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“Rizal’s Retraction: Real or Rip-Off?”

An Investigatory Project on the Validity of the Retraction Documents of Jose Rizal

Sean Eidder Reynon

Julia Elaine Lim

Miko Makalintal

Angelica Mendoza

Kyla Abegail Santos

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Author Note

The researchers are currently in the second term of the AB MMA program, section DFM7

at the School of Design and Arts Campus of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

This investigatory project was constructed for the purpose of meeting the demands of the

course READHIS under the supervision of Sir Ryan Aguinaldo. Contact:

seaneidder.reynon@benilde.edu.ph, juliaelaine.lim@benilde.edu.ph,

miko.makalintal@benilde.edu.ph, angelicab.mendoza@benilde.edu.ph,

kylaabegail.santos@benilde.edu.ph
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 2

“Rizal’s Retraction: Real or Rip-Off?”

An Investigatory Project on the Validity of the Retraction Documents of Jose Rizal

Being the recognized symbol for the Philippine National Hero title, José Protasio Rizal

Mercado y Realonda has a multitude of texts written about his life and works in general. Aside

from his many accomplishments as a physician, artist, athlete and academic, Rizal is the famed

igniter of the flames of nationalism in the hearts of many Filipinos contemporary to him through

his notable titles the Noli Me Tángere and the El Filibusterismo. In his works, he exposed all the

difficulties under the Spanish regime, primarily spearheaded by the friars—which explains his

hatred for these Hispanic cenobites (Ocampo, 2012)—assigned to the country during that period.

(Joserizal.com, c.a. 2019; Guerrero, 2007) In the time of Rizal’s trials, he was labeled as:

“the principal organizer and the very soul of the Philippine insurrection; the author of
associations, periodicals and books dedicated to the cultivation and dissemination of ideas
instigating the people to rebellion and sedition; and supreme head of the national revolutionary
movement” (Ocampo, 2014).
Thus, Rizal is honored by many Filipinos as a role model from which they can imbibe from, the

spirit of nationalism or pagkamakabayan (Ocampo, 2012). Albeit these affirmative facts

asserted about Rizal, he still is no exception to controversies. One of such infamous scandals of

Rizal is the retraction document of his statements against the Catholic Church, reported to have

been handwritten by no other than himself during his last hours pre-execution in Fort Santiago

(PTV, 2016; Uckung, 2012; The Varsitarian, 2011).

The retraction controversy began when Fr. Balaguer wrote a letter to his superior Fr. Pio

Pi regarding the copy he has of Rizal’s Retraction; whether the copy he has is a reproduction of a

copyist or not. The controversy arose as they debated on which of the two copies they acquired is

the legitimate one. Historians and researchers alike would prove the validity of the document, but
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 3

would ask only one question: did Rizal retract with meaning, or did he retract just for the sake of

being at “peace” (PTV, 2016). According to history professor, Augustino de Viana: “So, tignan

mo, sabi nila (simbahan) may retraction nga, but sabi ng mga masons hindi nag retract yan, hindi

ganyan ang ugali ng brother mason” (de Viana, personal communication, 2019). To put it simply,

Rizal did not mean his retraction as for these analysts. However, the controversy remains to be

unsettled—did Rizal truly retract his statements against the Catholic Church hours before his death

on 7:03 in the morning of December 30, 1896? The researchers of this study have investigated on

the documents via the primary, secondary, and tertiary references as stated in the succeeding

paragraphs (PTV, 2016; Chua, 2016; Villaflores, 2012; Jose Rizal University, c.a. 2004;

Resurreccion, 1978).

Certified True Copy in the Office of Archdiocesan Archives of Manila. It has been

noted and verified in Ocampo’s book (2012) that the original version of the retraction document

is in the hands of the Archdiocese of Manila. It was discovered in May 18, 1935 after it disappeared

when Rizal was shot.

