Name : JAMES IVAN H.

LAMADRID
Course/Block : AB ELS 1A
Subject : READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Instructor : MR. JOSE SAPUSAO

Activity # 1.1 (finals)

“THE RIZAL RETRACTION”
1. Who are the sources of the conflicting accounts or analyses on the Rizal
retraction?
Based on my in-depth research about Rizal’s Retractions I ascertained that the document of Jose
Rizal is being hotly debated as to its authenticity. It was supposed to have been signed by Jose Rizal
moments before his death. There were many witnesses, most of the Jesuits. The documents only surfaced
for public viewing on May 13, 1935. It was found by Fr. Manuel A. Garcia at the Catholic hierarchy’s
archive in Manila but the original document was never shown to the public, only reproductions of it.
In this case, the sources of the conflicting account on the Retraction of Rizal were Fr. Vicente
Balaguer, one of the Jesuits priests who visited Rizal during his last hours. Padre Pio Pi, a Jesuit superior.
Rafael Palma, which is a lawyer, educator, and politician. Roman Ozaeta, translated the writings of Palma
and Austin Coates, the Assistant Colonial Secretary.
In both reproductions, there were conflicting versions of the text. Add to this the date of the
singing was very clear in the original Spanish document which Rizal supposedly signed. The date was
December 29, 1890.

2. What are their accounts or analyses? How are they similar to and/or different
from one another?
His brother Vicente Balaguer claims that he succeeded in convincing Rizal to denounce Masonry
and convert to Catholicism. It was he who celebrated the marriage of Joséphine Bracken and Rizal, a few
hours before his execution. In 1917, Padre Pio Pi issued an affidavit regarding his participation in the
retraction of Rizal's application. Unlike Father Balaguer, he only joined because he kept the retracted
letter. He did not witness at all, but it was he who claimed to have kept the documents safe. Rafael Palma
is the author of Biografria de Rizal dealing with the life of our national hero and his work won a literary
competition in 1938, but publication was postponed. due to World War II. Roman Ozaeta argued that the
withdrawal of Rizal's application was fraudulent.
By the Catholic Church because they wanted to show everyone that Rizal bowed and apologized
to them before he passed away. It's hard to believe it's true because they can't show the original to
everyone, including Rizal's family. Austin Coates argued that when Rizal's family and loved ones saw the
article about his withdrawal, they immediately assumed it was fraud by the church. The archbishop was
the one who wanted him to withdraw. He uses Balaguer to make people believe it and Balaguer for his
part claims that he succeeded in convincing Rizal to reconcile with the Catholics. But Coates claims that
there is no retracted text and that Rizal believes before God, so he has nothing to retract.
3. Which among the accounts or analyses do you consider the most convincing and
reliable? Why?
Research more about these sources to come up with a sound answer. Roman Ozaeta’s account is
most convincing and reliable. He argued that the retraction of Rizal was a fraud made by the Catholic
Church because they wanted to show everyone that Rizal bowed down and said sorry to them before his
death. It is hard to believe that it’s true because they can’t show the original copies to everyone even
Rizal’s family. He also gave 7 reasons why it isn’t true.
These are the seven reasons:

1st – the documents were kept as a secret and the original copy was not found until now.

2nd – when the family asked for the original copy of the said document, they denied it.

3rd –his burial was kept as a secret and his cadaver was said to be kept by the people of the church
instead of the family.

4th – in spite of what he contributed and did for our country, no masses were said for his soul or funeral.

5th – he was not really buried in the Catholic cemetery in Paco but in the ground without any cross or
stone to mark his grave.

6th- he was considered among the persons who died impenitent and did not receive any spiritual aids.

7th – lastly, there was no moral motive for the conversion. Why would he reconcile himself to the rites of
the religion which he had fought?