Debate Script - Rizal’s Retraction

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Part I

Castillo: We all know Rizal’s defense against the friars is through writing. Some historians claim that
he retracted the statements against the catholic church.
Telan: If he retracted, does this mean our history is just a scam?
Castillo: Maybe we have to find out, I’m (name)
Telan: and I’m (name), and this is…
Castillo & Telan: HISTORYSCAPE
----------Flash something on the screen like show logo or something---------------
Castillo: For today's topic, we have the case of The retraction of Rizal. We will find out whether he
retracted his statements or did not against the catholic church.
Telan: maybe some of you are curious about a retraction. Retraction is when a person withdraws their
statement or admits that their information is false.
Castillo: So if there are claims that Rizal retracted his statements in his works that criticized the Spanish
political governance and the church, why would he retract if he knows he will be executed the day after
he signs the” Retraction paper.”
Telan: Rizal allegedly withdrew to protect his family from further harm.
Persecution, formal recognition of Josephine Bracken as his wife, and promises of improvements from
the Spanish government are more likely to be of Rizal's attitude, but would Rizal simply abandon all of
the writing he had conceived with his hard work? Are these the same writings that took him to the brink
of execution?
Castillo: Did Rizal in the last moment of his life really retracted?
Telan: Biographers, historians, and even students on the Rizal life and works are divided on the issue
of retraction. Now we will witness one of those debates in this show performed by National University-
Manila students.
Castillo:. Let us now learn more about this retraction issue by watching Debate: Rizal’s Retraction: did
he retract or not?
Part II

Dizon: Welcome to our Group Debate entitled, Rizal’s Retraction; Did he retract or not? Before we
start I would like to introduce our Judge for today, Judge Godwin Matundac. There will be two sides in
this debate, the affirmative which defends Rizal did the retraction, and the negative which defends Rizal
did not do the retraction. Now, let’s hear first from the affirmative side.

Lomod: Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. We the affirmative side believe that Jose Rizal did
retract his statements against the Catholic Church. There are pieces of evidence gathered that Rizal
actually retracted saying that he withdrew his statement against the catholic church. The documents
presented and statements of the witnesses to the public are strong evidence that Rizal had truly
retracted. Let us first address the witnesses and documents. First is the testimony of the eyewitness
and the retraction paper perse. The three people with Rizal during his last hours in the prison cell,
Father Balaguer, Father Luis Viza, and Capt. Dominguez said that they witnessed Rizal sign the
retraction letter before his execution. Besides, father Vicente Balaguer who was with Rizal and
presented the retraction format versions of father Pio Pi, stated that Rizal have accepted and signed
the document on December 29, 1896, the day before the execution. He even had an exact copy of the
retraction paper. And on May 13, 1935, Fr. Manuel A Garcia found a document of Rizal’s retraction.
Isn’t the account of eye witness not enough proof of retraction? Next, the letter of Rizal to his mother
was received on January 5, 1893. His letter says that he has been going to the church every Sunday in
Dapitan. Doesn’t this is strong evidence that Rizal had truly returned to the church?

Dizon: Thank you, Mr. Lomod. Ms. Estocado may we now hear you rebut the previous statement
made by the affirmative side.

Estocado: Good Afternoon, Everyone. We, the negative side believe that the document presented by
the opposing side was clearly forged and fake. Most experts thought that the handwriting in the said
letter is authentic. However, scholars are confused why Rizal, who courageously faced persecution
most of his life and who was finally sentenced to death for his beliefs, would suddenly retract at the
last? at the futile moment? According to Ricardo Pascual, Ph. D., who was approved by Archbishop
Nozaleda to analyze the document which late he concluded in his own book entitled, “Dr. Jose Rizal
beyond the Grave,” the documents and letter presented were a total fabrication. Also, according to an
online source, Jose Rizal. ph, maintained by Jose Rizal University; Fr. Balaguer said that he couldn’t
remember whose exact copy was the document and even Fr. Pio pi couldn’t verify it in his own
statement. This just means that fr. Balaguer himself shows that there is a forgery that happened.
Moreover, the retraction letter was said to be signed by Rizal was even kept as a secret and to be only
published its contents in newspapers. As a matter of fact, when Rizal’s family requested for the original
copy, it was said that it was lost and their request was denied. Additionally, as said by Uckung (2015)
of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the original document of Rizal’s Retraction
was later found in archdiocesan archives in 1935, which is 39 years after Rizal was executed. the
original document was never shown to the public, only reproductions of it. If you say so that Rizal did
retract, why there is no retraction paper available in 1896? How come he was still executed? why there
is no effort was made to save Rizal from the death penalty. The catholic itself should prevent Rizal
execution, right? Wasn’t the retraction enough for the salvation of Rizal?

