Vienna, Austria – A very old letter written by Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, has been discovered in a library in Austria! The letter was written in June 1887 and was hidden in the Vienna City Library for a very long time.
How Was the Letter Found? Dr. Johann Stockinger, a cultural expert from Austria, was studying old letters when he found one signed by “Jose Kisz.” At first, he thought it was just another letter, but when he read further, he found something shocking! Rizal had mentioned his famous book Noli Me Tangere in the letter. That’s when Stockinger realized it was an original letter from Jose Rizal himself!
Why Was It Lost for So Long? The librarians at the Vienna City Library didn’t know about this letter because Rizal’s signature was hard to read. It was mistakenly labeled under a different name, which is why nobody noticed it until Stockinger’s discovery in September 2023.
What Did Rizal Write in the Letter? The letter was addressed to Johannes Nordmann, an Austrian journalist. In it, Rizal talked about a book Nordmann gave him and shared his travel plans. He mentioned how he enjoyed reading Nordmann’s book, which told a story about a monk falling in love with a count’s wife.
Rizal also compared the struggles of Austrian writers to his own troubles with Spanish officials. He believed that his book Noli Me Tangere would bring him more problems because it exposed the truth about the situation in the Philippines. Rizal even wondered what kind of punishment he might face for writing about the country’s monasteries.
Where Was Rizal Traveling? The letter also revealed that Rizal visited Chamonix, France—something historians didn’t know before! He told Nordmann that he would go to Italy on June 20, then take a ship from Marseille on July 3. He finally arrived in Manila on August 5, 1887. Just two weeks later, he received sad news: Johannes Nordmann had passed away on August 20.
Why Is This Important? Stockinger explained that discovering Rizal’s lost letter helps us understand more about his travels and thoughts. Many details about Rizal’s journey were unclear before, and some old records had mistakes in translation. This letter gives historians a chance to correct those mistakes and learn more about Rizal’s time in Europe.
What Happens Next? Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes Bernas was very excited about the discovery. She thanked Dr. Stockinger and hopes that Rizal’s writings in German will be translated into English or Filipino so more people can read them.
Jose Rizal’s letter is now properly labeled and can be viewed online through the Vienna City Library’s website. This incredible discovery brings us closer to understanding one of the most important figures in Philippine history!