Women of Jose Rizal

Segunda Katigbak: “The Puppy Love”

16

Met in Lapa, Batangas

Short, eloquent and ardent, at times, eyes and languid to others, rosy-cheeked,
enchanting and provocative smiles, air of sylph.

Was engaged to be married to her townmate, Manuel Luz.

Leonor Valenzuela

17

Met at the house of Dona Concha Leyva in Intramuros.

Rizal courted her through letters using invisible ink and taught her how to read
letters.

Leonor married another man.

Leonor Rivera

18

Inspiration for the character of Maria Clara in Noli Me Tangere and El

Filibusterismo

Tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes.

Married Henry Kipping whom her mother chose to be her mate.

Consuelo Ortiga y Perez

21-22

Met at the home of the former city mayor of Manila, Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey

Did not turn into a serious affair because he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera
and because of his friend’s affection to Consuelo.

Dedicated “A La Senorita C.O.y.P”

Women of Jose Rizal 1

 O-Sei-San

27

Met at Tokyo, Japan

Have the color of Camelia, its freshness, its elegance

Rizal was offered a position at the Spanish Legation during that time.

Gertrude Beckett

27

Met in May 1888 in the boarding house of the Beckett Family in London

A blue-eyed and buxom girl

Rizal withdrew his feelings before having a relationship, realizing that he had a
greater mission to fulfill.

Suzaane Jacoby

29

Met in January 28,1890 at Brussels, Belgium because Rizal boarded with

Suzzane and her aunts during his stay in Brussels.

Rizal realized that he could not deceive her.

Nellie Bousted

Met in 1891 at Bousted family’s winter residence, Villa Eliada

A mestiza daughter of a Filipina and a wealthy French-English merchant whose

house was frequented by Filipinos in France.

Rizal’s marriage proposal failed because Nellie demanded Rizal to give up his
Catholic faith and convert to Protestanism.

Josephine Bracken

Met in February 1895 at Dapitan

An 18 year-old petite Irish girl, with bold blue eyes, brown hair, and a happy
disposition.

Rizal regarded Josephine as her wife until his last breath.

Women of Jose Rizal 2