Dizon: We would like to thank you, Mr. Bermudez. Now, let us call our next debater of the affirmative
side, Mr. Rosalin.

Rosalin: Regarding the forged document, it also reasons out in that same site that Father Balaguer and
Father Pi did not see the original document of the retraction however, the said original document of the
retraction, which was almost eaten by the termites, was kept for preservation by the friars. Next, is your
argument that the catholic should prevent Rizal execution.
Yes, it is clear that there is no one or news about preventing him from execution. However, the Catholics
cannot prevent the execution of Rizal because following Rizal’s return to Manila, he was charged with
rebellion and starting an illegal society. Witnesses testified to his involvement with the rebels and he
was convicted by a military court (José Rizal | Infopedia, 2010). Despite of his retraction, he will still be
executed because of his crimes. The retraction document is not related to what he was accused of and
as a consequence, it does not save him from execution. But we believe that Rizal still died as a catholic.
Now, the marriage of Rizal and Bracken is one of the pieces of evidence that he really retracted. The
retraction itself is a significant document because it established the act of marriage between them. “No
marriage, no contract”. The retraction is the condition for them to be wedded. According to de Viana in
his article “A Glimpse into the Life of Josephine Bracken”, Rizal and Josephine Bracken married in
Dapitan two hours before Rizal’s execution. As Father Balaguer claimed, he’s the one who unite
Josephine and Rizal before his execution which means that he did retract to marry her. It is also said
that Rizal did retract to save his family from further persecution and to protect them. Doesn’t this show
that Rizal really retracted?

Dizon: Thank you Mr. Rosalin. May we now hear Mr. Bermudez defend the Negative Side.

Bermudez: Speaking of marriage, the fact that the opposing said mentioned that Josephine Bracken
and Jose Rizal were married was not true. There are no documents that can support Father Balaguer’s
claim that he did unite the two because there are no documents such as a marriage contract. The Rizal
family did not accept the retraction and the marriage. Balaguer’s account exposed itself through major
discrepancies in his story. His claim of marrying Rizal and Josephine was totally belied by the facts.
Rizal did not mention any retraction to his last writings or letters to people closest to him. No retraction
was mentioned in his masterpiece “Mi Ultimo Adios”, his letter to his mother, and his farewell letter to
Ferdinand Blumentritt. Additionally, according to an online source, South East Asian Studies, there is a
new witness, which is Moreno, neither a member of the Catholic hierarchy nor was he a Mason. Moreno
did not mention that the couple signed a marriage contract. Doesn’t this show that Rizal did not die as
a Catholic?

Dizon: Thank you, Mr. Bermudez. May we call on again Mr. Lomod from the affirmative side.

Lomod: With regards to your argument of NO marriage contract. Yes, father Balaguer's
arguments eventually become vague. However, it also reasons out in that same site that you
mentioned, that there is a new witness, which is Moreno. He reported that right after Rizal
signed the alleged retraction letter, he read the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity as well as the
Prayers for the Departing Soul. While kneeling in front of the altar, he also read his prayer
book in the company of Frs. Villa Clara and March. Moreno also reported that in the early
morning of the following day, Rizal and Josephine Bracken got married. The ceremony was
done in articulo mortis, at the point of death, and there were no sponsors or witnesses present.
Hence, Rizal got married and died as a catholic.

Dizon: Thank you, Mr. Lomod. May we now hear Ms. Estocado defend the Negative Side.

