Leonor “Orang”

Valenzuela
NASYONALIDAD :
Isang Filipina na taga Pagsanjan, Laguna. Anak
nina Kapitan Juan at Kapitana Sanday
Valenzuela.
ESTADO NG RELASYON :
Hindi gaanong seryoso ang relasyon ng dalawa,
bagamat sabay itong nabuo noong nililigawan ni
Rizal ang pinsan na si Leonor Rivera.
PAGLALARAWAN:
Isang babaeng may katangkaran at may ugaling
pang may kaya.
Inilarawan siya ng kaibigan ni Rizal na
“mapanghalina at magiliwin”.
UNANG PAGKIKITA :
Nagkakilala nang manirahan si Rizal sa bahay ni Donya Concha Leyva sa
Intramuros noong siya nag-aaral sa medisina sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas.

ANG RELASYON:
Leonor “Orang” Valenzuela, Rizal’s second object of affection, is literally
the girl-next-door. They met when Rizal was a sophomore medical student at
the University of Santo Tomas, during which time he also lived at Doña Concha
Leyva’s boarding house in Intramuros, Manila. Orang, who was then 14 years
old, was his neighbor.
During the courtship, Rizal was said to have sent Leonor private and secret
love letters, which he wrote using invisible ink made with water and salt. he
was adept in chemistry, too. To read the letters, Orang had to heat the
letter over a candle or a lamp. Rizal also frequented the Valenzuelas’ home,
which was a hang-out place of the students in the area.

There are, however, documents that may serve as proof that Rizal’s efforts
were not effective. Some accounts say he was courting Leonor Valenzuela and
and his second cousin Leonor Rivera at the same time, thus the need for
invisible letters. (Still, we need to appreciate the effort that went with
it.) Rivera apparently knew of this and gave way to Rivera’s attraction for
Rizal. When Rizal left for Spain in 1882, it was said that he did say goodbye
to Orang but kept in touch with the help of Rizal’s close friend, Jose
“Chenggoy” Cecilio.
Chenggoy was the ultimate teaser and maybe wingman who was amused with the
“rivalry” of the namesakes. On one of Chenggoy’s letter to Rizal, he wrote,
“…nagpipilit ang munting kasera (Leonor Rivera) na makita si Orang, pero
dahil natatakpan ng isang belong puti, hindi naming nakilala nang dumaan ang
prusisyon sa tapat ng bahay. Sinabi sa akin ni O(rang) na sabihin ko raw sa
munting kasera na hindi siya kumakaribal sa pag-iibigan ninyo. Que gulay,
tukayo, anong gulo itong idinudulot natin sa mga dalagang ito!” (Manebog
2013)

Rizal’s supposed affection for Leonor Valenzuela, age 14, was a love story made
up by his gossipy friend, Jose Cecilio (Chenggoy), who derived pleasure from
titillatingRizal. He told Rizal that there was a rivalry for his affection between
Leonor Valenzuelaand Leonor Rivera.

To finally move on perhaps from his unsuccessful love story withSegunda

Katigbak, Rizal frequently visited Orang’s house wi
th or without socialgatherings. Rizal was a frequent visitor in the Valenzuela home
especially during specialoccasions where he was most popular because of his clever
sleigh of the hand tricks.Using his knowledge in Chemistry, he courted Leonor, sent love
notes in invisible inkmade of common table salt and water which could only be read when
heated over acandle lamp. He had no real love for Orang, just the wandering eye of a
Bagong Tao nanag-bi-binata
(a young man barely out of adolescence). Strangely, their romance endedwithout
proposing marriage to Orang.

ANG PAGHIHIWALAY:
Natigil ang pag-iibigan ng umalis patungong Europa si Rizal, iniwan nito ang
dalawang Leonora . Isang kaibigan na si Jose “Chenggoy” M. Cecilio ang
nagbalita ng malamig na pakikitungo ng dalawang Leonora sa isang sulat :
“…nagpipilit ang munting kasera (Leonor Rivera) na makita si Orang, pero
dahil natatakpan ng isang belong puti, hindi naming nakilala nang dumaan ang
prusisyon sa tapat ng bahay. Sinabi sa akin ni O(rang) na sabihin ko raw sa
munting kasera na hindi siya kumakaribal sa pag-iibigan ninyo. Que gulay,
tukayo, anong gulo itong idinudulot natin sa mga dalagang ito! “
Nabalitang si nag-asawa si Orang ng isang negosyante sa isang bahay-kalakal
matapos lumisan si Rizal ngunit ito’y hindi na kumpirma.

