Jonalyn R.

Bustamante

BSOA 4-1P

1.) Research (and cite biographies and sources) the following personalities a. FR VICENTE
BALAGUER b. RAFAEL PALMA c. AUSTIN COATES d. FR. PIO PI

a. FR. VICENTE BALAGUER

Fr. Vicente Balaguer, a Jesuit priest, had a face-to-face conversation with Jose Rizal. He was
created in Alicante, Spain, on January 19, 1851. Fr. 30th of July 1890. In 1894, Balaguer
embarked on a trip to the Philippines and joined the Society of Jesus. Fr. Prior to being
transferred to Dapitan in 1896, Balaguer's first missionary assignment was based in Surigao.
In a year, he was sent to Davao. He spent five years in the Philippines before returning to
Spain in 1899. He passed away in Orihuela on October 1, 1922. Fr. One of the people who
saw Rizal retract was Vicente Balaguer. Prior to receiving the sacraments, Rizal was required
by his superiors to correct any errors in his writing and speech and to make a second
confession of his Catholic faith. Balaguer claimed that he was the one who handed Rizal's
letter of retractio to his superiors. He also offered the Father Pio Pi retraction formula, which
is shorter and clearer. Fr. Jose Rizal and Josephine Bracken were allegedly married by
Balaguer.

b. RAFAEL PALMA

On October 24, 1874, Rafael Palma was born in Tondo, Manila. Before enrolling at the
University of Santo Tomas to study law, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Ateneo
de Manila University. While working as a correspondent for La Independencia, the first
Filipino daily newspaper founded and run by General Antonio Luna, he got involved in the
libertarian movement. He has written for publications like La Patria and others. He also
joined El Nueva Dia, the first daily newspaper in Cebu. He founded the publication El
Renacimiento after passing the bar exam, and it first appeared on September 3, 1901. Later,
he entered politics and won a Senate seat. In Chapters 32 and 33 of his biography of Rizal,
Rafael Palma criticized the author's alleged retractions. Rafael Palma described Rizal's
conversion as "pious fraud.". He provided seven justifications for his fraud allegations. First
of all, the original retraction document was only seen by the authorities and was kept a secret
from the general public. It was only rediscovered 30 years later. Second, the Rizal family's
requests for copies of Rizal's retractions and proof of his alleged canonical marriage to
Josephine Bracken were denied. The third, fourth, and fifth reasons are that Rizal's remains
were not returned to his family, his soul was not properly buried, and he was laid to rest in
the ground without a cross or stone to designate his grave. The sixth theory is that Rizal was
listed in the book of burials on the page of people who died and could not be identified and
committed suicide. He also considered a person who passed away without receiving any form
of spiritual guidance and impenitent. There is no moral justification for Rizal to convert,
according to Palma's eighth argument.

Furthermore, Palma thinks that the Jesuits were used as tools by the church to use Rizal's
retractions for political gain.

c. AUSTIN COATES

Austin Coates was a British writer, traveler, and employee of the government. Known
English composer Eric Coates' son bore this name. In particular, he wrote a lot about Macau
and Hong Kong in his writings about the Asia-Pacific region. In 1950, he was appointed
Assistant Colonial Secretary and Magistrate in Hong Kong, where he wrote a study on Rizal
titled "Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr.". " .

Austin Coates considered Rizal's retractions to be false. Because Rizal would have told his
mother about his conversion if he had experienced one, Coates did not believe Rizal's
retraction. He added that if Father Balaguer's statement were accurate, Father Villaclara and
Father March would undoubtedly conduct a dignified Christian funeral, proving that it is
untrue. Father Balaguer merely did this to gain attention, according to Coates, who is certain
of this. His remarks damaged the church's argument that Rizal had changed his mind. One of
the many errors in his testimony is his failure to acknowledge that Rizal wrote "Mi Ultimo
Adios" prior to his execution.

