Segunda Katigbak

It was on one of my weekly visits to La Concordia College when I met my first love. As you see, my sister
Olimpia was a boarding student at the college and had been close friends with a young lady named
Segunda Katigbak. One could say that when we first looked into each others eyes, it was love at first
sight. Our love was apparent, but our futures were not. For in the beginning, my dearest Segunda had
been engaged to be married to a fellow townmate by the name of Manuel Luz. As I was going home to
Calamba, we spoke and she had told me that she too was to return home. Little did I know that at that
moment, my dearest Segunda had been waiting for me to profess my love for her!

Segunda Katigbak, the first girl I had loved with ardent fervor has been lost to me forever.

Leonor Valenzuela
It was in my second year in UST, I had just boarded in the home of Dona Concha Leyva in Intramuros. I
had courted the neighbors daughter, Leonor. She is a tall, beautiful girl with regal bearing. I had taught
her how to write letters using invisible ink and how one may reveal the writings of which. Unfortunately,
our relationship never prospered into marriage.

Leonor Rivera
Leonor Rivera, my love. For 11 years, you have been the greatest influence and it is that influence that
has kept me loyal to you despite meeting other women during my travel. But why? Why must your
mother hide from you all my letters? I had not forgotten you. I shall never forget you. I pains me to know
that you have married an Englishman. My heart yearns for you, Leonor.

Consuelo Ortiga
Consuelo Ortiga y Perez, the prettier of Don Pablo Ortigas daughters. It was her to whom I had dedicated
one of my poems, A la Senorita C.O. y P. It was in her company, I found solace and joy.
The Ortigas residence I and my compatriots frequented. I had feelings for Consuelo, but the thought of
Leonor Rivera reeled me to back out. Also, I did not want to destroy my friendship with Eduardo de Lete.
That man is madly in love with Consuelo and I am more than willing to let him have her.

O Sei San
In my stay in Japan, I met a samurais daughter. Her name was O Sei San. She had taught me the Japanese
art of painting known as su-mie. She also helped me improve my knowledge of the Japanese language.
Had I been a man without this patriotic mission, I would have married this lovely and intelligent woman.
We would have had a stable and happy life in Japan because of the lucrative job offered to me by the
Spanish legation.

Gertrude Beckett
While I was in London annotating the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, I had boarded in the house of the
Beckett family. The eldest of the Beckett daughters, Gertrude, was a blue-eyed, buxom girl who fell in
love with me. She helped me with my paintings and sculptures. But I had to leave London for Paris, for
Gertrude was beginning to have serious feelings towards me. But as a sign of our brief relationship, I had
finished my carving of the Beckett sisters and gave it to her before I left.

Nelly Boustead
Having lost Leonor Rivera, the thought of courting other women entertained me. As a guest of the
Boustead family at their residence in Biarritz, I had befriended the two pretty daughters of my host,
Eduardo Boustead. I used to fence with the sisters and Juan Lunas studio. Apparently, Antonio Luna had
been courting Nelly, but she had been infatuated with me. Odd.
The craziest thing happened tonight. A drunken Antonio Luna, uttered unsavory remarks against Nelly
Boustead and had prompted me to challenge my friend to a duel. Fortunately, as Antonio sobered up, he
apologized, thus averting tragedy among us.
I would have married her. I would have married Nelly. But I refuse to be converted to the Protestant faith.
I just cannot.
One a good note, we parted in good terms.

Suzanne Jacoby
I had arrived in Brussels, Belgium. The cost of living in Paris is too expensive even for a man such as
myself. I have boarded in with the Jacobys. My landladies have a beautiful niece named Suzanne. We talk
and it seems that she is taken by my charm and gallantry. I could flirt with her since Leonor is lost to me,
but I am a man with morals and I cannot deceive her.
I am sorry, Suzanne. But I must leave for Madrid.

Josephine Bracken
In the last days of February 1895, while I was still in Dapitan, I met this 18-year old petite Irish girl. Her
bold blue eyes, brown hair and a happy disposition attracted me. Her name is Josephine Bracken, the
adopted daughter of George Taufer from Hong Kong. He has come to seek me for eye treatment. I rather
find it amusing that my sisters suspect Josephine to be an agent of the friars.
I want her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I proposed to Josephine. But it seems that she is
not yet ready to make decisions, not with her responsibility to her blind father. I pity the man, his
blindness is untreatable.
I tried arranging with Fr. Antonio Obach for our marriage today. But the priest wanted a retraction as a
precondition before marrying us. I cannot do this.
With the advice of my family and friends, and with Josephines consent, I took her as my wife even
without the Churchs blessings.