The Testimony Of Eyewitnesses 1 Reverend VICENTE BALAGUER

The Testimony Of Eyewitnesses

1. Reverend VICENTE BALAGUER LLACER, S. J. , the priest who became God’s instrument in the conversion and retraction of Rizal. In the NOTARIAL ACT, sworn to by him in Murcia, Spain, August 8, 1917, before Don Jose Soriano Cano, Licentiate in Canon and Civil law with Don Manuel Martinez Roca, and Don Diego Almansa. Carillo as witness (Notarial Act, No. 863 duly legalized by Reginaldo S. Castleman, Vice-Consul of the United States of America, in Madrid, Spain) he declared, on the faith of an oath, what he witnessed and learned from eyewitnesses’ worthy of all credit, namely:

…That after Rizal was condemned to death, when the chaplain of the Royal Fort Santiago, where the convict was offered his services for so sad circumstances, the prisoner told him that he appreciated his offering, but the desired rather to be visited by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus by whom he had been educated. When he made thus request, the Reverend Father Superior, Father Pio Pi, in compliance with the Commission of His Father Superior Luis Viza to the Fort. When these Fathers entered the Fort that morning of December 29, 1896, Rizal received them with signs of affection, and asked them whether some of those who had been his professors were still there in Ateneo.

They told him that Fr. Vilaclara only, who had returned to Manila few days before remained. They told him that I (Father Balaguer) was also in Manila and he asked that I go also, since I have been, as already stated, a Missionary in Dapitan, where he dealt with me as a friend. He was a very polite gentleman, and even friendly towards me. It seems to me convenient to a mention an incident that took place in the visit that Fathers Saderra and Viza made him. It is following:

When Dr. Rizal was a boarding student at the Ateneo, very devout and exemplary indeed, he carved with a penknife a little statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, about centimeters in size, not beautiful, but rather well modelled. That statuette remained in the Ateneo. It seems that the Lord saw it that it be preserved during twenty years, although the room where it was kept underwent many changes. When Dr. Rizal called for the Fathers to assist him, one of them remembered the statuette that was still preserved.

One of this Fathers, Father Viza, took and put it in his pocket. When he arrived at the Fort with Father Saderra, after exchanging greetings with them, Dr. Rizal asked whether that statuette made by him was still preserved in the Ateneo, Father Viza, taking out of his pocket told him; “Yes, sir, here, you have; it is the Heart of Jesus, who has been waiting for you for twenty years and he comes now to greet you”. Dr. Rizal took it, kissed it, and placed it on the desk and there it remained until the hour he left for the place of execution. This happening indeed providential in such circumstances. At about ten o’clock in the morning, Father Villaclara and I went to Fort Santiago where the chapel cell of the great convict was. He received us with great affection and embraced us.

I think it convenient to point out that, in case of conversion, before ministering the Sacramento to him, Dr. Rizal should make a retraction of errors publicity professed by him in words and writings and a profession of Catholic faith. To this effect, when the Father Superior of the mission went to the Archbishop’s Palace, he brought by way of precaution a retraction and profession of faith, concise, but including what we thought to be exacted from Dr. Rizal. The Prelate read ir, and declared it to be sufficient. He said, however, that he would prepare or order to be prepared another more extensive one.

Before going to the Fort I went to the Palace in order to receive orders from the Prelate. The Archbishop gave me the formula of retraction and profession of faith, composed by Reverend Father Pio Pi. He told me to wait for the other more extensive one, and to present to the convict either of them, according to his personal disposition. At any rate, it was enough to admit the shorter and concise formula of Father Pi, since His grace considered it sufficient in order to administer the Holy Sacraments to him.

Therefore, when we, two Fathers, met him in the chapel, after exchanging greetings with him and talking on various matters. I, who knew the history and errors contained in his books, in order to fulfil our delicate mission, asked Rizal to give an explanation of his ideas on religion. At the outset he appeared Protestant, because of certain phrases manifesting love and respect for Jesus Christ. Nay, he came to say more or less explicitly that his rule of faith was the word of God contained in the Sacred Scripture. I tried to make him see how false and indefensible such a criterion was, inasmuch as without the authority of the church he could not be sure of the authenticity of the Holy Scripture or of the books truly revealed by God; how absolutely impossible it is for the individual reason to interpret at his will the word of God. Then he declared himself openly a rationalist of freethinker, unwilling to admit any other criterion of truth than

