POSITION

PAPER

Jose Rizal: A Womanizer

or Just Charismatic

Group 5
 Jose Rizal: A Womanizer or Just Charismatic

Charming, attentive, interested, witty, flirtatious — these are all traits of a womanizer. A

womanizer knows exactly how to make a woman feel special, different from the rest, and like his
one and only. The only difference between a womanizer and a good man is a womanizer acts in
this manner to get in your pants, not your heart. According to the Urban Dictionary, “Men who
are emotionally unavailable, due to patterns of dysfunctional love. Unpredictable, dishonest, high
ego, charming, full of charisma, completely irresistible, extremely seductive. They hold your
attention like nobody else, all out of an unconscious desire to prove constantly that they are real
men by the number of conquests they can make, they actually need permanent external
validation from different women, so they do not sense love with them, as they banalized them as
objects to get attention or sex.”
Jose P. Rizal was known in different fields, especially in writings. He is the epitome of
greatness and nationalism of Filipino. With his charismatic characteristics, he can capture any
woman's heart. Having a long list of women in his life, some call him a womanizer. On February
22, 1889, Rizal sent a letter written in Tagalog for transmittal to the 21 young women of
Malolos. A letter commending the bravery of the women and with hopes that this valiant struggle
against friar hegemony in the affairs of the Filipinos will enthuse all compatriots. In the letter,
Rizal’s enunciated his great desire for Filipino women to enjoy the privileges in education with
men. Moreover, he appealed to women to be heedful over their rights and not to be docile
towards many injustices forced upon them. Men are born equal, naked. God did not create men
to be slaves, nor did he embellish them with reason to be blinded by others. Rizal as well brought
into the fore the topic of love, discussing the reputation of Filipino women being called by some
peninsulars and friars of being “easy” women. He rejected this generalization, arguing women of
weak character are endemic in all parts of the world. The Filipino maiden should be the pride of
the country and should command the respect of everybody. This letter depicts Rizal as pioneer in
advocating the promotion of the welfare of women in the society, thus, making him a true
gentleman. He strongly believed that women could exert great influence towards the
emancipation of their country. Having so much respect and gentleness with women thus, Rizal is
indeed not a womanizer.
Rizal had a long list of love affairs. At the age of 15, Rizal met Julia, a 14-year-old girl
from Los Banos, Laguna. In 1877, when Rizal went to College, he met different people. Through
his friends, he met Segunda Katigbak, who came from Lipa, Batangas, and she was also a friend
of his sister, Olympia. She was considered as his puppy love. After Rizal’s separation from
Segunda, he tried to eradicate the pain that he felt by visiting a girl living in Pakill, Laguna
which he called “Binibining L”. When he was still studying at the University of Santo Tomas in
1878, Rizal met Leonor or Orang Valenzuela. Rizal stays next to the Valenzuela house and they
always stay with his friends there. Next, Rizal met his true love, Leonor Rivera. In 1884, after
being heartbroken due to the fact of Leonor Rivera marrying another man, Rizal met the
daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, Consuelo Ortiga y Perez in Madrid. When Rizal went to
Japan as he was heading to Europe last 1888, he met Usui Seiko, a 23-year-old. Seiko Usui was
also known as O Sei San and was a Japanese samurai’s daughter. When Rizal reached London in
1886, he stayed in the house of Charles Beckett and there he met Charles’ eldest daughter,
Gertrude Beckett. While a gust of the Boustead family at their residence in the resort city of
Biarritz in 1891, he had befriended the two pretty daughters of his host, Eduardo Boustead.
Antonio Luna, a frequent visitor of Bousteads, courted Nellie but she was deeply infatuated with
Rizal. In Brussels, he lived in the boarding house of the two Jacoby sisters, Marie and Suzanne,
who household included a petit niece, also named Suzanne. Rizal was so charming and dignified
a gentleman that Suzanne, the petit of his landladies, was attracted to him in 1889. Lastly,
Josephine Bracken was the woman who stayed with Rizal until his execution in 1896. She was
also, allegedly, the woman whom Rizal married. Having a long list of love affairs does not mean
that Rizal is a womanizer. It is clearly stated that Rizal met these girls in different times, and that
some of the girls were just linked to him and are just women that he has met. According to
Vocabulary.com, “A womanizer is a man who always seems to have a new girlfriend, and who
has no hesitation about starting up a new relationship before he's ended the last one. Usually,
these relationships are sexual and don't last long. He is the kind of man who can't keep his eyes
off every single woman who walks by.” Thus, Rizal being a womanizer is not evident through
having a long list of love affairs.