Cuerpo de Vigilancia’s Detailing of the Events. A report made by Federico Moreno,

scheduled guard during Rizal’s detention in Fort Santiago. He narrates: Rizal wanted a prayer

book which was brought to him shortly by Padre Estanislao March. He heard Rizal wrote on a

small piece of paper “Ang Retractacion”. He also saw two friars going inside Rizal’s cell—Padre

Jose Villaclara and Padre Estanislao March who were believed to have administered Rizal’s

performance of the sacrament of reconciliation and his matrimony to his “wife” Josephine

Bracken. Two more witnesses were present as per Moreno. Señor Juan del Fresno, Chief of the

Picket, and Señor Eloy Moure, Adjutant of the Plaza, were named as the two, and came out to be
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 4

the witness in Rizal’s retraction documents. This confirms the legitimacy of the document

presented.

Newspapers Had Published Their Witness Accounts of the Retraction. The first and

second text appeared in La Voz Española and Diario de Manila on the very day of Rizal’s

execution, Dec. 30, 1896. It is then followed by the account that was written anonymously (later

on recognized as Padre Vicente Balaguer) and published in Barcelona, Spain on February 14, 1897,

in the magazine La Juventud. The fourth text appeared in El Imparcial on the day after Rizal’s

execution (Jose Rizal University, c.a. 2004).

De la Imitación de Cristo y Menosprecio del Mundo por el V. Tomas de Kempis. This

is one of the many books that the friar has left in Rizal’s cell for him to read and have second

thoughts about his Catholic views. Rizal’s copy of this book, currently showcased at the National

Museum of Fine Arts (Gallery V, 1st Floor), is reported to have been given to him by Padre Pablo

Pastells. The book is left for Josephine Bracken, in which he addressed to as his “wife” (See

Appendix III).

Rizal-Pastells Correspondence. Padre Pastells was a Jesuit priest who was

determined to return Rizal to the orthodox Roman Catholic through their series of

correspondences (Bonoan, 1994). Pastell’s sending of a book authored by Sarda to

Rizal was the reason that sparked the debate amongst the two. Prior to this, Pastells

have requested Rizal for a retraction for him to be able to live inside the convent

walls during his exile in Dapitan, but the latter reportedly denied it (Hermanos,

2016; Tonogbanua, 2011; Bonoan, 1993).

RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 5

Rizal Drafts a Retraction Statement in Dapitan. In 1895, Jose Rizal fell in love

with Josephine Bracken. Rizal met Bracken in Dapitan when she came with her

blind father, who was to be cured by Rizal. To marry Bracken, Rizal had to write a

retraction and confess his faith to the Church. With a help of a Padre Vicente

Balaguer, Rizal wrote a retraction that was to be approved by the Bishop of Cebu.

Jesuit Antonio Obach spoke to Rizal and Rizal told him he will retract but under

certain conditions. Rizal gave him three conditions: first is his freedom, second is

to return to his family what has been confiscated or give its equivalent, lastly, fifty-

thousand pesos to start his own business. (Paraiso, 2012; Jose Rizal University, c.a.

2004; Trillana, 2000; Arcilla, 1994)

Mi Ultimo Adios a Mi Dulce Stranjera, Mi Amiga, Mi Alegria. Translations of

the introduction of Rizal’s farewell came out as him bidding goodbye to Josephine

Bracken (allegedly) by calling her out as “sweet foreigner, my darling , my

delight”—which can be proof that Rizal and Bracken were more than lovers

(Ocampo, 2012). Bracken was in fact the “greatest” of Rizal’s loves (Ocampo,

2016; Trillana, 2000).

