Quiz 3

Submitted by: Princess Jovie Mary S. Bitanga

(BSA-II)

1. Why do you think did Rizal use Leonor Rivera as the inspiration for Maria Clara?
Jose Rizal, the romantic, fell in love for the first time with his childhood sweetheart Leonor
Rivera, who later became the inspiration for the iconic character Maria Clara in his novel “Noli
Me Tangere”.
2. If you were Rizal, would you also flourish feelings for Nellie Boustead knowing that she is the
fiancé of your friend Antonio Luna?
No because she is already engaged to my friend.
3. Why do you think that Rizal’s rising affection for Segunda Katigbak was compared to him
beginning to drink “the sweetest poison of love”?
He would as to see his sister although he really wanted to see Segunda, Little by little, Rizal
began to drink ‘the sweetest poison of love”.
4. In your own opinion, why do you think Rizal called Josephine Bracken as “dulce extranjera”?
She realizes that she is not just arguing with Rizal, she is arguing with certain truths that may not
only eventually devour her but may also answer why she was and will forever be a “dulce
extranjera.”
5. How do you think Rizal able to swoops girls at their feet?

It can only be with true passion that one can conquer and accomplish what Filipino hero Jose
Rizal had in his thirty-five-year life. He stopped at nothing when it came to expressing his love
not just for his country but also his women. His travels across the Philippines and the world
swayed him into multifarious relationships that colored almost half his life. There are nine
women on record. It’s not to say that all those relationships were serious, but he did pursue when
he wanted to pursue, cared, at least, and displayed his attentiveness and charm unapologetically.

He documented his affairs, too, using his much-praised grandiloquence. And based on those
documents, let’s just say the man is a high-hiiigh-level bolero. And he wrote them letters (a dying
art, so forgive us waxing poetic about it). And let’s not forget he almost fought in a duel with the
Filipino army general Antonio Luna, when a drunk Luna made nasty comments about a girl
named Nellie Boustead. He was grand when he needed to be, and smooth without trying; an
expert playboy—or lover—if you will. Could he be the original GOAT? But amidst the flirting,
he was a big believer that women should be empowered. This was evident in his essay, “To the
Young Women of Malolos,” which he wrote for the 20 women of Bulacan who fought to have a
night school so they could study Spanish. He wrote, in part, “No longer does the Filipina stand
with her head bowed nor does she spend her time on her knees, because she is quickened by hope
in the future; no longer will the mother contribute to keeping her daughter in darkness and bring
her up in contempt and moral annihilation. And no longer will the science of all sciences consist
in blind submission to any unjust order, or in extreme complacency, nor will a courteous smile be
deemed the only weapon against insult or humble tears the ineffable panacea for all tribulations.”
A supporter of women empowermentwho has that swagger? It’s not so hard to imagine anyone
 flirting back after he inks his first sentence. As proof of his “ways,” here are the recorded stories
of the nine women of Dr. Jose Rizal
6. What do you think of Rizal’s and Leonor Valenzuela’s “invisible ink” letter?
His love notes were mysteriously written in invisible ink made of common table salt and water,
which could be read by heating the note over a candle or lamp. More than a manifestation of
Rizal’s knowledge of chemistry, his magical love notes to Orang, one can say, are a proof that he
wanted to keep the courtship private. But why would he want to make it secret?

Many references declare that Orang was Rizal’s object of affection (too) while he was courting
the other Leonor, his cousin Leonor Rivera. If this were true, then sending invisible love letters
would indeed be the smart thing to do for other people would find them as mere blank papers.

Without clear material evidence, the ‘two-timer charge’ could indeed be easily denied. (To do a
further speculative stretch, Rizal was perhaps thinking that if both ladies would become his
girlfriends, he would not make the mistake of calling any of them by a wrong name.)
7. If you were Rizal would you rather live a prosperous life in Japan with Seiko Usui or do what
he did? Why or why not?
Do what he did because, He is not selfish. He knows his responsibilities.
8. Do you agree with Rizal’s reason in not allowing his romance with Consuelo to go on? Yes.
9. Do you think Rizal using Suzanne Jacoby to ease his loneliness from Leonor Rivera was
justifiable? Why or Why not?
No. He should not use another person’s heart just to fill up his loneliness.
10. If you were Gertude Beckett, what would you feel from Rizal’s sudden escape avoiding to
marry you? Happy, because he saved me from the wrong person to marry with.