Testimony of Rizal’s retraction

 Testimony of the newspapers

a. Newspapers around the world published articles about his (Rizal) retraction and several
even published a copy of the actual retraction. Apart from minor defects in translation
and occasionally differing details between some articles, they are all substantially
unanimous in essence.
b. These small differences serve to show that these newspapers did not get the
information from one source alone, and that they were not dependent on one another
for the information.
 Testimony of the eyewitnesses
a. Reverend Vicente Balaguer Llacer, SJ.
1. The priest who became God’s instrument in the conversion and retraction of Rizal
2. Returned to Rizal a small figurine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which Rizal has carved
himself as a student in Ateneo and seems to be one of the factors in his making the
decision to write a retraction.
3. Upon telling Rizal that if he will not repent he would damn himself, Rizal was moved
to tears and said that he would not damn himself.
4. Aided Rizal in the writing of his retraction by providing a simple formula for the
details which his retraction must contain.
5. Witnessed Rizal actually writing his retraction and left with Josephine Bracken and
one of Rizal’s sisters to give the retraction to a priest of the Ateneo, Father Pio Pi.
a. Captain Rafael Dominguez y Garcia
1. “Colonel of the Manila Garrison and Judge Advocate in Rizal’s trial, on duty
to watch over the convict all the time he was on the chapel”
2. He asks permission from the priests who visited him to be married and
promises to write his confession.
3. At about midnight, he recites his confession to Fr. Villaclara. He knelt down
in front of the altar and read aloud the declaration which he had written himself.
b. Lt. Mariano Martinez Gallegos
1. Witnessed Rizal’s conversion to the Catholic faith and the clear testimony
which he gave.
c. Reverend Luis Viza y Marti, SJ.
1. The document of retraction was not made public until 1935. Even members
of the family did not see it. It was said to be “lost”.
2. No effort was made to save Rizal from the death penalty after his signing of
the retraction.
a. The usual rebuttal is that Rizal’s death was due to political factors and with
this the religious authorities cannot interfere.
3. Rizal’s burial was kept secret; he was
buried outside of the inner wall of Paco cemetery, and the record of his burial was
not placed on the page for entries of December 30 th, but on a special page where at
least one other admitted non-penitent is recorded (perhaps others, the evidence is
conflicting).