Rizal seeks women to hurt them for entertainment. Rizal first met Julia at the side of a
river. Julia was vibrant yet modest, oval-shaped, and olive-skinned and blessed with simple
beauty that made Rizal attracted to her. It was a normal feeling for a child to have a little
admiration on someone. Rizal being kind and gentleman, he offered Julia and her grandmother a
ride home in his rented carromata. Just like any childhood memories, people slowly forgot it as
they explore more on their lives.
Rizal met Segunda Katigbak at his grandmother’s house at Troso, Manila. However, now
he knew that she was engaged to another man, he relinquished his feelings and felt constraint to
speak of love. It is good for him to know when to stop. His love was not in the right moment,
Rizal knew how to respect someone else’s love.
After Rizal’s separation from Segunda, he started seeing a girl living in Pakill, Laguna
which he called “Binibining L”. Rizal described her as a young woman, white and she was gifted
with attractive eyes. It is believed that this “Binibining L” is Jacinta Ibardo Laza who is a
teacher. Rizal only stopped seeing her because her father forbade him to.
As Rizal often stays next to the Valenzuela house and they always stay with his friends
there. Orang gradually fell in love with Rizal because of Jose's talent. But for Rizal, it would be
better if he only considered Orang as a friend than if he considered him his girlfriend. This
decision is also due to Rizal's special preference for another Leonor, Leonor Rivera.
When they were young, Rizal did not pay much attention to Leonor. But when Leonor
starts to fix herself, Rizal noticed that little by little, Leonor, who used to look like a scurvy, was
gradually blossoming. When the two got along well, they decided to call Leonor Rivera Taimis.
And in 1882, Rizal concealed from Leonor his departure for Europe, which greatly hurt the girl's
feelings. If at first Leonor's parents supported the two's romance, they suddenly opposed it
because of the well-known young filibuster of those times. Much more has happened that has led
to the painful separation of the two. Because Leonor's parents blocked Rizal's letters to the girl,
Leonor assumed that Rizal had forgotten about her - which prompted Leonor to marry an
Englishman chosen by her parents, Henry Kipping. Rizal and Leonor Rivera's relationship lasted
for 11 years.
After being heartbroken due to the fact of Leonor Rivera marrying another man, Rizal
met the daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, who is the alcalde of Manila during their time. Don
Pablo’s house was the common meeting place of “Circulo Hispano-Filipino” members like
Rizal, the Ortiga residence was thus frequented by Filipino lads especially that Don Pablo had
beautiful daughters. Rizal met Consuelo Ortiga y Perez in Madrid. In Madrid, Consuelo had
plenty of suitors which are Eduardo de Lete, Antonio and Maximino Paterno, and including
Rizal himself. Rizal and Lete had an agreement regarding on who Consuelo will choose between
them and in the end, it is Lete who have won the heart of Consuelo.
When Rizal went to Japan as he was heading to Europe last 1888, he met Usui Seiko, a
23-year-old. Seiko Usui was also known as O Sei San and was a Japanese samurai’s daughter.
Rizal had moved to a Spanish Legation in the Azabu district of Tokyo where she regularly
worked. She served as his interpreter during his stay in Japan. She also helped him to be
accustomed to the Japanese culture, taught him how to read and write Nihonggo, and taught him
the Japanese art of painting also known as su-mie. Together, they visited The Imperial Art
Gallery, The Imperial Library, various universities, the Shokubutsu-en (Botanical Garden), the
