National Hero. Fought against the Spanish Tyranny. A Womanizer. These are the common statements students say when asked what they know about Jose Rizal. We cannot blame them because such was how history classes were programmed in the basic education.  But beyond these adulatory lines, Rizal was just as human as we are.

My readings brought me to some of Rizal’s intriguing escapades. Thanks to the historian Ambeth Ocampo for making an intensive research on Rizal’s life ‘without his overcoat.’ Truly, Pepe’s life continues to fascinate us.

Hygienic?

In a letter, he wrote:

“On my return home, I will bathe to my heart’s content. You would not believe me that since the middle of August (to the end of December 1882), I have not taken a bath and I do not perspire either. That is how it is here. It is really cold, and really expensive to take a bath. The cost of each bath is 35 cents.” 

Reading his letter lets someone wonder about his hygiene. But in another letter, he noted the importance of cleanliness in his room and all of his belongings so that these would not be infested by bed bugs and fleas, which was common at that time.

Hindi kaya siya nangati noong hindi siya naligo ng ganoon katagal?

Ate tuyo for breakfast

Just like the common Filipino, Rizal loved tuyo for breakfast. He usually paired it with rice and hot chocolate. What would Rizal say as the Department of Health (DOH) eyes the taxing of salted products?

Thrifty

Jose was an Illustrado but, somehow, faced difficulty living abroad. In one of his letters to his brother Paciano, he explained that the cost living was higher. No wonder he chose to stay in hotels with no showers to cut his expenses.

His documented expenses in January 1884 gives us a preview of where his money went in his stay abroad:

January 4         Barbershop and cursed Christmas present 1.10
January 5         Los Cuatro Reynos de la Naturaleza subscription 14.20
January 6         Wandering Jew 10.00
Works of Horace and Dumas 2.5
Supper with a Friend 32.00

January 9.        Without spending a cent

January 12       Bath 2.00
Teatro de la Comedia 2.10
A dish .30
Newspaper and refreshment .35

January 15       One penknife .30

January 16       Postage stamp 1.30
Penknife 1.5
Ball of yarn .50

January 20       One-tenth of a lottery ticket 3.00
Laundry woman 3.00
Domestic postage stamp .10

January 27       Today, I had a picture taken at Otero 10.00
Half-dozen postcards with cover 3.00
One-tenth of lottery tickets 3.00
A box of matches .10

January 29       Candles (one pound, 6) 1.25
Ticket for a dance 1.00
Coffee, refreshments and tip (nightwatchman) 1.70

January 30       For review for the degree 30.00
Postage stamps for letters and periodicals 2.80
Handkerchief .45
Streetcar .30
Excelsior Ball 2.5

January 31       One book 1.00
Arte de Estudiar 2.5

This record certainly shows his love for books and affirms how he managed his finances. Interestingly, he also spent some amount for entertainment.

Loved to be photographed

Unlike his brother Paciano who refused to be photographed, Jose loved to have his picture taken. Evidently, as shown above, he spent 10.00 for a photograph at the Otero.
If Jose were alive today, what would he say about taking selfie?

He used marijuana

At 18, Rizal tried marijuana for “experimental purposes.” He admitted this in his letter to the German scientist Adolf Bernhard Meyer on March 8, 1890. He further noted that “Filipinos drank arak, nipa-palm and coconut wine, etc. and they chewed buyo before the arrival of the Spaniards, but not hashish.” He sought for Meyer’s connection so he could access more books on marijuana.

Rizal also explained that he obtained the substance from a drugstore. Cocaine and heroin were available in drugstores during their time.

What “experiment” did you do when you were 18?
 
Regulated sex life

They say Rizal was a womanizer with the long list of ladies who became part of his 35 colourful years. He may not be described as “handsome” but his brilliance in the arts surely propelled his appeal to young beautiful ladies. Unlike his friends, Rizal had a regulated sex life.

Jose (Rizal) and Jose (Alejandrino) stayed together in Brussels in 1890. One time, Rizal invited Alejandrino for “amusement.” Few days later, Alejandrino asked Rizal if they could go back for another “amusement”, but the latter objected. 

Alejandrino in his narrative recounted how Rizal sternly warned him on excessive sexual intercourse. Rizal strongly believed that energy had to be reserved and that “good time” (as Alejandrino has termed it) should only be once a month. Beyond that was already a vice.

Sharing my findings to my friends, I was asked: how old was he when he had his first “good time”?