I, then pointed out to him the absurdity of rationalism for the lack of instruction of the immense majority of humankind, and for the absurd and monstrous errors professed by the greatest sages paganism. I tried to convince him with irrefutable arguments that there is not, nor can there be, a more rational criterion than supernatural faith and divine revelation, warranted by the infallible authority of the Church; that such is the clear testimony of reason, history and the motives of credibility offered with evidence by the Church. Constrained by these invincible arguments, he came to say to me that he was guided by the reason God had given him, adding with self-profession that curdled my blood, that he was going to appear thus before the tribunal of God, with a clear conscience for having fulfilled his duty as a rational man. When I attacked him with the arguments of Catholic doctrine, he began to expound the objections of the heretics and rationalists, a thousand

We had discuss the criterion or rule of faith, the authority of the Church, her infallibility and divine teaching authority, the power of working miracles, the death penalty (a subject of so burning an interest in those moments), the death of Ananias and Sapphira, the Holy Scriptures, the Vulgate, Saint Jerome’s version, that of the LXX, Purgatory, the variations of the Protestant Churches, the arguments of Balmes against them, the worship of Saints, and especially the extension of redemption, and many other objections of apologetics, a thousand times refuted with irresistible arguments. When attacked him with the logic evidence of Catholic truth, I told him energy that if he did not yield his mind and his reason for the sake of he would soon appear for judgement before God and would be damn. Upon hearing this threat, tears gushed from his eyes, and he said: “No will not damn myself. ” “Yes, ” –I replied, --“you will go to hell, for, whether you like it or EXTRA ECCLESIAM CATHOLICAM NULLA DATUR SALUS. Yes; the Catholic Church there is no salvation. Truth is and cannot be but one such, truth uncompromising an all orders, and much more so in the religion order, which

Affected by this reproach he said: --- Look here, Father; if to please you. Reverences I would say yes to everything and would sign everything you press to me without meaning it, I would be hypocrite and would offend God. ” “Certainly, ” –I told him--- “and we don’t want that. But believe me that is a grief without equal to see a beloved person obstinate in error, and told that person about to be demand to be unable to prevent it. You take in being a sincere man; so believe us that if by giving our blood and our live we could achieve the salvation of your soul, right now, we would give our and offer ourselves to be shot lieu of you.

But Father, ”---he replied with regret---“what would you have me do, since it seems that I cannot dominate reason? ” “Offer, ”---I answered, ---“offer to God the sacrifice of your self-love. Even if be against the voice of your reason, ask God the grace of faith, which is a God bestows abundantly and is obtained infallibly by humble and persevering prayer. Only on your part, you should not regret it. ” “Well then, Father”---he said---“I promise you that I will spend the time that still remains of my life, asking God for the grace of faith.

“Take a rest, then, ” –I told him, -- and ponder over what we have talked about. Father Vilaclara (now dead) and I arrived at Fort Santiago at about ten o’ clock in the morning. After greeting Dr. Rizal, I began the discussion with him, as it has been mentioned. At twelve o’ clock I went the palace to report on the matter to the Prelate, as he had- ordered me I had say to him that until then the convict remained obstinate in his error and ideas opposed to the Catholic faith. Hearing this, the Prelate in the bardent zeal for the conversion of Dr. Rizal, sent immediately a circular to the religious Communities prayers were offered for fervently, and in some of them many penances were done for this purpose. Even the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in some Communities.

At three o’clock, or a little past three, I returned to the Royal Ford where Father Vilaclara had remained, and I reassumed the discussion with Dr. Rizal, that tasted until dusk, arriving at the point which I have already indicated. Then I went to the Ateneo, and then I went with Father Vilaclara to the Palace. There I reported on the condition of the convict, who offered some hope of conversion, since he had asked for the formula of retraction. Hence, I requested the Prelate for the formula he had promised, and he told me it was not yet finished. Soon he would send it to me. It was already night when I arrived at the Fort. I found Dr. Rizal’s impatient. He asked for the formula of the Prelate. This came at last, at about ten o’clock: upon knowing it, the convict asked me for it insistently. Without telling me to read it first, he called and

Both of us sat on the desk, where there was stationery and I began to read it. Upon hearing the first paragraph, he told me: “Father, do not proceed”. That says different from mine. I cannot sign that, because it should be understood that I am writing it myself. I brought out then the shorter and more concise formula of Father Pi. I read the first paragraph and he said to me: “That style is simple as mine. Don’t bother, Father, to read it all. Dictate what I ought to profess or express and I shall write, making in any cause some remarks.