Hibiya Park, and various shrines. Rizal was almost tempted by her beauty and affection to stay in
Japan and was also tempted to marry her. But as we all know, Rizal never forgets about his
mission and love for the country that is why he left her and continued his true intentions of
coming to foreign countries. Rizal did not play with her feelings and is serious about her but
when nationalism comes in, it would be Rizal’s priority.
When Rizal reached London, he stayed in the house of Charles Beckett and there he met
Charles’ eldest daughter, Gertrude Beckett. Among the girls who became a part of Jose Rizal’s
life, she is considered as one of the most beautiful with her cheerful blue eyes, brown hair, rosy
cheeks, and thin lips. As an etiquette of English people, Gertrude always deliver Rizal’s
breakfast. And because of Rizal’s infamous charisma, Gertrude fell in love with him and became
his helping hand to finish his artworks such as ‘Prometheus Bound’, ‘The Triumph of Death over
Life,’ and ‘The Triumph of Science over Death.’ Rizal called her “Gettie” while she was calling
him “Pettie”. The love between Rizal and Gertrude was only one-sided all along because Rizal
was not able to reciprocate her feelings since his heart still belongs to Leonor Rivera and his
country. Rizal left London on March 19, 1889 so that Gertrude may forget about him and as
what his compatriots have said, he left because he was running away from a girl. In here, Rizal
did not manifest of being a womanizer for it is Gertrude who willingly loved him, and Rizal
decided of helping her to move on from him.
 Rizal, having lost Leonor Rivera entertained the thought of courting other ladies. While a
gust of the Boustead family at their residence in the resort city of Biarritz, he had befriended the
two pretty daughters of his host, Eduardo Boustead. Rizal used to fence with the sisters at the
studio of Juan Luna. Antonio Luna, Juan’s Brother, and a frequent visitor of Bousteads, courted
Nellie but she was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by Filipinos in Madrid, a drunken
Antonio Luna uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie. This prompted Rizal to challenge Luna
into a duel. Fortunately, Luna apologized to Rizal, thus averting tragedy for the compatriots.
Their love affair unfortunately did not end in marriage. It failed because Rizal refused to be
converted to the Protestant faith, as Nellie demanded, and Nellie’s mother did not like a
physician without enough paying clientele tot ne a son-in-law. Rizal did not show any signs of
playing or being a womanizer. He and Nellie had reasons why they did not end up together. In
anyways, they parted as good friends when Rizal left Europe.
In 1890, Rizal moved to Brussels because of the high cost of living in Paris. In Brussels,
he lived in the boarding house of the two Jacoby sisters, Marie and Suzanne, who household
included a petit niece, also named Suzanne. Rizal was so charming and dignified a gentleman
that Suzanne, the petit of his landladies, was attracted to him. He was lonely in a strange country-
and Leonor Rivera was so far away; naturally being a normal young man, he found certain bliss
in the company of a Belgian girl. Like other women- Sugunda Katigbak, Orang Valenzuela,
Leonor Rivera, O-Sei-San, Gertrude Beckette, Consuelo Ortiga y Perez, and Nelie Boustead –
Suzanne fell in love with Rizal. She cried when he left towards the end of July 1890 for Madrid,
stopping for a few days in Paris. Although Rizal was in faraway Madrid, Suzanne could not
forget him. Rizal might have flirted with Suzanne; he could not stoop low to give her an amorous
relationship. He was just trying to keep himself in company by making friends, it is just that girls
get attracted and attached to him.

