STI College Pasay-EDSA

Jose Rizal’s Retraction

By:

Macarimbang, Faisal L. - L

Abad, Ana Lyn A.

Baria, Raizel

Bathan, Rhyan

Maralina, Nalyn

Sarmiento, Anjanette

Submitted to:

Mr. Nicholas Matunog

 INTRODUCTION OF THE CONTROVERSY

The debate still continues if Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, really retracted? This has
been the greatest controversy which is most talked about Rizal. He is recognized for the novels
he had written during the Spanish period. Because of these courageous acts of rebellion against
the said colonizers, he became our National Hero. But what if our national hero, at the last
moments of his life retracted everything he had ever said and written?

In 1935, a letter was found by Father

Manuel Garcia. The said letter contains that Jose
Rizal declared himself as a Catholic and that he
retracts everything he had said, written, published
and did against the Catholic Church. Opinions
regarding this issue would not be the same because
some may agree and some may not. There so many
questions speculating his retraction if in the first
place, all of this is what he really fought for. From
Fr. Balaguer’s version, Rizal, on the 29th day of
December 1896, wrote and signed the retraction
papers in front of him and with the other Jesuit
priest present at the death cell. Rizal asked for a
confession twice and for a rosary from the priest between the two confessions. In Balaguer’s
memorandum-record, Rizal asked for a mass and a request for Holy Communion, this was
readily approved by the Jesuits and assigned Fr. Villaclara as the officiating priest of the mass
inside the cell. He also mentioned that Rizal asked for the image of the Sagrado Corazon de
Jesus which he carved when he was just 14. Balaguer described the scene as heart-warming
because Rizal kissed the image that he had requested from the Jesuits. While kneeling and
surrounded by the religious authorities in the death cell, Rizal read the retraction document.
Balaguer also claimed that there was a servant-messenger for Josephine Bracken to prepare for
the marriage at the San Ignacio Church where Fr.
SIDES AND/OR EVIDENCES OF THE CONTROVERSY

According to Ricardo P. Garcia’s “The Great Debate: The Rizal’s Retraction”, there were two (2)
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. They are:

1. Fr. Vicente Balaguer.

According to the priest's testimonies, the reasonable Rizal had several rude awakenings;
confessed, celebrated mass, had Communion, and prayed the Rosary four (4) times.

2. Former Lieutenant of the Infantry, Mariano Martinez Gallegos.

He confirmed that Rizal himself signed a document called a retraction along with key
eyewitnesses Juan del Fresno and Eloy Moure. Both named eyewitnesses confirmed Gallegos'
statements.

THE CUERPO DE VIGILENCIA

The Cuerpo de Vigilancia de Manila

was the intelligence service unit that. the
Spanish colonial state created in 1895
primarily to gather information. on the
activities of certain groups suspected of
plotting an uprising against. the colonial
establishment.

The Cuerpo de Vigilencia claims that

one of the guards witnessed Rizal signing the
document retraction all of his comments
against the church.
 Rizal's short writing in Josephine Bracken's copy of, "De la Imitacion de Cristo (The
Imitations of Christ)"; and Rizal's frequent mentions of "cross" in his final writings.

Some claim that Rizal signed the

retraction, which states that Rizal was given
permission by the Spanish government to wed
Josephine just minutes before he calmly faced
the firing squad. A copy of De La Imitacion
de Cristo y Menosprecio del Mundo by Fr.
Thomas á Kempis, with the dedication "To my
dear and unhappy wife, Josephine, December
30th, 1896," was given to her by him.

THE STAND

POSITIVE STAND

The Roman Catholic provided extensive and further evidence that Rizal signed the
retractions and wed Josephine Bracken, the Roman Catholic evidences presented are genuinely
persuasive. Before being put to death, many people saw that Rizal was a devout Catholic. One
such instance is the tale of his unborn child, who died as a result of his foolish jokes, and who
was then buried in a Catholic cemetery.

NEGATIVE STAND

There are questions about its veracity given that there is no record of Rizal's Catholic
marriage to Josephine Bracken. Several historians claim that Rizal retracted his anti-Catholic
views through a document that stated: "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."
Additionally, a fabrication claim regarding the retraction document has been made.
 Others would prefer to think that the alleged Rizal retraction was fabricated by the friars
to divert attention from the heroism of Rizal, which focused on the friar abuses.

FINAL STAND

In my opinion and according to what I have learned about our national hero, Rizal did not retrace
his steps. In fact, he even rebelled. But not in the conventional sense. A quiet revolution took
place. He didn't utilize a sword or any other tangible deadly weaponry; instead, he used the
classic proverbial example: "A pen is mightier than a sword. Yes. He wrote indignantly. His
novels El Filibusterismo and Noli Mi Tangere describe how he exposed government wrongdoing.
However, there is a lot to discuss regarding each and every aspect of his magnificent creations.
He didn't retract - he even gave his life for the country, therefore if I may advise, read his "Mi
Ultimo Adios," which is his final letter to the Filipino people.
 REFERENCES

Bonifacio and the - jstor.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2022, from

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26621977.pdf

Bonife, G. (2020, March 13). Josephine Bracken - life after Rizal's death and her second
marriage. Cebu Philippines Ultimate Travel & Food Guide. Retrieved November 7, 2022,
from https://queencitycebu.com/josephine-bracken-life-after-rizals-death/

Jose Rizal's retraction controversy - Jose Rizal's retraction controversy the debate still
continues. StuDocu. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2022, from
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-san-carlos/rizal-course/jose-rizals-
retraction-controversy/20715537

Retraction of Jose Rizal - retraction of Rizal by Fr. Vicente Balaguer and Rafael Palma Fr.
Vicente. StuDocu. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2022, from
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-st-la-salle/accountancy/retraction-of-
jose-rizal/16522715