Four of José Rizal’s letters will be sold starting at P1 million each
Many would say that handwritten letters seem like a thing of the past. Sending messages online is arguably easier and more convenient. But even it’s been more than a century, José Rizal’s letters are part of the most valuable accounts in history. In fact, four of them are set to be auctioned at León Art Gallery on Saturday, March 5.
The floor price starts at P1,000,000 apiece. You can register to bid online here. Check out what the National Hero of the Philippines wrote in each letter below.
José Rizal writing to his sister from Hong Kong (1891)
The oldest piece in this set of letters is dated October 12, 1891. Rizal addressed it to his eldest sister Maria. He was in Hong Kong and wrote his message in Tagalog on a single sheet of paper.
In a lengthy message that went from front to back, Rizal assured Maria that their father (Francisco Mercado), eldest brother (Paciano), and himself are doing fine. He asked Maria to send his kisses to his mother (Teodora Alonso) and their siblings. He also explained his plan to quit the Philippines and settle in Sandakan, North Borneo.
José Rizal thanks his sister for sending sweets (1895)
In another letter dated August 28, 1895, from Dapitan, Rizal addresses the letter to Maria again and sent his thanks for the delivery of “chocolate, sweets, and cigarettes… as well as tea.” He added his most famous advice to her son Moris, ‘Please tell Moris to speak English so that he would not forget it.’
José Rizal to sharing the arrival of “Miss B” (1895)
Another letter that Maria received from Rizal contains a prescription for a minor ailment of Moris. It also sounds that he resigned to his exile and helped the arrival of “Miss B” a.k.a. Josephine Bracken during the same year. He wrote, ‘If Father is coming here I wish he would buy me a velocipede (the new-fangled precursor of the bicycle.)’
‘If they will come here and can endure our situation, I would not wish to leave this place anymore and I would just engage in farming so long as they live,’ he added.
José Rizal’s letter to his mother Teodora Alonso (1896)
The last letter dated June 3, 1896, was for his mother, Teodora Alonso. The letter was is in Spanish and he addresses her as “mi muy amada madre,” which means “my beloved mother.”
Rizal shared how “Miss B” is leaving Manila for a little rest and she will go there bringing various gifts for the family, including $25 for his parents. He then apologizes for not sending more since he has many expenses.
Rizal also added a list of things he would like to have sent to him: three sacks of rice, one of flour and one of salt, several kilos (arroba) of sugar (of which he notes he consumes much) and a “bayoncito” of coffee.
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Source: we the pvblic
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