Module 11

RIZAL’S RETRATION
 Learning Outcomes

• At the end of this lesson, you should:

1. Identify the conflicting views/accounts about the Rizal
retraction
2. Analyze each view or source
3. Use primary sources in presenting/writing about a local issue
 JOSE RIZAL
(José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda)
“ I retract with all my heart
whatever in my words,
writings, publication and
conduct have been contrary to
my character as a son of the
catholic church”
- Jose P. Rizal
Since Rizal’s retraction letter was discovered by
Father Manuel Garcia, C.M. 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.
• Rizal then wrote his retraction after
making some modifications in the
document. In his retraction, he
disavowed Masonry and religious
thoughts that opposed Catholic
belief.
• “Personally, I did not believe he retracted,
but some documents that was purchased
by the Philippine government from Spain
in the mid-1990s, the Cuerpo de Vigilancia
de Manila,” showed some interesting
points about the retraction, said Jose
Victor Torres, professor at the History
department of the De La Salle University.
Proofs, documents
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. But Rizal
was said to have rejected the draft
because it was lengthy.
 ‘Unadorned fact’

• Filipino historian Nicolas Zafra considered

the controversy as “a plain unadorned fact of
history, having all the marks and indications
of historical certainty and reality” in his book
The Historicity of Rizal’s Retraction.
He (Rizal) retracted. He died as a Catholic, and
a proof that he died as a Catholic was he was
buried inside the sacred grounds of Paco
Cemetery,” said De Viana, who compared the
martyr with Apolinario Mabini, a revolutionary
and free mason who was buried in a Chinese
cemetery.
 Guide Questions

1. Who are the sources of the conflicting accounts or analyses on the Rizal
retraction?
2. What are their accounts or analyses? How are they similar to and/or different
from one another?
3. Which among the accounts or analyses do you consider the most convincing
and reliable? Why? Research more about these sources to come up with a
sound answer.
4. Analyze each account further. Do you find any loopholes or inconsistencies?
What are these loopholes, if any?
5. How can these accounts and analyses contribute to your understanding of the
Rizal’s retraction?
 Activity

• Choose a recent happening or any pressing issue in your school

or community and write a feature article about it. Make sure to
use primary sources in writing your article. You may conduct
interviews with involved parties/eyewitnesses/participants;
and gather relevant official documents among others.