TRIVIA
Isang tagahanga ni Leonor Valenzuela ang nagbigay ng mga pahayag na :
"Isang araw tinanong ang babaeng ito kung anu-anong katangian ang nais
niyang matipon sa isang lalaking mamarapatin niyang mapangasawa, at
ang sagot ay kailangan ang lalaki’y maging doktor sa medisina, lisensyado
sa batas, agronomist, at iba pa; kung gayon, ani D.M.V. (ang tagahanga)
walang sinumang pagtitipunan ng mga katangiang ito kundi si G. Rizal,
na sinasabing siyang nobyo; dahil dito sinabi ni D.M.V na kung hindi man
hayagang minamahal si G. Rizal, siya namang laman ng isip ng babaeng iyon."
BUO AT DETALYADONG KWENTO NG KANILANG PAG IIBIGAN:
Leonor Valenzuela

Rizal's Age: 17
Where they met: House of Dona Concha Leyva in Intramuros, as his neighbor.
How Rizal courted her: Wrote letters using invisible ink. He then taught her
how to read the letters.

Leonor “Orang” Valenzuela

Fourth Girlfriend
Rizal’s another experience of love happened when he was a sophomore in his
medical studies in the University of Santo Tomas
He boarded in the house of Doña Concha Leyva in Intramuros, and the next—door
neighbor was Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela.
When Rizal was a sophomore at the University of Santo Tomas and was boarding
in the house of Dona Concha Leyva in Intramuros he met Leonor "Orang"
Valenzuela, his next-door neighbor and daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana
Sanday Valenzuela. She was a tall girl who carried herself with grace and
elegance.

Exchanging Love Notes

Rizal was always welcome at the Valenzuela home. He eventually courted Leonor
by sending her love notes, which he wrote in invisible ink made from a mixture
of water and table salt. He taught Leonor how to read his letters by heating
them over a lamp or a candle to allow the words to surface.

Unfortunately, as with his first love, Jose failed to ask for the lady's hand
in marriage.

Leonor Valenzuela the fourth girlfriend of Rizal. Several months after during
Rizal sophomore year at the University Of Santo Tomas, he boarded in the
house of Doña Concha Leyva in Intramuros. The nextdoor neighbors of Doña
Concha were Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela, parents of a
charming girl named Leonor. Rizal a medical student from Calamba, was a
welcomed visitor in the Valenzuela home, where he was the life of the social
parties because of his clever sleight of hand tricks. He courted Leonor
Valenzuela, who was a tall girl. Almost as tall as Jose himself, and had a
regal bearing. He sent her love notes written in invisible ink. This ink
consisted of common table salt and water. It left no trace on the paper.
Rizal, who knew his chemistry, taught Orang (pet name of Leonor Valenzuela)
the secret of reading any note written in the invisible ink by heating it
over a candle or lamp so that the letter may appear. But as with Segunda, he
stopped short of proposing marriage to Orang.
Mahiwagang si Orang

Habang nag-aaral si Rizal dito sa Maynila ng pagkadoktor, naging malapit siya

sa maraming kababaihan. Hindi iilan sa kanila ang pinakitaan niya ng pagtatangi.
Isa sa mga babaeng ito si Leonor Valenzuela o “Orang” para sa kanilang
magkakaibigan. Kaunti lamang ang mga detalye na mahahagilap tungkol kay Orang
at sa naging relasyon nila ni Rizal. Karamihan dito ay mahihinuha sa
pakikipagpalitan ni Rizal ng mga liham sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

Nang umalis si Rizal sa Pilipinas patungong Europa, nag-iwan siya ng dalawang

Leonor: si Leonor Rivera at Leonor Valenzuela. Naging tagapamagitan niya sa
dalawang dalagang ito ang kaibigang Jose Cecilio o Chenggoy. Maaaring masabi
sa puntong ito na namamangka si Rizal sa dalawang ilog.

…nagpipilit ang munting kasera (Leonor Rivera) na makita si Orang, pero

dahil natatakpan ng isang belong puti, hindi naming nakilala nang dumaan
ang prusisyon sa tapat ng bahay. Sinabi sa akin ni O(rang) na sabihin ko raw
sa munting kasera na hindi siya kumakaribal sa pag-iibigan ninyo. Que gulay,
tukayo, anong gulo itong idinudulot natin sa mga dalagang ito!

Bagamat tunay siyang nagka-interes kay Leonor Rivera hindi niya ito inalayan
ng tapat na pag-ibig noong una. Kaibigan ni Rizal si Orang at maaaring noong
siya ay nasa Maynila pa ay naging malapit dito. Inilarawan siya ng kaibigan ni
Rizal na “mapanghalina at magiliwin.” Maaaring siya ay may angkin kagandahan
sapagkat maraming binata ang naiulat na lumigaw sa kanya. Subalit ganito ang
nilalaman ng pakikipag-usap niya sa isang tagahanga:

Isang araw tinanong ang babaeng ito kung anu-anong katangian ang nais
niyang matipon sa isang lalaking mamarapatin niyang mapangasawa, at
ang sagot ay kailangan ang lalaki’y maging doktor sa medisina, lisensyado
sa batas, agronomist, at iba pa; kung gayon, ani D.M.V. (ang tagahanga)
walang sinumang pagtitipunan ng mga katangiang ito kundi si G. Rizal,
na sinasabing siyang nobyo; dahil dito sinabi ni D.M.V na kung hindi man
hayagang minamahal si G. Rizal, siya namang laman ng isip ng babaeng iyon.

