Group 7
Reporting
All about the Retraction of Jose Rizal and the
Cry of Pugad Lawin
If you don't know history,
then you don't know anything.
Michael Crichton
THE RETRACTION OF
RIZAL
Several historians report 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 is no
certificate of Rizal’s Catholic Marriage to Josephine
Bracken. Also, there is an allegation that the retraction
document was a forgery.
JOSÉ PROTACIO RIZAL
MERCADO Y ALONSO
REALONDA
(born June 19, 1861, Calamba, Philippines—
died December 30, 1896, Manila),
patriot, physician, and man of letters who
was an inspiration to the Philippine
nationalist movement.
Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892. He founded
a nonviolent-reform society, the Liga Filipina, in
Manila, and was deported to Dapitan in northwest
Mindanao. He remained in exile for the next four
years.
In 1896 the katiipunan, a Filipino nationalist secret
society, revolted against Spain. Although he had no
connections with that organization and he had had no
part in the insurrection, Rizal was arrested and tried
for sedition by the military. Found guilty, he was
publicly executed by a firing squad in Manila. His
martyrdom convinced Filipinos that there was no
alternative to independence from Spain. On the eve
of his execution, while confined in Fort Santiago,
Rizal wrote “Último adiós” (“Last Farewell”), a
masterpiece of 19th-century Spanish verse.
RETRACTION OF RIZAL
Me declare catolico y en estra Religion en que me naci y me eduque quero vivir y morir.
Me retracto de todo Corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, impresos y conducta ha
habido contrario a mi calidad de hijo de la Y iglesia Catolica. Creeo y profeso cuanto ella ensena
y mis someto a cuanto ella manda. Abomino de la Masoneria, como enemiga que es de la
Yglesia, y como sociedad prohibida por la Yglesia. Puede el Prelado Diocesano, como Autoridad
Superior Eclesiastica hacer publica esta manifestacion espontanea mia para reparar el escandalo
que mis hayan podido causar y para que Dios y las humbres me perdonan.
Manila 29 de Deciembre de 1896
JOSE RIZAL
Eloy Moure
Juan del Fresno
The night before the death of Dr. Jose Rizal, accounts exist
that he allegedly retracted his Masonic ideals and his
writings and reconverted to Catholicism following several
hours of persuasion by Jesuit priest.
The Pro-retraction camp represented by the Jesuits, the
archbishop of Manila, and a few other members of the
Catholic hierarchy. Their opponents are the members of
Masonry, an organization that promotes brotherhood,
integrity, decency, and professionalism
Rizal wanted to emphasize that Philippine Masonry was not
hostile to Catholicism and that Masonry in London did not
require its members to renounce their faith. After making
other minor changes to the draft, Rizal signed his retraction
letter before midnight. Fr. Balaguer handed it over to Fr.
Fr. Vicente Balaguer's statement: Balaguer
Fr. Vicente Balaguer's testimony: According
was one of the Jesuit priests who visited Rizal
to his testimony, Rizal woke up several times,
during his last hours in Fort Santiago and
confessed four times, attended a mass,
claimed that he managed to persuade Rizal
received communion, and prayed the rosary,
to denounce Masonry and return to the
all of which seem out of character.
Catholic fold.
In his sworn affidavit he wrote:
"Of all that has been narrated, I am positive by personal knowledge. I have personally
intervened and witnessed it myself; and I subscribed and confirmed it with an oath. And lest,
perhaps, someone may think that I could not remember it with so many details, after twenty
years. I testify that on the very day of Rizal's death, I wrote a very detailed account of
everything. The original of this account I have preserved, and from it I have taken all the data
of the present narration.
(Cavanna 1956, 10)
Vicente Balaguer, S.J. – A Jesuit missionary, who
became friends with Rizal during his days in Dapitan.
One of the Jesuit priests who visited Rizal during the
last hours in Fort Santiago and claimed that he
managed to persuade Rizal to denounce Masonry and
return to the Catholic fold. In an affidavit executed in
1917 when he had returned to Spain, Balaguer also
claimed that he was the one who solemnized the
marriage of Josephine Bracken and Rizal hours before
the hero’s execution. Brought out the shorter and more
concise formula (retraction) of Fr. Pio Pi. He finished
writing the retraction when it was half past eleven and
was dated December 29. The retraction was signed
together with Dr. Rizal, Señor Juan del Fresno (Chief of
the Picket), and Señor Eloy Moure (Adjutant of the
Plaza).
PIO VALENZUELA'S
CONTROVERSIAL
"CRY OF PUGAD LAWIN"
(AUGUST 23, 1896)
On July 11, 1869 Pio Valenzuela was born in Polo,
Bulacan to well to-do parents. His first schooling was in
his home. In 1880 he learned Latin and Spanish from
Telesforo Evangelista in Quingua.
In 1884 he went to Colegio de San Juan de Letran where
he finished his secondary course. In 1888, he enrolled at
the University of Sto. Tomas.
When the Spanish colonial rule was becoming
intolerable, he joined the Katipunan when he was just 22.
He became the Surgeon General of the movement.
Bonifacio and Valenzuel became close friends. PIO VALENZUELA
He was instrumental in organizing many katipunan
chapters especially in Bulacan.
