Chapter 21 Garcia

CHAPTER 21:
The Trial and Martyrdom of Rizal

The arrival of the steamer Colon in Manila on November 3, 1896

brought too much jubilation on the part of the friars and the Spaniards,
as the leader of the revolution could now be made to answer for a crime
he committed against the Spanish government. Under heavy guard, Rizal
was brought to Fort Santiago pending the prosecution of his case. He was
held incommunicado for almost four weeks in his detention cell. In the
meantime, the Spanish authorities were very much preoccupied with
the gathering and fabrication of evidences to be used against him

.The Preliminary Investigation

Colonel Francisco Olive, the Judge Advocate of the Spanish military

tribunal, summoned Rizal to appear before him on November 20, 1896.
Desiring to clear his name from the accusations imputed on him, Rizal
appeared before the Judge Advocate. There were two kinds of evidences
presented by the Olive to Rizal during the preliminary investigation of
Rizal (Palma, 1949): documentary; and testimonial. The documentary
evidences were culled from the following: the letters of Antonio Luna,
Marcelo del Pilar, Carlos Oliver, and Rizal himself; poems Kundiman and
Hymn to Talisay; and transcript of speeches of Emilio Jacinto and Jose T.
Santiago. On the other hand, the testimonial evidence against Rizal
consisted of oral statements of people who had been associated with
him, like Jose Dizon, Deodato Arellano, Pio Valenzuela, Timoteo Paez,
and Pedro Laktaw.
Page 314
The five-day investigation Rizal went through was very exhausting
and ruthless. Nonetheless, Rizal responded systematically to all inquiries
made by the Judge Advocate but was not given the opportunity to cross
examine witnesses against him. Nor was he allowed to offer any formal
defense to counter all accusations against him.br Six days after the preliminary investigation, Colonel Olive
transmitted his report of the case to Governor Ramon Blanco for
appropriate action on November 26, 1896. Blanco, then, appointed Captain
Rafael Dominguez as a Special Judge Advocate to evaluate the case.
After a careful scrutiny of Olive's report, forwarded to him by the governor-
general, he concluded that a prima facie case exists against Rizal. He,
then, endorsed his summary of charges against Rizal to Nicolas dela
Peña, the Judge Advocate General, for legal opinion and adjudication.After reviewing the brief prepared by
Olive, Peña concurred with
Olive on his assessment of the case. As a prima facie case against Rizal
for the complex crime of rebellion and formation of illegal organization,
Peña made the following recommendations to Governor Blanco on
December 8, 1896). (Zulueta, 2004); (1) that the accused be kept under
the custody of law; (2) that accused be brought to trial; (3) that an order
of attachment be issued against his property; and (4) that the accused be
defended in court by an army officer.ibr

The Arraignment of Rizal

On December 8, 1896, Rizal was informed by the Judge Advocate

General to choose his counsel as his arraignment was set on December
11. A roster of military officers was presented to him, where he could
select his defender. After going through the list, Rizal chose Luis Taviel
de Andrade, the brother of Jose Taviel de Andrade who was his bodyguard
during his six-month stay in Calamba four years ago.The information of charges was read to Rizal on December
11, 1896,
in the presence of his defense counsel. He was accused of the complex
crime of rebellion as he was the principal organizer and the living soul of
the insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated
to the fomenting and propagating the ideas of rebellion (Palma, 1949). He
pleaded not guilty to the crime charged against him and did not even
question the jurisdiction of the military tribunal on his case, considering
that the eight provinces that started the revolution were under martiallaw.
Page 315
Dominguez submitted the transcript of the arraignment proceeding
to Malacañan Palace on December 13, 1896. By this time, General Camilo
de Polavieja relieved Governor Blanco. With Blanco as governor, Archbishop
Nozaleda and the Dominicans felt that Rizal would be absolved from the
accusation against him (Guerrero, 1998). Their gut feeling stemmed from
the fact that Blanco did not believe that Rizal was a traitor. With Polavieja
into the gubernatorial office, Rizal's fate had been sealed (Zaide & Zaide,
1999) .

