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Week 9 Rizals Retraction

1. There is ongoing debate about whether Jose Rizal retracted his anti-Catholic writings and beliefs before his execution, as evidenced by a disputed retraction document. 2. Arguments against retraction cite inconsistencies between the original document and Jesuit copies, while arguments for retraction note Rizal was buried Catholic and the document was allegedly signed years before. 3. Determining the truth about Rizal's alleged retraction remains important for understanding his nationalism and the spread of potential misinformation, like fake news, which resonates with contemporary issues.

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Louela Jean Espiritu
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284 views

Week 9 Rizals Retraction

1. There is ongoing debate about whether Jose Rizal retracted his anti-Catholic writings and beliefs before his execution, as evidenced by a disputed retraction document. 2. Arguments against retraction cite inconsistencies between the original document and Jesuit copies, while arguments for retraction note Rizal was buried Catholic and the document was allegedly signed years before. 3. Determining the truth about Rizal's alleged retraction remains important for understanding his nationalism and the spread of potential misinformation, like fake news, which resonates with contemporary issues.

Uploaded by

Louela Jean Espiritu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENERAL SANTOS DOCTOR'S MEDICAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION, INC.

DID HE RETRACT?
DID HE RETRACT?
Case Study No. 2
DID HE RETRACT?
DID Rizal's
HE RETRACT?
DID HE Retraction
RETRACT?
DID HE RETRACT?
DID HE RETRACT?
GEC2- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY | MS. RITCHEL S. DILLANO, LPT
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students shall be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding
of the historical context of the
Rizal’s Retraction;

2. Identify the highlight features of arguments for and against


Rizal’s Retraction; and

3. Discuss the significance of identifying the truth about the


retraction of Rizal in relation to spreading of fake news.
Introduction

WHO IS
RIZAL?
Jose Rizal is identified as a hero of the
revolution for his writings that center on
ending colonialism and liberating Filipino
minds to contribute to creating Filipino nation.
The great volume of Rizal’s lifework was
committing to this end, particularly the more
influential ones, Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo.

Introduction
THE
RETRACTION
DOCUMENT

The document, allegedly signed by Rizal a few


hours before his execution, that declares his
beliefs in the Catholic faith, and retracts
everything he wrote against the Church.

Historical Context A leader of the reformist movement in


Spain, Dr. Jose Rizal was arrested, triad, and
sentence to death by a Spanish court-martial
after being implicated as a leader of he
Philippine Revolution. The night before his
death by firing squad at the Luneta on Dec 30,
1896, accounts exist that Rizal allegedly retracted
his Masonic ideals and his writings and
reconverted to Catholicism following several
hours of persuasion by Jesuit priests. There was
considerable doubt to this allegation by Rizal’s
family and friends until in 1935, the supposed
retraction document with Rizal’s signature was
found. Until today, the issue whether Rizal
retracted or not, and whether the document was
forged or real is a subject or continuous debate
between historians and Rizal scholars alike.

The Retraction

Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vi


vir y morir.

Me retracto de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, inpresos


y conducta ha habido contrario a mi cualidad de hijo de la Iglesia
Catolica. Creo y profeso cuanto ella enseña y me somento a cuanto ella
manda. Abomino de la Masonaria, como enigma que es de la Iglesia, y
como Sociedad prohibida por la Iglesia. Puede el Prelado Diocesano, como
Autoridad Superior Eclesiastica hacer publica esta manifastacion espon
tanea mia para reparar el escandalo que mis actos hayan podido causar
y para que Dios y los hombers me perdonen.

Manila 29 de Deciembre de 1896


Jose Rizal

The Retraction
Text from Fr. Balaguer :

Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vi


vir y morir. Me retracto de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escri
tos, inpresos y conducta ha habido contrario a mi calidad de hijo de la
Iglesia. Creo y profeso cuanto ella enseña y me somento a cuanto Ella
manda. Abomino de la Masonaria, como enigma que es de la Iglesia, y
como Sociedad prohibida por la misma Iglesia.

Puede el Prelado diocesano, como Autoridad superior eclesiastica hacer


publica esta manifastacion espontanea mia, para reparar el escandalo
que mis actos hayan podido causar, y para que Dios y los hombers me
perdonen.
Manila, 29 de Diciembre de 1896
Jose Rizal

The Retraction
Translation:
[ C.M. on 18 May 1935
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, ansd as a Society prohibited by the Church. The Diocesan Prelate may. as the
Superior Ecclesiastical Authority, make public this spontaneous manifestation of mine in order
to repaire the scandal which my acts may have caused and so that God and people may pardon
me.

Manila 29 of December of 1896


Jose Rizal
Main Issue

Whether or not
Jose Rizal retracted in favor of
the Catholic Church.

Arguments

Argument:

No. Rizal didn't retract.


Arguments

Argument: No. Rizal didn't retract.


The following are some of the observed variances from the “original” document
and that of Fr. Balaguer:

a) Instead of the words "mi cualidad" (with "u") which appear in the original and
the newspaper texts, the Jesuits’ copies have
"mi calidad" (without "u").

Cualidad comes close to retaining that meaning and is used to refer to the
inherent characteristics of something. In fact, it can almost always be translated
as "characteristic" as well as "quality. Calidad, on the other hand, suggests
excellence or superiority:
Arguments

Argument: No. Rizal didn't retract.


b) The Jesuits’ copies of the retraction omit the word "Catolica" after the first
"Iglesias" which are found in the original and the newspaper texts.

c) The Jesuits’ copies of the retraction add before the third "Iglesias" the word
"misma" which is not found in the original and the newspaper texts of the
retraction.

d) With regards to paragraphing which immediately strikes the eye of the critical
reader, Fr. Balaguer’s text does not begin the second paragraph until the fifth
sentences while the original and the newspaper copies start the second
paragraph immediately with the second sentences.
Arguments

Argument: No. Rizal didn't retract.


e) Whereas the texts of the retraction in the original and in the manila
newspapers have only four commas, the text of Fr. Balaguer’s copy has eleven
commas.

f) The most important of all, Fr. Balaguer’s copy did not have the names of the
witnesses from the texts of the newspapers in Manila.
Arguments

Argument:

Yes. Rizal retracted.


Arguments

Argument: Yes. Rizal retracted.


Rizal was Catholic when he died as a consequence of his retraction. In fact
he was buried in a Catholic cemetery. The said document was alleged to be
signed two years before his execution. This was done along with his
profession of faith as a requirement to marry Josephine Bracken. Today, a
number of known historians would believe in the retraction after the
presentation of Cuerpo de Vigilancia de Manila, also known as the
Katipunan and Rizal documents, which consist of important primary
sources of the Philippine revolutions purchased by the government from
Spain in the mid-1990s.
Significance

This debate will continue until enough evidence will


put the issue to rest. If in case concrete findings can
be made regarding this controversy, it will be
considered very valuable in understanding Rizal’s
nationalism and patriotism. More than that, an
analysis of the retraction controversy can be used as a
benchmark in measuring how present-day society
value martyrdom, courage, and bravery.
Do you believe that cases of controversies like
this still exist nowadays? Can you name some of
those issues? Are they related to fake news?
What are the aspects of Rizal’s retraction that hit
your interest or doubt?
What is the significance of learning whether
Rizal retracted or not? How will you relate this
event in the contemporary issue on the spread of
fake news?

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