And thus it was done. And I suggested the idea he proceeded to write with steady hand clear letters, making at times some observation or adding some phrase. Certainly, after the discussion, Dr. Rizal was yielding to the impulse of grace, since he had retired into himself and prayed as he had promised. Thus he prepared to be while writing his retraction. At the beginning the formula stated: “I declare myself a Catholic and in this religion I wish to live and die. ” Dr. Rizal told me: “Please, add” (and he was already writing, after the word religion): in which I was born and educated, ” as if he wished to make his Catholic education known.

I continued reading. He continued assenting and writing with some brief indication of his own, and an explanation on my part. He asserted, then, and admitted everything expressed in the formula. When we came to the paragraph where Masonry was detested, he showed some resistance to subscribe this sentence of the formula: “I abominate Masonry as a society-reprobated by the Church. ” He gave me this reason. He said that he had known Masons who were very bad; but those with whom he had been acquainted in London were businessmen and seemed to be good persons. It seemed also that he meant to say that the kind of Masonry in the Philippines did not require the abjuration of the Catholic faith, although I am not quite sure of this.

Anyhow, it seems that Dr. Rizal was admitted, at all events into the some of the first degrees only in which the members are not obliged to abjure the faith explicitly. After some observations, he himself proposed to write and sign, as he did, this formula: “I abominate Masonry as the enemy of the Church and reprobated by the same Church. ” And in this way he wrote it. I continued reading, and he continued assenting with some little observations.

So, for instance, it was said at the end; “The Diocesan Prelate may” …and he wanted to add: “as the superior ecclesiastical, make public this manifestation. ’ At the words “my manifestation” he asked me to allow him to add “spontaneous and voluntary. ” And he told me then with great as-severation: “Because, believe me, Father, I am doing this heartly; otherwise I would not do it. ” “Well then, ” I told him, “you may put spontaneous and it I enough. ” He finished the writing, and thus it remained. It was half past eleven: it was dated December the twentyninth. The text, literally copied from the original says thus:

Thus declaration or retraction was signed together with Dr. Rizal by Senor Fresno, Chief of the Picket, and Senor Moure, Adjutant of the Plaza. That morning, Father Faura went on the prison. On seeing him, Rizal said: Father, do you remember the last time we conversed? You told me then that, by the way I was going. I would someday come to be shot. You have been a prophet. I will die on the scaffold. ” Father Faura was deeply moved, and took leave of Rizal exhorting him to be docile to grace and try to save his soul. He was also invited during the day or at night by the Civil Governor, the Fiscal of His Majesty, several officers of Artillery, and by some other persons. Everybody wondered at the calmness and fortitude, he showed and preserved up to the last hour of his life.

His poor seventy-year-old mother and some of his sisters went to see him he shook hands with them. (It was forbidden to embrace anyone) he asked pardon from his mother, he asked her blessing, and kissed her hand. By especial privileged, Dr. Rizal remained in the chapel cell free and without shackles against what is customary in such cases. But there was entries on watch, Spanish artillery-men and two officers. He told the Fathers about an idea he had concerning the scientific problem of continuous notion and the steering of dirigibles.

He gave some commissions for certain persons. Among other things (he requested) that I ask pardon for him from Father Ubach, a former missionary in Dapitan, for whatever offense he might have given the priest. He wrote to his sister, giving her good advice and asking pardon from the whole family. His Grace the Archbishop ordered me to say to Rizal that he much interested in him, and that he was ready to help in whatever way he could, both him and his family, even with pecuniary resources, if it were convenient. With all his heart, Rizal was grateful for such an offering. He requested me to convey his gratitude to His Grace.

After all these acts… … … he knelt down of his own accord before the altar of the Virgin, placed in the Chapel cell. In the presence of the Fathers of the Judge Advocate, of the Chief of the Picket, of the Adjutant of the Plaza, of three artillery officers, Rizal asked me for his retraction and profession of faith. He proceeded to read it with pause and devotion. Of all that has been narrated, I am positive by personal knowledge have personally intervened and witnessed it myself; and I subscribe and confirmed it with an oath. And lest, perhaps, someone may think that I could not remember it with so many details, after twenty-years. I testify that on the very day of Rizal’s death I wrote a very detailed account of everything. The original of this account I have preserved, and from it I have taken all the data of the present narration.

