Dr.

Jose Rizal Controversies

Dr. Jose Rizal, the well-loved Philippine national hero, and the brave known genius was famous and will
remain famous worldwide. I don’t know if you’ve heard bout him, but of course if you’re a Filipino, you surely
know him well because he’s a big part of the Philippine history. Jose Rizal is a star and like I’ve said genius and
every star and genius is famous. And every famous is controversial.

Before I go direct to Jose Rizal’s controversies, have a brief information about who he was…

Bits of facts about the genius Jose Rizal

Dr. Jose Rizal was a philosopher, painter, poet, architect, artists, businessman, cartoonist, educator,
economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist,
nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist,
swordsman, , theologian hmm seems never-ending. In short Rizal was a versatile genius.

Amazing Facts about Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal has mastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German,
Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other
native dialects. Whoa, how many do you speak?

To have a complete read on how genius Jose Rizal visit his complete biography at joserizal.ph

Secrets of Dr. Jose Rizal

Who hasn’t had secrets? Even ordinary people had, what more the geniuses…Da Vinci had codes…Einstein,
Newton and Galileo had theories…Shakespeare's real birthday remains unknown…Did Rizal have secrets?
What are the mysteries surrounding the genius Dr. Jose Rizal? Read on and maybe you’ll solve the puzzle.
Jose Rizal Controversies
His real name
His complete name was Dr. José Rizal Protasio Mercado y Alonso Realonda. Many wonder why he used
“Rizal” while his father was Francisco Mercado. He should have been Jose Mercado right? So why did
Rizal’s surname become Rizal instead of Mercado?

Some of the explanations with this are:

Jose’s real last name, Mercado, during those times was a hot name, targeted by the Spaniards. He changed his
surname to protect his identity. So he just used his middle name, Rizal, instead, which was considered as
illustrado during the Spanish time and entails the benefits a Spaniard can get.

Second, there was Spanish law to change the last name of Filipinos those times. Mercado

sounded a common name and there were lots of people having that surname already who were not really
relatives of Rizal.

And so, why why? A big why.

first stanza of Mi Ultimo Adios in Spanish

Another note that he had written before his death was found in his shoe but because the text could not be
read it remains a mystery. What was the text really all about? Couldn’t they decode it till now?

Mi Ultimo Adios
Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) – this was one of the last notes written by Jose Rizal before the day of his
execution. Read again… “one of his last notes.” On the eve of his execution, on December 30, 1896, he wrote
this 14 five-line stanzas poem. This poem was unsigned, untitled and undated. Perhaps unfinished? Perhaps,
it really was unfinished. I mean, it was a farewell letter, one who would be executed wouldn’t have enough time
writing everything he needs to say especially someone like Rizal.

Here is a copy of news story taken from The Inquirer dated December 30, 2002:

On the afternoon of Dec. 29, 1896, a day before his execution, Dr. Jose Rizal was visited by his mother,
Teodora Alonzo, sisters Lucia, Josefa, Trinidad, Maria and Narcisa, and two nephews. When they took their
leave, Rizal told Trinidad in English that there was something in the small alcohol stove (cocinilla), not alcohol
lamp (lamparilla). The stove was given to Narcisa by the guard when the party was about to board their
carriage in the courtyard. At home, the Rizal ladies recovered from the stove a folded paper. On it was written
an unsigned, untitled and undated poem of 14 five-line stanzas. The Rizals reproduced copies of the poem and
sent them to Rizal's friends in the country and abroad. In 1897, Mariano Ponce in Hong Kong had the poem
printed with the title "Mi Ultimo Pensamiento." Fr. Mariano Dacanay, who received a copy of the poem while a
prisoner in Bilibid(jail), published it in the first issue of La Independencia on Sept. 25, 1898 with the title
"Ultimo Adios." N.B. The stove was not delivered until after the execution. Rizal needed it to light the room and
to be able to write the poem and his other parting words. VGPas 10/21/08.

Noli me Tangere
Jose Rizal’s first novel, Noli me Tangere, means “don't touch me” or “touch me not” is the Latin version of
words spoken, according to John 20:17, by Jesus to Mary Magdalene when she recognizes him after his
resurrection. The book was first published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany, originally written in Spanish but later
been translated to different languages and made copies distributed around the world.

The title was controversial, and the novel itself created so much controversy that only a few days after his
arrival in the Philippines, Jose Rizal was summoned the greatest enemy of the state in the 19th century. They
even called him, a freemason, a sorcerer, a damned soul and evil. The novel depicted the Spanish abuse
government to the Philippines.

