04-057 [Misc.]
1882.12.15 Manila
From: Jose M. Cecilio
To: Jose Rizal
Cecilio is once again sick, but is recovering – Leonor is suffering from insomnia – Another epidemic: Beriberi – News of girl friends – Deaths of Juan Elizegui y Bautista and others – Ravages of the typhoons – Anacleto of del Rosario is going to study in Spain. (Original letter is damaged)
* * *
Manila, 15 December 1882
MR. JOSE RIZAL Y MERCADO
MY DEAR NAMESAKE AND ESTEEMED FRIEND,
In reply to your letter of the 30 October last, I am going to tell you I am pleased with your good news which made me wish vehemently to see you in your black overcoat, black gloves, silk hat, etc.
I thought that I was already exempted from contributing to the number of victims of this fatal epoch of calamities that have desolated and continue desolating still this beautiful, as well as pleasant, capital city of Manila. But how I was undeceived when on the 12 of last month fever seized my funny fat body. It was checked at the beginning, thanks to the great medical knowledge of our esteemed friend Zamora.[1]Until now I’m convalescing, but any day now I shall again be going back and forth to the office.
Your brother Paciano has been here since yesterday and tomorrow he goes back. He has come to do some shopping and spend money and bring a box of bijon[2] and silk handkerchiefs for you.
The bearer of all these things as well as of the large and delicate orders that you ask me in your letter which I am answering will be Sanciangco[3] who is here, but will return to that country.
May God grant that you win in the lottery so that we can meet there. I advance to you my thanks.
The person who suffers on your account – of this you should not have the least doubt, inasmuch as the sky is cloudless and the stars can be seen clearly – left her retreat for being sick. She is suffering from insomnia and angina, and she is thin. The persons who appreciate her no longer know what to do for her, but our physician friend, who was consulted about her ailments said that insomnia was natural at her age. But anyone who had seen him when he said this would suspect that there was some ambiguity in his words. This unfortunate person must be praying that the no in that phrase Hasta el arnor no se olvida[4]be never erased or remain in it forever. I let this person read this morning the paragraphs in your letter concerning her. She sends you her most affectionate regards.
I am afraid that this letter will not give you pleasure, as the perusal of my letter of August 28 did; but no, here goes one good news that will make you jump with all your heart and might. On account of the physical defect or physical incapacity of our friend… it seems that his marriage contract with M… has been cancelled. The poor lad walks with crutches in the house, but they are useless to him; they only impede his walking. Con que V. cuidado,[5] as we usually say here. This is to enter or get out of the fight.
I do not know how Manila has imported from the Ganges an epidemic which is causing many deaths here. It begins with inflammation of the feet which rises up the body and if the attending physician does not guess right, the patient takes an eternal voyage.
This disease is unknown to physicians, for it is new in this city. The physicians who have discovered its name are Mr. Felipe Zamora and a German called Coeniger. The Indians call this sickness beriberi. It entered this house, the victims being the poet Feliciano Cabrera and Pelayo. The first almost died one night had not Zamora who treats him arrived at midnight, for he suffered a pressure in the chest that would have finished him forever. Hardly had four days passed, last night, he had an attack again and until 2:00 o’clock this morning, it has not subsided. On account of this, the landlady, who sends you her kindest regards, has asked me to tell you not to expect any letter from her because she is exceedingly busy these days.
Until now I have not reached Sta. Cruz, our former district, and consequently I have not visited yet our dear girl friends, but I know they are well because one night I met Capitan Jose, father-in-law of I do not know who… and I asked him if there had not been any illness in his house and he said there was none and that his family was well and to thank you and to give you many regards. As he does not know your address, he cannot write you. I gave him the name of the street where you live, but I could not give him the number, as I did not remember it.
The Vasquez girls are well but your patient Juana, their sister, is already in the other life. I do not know what inflammation she had that caused her death.
I will deal again with our elegant lass M… who asks me whenever I am at her house to give you her regards. I send you hers every time I write you. There is reciprocity. They have moved to another house, according to the landlord. They live in the district of San Nicolas on the street of the same name. Do you remember our strolls in that district?
