The Foods of Jose Rizal

by Felice Prudente Sta. Maria

"There are more days than longaniza sauges."

A Filipino saying quoted by
Jose Rizal (1861-1896) on
August 8, 1896 while held incommunicado
on board the Castilla cruiser
Cañacao Bay, Cavite, Philippines

What did the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal eat? What foods did he write about?
While overseas as a student, eye surgeon, and socio-political activist, what was his diet? Did he hunger for comfort foods like bagoong and mango jam? Why did he count the number of biscuits in a can and keep track of every centavo he spent on meals and drinks? What is there to know about Jose Rizal and Filipino food?

This book, THE FOODS OF JOSE RIZAL, shares stories collected from Rizal's autobiography, works penned by him, biographies written about him by admirers, interviews of people who knew him, and accounts written about the Philippines, Europe, and Hong Kong during his lifetime. As it gives glimpse into the man's everyday, life, this little tome reveals sacrifices made to keep patriotic advocacies his priority. Rizal's nobleness and supreme sacrifices for his love of Filipinas become all the more worthy of never-ending praise. Viva Rizal! Mabuhay ang Filipinas!

Genres: History

175 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Felice Prudente Sta. Maria is an internationally awarded cultural heritage advocate, food historian, and non-fiction author known for her pioneering work on the history of Filipino cuisine. For over five decades, she has researched the nation's colonial food history, utilizing sources dating from the Age of Exploration to the early years of the Philippine Republic.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my most favorite book about Rizal. It's just not because this is about the foods that he had when he was still alive but also because the book is a sweet summary of Rizal's life in just 169 pages. Sta. Maria's stories just focused on what's important: just the crucial events or turning points in his life. She also peppered her narratives with interesting anecdotes along with the usual cold historical facts. I'd read a handful of Rizal biographies, the Looking Back series of Ambeth Ocampo and Rizal's three (last one being unfinished) novels but it is in the book when I learned about the following:

(1) Rizal as a child was used to be called "Moy." Pepe came later than that.

(2) Rizal addressed his elder brother Senyor Paciano and each of his older sisters' names must be prefixed with Senyora. [I could not imagine now calling my two older brothers as Senyor Lito and Senyor Simon.]

(3) The hotel where Ibarra, in the first chapter of Noli Me Tangere, is billeted is called Fonda de Lala Ari. In real life and at that time, it was Hotel de Oriente that used to be a majestic hotel near the Binondo Church. When Rizal went back from Hong Kong in 1892, he checked in to this hotel and met the again Lala Ary, the manager. Again, because he met her earlier (during his first sojourn) in Singapore managing Hotel Europa.

Well, these are the new interesting non-food related trivias. The foods are of course another story.

Last Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2-6pm, our book club, Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books had the author, Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, as guest. We interviewed her by asking questions about the book. She gamely and intelligently answered those. Afterwards, we had our first food fest. Each of the members cooked and brought with him/her one of the foods mentioned in the book. It was another unforgettable event because it distended our tummies probably just like Rizal in Spain with his fellow Illustrados during his first sojourn.

Me and my wife cooked Carne Asada that, according to the cook of the Rizal family was young Rizal's favorite. I also cooked Leichter Kartoffelsalat (German potato salad). Then I bought with me a box of Thailand tamarind and with my fellow book lover friend Ella's help, turned the tamarind fruits into jam prior to the interview. All of these foods have recipes in the book and it was amazing to learn how to cook them in the way that was probably how people during Rizal's time prepared them.

Sta. Maria gifted me 3 of her other books. I am keeping two of the books and giving out copies of the third one to the book club members later as prizes. I gave out brand new copies of other books to the members during the event anyway.

It's unbelievable how a book club can make my weekend very interesting with all the new recipes perfected, new trivias about Rizal learned and remembered and the three new titles from an author that I was very fortunate to meet, engaged in intellectual conversation and exchanged gifts with.

Thank you, Ma'am Felice for a wonderful Saturday. I hope to see you again someday!

[Majuchan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing our national hero through his diets and meals. One would, recall his Rizal subject once in college and even discover odd things of the fallen hero.

It is a collection of Rizal's gastronomic adventures dating back from his opulent childhood meals to meager foods when starting his education and then to his 1st class 7 course meal as he travel around the world to acquire knowledge and even when he is exiled. Alas! His last supper is yet to uncover, but his breakfast before bravely facing the bullets is stated.

It gave me a new perspective on Rizal's life with his meals and diets... and his other quirks. (On his bath time on Europe and his sudden? Abstaining from alcohol)

A refreshing way to remember and know our National Hero as a Filipino with love for his Mother land's native food.

[Anson · Rating 3 out of 5]

very readable, gives you a great idea as to the timeline of the life Jose Rizal. Also gives insight into what people ate in the mid to late 19th century

[Estrella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book about how Jose Rizal was discovering how the world worked. Jose Rizal is a Filipino who wanted to make an impact during the Spanish Colonialism in the Philippines and other countries. I was very outspoken in his writings and was against prejudice and racism that happened in a world around him. But anyway, Jose Rizal had a sophisticated palate and didn't these food products existed in the Philippines unless you had the money and the privilege to try it and have it. This book didn't have any recipes, but a historical point of view of what one of our national heroes ate during his medical excursions, and discoveries in other countries. I enjoyed while I was reading it, but it somehow came out short because there were no recipes at all. It is okay!