Rizal’s Script Links:

https://ourhappyschool.com/history/suzanne-jacoby-jose-rizals-fling

CHARACTERS:

 Suzanne Jacoby (Leading Lady/Protagonist)

 Jose Rizal (Leading Man)
 Jose Albert (Rizal’s friend who also left Spain and went to Belgium)
 Marie - (Suzanne’s Sister)

JANUARY 1890
Rizal together with his friend Jose Albert left Paris due to the expensive cost and went to Belgium and
stayed at the Boarding House of the Jacoby Sisters.

In Rizal’s 6-month stay in the boarding house, Suzanne, also called ‘Petite,’ got to know and was
attracted to the skillful and enigmatic Filipino doctor. Jose might have had a somewhat romantic
intimacy with Petite—a relationship which was probably comparable to today’s ‘mutual
understanding’.

In Rizal’s stay in Brussels, he goes to the clinic, working and studying, reading and writing, and
practicing at the ‘Sala de Armas’ and gymnasium. Historically, his affair with Suzanne could not
possibly blossom as Rizal, that time, was busy writing the ‘Fili’, contributing for La Solidaridad, and
worrying for his family as regards the worsening Calamba agrarian trouble.

Suzanne shed tears when Rizal left Belgium toward the beginning of August, 1890. He was said to
have made Suzanne’s sculpture which he unexplainably gave to his friend Valentin Ventura. Leaving
Brussels, Rizal left the young Suzanne a box of chocolates. Two months later, she wrote him a letter,
saying: “After your departure, I did not take the chocolate. The box is still intact as on the day of your
parting. Don’t delay too long writing us because I wear out the soles of my shoes for running to the
mailbox to see if there is a letter from you. There will never be any home in which you are so loved as
in that in Brussels, so, you little bad boy, hurry up and come back…”

In her another letter, 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:

“Where are you now? Do you think of me once in a while? I am reminded of our tender conversations,
reading your letter, although it is cold and indifferent. Here in your letter I have something which
makes up for your absence. How pleased I would be to follow you, to travel with you who are always
in my thoughts.
You wish me all kinds of luck, but forget that in the absence of a beloved one a tender heart cannot
feel happy.

A thousand things serve to distract your mind, my friend; but in my case, I am sad, lonely, always
alone with my thoughts – nothing, absolutely nothing relieves my sorrow. Are you coming back?
That’s what I want and desire most ardently – you cannot refuse me.

I do not despair and I limit myself to murmuring against time which runs so fast when it carries us
toward a separation but goes so slowly when it’s bringing us together again.
I feel very unhappy thinking that perhaps I might never see you again.

Goodbye! You know with one word you can make me very happy. Aren’t you going to write to me?

To her surprise, Rizal returned to Brussels by the middle of April 1891 and stayed again in the Jacoby’s
boarding house. Rizal’s return however was not specifically for Suzanne for the hero just busied
himself revising and finalizing the manuscript of El Fili for publication. On July 5, 1891, Rizal bade
goodbye to Brussels and Suzanne, never to come back again in Belgium and in her arms.