WOMEN

IN
RIZAL’S
LIFE
• His travels across the
Philippines and the world
led him into different
relationships.

• There are 9 women in the

record.
SEGUNDA KATIGBAK
Segunda Katigbak
• Sister of Mariano Katigbak –
Rizal’s friend.
• They met when Rizal was still 16
years old and he visited his
grandmother with Mariano.
• ATTRACTION AT FIRST SIGHT.
• But Segunda was engaged
already.
LEONOR VALENZUELA
Leonor Valenzuela (Orang)
• Rizal’s neighbor during his
Sophomore year in University of
Sto. Tomas as Medical student.
• It is said that during the
courtship he used to sent
private letters written in an
invisible ink to Orang.
• 1882 – Rizal bid farewell to
Orang and went to Spain.
LEONOR RIVERA
Leonor Rivera
• She’s Rizal’s second cousin.
• They fell in love with each other.
• 1882 – Rizal said that he already
found the woman of his life and it
is Leonor.
• 1890 – Leonor sent a letter to Rizal,
saying that she’s already engaged.
• 1893 – Leonor died.
CONSUELO ORTIGA Y REY
Consuelo Ortiga y Rey
• Daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga –
former mayor of Manila.
• They met in Madrid, Spain
• He showed affection towards
Consuelo but was not serious in
his pursuit.
• In the end, Consuelo got engaged
to Eduardo de Lete – Rizal’s friend.
SEIKO USUI
Seiko Usui
• Rizal used to call her ‘O-sei-san’
• 1888 – Rizal arrived in Japan to take a
job offer at the Spanish Legation.
• When the language barrier broke
they started to build a relationship.
• According to many accounts, Rizal
was read to stay and live a peaceful
life in Japan with Seiko.
• Unfortunately, he had to leave Japan.
GERTUDE BECKETT
Gertrude Beckett
• Daughter of his landlord when he
was staying in London.
• Rizal used to call her ‘Gettie’ and
he used to call him ‘Pettie’
• She assisted Rizal to finish some
his works.
• 1889 – Rizal left London, and
Gettie as well.
SUZANNE JACOBY
Suzanne Jacoby
• She was a Belgian woman who
was the niece of his landlord in
Belgium in 1890.
• But, researches says that their
relationship was only a fling.
• August 1890 – Rizal left Belgium
• 1891 – Rizal went back to Belgium.
NELLIE BOUSTED
 Nellie Bousted
• Rizal had been friends with her
family.
• 1891 – Rizal stayed in Villa Eliada,
Bousted’s residence.
• That time, Rizal knew about Rivera’s
engagement and thought about
pursuing Nellie.
• But still, they ended up being
friends after all.
JOSEPHINE
BRACKEN
 Josephine Bracken
• She was the woman who stayed with
Rizal until his execution in 1896.
• They met when Josephine and his
stepfather was seeking a help from an
ophthalmologist.
• Rizal and Josephine fell in love with
each other and wanted to get married.
• But, even without a legal paper, they
lived together.
 REFERENCES:
• https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/cultur
e/spotlight/12/30/18/all-the-girls-rizal-
loved-before

• https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/ne
wsfeatures-peopleparties/58058/the-
women-of-jose-rizal?fbclid=IwAR0cu_E
3-DP689Wc65ngtQYW-sryaiSl3kx7zz6u
TI6SGPuVzAotJAv3ZHo