Armed with a few bolos, guns and spears they
attacked enemy camps and was able to relay the Cry
of Balintawak to many Katipunan chapters in the
neighboring towns. When the Spaniards discovered
the movement, he was arrested and jailed at Bilibid
prisons.
After the signing of the Treaty of Paris he was released.
He became Presidente Municipal of Polo in September
6, 1899 while still in prison. He became the District
Health Officer in 1917. in 1921 he became governor of
Bulacan. He was know for being upright and did not
tolerate graft and corruption. He died April 6, 1956
leaving behind his wife Marciana and 7 children.
Cry of Pugad Lawin
In Balintawak, Bonifacio hurriedly changed the Code of the Katipunan,
hoping that he could save the society. Various wings of the Katipunan
gathered at the house of Juan Ramos in Pugadlawin on August 23, 1896.
Ramos was the son of Melchora Aquino, known as “Tandang Sora” who
was later acknowledged as the Mother of the Katipunan.
In there, Bonifacio asked his men whether they were willing to fight to the
bitter end. Everyone shouted approval, except Teodoro Plata, who
thought that it was too soon for a revolution. Heartened by his men’s
responce, Bonifacio then asked them to tear their “cedulas” (residence
certificates) to pieces, as a sign of defiance and determination to rise
against the Spaniards. The men immediately tore up their cedulas,
shouting “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas” (Long live the Philippines): This is
known as the First Cry of the Revolution. The following are the readings:
The controversial "Cry of Pugad Lawin" which has been confirmed by no
other witnesses of the event than Dr. Pio Valenzuela, is the second and later
version of the first rally of the Katipunan by Dr. Valenzuela himself.
The first version which he gave told to the "Cry of Balintawak" as the first
staging point of the Philippine Revolution.
He related the first version, when events were still fresh in his memory and as
he abandoned the revolutionary cause after its outbreak and fles to Binan,
Laguna, for safety.
Taking advantage of Governor General Ramon Blanco's proclamation of
amnesty to the revolutionists, Valenzuela returned to Manila on September 3,
1896, and surrendered to Blanco.
He was imprisoned in Fort Santiago, where, upon
investigation, he told Francisco Olive, the Spanish
investigator, that the "Cry" was staged at "Balintawak on
Wednesday, August 26, 1896."
However, much later, Dr. Valenzuela, with a fading memory and
without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
Revolution, wrote his Memoirs of the Revolution. In his memoirs,
he claims that the "Cry" was held at Pugad Lawin on August 23,
1896, as follows.
The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio,
Theodoro Plata, Aguedo del Rosario, and myself was in Balintawak, the first five
arriving there on August 19, and I, on August 20, 1896. The first place where some
500 members of the Katipunan met on August 22, 1896, was the house and yard of
Apolinario Samson and Kangkong. Aside from the persons mentioned above,
among those who were there were Briccio Pantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon
Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others.
Here, views were only exchanged, and no resolution was debated or adopted. It
was at Pugad Lawin, in the house, store-house, and yard of Juan Ramos, son of
Melchora Aquino, where over 1000 members of the Katipunan met and carried
out considerable debate and discussion on August 23, 1896. The discussion was on
whether or not the revolution against the Spanish government should be started
on August 29, 1896. Only one mand protested and fought against a war; and that
was Theodoro Plata (Bonifacio's brother-in-law). Beside the person named above,
among those present at this meeting were Enrique Cipriano, Alfonso Pacheco,
Tomas Remigio, Sinforoso San Pedro, and others. After the tumultuous meeting,
many of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted "Long live in the
Philippines! Long live in the Philippines!".
References
See W.E Retana, Archivo del bibliofolio Filipino (Madrid, 1897), Vol. III, p. 142.
*A typescript copy of Dr. Valenzuela’s Memoir, together with his autograph and personal
photo, was given to me by the author when I visited his home in Polo (now Valenzuela),
Bulacan, on July 4, 1931, while reseaarching for my first book on the discovery of the
Katipunan.
According to General Masangkay, three prominent katipuneros opposed the early start of the
revolution, namely: Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas, and Dr. Pio Valenzuela. See Document 376
in this series
Since this particular version of the First “Cry” was different from the original one which he
gave Spanish authorities soon after the event, Dr. Valenzuela’s second (and later) recollection
has been repudiated by most prestigious historias of the Phillipines, with the singular
exception of Theodoro Agoncillo in his book, The Revolt of the Masses (Quezon City, 1956).
Nicolas Zafra, Agoncillo’s mentor, reviewed and criticized the book in the Philippine Studies
(1956). Vol: IV, No. 4, including the fallacy of the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” For a see G.F. Zaide,
The Pageant of Philippine History (Manila, 1979), Vol. II, pp. 241-242.
Reference
• [Link]
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bonifacio/attachment/bonifacio-cry_of_pugadlawin-1896/
• [Link]
jose-rizal-mga-bagong-dokumento-at-pananaw/story/
• [Link]
• [Link]
MIlan, Aldrin John
Mosqueda, Renz Peter
Ng, Angela
Pahitamos, Reynold
Pangantihon, Kate
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