01-039 [Family]
1882.09.24 Calamba, Laguna
From: Manuel De Hidalgo
To: José Rizal
Family news — Birth of Alfredo — Simple baptismal ceremony — Death of family friends.
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Calamba, Laguna
24 September 1882
MR. JOSÉ RIZAL
DEAR BROTHER-IN-LAW,
I begin this letter with news of a notable event in the family. Your sister gave birth to baby boy at 11:45 this morning at the house of our parents, after having gone through the pains of childbirth for a period of 24 hours. He was baptized today at 10:00 o’clock in the morning with the name Alfredo Porfirio, the sponsors being the couple Mr. Narciso Paterno and Mrs. Emilia Venegas of Sta. Cruz, Manila, represented by Paciano and Narcisa. There was no pomp in the baptismal ceremony, except some strokes of the bells (not chimed, which as you know, are what our bells can give), some music that Antonino’s new orchestra played during the ceremony and in conducting the baby home, some large and small firecrackers that made little noise. The only attendants were Pangoy, Trining, your nephews Antoñito, Emilio, and Icang, but you cannot imagine the noisy clamor they made, the promoter being the grand Emilio. At the house of our parents there was only a simple lunch of bread soup for the orchestra and the family and thus it was concluded.
Because of the length of Paciano’s news I’ll say something, but not much, about the cholera that wrought havoc here. Your nurse-maid Ina, Munda, her husband and another daughter died within an interval of only a few days, as well as various families on our street. For that reason, your sister as well as the entire family of Antonino endeavored to move in a hurry to our parents’ house. At our house, our house boys Flaviano and Evaristo were attacked by cholera, but thanks to local specific (sambong, pepita, garlic, etc.) they were saved. Alfonso. Narcisa’s servant, died. An average of 16 die daily. Today, thanks to God, it is decreasing in the town. The calamity is in fact in the barrios, but it is not causing deaths here than in the town, relatively speaking. Ah! I have forgotten to tell you that well-known persons and in a certain way dear ones, like Judge Saturnino, Aligui, daughter Gregoria, and Cuya Ticio, have died. Narcisa with Antonino and family stopped today at the convent because the curate is very ill.[1]
Millions of regards and tender kisses to you and you know you are greatly loved by your most humble brother-in-law. Your sister sends you tender regards.
MANUEL DE HIDALGO
[1] Father Leoncio López