Vanessa C.

Caballero BSEd Physics- Math 4 Hist 17 9:00 10:30 TTh September 6, 2011 A Reaction to the Retraction Controversy of Jose Rizal Our national hero, Jose Rizal, had died more than a century ago but the controversy of retraction which came after his death has never died out. People of Rizals time were divided as to whether he really did retract or not. Even historians of our time are demarcated by their belief on what really had happened prior to Rizals death. Based on readings, people closest to Rizal, that is his family and his most intimate friends, would not believe on Fr. Vicenter Balaguers claim and account that he was able to make Rizal retract at the last hour prior to his execution. There are a number of speculations that will prove that Fr. Balaguers claim was more for his personal gain than the truth. First, the letter of retraction that was allegedly said was personally written by Rizal was unsigned. Second, if it really existed then why didnt the Catholic Church show it to the public especially to the family of Rizal? Third, if the retraction paper and Fr. Balaguers claim was sufficient then why the Catholic Church didnt give Rizal a Christian burial had the retraction would bring him back to Catholic faith. Fourth, Rizal had communicated with his mother, Teodora Alonso, an hour before he was executed but he didnt mention to her any plan of retraction. If he did then the family would undoubtedly affirm Fr. Balaguers claim, but even them were in disbelief. Finally, knowing the personality and rational thoughts of Rizal it is undeniable that he knew too well the damage the letter would do him and besides he believed all along that before God he had nothing to retract and He was the one who caused him to think that way. Balaguer was the one applauded for his heroic did of performing his ecclesiastical duty of making a filibustero get back to Catholic faith, but had he really done it? Did Rizal really retract just for the marriage with Josephine Bracken to take place? Indeed, this still remains a controversy unless Rizal himself would rise up from dead and speak for himself about this undying issue of his retraction. But of course that is impossible. While our historians are divided in this issue, I will make my stand on this. As for me, I would say that Rizal did not ever retract. He may have written a retraction letter himself but the fact that he didnt sign it already supports the idea that writing the letter was not out of sincerity but most likely out of a condition of the church for him to be married with Josephine. The retraction is what the Catholic Church wanted from Rizal but as for Rizal he has nothing to retract before God. I believe the issue of retraction was just planned by the church solely for its own cause but unfortunately the person who has executed it was not that clever that loopholes in his narrative were everywhere. Jose Rizals Role in the Philippine Revolution After the first novel of Rizal that is Noli Me Tangere came its sequel, El Filibusterismo. This second novel was written and completed by Rizal during the time when his attitude towards Spain was hardened by the heightened issue on Calamba hacienda and the attitude of intransigence which the debate in the Senate of Spain about his first novel has revealed. Clearly during this time, Rizal had made up his mind that what the Philippines needed is to be separated from Spain contrary to Marcelo H. del Pilars ideal of assimilation with Spain. Rizal had found no other resort but the revolution in order to realize this. With this feeling and ideal, the El Filibusterismo was created which Rizal carefully altered to make it more clearly and emphatically a call to revolution. The book in due course came into the hands of Andres Bonifacio, whom it inspired to organize and arm for rebellion against Spain. Bonifacio believed all along that he was for the revolution, failing to understand his true vision that he unanimously shared with the leading Filipino intellectuals of those days, including those who have been referred to as the hard core men, who were in favour of revolution, but with the right resources and at the right moment. Thus, in Rizals view the revolt was premature, a senseless waste of time and that it would fail. Indeed, Rizals role in the Philippine revolution was an inspiration. Through his writings, he awakened the sleeping emotions of his countrymen to see that there is a need to rise and resist Spain. He was indeed in favour of a revolution because there is nothing left to try but it. Unfortunately, the revolution organized by our military heroes Bonifacio, Aguinaldo and the rest - came prematurely with little funds, training and education. For these reasons, Rizal viewed the revolution as a waste of time. The revolution at that time was inevitable. Time will really come, which it came, that Filipinos would revolt. Had it came on the right moment and with right resources, we could probably see Rizal and other intellectuals in full support, hand-in-hand fighting alongside Bonifacio, Aguinaldo and the rest.