Rizal boarded with the Beckett family in London in 1888. He grew close to their 18-year old daughter, Gertrude. Gertrude developed romantic feelings for Rizal and they began flirting. However, Rizal realized he could not marry Gertrude as he was committed to Leonor Rivera in the Philippines and had a mission to fulfill. He did not want to deceive or hurt Gertrude. Rizal suppressed his feelings and abruptly left London to distance himself from Gertrude. They continued writing but Rizal maintained he could not reciprocate her romantic affection due to his commitments elsewhere.

2. RIZAL’S SIXTH LOVER
27 years old 18 years old

3. How did
they met ?
How did
they ended
their
romance?
Why did
they
separate?
Who is Gertrude
Beckett?

5. Gertrude was
the daughter of
Rizal’s landlord
Charles Beckett who
is an organist at St.
Paul’s Church in
London.
The oldest of the
three Beckett sisters.
She was a
buxom English girl
with brown hair,
blue eyes with
pink cheeks
This English girl
(who probably spoke
the British accent of
the ‘Harry Potter’
characters) fell in
love with Rizal.
Among the girls
who became a part of
Rizal’s life, she is
considered as one of
the most beautiful.

7. From Japan and United States, Rizal’s next destination was London in
May 1888.
While Rizal was in London annotating the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas,
he boarded in the home of Mr . Beckett , organist of St. Paul’s Church, at No.
37 Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill.

8. Beckett family
- Mr . and
Mrs. Beckett
- 4 daughters
(Gertrude,
Balnche, Flory and
Grace)
- 2 sons

9. Rizal was getting interested
in the companionship of the
Beckett’s when their
eighteen years old daughter
came to his life. ( Referring
to Gertrude)

10.  Gertrude always
had a smile for
him whenever
she brought the
food to Rizal’s
room. In return ,
he would call her
in some
endearing
words.
There was love
in Gertrude’s
eyes and this
fact was not
concealed to
Rizal.

11. Gertrude fell in love with
Rizal
“ On cold winter
I had a sunny smile for
chattering gaily like a
humming bird. During the
family picnics, I was
particularly very happy
because Rizal was with us
I gave him all my attention.
And in rainy days when
stayed at home, I helped
by mixing his colors for
painting or assisted in
preparing the clay for

12.  Rizal, being a man
of normal
emotions, found
exhilarating joy
in Gertrude’s
company.

13. * Their friendship drifted
towards romance. Rizal
affectionately called her
“Gettie” and she fondly
called him “Pettie”.
* As their flirtation was
approaching of no return.
Rizal suddenly realized
that he could not marry
Gettie.

14. Things that prevented him
from falling for her is that:
•He had a mission to fulfil in life.
•He was at that time engaged to Leonor
Rivera and there was no reason to
forsake her.
•He could have loved the girl and
deceived her later on.

15. According to Antonio
Regidor, he
remembered Rizal
saying, “ I cannot marry
her because I have
other affections to
remember in our
country and this does
not permit me.

16. I am incapable of
committing the indignity of
exchanging seduction for a
love that is pure and
virginal such as she can
offer. -Rizal-
In this connection, Retana
observed, “Rizal did not understand
love except with a good purpose;
and holding in his heart a loyalty
and affection for one of his
countrywomen(Leonor), like
another Quixote, he fled from
danger before he could be disloyal
to her and to the English lady.

17. Rizal supressed the
passionate yearning of his
heart and decided to go
away so that “Gettie” may
forget him.

18.  Some said that it is a
one-sided love all along
because Rizal was not
able to reciprocate her
feelings.

19. Before leaving London, he finished four sculptural works.

20. Prometheus Bound

21. The Triumph of Death over Life

22. The Triumph of
Science over Death
Composite
carving of the
heads of Beckett
sisters ( He gave
this as a farewell
gift to the Beckett
sisters)

24. “ADIOS LONDON”
Suddenly on March 19, 1889,
Rizal bade good bye to the
kind Beckett family
(particularly Gertrude) and
left London for Paris. He was
sad as he crossed the English
Channel, for he cherished so
many beautiful memories on
London.

25. As Rizal was in the French capital, constant
correspondence was kept up between them. One
time, he received a letter from Gertrude “ couched
in endearing terms.” She would at other times
reproach Rizal why the letter did not “ send her
one nice little letter.”

26. Letter of Gettie to Rizal:
My dearest Pettie (Rizal),
“You haven’t sent me one nice little letter, yet you
might have done so last time duckie, but you can’t
now, because I am so afraid of the others seeing it. I
do not want to see you, darling, shall you be coming
home soon dear, I hope so. If you win that duckie,
perhaps I shall come and see you. Oh, won’t that be
so lovely? Shall be glad to see me? Yet, I shall. You
said I am to ask you for anything I want, dear love, I
don’t want anything unless it is a pair of gloves to
match the dress, Pettie.
“Good bye, you nasty little put, with lots of kisses

27. https://philnews.ph/2019/09/21/jose-rizal-gertrude-beckett-our-heros-whirlwind-
romance-in-london/
https://ourhappyschool.com/music-and-arts/gertrude-beckett-jose-rizals-fling-
london
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/12/30/18/all-the-girls-rizal-
loved-before
https://rizal.raphaelmarco.com/blog/gertrude-beckett
https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/newsfeatures-peopleparties/58058/the-
women-of-jose-rizal
REFERENCES: