Name: Cañeba, Aaliyah R.

Course/Year: BSGEO1A

Case Study: Did Jose Rizal Retract?

No, Rizal did not retract. Although there were many opinions and evidences presented by
various authors as to whether Rizal did or did not retract. Nonetheless, until now there is no proof or
any justification to end the debate.
The following assertions bring about the testimonies that Rizal did not retract before his execution.

First was the copy of the retraction paper that was allegedly signed by Rizal that was even kept
secret and was only published in newspapers. When Rizal’s family requested for the original copy, it
was said that it was lost. Could the Jesuits be this irresponsible to not know the value of the paper? Or
was it just hidden?

Thirty-nine years later the original copy was found in the archdiocesan archives. Ricardo
Pascual Ph. D who was given permission by the Archbishop Nozaleda to examine the document and
later concluded in his book, “Rizal beyond the Grave” that the documents presented was a forgery. The
common rebuttal of this argument was either Father Balaguer or Father Pi had made errors in
reproducing another copy of the original.

Another evidence as to Rizal did not retract is that when Father Balaguer came to terms that he
married Jose and Josephine, after Jose had signed the retraction paper, however, there were no
marriage certificate or public record shown that could prove Father Balaguer’s statements.

Why would Rizal retract when he knows for a fact that even if he signs the retraction paper he
would still be executed? Since the Archbishop and Jesuits cannot do anything to mitigate his penalty
because the judicial process involved was purely a military tribunal where civilian or church interference
was uncommon and not allowed. 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 were still treated
as rebellious and were also not given a proper burial.

Furthermore, way back when Rizal was still exiled in Dapitan, Father Sanchez- Rizal’s favorite
teacher from Ateneo was sent by the Jesuits superiors to try to convince his former student’s allegation
towards the Catholic religion and Spanish religious in the Philippines. Father Sanchez told him to
retract in exchange of a professorship, a hundred thousand pesos and an estate (Laubach, 1936)
however Rizal rejected the offer.

It was argued that Rizal retracted in order to save his family from further persecution, to give
Josephine Bracken a legal status as his wife and to assure reforms from the Spanish government. It is
more likely to be of Rizal’s mentality however, come to think of it, would Rizal just simply neglect all the
writing he conceived with his hard work? The same writings that brought him to the point of being
executed? No.

Rizal’s behavior during his last hours in Fort Santiago does not point to a conversion- the Mi
Ultimo Adios and letters- or indicate even a religious instability. In the evening where his sister and
mother arrived, never had he mentioned about the retraction, contrary to what Father Balaguer claimed
that even in the afternoon, Rizal was oblivious and was asking for the formula of the retraction.
 Rizal was fixated of the thought that 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.

Let us look at Rizal’s character as a man aged 33. He was mature enough to realize the
consequences of the choice he had made even before he opposed to the Jesuits; he had been
anticipating this to happen and would be unlikely if he had a behavior showing a threat from death.
Anyone who has been studying his biography and had been acquainted with him knows this is so, even
the priests had admitted that Rizal showed a behavior consistent of what he was throughout his mature
years.

Whatever further study that may emerge as to the truth about Rizal’s retraction controversy,
“…it detracts nothing from his greatness as a Filipino.”

Bibliography:

 Ricardo R. Pascual, Rizal Beyond the Grave, Revised Edition (Manila: Luzon Publishing
Corp., 1950).
 Frank C. Laubach, Rizal: Man and Martyr (Manila: Community Publishers, 1936).
 Leon Ma. Guerrero, The First Filipino (Manila: National Heroes Commission, 1963).
 Eugene A. Hessel: Rizal’s Retraction: A Note on the Debate (Manila: The Siliman Journal,
1965

References:
Fibboys. (2012). Did Jose Rizal retract? Retrieved from:
https://puchikamalucho.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/did-jose-rizal retract/?fbclid=IwAR1vyBIVtNOkl
3MZ-WhfUOzgGDlMOsCUfKy1w_MNtja58fJWzXG2Ai5pcag