The Trial of Rizal

Rizal's case was turned over to Dominguez and Alcocer on December

19, 1896 for prosecution. The trial commenced on December 26 at the
Halls of Banners of Cuartel de España. Two days prior to the trial, the
court martial was constituted, with Colonel Jose Togores as president
and the following as members: Ricardo Muñoz Arias; Manuel Reguera;
Santiago Izquierdo; Manuel Escribano; and Fermin Rodriguez. Enrique
de Alcocer was designated as prosecutor.The trial started with the reading of the charges against the accused
by Judge Advocate Dominguez. This was followed by a detailed
presentation of Rizal's case by Alcocer, which culminated in his call on
the members of the military tribunal to render a decision by imposing
death penalty on the accused. Alcocer's argument rested on Rizal's
admission of the founding of La Liga, which to his mind had something to
do with Bonifacio's revolution. Thus, Alcocer averred that:In a crime founded on rousing the passions of the
people against
governmental powers, the main burden of guilt is on the man who awakens
dormant feelings and raises false hopes for the future (Guerrero, 1998).After the Alcocer's passionate speech,
Taviel de Andrade took the
floor to present his defense of Rizal. Taviel de Andrade's defense was
based on the rule of evidence and the law applying the Penal Code of
Spain in the Philippines. Believing that the prosecution was biased on
Rizal, he defended Rizal by saying that penalties cạn only be imposed on
an accused through any of the following means: ocular inspection;
confession of the accused; credible witnesses; expert opinion; official
documents or conclusive evidences (Guerrero, 1998). As none of these
conditions existed, Rizal was not guilty of the crime charged against
him. Moreover, as oral testimonies used against Rizal were given by
those who were interested in ascribing leadership of the revolution to
Rizal, these were biased and should not be used against the accused.
Page 316
After Taviel de Andrade's brilliant defense, Rizal was asked by the
judge advocate whether he had something to add to what his counsel
had presented. Rizal stood up and presented his own brief, (Zulueta,
2004; Guerrero, 1998).1. I am not guilty of rebellion as I even advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela
in Dapitan not to rise in revolution.2. The revolutionists used by name without my knowledge. If I
were guilty, I could have escaped from Singapore.3. If I had a hand in the Katipunan revolution, I could have
escaped
Dapitan and should have not built a house there.4. If I were the chief of the revolution, why did they not
consult
me on their plans?5. I was not the founder of La Solidaridad and the Associacion
Hispano-Filipino.6. I had nothing to do with the introduction of masonry in the
Philippines. Francisco Laktaw Serrano, founder of the Lodge
Nilad, had a higher degree than I had. If I were the head, since
when does an officer permit himself to be promoted to a captain
general?7. The La Liga did not live long. It died a natural death after my
banishment to Dapitan.8. If the La Liga was re-organized nine months later, I was totallyunaware of it.9. It was
true that I wrote the statutes of the La Liga. The La Liga,
however, is a civic association whose purposes are unity and
development of commerce and industry.10. While it was true that there were some bitter statements in
my letters, it was because they were written when my family
was being persecuted, being dispossessed of their houses and
lands; and my brother and brother-in-law were rusticated
without due process of law.
Page 317
t 11. It was not true that the revolution was inspired in one of my
speeches at the house of Doroteo Ongjungco, as alleged by the
witnesses whom I would like to confront. My friends knew very
well about my vehement opposition to an armed rebellion.12. Why did the Katipunan send an emissary to me
in Dapitan,
who was a total stranger to me? Because those who knew me
were cognizant that I would never sanction any violent
movement.13. My life in Dapitan had been exemplary, as evidenced by my
productive activities for the welfare of the people. Even the
politico-military commanders and missionary priests could attestto this.

On the same day, the verdict of the military court, signed by JoseTogores, was submitted to Governor
Polavieja, who referred the same to
Nicolas de la Peña, the Judge Advocate General, for comments. De la
Peña concurred with the decision made by the court. He found Rizal
guilty beyond reasonable doubt and therefore, should be condemned to
death by firing squad at the place and time to be chosen by the governor-
general. Polavieja approved De la Peña's recommendations on December
28, 1896. He, then, decreed Rizal's execution on December 30 at 7:00
o'clock in the morning at Bagumbayan Field. This decree runs as follows
(De Ocampo, 1956):Manila, December 28, 1896Conformably to the foregoing opinion, I approve the sentence
dictated
by the Court Martial in the present case, by virtue of which the death penalty
is imposed on accused Jose Rizal Mercado, which shall be executed by
shooting him at 7:00 o'clock in the morning of the 3oth of this month in the
field of Bagumbayan.For compliance and the rest that may correspond, let this be returned
to the Judge Advocate, Captain Don Rafael Dominguez.
Page 318

