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Lesson/Topics: Controversy on Retraction Document signed by Dr.

Jose Protacio Rizal or not

Objectives : 1. To understand the background of the retraction

2. To identify the veracity and authenticity of the claims that Jose Rizal retracted or
not on what he had said against his religion.
3. To comprehend the significance of the retraction controversy
towards Rizal and the Filipinos;

References : Camagay, Maria Luisa et. Al (2018). Unraveling the past; Readings in Philippine history.
Quezon City; Vibal Group Inc.
Ligan, Victoria et. At. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Araneta University,

Malabon City. Publishing House

https://www.google.com/search?q=AMBETH+OCAMPO+ON+RIZAL

Concept:

WHAT IS RETRACTION?
It is 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
(Wikipedia org.)

Background
During the last 24 hours of Dr. Jose Rizal in Fort Santiago one of the so called
controversies was about the signing of Dr. Jose Rizal on a document dated December 29, 1896,
citing that he was a catholic and retracted all his writing against the church.
The controversy

Father Manuel Garcia, C.M. discovered the Retraction Document in 1935, its content has
become a favorite subject of dispute among academicians and Catholics. The letter, dated December 29,
1896, was said to have been signed by the National Hero himself. This document was attested by Fr.
Vicente Balaguer who were with Dr. Rizal in Fort Santiago and persuaded Rizal to signed the document.

Jose Rizal's Retraction Controversy made many historians arguing whether Rizal retracted from
what he had stated about the Catholic Church or not. There are arguments found that depend the both
claims.

Fr. Vicente Balaguer Ambeth Ocampo Fr. Manuel Garcia c.m.

Father Balaguer cited, that
Rizal retracted to have a
marriage blessings to
Josephine Bracken, but
when he was asked to
show a certificate, he was
not able to present
anything.
Prof. Ocampo is the foremost
authority on the Philippines'
national hero Jose Rizal and
renowned for making the study
of history accessible to the
public and interesting to a wide
variety of audiences.
In 1935 the archdiocesan
archivist Fr. Manuel Gracia, C.M. was
sorting through folders of documents
that he would later transfer to a newly
acquired fireproof vault. While doing this,
he found the “original” retraction
document about Rizal in a bundle titled
Masoneria (Garcia 1964, 31–43).Dec 26,
2019
RIZAL SIGNED THE DOCUMENT DID NOT SIGNED THE DOCUMENT
 The document is authentically  The document was not in Rizal’s
signed by Dr. Rizal: handwriting:

 -Ambeth Ocampo personally  Six major documents was examined

examined the actual document from
the archives of Arzibisado de Manila
in November 11, 1996.
“While handwriting analysis is best left to experts,
my familiarity with Rizal's writings comes from
over 30 years handling original Rizal manuscripts,
and in my opinion the document is authentic. “
 Professor of Anthropology, Otley
Beyer of University of the
 Senator Rafael Palma a former
Philippines attested after
comparing the handwriting of
Dr. Rizal, that the document is
authentic.
on the retraction document after this
was discovered in 1935. The following
concluded that the retraction
document was not in Rizal’s
handwriting: Ricardo Pascual, Frank
Laubach, a protestant Minister, Austin
Coates, a British writer and Ricardo
Manapat, director of the National
Archives
president of the University of the
Philippines and a prominent Mason,
argued that a retraction is not in
keeping with Rizal’s character and
matured beliefs.

 Rizal died as a Catholic

According to Augusto De Viana, head
of UST’s Department of History also
believes that Rizal retracted and said the
National Hero just renounced from the
Free Masonry and not from his famous
nationalistic works. The fact that Rizal
was buried inside the sacred grounds of
Paco Cemetery.
 No marriage certificate
found.
It was impossible for the marriage to
be the reason of retraction because
there was no marriage certificate
found. There was no certificate that
legalizes the marriage between
Josephine Bracken and Jose Rizal.
Rizal was not buried with a good
standing. Rizal's body was buried ten
months after his death.

 The signing has no significant

effect on his execution

If Rizal retracted, they would have

shown it to the Spanish authorities
to stop Rizal's execution. So either
the authorities have already decided
to kill Rizal no matter what, or there
was no retraction in the first place, or
the church simply wanted Rizal to be
killed, retraction or not.
Christian Burial denied
If Rizal was reconciled with the church why he
buried in unmarked grave.

EXPERTS FINDINGS:
According to Jose del Rosario a chemist by profession and Otley H. Beyer an anthropologist
from University of the Philippines and a handwriting expert, they concluded that the
document discovered by Fr. Garcia was genuine (Maranan, 2015).

o If the document exists and is authentic, our next question will be why did he signed
it?

o Only Rizal left no other clues except for the papers he left in his clothes and shoes all
deteriorated when his corpse was exhumed years later. Even if the document were made
 available, it will not convince those who insist on the counterfactual and conspiracy
theories. The document was more of Rizal taking a moral courage to recognized his
mistakes.

To conclude, whether or
not Jose Rizal retracted,
the researchers believe that
the
retraction document was
more of Rizal taking a
moral courage to recognize
his mistakes.
Perhaps it may be true that he
retracted and reverted to his
faith, but this does not diminish
Rizal’s stature as a great hero
with such greatness. As
mentioned the documentary
entitled “Ang
Bayaning Third World”, Joel
Torre’s impersonation of Rizal
told the time travellers that
whether
he retracted or not, it does
change what he has already
done and what his writings have
already
achieved. Furthermore, former
Senator Jose Diokno once
stated, "Surely whether Rizal
died as a
Catholic or an apostate adds or
detracts nothing from his
greatness as a Filipino. Catholic
or
Mason, Rizal is still Rizal -
the hero who courted death
"to prove to those who
deny our
patriotism that we know how to
die for our duty and our beliefs
Former Jose Diokno cited , surely whether Rizal died as a Catholic or not does not detracts his greatness as
a Filipino. Catholic or Mason Rizal is still Rizal. The Hero who courted death to prove to those who deny our
patriotism that we know how to die for our country and on beliefs. But even if Rizal retracted or not, the
legacy of the love for freedom. nationalism and as a change agent inculcated to the Filipinos will
not change.

ASSESSMENT:

1. RESEARCH MORE (4) READINGS ON THE AUTHENTICITY OR RELIABILITY OF THIS

RETRACTION ISSUE. PRESENT IN A GRAPHICAL FORM AND CITE YOUR SOURCES.
2. MAKE A ONE PAGE ESSAY ELABORATING YOUR OWN STAND IF IT MATTERS THAT DR.
RIZAL TRULY RETRACTED OR NOT ( SINGLE SPACE SHORT BOND PAPER ONLY).