Capricious Documents of Jose Baron-Fernandez. Author of the book entitled “Jose

Rizal, Filipino Doctor and Patriot”, Jose Baron-Fernandez has cited in his work that he had

acquired a grand total of 34 documents from the National Library of Madrid’s archives. From these

records was a correspondence of Rizal to his sister Narcisa regarding the counter-text to his

retraction that will be kept in his shoes. However, experts view Fernandez’s body of work to be

problematic and unreliable provided by his inappropriate use of sources (Nacion, 2015; Arcilla,

1994; 1993).
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 6

Rizal’s Unfading Glory. This book discusses all the misgivings and doubts about the

return of the Hero of Bagumbayan to the faith. The first part of the book is about the analysis of

evidence presented by the eye-witnesses of the conversations. It has positive evidences supporting

Rizal’s Catholic death and burial. In the second part, chapter seven expounded the secrets of

Rizal’s conversion which Padre Cavanna answers these questions by advancing three major

reasons for Rizal's conversion : (1) The power of prayer, (2) Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary,

and (3) The sincere piety and deep religion imbibed in an early and solid Catholic education at

home and in the school (Hernandez, 1953).

With all the documents and texts presented and carefully reviewed, the researchers have

concluded that the document of the retraction statements of Rizal is genuine, however the essence

of it is questionable. The following are the summation of information discerned from the evidences

provided previously: First, the retraction document that the Office of the Archdiocesan Archives

of Manila houses is the certified true copy, both of which has Rizal's signature. Albeit this, the

document was deplorably written with the clerical errors from the date ("189C") to the left-hand

signature of Rizal. Second, the Cuerpo de Vigilancia's report written by Federico Moreno,

scheduled guard during Rizal’s detention in Fort Santiago, is a primary reference with the detailing

of the events of the retraction write-up, thus to this day it is the most reliable source of information

on the happenings inside Rizal's cell on the day of his execution. Third, both foreign and local

newspapers, bearers of authentic information as guided by the ethics of journalism, have published

copies of the retraction statements of Rizal. Fourth, Rizal is inferred to have retracted given that

he was eventually married to Josephine Bracken-his "wife" as per the letter he inked in his copy

of the book "De la Imitación de Cristo y Menosprecio del Mundo por el V. Tomas de Kempis" and

also his "sweetheart" in reference to his epistle of farewell the "Mi Ultimo Adios". Moreover, the
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 7

negative side of the retraction debate gave no strong evidence. The documents cited were based

on merely hearsays.

Finally, Rizal retracted just for the sake of “giving it” to the friars and being at “peace”

with the Catholic Church. If Rizal was genuine with his retraction, he would have proudly signed

and wrote his retraction with his organized handwriting and legitimate signature. In addition to

that, if his retraction were genuine and not forced on him then he would not have been executed

given that he professed his violations to the Catholic Church, a mass would have been held for him

during his burial, and he would have been buried inside Paco Church with a headstone to

acknowledge him.

Whether or not Rizal retracted against the Church, he had already sparked the spirit of

freedom and nationalism through his works. Rizal’s retraction did not make much of a difference

in Philippine history. As what Professor Augustino De Viana told the researchers: “Sakin, how it

affects the nation? Nothing…” The retraction of Rizal only added to the Church’s pride that the

masons would just end up retracting. Rizal’s retraction was merely part of his misdoings as a

mundane human being.

RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 8

References

Arcilla, J. S. (1994). Fr. Vicente Balaguer, S.J. and Rizal’s Conversion. In Philippine Studies,
42(1), pp. 110-123 [Pdf File]. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. Retrieved
from http://philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/view/763/763
Bonoan, R. J. (1993). A Revelation Debate: The Rizal-Pastells Correspondence. In Landas, 7, pp.
38-56 [Pdf File]. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. Retrieved from
https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/landas/article/view/1108/1138
Bonoan, R. J. (1994). The Rizal-Pastells correspondence : the hitherto unpublished letters of José
Rizal and portions of Fr. Pablo Pastells's fourth letter and translation of the
correspondence, together with a historical background and theological critique. Quezon
City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN 9715501230
Chua, M. (2016, December 29). Retraction ni Jose Rizal: Mga bagong dokumento at pananaw.
Retrieved from
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/594027/retraction-ni-jose-
rizal-mga-bagong-dokumento-at-pananaw/story/
de Leon, M. (Director). (1999). Bayaning 3rd World [Motion Picture]. Philippines
Guerrero, L. M. (2007). The First Filipino: A Biography of Jose Rizal by Leon Ma. Guerrero.
Manila: Guerrero Publishing. ISBN 978-971-93418-2-6
Hermanos, P. (2016, April 2). Jose Rizal in Dapitan [SlideShare Slides]. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/pinilihermanos/jose-rizal-in-dapitan
Hernández, J. M. (1953). Rizal’s Unfading Glory by Jesús Ma. Cavanna y Manso, C.M. In
Philippine Studies, 1(1), pp. 98-100 [Pdf File]. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University
Press. Retrieved from
http://www.philippinestudies.net/files/journals/1/articles/14/public/14-3073-1-PB.pdf
Joserizal.com. (c.a. 2019). Jose Rizal Biography. Retrieved from https://www.joserizal.com/
Jose Rizal University. (c.a. 2004). Analysis Rizal's Retraction. Retrieved from
http://www.joserizal.ph/rt03.html
Nacion, N. (2015, May 13). Ways to Proving that Rizal Did Not Retract [SlideShare Slides].
Retrieved from https://prezi.com/zuchf8t_mfjj/ways-to-proving-that-rizal-did-not-retract/
Nery, J. (2014, December 30). Rizal as Catholic. Retrieved from
https://opinion.inquirer.net/81338/rizal-as-catholic
Ocampo, A. (2012). Rizal Without the Overcoat. Mandaluyong City: Anvil Publishing, Inc. ISBN
978-971-27-2631-6
Ocampo, A. (2014, July 4). Rizal on trial. Retrieved from https://opinion.inquirer.net/76237/rizal-
on-trial
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 9

Ocampo, A. (2016). Unhappy wife of Jose Rizal. Retrieved from

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/857823/unhappy-wife-of-jose-rizal
Paraiso, B. C. (2012, September 19). Did Rizal consider Retracting while in Dapitan? Retrieved
from http://nhcp.gov.ph/did-rizal-consider-retracting-while-in-dapitan/
PTV. (December 30, 2016). XiaoTime: Retraction ni Jose Rizal: Totoo kaya? [Video File].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI0e8kQmfvg
Resurreccion, C. (1987). JOSE RIZAL: HISTORICAL STUDIES by Nicolas Zafra. In Philippine
Studies, 26(4) [Pdf File]. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/42633516
Tonogbanua, C. (2011, August 31). Rizal-Pastells Correspondence [SlideShare Slides]. Retrieved
from https://www.slideshare.net/carlotonogbanua/rizal-pastells-correspondence
The Varsitarian. (2011, October 4). Rizal’s retraction: Truth vs Myth. Retrieved from
https://varsitarian.net/news/20111004/rizals_retraction_truth_vs_myth
Trillana, P. S. (2000). The Loves of Rizal and other Essays on Philippine History, Art, and Public
Policy. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. ISBN 9711010313
Uckung, P. V. (2012, September 19). The Rizal Retraction and other cases. Retrieved from
http://nhcp.gov.ph/the-rizal-retraction-and-other-cases/
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 10

Appendix I - Letter of Request for Interview

RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 11

Appendix II - List of Interview Questions

1. Can you describe Jose Rizal’s view on the Church? What made him see the Church that
way?

2. What was Rizal like as a Catholic?

3. Is Rizal’s family also part of the Catholic Church?

4. Do they practice the teachings religiously?

5. What were Rizal’s parents’ practice with regards to Catholicism? Were they strict with it?

6. Do you think Rizal did retract his statements against the Church before his execution?
6.1. If yes, what do you think the reasons are why Rizal retracted
6.2. If no, why?

7. What are the affirmative and negative arguments regarding the issue of Jose Rizal's
retraction of his religious contentions?

