Women in Rizal’s life

Segunda Katigbak

Rizal's Age: 16 · Where they met: Trozo, Manila (she was from Lipa, Batangas) · Segunda Katigbak was her puppy love. Unfortunately, his first love was engaged to be married to a town mate- Manuel Luz. After his admiration for a short girl in the person of Segunda, then came Leonor Valenzuela, a tall girl from Pagsanjan. Rizal send her love notes written in invisible ink, that could only be deciphered over the warmth of the lamp or candle. He visited her on the eve of his departure to Spain and bade her a last goodbye.

Rizal's Age: 16 · Where they met: Trozo, Manila (she was from Lipa, Batangas) · "She was rather short, with eyes that were eloquent and ardent at times and languid at others, rosy-cheeked, with an enchanting and provocative smile that revealed very beautiful teeth, and the air of a sylph; her entire self diffused a mysterious charm." - Rizal · Reason of Separation: Segunda was already engaged to be married to her townmate, Manuel Luz.

Leonor Rivera

Rizal's Age: 18 · Where they met: Casa Tomasina, her father’s boarding house in Intramuros. · Leonor Rivera, his sweetheart for 11 years played the greatest influence in keeping him from falling in love with other women during his travel. Unfortunately, Leonor’s mother disapproved of her daughter’s relationship with Rizal, who was then a known filibustero. She hid from Leonor all letters sent to her sweetheart. Leonor believing that Rizal had already forgotten her, sadly consented her to marry the Englishman Henry Kipping, her mother’s choice.

Rizal's Age: 18 · Description: "Tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes." · Inspiration for the character of Maria Clara in Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo · Reason of Separation: In the autumn of 1890, Rizal received a letter from Leonor telling him of her coming marriage to a man whom her mother chose to be her mate.

Leonor Valenzuela

Rizal's Age: 17 · Where they met: House of Dona Concha Leyva in Intramuros, as his neighbor. · Leonor Valenzuela, also known as Orang, was Rizal's object of affection while he was courting his cousin, Leonor Rivera. She was a tall girl with regal bearing from Pagsanjan, Laguna. She was Rizal's neighbor. Rizal boarded in Intramuros during his sophomore year in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. He regularly visited Orang's house especially during social gatherings. He courted her by sending love notes in invisible ink made of common table salt and water, which could only be deciphered by heating the note over a candle or lamp so words would appear. · Rizal, however, left for Europe. After his departure, it was said that she accepted suitors and attended social parties. She was believed to have married an employee of a trade. · Reason of Separation: Leonor married another man.

Consuelo Ortiga y Perez

Rizal's Age: 21 - 22 · Where they met: Rizal frequented to the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, the former city mayor of Manila. · Reason of Separation: Rizal's romance with Consuelo did not turn into a serious affair; he decided to take a step back for two reasons; First, he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera; Second, he was aware of his friend's affection to Consuelo. · Rizal's dedication to her: A La Senorita C.O.y.P

O-Sei-San (Seiko Usui)

Rizal's Age: 26 · Where they met: Tokyo, Japan · "You have the color of Camelia, its freshness, its elegance" - Rizal · Reason of Separation: Rizal was offered a position at the Spanish Legation during that time. He then decided to leave Japan and forget his romance which pained him gravely because he truly loved O-Sei-San.

Rizal's Age: 26 · Where they met: Tokyo, Japan · Seiko Usui, also known as O Sei San, was a Japanese samurai's daughter. She was 23 years old when she first met him. He had moved to a Spanish Legation in the Azabu district of Tokyo where she regularly worked. She served as his interpreter during his stay in Japan. She also helped him to be accustomed to the Japanese culture, taught him how to read and write Nihonggo, and taught him the Japanese art of painting also known as su-mie. Together, they visited The Imperial Art Gallery, The Imperial Library, various universities, the Shokubutsu-en (Botanical Garden), the Hibiya Park, and various shrines. · Rizal was almost tempted by her beauty and affection to stay in Japan. When Rizal left for the United States, he told her in a note that he had spent a happy golden month with her and that he do not know if he can have another.

Gertrude Beckett

Rizal's Age: 26 · Date They Met: May 1888 · Where they met: Boarding house of the Beckett Family in London · Reason of Separation: Rizal withdrew his feelings before having a relationship with Gertrude, realizing that he had a greater mission to fulfill.

Rizal's Age: 26 · Date They Met: May 1888 · Where they met: Boarding house of the Beckett Family in London · Rizal stayed in London to finish the annotations of the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, he stayed in the Beckett family's residence which was within walking distance from the British museum. Gertrude, the oldest of three Beckett girls, was a buxom girl with blue-eyes, rosy cheeks and brown hair. She fell in love with Rizal as she helped him in doing paintings and sculptures. Rizal however left London for Paris to avoid Gertrude who was seriously in love with him. Before leaving, he finished the carving of the Beckett sisters and gave it to Gertrude as a sign of their brief relationship.

