Jose Rizal’s Girlfriends: Who do you think deserves our hero?

April 14, 2021September 6, 2021MyInfo Basket.com 0 CommentsGertrude Beckett, Jose Rizal girlfriends, Jose Rizal true love, Jose Rizal wife, Josephine Bracken and Jose Rizal love story, Leonor Rivera and Jose Rizal love story, Leonor Valenzuela, Nellie Bousted, Seiko Usui, Suzanne Jacoby, Who is the first love of Dr Jose Rizal

Editor’s note: The topic ‘Jose Rizal girlfriends,’ which has been a hot topic in history, is amusingly discussed here by Rizal textbook author Jensen DG. Mañebog. Some of the interesting info here are from his well-read e-book The Colorful Love Affairs of Dr. Jose Rizal.

LIKE ANY OTHER NORMAL PERSON, Jose Rizal was a social being who had the tendency to love someone. In fact, the national hero can be said to be good at that too. His love life, characterized by his relationship with not a few girlfriends, was none less than controversial and colorful.

‘JOSE RIZAL GIRLFRIENDS’: FILIPINA GIRLFRIENDS FIRST

The following are the most popular among Rizal’s so-called Filipina girlfriends or love interests:

Segunda Katigbak

Segunda Katigbak was Jose Rizal’s “puppy love.” With her, the hero was believed to have had “love at first sight”.

Rizal was 16 years old when one Sunday in 1887 he paid a visit to his maternal grandmother in Trozo, Manila. There he met, among others, Segunda Katigbak, a two-year-younger-than-him ‘colegiala’.

In one of his diaries (“Memoirs of a Student in Manila,” n.d.), Rizal graphically described her as a short lady with “eloquent eyes, rosy cheeks, and smile that reveals very beautiful teeth”. (More about their lovely first meeting here: Segunda Katigbak: Jose Rizal’s First Love)

When Jose Rizal met Segunda Katigbak, she was at the time a boarding student of La Concordia College where Rizal’s sister Olympia was also studying. Jose and Segunda got to know each other more intimately as his visits to his sister Olympia (or rather to his love interest Segunda) in La Concordia surprisingly became more frequent.

But the two regrettably did not end up with each other, nor did they become an item. It was also at La Concordia where the young lovers talked to each other for the last time. Their interesting last meeting is narrated here: Segunda Katigbak and Jose Rizal: Their secret strange last meeting

Leonor Valenzuela

Nicknamed Orang, Leonor Valenzuela was commonly described as a tall girl with regal bearing who was Rizal’s province-mate. She was the daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela, who were from Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Orang was Rizal’s neighbor when he boarded in the house of Doña Concha Leyva in Intramuros during his sophomore year at the University of Santo Tomas as medicine student.

To finally move on perhaps from his unsuccessful love story with Segunda Katigbak, Rizal frequently visited Orang’s house with or without social gatherings. (More about her here: Leonor Valenzuela: Jose Rizal’s Tall Girlfriend)

It was not clear if they even had a mutual understanding, but clearly, whatever it was between them did not prosper. But yes, there are proofs that he indeed courted her—the mysterious and extraordinary love letters Rizal sent her!

Leonor Rivera: Special among ‘Jose Rizal Girlfriends’

She was widely considered as the Jose Rizal’s “true love”.

Leonor Rivera (April 11, 1867–August 28, 1893) of Camiling, Tarlac was the daughter of Antonio Rivera and Silvestra Bauzon. Leonor’s father was a cousin of the hero’s father, Francisco Mercado.

Described as a pretty lady, Leonor Rivera had a wavy soft hair, high forehead, wistful almond eyes, small and pensive mouth, and charming dimples. She was said to be intelligent and talented, as she could play the harp and the piano—skills which matched her fascinating singing voice. (More about her here: Leonor Rivera: Jose Rizal’s True Love)

In one of Indios’ street brawls against young Spaniards in Escolta, Rizal was wounded on the head. With tender love and care, Leonor nursed him.

All Leonor ever wanted was to be on Jose’s side each time, to look for him, and take care of him. But this became far from possible when Jose left for Spain in May 1882 without giving her a notice.