8. If Jose Rizal did retract, when and why did he came up to this decision?

9. Does his statement provide evidence that Rizal had decided repudiating beforehand?

10. How does the retraction of Rizal’s statement affect people’s perception of him as a National
Hero, as a major player in the Philippine Revolution, as a literary icon?
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 12

Appendix III - Transcription of Interview with Professor Agusto de Viana

May purgatoryo ba? Nasa bible ba ang purgatoryo? Wala, it’s not there, so somebody must
invented it so kaya ayun si Rizal: “ano basehan mo sa purgatoryo?” Somebody invented it and
during Rizal’s time it was used to terrorize people. Pag hindi ka masyado totally masama di ka sa
impyerno pupunta at pupunta ka sa purgatoryo at kailangan mo magbigay ng alay, mga offerings
kaya or indulgences in the early modern period you have to pay for it hanggang nagalit si Martin
Luther and caused a rebellion among the Christians. Kaya nga may Protestants so ayun, Rizal was
on the same plane. He began to question his faith. Is it right to question your faith? Akin, it’s
alright because the power to ask questions is also given by God himself, so sabi naman ng mga
pari ‘bakit mo ginaganyan?’ questioning the faith. Well , being inquisitive is also God’s given gift
so it must be used, and of course when the truth is there it must set you free, nasa Bible din yun
‘the truth will set you free’... all the truth is ugly pero totoo ayun.
So balik tayo sa tanong mo about retraction. If you’re studying RC dahil yun wala yun dito dahil
ito is less on biography, ito you’re talking more about the context. Ano ang konteksto sa panahong
iyon, that’s more important kasi dito you’re studying only one person, here you’re studying a
phenomenon that’s happening in the philippines which affected Rizal so ayun. When he was in the
Philippines, he was, especially when he was in Ateneo, he was a devout catholic because he goes
to church everyday kasi required eh pero nung nasa UST na siya hindi na required kasi they
believed that you were older and therefore you’re more responsible ayun so wala siyang pinakitang
ano na mga contrary sa simbahan until that time.
Pero when he went to Europe, nagiba na cause he was in contact with people with different ways
of thinking like the free thinkers, the freemasons, protestants, ano pa, atheists, so he had to
reconcile all of those. Syempre na-attract siya sa rationalism--everybody, everything can be
explained so ayun so for example let’s say is there creation? Kung may nag-create? Ang sagot niya
ay si God, do you believe in God? In fact, that’s one of the questions by Father Francisco, yung
isang teacher niya, si Father Francisco Sanchez, “‘naniniwala ka ba sa Diyos, Pepe” ang sabi niya
“oo,” “paano?” “Sa pamamagitan ng mga ginawa Niya” meaning he was able to rationalise.
Halimbawa yung hangin, yung mga ibon, yung mundo, all the surroundings, there must have been
a cause, and the cause is God, eventually goes to God. That’s why yung kanyang religious beliefs
ay based on reason compared sa simbahan na gustong maniwala ang tao sa pamamagitan ng
pananampalataya, ng faith. So for example, lets say san nanggaling ang araw? Sa Diyos. Yung si
Rizal, hindi mangyayari nang ganon, he was, he could go back to the theory of how the stars were
born, planets were ‘yon but eventually there’s ultimate cause, and it all boils down to God at saka
sabi niya “lahat ng mga bagay, nandun ang Diyos”.
Ano ginawa ng pari sa kanya nung gusto nila magpakasal ni Josephine Bracken at saka yeah, si
Josephine Bracken sa Dapitan, ang kondisyon ay mag retract ka muna at pagsisihan mo lahat ng
ginawa mo. So ang ginawa ni Rizal, hindi siya nagretract, ano ginawa ni Rizal? He went up to
[the] mountain carrying Josephine, holding hands sila, and they married each other on the
mountain. Ang sabi niya “with the sky, the sea, the mountain, the trees as my witnesses, we
pronounce ourselves husband and wife”. Ayun ang ginawa ni Rizal, syempre nakita ng simbahan
‘yon, sa halip na unawain si Rizal, ano ginawa ng simbahan? Dinenounce sila. So lahat ng mga
bad propaganda nilabas kay Rizal, si Rizal ay living in sin with a woman na hindi blessed by God.
So ang tanong, lahat ba ng pananampalataya at salvation ay galing lang sa simbahan? So sabi ni
Rizal “hindi, it also comes from man’s own efforts not just to the priest.” So dun nagkaka-ano
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 13