Suzanne Jacoby

Rizal's Age: 28 · Date they met: January 28, 1890 · Place they met: Brussels, Belgium · How they met: Rizal boarded with Suzanne and her aunts during his stay in Brussels. · Reason of Separation: Rizal realized that he could not deceive her. Suzanne fell in love with Rizal and wept when he left for Madrid in July 1890. · In 1890, Rizal moved to Brussels due to the high cost of living in Paris. He stayed in the boarding house operated by the Jacoby sisters. It wasn't long before he and Suzanne became lovers. Rizal however left Brussels and continued with his journey. Although she cried when he left her, she continued sending him letters with hope that he will come back. · Rizal produced Suzanne's sculpture which he gave to Valentin Ventura.

Nellie Boustead

Year they met: 1891 · Where they met: Boustead family's winter residence, Villa Eliada (Biarritz, France) · While in Paris, Rizal met thru Antonio Luna Anglo-Filipino Eduardo Boustead. He stayed as a guest in their residence and befriended the two pretty daughters of Eduardo. After having lost Leonor, Rizal entertained the thought of courting other ladies. Rizal and the ladies used to fence at the studio of Juan Luna. · Nellie was described to be a beautiful, lean, smart and very religious lady. She enjoyed playing sports. Antonio courted Nellie although she admitted that she was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by Filipinos in Madrid, Antonio who was under the influence of alcohol, uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie. This prompted Rizal to challenge him into a duel. Fortunately, Antonio immediately apologized to him. · Their love affair however did not end in marriage since Rizal refused to be converted in Protestant faith which Nellie demanded. Nellie's mother also did not want to have as son-in-law a physician like Rizal who did not have enough paying clientele. Rizal and Nellie parted as good friends when he left Europe. · Reason of Separation: Rizal's marriage proposal failed because Nellie demanded that Rizal give up his Catholic faith and convert to Protestanism.

Year they met: 1891 · Where they met: Boustead family's winter residence, Villa Eliada (Biarritz, France) · Mestiza daughter of a Filipina and a wealthy French-English merchant whose house was frequented by Filipinos in France. · Rizal having lost Leonor Rivera, entertained the thought of courting other ladies. While a guest of the Boustead family at their residence in the resort city of Biarritz, he had befriended the two pretty daughters of his host, Eduardo Boustead. Rizal used to fence with the sisters at the studio of Juan Luna. Antonio Luna, Juan’s brother and also a frequent visitor of the Bousteads, courted Nellie but she was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by Filipinos in Madrid, a drunken Antonio Luna uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie Boustead. This prompted Rizal to challenge Luna into a duel. Fortunately, Luna apologized to Rizal, thus averting tragedy for the compatriots. · Their love affair unfortunately did not end in marriage. It failed because Rizal refused to be converted to the Protestant faith, as Nellie demanded and Nellie’s mother did not like a physician without enough paying clientele to be a son-in-law. The lovers, however, parted as good friends when Rizal left Europe.

Josephine Bracken

Date they met: February 1895 · Where they met: Dapitan · How it ended: Rizal regarded Josephine as her wife until his last breath. · In the last days of February 1895, while still in Dapitan, Rizal met an 18-year old petite Irish girl, with bold blue eyes, brown hair and a happy disposition. She was Josephine Bracken, the adopted daughter of George Taufer from Hong Kong, who came to Dapitan to seek Rizal for eye treatment. Rizal was physically attracted to her. His loneliness and boredom must have taken the measure of him and what could be a better diversion that to fall in love again. But the Rizal sisters suspected Josephine as an agent of the friars and they considered her as a threat to Rizal’s security. · Rizal asked Josephine to marry him, but she was not yet ready to make a decision due to her responsibility to the blind Taufer. Since Taufer’s blindness was untreatable, he left for Hong Kong in March 1895. Josephine stayed with Rizal’s family in Manila. Upon her return to Dapitan, Rizal tried to arrange with Father Antonio Obach for their marriage. However, the priest wanted a retraction as a precondition before marrying them. Rizal upon the advice of his family and friends and with Josephine’s consent took her as his wife even without the Church blessings. Josephine later gave birth prematurely to a baby boy who lived only a few hours, a result of some incidence, which might have shocked or frightened her.

Date they met: February 1895 · Where they met: Dapitan · Maria Josephine Leopoldine Bracken, also known as Josephine Bracken, was a petite Irish girl with striking blue eyes and chestnut blonde hair. She was said to be a kind person with a gentle disposition. She took care of her blind father. Upon hearing rumors of an excellent Filipino doctor returning to Manila, she quickly seized the opportunity to sail there to have her father's illness diagnosed. · She reached Manila on 5 February 1895 with her father and Francesca Spencer. She arranged a consultation for her father's double cataract. They sailed to Dapitan for a follow-up consultation. · On 14 March of that same year, she sailed back to Manila with one of Rizal's elder sisters, Narcisa. Since her father's blindness was untreatable, Taufer left for Hong Kong. Although his family members and friends considered Bracken as a threat and a spy for the Spanish government due to her nationality and complexion, she ignored the allegations and tried to adjust living the rural life with Rizal's family. · By July, Josephine and Rizal's relationship blossomed. He tried to arrange with Father Antonio Obach for their marriage. However, the priest asked for Rizal's retraction as a condition for allowing them to marry. Upon the advice of Rizal's family and friends and with Josephine's consent, he took her as a wife even without the blessing of the church. The church, however, denied the union due to religious differences.