RETRACTION

OF
RIZAL
Proposition: Rizal Did Not Retract

By: Gonzales, Polaron, and Davo

I. INTRODUCTION:
One of the continuing content of Philippine
History as about the Retraction of Rizal
regarding his writings against the Roman
Catholic.
The “original” letter as the ultimate truth/proof
of His word is still questioned in terms of its
authenticity and reliability.
 The Retractions States:
“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.”- Tomas U Santos
II. ARGUMENTS
1. No one and members of the family have seen
the “original” text except the newspapers- La
Voz Espanola & Diaro De Manila (Dec. 30,
1896); Barcelona, Spain (Feb. 14, 1897); La
Juventud Magazine by Father Balaguer.
2. No names of Witnesses as to the Copy of Fr.
Vicente Balaguer as the prime source sent to
Fr. Pio Pi.
II. ARGUMENTS
3. The copy was sent to Fr. Pio Pi on 1910 for
verification of “an exact copy of the retraction
written and signed by Rizal”- Fr, Pio is not
certain of the handwriting and it was not
verified in his sworn statement.
4. Inconsistency of the discovered “original”
document on May 18, 1935 by archdiocean
archivist Fr. Manuel Garcia.
• 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
• 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, 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
• Texts of Rizal's RetractionThe "original" discovered by Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. on
May 18, 1935

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 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
• 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
III. CONCLUSION
The controversy whether Jose Rizal actually
wrote a retraction document only lies in
the judgment of the readers as to the
Masonic Rizalists who firmly believed
that Rizal did withraw and the Catholic
Rizalists who were convinced that Rizal
retracted. His writings speaks of our
nationality and identity as a Nation.