Rizal's Trial and His Alleged Guilt

Rizal's trial was a clear case of mistrial - a very clear confirmation

of the injustice of the Spanish Regime (Zaide & Zaide, 1999). It was a
deliberate effort to condemn Rizal to death for the following reasons:-1. Rizal was a civilian but was tried by a
military tribunal;2. Rizal was already condemned guilty even before the trial;3. All allegations against Rizal
were accepted by the court but not
the arguments and evidence in his favor;4. Rizal was not allowed to confront witnesses against him nor his
counsel to cross-examine them;5. Evidences to convict Rizal did not have any bearing on his alleged
commission of the complex crime of rebellion; and6. In military tribunals, the accused is almost certain to be
found
guilty.Considering Rizal's defense for the crime imputed on him raises
the question of whether he was guilty or innocent? As pointed out by
Guerrero (1998), Rizal was neither guilty nor innocent. Evidences used
by the military court were not sufficient to warrant the finding of guilty
and the concomitant imposition of death penalty. Moreover, Rizal was
really innocent of the accusation that he was the moving spirit behind
the revolution started by Bonifacio and the Katipunan. While Rizal was
denying any connection with the KKK, he was actually its source of
inspiration. In fact, his name was used as a password for one of the
grades of membershio in the KKK. Nonetheless, he repudiated the revolution started by the Katipunan, as
gleaned from the manifesto he
wrote at Fort Santiago on December 15, 1896.

Page 319
This manifesto, as translated by Palma (1949) is presented below.My Countrymen:On my return from Spain, I
learned that my name had been used as
a war cry among some who were in arms. The news painfully surprised
me, but believing it was all over, I kept silent over what I considered
irremediable. Now I hear rumors that the disturbances continue, and lestany persons should still go on using
my name in bad or good faith, to
remedy this abuse and to undeceive the unwary. I hasten to address you
these lines so that the truth may be known.From the beginning, when I had news of what was being planned, I
opposed it, fought it, and demonstrated its absolute impossibility. This is
the truth and witnesses to my words are still living. Iwas convinced that
the idea was highly absurd and, what was worse, would bring great
suffering. I did more. When later, in spite of my counsels, the movement
· broke out, I spontaneously offered not only my services, but my life, even
my name so that they might use them in the manner they saw fit to suppress
the rebellion, for, convinced of the evils that would befall them. I considered
myself fortunate if, at any sacrifice. I could prevent such useless
misfortunes. This is equally of record.My countrymen: I have given proofs, more than anybody else, of
desiring liberties for our country and I still desire them. But I place as a
premise the education of the people so that by means of education and of
labor they might have a personality of their own and make themselves
worthy of liberties. In my writings I have recommended redemption. I have
also written that reforms, to be fruitful, have to come from above, that those
that come from below are irregular and unstable. Imbued with these ideals,
I cannot but condemn this absurd, savage uprising planned behind my
back, which dishonors us, the Filipinos, and discredits those who may
advocate our cause. I abhor its criminal methods and disclaim all
participation therein, pitying from the bottom of my heart the unwary, who
have allowed themselves to be deceived. Return then to your houses, and
may God forgive those who have acted in bad faith.

