Retraction of Jose Rizal - Is he a Coward?

December 30, 1896, marked the death of our National Hero, Jose Rizal. We give honor for his heroic deeds by treating his birthday and date of death as a holiday. His writings was a masterpiece for us, it has awakened the true essence of Nationalism for the Filipino's. But on December 29,1896 before Rizal's death, there was a controversy that says our National Hero took back every writings and publications and that is the Retraction. Retraction means to say that something you said or wrote is incorrect. It's been 121 years but still a lot of people are hooked in this controversy.

Different sources had their own different context of statement of Rizal's retraction that surfaced and caught the attention of the public. The most controversial is the retraction letter that was discovered by Father Manuel Garcia, C.M in 1935, it has been a heated topic for Academicians and Catholics.

The retraction letter stated that "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.

There are proofs and documents that sustain that the retraction is true. Dr. Augusto De Viana, head of UST History believes that Rizal retracted because he died as a catholic, and the proof that he died as a catholic is he was buried inside the grounds of Paco Cemetery, comparing it to the martyr Apolinario Mabini who was buried in Chinese Cemetery. He also said that it's not possible that the retraction letter had been forged because witnesses were present while Rizal was signing it. He also mentioned that Jose Rizal was prone to flip-flop. And Rizal wanted peace when he dies.

There are some witnesses and testimony when he signed the Retraction Paper. According to the testimony of Father Vicente Balaguer, Rizal accepted a shorter retraction document prepared by tge superior of the Jesuit Society of the Philippines.

"This...retraction was signed together with Dr. Jose Rizal by Sentilde;or Fresno, chief of the picket and Sentilde;or Moure, adjutant of the Plaza" The testimony of Father Balaguer twenty years later. And another proof is the video of Xiao Time, it has said that last August 4, 2016, Commissioner Rene Escalante read the Professional Chair Lecture in Rizaliana Studies entitled Re-examining the last 24 hours Rizal using Spy Reports. According to the Video, Moreno's account stated that "At 3 in the afternoon, Father March entered the chapel and Rizal handed him what he written. Immediately, the chief of the firing squad, Sentilde or Juan Del Fresno and the assistant of the Plaza, Sentilde or Maure, were informed. They entered death row and together with Rizal signed document that the accused had written. It seems this was the Retraction. No one had seen or either claimed to have seen the "original" copy of retraction.

The only copy of it were published to the newspaper. Even the family of Rizal asked for the original retraction, their petition was denied. The alleged retraction letter of Rizal content perhaps forged by the friars because Rizal once exposed it was one ofdestroy the reputation of his enemy. There is a possibility since Rizal narrated it on his novel.It is in chapter 60 of Noli Me Tangere.

"His lawyer had that thrown out because, according to the outlaw himself, they had never communicated with the young man, but with a certain Lucas, who was an enemy of his, as could be proved, and who committed suicide, perhaps from remorse. It was proved that the papers found on the corpse were forged, since the handwriting was like that of Sentilde or Ibarra's seven years ago, but not like his now, which leads to the belief that the model for them may have been that incriminating letter. Besides, the lawyer says that if Sentilde or Ibarra had refused to acknowledge the letter, he might have been able to do a great deal for him dash but at sight of the letter he turned pale, lost his courage, and confirmed everything written in it."

But on May 18,1935, Archdiocesan Archivist Fr. Manuel Garcia C.M discovered the lost "original" copy of Rizal's Retraction. The said discovered text differ from the text found in the Jesuits and Archbishops copies. And the text appeared in Manila Newspapers that had shown and known as tge exact copy must be an imitation.

Would the inspiration and adoration will turn into discrimination if the retraction is real? If the Retraction Controversy is true, would it change the heroism of Rizal? Would he still be our National Hero? It is just right for people to call him a "coward" for signing the retraction? What if everything was just a set-up for Jose Rizal? What would you believe? Different speculation, uncertain evidences, different opinions. But only two conclusion. It's either Rizal retracted or did not retracted.

Feel free to comment your thoughts!

XiaoTime: Retraction ni Jose Rizal: Totoo kaya?

Sources:
https://religiousiniquities.blogspot.com/2012/01/other-proofs-that-dr-jose-rizal-did-not.html
http://varsitarian.net/news/20111004/rizals_retraction_truth_vs_myth
http://www.joserizal.ph/rt03.html
https://ningaskugonbaga.blogspot.com/2011/10/rizals-retraction-note-on-debate.html

Credits to one of my classmate that helped me in this post.