Jose Rizal- A Womanizer, a Romantic Casanova, or Both?
by Conviron Pucate Altatis on 17/08/11 at 7:06 am
Was it his intellect, wealth, or cuteness (for being small) or was he just a proof that man is promiscuous by nature? Either way, this touted genius was a certified Casanova.
At 16, Jose Rizal met his first (puppy) love, Segunda Katigbak, his friend’s sister. Segunda, however, was engaged to another man. Then, Rizal met Leonor Valenzuela, whom he wrote love letters of invisible ink. But his longest relationship, which lasted for 11 years, was with another Leonor. While Rizal was studying abroad, Leonor Rivera’s disapproving mother hid all Rizal’s letter. Leonor Rivera thought Rizal forgot her so she got married with an Englishman.
Image by ~MVI~ (recharging in LA) via Flickr
Abroad, Rizal had mutual feelings with Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, to whom he dedicated one of his best poems, A la Senorita C.O. y R. The romance ended due to Rizal’s loyalty to Leonor Rivera and his friend Eduardo de Lete, who was also in love with Consuelo. Hurt when Leonor Rivera’s marriage, Rizal had a relationship with an Englishwoman, Nellie Boustead. His romance with Nellie didn’t last because of Rizal’s refusal to convert to the Protestant faith and Nellie’s mother’s reluctance to have a not so famous physician as a son-in-law. This makes Rizal the epitome of a Casanova with irrevocable principles.
Image via Wikipedia
Though hopelessly romantic, Jose Rizal chose patriotism over the lucrative job in Japan and his love for Seiko Usui, daughter of a samurai. He also had an affair with London’s Gertrude Beckett and Brussels’ Suzanne Jacoby. Then came an Irish girl, Josephine Bracken, his patient’s adopted daughter. For the first time, Rizal wanted to get married and had his first baby, who was born prematurely and died. That’s Rizal. He falls in love. He falls. And rises. His short life was worth lived. Rizal rocks!
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
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