The Last Remaining Hours on Earth

The verdict of death sentence was read to Rizal on December 29,
1896 (Romero et al, 1978). At the outset, Rizal refused to sign it owing to
his innocence and objection to his being labeled as a Chinese mestizo.
Later, realizing that the law required it, he affixed his signature on the
notification of the court's decision.
Page 320
With only twenty fours remaining on earth, Rizal sent a note to his
family, as he wants to see them before his execution. The day proved to
be a hectic one for him as visitors come and go: members of his family;
journalists; his defense counsel; Jesuits and other friars who were
convincing Rizal to go back to the fold of Catholicism.While busy attending to his visitors, he took time to write
his last
letter to his best friend and confidante, Blumentritt. The letter runs this
way (National Centennial Commission, 1962):When you receive this letter, Ishall be dead. Ishall be shot
tomorrouw
at seven o'clock, but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion. I am going to
die with a clear conscience. Farewell my best, my dearest friend, and
never think ill of me.Later in the afternoon, his mother, together with Maria, Trinidad,
Narcisa, his niece Angelica, and his favorite nephew, Mauricio, visited
Rizal. First to see him was his mother. Doña Teodora, who was then
crying, approached Rizal to embrace him but the cell guard separated
them. Rizal knelt and kissed his mother's hand. After a brief silence
between them, Rizal asked Doña Teodora to secure the permission of the
authorities for his family to bury his dead body. She, then, left the cell
afterwards. As his mother could not accept Rizal's fate, she even tried
seeking executive clemency for her son. Nonetheless, her attempt to
secure such pardon from the governor-general proved futile.After his mother, Rizal's family members came
one at a time. As a
person who is about to die, he tried to give each one of them something
that would make them remember him. He gave a wicker chair to Narcisa,
while Angelica, his niece, received a handkerchief from him. To Trinidad,
Rizal gave an alcohol burner and told her that something important was
inside it. It was inside this alcohol burner where Rizal had placed his
last poem, which came to be entitled later as Mi Ultimo Adios or My Last
Farewell. Only Maria, however, was not given a gift by Rizal as nothing
was left for her. Josephine came later for a brief visit. Rizal kissed her
before she left. Josephine was in tears, knowing that Rizal would soonleave her.Knowing that his message and
poem could be kept for posterity,
Rizal then rested, feeling that his mission was over. One by one, his
memory of the distant and immediate past flashes back to him. His
tranquility, however, was disturbed by the footsteps and voices outside
his prison cell. Meantime, the Jesuits came back to see Rizal to convince
him to retract his alleged religious errors and return to the fold ofCatholicism.Rizal's last day was indeed an
exhausting one for him.

Page 321

The Execution of a Hero

Rizal woke up early in spite of the physical and mental fatigue he

had the previous day. After taking his breakfast at 5:30 in the morning,
he took time to write two letters: one for his family; and the other one for
Paciano. His first letter is presented below (National Heroes Commission, 1964):

To My Family,Task you forgiveness for the pain I cause you, but some day Ishall
have to die and it is better that I die now in the plenitude of my conscience.Dear Parents, brother, and sisters,
give thanks to God that I maypreserve my tranquility before my death. I die resigned, hoping that my
death you will be left in peace. Ahl It is better to die than to live suffering.
Console yourselves.Ienjoin you to forgive one another the little meanness of life and try
to live united in peace and good harmony. Treat your old parents, as you
would like to be treated by your children later. Love them very much in mymemory.Bury me in the ground.
Place a stone and a cross over itmy-name, the date of my birth, and of my death. Nothing more. If later you
wish to surround my grave with fence, you can do so. No anniversaries. I
prefer Paang Bundok.Have pity on poor Josephine.

Rizal's second letter, which was addressed to Paciano runs as follows(National Heroes Commission, 1964):

My Dear Brother,It has been four and a half years that we have not seen each other
or have addressed one another in writing or orally. I do not believe this is
due to lack of affection either on my part or yours, but because knowing
each other so well, we had no need of words to understand each other.Now I am going to die, it is to you I
dedicate my last words to tellyou how much I regret to leave you alone in life bearing all the weight of
the family and of our old parents.
Page 322
I think of how you have worked to enable me to have a career. Ibelieve that I have tried not to waste my time.
My brother: If the fruit has
hatrobeen bitter, it is not my fault, it is the fault of circumstances. I know that
you have suffered much because of me. I am sorry.Iassure you, brother, that I die innocent of this crime of
rebellion. If
my former writings had been able to contribute towards it, I should not
deny absolutely, but then I believe I expiated my past with my exile.Tell our father that I remember him, but
how? I remember my whole
childhood, his tenderness and his love. Ask him to forgive me for the pain
I cause him unwillingly.Your Brother,Jose Rizal

Josephine arrived at 5:30 in the morning, accompanied by Josefa.

