Republic of the Philippines

Naval State University

College of Education
Naval, Biliran

REACTION PAPER
Soc. Sci. 411
(Rizal’s Retraction Controversy)

Submitted by:
ROSAL, JERALYN C.
BSEd IV- B

Submitted to:
GRACE M. LAUDE-CONCEPCION, M. Ed.
Instructor
I.

Dr. Jose Rizal had been the Philippines’ greatest national historical hero over a
century. He has been the emblem of our country’s freedom, the epitome of nationalistic
patriotism. He is considered as the greatest genius of the Philippines, an inspiration to all
people, particularly our young students. He is well-known as the author of two great novels
which contributed a lot to our independence. His story has been narrated in countless
books and articles. He became an extension of education. He had accomplished what many
men can never achieve even if they live a thousand years.

For many years, our race had glorified respect and praise for Dr. Jose Rizal for his
sacrifices for the glory of God, the welfare of our country and for the freedom of our
oppressed people, and for all his talents that have been appreciated because of their
effectiveness in the process of gaining equal rights as a united nation. However, his
reputation as a hero has been doubted due to lingering issues that contradict the core
reason why we Filipinos learned to gratify his efforts, his courageous acts of rebellion
against our colonizers, his existent in our history. The issue of his “retraction”, one of the
major controversies regarding his life. Retraction refers to a statement saying that
something a person said or wrote at an earlier time is not true or correct.

These issues had been around since both Manila and Spanish newspapers published
claiming his retraction right after his execution. In some sources, they state that Rizal’s
alleged retraction did not really happen. Opinions regarding this issue would not be the
same because some may agree and some may not. Despite of this issues and controversies,
Rizal is our hero and will still remain our hero for the rest of our lives.
II.

The controversy whether our National Hero really wrote a retraction document or
not has been the greatest, most talked about and most debatable topic/issues of Rizal.

Several historians reported that Rizal retracted his anti-Catholic ideas through a
document which stated:
“I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publication and conduct
had contrary to my character as a son of the Catholic Church. I believe and I confess whatever
she teaches and I submit to whatever she demands. I abominate masonry, as the enemy, which
is of the church, and as a society prohibited by the church. The Diocesan Prelate may, as the
Superior Ecclesiastical Authority, make public this spontaneous manifestation of mine in
order to repair the scandal which my act may have caused and so that god and people may
pardon me.”

However there are doubts of its authenticity given that there is no certificate of
Rizal’s Catholic marriage to Josephine Bracken. Also, there is an allegation that the
retraction document was a forgery.

After analyzing six major documents of Rizal, Ricardo Pascual concluded that the
retraction document, said to have been discovered in 1935, was not in Rizal’s handwriting.
Senator Rafael Palma, a former President of UP and a prominent Mason, argued that a
retraction is not in keeping with Rizal’s character and mature beliefs. He called the
retraction story a “pious fraud.” Others who deny Rizal’s retraction are Frank Laubach, a
Protestant Minister and Ricardo Manapat, Director of the national Archives.

Those who affirms the authenticity of Rizal’s retraction are prominent Philippine
Historians such Nick Jaoquin, Nicolas Zafra of UP, Gregorio Zaide, Guillermo Gomez Rivera,
Ambeth Ocampo, Antonio Molina, Paul Dumol and Austin Craig. They take the retraction
document as authentic, having been judged by a foremost expert on the writings of Rizal,
Teodoro Kalaw, a 33rd degree mason, and “handwriting” experts known and recognize in
our court of justice” Henry Otley Beyer and Dr. Jose I. del Rosario.

Historians also refers to 11 eyewitnesses when Rizal wrote his retraction, signed a
Catholic prayer book, recited catholic prayers, and the multitude people who saw him
kissing the crucifix before he was shot during his execution. Fr. Marciano Guzman, great
grandnephew of Rizal, cites that Rizal’s 4 confessions were certified by 5 eyewitnesses, 10
qualified witnesses, 7 newspapers and 12 historians and writers including Aglipayan
bishops, Masons, and anti-clericals.

Did Rizal Really Retract?

III.

Although there were many opinions, documents, proofs and evidences of Rizal’s so-
called retraction, I firmly believe that he did not really do any retraction before he was
executed. One reason is that, I believe that Rizal would never neglect all the writings he had
conceived with his hard work, especially his two great novels, which brought him to
execution. If he did retract, his works would be deemed irrelevant and futile. I believe that
Rizal is a man of honor and words and action. Why would he ever write rebellious novels,
rebellious acts against the Spanish colonizers in order to save his oppressed people from
the colony of the evil if in the end he would only retract what he had done? It’s pointless.

Rizal really did not retract.

The following bring about the testimonies that Rizal did not retract before his execution.

First was the copy of the retraction paper that was allegedly signed by Rizal that wa
even kept secret and was only published in newspapers. When Rizal’s family requested for
the original copy, it was said to be lost. Could the Jesuits be this irresponsible not to know
the value of the said document? Or was it hidden?

Thirty-nine years later, the original copy was found in the archdiocesan archives.
Ricardo Pascual Ph. D. examines the document and later concluded in his book “Rizal
beyond the Grave” that the document presented was a forgery.

Another evidence as to Rizal did not retract is that when Fr. Balaguer came to terms
that he married Jose and Josephine, after Jose had signed the retraction paper, however
there were no marriage certificate or public record that could prove Fr. Balaguer’s
statement.

Why would he retract when he knows for a fact that even if he signs the retraction
paper he would still be executed?

Furthermore, way back when Rizal was exiled in Dapitan, Fr. Sanchez was sent by
the Jesuits superiors to try to convince his former student’s allegation towards the Catholic
religion and Spanish religious in the Philippines. Father Sanchez told him to retract in
exchange of professorship, a hundred thousand pesos and an estate (Laubach, 1936) but
Rizal rejected the offer.

I believe that Rizal was never a coward. He had shown his bravery through his rebellious
acts against Spaniards. He is not afraid to die for the sake of his motherland . He had
devoted himself to the his country's independence and for the happiness of his
countrymen.
IV.

Therefore I conclude that Dr. Jose Rizal, our National hero, did not retract for he
value so much his works to redeem our country’s independence. He did not done such act.

V.

 Opinions About Rizal’s Retraction Religious Education…- Scribd

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 Did Rizal Considered retracting while in Dapitan/ -National..

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 Rizal’s Retraction Letter Essay- Free papers and Essay……

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 Did Jose Rizal retract? The Wanderland

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 Rizal’s retraction Truth vs Myth The Varsitarian

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 Jose Rizal –Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org

 Reasons: Jose Rizal’s retraction; the controversy

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 The retraction –Slideshare

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