But before his second departure from the country in 1882, Rizal wanted to marry the uncomplaining Leonor and leave her in his sister Narcisa’s care. But this plan did not materialize. The reason for this and pertinent events are discussed here: Leonor Rivera: Why Rizal did not end up marrying his true love

‘JOSE RIZAL GIRLFRIENDS’: HIS LOVERS FROM FOREIGN LANDS

As Jose Rizal spent a great deal of time in places outside the Philippines, it is not that surprising that he had so-called “Jose Rizal girlfriends” of various nationalities. Among other things, Rizal’s love life proves that ‘Filipino appeal’ is likeable internationally.

Consuelo Ortiga y Rey

Consuelo Ortiga y Rey is among the so-called Rizal’s girlfriends or lovers in the foreign lands. She was probably very likable because at least two Filipinos in Spain in Jose Rizal’s time had had feelings for her.

Consuelo Ortiga y Rey was considered the prettier of the daughters of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, the Spanish liberal and former mayor of Manila who became vice-president of the Council of the Philippines in the Ministry of Colonies. (More about her here: Consuelo Ortiga y Rey: The “Crush ng Bayan” in Rizal’s Time)

Consuelo recorded in her diary that she first met Rizal on September 16, 1882 when he went to Spain for the first time primarily to study. The diary entry indicated that they talked the whole night and that the young Filipino said many beautiful things about her.

One of Rizal’s Filipino (or mestizo) friends in Spain was actually one of the reasons Rizal gave up his affection for Consuelo. He seriously liked Ms. Ortiga and Rizal did not wish to ruin their friendship over a lady. There are indications that two other Rizal’s good friends also regularly visited the lady.

Seiko Usui

It was during Jose Rizal’s second trip abroad when he met Seiko Usui. From Hong Kong, he arrived in Japan in February 1888.

One day, Rizal saw Seiko passing by the legation in one of her daily afternoon walks. Fascinated by her charm, Rizal inquired and learned from a Japanese gardener some basic information about her. (More about Seiko here: Seiko Usui: Jose Rizal’s Japanese Girlfriend)

In no time, Rizal made a “Hokage move” to personally know the Japanese lady. Fast forward, O-Sei-San, as Rizal fondly called Seiko, voluntarily acted as Rizal’s generous tour guide. She accompanied him to Japan’s shrines, parks, universities, and other interesting places.

Jose fell for the charming, modest, pretty, and intelligent daughter of a samurai. Seiko subsequently reciprocated the affection of the talented and virtuous guest who, like her, had deep interest in the arts.

Sadly, their more than a month happy relationship had to end nonetheless. In 1897, a year after Rizal’s martyrdom, Seiko married someone else.

Gertrude Beckett

Coming from brief stay in Japan and the United States of America, Rizal chose to live in the capital city of the United Kingdom on May 1888.

Gertrude Beckett was the daughter of Jose Rizal’s landlord—Charles Beckett, an organist at St. Paul’s Church in London. Rizal called her by her nickname “Gettie” and she affectionately called him “Pettie.” (More about her here: Gertrude Beckett: Jose Rizal’s Fling in London)

Gertrude (also called ‘Gettie’ or ‘Tottie’) was a curvy lady with cheerful blue eyes, brown hair, rosy cheeks, and thin lips. Based on some pieces of evidence, one can argue that Gertrude is the most beautiful among “Jose Rizal girlfriends.”

The more-than-normal assistance she gave to the Filipino boarder betrayed her special feelings for him. She showered him with all her attention and assisted him in his painting and sculpturing. Some sources nonetheless suggest that their relationship was just a one-sided love affair.

Suzanne Jacoby

To somewhat economize in his living expenses, Jose Rizal left the expensive city of Paris and went to Belgium in January 1890. Rizal arrived in Brussels on February 2 and stayed in the boarding house managed by two Jacoby sisters, Suzanne and Marie.

It was said that Rizal had a transitory romance with the petite niece of his landladies, Suzanne Jacoby, the Belgian lady whom Jose Rizal met when he was 29.