With tears in her eyes, she embraced Rizal. Rizal reciprocated by
embracing her and giving her, his last gift, the book of Thomas Kemphis,
entitled Imitation of Christ.After watching Josephine walk out of his cell, Rizal wrote his last
letter to his father. This letter is presented below (National Heroes
Commission, 1964):

My Beloved Father,Pardon me for the pain I repay you for sorrows and sacrifices formy education. I did not
want or prefer it.Goodbye, father, goodbye....Jose RizalRizal also prepared a letter for his mother but he was
not able to
complete it. The trumpet sounded at 6:30 in the morning, signaling the
beginning of Rizal's death march.
Page 323

The Death March and Execution of Rizal

The death march began at exactly 6:30 in the morning. Rizal sported
a black suit and vest with a black hat. Although his arms were tied
behind his back, he walked serenely as if nothing would happen to him.
Behind him were Lieutenant Taviel de Andrade, his defender, Father
March, and Father Villaclara. Marching behind them, with pomp and
precision, was a platoon of Spanish soldiers.Spectators lined along the street from Fort Santiago to Plaza del
Palacio, in front of the Manila Cathedral; then to Malecon Street (now
called Bonifacio Drive) until the participants in the death march, reached
Bagumbayan Field. A mammoth crowd of Filipinos and foreigners was
able to inch closer to the cordon formed by the Spanish soldiers to take a
last glimpse of Rizal.Upon arriving at Bagumbayan Field, Rizal bid goodbye to Lieutenant
Luis Taviel de Andrade, the two priests who accompanied him in the
march and finally, to Josephine. Before proceeding to the designated
place where Rizal was supposed to stand, Dr. Felipe Castillo, a military
physician, checked his pulse and found it normal. Before the execution,
Rizal requested the commander of the cavalry that he be shot facing his
executioners considering that he was not a traitor. The request, however,
was denied as the Spanish officer had a standing order from higher
authorities that Rizal should be shot at the back.The trumpet sounded again signaling the commencement of
the
execution. As the commander shouted Fuego or Fire, the guns of the
firing squad rang out in a row. Rizal slowly turned his back to the firing
squad, faced the sea and fell to the ground. The military band played the
Marcha de Cadiz, Spain's national hymn. Shouts of Viva España (Long Live
Spain) and Muerte A Los Traidores (Death to the Traitors) could be heard all
over the place at exactly 7:03 in the morning. It was all over. Rizal had
been executed.Rizal had died but he lives in the hearts of the people, as a martyr
to Filipino freedom (Capino et al, 1977). His leadership being direct,
enlightened, liberal, democratic, progressive, compassionate and peaceful
was the crowning glory of his service to the Filipino people. This kind
of leadership that he manifested can be gleaned from his writings and
personal examples. Here lies his excellence as an individual, a man with
a purpose and conscience.
Page 324

Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios

This poem was the longest, untitled poem written by Rizal on

December 29, 1896. According to Coates (1968), this poem is remarkable
for it achieves four separate purposes.It is a poem of farewell.
It is an appeal to the Filipinos, not forget him.It is Rizal's last will and testament.It is Rizal's autobiography.The
poem as translated by Derbyshire, cited by Zulueta (2004) is
presented below.

