Valentín Ventura

Valentin Ventura (b. 1860 - d. 1935) was a reformist during the revolutionary period. He was the one who financed the publication of Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo.

He born in Bacolor, Pampanga, son of Don Honorio Ventura who was the Secretary of Interior. After finishing his studies he was encouraged by his brother Don Balbino to go to Spain and join the other Filipinos like Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena in their quest for a peacefull reforms in the Philippines. Went to Spain and European cities, primarily for further studies. He lived there for three decades, where he visited most of the European cities and museums where he met Juan Luna. When the propaganda movement started he helped fortified the cause of the movement.

Jose Rizal got a chance to meet and be friend to Valetin during the stay of Rizal in his house in Paris. It was where he had the opportunity to listen to the ideas of Rizal which he greatly admired. He used to read the novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo during his free time. He was so impressed by the work of Rizal's novel Fili that he read it all over again, he described it as perfect, correct, vigorous, poetic, and deeply felt. When the printing of Fili was suspended due to the lack of funds, he offered his money that was being sent by his brother in order to support the printing of the second novel. In 1881, while Rizal was in Ghent, Belgium, Valentin sent the amount of one hundred fifty pesos in aid for Rizal and promised to sent him more money so that he would not to solicit help from other Filipinos. When the book was published and distributed, Rizal gave him the original manuscript of the novel as a token of his gratitude for his contribution. This was kept by the latter as a souvenir for his family, an offer from a Spanish-American Museum to buy the manuscript, he rejected the offer and said that if the Philippine Government would desire to have the copy, he is more than willing to give it as a donation. The manuscript was acquired by the National Library through Dr. Tinidad H. Pardo de Tavera.

Valentin was married to Carmen Tobar who was a Spanish mestiza and had four children Jose, Valentine, Carmen, Maria. He and his family came back to the Philippines in the late 1920's only to find the unsatisfactory conditions of the country. went back to Spain, and died in the early 1930's. His remains were burried in Barcelona.