Belgian Home Houses Massive Collection of Jose Rizal’s Works

Belgium Academic Lucien Spittael shows Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo José A. de Vega and Consul Oliver Delfin his collection of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in several languages. (Belgium PE photo)

BRUSSELS 02 July 2018 — Philippine national hero Dr. José Rizal is admired not just by Filipinos, but by many foreign intellectuals who come to know of his life, works and writings.

One of them is a Belgian named Lucien Spittael who, together with his Filipina spouse, Madeline Abordo-Spittael, welcomed Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo José A. de Vega and staff to their home in Eeklo, some 70 kilometers northwest of Brussels.

During the Ambassador’s visit, Mr. Spittael showcased his extensive collection of over 300 Rizal books and hundreds of Filipiniana books, unpublished letters, replicas of important items used by Dr. Rizal, and paintings and figurines.

Mr. Spittael’s collection also includes a copy of Dr. Rizal’s travel diary that he used in Germany, books with old postcards and photos of places Dr. Rizal visited, and books that Dr. Rizal read in the French and German languages.

Special notable books for Rizalistas in his collection are the five volumes of Epistolario, seven volumes of La Solidaridad, 25 volumes of the 1961 Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission, Rizal books from National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and Rizal biographies by several authors. He also keeps versions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in several languages.

Mr. Spittael first learned about the Philippine national hero in 1990 when then Ambassador and future Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto R. Romulo requested him to assist in the preparations for the Philippine Embassy’s centennial celebration of the El Filibusterismo, which was first published in the Belgian city of Ghent in 1891.  From then on, he started reading more about Dr. Rizal’s life, works, and ideologies.

Impressed by the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Mr. Spittael developed a strong passion to conduct more in-depth researches on Dr. Rizal’s biography, even retracing the hero’s footsteps in his travels around Europe.

As members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal and passionate followers of Rizal’s teachings, Ambassador de Vega and Mr. Spittael had a delightful and interesting exchange of ideas about Dr. Rizal’s biography, with the latter sharing his discoveries about certain unpublished episodes and details in Dr. Rizal’s personal life.

Mr. Spittael noted, for example, that according to his personal research, the real name of Dr. Rizal’s Belgian sweetheart is Suzanne Thill, and not Suzanne Jacoby as written by biographers.

Mr. Spittael also showed the Ambassador and the Embassy staff an exact replica of the oil lamp where Dr. Rizal hid his poem Mi Ultimo Adiós (My Last Farewell) and handed it over to his sister before the day of his execution. Knowing this poem by heart, Ambassador de Vega soulfully recited the poem in Spanish and translated it to his staff.

Mr. Spittael informed the Ambassador that he will be happy to serve as a resource person for activities being slated by the Embassy for the opening of the Sentro Rizal in Brussels.

The Ambassador commended Mr. Spittael for his dedication and passion, going beyond what is written in history books and living his life as a true Knight of Rizal. END

For more information, visit www.brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBelgium.

Ambassador Eduardo José A. de Vega and Embassy staff at the residence of Sir Lucien Spittael  

From left. Consul Oliver Delfin, Sir Lucien Spittael, Ambassador de Vega, Mrs. Madeline Abordo Spittael, Ms. Liza Jane Estalilla (Cultural Officer), Ms. Cherry Briosos (ATN Officer), Ms. Jocelyn Balili (Finance Officer) and Ms. Roseni  Centeno (Secretary to the Ambassador). (Brussels PE photo)

Mr. Spittael talks about his Rizaliana collection to Ambassador Eduardo José A. de Vega and Embassy staff. He explained that he maintains the time indicated on the clock at 7:03 a.m as it was the exact time of Dr. Rizal’s execution on 30 December 1896. (Brussels PE photo)

Mr. Spittael explains how the cover of the original print of Noli Me Tangere in Berlin was illustrated by Dr. Rizal himself. (Brussels PE photo)