Module 10: (3 hours)

Title: Retraction of Rizal

Introduction:
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda also known as Jose Rizal, a National Hero
of the Philippines. He is well known on his patriotism, affirmation against his enemies especially
the Spaniards through his noble writings. He was accused and alleged committed crimes such as
rebellion, sedition and illegal association.
After a hundred of years, many of Filipino still debates on Rizal’s retraction letter. As of
today many of us still unaware about this controversy, it was debated and hotly discussed many
times. Some teachers didn’t tackle this topic and don’t sure what is the truth behind of this. Many
of them give and think that this is the most controversial timeline of his life. Some of us insist that
it’s forged by Spaniard or think that He is coward or even it is a real and views that Rizal only
wanted to repent and gave up his life to God before he died.
The said lesson help student’s understand and reflect every details of Rizal’s life for them to
realize the essence of walking in the highways even late at night without any fear to be detained
by Spanish colonials and/or the essence of putting their right hands into their left chest while
looking into the Philippine flag as well as singing its national anthem.
Learning Outcomes:
• Explain and discuss the effects of Rizal’s death and legacy.
• Understand and dedicate oneself as a patriot for the sake of the motherland by reflecting
Rizal’s life.
• The topic is designed with the goal of assessing your ability to think about connecting Rizal
life to world-vision. In this regard, you are expected to study the relationship of
controversial events in culture and society in the context of changing our society.
Learning Content :
Presentation of Facts about Rizal’s Retraction
The retraction of Rizal is still one of the greatest historical issues of all time. The story of
the Retraction has been told and retold and has created tremendous ambiguities in Philippine
history on the credence of the national hero.

Did the national hero really retract his anti-Catholic ideas?

Will that retraction make him less of a hero?

Major arguments for the Retraction

1. Archivist Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. discovered the “original" text containing the so-called
retraction formula in the archdiocesan archives on May 18, 1935, thirty-nine years after
Rizal’s execution. This Retraction “Document” found was considered imperative evidence
 to the Retraction, itself. The text appears to have been released to the press and published
after the death of Rizal but the original document was not produced until 1935 because it
was believed that the documents were handed by Fr. Balaguer to Fr. Pi and from Fr. Pi to
Fr. Nozaleda in order to kept safely by his secretary.

2. There were eyewitnesses

closely associated with the
events - According to
Ricardo P. Garcia’s “The
Great Debate: The Rizal’s
Retraction” there were two
great testimonies of
eyewitnesses who were privy
to what happened in Rizal’s
cell from early morning of
December 29 to 6:30 am of December 30.

• Fr. Vicente Balaguer – According to him, Rizal woke up several times,

confessed four times, attended a Mass, received communion, and prayed the
rosary, all of which seemed inconsistent of his personality.
• Former Lieutenant of the Infantry- Mariano Martinez Gallegos – He confirmed
that Rizal did write a retraction piece and signed his signature on it with Juan
del Fresno and Eloy Moure as his witnesses. These two witnesses also affixed
their signatures on the said retraction document.

Newly released documents and new interpretations that may affirm his retraction:

1. The Cuerpo de Vigilancia

2. What Rizal wrote on the
copy of "Imitations of
Christ"

3. Mentions about the

"cross" in his final
writings

“At 7:50 yesterday morning, Jose Rizal entered death row accompanied by his counsel,
Señor Taviel de Andrade, and the Jesuit priest Vilaclara. At the urgings of the former and
moments after entering, he was served a light breakfast. At approximately 9, the Assistant
of the Plaza, Señor Maure, asked Rizal if he wanted anything. He replied that at the
moment he only wanted a prayer book which was brought to him shortly by Father March.

“Señor Andrade left death row at 10 and Rizal spoke for a long while with the Jesuit
fathers, March and Vilaclara, regarding religious matters, it seems. It appears that these
two presented him with a prepared retraction on his life and deeds that he refused to sign.
They argued about the matter until 12:30 when Rizal ate some poached egg and a little
chicken. Afterwards he asked to leave to write and wrote for a long time by himself.

“At 3 in the afternoon, Father March entered the chapel and Rizal handed him what he had
written. Immediately the chief of the firing squad, Señor del Fresno and the Assistant of the
Plaza, Señor Maure, were informed. They entered death row and together with Rizal signed
the document that the accused had written. It seems this was the retraction.”
Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading.
Analysis Rizal's Retraction. Retrieved from http://www.joserizal.ph/rt03.html
Camacho. 2013. Retraction controversy. Retrieved from
http://joseprotasiorizal.blogspot.com/2013/09/retraction-controversy.html#
Coates, A. (1992).Rizal-Filipino Nationalist & Patriot. Solidaridad Publishing.
Garcia, R. (1964). The Great Debate: The Rizal Retraction. R.P Garcia Publishing
GMA News Online.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/594027/retraction-ni-rizal-mga-
bagong-dokumento-at-pananaw/story/ Retrieved 18 October 2017.
Guerero, L. (2007). The First Filipino. Manila. Guerrero Publishing.
Kalaw, T. (1956). Philippine Masonry: Its Origin, Development and Vicissitudes Up to Present.
McCullough.
Nidoy. (2013). Jose Rizal’s retraction: the controversy. Retrieved from
http://primacyofreason.blogspot.com/2013/06/jose-rizals-retraction-controversy.html

References:
Chua, M. C. ,2016. “Retraction ni Jose Rizal: Mga Bagong Dokumento at Pananaw.”
Tamayao, Antonio,2018. Readings in the Philippne History.
Torres, Jose Victor,2018. BATIS: Sources in Philippine History. C&E Publishing, Inc.