nagkakaron ng problema si Rizal with the Church. O kaya yung sacrament of penance, so
pinatawag ka ng pari, so sino yung pari? He’s just a man, hindi ka Diyos, parang Duterte noh?
Bakit yung kasalanan ko ikukumpisal sa taong di ko kilala at wala naman kinalaman. Si Rizal, he
confessed directly to God, so ayun, diba ganun din si PDuts? Ayun so, bakit kailangan parang
minenopoly ang mga pari when it comes to salvation.
In those days, including now ah, mas lalong kung... ang kausap mo, there’s no gate to heaven
except through Jesus Christ, ibig sabihin, ikaw Muslim, Buddhist, Shinto, Hindu, all the faiths,
ibig sabihin di ka pupunta ng langit, sabihin ng Jesuits “yes.” Kaya marami sa kanila napapatay
ng mga Japanese, ineexcecute kasi sabi nila lahat ng mga hindi Kristyano sa-demonyo ‘yon.
Halimbawa nag-woworship ka ng buong ancestor, ang ginawa ng mga Jesuit, kinuha yung mga
bones tapos pinagsusunog. Syempre, those were our ancestors, they are now our Gods. So
therefore, bakit mo sisirain ang religion namin, kaya pinatay lahat ang mga Jesuits kasi may mga
ganun. Kaya makikita mo din until today, bakit walang nagpreserve ng religious songs and rituals
sa history. Meron tayong napreserve ng mga way of life, how people rest, yung material culture,
na-preserve yan ng mga par, at ang hindi nila pinreserve ang mga religious practices, pinagsisira
lahat. Natira na nga lang yung nasa Baguio eh, yung mga Bul ‘ul, kasi di naman na-penetrate ng
mga Catholic Priests yung lugar na yun, mga Amerikano ang nakaabot dun. So assuming, kung
nakaabot sa deep in the Cordillera ang mga pari, malamang sinunog na nila yung mga bul ‘ul tsaka
yung mga priest dun like the Mumbakis ginawa nang mangkukulam, yung mga dating Katalyona
nung araw, before the Spaniards, ang pari natin ay hindi lalaki kundi babae, mga Katalonans at
Babaylans. So, why? May paniniwala tayo na ang mga spirits, Bathala listens to the voice of
women tapos yung gusto maging pari they dress up like women di dahil bakla sila pero naniniwala
sila if they dress up like women kaya nga babaylan “babae-lan.” Nung dumating yung mga kastila,
yung mga babaylan na yon, dinemonize ng mga kastila sabihin “babaylan ka, mangkukulam ka,
you’re an evil person.” Anything that pertains to the old Filipino religion, sinunog nila, sinira.
Yung retraction kasi, Rizal kung pwede lang, ayaw magretract pero in the end he retracted. Una,
nung nasa Dapitan siya, pinaparetract siya ayaw niya. Tumagal yun hanggang sa ano sa panahon
na bibitayin na siya, he is going to be shot at dawn. So, sa gabi palang, nagpadala sa kanya si Arch
Bishop Nasaleda. Tapos pangalawa, nung Nasaleda failed, yung mga kanyang teacher sa Ateneo,
daming version, nagdedebate na sila, yung religious beliefs. Tapos tatakutin nila si Rizal, “sige in
five hours patay ka na punta ka sa impyerno.| So, sasabihin naman ni Rizal “bakit? Nakapaunt ka
na ba ng impyerno? Anong besehan mo merong impyerno?” So halos walang tulog si Rizal nung
gabing yon. Kung nanuod kayo ng “Bayaning Third World,” kumbaga bineam-boozled si Rizal,
binabadger siya hanggang si Rizal “Sige na nga! Pero ako gagawa ng sarili kong retraction, sarili
kong gawang kamay.” Ayun, gumawa si Rizal but if you look at the document, daming ginawa ni
Rizal showing it was done reluctantly. Number one, may isang version ng retraction, hindi niya
pirma. Ang suspicion ko, he used his left hand. Nung isang version, sulat nga niyang kamay pero
walang pirma. So nung pinapirma, yung date niloko niya, ginawa niyang 189C, wala yung 6 eh
ayun. So tapos nun, nakita na ng mga paring yung retraction, “o sige, welcome back to the fold,”
ginawa ni Rizal, nagconfess, not once but four times. Tapos, syempre with the confession comes
with communion syempre. Tapos, nung alas-sais, he finally got married to Josephine Bracken.
Kaya in the eyes of the Church, Rizal retracted pero what kind of retraction was that? In my view,
it was done reluctantly o kaya yung mga pakita niyang yung ilang beses siya nagconfess at tsaka
nag komunyon, I think it’s more just for show, show lang yun eh. Question, nung nagretract siya,
sabi niya “I take back everything that I have done.” Syempre it does not invalidate all his works
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 14