Your sisters Narcisa and Pangoy and your brother-in-law Antonino have been here to deliver to the landlord ₱50 for your Christmas present. They were here two days ago and according to Paciano they are still here at the house of Chuidian.
Of all these news what will give you the greatest pleasure is that your dear parents and brothers are well.
Olimpia was here a week ago but she stayed a very short time for she was in a hurry. She came to Manila on her way to Bulacan to visit her husband.
But here is one that will undoubtedly make you sad and it is that our friend Mr. Juan Elizegui y Bautista is already in the other life. The disease that killed him was tuberculosis and a lesion in the heart on account of being very studious.
For the third time I return to M.. to tell you that she has a rounded body due to exercising with weights. I am vexed not to have known who had given her weights that are needed for a gradual exercise. Is it worthwhile for you to jump with all your heart and might?
Mr. E. S…. whom we suspected, and because it was the rumor, of being the true suitor of O…, now, according to news, will be married to Miss D. P. after whom was P… formerly. Do you remember that mournful letter I wrote in your room in this house?
P. y Margall’s letter that you will send me for the family of Dr. Jugo must be of great interest to them, according to Zamora, who informed me of their condition. They are well but they lost much in the typhoon of 20 October for their piano was ruined. That letter must bring some lottery tickets from there, according to Zamora.
Your Compadres are well, but they also suffered losses in the last typhoons. Teong lives in the cigar store because he cannot find a house, as many are looking for houses but they cannot find even half a house.
Ramon Gonzaga is the one who has contributed the most to these calamities not only with the loss of his house but also the loss of his dearest possession, his wife. Their son for whom you prescribed some medicine one night at the cigar store for having unequal “barometer” is completely cured. He just took the syrup with iron that you prescribed but the application of the pomade could not be done because the boy would in no way permit it. I understood from you that the syrup would serve to increase or purify the blood in order that the “environs” will be levelled. And how was he cured then?
Please tell me in writing, inasmuch as it is not possible for me to hear by word of mouth the most brilliant exit, according to Leoncio, that one day, when we were in Calamba, you taught the funny Orros (now absent, he is in Cagayan). It was about one who loves a young woman and is loved by her and declares to another who knows about his love affair with the other and without lying he is accepted by the second to whom he makes a declaration of love. Here we are screwing our wits and we cannot hit the mark. By lying we know how to maintain this polemic.
Friend Anacleto del Rosario is going there next year to get the doctor’s degree, but he will not stay more than six months for he has no one who can take care of his poor and aged mother. But I believe that he will be the bearer of the things and even the diamond ring that were brought by your sisters Cisang and Pangoy and Sanciangco.
One thing surprises me: You have ordered bijon and other things, but you forgot a precious thing and that is the gogo that our women use. An ill turn can be done her if you will prepare the gogo before she takes a bath so that she can use it. Perhaps you would say that this is a difficult idea. Is it not true?
The day when you produce a play whose principal character bears the name of Elvira, I will exclaim saying: At last I seduced him. But you just make beriberi as that is the prevailing sickness in this your country.
M.., the quintessence of womanliness, as you say, is well, but the one visiting her frequently is my cousin Miciano. She, as well as the Vasquez girls, requests me to send you her regards whenever I write you.
But are you not going to write the Sta Cruz girls? They have the same request of me and so receive the regards of those simple folks.
All the fiestas here this year have been cold because of the calamities that devastated Manila.
Ever your very affectionate friend who sends you a tight embrace.
CECILIO.
[1] Dr. Felipe Zamora
[2] Chinese noodles
[3] Dr. Gregorio Sanciangco y Gozon, Filipino reformist, lawyer, and writer. He the author of Progreso de Filipinas quoted by Rizal in his essay, “Indolencia de los Filipinos”.
[4] Literally, Even love is not forgotten.”
[5] ”So then you be careful” is a colloquial expression of Spanish-speaking Filipinos