Josephine Bracken was the woman who stayed with Rizal until his execution in 1896.
She was also, allegedly, the woman whom Rizal married. However, accounts of their marriage
have been much debated over the years. Josephine was the adopted daughter of one George
Taufer, whom she lived with in Hongkong for years before she needed to seek help from an
ophthalmologist due to George’s blindness. They then sought the help of Jose Rizal, who was
already exiled in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte at the time. Rizal and Josephine fell in love and
in a month made the announcement that they wanted to get married. But just like the other Rizal
great loves, this one was once again complicated. No priest would marry the two, for reasons that
are still unclear—but perhaps it was because of Rizal’s status in politics. Without a legal paper,
Rizal and Josephine lived together, and had a son, who died a few hours after birth. Rizal named
his son after his father, Francisco.

Rizal did not seek for woman just to hurt them for entertainment. Some of the women
that he met might be infatuated to Rizal but him meeting these women does not mean that he is a
womanizer for he assured that every woman he met would be able to come over him and would
eventually forget him. His affairs with some of the women like Leonor Rivera, Usui Seiko and
Nellie Boustead for some underlying reasons such as family and religion problems. Moreover,
Rizal did not and could not reciprocate some of the women’s feelings for his heart still belongs
to his country and Leonor Rivera.
 Some women that Rizal was linked to were easy-to-get. Rizal wanted a relationship with
Consuelo Ortiga but he had to back off because of two reasons: his friend also had feelings for
Consuelo and he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera. Consuelo wrote in her diary that Rizal
spent a night at their residence when he entertained them with his wit, intelligence, and sense of
humor. In an attempt to express his feelings to Consuelo, Rizal also wrote a poem for her
entitled A La Señorita C.O. y R.

After Rizal’s agenda in the United States, Rizal headed to London and stayed in a
boarding house owned by Charles Beckett, an organist at Saint Paul’s Church. During his stay,
he became friends with one of Mr. Beckett’s daughters named Gertrude Beckett. Sources say she
wanted to be more than just a friend to Rizal, she would always help him with his paintings and
sculptures. Basically, Gettie was “friendzoned” by our guy.
Rizal, together with his friend Jose Albert, arrived in Brussels, Belgium on February 2,
1890. They stayed in a boarding house ran by the two Jacoby sisters, Suzanne and Marie. During
his six-month stay in the city, he had a “transitory romance” with the landladies’ niece named
Suzanne or “petite Suzanne.” Suzanne was probably the most easy-to-get of them all. Upon
knowing that Rizal had already left Brussels, she cried buckets of tears and did not even touch
the chocolates that our “little bad boy” had given her. Two months later, she wrote him a letter
saying, “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.”
Segunda Katigbak was probably Rizal’s “puppy love.” He was only 16 years old when he
met this lovely “colegiala” at his grandmother’s house in Trozo, Manila. Since Segunda also
studied in the same college as his sister, he had another valid reason to see her every day. Rizal
vividly described the young lady as having “eloquent eyes, rosy cheeks, and a smile that reveals
very beautiful teeth.” Rumor has it that Segunda courted Rizal and after a few encounters, Rizal
started to fall in love with her.
The women stated showed signs of being an easy-to-get women. They easily got attracted
with Rizal’s charm and got infatuated by him. Them falling in love with Rizal is not his
intention, he just showed that he is a gentleman and that he appreciates every woman. It is not
Rizal’s fault that women are easily attracted to him and that being an attractive person does not
make him a womanizer.
Rizal was not a womanizer unlike what rumors have stated. Being involved in many
women does not mean he is a womanizer. According to Jose Rizal’s, In Our Times: a guide for
the better understanding of the Philippines' foremost national hero by Augusto de Viana, he
became involved with women like Segunda Katigbak, Nellie Boustead, Leonor Rivera, Leonor
Valenzuela, Consuelo Ortiga, Gertrude Beckett, etc. at separate times and not simultaneously.
Rizal, being mistakenly called as a womanizer is not really one for, he assured that every woman
he met would be able to come over him and would eventually forget him. Rizal is very sensitive
and soft to women for he was raised in a big family with nine sisters and his mother that is why it
is not impossible for Rizal to be gentle with women. His sister Trinidad recalled that the only
woman he came home with is Josephine Bracken to whom later, he was married.
DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR:

ARLANZA, CARL JUSTINE L.

COMIA, AUBREY MAE J.

CUMAHIG, ARNOLETH E.

MAGHIRANG, TRISHA D.

RAMOS, NIÑA YSABELLE A.

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