Reaction Paper: Rizal’s Retraction Controversy

"I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications and conduct have been
contrary to my character as a son of the Catholic Church", this was the statement in adocument
which made many historians and scholars believed that Dr. Jose P. Rizal retracted. Fordecades
the authenticity of his retraction have caused issues, skepticism and heated debates amongthose
who seek the truth. Rizal’s retraction letter, dated December 29, 1896, was said to have been
signed by the National Hero himself. It stated: “I declare myself a Catholic and in this religion
in which I was born and educated I wish to live and die. I retract with all my heart whatever in
my words, writings, publications and conduct has been contrary to my character as son of the
Catholic Church.” The controversy whether the National Hero actually wrote a retraction
document only lies in the judgment of its reader, as no amount of proof can probably make the
two opposing groups agreewith each other.I personally believed, as a fellow Filipino citizen, that
Dr. Jose P. Rizal had not retractedhis own writings and publications. In his long journey in
writing his works that led to ourindependence, I firmly believe that our National Hero has put
convictions in his own writings.After analyzing six major documents of Rizal, Ricardo Pascual,
author of Rizal BeyondThe Grave, concluded that the retraction document, said to have been
discovered in 1935, was notin Rizal's handwriting. Senator Rafael Palma, a former President of
the University of thePhilippines and a prominent Mason, argued that a retraction is not in
keeping with Rizal's characterand mature beliefs. He called the retraction story a "pious
fraud."Some historians refer to 11 eyewitnesses when Rizal wrote his retraction, signed a
Catholic prayer book, and recited Catholic prayers, and the multitude who saw him kiss the
crucifix beforehis execution. A great grandnephew of Rizal, Fr. Marciano Guzman, cites that
Rizal's4confessions were certified by 5 eyewitnesses, 10 qualified witnesses, 7 newspapers, and
12historians and writers including Aglipayan bishops, Masons and anti-clericals. One witness
wasthe head of the Spanish Supreme Court at the time of his notarized declaration and was
highlyesteemed by Rizal for his integrity.Because of what he sees as the strength these direct
evidence have in the light ofthe historical method, in contrast with merely circumstantial
evidence, UP professor emeritus ofhistory Nicolas Zafra called the retraction "a plain unadorned
fact of history." Guzman attributesthe denial of retraction to "the blatant disbelief and
stubbornness" of some Masons.Although there are many points stating the authenticity of the
retraction letter written by your National Hero, I personally believe that he didn’t retract. If this
authentication letter is deemed as an important document, how come it would disappear at that
time and reappear after 39 yearslater. Rizal fought for his own beliefs for many years and went
through a lot of hardship just tofinish his writings and publications, not to mention the financial
struggle he experienced.Why would Rizal retract when he knows for a fact that even if he signs
the retraction paperhe would still be executed? Rizal was accused of participating in filibusterous
propaganda where
the penalty as provided by the Spanish Code is death. The same of what happened to the three
priests who were garroted years earlier, even though they were still a part of the church; they
werestill treated as rebellious and were also not given a proper burial. Rizal’s behavior during his
last hours in Fort Santiago does not point to a conversion - theMi Ultimo Adios and letters- or
indicate even a religious instability. In the evening where his sisterand mother arrived, never had
he mentioned about the retraction, contrary to what Father Balaguerclaimed that even in the
afternoon, Rizal was oblivious and was asking for the formula of theretraction.Dr. Jose P. Rizal
awakened our knowledge for nationalism. He was fixated of the thoughtthat he would die for the
love of his country, he, himself had coveted death a long time ago. His character speaks so loud
that even all of Rizal’s friends do not believe that he have written a retraction. Same as them, I
believed that he has not retracted before his final moments. I always believed in the conviction
and teachings of our National Hero and as fellow Filipino citizen wholove our country, whatever
further study that may emerge as to the truth about Rizal’s retraction controversy, it detracts
nothing from his greatness as a Filipino.