kaya again ano lang naman yun, it’s just for what? For the benefit of the friars. Napakalat na niya
lahat ng ideas eh, so kahit anong retraction niya, wala na na-inspire na niya maraming pilipino na
buksan ang mata tungkol sa pangaabuso ng mga kastila, ng mga clerics sa kanilang mga
kapangyarihan. Tapo yung ano pa, yung he inspired the revolution. Tama, nga yon. Tama ang mga
bintang nga mga Kastila, he inspired the revolution.
So, tignan mo, sabi nila (simbahan) may retraction nga, but sabi ng mga masons hindi nag retract
yan, hindi ganyan ang ugali ng brother mason. Meron siyang conviction, pero ganun ang ginagawa
ng simbahan, pag may isang kalaban ng simbahan ang mamatay na, papadalhan nila ng pari and
they make him retract. Ganyan si ano, Marcelo Del Pilar who was the number one mason and at
his death bed he retracted. Tapos si ano, si Isabel, rather mason, amazonic leader he also retracted.
Ibig sabihin, the church was victorious. Ang tanong, yun bang mga retraction na yan ay willingly
binigay o pakitang tao lang ng mga nag retract? Actually, the retraction issue is not part of the new
curriculum, nasa old RC yun.
Pero maganda yung ano, tignan niyo dokumento na handwritten. Ang problema sa mga librong
‘to, it’s already printed, dapat makita mo yung mga handwritten na ano e. Halimbawa, ikaw pano
ka magsulat. Malalaman mo kung ang ugali ay with the way you write. Halimbawa ay sumusulat
ka ng ano, ng “a” na laging bukas o kaya “o” na laging bukas, so ibig sabihin, ano kang tao, you’re
a careless person, hindi mo kinocomplete yung ano, at saka hindi kita pagkakatiwalaan na bigyan
kita ng mga secrets kasi malamang chismosa ka, ikakalat mo yung mga… Si Rizal ganun din.
Dapat makita niyo rin ang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo in the way that Rizal wrote it.
Kumbaga yung dolly proof makikita mo yung condition ni Rizal nung sinulat niya yung dalawang
nobela.
In the first novel, the Noli, napaka organized yung kanyang sulat, parang niruler. Actually yung
sabi sakin nung taga National Library, yung papel talaga may mga lines, hindi lang nakita dun sa
facsimile. Very organized, tsaka ano siya, it’s well done. But pag El Fili na, may makikita kang
difference. Yung tinta, nag fafade. Hindi na pula yung tinta e. Ano ibig sabihin pag hindi na pula
yung tinta mo? Halimbawa nag piprint ka ng printer. Tapos ubos na yung ano, purple na yung
letters. Ganun din yung nangyari kay Rizal medyo purple na yung tinta niya. Suspicion ko,
hinahaluan niya ng tubig para ano, para tumagal. Tapos meron pang isa don. Si Rizal, nung writing
the Noli, sumusulat sa margins atsaka maraming error. Ibig sabihin, magulo isip niya nung
sinusulat niya. Marami siyang erasures. Sa Noli, halos wala. Tapos minsan sinusulat niya sa
Margins yung corrections kung ako yung typewriter sa printing press, macoconfuse ako, tapos ano
pa meron. Minsan yung mga scratch paper niya, may mali buong page, crinoss out niya yung one
whole page tapos ginamit niya yung kabila. Ano ibig sabihin nun, wala na siyang papel.
Meron siyang inekis na buong chapter, there’s no more time at mahal ang papel. You can read on
Rizal’s mind by looking at the facsimile, ‘di mo makikita dun sa printed na Noli. May problema
si Rizal sa economics. Duon sa Noli, may tinanggal siya na isang chapter. Pag dating sa Fili, may
third pero pinaikli niya. Meaning, nagtipid siya. Yung sinasabi kong ano, napaka organize naging
magulo. Why? You must look at his condition in 1891. Ano meron sa 1891? Wala na siyang pera
dahil yung lupain nila sa Calamba, kinuha na ng simbahan by the Dominicans. Wala na siyang
pera. Kaya yung papel niya, pati ink niya dinidillute nalang. Pangalawa, nag-aaway sila ni Marcelo
Del Pilar, kasi ano, gusto niya mahalal tapos yung mga supporters ni Del Pilar hinihumiliate siya.
He wasn’t able to get the required votes. Nung umabot sa third voting, yung ano, nanalo siya, hindi
na niya kinuha kasi nagtampo siya. Pangatlo, ano pang nangyari that time, kaaway niya yung
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 15

