am requesting you to give these to them.

I hope that you suffered less this winter than in the previous one. Here the weather is fine.

I shall end this letter, wishing that you find yourselves well and strong, in good humor, so that one day we will all see each other and live in peace.

Your son who kisses your hand affectionately and embraces you heartily,

JOSE RIZAL

P.S. If Pangoy can find in the right-hand drawer of my table in the library the copy of a document entitled “Defensa de Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera,” I would be very grateful. The document is written in folio, it may have 20 pages in my handwriting. Make a copy or ask her to make it, faithfully, and send it to me, for I like to present it to an esteemed friend.

If Sixto and Kanoy are still there, tell them that they can make use of my library. Happy New Year to all.

I received your letter of the 19th of December and be assured that I will do all what you told me to the letter. Your slightest wish is to me a command.

04-772 [Misc.]