d. FR. PIO PI

Father Pio Pi was the Jesuit Superior at the time of Rizal's execution in 1896. He submitted
an affidavit in 1917 outlining his part in Rizal's retractions.
The Jesuits were given permission by Manila Archbishop Bernand Nozeleda to attend to
Rizal's spiritual requirements. Father Pio gladly took on the duty because Rizal was a "highly
renowned and devoted pupil" at the Ateneo Municipal High School. Rizal sent out a large
number of Jesuit priests, especially Father Balaguer, and received the first letter of retraction,
in which he identified a number of problems. A shorter version, written by Father Pio, was
copied and signed by Rizal, Senior Fresno, Senior Moure, and the adjutant of the plaza.

2. Identify what accounts and/or analyses are considered a. PRIMARY b.

SECONDADY. Defend your answer.

a. PRIMARY SOURCES

Father Vicente Balaguer’s Account

Fr. Since Vicente Balaguer's account is based on personal experience and first-hand
knowledge; it is regarded as a primary source. Being present when Rizal wrote his retraction
makes him personally responsible for the incident. Additionally, he insisted that he had met
Rizal in person and presided over the marriage of Rizal and Josephine Bracken.

Father Pio Pi’s Account

Father Pio's account may be regarded as a primary source even though he only used
information that was given to him directly by other Jesuit priests for half of his statements
and his own firsthand experiences for the other half. He received the Archbishop's
instructions and is in charge of dispatching Fr. Balaguer and additional Jesuit priests.
Furthermore, he was the author of the shorter retraction letter used by Rizal.

b. SECONDARY SOURCES

Rafael Palma Palma's

Despite the fact that Rafael Palma Palma was present at the time and was not a witness to
the retractions, his account is classified as a secondary source. He only witnessed Rizal's
passing in Bagumbayan. On the basis of Fr. Events that took place after Rizal's passing and
the remarks made by Balaguer.
Austine Coate’s Account

Coate was not present when Rizal is said to have made his retraction, so his account is
regarded as a secondary source. He is a foreigner who has only focused on learning about
Rizal's life. Coates has no firsthand knowledge of the incident and was not personally
involved. Furthermore, he merely trusted the two priests' accounts. He also carried out an
investigation at that time based on several news reports in order to support his claims.

3. Who amongst the primary sources had the closest encounter with Jose P. Rizal?
The farthest? Rank their position accordingly.

Father Vicente Balaguer, as opposed to Father Pio, had a closer relationship with Rizal
because they spoke and met while the priest was preparing the so-called Rizal Retraction,
which was done while Rizal was imprisoned. Father Balaguer claims that they spoke for an
hour inside the church. They talked from three o'clock in the afternoon until it got dark,
according to Balaguer. Additionally, Father Balaguer asserted that he officiated at Rizal and
Bracken's morning wedding.

Father Pio Pi had the fewest encounters, despite the fact that Rizal was one of his Ateneo
students. He added that he did not know Rizal personally. Furthermore, he only had indirect
contact with Rizal at Dapitan and only knew of him through the Jesuits.

4. Cite 2 possible biases the accounts possessed or shown. Elaborate your answer.

a. FATHER VICENTE BALAGUER

Being a Jesuit priest, Father Balaguer was biased in favor of the Catholic Church and
disagreed with Rizal's viewpoints and criticisms of the institution. Rizal was wrong in
everything he did to oppose the church, as Balaguer made clear during their conversation.
Father Balaguer was blatantly demonstrating that Rizal's criticisms were unfounded and that
the church's actions at the time, including its preaching, were all correct.
 Father Balaguer is also partial toward himself. He competed with Rizal on wits and logic, as
is clear from his statement. Because, in his opinion, Father Balaguer is knowledgeable about
history and the mistakes Rizal made in his works, he was able to prove that he had the upper
hand. In his narrative, Father Balaguer asserts that it was he who convinced Rizal to confess
his sins and compose the purported retraction.

b. RAFAEL PALMA

Father Balaguer's statements, which he disagreed with, are the only ones on which Rafael
Palma's account is predicated. The Jesuit Fathers, according to him, are lying to support the
Archbishop's political propaganda. He ends by stating that the superior will use the retraction
to improve the Catholic Church's reputation in the public. The Archbishops used the Jesuit
Fathers as tools to further their goals, and Father Balaguer seized the opportunity to enhance
his public image.