bestfriend niya, si Antonio Luna. Dahil ano? Dahil sa chicks, sa babae, si Nelly Boustead,
liniligawan nila pareho. Lasing si Luna, nag salita siya ng mga masasama kay Nelly, ang story
ganun ang ginawa ni Luna dahil chinallenge niya sa duel si Luna. Biro mo, chinallenge mo
bestfriend mo over a woman, pero ang suspicion ko, masyado ginawang bayani si Rizal, biro mo
si Luna said something kaya hindi ako rinireciprocrate ng pag mamahal ni Nelly ay meron ginawa
si Rizal. Baka may chinismis ang taong yan kay Nelly kaya ayaw niyang ireciprocate yung pag
mamahal ko kaya he said something against Rizal that challenged him into a duel. Nung nag
babarilan sila nahimasmasan si Luna at sabi “Iwill not kill my bestfriend”.
Sakin, how it affects the nation? Nothing, except dalawa lang ang makikita mo eh. Ang Church
binadger nila ang taong ‘to to retract para makita nila na bag nila ito at number one na kaaway ng
simbahan where they forced him to retract tapos pangalawa, by retracting pwede mo atakihin si
Rizal na si Rizal ay unstable na nag reretract din sa huli. Pero I don’t see it that way kasi kailangan
kahit sa pinaka huling araw ng buhay mo, ibig sabihin parang binadger siya. It is also used by the
church to discri… to attack the masons. Mag reretract din pala kayo eh, edi talo kayo sa simbahang
katolika parang ganun. It served the Catholic Church pero ang Philippine, none. Kasi what Rizal
said or wrote already affected the Filipinos. Nagising ang Katipunan, mga Pilipino na hindi, na
napaka-complacent, nagising sa katotohanan. Dahil dun, si Rizal ay inspirer, inspirer ng movement
for freedom. Not necessarily for indepence, but for freedom. Kaya tama ang mga kastila na pinag
bintangan siya he’s the inspiration of revolution. The very root. Kaya sabi nila kailangan mong
patayin ang taong ito, pero instead of humina ang revolution mas lumakas kasi you turned him
into a martyr ganun.
Tignan mo, the picture here is very important. Meaning, yung mga katipunero meron portrait ni
Rizal ibig sabihin dinadakila nila si Rizal. Very rare ang photograph na ‘to. Nakita ko lang sa
collection.
RIZAL’S RETRACTION: REAL OR RIP-OFF? 16

Appendix IV – Rizal’s Copy of The Imitation of Christ By Thomas Kempis with a

Dedication to Josephine Bracken