Rizal Controversy

Rizal’s Retraction Controversy

Rizal is known to be a Philippines’ national hero. He was able to contribute with the Filipinos in order to proclaim independence from the Spaniards. Rizal has a unique style in which he informs Filipinos about the cancer of the country during the Spanish regime. He wrote two novels, the first novel (Noli Me Tangere) was all about the harsh doings of the Spaniards with the Filipinos and the second novel (El Filibusterismo) was the symbolism of realization that Rizal wants Filipinos to know. During the Spanish Era, it was illegal to do something against them and that was the reason why Rizal was prosecuted and sentenced to death.
When we learn about the Philippine history during high school period, they say that Rizal died with his loyalty and compassion to the Philippines but there was this controversy discovered in the early 1930’s which was opposed the knowledge from what we all know. It was Rizal’s retraction letter discovered by Father Manuel Garcia, its content has become a favorite subject of dispute among academicians and Catholics. The letter, dated December 29, 1896, was said to have been signed by then National Hero himself. It stated: “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.” Since proofs aren’t strong to provide facts, it is still a myth in the Philippine history. Having a conflict with controversy itself by the opening of different versions of the retraction letter was one of its rejections to the truth. Yet believers introduce uncertain proofs that deflect the heroism of Rizal. Documentations and signatures of the national hero was the point of transaction during his penalty which leads to this rising action. Unbelievers also have their own position to prove that Rizal is really a hero of his country. But like for the believers, they can’t manage to negate the proofs of the other side.

The nonbelievers’ opinion is to supply facts in Rizal’s Heroism. And to deal with controversy, they negate most of its documentations. Since forgery was popular among these years, they reason it for them to save the name of Rizal. Back then, forgery is usually resorted to redirect the flow of money from the rightful beneficiary to the unworthy pockets of invisible people. Until it came to a point that the use of it is to destroy a person’s name beyond they eyes of the crowd. An incident also came forging the documents served to negate the existence of an independent Philippines. In the year 1901, the Americans was able to capture Cecilio Segismundo, a Filipino Messenger, who carried with him a document from Aguinaldo. They faked the document by forging the signiture and editing the complete message saying Aguinaldo that some Filipino officers were sending him Guerrillas with American prisoners. With the help of Lazaro Segovia, a Spanish Traitor, the Americans manage to assemble an institution of Pro-American Filipino Soldiers. These soldiers, who penetrated the camp of Aguinaldo, disguised as soldiers of the Philippine Republic. With the president captured, his generals began to surrender, and the Republic began to fall.
Looking at the case of Rizal, it might have done this way. The retraction letter of Rizal is currently debated as to its authenticity. The Letter was supposed to have signed by Rizal moments before his death. There were many witness, most of them were the Jesuits from Escuela Municipal (Ateneo de Manila University). But the document was never shown to the public, only its exact replica. However, a Spanish Jesuit reported that the retraction document was copied verbatim and published in Spain. The dates of reproductions signing were very clear in the original Spanish document which Rizal supposedly signed. It was dated December 29, 1890. After discovering the document, another supposed original document surfaced, it holds the date December 29, 189C. The number zero was evidently altered to make it look like a letter C. Months passed, another supposed original version came up to public. This time the date was December 29, 1896.

So in general for those people who aren’t in favor about the controversy, they strongly believed that the document was faked. It was reported that the forger of Rizal’s signature was Roman Roque, the man who also forged the signature of Urbano Lacuna, which was to capture Aguinaldo. It was also reported that the mastermind for the forgery was the Friars which lead by Lazaro Segovia. The Friars ordered both Urbano Lacuna and Roman Roque during the final day of the Filipino-American war to forge Rizal’s signature. This issue was a proof of the nonbelievers since Antonio K. Abad, the neighbor of Roman Roque, heard the story from Roman Roque himself. But overall, the controversy isn’t at rest because there wasn’t a strong proof whether Roman Roque really exists or the original copy was discovered during the American Era. Majority was among the nonbelievers since the heroism of Rizal was thought in the curriculum of education. The ideas of the controversy are still in queue since there are many versions of it however; the believers still seeks ways in order to prove it from the Philippine history.
Based on the query about the controversy, both sides presented their own opinion and each of it stands a proof in which they can visualize it to the public. Just to play safe, I’m not being bias about this issue but on how each side introduces there opinion, there is no chance for the believers to win my attention. To speak it more clearly, the proof was so intentional or in tagalog “parang pilit”. We can’t say it a proof because the original documentation wasn’t really shown to public during the day it was discovered and reproduction of the document released many versions that made it confusing. Furthermore, if the retraction letter did really exist, Rizal just wasted his life writing, defending and protecting Filipino people which I don’t believe that he can do since he was angry at the Spaniards for almost all of his years living in this country. In the other hand, believers defended their own position by saying that Rizal’s signature was forged by someone which was also a blur proof because the report just enumerated people who witnessed the issue. They didn’t even consider the whole biological information of the witness. We don’t even know if these people really existed or not.
For conclusion, Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonzo Y’ Realonda did a very well job fighting for his own country. With the use of education, he rather chose to be the part of his own raise than live his life with all the glorious benefit of his profession. It seems to be remarkable that these days since nationalism grew up and lead Filipinos into mature fellow countrymen. Many young Jose Rizal were born after his death and the legacy of his heroism will always live for the future. He was and still a hero of his country so why people want to change the history? In my opinion, I don’t know whether they want to contribute to the history or just they can’t do anything good. Let the guy take a break, he is now dead. In every wrong word we’ll press, he’ll never hear. So what’s the point of giving out this controversy if the person involved on it is already gone? How I wonder if Jose Rizal knew about this controversy?, maybe he’ll be shock because its way impossible for him to make such of an insanity. But God knows. Someday the truth will be told and I’ll hope at least one of Rizal’s followers will never be disappointed on him just in case. For now, he is the Philippine National Hero. No one can’t change what is written on the whole history.