Presumably, Suzanne and Jose had together enjoyed the merriments of Belgium’s summertime festival of 1890 with its multicolored costumes, animated floats, and lively crowds. (Read more about her: Suzanne Jacoby: Jose Rizal’s Fling)

Read: Jose Rizal: The First Filipino Phenom

Suzanne shed tears when Rizal left Belgium toward the beginning of August, 1890. She kept writing him letters. In one of her letters, she was mentioning of Rizal’s letter to her, suggesting that the Filipino in Madrid probably replied to her at least once.

From her letter though, we can glean that the affection was (already) one-sided (Read the contents of the letter here: The Colorful Love Affairs of Dr. Jose Rizal by Jensen DG. Mañebog)

Nellie Boustead

Nellie Boustead, also called Nelly, was the younger of the two pretty daughters of the wealthy businessman Eduardo Boustead. Son of a rich British trader, Eduardo went to the Orient in 1826.

The Bousteads hosted Rizal’s stay in Biarritz in February 1891 at their winter residence, Villa Eliada on the superb French Riviera. Rizal had befriended the family back in 1889-90 and he used to fence with the Anglo-Filipino Boustead sisters (Adelina and Nellie) at the studio of Juan Luna.

Having learned Leonor Rivera’s marriage to Henry Kipping, Rizal entertained the idea of having romantic relation with the highly educated, cheerful, athletic, beautiful, and morally upright Nellie. (Read more about her here: Nellie Boustead: Jose Rizal’s Almost Wife)

He wrote some of his friends (remarkably except Ferdinand Blumentritt though) about his affection for Nelly and his idea of proposing marriage to her. His friends seemed to be supportive of his intentions.

Even Antonio Luna, who was formerly Nelly’s fiancé, explicitly permitted Rizal to court and marry her. This is interesting because Jose Rizal and Antonio Luna (yes, the “Heneral Luna”) nearly had a deadly duel before because of Nellie Bousted.

Though very much ideal, Nelly-and-Jose’s lovely relationship unfortunately did not end up in marriage.

JOSE RIZAL’S WIFE

In Jose Rizal’s own words, she was his dear wife. A few hours before his execution, they embraced for the last time and he gave her a souvenir—a religious book with his dedication, “To my dear unhappy wife, Josephine.”

Josephine Bracken

Josephine Bracken, in Jose Rizal’s life, is extra special. (Related: Jose Rizal wife)

Marie Josephine Leopoldine Bracken (Josephine Bracken for short) was born on August 9, 1876 in Victoria, Hong Kong. She was the youngest of the five children of an Irish couple who were married on May 3, 1868 in Belfast, Ireland: British army corporal James Bracken and Elizabeth Jane MacBride.

A few days after giving birth to Josephine, her mother Elizabeth died. Her father decided to give her up for adoption to her childless godparents, American George Taufer, an engineer of the pumping plant of the Hong Kong Fire Department, and his Portuguese (second) wife.

How Rizal and Josephine met and became husband and wife, I thoroughly discussed here: Josephine Bracken: Jose Rizal’s Dear and Unhappy Wife

Comprehensive discussion on what happened to Josephine Bracken after Rizal was executed is also available online. Check out: What happened to Josephine Bracken When Jose Rizal Died?

Conclusion

Truth is, Jose Rizal’s romantic experiences are not only fun to read but are also somewhat educational, as they offer various life lessons especially in making decisions and setting priorities. For comprehensive discussion about “Jose Rizal girlfriends” or his colorful love life, I invite you to read: The Colorful Love Affairs of Dr. Jose Rizal

So, did I miss anything? We’d like to hear from you.

Who, do you think, deserves the heart of our national hero?

*Look for other topics in Rizal or other subjects (English or Tagalog) by searching here:

Jensen DG. Mañebog, the contributor, is an author of textbooks and professorial lecturer emeritus in the graduate school of a state university in Metro Manila. His unique e-books on Rizal (available online) comprehensively tackle, among others, the respective life of Rizal’s parents, siblings, co-heroes, and girlfriends. (e-mail: [email protected])