01-024 [Family]
1882.05.26 Manila
From: Paciano Rizal
To: José Rizal
Effect of Rizal’s departure — Grief of his parents — Comments of the friars — The Diariong Tagalog — The real purpose of Rizal’s departure for Europe.
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Manila, 26 May 1882
DEAR BROTHER,
Yesterday I received at the town hall of Calamba through Maneng your letter dated at Singapore. As I was going to Manila, after reading it, I sent it to our house. I cannot tell you in this letter then the impression it produced [over] there. As for me, I’m glad that you have had a happy voyage until the first port of call and above all that your fellow passengers did not continue treating you with indifference. I’m only sorry not to have set right that Alcalde, for you could stay in Italy on your own means.
When the telegram informing us of your departure was received in Calamba, as it was natural, our parents were grieved, especially the old man who became taciturn, always staying in bed, and weeping at night, and the consolation offered the family, the curate, and strangers was of no avail. He made me go to Manila to find out with what means you were able to undertake the voyage. On my return I assured them that your expenses were defrayed by some friends of yours in Manila, hoping that this would calm them. Notwithstanding, he remained always sad. Seeing this and fearing that his taciturnity might generate into a malady, I told him everything, but to him alone, begging him to keep the secret and he promised to do so. Only since then have I seen him a little gav and return to his usual ways. This is what occurred in the family.
With regard to the friends, acquaintances, and strangers in the town and environs, your trip was the topic of conversation for many days. They conjectured and guessed, but nobody hit the bull’s eye.
Yesterday I was with the friars. Some approved your departure, others did not. As we have adopted this measure (because in my opinion it is the best), we should stick to it.
Day before yesterday the brother of B. Teodoro arrived at the house in order to go around Laguna and Batangas in search for subscribers to the Diariong Tagalog, [and] helped carry many copies of the prospectus of that periodical. I helped him in everything I can and I believe, and also according to his own report, our town will not be behind any in the province, so that you have a better idea of what it is in reality.
Tacio has been suffering from typhoid fever for two weeks now and the physician attending him, Lucino, entertains no hope of saving him. Twice the lad sent his servant to our house to call you, for he was sure you have already returned from your trip.
As I said, I went down to Manila after your departure where your letters were delivered to me. I have forwarded them to their respective destinations. I will not take home yet your things here in Manila, but I’ll do so later, as Uncle Antonio and I have agreed. With regards to your other orders, I see no inconvenience in following them.
I have delivered to Uncle Antonio a sum which he will send you in draft. Read this letter which is enclosed.
They have assured me that you have accepted a letter of credit from certain persons from here. You have not said anything on this matter in any of your letters.
It is said here that you will finish the medical course at Barcelona and not at Madrid. To me the principal purpose of your departure is not to finish this course but to study other things of greater usefulness, or that to which you are more inclined. So I think that you ought to study at Madrid, center of all the provinces, because, though it is true that there is more life, more work, and better education at Barcelona, you have not gone there either to take part in that kind of life or much less to work And as regards good instruction, in case it is not found in Madrid, the diligence of the student will make up for it. It is, therefore, convenient for you to be there beside our fellow countrymen who can guide you while you are not yet familiar with things. I don’t know if this suits you. As for me, I would be very glad if it did. At any rate, don’t fail to answer this point, because I’m very much in favor of it.
On the 22nd of this month I finished the work on the sugar with a harvest of less than one-half of last year’s but I hope to sell it at a double price, so that we shall lose nothing.
Yesterday I left the whole family in good health at Calamba, getting ready for our town fiesta. I’m at Uncle Antonio’s house where I am writing this letter. Your dear brother is also in good health.
Paciano
P.S.
Yesterday, when I left our town, the engineers were tracing the railroad to the south, and it is said that wherever it will pass, they will not respect either houses or plants. I don’t know if the warehouse and the plants in Real[1]will be among them. Nothing is said about compensation.
[1] The name of a barrio of Calamba where sugar-cane plantations were found.