I declare and affirm that, a little before Rizal came out from the chapel, I felt in the company of Josephine Bracken and a sister of Rizal’s own handwritten retraction signed by him and by the witnesses. Before Rizal’s reached the Bagumbayan I went to the Ateneo and delivered the aforementioned document to Father Pio Pi, who that very day brought it to the Palce and handed it to the Archbishop Nozaleda. His Grace entrusted it to his Secretary, Reverend Tomas Gonzales Feijo, who kept it in the Secretary’s Office in the chest reserved documents. This last fact I know through the testimony of his grace, the Most Reverend Bernardino Nozaleda, and of his Secretary. The other things I have declared I know as an eyewitness and because I personally

2. Captain RAFAEL DOMINGUEZ Y GARCIA, Colonel of the Manila Garrison and Judge Advocate in Rizal's trial, on duty to watch over the convict all the time he was in the chapel. In the NOTARIALACT signed by him in the city of Badajoz, Spain, May 3, 1918, before Don Benjamin Escola y Manso, Notary Lawyer of the Illustrious Colleges of Madrid, Salamanea and Badajoz, with Don Pedro Murillo Pavon and Don Marceliano Torrejoncillo Casado as witnesses: (Notarial Act duly legalized by Reginaldo S. Castleman, Vise-Consul of the United States of America, in Madrid, Spain) he declared.

A. That while he was in Manila towards the end 1806, as Captain then of the Garrison in the fortress, he was appointed Judge Advocate in the trial against Dr. Jose Rizal by His Excellency, the Captain General of the Philippines. That is why when the execution of the death sentence pronounced against him by the Council of the War that judged hi was to be accomplished I had to fulfil that painful duty, imposed by my office of remaining near the convict all the time he was in the chapel. . . I preserve with me some NOTES taken during those twenty-four hours in the chapel, ---hours which for me were of great emotions. During that time, neither the officer of the escort nor I, lot of the convict even for a moment. I hope that these NOTES may help to clarity certain details. As a faithful defender of truth, a gentleman by the profession and a Christian by birth, I do not hesitate to transmit these NOTES. . . The Notary Lawyer added:

. . The NOTES which follow reproduce literally what in the original text of the same NOTES is exhibited by the testifying party. (These NOTES are handwritten, in four sheets of lined paper folded into two little plaits and at the margin of each one of its pages I sign to leave them authenticated).

"NOTES OF THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL" On the twenty-ninth of December of 1896, at seven o' clock in the morning, the Filipino Doctor, Jose Rizal, was placed in the chapel, after being notified of the death sentence , which he signed though protesting against it. In fort Santiago, a big room was prepared setting a large altar arranged it in front. The convict was watch over by the Picket of Artillery, under the command of an Officer who detached two sentries. (Then follows written with pencil "Don Juan del Fresno" which according to the testifying party, is the name of the Picket).

The Reverend Jesuit Fathers, Luiz Viza, Jose Villaclara, Vicente Balaguer, and Faura, come to visit him. He is also visited by the Civil Governor, the Fiscal of His Majesty and other persons of rank. He receives everyone with affability and a wonderful calmness. At one o'clock he dined. His condition is serene. (Here follow five lines with words cancelled and illegible because of the ink covering them). In the presence of the Jesuit Fathers, he asked to get married and he promises to make his Confession. He convers with the Fathers (these present to Rizal an image carved by him when he was studying in the Ateneo). He resists making the abjuration of Masonry.

He writes several letters to his friend Don Fernando Benmantrill (a German) and to his family, with his last declarations. He also writes to his future wife. He rest for a short time. At four o’clock his mother comes to visit him; this meeting is very moving. The officer of the escort and I myself witnessed it: Rizal kneeling down before his aged mother asking her pardon and kissing her hands… It was necessary to separate them… Rizal weeps. Afterwards, his sister Narcisa comes in, bids him farewell without coming near him…(Here follow some words cancelled and illegible because of the ink covering them, and the paragraph ends in this wise): Rizal’s father did not like to come in. he is blind, the poor old man. He is deeply grieved. After these interviews, follows the conferences with Fathers Balaguer and Villaclara. Rizal; is yielding little by little. At eight o’clock, we take supper. The conversation is about religion. He manifest noble sentiments. He forgives his judges and reckons the hours of life remaining to him. His condition is tranquil.

He sits down to write. The fathers accompany him. At about o’clock, he makes Confession Fr. VIllaclara. Once finished, accompanied by the Fathers, the Officer of the Picket, two other Officers, and myself, he kneels down before the altar, and all those that are present kneel too. He reads in a clear and serene voice the following declaration which was signed by him: (Here the full text of the retraction is included).

