Angeles University Foundation
College of Allied Medical Professions
Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology
The Retraction
of Rizal
Submitted by: Canete,Chriztalline
Dabu, Paula Nicole
Dilla, Cleizl Ixyrs
Gopez, Ezra Jayne
Manalili, Kimberly Anne
Roberto, Trishalyn Mickaela
Sibug, Rinel Godwin
Taruc, Alexandra Elayne
Submitted to: Mrs. Trinidad D. Dizon
Submitted on: February 28, 2020
There seems to be no end to the debate whether Rizal retracted his writings against the Catholic
Church on the very last day of his life. His alleged retraction which was all about his reversion to
the Catholic Faith and all other issues linked to it such as his marriage to Josephine Bracken is
one of the most intriguing issues of Jose Rizal. This issue was claimed to be true by the Roman
Catholic defenders but asserted to be deceptive by the anti-retractionists. This report cites some
evidences which can help us or may answer our questions whether Rizal did really retract or not
retract.
Evidences that Rizal retracted
1. Rizal’s retraction letter was said to be discovered by Father Manuel Garcia, C.M. in
1935. The letter, dated December 29, 2896, was said to have been signed by the National
Hero himself.
It stated that: “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.”
2. History books tell most people that the first draft of the retraction was sent by Archbishop
Bernardino Nozaleda to Rizal’s cell in Fort Santiago the night before his execution in
Bagumbayan. However, Rizal was said to have rejected the draft because it was lengthy.
3. According to a testimony by Father Vicente Balaguer, a Jesuit missionary who
befriended the hero during his exile in Dapitan, Rizal accepted a shorter retraction
document prepared by the superior of the Jesuit Society in the Philippines, Father Pio Pi.
4. According to the head of UST’s Department of History, Dr. Augusto De Viana, he
believed that Rizal retracted and said that the National Hero just renounced from the free
masonry and not from his famous nationalistic works.
5. In August 4, 2016, Commissioner Rene R. Escalante, the OIC of the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines read a Professorial Cahir Lecture Rizal Studies in which
the document which they called Cueerpo de Vigilancia was found on the day when Rizal
died. According to the document, an additional independent eyewitness heard that Rizal
wrote a paper which he called retraction. Also, the two Jesuits who are Father Jose
Vilaclara and Father Estanislao March and two other person who are Juan del Fresno and
Eloy Moure was also said to be found going to the place where Rizal was prisoned.
6. According to Father Pio Pi’s account, Rizal knelt down before the altar and read his own
retraction without receiving pressure from anyone.
7. According to Lieutenant Mariano Matinez Gallegos y Lasala, Rizal read on his knees
aloud, his abjuration and profession of Catholic faith, as well as the acts of faith, hope
and charity contained in a devotional.
8. According to Professor H. Otley Beyer, an expert in observing handwritings, he believed
that the filed papers on Rizal’s marriage to Josephine Bracken and other letters signed by
Rizal matched the handwritings of the retraction.
9. According to Dr. Hose I. del Rosario, an expert in observing handwritings, the way Rizal
wrote the specific letters in comparison to his other writings proved that the retraction is
authentic and presence of perforations in the documents was mainly caused by termites.
Evidences that Rizal did not retract
1. There are no one or nothing can prove that the letter is a legitimate
creation of Dr. Jose Rizal. There is a chance that it was forged or he
might be forced to sign the letter.
2. Rafael Palma stated that the original copy of the letter was kept away
from the public even though the copies are published there is no one
ever saw the original copy.
3. Also, from Palma, the petition denied the request of Rizal family for
them to keep the original copy when they asked for it.
4. One of the reasons why the public cannot trust the published copies is
the date printed in those copies are in consistent. Some are dated
December 29, 1890 while some are December 29, 1869.
5. If Rizal truly retracted then he will be released from imprisonment
instead of being executed.
6. If Rizal was executed even after he retracted he will somehow be given
a decent burial.
7. An expert named Ricardo Pascual mentioned that the letter was not
hand written by Dr. Jose Rizal after he analyzed six major documents
created by Riza
8. According to a 1949 ex justice named Toman Ozaeta, his published
book entitled “The Pride of the Malay Race”, Rizal’s abjuration of
masonry and his conversion to Catholicism at the last hours are not
considered satisfactory and truthful.
9. At least four texts of Rizal’s retraction have surfaced. It is said that
others only imitate Rizal’s handwriting.
References:
Torres, J (2018) BATIS; Sources in Philippine History. Quezon City, Philippines. C & E
Publishing, Incorporation.
Torres, J. (2018). BATIS: Sources in Philippine History. Quezon City, Philippines C & E
Publishing, Incorporation.
Nidoy R. (2013) Jose Rizal's retraction: the controversy. Retrieved from
http://primacyofreason.blogspot.com/2013/06/jose-rizals-retraction-controversy.html last
26 February 2020.
Garcia, R. (1964). The Great Debate: The Rizal Retraction. Quezon City: R. P. GARCIA
Publishing Company.
