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03 Activity 5 ARG

- The document discusses Jose Rizal's alleged retraction of his writings and beliefs shortly before his execution. It notes that Catholics and Masonic groups have debated whether Rizal truly retracted or if the letter was fabricated. - It presents the viewpoints of historians like Nicolas Zafra who argue the retraction is a clear historical fact, while others suggest Rizal only opposed Freemasonry and not his nationalist ideas. However, some argue the retraction letter is invalid as witnesses reported Rizal signing under duress. - The document does not believe the viewpoint that Rizal personally typed his own retraction. It cites a professor who notes documents reveal Rizal's works

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606 views1 page

03 Activity 5 ARG

- The document discusses Jose Rizal's alleged retraction of his writings and beliefs shortly before his execution. It notes that Catholics and Masonic groups have debated whether Rizal truly retracted or if the letter was fabricated. - It presents the viewpoints of historians like Nicolas Zafra who argue the retraction is a clear historical fact, while others suggest Rizal only opposed Freemasonry and not his nationalist ideas. However, some argue the retraction letter is invalid as witnesses reported Rizal signing under duress. - The document does not believe the viewpoint that Rizal personally typed his own retraction. It cites a professor who notes documents reveal Rizal's works

Uploaded by

John Riel
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Date: 11/10/22

BSIT – BI302/ Readings in Philippine History 03 Activity 5 - ARG

03 Readings: Jose Rizal's Retraction.


1. Summarize one (1) learning resource in 03 Readings: Jose Rizal's Retraction.
- Ever since Father Manuel Garcia, C.M. discovered Rizal's letter of retractions and published it in
1935, researchers and Catholics have debated its content. The letter, dated December 29, 1896, was
signed by the National Hero himself, according to reports. It stated, "I proclaim myself a Catholic, and
I plan to live and die in this religion in which I was born and educated; I renounce with all my heart
whatsoever in my words, writings, publications, and conduct has been hostile to my character as a
son of the Catholic Church." No amount of evidence is likely to persuade the two opposing parties of
Masonic Rizalists , who believe Rizal did not retire, and Catholic Rizalists , who believe Rizal did
withdraw, to agree.
2. State the viewpoint/s or argument/s in this resource.
- - Filipino historian Nicolas Zafra argued in his book The Historicity of Rizal's Retraction that the
discussion was "a clear unvarnished fact of history, with all the indications and indicators of historical
certainty and actuality." Dr. Augusto De Viana, chair of UST's Department of History, concurred.
History believes Rizal changed his comment, and others suggest that the National Hero just opposed
Freemasonry, rather than his well-known nationalist writings. According to De Viana, the retraction
letter is invalid since witnesses were present when Rizal signed it. It was possible that it was
fabricated. He went on to clarify that the facts speak for themselves before changing the topic to
Rizal's character, which some believe is contradictory with Rizal's mature thoughts and
temperament, he believes Rizal fled for the national hero to die in peace.

3. What particular viewpoint do you NOT believe in that resource? Explain why you do not believe
in this viewpoint.
- According to Father Vicente Balaguer, a Jesuit missionary who became acquainted with the hero
during his exile in Dapitan, Rizal accepted a shorter retraction paper issued by Father Pio Pi, superior
of the Philippine Jesuit Society. After making some adjustments to the manuscript, Rizal typed his
retraction. Personally, I did not believe he had removed his comments. According to Jose Victor
Torres, a history professor at De La Salle University, a document from the Cuerpo de Vigilancia de
Manila bought by the Philippine government from Spain in the mid-1990s revealed some interesting
information about the retraction. The Cuerpo de Vigilancia de Manila, often known as the Katipunan
and Rizal Documents, is a repository of historical documents from the Philippines "Despite the fact
that it would be simple to claim that he withdrew what he wrote, it didn't change the reality that his
works set in motion the wheels of change in Philippine colonial society during the Spanish period, a
development that eventually led to our independence," Torres stated.

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