HANDOUTS

WOMEN OF RIZAL

For some historians, there were only 9 women who were known to have a love affair
with out national hero. But, there are other historians and sources that indicates more
than 9 women.

1. Julia Celeste Smith– met at a river in Dampalit, Los Baños, Laguna. The first woman
to catch Rizal’s eyes.
– 16-year-old lady. She is the first girlfriend of Dr. Jose Rizal. Rizal was only 15
when he first saw Julia by accident in a river named Dampalit in Los Baños a
few days after Easter in 1877.

2. Segunda Katigbak– many historians claim that Segunda Katigbak was Rizal's "puppy
love". Coming from a wealthy clan in Lipa, Batangas, Katigbak was a close
friend of Rizal's sister, Olympia Mercado. Katigbak was just 14 years old
when she met Rizal who was then 16.
– The love-smitten adolescent Rizal greatly detailed his blossoming young
romance with the 14-year-old Segunda Solis Katigbak, whom he addressed
as “la Señorita K.”, in Chapter 6 of his Memorias de un Estudiante de Manila
(Memoirs of a Student in Manila).
– When Rizal eventually proposed marriage to Katigbak, she sadly had to
decline because she was already engaged to Manuel Luz.

3. Miss L– was Jacinta Ibardo Laza. Rizal shortly met Jacinta after losing Segunda.
Jacinta was a professor from Pakil, Laguna. She was a tutor of Rizal in
Rethoric and Poetry subject.
– However, some sources say she is Margarita Almeda Gomez
– Her identity was lost in the history since Rizal didn’t mention her in any of his
writings

4. Leonor Valenzuela– aka Orang, a sophomore student at the University of Santo

Tomas, Jose Rizal sent love letters in invisible ink made from a mixture of
and table salt that can be read by heating over a lamp or a candle to allow
the words to surface; neighbor of Jose Rizal in Intramuros; daughter of
Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela; an elegant and graceful, tall
girl from Pagsanjan, Laguna.

5. Leonor Rivera– aka Taimis, a third year student at the University of Santo Tomas.
– Rizal’s cousin from Camiling, Tarlac
– Rizal’s longest love, for about 11 years although others say 8
– Leonor’s mother disapproved Rizal who was known to be a filibustero and
kept all of Rizal’s letters for Leonor while he was away, and was persuaded to
marry the English Engineer, Charles Henry Kipping
– Leonor Rivera was the inspiration for the Maria Clara character in Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo
– Known to be Rizal’s great love

6. Consuelo Ortiga y Rey– [some sources: Y Perez]

– student at the Universidad Central de Madrid in 1882
– daughter of former Civil Governor (City Mayor) of Manila, Don Pablo Ortiga y
Rey
– Jose Rizal did not pursue for two reasons; he was still engaged to Leonor
Rivera at that time and he did not want to ruin his friendship with Eduardo de
Lete who also had an affection with the girl.

7. O-Sei San Kiyo– aka Seiko Usui. At Azabu district, Tokyo, Japan in 1888
– Japanese samurai’s daughter
– Jose Rizal was her first love
– taught Jose Rizal the Japanese art of painting”Su-mie”, also helped in
improving his language

8. Gertrude Beckett– aka Gettie. At London, Paris in May 1888

– Blue-blooded Englishwoman who was the oldest daughter of a London
church organist in whos house Rizal lodged when he went to visit London
– with blue eyes and brown hair
 – fell in love with Rizal; he gave her a carving which he made in memory of
their short relationship

9. Adelina Boustead– As a guest in Villa Eliada, winter residence of Bousted family in

Biarritz in 1891
– Sister of Nellie Boustead, daughter of Mr. Eduardo Boustead

10. Nellie Boustead– the prettier and young daughter of Mr. Eduardo Boustead
– intellectual, sure of herself, attractive and serious with her religious belief
– Rizal’s marriage proposal failed because he did not want to convert to
protestantism and Nelly’s mother did not approve of Rizal, as she had no
desire to entrust her daughter to a man who was wanting in wealth and
persecuted in his own country.

11. Suzanne Jacoby– At Brussels, Belgium in January 1888

– A Belgian woman Rizal met when he stayed with Jacoby's
– niece of his landlord
– fell in love with Rizal and wept when he left for Madrid in July 1890
– one of the contributing factors that led Rizal to continue writing El
Filibusterismo

12. Pastoral Necesario Carreon– aka Inday Torak. At Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
where Jose Rizal was exiled

13. Josephine Leopoldine Bracken– last love of Jose Rizal; adopted daughter of George
Taufer from Hong Kong
– known to be Rizal’s common-law wife
– a 19-year old lady Rizal met in Dapitan
– Rizal wanted to marry her but was unable to due to church requirements.
They just simply lived together.
– Rizal and Bracken had a son, who died shortly after birth [she had to go into
premature labor after Rizal pranked and frightened her]. They named him
Francisco
– Later married to a Filipino named Vicente Abad and died in Hong Kong due to
tuberculosis.