Estocado: If that is the case, the affirmative side is saying that Rizal's behavior before his
execution is out of his character and belief. Even if we haven’t met Jose Rizal personally it is
evident that Rizal’s character gives us an idea in the course of his writings. Numerous of his
works were all about the cruelty and tyranny of Spaniards like books such as the Noli Me
Tangere, the Social Cancer) and the El Filibusterismo, the Reign of Greed). Just think about
it, would Rizal just simply abandon all his work of art that took most of his time and hard work
in just for retraction? It would be like vomiting what you just had eaten and swallowing it again.
We can see right through his works, Rizal is a man of one word; he had never distorted his
thoughts, and never will be. Besides, If Rizal died as a catholic, as you have argued, why
doesn’t he have a proper burial? Rizal’s burial was kept as a secret. No masses were made
for his soul or funeral held by the Catholics. Despite the claim that Rizal was reconciled with
the church, He was not buried in the cemetery but on the ground outside the Paco cemetery.
Did Rizal really die as a catholic?

Dizon: Thank you, Mr. Lomod. Now for the Affirmative side, Mr. Rosalin, you may say your
final words and conclude your side’s argument.
Rosalin: We, the affirmative side is not saying that Rizal is a coward just because he backs off
with his word. He is still the hero that has a big contribution to Philippine history and
independence. We cannot change that. Also, he retracted because he is just a person. Every
person can make mistakes. Also, He just wants to repent what he has done so that he will die
doing what he really wants. As we all know, he chooses to save the Philippines and the
Filipinos in exchange for his self-interest. Furthermore, Rizal was not buried in a Catholic
Church because he was already accused as a traitor against the Spanish. Also, it is just logical
to think that the Spaniard’s didn’t want an enemy to be buried with propriety and Rizal was no
exception to that. In conclusion, Rizal truly retracted, against his affiliations to the catholic
church. Rizal did not fight the catholic religion at his last moment of life. And all the reasons
are proved and evidence by documents presented and found by people, as well as the
statement testified by the witnesses.

Dizon: Thank you, Mr. Rosalin. For the Affirmative side, Mr. Bermudez, you may now say your
final words and conclude your side’s argument.

Bermudez: About the forgery of the documents, the retraction paper only surfaced for public
viewing in 1935. The original document was never shown to the public, only reproductions of
it. There are different versions of it. And also there is no retraction paper available in 1896?
the day he was executed. Isn’t this enough proof that there was a forgery of the retraction?
And even Father Balaguer who was an eyewitness has come inconsistencies in his statements
ay you presented earlier. We, the negative side, therefore conclude, that the absence of the
marriage document of Rizal and Josephine, his burial outside the paco cemetery,
inconsistencies of the statement of eyewitnesses shows that Rizal did not retract back to the
catholic church. The lack of sufficient evidence proved that Rizal’s retraction was just a false
accusation.

Dizon: Thank you, Mr. Bermudez. Now, the debate is over. Thank you all very much for giving
such great arguments. Let us now hear what the judge thinks about the performances of the
two sides. Judge Godwin Matundac, please give some comments on both sides’ performance
and the result of today’s afternoon debate.

Matundac: Since the debate is over and deliver successfully their arguments, let me please
my remark. Whether Dr. Jose Rizal did retract or not, it does not affect and he is still our
national hero. His contribution to nation-building makes the people respect and admire him.
The retraction has been an issue for a long time and even up to this day. However, it doesn’t
matter if he really retracted or not. Yet, for the arguments, evidences, insight, and beliefs that
were presented only a few stood out and gave powerful remarks. But I would like to commend
each side's efforts to conduct and properly deliver this debate. Therefore, the winner of this
debate is no other than, the affirmative side. I now declare this debate proper adjourned.

Part III

Telan: That was a good argument. Rizal's retraction could not have aided him in any way. He
died with a clear conscience.
Castillo: I agree. Rizal was fascinated by the idea of dying for the sake of his country. In his
letter to the Friars, Rizal expressed contempt for them through his works that sparked their
desire for vengeance. This matter points out that a simple forgery can confuse many people.
Telan: The purpose of this date is to seek truth in our past, not to punish anyone. Remember
this, it doesn’t matter if Rizal really retracted or not. He is still our National Hero, we cannot
change that.
Castillo: And the retraction does not affect being the national hero. His contribution to
Philippine history and independence makes people respect and admire him, especially, us,
Filipinos.
Castillo: Thank you Everyone for tuning in. This is (hostname)
Telan: and (hostname)
Castillo & Telan: Here on, HistoryScape