Rizal’s Retraction

Rizal’s Background
• Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado Y.Alonso
Realonda.
• He was born on year of 1861 of June 19
at the Province of Calamba, Laguna.
• Jose Rizal who was a brilliant student who
became proficient in multiple languages.
• Jose Rizal studied Medicine in Manila.
• In year of 1882, He traveled to Spain to
complete his medical degree.
• He was the fifth of the nine siblings of
Teodora Alonso Y.Quintos and
Francisco Mercado. 2
INTRODUCTION
What is Retraction?
A public statement made about an earlier statement that withdraws, cancels, refutes, or reverses the
original statement or ceases and desists from publishing the original statement.

“4 reasons behind Rizal Retraction”

• He wanted to marry Josephine Bracken and to make her his wife legally.
• He wanted to protect his family.
• He wanted to reforms from the Spanish Government.
• He wanted to heal the sickness of the Catholic Church.

3
Arguments that support Rizal’s Retraction
I. There were eyewitnesses
1. Fr. Vicente Balaguer Llacer – Events on Dec 29, 1896 to 6:30 am of Dec 30, 1896.
A. The chaplain of the Fort Santiago offered his services to Rizal, he politely declined and asked instead
to be visited by the Jesuit priests whom educated him.
• If Rizal really did not have any intention to retract, why would he request these priests when he
already knows they would just persuade him?
B. Fr. Balaguer and Fr. Vilaclara’s visit to Rizal.
• If Rizal wants a conversion, a retraction in words and writings is required.
• “Extra Ecclesiam Catholicam Nulla Datur Salus” no salvation outside the catholic church.
• Rizal chose Fr. Pi’s version of the retraction.
2. Captain Rafael Dominguez y Garcia – Colonel of the Manila Garrison and Judge Advocate in
Rizal’s Trial, on duty to watch over Rizal all the time
• Notarized Testimony & Notes on the Execution of Rizal. 4
Arguments that support Rizal’s Retraction
3. Mariano Martinez Gallegos – Lieutenant of the Infantry.
Declaracion Jurada:
• Rizal signed and wrote the retraction; signed by witnesses.
• Rizal was canonically married to Joesphine Bracken.
• Rizal’s sincerity of conversion - praying the rosary, confessions, communion, etc.
4. Fr. Manuel A. Garcia
• Discovered the said retraction document which was not produced until 1935.
• “Masoneria” found in 1935.
• Fr. Manuel Garcia – Monsignor O’Doherty – President Quezon.
• Carlos P. Romulo – editor of the Herald “Rizal’s Retraction Found” June 15, 1935.
5
Arguments that support Rizal’s Retraction
5. Handwriting experts who tested the genuineness of the retraction document
A. Prof. H. Otley Beyer
• 1950 speech
B. Dr. Jose I. del Rosario
• Perforations and oxidation of the iron gallotannate inks.
6. Other witnesses
Witnesses that had notarized testimonies saying they held Rizal’s retraction document in
their hands:
• Gaspar Castano
• Silvino Lopez Tunon
• Father Rosell   6
Arguments that support Rizal’s Retraction
II. Dr. Jose Rizal & Josephine Bracken were married
• Fr. G. Spada
• Rizal's short writing in Josephine Bracken's copy of, "De la Imitacion de Cristo (The
Imitations of Christ)”.

III. Rizal's frequent mentions of “cross“ in his final writings

A. Rizal’s Last Letter to his family
• Instructions on his burial

7
Arguments that counter the Pro Retraction
Proving that Rizal Did Not Retract
I. Two Witness
1. Baron Fernandez
A Spanish orphan who worked for almost half century in two historical secret archives in
Madrid and Segovia, had an eyewitness account of the retraction which he discovered in those
repertories of Spain's dirty secrets. He found 34 documents including handwritten letters,
telegrams, and military documents including a thick sheaf of Rizal's defense. He had
written himself days before he was murdered at Bagumbayan.
Fernandez said:
"I have documents stating that before he faced death, Rizal told his sister Narcisa to look
inside his shoes because he had left a letter. According to Fernandez, that letter could only be
a denial of his retraction because Rizal knew the friars were misleading the Filipinos and he
wanted to set the record straight". 8
Arguments that support Rizal’s Retraction
6. Other witnesses
Witnesses that had notarized testimonies saying they held Rizal’s retraction document in
their hands:
• Gaspar Castano
• Silvino Lopez Tunon
• Father Rosell
 II. Dr. Jose Rizal & Josephine Bracken were married
Fr. G. Spada – spoke with then the widow of Dr. Rizal in Hongkong in which he learned that
they were married before his execution which corresponds with Mariano Martinez Gallegos’
testimony
Rizal's short writing in Josephine Bracken's copy of, "De la Imitacion de Cristo (The Imitations
of Christ). 9
Arguments that counter the Pro Retraction
2. Manuel Morato
Manuel Moratos’s Expose
A friend of Baron Fernandez, subsequently bought from Fernande the Intellectual Property right
to the vauable manuscripts.
Morato said in his "expose" that the friars forged the retraction letter and published in the
Clerico- Fascist newspapers at that time. Morato confirmed "No, Rizal never retracted
although that fake retraction was published by friars then and is still sadly peddled in
most school, but that is not true."
Both Morato and Fernandez have documents to prove that when Rizal was in Dapitan, he was
allowed to go to Cebu with Josephine Bracken and Archbishop of Cebu, at that time, tried to
dangle marriage and coaxed him to to retract.

10
Arguments that opposes the claim of Rizal’s
Retraction
• The issue of El Renacimiento by Manuel Artigas y Cuerva (December 29, 1908 - the
retraction document is considered as "apocryphal" or unauthentic. According to him: "It
does not exist... It does not appear in the trial nor can anyone give an account of it in the
Archiepiscopal Palace of Manila. (Cavanna 1956, 150)".
• Trinidad (Rizal's sister) attested that the promise of the Jesuits that they would show
to their family the original retraction did not commence.
• Article in La Vanguardia by Hermenegildo Cruz - the claim of Rizal's retraction is
castigated. He was confused as to how the Jesuits and the archbishop could have lost
such a valuable document.
• The retraction of Rizal was too uncharacteristic of him. Other Masons felt that Rizal
was a strong-willed man who would not easily change his mind, even in dire
circumstances.
11
Significance of Rizal's Retraction
• Jose Rizal is one of the biggest personality in the Philippines as a prominent face
in our history and one of the glorious and most efficient hero whether he retracted
or not it will really not affect of what was his contribution in our Philippine
history.
• Rizal retracted his views against the Catholic Church and the Spaniards rule, it
might be interpreted that Rizal valued his romantic partner, Josephine Bracken,
more than the welfare of his countrymen.

12
What will change if Rizal's Retraction is Proven
• The changes if Rizal Retraction is proven the Catholic Church will
allowed Rizal marry Josephine Bracken, and also he is able to be a son of
Catholic Church.
• Rizal married Josephine Bracken before he was executed. “No
Retraction, No Marriage”
• Rizal would have a proper Catholic burial.

13
What will change if Rizal's Retraction is
Disproven

14
THANK
S!
Any questions?