I just arrived a week ago, but instead of slouching at my couch, I decided to brush up my Rizal 101 lessons. It has been two years since I last turn the yellowed pages of my “Rizal: His life and works” books…My professor from college, Mr. Timmy Sanchez invited me to listen to Prof. Ambeth Ocampo’s lecture…As expected, the place was jam-packed with students, teachers and history buffs…all ears to the very entertaining and informative lecture of Mr. Ocampo. I have read most of his columns at the Philippine Daily Inquirer in the last three years and I can say that he is really amazing
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The lecture revolved around the love story of Rizal from his childhood fling Segunda Katigbak up to his “foreign friend” Josephine Bracken. According to Ocampo, Segunda deeply fell in love with the young Jose. One day, they decided to meet on the intersection of Laguna and Batangas. Jose riding his horse patiently waited for Segunda. The girl riding a caretela asked the cuchero to halt for her to see Rizal. Jose seeing this, lowered his head and took off his sombrero. As per Ocampo, Segunda who is betrothed to marry really liked Rizal. Our national hero is also head over heels to Segunda but as books would show Rizal knew that he has a mission to fulfill for his country…or maybe Rizal was a torpe…
Josephine Bracken was sick when they were together in Dapitan. Ocampo stressed the fact that Josephine contracted this disease from her uncle who was probably a sex maniac. Rizal, obviously knew this fact and so he had no sexual contact with this Irish girl. Even during those days, Rizal’s family really despise this girl. Other than having syphilis, she was a cleptomaniac, as a matter of fact she was caught on a market in Hong Kong stealing some “trinkets” Ocampo also noted that the young boy was never recognized as a “Rizal by the family. The author surmised that Bracken gave birth to her son from her uncle. Her uncle by the way was forced to leave Dapitan and was sent back to Hong Kong.
After the death of Rizal, Josephine took the original manuscript of the “Mi Ultimo Adios” to Hong Kong. She even filed a case stating that she is the rightful heir to the library of Rizal and some other properties which were estimated to bring her a good sum of money. Of course, she lost the case to Donya Teodora. It is said that Bracken died penniless and was buried in a pauper’s grave also in Hong Kong.
The said lecture was entitled Queridas ni Rizal: Love and Sex in Philippine History at Ayala Museum. The said museum is located at the corner of Makati Avenue and De La Rosa Street, Makati City. For more information, please call 757-7117 to 21 local 28 or visit www.ayalamuseum.org
Ocampo cheerfuly signs a copy of Chulalongkorn's Elephant
Diorama at Ayala Museum
After the lecture, I visited the Ayala Museum and the highlight will be the diorama depicting various scenes in Philippine History. Below is the Chinese - Barangay trading prior to the arrival of the Spaniards
Abu Bakr arrives in Mindanao
The First Mass in Limasawa
The Battle of Mactan
The Blood Compact of Sikatuna and Legazpi
Cannon making (lantaka) a native shows a Spaniard how it was made
on one corner is Tita Cory's dress worn during her inauguration at Club Filipino.
The bust of the Ayalas at the Museum lobby.
All smiles with Prof. Ambeth Ocampo
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