Many characters in the Noli personify Rizal. Like Ibarra, Pilosopong Tasyo and Elias. But the last part
portrays Rizal execution as if he already knew he’d be executed…

Elias helped Basilio bury his mother and while he lay dying, he instructed Basilio to continue dreaming about
freedom for his motherland with the words: "I shall die without seeing the dawn break upon my homeland.
You, who shall see it, salute it! Do not forget those who have fallen during the night." He died thereafter.

El Filibusterismo
The second novel of Rizal, the continuation of Noli me Tangere, It was first published in 1891 in Ghent,
Belgium, also written in Spanish, and soon been translated. El Filibusterismo has an English alternate title, The
Reign of Greed, is a deeper depiction of what the first novel has symbolized and is about revenge and
revolution. This novel was dedicated to the three-martyr-priest, GOMBURZA. Rizal however has written his
dedication in memory of the three priests with their age and the date of their execution all wrongly.

Retraction
This has been the greatest controversy and most talked about and most debated about Rizal. Below is Rizal’s
retraction letter originally written in Spanish translated into English. However the said retraction has some sorts
of copy issues…quote issues and formula issues. Whether Jose Rizal has retracted or not, that’s still not
proven.

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
Josephine Bracken
Did Jose Rizal really marry Josephine Bracken? Scholars say that there were no written accounts of the
marriage between Rizal and Josephine, but Josephine claims that Rizal actually married him a day before his
execution.

Some even says Josephine was a spy of the Spanish government.

One thing is for sure, Jose Rizal loved Josephine. He wrote some poems about her and his love for her. I think
these controversies about Josephine Bracken are unreasonable. Every hero deserves a lover that is without a
question.

Jose Rizal's Girlfriends

Do you believe Jose Rizal had a real child?
 Yes, maybe they just hid it to protect him
 No, I believe his only son died

Do you see a resemblance?

Jose Rizal’s Son

Did Jose Rizal have a son? Did the genius hero have an heir? Dr. Jose Rizal was a freaking genius; he must
have an heir so that his special genes and thousand of talents will continue from generation to generation.
 “Unfortunately, Rizal and Josephine were not destined to have a child. One day in early March 1896, Rizal
played a practical joke on Josephine, which frightened her terribly. As a result of her great fright, she gave birth
prematurely to an eight-month baby boy.

The baby was very weak and was gasping for breath. Seeing the baby’s condition, Rizal immediately baptized
him Francisco in honor of his father. He did everything he could to save the life of his infant son, but in vain.
All his knowledge and skill as a physician could not save little Francisco. Sorrowfully, Rizal saw his child die
three hours after birth.

With a heavy heart, he drew a sketch of his dead son. Then he buried him under a shady tree near his home. He
prayed": "Oh, God, I give you another tiny angel. Please bless his soul." –from Jose RizalUniversity

Was Adolf Hitler the Son of Jose Rizal?

When Jose Rizal was in Europe, it was noted out that he found a pretty European girlfriend somewhere in the
border of Germany and Austria. So rumored has spread that Adolf Hitler was the son of Jose Rizal. LOLOL
This controversy is NOT true. I can’t see any characteristic of Hitler associated with Rizal. Ok, that was really
funny.

Rizal a Prophet?
During his execution, a doctor tried to read Rizal’s heartbeat and blood pressure, the result was normal! Did he
not feel afraid or frightened?! Or has he really been preparing for that a long time.

Following Rizal’s life and writings, it seems Jose Rizal really knew where his fate would end. He was really an
architect, he has drawn where he was going, He was really an eye-doctor, he kinda saw what was happening.

Rizal, ever since a little child had already dreamed being a martyr for his country.

His anecdote about the time when his mother narrated him a story about a firefly who go nearer to a flame and
killed, Rizal quoted “The firefly must be a martyr for dying for his passions.”

Another one was when he was teased by his older sister, Rizal said, “one day I will die for this country and you
would see my monument.”

Rizalista, a religion who believes Rizal will return…

Due to the interesting and moving life of Jose Rizal, there came a sect of people who have a strong belief in
Jose Rizal.

Rizalists - any of numerous ethnic religious groups in the Philippines that believe in the divinity of José Rizal,
the national hero martyred by the Spanish in 1896. Among many peasant cults it is commonly believed that he
is still alive and will return to deliver his followers from poverty and oppression. Rizal has been identified as
God, as the second, or Filipino, Christ, and as the god of the pre-Spanish Malay religion. Rizalist cults, such as
the Iglesia Sagrada ni Lahi (HolyChurch of the Race) and the Banner of the Race Church (the largest group),
synthesize Roman Catholic rituals – Britannica.com