01-037 [Family]
1882.09.15 Calamba
From: Paciano Rizal
To: José Rizal
More ravages of the cholera — Earthquakes — Work in Pansol — Family news.
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Calamba, 15 September 1882
MR. JOSÉ RIZAL
Your letter dated 31 July at Barcelona is the latest one that we received here on 12 September; it takes the mail from there to here from 40 to 45 days then. How many things can happen during that time!
In my last letter I mentioned something about the prevailing cholera here; this time I’ll tell you about it at length. When it was officially declared in Manila, land and sea communications were interrupted. Ships corning from filthy ports were forbidden to stop here. The steamers that come from Manila go directly to Sta. Cruz (Laguna) to be fumigated and are quarantined for twelve hours. Towns are not allowed to communicate with each other or enjoy any consideration, except with the permission of the government. This is with respect to the relations between the towns. As to the social life in our town, many people go to church in the morning to attend daily prayers as prescribed the Archbishop’s pastoral letter. There is a continuous movement of men carrying bottles to get medicine. The priests are always riding in vehicles to bring spiritual aid to where they are called. In the afternoon there are bonfires in many places to serve as disinfectant and the people again go to church to recite the novena to St. Roch. At night processions, sometimes three, cross one another in the streets until late hours. At their conclusion the participants eat at the house of the leader, who prepares food and fireworks as much as his resources permit. What I admire in these things is the contrast between the sentiments of old and young. The old grieve when they ought to rejoice because the plague makes them see their end closer. The young rejoice when they ought to grieve because they are in danger of not being able to fulfill the object for which they have come to this world.
Now that the plague is at its peak, an average of 15 persons die daily. From night to morning healthy and robust men become corpses or at least, so completely unrecognizable and emaciated, hovering between life and death. Those who succumb to any other disease deserve to be envied, because, at least, they are attended and taken care of at their homes, they are taken to church and are buried in the cemetery but the victims of this scourge cannot comfort themselves that they are treated thus. Their relatives, even the close ones, flee away; they are not taken care of and if sometimes they are attended to, they become a heavy burden to their companions in the house who fear contagion. They are wrapped up and buried with the Chinese. It is a sad thing to die under these circumstances and of this disease; one is exposed to be devoured by dogs. I doubt very much if the grave has depth of two spans, and there is a throng of dogs around. If we were of the Brahmin caste, this kind of transmigration would be the most natural thing for us, but as we are Catholics, as such we wish our ashes to be respected.
Notwithstanding, it is now time to begin the works in Pansol. I’m going to postpone it in order not to be separated from the family under these circumstances, though it is true that they are all enjoying perfect health and above all the old folks. Nevertheless, they do not fail to redouble their carefulness. This punishment seems to be taking roots in this town it has been here one month. You will miss many persons upon your return.
We have at home Sra. Neneng and Sisa with her family. They left their houses to avoid contagion from cholera patients.
Yesterday our elder sister[1] gave birth to a boy, red like a tomato. They are thinking of naming him Porfirio. To me this does not sound well, because it is difficult to pronounce. In my opinion the name does not honor the individual but the individual the name. Brutus is the ugliest name ever and nevertheless, for the deeds of the fellow that bore it, it is pronounced with respect and admiration. I have not said anything to them on this.
With the plague come the earthquakes—a double penalty for one who lives in a house like ours and at the same time who has life to lose.
The question of Quintero ended like yours, or perhaps better, because it was settled the following morning to the satisfaction of the stronger party, administering, according to what they said, some cudgellings to the offender inside his house. It is useless to expect in these cases a complete reparation in accordance with the principles of justice while we are in this world.
Tacio[2] has recovered from his terrible sickness. Lucino, his physician, has thereby gained a good reputation and six hundred pesos.
As I cannot go down to Manila now. The bank draft, like that of Cabangis, that I promised you, cannot be sent to you till about November or December.
If in this letter I have painted things with a pale color, I should not be accused of being a pessimist, because I see things only under that point of view. I don’t know if this is a sickness, but the truth is that it is not a vice, and indeed it has a large portion of truth in it.
PACIANO
When we received the telegram that asked for one hundred pesos without any letter of yours and without explanations, we were frightened, believing that something might have happened to you.
See if something good can be done for Silvestre there.
As this letter did not overtake the last mail, for the ships did not stop here then, it leaves today, 27th of September. Last night we received your letter with another addressed to Ubaldo. Now, cholera cases are very rare; they are found in the barrios.
All the family are in good health, thank God.
[1] Saturnina (Sra. Neneng) married to Manuel Hidalgo. See following letter number 22.
[2] Anastacio Bonatin, son of Capitán Juan, gobernadorcillo of Calamba 1867-1868.