Rica Mae Pilar

BSCE 1-C

Retraction of Rizal

Rizal Retracted
Claimant 1 Argument 1 Evidences/proofs
Fr. Vicente Balaguer S.J He who made the claim that History books tell most people the
he married Jose Rizal and first draft of the retraction was
Josephine Bracken at 6:15 sent by Archbishop Bernardino
AM on December 30, just Nozaleda to Rizal’s cell in Fort
minute before Rizal was Santiago the night before his
executed. execution in Bagumbayan.
He also claimed that he Brought out the shorter and more
managed to persuade Rizal concise formula(retraction) of Fr.
to denounce Masonry and Pio Pi. He finished writing the
return to Catholic fold. retraction when it was half past
Balaguer said that Rizal eleven and was dated December
woke up for how many 29. The retraction was signed
times, confessed four times, together with Dr. Rizal, Senor
communion and did rosary Juan del Fresno(Chief of the
prayers. Picket) and Senor Eloy
Moure(Adjutant of the Plaza).
Your Observations
I can observe that the claimant Fr. Balaguer who believes that Rizal retracted is a member
of Catholic hierarchy and the documents presented are from the statement of people who
eyewitness account, however, it cannot be deemed credible and it is not enough to prove that
Rizal did retract. There were many witnesses, most of them are Jesuits, and one of them is Fr.
Balaguer, but the original document was not shown to the public wherein it is hotly debated
when it comes to authenticity.

Rizal Retracted
Claimant Argument 2 Evidences / proofs
Silvino Lopez Tunon He claimed that this Tunon’s testimony is a public
profession of faith and document, being a notarized
retraction was shown to him statement made on April 23,
at that moment, that he had 1917. The portion of the
read it in its entirety, testimony is that is pertinent
 returning it immediately there for our purpose is the
after to the Archbishop. following: That on the same
day, December 30th , at about
ten o’clock in the morning.
Archbishop Nozaleda was
with some Jesuit Fathers
whose name he(the affiant
could not recall, that he learn
from one of thw Jesuit
Fathers that Rizal had asked
and received the Sacraments
of Penance and Communion
and contracted canonical
marriage with Josefina
Bracken, after having written
and signed a religious
profession, declaring himself
a child of the Catholic
Church. That this profession
of faith and retraction was
shown to him at that moment,
that he had it for a while in
his hands and read it from
entirety, returning it
immediately thereafter to the
Archbishop.

My observations
Even though it would be easy to say Rizal retracted all that he wrote about the church, it
is still did not change the fact that his writings began the wheels of change in Philippine
colonial society during the Spanish period, a change that lead to our independence. The
retraction is just one aspect of life, works and writings of Rizal. Honestly, in my opinion, if
there is substantial proof of retraction, I think he doesn't deserve the title of being our own
national hero.

Rizal Did Not Retract

Claimant 1 Argument 1 Evidences/Proofs
Manuel Morato Morato claimed in his Morato subsequently brought
“expose” that the friars from Baron Fernandez the
forged the retraction letter Intellectual Property right to
and published in the Clerico- the valuable manuscript.
 Fascist newspapers at that Also, he and Fernandez have
time. Morato confirmed that documents to prove that when
Rizal never retracted although Rizal is in Dapitan, he was
that fake retraction was allowed to go to Cebu with
published by friars and is still Josephine Bracken and the
sadly peddled in most Archbishop of Cebu, at that
schools. time, tried to dangle marriage
and coaxed him to the retract.

My observations
The controversy as a plain unadorned fact of history, having all the marks and indications
of historical certainty and reality,it is not possible that the retraction letter had forged because
witnesses were present while Rizal was signing it. The evidence speaks for itself and moves
on to the question that Rizal’s character as some argue that the retraction is not in line with
Rizal’s mature beliefs and maturity.

Rizal Did Not Retract

Claimant 2 Argument 2 Evidences/Proofs
Baron Fernandez Fernandez claimed “I have He is a Spanish orphan who
documents stating that before discovered the eyewitnesses
he faced death, Rizal told his accounts of the retraction
sister Narcisa to look inside from the repertories or
his shoes because he had left collections of Spain’s dirty
a letter.” secret. He found 34
According to Fernandez, the documents including
letter could only be a denial handwritten letters, telegrams
of his retraction because and military documents
Rizal new the friars were alongside these documents
misleading the Filipinos and are the thick manuscript that
he wanted to set the records Rizal had written before the
straight. day of his execution.

My observations
The claimant based his argument on the eyewitnesses account. He look for the
discrepancy on these accounts and analyze it to confirm whether the claims of those who
believe that Rizal retracted is credible. Surely, we must put the question of retraction to the
rest, though Rizal is a hero, whether he retracted or not, we must investigate if he really did a
turn around. If he did not, and the documents were forgeries, then somebody has to pay for
trying to deceive a nation.