The document explores the controversial retraction of Jose Rizal, which refers to his alleged renouncement of anti-Catholic writings before his execution on December 30, 1896. Authorship and authenticity debates persist surrounding the retraction document, with historians citing inconsistencies and questioning whether Rizal acted under duress. Despite these discussions, Rizal's legacy as a national hero endures, symbolizing Filipino independence and resistance against colonialism.

1. DID RIZAL RETRACT?
CASE#3
MAY-AG,CEASAR T.

2. OBJECTIVES:
1.Determine the events connected on the said retraction
2.To understand and critically analyze different views on Rizal’s
retraction
3.Determine the differences of the texts that contains the retraction of
Rizal

3. The retraction of Rizal refers to his
alleged recantation of his anti-Catholic
views during his lifetime and his
supposed return to the Catholic faith.
The retraction has been a controversial
issue and subject to much debate and
speculation.

4. According to accounts, Rizal penned a letter on
December 29, 1896, asking for reconciliation with
the Catholic Church and expressing his willingness
to faith just before his execution. The authenticity
of the retraction has been a subject of debate for
many years, with some questioning the validity of
the document and others accepting its
authenticity.

5. The retraction document was allegedly signed by
Rizal on December 29, 1896, a day before his
execution by firing squad. According to the
document, Rizal expressed his regret for his anti-
Catholic writings and promised to return to the
Catholic Church. He also acknowledged the role
of the church in promoting education and
morality, and expressed his desire to receive the
last sacraments.

6. However, some historians and scholars have raised
doubts about the authenticity of the retraction.
They point out inconsistencies in the document,
such as grammatical errors and changes in
handwriting. Some also question why Rizal would
recant his beliefs just before his execution, when
he had always been steadfast in his principles.

7. Others believe that Rizal may have indeed signed
the retraction document but did so under duress,
as he was facing the prospect of death. They
argue that the Spanish authorities may have used
the retraction as a means to discredit Rizal's anti-
colonial and nationalist views.

8. Despite the ongoing debate about the validity of
Rizal's retraction, his legacy as a national hero and
champion of Filipino independence has endured.
His courage and dedication to his ideals inspired
generations of Filipinos to fight for their freedom
and dignity.

9. Texts of Rizal's Retraction
The "original" discovered by Fr. Manuel Garcia, CM. on May 18, 1935
Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que nací y me eduque quiero vivir 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 espontanea 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
Jefe del Piquete Juan del Fresno
Ayudante de Plaza Eloy Moure

10. Translation (English)
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
Diocesan Prelate may, as the Superior Ecclesiastical 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 1896 Jose Rizal

11. La Voz Española, December 30,
1896
Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vivir y
morir.
Me retracto de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, inpresos y
conducta ha habido contrario a mis cualidades 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 espontanea
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
Jefe del Piquete Juan del Fresno
Ayudante de Plaza Eloy Moure

12. Fr. Balaguer's text, January 1897
Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque
quiero 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 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

13. DIFFERENCES OF THE 3 TEXTS OF THE
RETRACTTION OF RIZAL
First, instead of the words "mi cualidad" (with "u") which
appear in the original and the newspaper texts, the Jesuits'
copies have "mi calidad" (with "u").
Second, the Jesuits' copies of the retraction omit the word
"Catolica" after the first "Iglesias" which are found in the
original and the newspaper texts. Third, 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.

14. Fourth, 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.
Fifth, 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.
Sixth, 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.

15. Retraction ni Jose Rizal: Mga bagong
dokumento at pananaw -Published
December 29, 2016 7:05pm -By XIAO
CHUA
There seems to be no end to the debate
whether Rizal retracted his writings against
the Catholic Church on the very last day of
his life. Will a new independent testimony
settle the debate finally?

16. Ayon sa ilan, si Jose Rizal, na pinaslang ng mga
kolonyalistang Espanyol 120 years ago, December
30, 1896, ay naging bayani dahil sa kanyang mga
sinulat upang wasakin ang ideya ng kolonyalismo
at palayain ang isip natin upang mabuo ang
bansa-ang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo at
ang kanyang mga sanaysay sa La Solidaridad, na
kumuwestiyon sa mga paniniwalang nakabubulag
sa atin, lalo na ang pagsunod sa kagustuhan ng
mga prayle bilang sugo ng Diyos.