MY LAST FAREWELL

Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of the sun caress'd

Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!
Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life's best
And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest
Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.On the field of battle, 'mid the frenzy of light,
Others have given their lives, without doubt or heed;
The place matters not - cypress or laurel or lily white,
Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom's plight,
"Tis ever the same, to serve our home and country's need.I die just when I see the dawn break,
Through the gloom of night, to herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take,
Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake,
To dye with its crimson the walking ray.My dreams, when life first opened to me,
My dreams, when hopes of youth beat high,
Were to see thy lov'd face, O gem of the Orient sea,
From gloom and grief, from care and sorrow free;
No blush on thy brown, no tear to thine eye.
Skipped 325
Page 326
Then will oblivion bring to me no care;
As over thy vales and plains I sweep;
Throbbing and cleansed in thy space and air,
With color and light, with song and lament I fare,
Ever repeating the faith that I keep.hsvalMy Fatherland adored that sadness to my sorrow lends,
Beloved Filipinas, hear now my last good-byel
I give thee all; parent and kindred and friends;
For I go where no slaves before the oppressor bends,
Where faith can never kill, and God reigns e'er on high!all, from my soul torn away,
Friends of my childhood in the home dispossessed!
Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day!
Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend, that lightened my way;
Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!Farewell toyouAs pointed out earlier, the poem was
without title and authorship.
When presented to Basa and Ponce in Hong Kong, they concluded that it
was written by Rizal. The first title used by Ponce for this poem was Mi
Ultimo Pensamiento (My Last Thought). Nonetheless, when it was published
in the La Independencia, its title was changed to Mi Ultimo Adios (Osias,
1948).Close reading of the poem reveals Rizal's spirit of fairness and
justice, as no stanza is given over to condemnation, no phrase to
recrimination, no word to hatred despite the oppression and injustice he
suffered. The poem was Rizal's farewell to his native land, which he
described as Dear Fatherland, Clime of the Sun Caressed, Pearl of the
Orient Seas, Beloved Filipinas and My Fatherland. To this venerated and
adored land, Rizal gladly offered his life for the good of his country.From the analysis made by Osias (1972),
the whole poem depicts
Rizal, the supreme patriot. Mi Ultimo Adios is an epic poem expressive of
idealism, morality and spirituality. Here Rizal bid his parents, goodbye
showing that he was dying young. He even expressed his grief leaving
his parents, brother, and sisters, whom he considered his childhood
friends in the lost paradise. He, likewise, bid farewell to Josephine-his
dulce extranjera, a friend, a wife and a source of delight.The last stanza of the poem articulates Rizal's inspiring
faith.
According to Osias (1972), Rizal asserted his Masonic and religious fervor
in this portion of Mi Ultimo Adios. Rizal clearly indicated here that death
SKIPPED Page 327
Page 328
1. The Retraction document is the chief witness to the reality of
the retraction itself, since its discovery in 1935. The burden of
proof rests with those who question the retraction.2. Rizal recited and signed the prayer book entitled Acts of
Faith,
Hope and Charity. This book was offered to Rizal after his signing
of the retraction document according to Father Balaguer. Part
of what Rizal signed states,I believe in God the Father, I believe in God the Son, the Holy Ghost,
Three Distinct Persons, and only one true God..... I believe that the
Roman Pontiff, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Visible head of the Church,
the Pastor and Teacher of all Christians; that He is infallible when He
teaches doctrines of faith and morals to be observed by the Universal
Church and his definitions are in themselves binding and immutable;
and I believe all that the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church
believes and teaches, since God who can neither deceived nor be
deceived, has so revealed it; and in this faith Iwish to live and die.3. The testimony of the press at the time of
the event, of
eyewitnesses, especially those who were closely associated with
events, like the head of the Jesuit order, attested that Rizal did
retract and sign a retraction document.4. Rizal performed acts of piety during his last hours, as testified
by the witnesses.5. The Church, through the Jesuits, solemnized Rizal's marriage
to Josephine Bracken, as attested by witnesses. The Catholic
Church will not officiate a marriage ceremony without Rizal's
retraction of his religious errors.While Cavanna and other pro-retraction scholars pointed to the
foregoing evidences to support their position, those who espouse the belief
that Rizal did not retract substantiate their claim based on the following
arguments (Hessel, 1965):1. The retraction document is a forgery. As pointed out by Pascual
(1950), the handwriting in the document is questionable, as
only one man prepared it. The point stressed by Pascual was
corroborated by the confession made by the forger to Antonio
Abad on August 13, 1901, employed by the friars earlier that
same year to make several copies of the retraction document
(Runes & Buenafe, 1962).
Page 329
02. The other acts and facts do not fit well with the story of retraction.Some of these are the following:The
retraction document was not made public until
1935. Even members of Rizal's family did not see it.No effort was made to save Rizal from death penalty
after saying his retraction.Rizal's burial was kept secre
the inner wall of the Paco Cemetery.He was buried outsideThe record of his burial was not placed on the page
of
entries of December 30th but on a special page, where
at least one other admitted non-penitent is recorded.There is no marriage certificate or public record of
Rizal's marriage with Josephine Bracken.Rizal's behavior did not point to a conversion during
his last 24 hours. His Ultimo Adios and the letters he
wrote during his remaining hours do not indicate
conversion.3. The retraction is out of character. It is not in keeping with
Rizal's character and faith. It is incongruent with his previous
assertions and declarations of religious thought.While historians, biographers and students of Rizal's life,
worksand writings are divided on the issue of his retraction, it cannot be
denied that this issue neither adds nor diminishes his greatness as a
Filipino. His contribution to nation building makes the people revere
him. In the words of Hessel (1965),Catholic or Mason, Rizal is still Rizal; the hero who courted deathto prove
those who deny our patriotism that we know how to die for our
duty and our beliefs.
Page 330