Josephine Bracken

Marie Josephine Leopoldine Bracken (August 9, 1876 – March 14, 1902) was the common-law wife of Filipino nationalist José Rizal during his exile in Dapitan.Some sectors, including Rizal's family, dispute the marriage because no records were found regarding the union, even if it was attested by Bracken herself and the officiating priest.In 1895, Bracken travelled to Dapitan to accompany her adoptive father who wanted to seek treatment from Rizal, an ophthalmologist who previously practiced in Hong Kong.She was taken in by her godfather, the American George Taufer, a blind and fairly well-to-do engineer of the pumping plant of the Hong Kong Fire Department, and his late Portuguese wife.[17] On the evening before his execution on December 30, 1896, on charges of treason, rebellion, and sedition by the Spanish colonial government, the Catholic Church claimed that Rizal returned to the faith and was married to Bracken in a religious ceremony officiated by Father Vicente Balaguer, S.J.[8][18] Despite claims by Father Balaguer and Bracken herself, some sectors, including members of Rizal's family, disputed that the wedding had occurred because no records were found attesting to the union.[citation needed] Imus was under threat of recapture, so Bracken, making her way through the thicket and mud, moved with the operation to the Cavite mountain redoubt of Maragondon.
A copy of Bracken's baptismal certificate
José Rizal, writer and national hero of the Philippines
The title page of a Spanish edition of the Imitation of Christ that was Rizal's wedding and parting gift to his wife. His dedication is written in English.
A carving of Josephine by Jose Rizal
VictoriaBritish Hong KongHappy Valley CemeteryHong KongJosé Rizalcommon-law wifeDapitanFort SantiagoCatholic ChurchophthalmologistprematureFilipino revolutionariestuberculosisVictoria BarracksBritish ArmyBelfastadoptionRednaxela TerracecataractBishop of Cebucivil marriagehypocrisyBarangayImitation of ChristtreasonrebellionseditionrevolutionaryCaviteprovinceMausercartridgesArsenalredoubtMaragondonTejeros ConventionManilaSpanish Governor-GeneralAmericanCebuanomestizotabacalerahistorianAustin CoatesEnglishmanAustin CraigPhilippine AssemblySergio OsmeñaIntramurosLyceum of the Philippines UniversityAmanda PageRizal sa DapitanChin Chin GutierrezBayaning 3rd WorldEugene DomingoUniversity of Asia and the PacificProject GutenbergWayback MachinePhilippine RevolutionPre-revolutionary revoltsPropaganda MovementPalmero ConspiracyGomburzaCry of Pugad LawinBonifacio PlanKapampangan CounterrevolutionImus AssemblyRepublic of Biak-na-BatoElectionsSpanish–American WarHong Kong JuntaDictatorial GovernmentRevolutionary GovernmentDeclaration of IndependenceMalolos CongressFirst Philippine RepublicNegros RevolutionRepublic of NegrosFederal State of the VisayasRepublic of ZamboangaTreaty of ParisPhilippine–American WarMoro RebellionPhilippine Autonomy Act of 1916Commonwealth of the PhilippinesTreaty of ManilaAmerican Anti-Imperialist LeagueIglesia Filipina IndependienteKatipunanLa Liga FilipinaMagdalo factionMagdiwang factionPhilippine ConstabularyPhilippine Revolutionary ArmyPulajanesEl filibusterismoKartilya ng KatipunanMalolos ConstitutionMi último adiósNoli Me TángerePact of Biak-na-BatoLa SolidaridadFlags of the Philippine Revolution"Evolution of the Philippine Flag" setFlag of the PhilippinesMarcha nacional filipinaSpoliarium