Rizal‟s Political Ideas & His

Retraction Controversy
 In order to fully understand Rizal‟s political
ideas and his ideals, this session will his
writings and the retraction controversy about
him.

 In this module, let us explore the ideals of

our hero and assess if he really withdrew his
ideals for the reasons given on the
document.
 At the end of the lesson, you are expected
to:
1. Analyze the political ideas of Rizal
2. Assess evidences of his nationalistic ideals
According to Rizal- Spain should undertake
political reforms, and they are as follows:
• Removal of restriction on the freedom of
expression in the colony with reference to
matters of public interest.
• Colonial civil service should be open to
Filipinos too, that admission and promotion
in the service should be based on merit as
established in competitive examinations.
 Healso argues his countrymen to have
reforms. That the Spaniards cannot be
entirely blamed nor the Filipinos state of
subjection. They have themselves to blame
just as much if not more-

“There would be no masters if there were no

slaves”
- That the Filipinos must realize that they
cannot have the privilege of freedom unless
they are willing to accept its responsibilities.
1. He called the first virtue as economia: the
prudent use of limited resources to produce
the maximum benefit for the greatest
number. (actually means “austerity”)
2. The second virtue id called transigencia –
that roughly means „the spirit of give and
take‟. Rizal meant the willingness to
compromise, not on principle but on
question of practical policy, that is by
nature subject to adjustment.
3. What is his understanding of nationalism?
*Rizal‟s Retraction
Letter
 Thestory of retraction has been told and
retold. Various newspaper reports of the last
hours of Rizal were published on Dec. 30,
1896 or the days shortly thereafter.
I declare myself a catholic and in this Religion
in which I was born
and educated I wish, to live and die.

I retract with all my heart whatever in my

words, writings, publications and conduct has
been contrary to my character as son of the
Catholic Church. I believe and I confess
whatever she teaches and I submit to
whatever she demands.

I abominate Masonry , as the enemy which is

of the Church, and as a Society prohibited by
the Church. The Diocesian Prelate may, as the
 SuperiorEcclesiastical Authority, make public
this spontaneous manifestation of mine in
order to repair the scandal which my acts
may have caused and so that God and people
may pardon me.

Manila 29 of December of 1986

Jose Rizal
 The rejection of Masonry (“I Abominate
Masonry”) and
 A repudiation of “anything in my words,
writings, and conduct that has been contrary
to my character as a son of the catholic
church.” together with the statement “I
believe and profess what it teaches and I
submit it to what it demands.
(1) * The Retraction Document is said to be a
forgery.
* The Handwriting
* The Authenticity of the document itself is
based on the principles of textual criticism
* Its content is in part strangely worded,
e.g. in the Catholic Religion
* There is the “confession” of “the forger”
(2) The second main line of argument against
the Retraction is the claim that other acts
and facts do not fit well with the story of the
Retraction.

a. The document of the Retraction was not

made public until 1935. Even members of the
family did not see it. It was said to be “lost.”

b. No effort was made to save Rizal from the

death penalty after his signing of the
Retraction.
c. Rizal‟s burial was kept secret; he was
buried outside the inner wall of the Paco
Cemetery; and the record of his burial was
not placed on the page for entries of Dec.
30th but on a special page where at least one
other admitted non-penitent is recorded (
perhaps others, the evidence is conflicting).

d. There is no marriage certificate or public

record of the marriage of Rizal with
Josephine Bracken. To say that these were
not needed is not very convincing.
 e. Finally, Rizal‟s behavior as a whole during
his last days at Fort Santiago and during the
last 24 hours in particular does not point to a
conversion.

(3) The Third chief line of argument against

the Retraction is that it is out of character.
Rizal‟s Political Ideas and His Retraction Controversy
By:
•James Chua
•Erlo Caballero
•Mark Nicole Sumugat