Hindi umusbong ang pag-iibigang Orang at Rizal. Hindi naitala na nakipagpalitan

ng liham si Rizal kay Orang tulad ng ginawa niya kay Leonor Rivera. Masasabing
hindi rin kasing-sidhi ng pag-ibig ni Leonor Rivera ang nararamdaman ni Orang
para kay Rizal. Sa katunayan, habang nagkasakit si Leonor Rivera dahil sa
paglisan ni Rizal ay nanatiling magiliwin itong si Orang. Maaaring nang
kalaunan, nagpakasal si Orang sa isang empleyado ng bahay-kalakal subalit
walang kumpirmasyon ukol rito.
Leonor Valenzuela and Jose Rizal's Invisible Love Letters

Nicknamed Orang, Leonor Valenzuela was commonly described as a tall girl with
regal bearing who was Rizal’s province-mate. She was the daughter
of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela, who were from Pagsanjan,
Laguna.

Orang was Rizal’s neighbor when he boarded in the house of Doña Concha
Leyva in Intramuros during his sophomore year at the University of Santo Tomas
as a medicine student. To finally move on perhaps from his unsuccessful love
story with Segunda Katigbak, Rizal frequently visited Orang’s house with or
without social gatherings. The proofs that Rizal indeed courted her were the
love letters he sent her. 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.)

When Rizal left for Spain, he received a letter from his friend and confidant
Jose M. Cecilio (Chenggoy) indicating that the two ladies had an idea that
their ‘common denominator’ was not only their first name:
“…nagpipilit ang munting kasera (Leonor Rivera) na makita si Orang, pero dahil
natatakpan ng isang belong puti, hindi naming nakilala nang dumaan ang prusisyon
sa tapat ng bahay. Sinabi sa akin ni O(rang) na sabihin ko raw sa munting
kasera na hindi siya kumakaribal sa pag-iibigan ninyo. Que gulay, tukayo, anong
gulo itong idinudulot natin sa mga dalagang ito!”

The letter suggests that either Orang was giving way to Rivera-Rizal love
affair or she (Orang) was not that interested in Rizal. In fact, records were
not clear if she officially reciprocated Rizal’s courtship. If indeed she never
took Rizal’s courtship seriously, we could not actually blame her. Her would-
be affair with Rizal could only be either a rebound relationship (from Segunda-
Jose failed affair) or an unhealthy love triangle (with the other Leonor in
the equation).

Unlike her ‘tukayo’, Orang didn’t feel much sorrow upon Rizal’s departure. She
was said to have accepted other suitors, attended social parties, and ended up
marrying an employee of a trade house.
 Song related to their Love Story

Sana Dalawa Ang Puso

Parang kailan lang, buhay ko'y walang gulo

May minamahal, at minamahal ako
Nang makilala ka, buhay ko'y biglang nagbago
Ako'y nagtataka, puso ko'y litong-lito

Refrain:
Bakit nga ganyan iisa ang puso natin?
Hindi naman natin maaaring hatiin

Chorus:
Sana dalawa ang puso ko
Hindi na sana nalilito
Kung sino sa inyo
Sana dalawa ang puso ko
Hindi na sana kailangan pang, pumili sa inyo...

Para bang tukso, na 'di ko kayang matalo

Isip ko'y lito, walang mapili sa inyo
Sabi nga nila, di maaaring magpantay
Pag-ibig sa dal'wa, kaya't tanong ko lagi ay

Bakit nga ganyan iisa ang puso natin?

Hindi naman natin maaaring hatiin

Sana dalawa ang puso ko

Hindi na sana nalilito
Kung sino sa inyo
Sana dalawa ang puso ko
Hindi na sana kailangan pang, pumili sa inyo...

Ngunit kung isa, Sa inyo'y mawawala

'Di makakaya, Ang hirap na madarama
Kahit alam ko, Na darating din ang araw
Na pipili ako, Kung siya na nga o kung ikaw...

Sana dalawa ang puso ko

Hindi na sana nalilito
Kung sino sa inyo
Sana dalawa ang puso ko
Hindi na sana kailangan pang pumili sa inyo...

Sana, oh, sana

Ohhh Sana, oh, sana
Sana, ohohohoh woh, sana