17. Ngunit, ilang oras bago siya barilin, pinirmahan
daw ni Rizal ang isang dokumento na
nagsasabing siya raw ay isang Katoliko at
binabawi niya lahat ng kanyang mga sinulat
laban sa simbahan. Nakilala ang dokumento
bilang ang retraksyon, "The Retraction." Dahil sa
kanyang pagbabalik-loob sa simbahan, ikinasal
sila ni Josephine Bracken, ang kanyang huling
pag-ibig.

18. Ayon sa ilan, mas lalong naging dakila si Rizal sa
pagkilala ng kanyang mga kamalian laban sa
pananampalataya. Ngunit para naman sa
marami, hindi kapanipaniwala na sa huling sandali
ng kanyang buhay, babawiin niya ang kanyang
mga sinulat, ang dahilan ng kanya mismong
pagkabayani. Para na rin niyang itinapon ang
kanyang kabayanihan.

19. Ang unang pahina ng ulat ni Federico
Moreno (Cuerpo de Vigilancia). Courtesy
National Commission for Culture and the
Arts
Ayon sa pahayag, sumulat si Rizal ng isang papel
na narinig niyang ang retraktasyon. Binanggit rin
ang dalawang paring Heswita na pumasok sa
piitan ni Rizal -si Padre Jose Vilaclara at Padre
Estanislao March, at dalawa pang tao, sina Juan
del Fresno at Eloy Moure. Narito ang ilang bahagi
ng sanaysay na isinalin na sa Ingles mula sa
wikang Espanyol:

20.  "Most Illustrious Sir, the agent of the Cuerpo de
Vigilancia stationed in Fort Santiago to report on the
events during the [illegible] day in prison of the
accused Jose Rizal, informs me on this date of the
following:
 "At 7:50 yesterday morning, Jose Rizal entered death
row accompanied by his counsel, Señor Taviel de
Andrade, and the Jesuit priest Vilaclara. At the urgings
of the former and moments after entering, he was
served a light breakfast. At approximately 9, the
Assistant of the Plaza, Señor Maure, asked Rizal if he
wanted anything. He replied that at the moment he
only wanted a prayer book which was brought to him
shortly by Father March.

21.  "Señor Andrade left death row at 10 and Rizal
spoke for a long while with the Jesuit fathers,
March and Vilaclara, regarding religious matters,
it seems. It appears that these two presented
him with a prepared retraction on his life and
deeds that he refused to sign. They argued
about the matter until 12:30 when Rizal ate some
poached egg and a little chicken. Afterwards
he asked to leave to write and wrote for a long
time by himself.

22.  "At 3 in the afternoon, Father March entered the
chapel and Rizal handed him what he had
written. Immediately the chief of the firing
squad, Señor del Fresno and the Assistant of the
Plaza, Señor Maure, were informed. They
entered death row and together with Rizal
signed the document that the accused had
written. It seems this was the retraction."

23. WEDDING BEFORE THE EXECUTION
"At 5 this moming of the 30th, the lover of Rizal
arrived at the prison...dressed in mourning. Only
the former entered the chapel, followed by a
military chaplain whose name I cannot ascertain.
Donning his formal clothes and aided by a soldier
of the artillery, the nuptials of Rizal and the woman
who had been his lover were performed at the
point of death (in articulo mortis). After embracing
him she left, flooded with tears."

24. Ref.
*Translated from the document found by Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. on
18 May 1935
*Michael Charleston Chua, Retraction ni Jose Rizal : Mga Bagong
Dokumento at Pananaw, GMA News Online, published 29 December
2016

25. REFLECTION
 I rate my report as 80/100.The reason for this is I did my best to
deliver it in front of my classmates even though my English speaking
is not well.I present my report in a simple way because it is only way i
know to convey the important details needed in analyzing the
primary resources that is presented.At the end of my report,I'm self-
assured that I have done well to met all the objectives for my
classmates. 80/100 because I only read some information
supposedly included in my presentation.80/100 because a lot of
improvement needed for me in presenting any topics