Palma only met Rizal when he was put to death, but he began to like him. Rizal was a great
hero who fought the Spaniards in the eyes of many Filipinos. Palma doesn't think Rizal will
be able to undo everything he's done in a single day

c. AUSTIN COATES

Austin Coates is a foreigner who studied Rizal's life. It is obvious from his narrative that he has a
bias in favor of Rizal because he has a deep admiration for him. Even then, Coates made
comparisons between Rizal and other significant global figures. Because Coates believed Rizal
to be a wise man and believed the retraction would harm the revolution, he was blatant in his
belief that Rizal would not act in such a manner.

Austin Coates also had a predilection for Father Balaguer and the Archbishop. He proved that the
Archbishop wants Rizal to retract, and Father Balaguer planned it so he could succeed. Coates
did this by putting forth logical evidence that could be used to refute Father Balaguer's assertions
and undermine his version of events.

d. FATHER PIO PI
n favor of Manila Archbishop Nozarela is Father Pio Pi. In his statement, he made clear that the
Archbishop's objective—and the reason he commissioned the Jesuit priest—was to tend to
Rizal's spiritual needs, not to secure his repentance. Rizal criticizes the Catholic Church, but he
also suggests that the Archbishop is still concerned.

The Society of Jesus, Father Pio Pi's Congregation, was the target of his prejudice as well. He
asserted that because Rizal was their former and prized student, they immediately accepted
the Archbishop's responsibility because they wanted to make amends and protect his soul.
They are acting in this manner because they are concerned. Father Pio also mentioned how
important it is for him and his fellow priest to help Rizal become aware of and experience
conversion in his story.

5. After reading the sources, do you believe Rizal retracted or not? Defend your stand

Due to a number of gaps and inconsistencies in Father Balaguer's testimony, which do not fit
other events, it is highly likely that the alleged retraction of Rizal is not true. Numerous
historians and others who studied Rizal's life have emphasized this incident. For example,
according to Coates, if Rizal had been a practicing Catholic, he ought to have given Christian
a dignified funeral instead of simply burying him in the ground without a cross or tombstone
to indicate his grave. Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios," which was written on the eve of his
execution, overlapped with Balaguer's statement, Coates also noted. Many historians have
also noted that if Rizal were to retract, his mother should have been informed when they
spoke prior to the execution, but his family is still in the dark on the matter.

Despite being the only eyewitness to Rizal's retractions, Father Balaguer's testimony is rife
with errors. He acknowledged that he performed the marriage ceremony for Rizal, but he is
unable to produce any proof of this. Rafael Palma, on the other hand, claimed that Rizal's
retractions were a religious hoax. The newly discovered retraction document was also
determined to be a forgery by Dr. Ricardo R. Pascual, one of the people the archbishop had
given permission to examine it (Escalante, 2019).

Rizal passed away and left a lasting legacy for his country and fellow citizens, despite the
fact that it has taken many years to determine whether or not his retraction was true.
Sources:

Austin Coates. (n.d.). Wikiwand. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Austin_Coates

Escalante, R. (2019, December 26). Did Jose Rizal Die a Catholic? Revisiting Rizal’s Last 24
Hours Using Spy Reports. Souteast Asian Studies. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from
https://englishkyotoseas.org/2019/12/vol-8-no-3-rene-escalante/

Mi Ultimo Adios. (n.d.). Goodreads. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8250044-mi-ultimo-adios

Rafael Palma. (n.d.). Senator’s Profile. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from
http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/rafael_palma.htm

Retraction of Jose Rizal. (n.d.). PDF Coffee. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from
https://pdfcoffee.com/frvicente-balaguers-statement-pdf-free.html