Bacay, Romina E.
BS Psychology Y1-1-3
THE RETRACTION OF RIZAL : UNVEILING THE PAST
Many historians believed that Rizal retracted his anti-catholic ideas through a
document which stated “ I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings,
publications, and conduct have been contrary to my character as a son of the
Catholic Church.” However, there are doubts of its authenticity given that there are
no certification of Rizal’s Catholic marriage to Josephine Bracken. There are also
allegations that the retraction document was Forgery (Nidoy, 2013).
To unveil this controversy, I did some research and dig on our past. I read a lot of
books, articles, websites, and research regarding this topic. I found out that “The
retraction of Rizal” has many versions but different perspective, this also resulted of
doubts about the truth.
The retraction of Jose Rizal was claimed to be true by the Roman catholic but
asserted to be deceptive by Anti-Retractionist. Some claim that the retraction
document was a forgery, but handwriting experts concluded a long time ago that it is
genuine. I also found out that there are at least four texts of Rizal’s retraction have
surfaced. The fourth text appeared in El Imparcial on the day Rizal’s execution; It is a
short formula of the Retraction. The first text was published in La voz espanola and
Diardo de Manila on the very day of Rizal’s execution. The exact copy had been
received by Fr. Balanguer in the evening immediately preceding Rizal’s execution.
Jose Rizal with the addition of the names of the witnesses taken from the texts of
the retraction in the Manila Newspaper. Fr. Pi’s copy of Rizal’s retraction has the
same text as that of Fr. Balanguer’s exact copy. With such claim, I find it hard to
believe if Rizal really retracted on his own free-will.
In order to marry Josephine Bracken, Rizal’s agreed to write a retraction letter with
the help of the priest to be approved by the Bishop of Cebu. According to Fr. Antonio
Obach, Jersuit parish priest of Dapitan. The document, inclosed with the priest’s
letter, was ready for the mail when Rizal came hurrying to reclaim it.” Rizal perhaps
realize that he had written and given to a priest what the Friars had been trying by all
means to get from him. The retraction of Rizal has no definite evidence to claim that
Rizal really wrote and signed the document. Neither Fr. Pi nor His grace, The
Archbishop ascertained whether Rizal himself was the one who wrote and signed the
Retraction. Neither one of them also saw the original document of retraction. What
they saw was just a mere copy done by the one who could imitate Rizal’s
handwriting while the original was kept by some Friars. Both Archbishop and Fr. Pi
acted innocently because they did not distinguish between the genuine and the
imitation of Rizal’s handwriting (2021,p.5.,N.Manaog)
I believed that Rizal was a believer of God, From the very start and up to his last
moments. He might have questioned the Catholic teachings done by the Friars at
some point of his life, but he never questioned his faith in God. He had always
believed in Him, but he was opposed to the twisted ways of the friars who ran the
church and the government during the Spanish regime. Whether Rizal died a catholic
or an apostate makes no difference to his greatness as a Filipino. We revere Rizal
because of what he did during his time and who he was. Rizal remain as himself: 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.
REFERENCES
www.academia.edu.com
www.joserizal.ph
Nidoy, R. (2013, June 18). Jose Rizal’s retraction: the controversy.
http://primacyofreason.blogspot.com/2013/06/jose-rizals-retraction-controversy.html
Solano, T.N. (2019, October 9). The Retraction of Rizal : What is the truth?
https://atarialonso.wordpress.com/2019/10/09/the-retraction-of-jose-rizal-what-is-the-truth/
An Argument on Whether Rizal Retracted or Not. (2018, December 26). Retrieved from
https://assenad.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/an-argument-on-whether-rizal-retracted-or-not/
