Leonor Rivera, his sweetheart for 11 years played the greatest influence in keeping him from falling in love with other women during his travel. Unfortunately, her parents, especially her mother disapproved the relationship between them because of Rizal being accused of a filibustero. Leonor’s mother hid all letters sent to her sweetheart. Leonor believing that Rizal had already forgotten her sadly consented her to marry the Englishman Henry Kipping, her mother's choice.