In another part of the NOTARIAL ACT where these NOTES have been included, Colonel Rafael Garcia declared also: As a confirmation that there is no doubt the retraction of Rizal. Senor Pinana must look for an issue of the daily El Liberal-I don’t remember of what date, ---which published with pictures and great details the execution of Rizal with the title “La Vida Retrospectiva” (Retrospective Life). In the section, “Rizal en Capilla” (Rizal in Chapel), among other things, it say literally: “But in the chapel it was another thing. In the first place, the statuette of the Heart of Jesus, carved by him when he was still a student at the Ateneo, made a deep impression upon him…Unable to evade the reminiscences of the past, and after a long controversy he at last yielded, rather out of feeling then out of reason, and signed the retraction of his errors, abjuring freethinking, etc. ” As I have said, I do not know the date of that periodical. I remember however, that was on an anniversary of the death of Rizal and written by the party men and admirers of Rizal. I still keep with me half of that issue, that is, the section devoted to “Retrospective Life”. In the columns some verses appear, which they say he wrote a few hours before his death. I do not recall anything about them, nor do they appear in my NOTES. I believe that Rizal indeed wrote them, but not in the chapel.

With respect to citing witnesses, I cannot do so since I don’t remember others than the Jesuit Fathers, the Officer of the Picket and two sentries. The Notary Lawyer added at the end of this Affidavit: Finally, the testifying party declared that by the present Act he wanted to ratify the authenticity of the preceding NOTES which were taken by himself, as it has been stated, while Dr. Rizal was kept in the chapel, and while the events of which he had been an eyewitness, and which appear reflected in these NOTES with all fidelity and accuracy, were taking place before his eyes.

3. Lieutenant MARIANO MARTINEZ GALLEGOS, on military duty at Fort Santiago, on December 29 and 30, 1896. In the NOTARIAL ACT signed by his former Lieutenant of infantry, in the City of Manila, Philippines, on July 29, 1952, before the Notary Public Don Enriquez Rameriz, he declared the following points: (Cf. our Appendix 1).

Towards the end of December, 1896 and even since December 8 th of the preceding year, I was residing in Manila, a graduate to the ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY with the rank of first Lieutenant. I was stationed in the Royal Fort Santiago, performing my military duty in one of the pickets as adjutant of Commander Eloy Moure. When Dr. Rizal was read his death sentence on the 29 th of the mentioned month of December, 1896, the Chaplain of artillery and Commander Fresco and Moure were present with their two adjutants: Martin, Lieutenant of Infantry.

From that moment on, both of us, Lieutenant Martin and Gallegos, were on guard duty all the time Rizal was in Chapel. Afterwards, both accompanied him to Bagumbayan up to the minute his corpse was delivered to be brought to Paco cemetery. There were also other three soldiers of the Artillery Corps as sentries in Fort Santiago, but they were being relieved every six hours. I, on the other hand, could see and hear the greater part of the facts that happened within the last twenty-four hours of Doctor Rizal; and I resolutely state that I witnessed his conversion to the Catholic faith and the clear testimony he gave of it. And, in order to avoid any objection which later on could be raised against my testimony, I wish the following facts, of which I was an eyewitness on account of being present when they took place, to be recorded in an authentic and dependable way: 1. ---Doctor Rizal wrote and signed a document of retraction and profession of Catholic faith, which officers Fresno and Moure also signed as witnesses.

4. Reverend LUIS VIZA Y MARTI S. J, the priest who brought to Rizal the statuette of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which became a providential instrument of God’s grace in the conversion of Rizal. In the NOTARIAL ACT signed by this priest in the city of Manresa, Spain, May of the Illustrious College of Barcelona, (Notarial Act No. 337, duly legalized by Harris N. Cookingham, Vice-Consul of the United States of America, in Bardelona, Spain)he declared and testified to the following details.

Towards the end of December, 1896, (and since 1891), I was in Manila. On the twenty-ninth of the same month of December of that year, at about six o’clock in the morning, I went with Father Miguel Saderra y Mata, Rector at the time of the Ateneo Municipal, to the Royal Fort Santiago, with the purpose of giving spiritual help to Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonzo. When we arrived, they were reading to him the death sentence. Hence, we waited in the room of Banners. Then the Reverend Chaplain of the Artillery Corps of the Fort, now dead, came and told us that Dr. Rizal, after the reading was finished, his professors of old, (literal words) be called. He was told that they were already there. Once he was transferred to the chapel, we proceed to it, in the company of the Chaplain.

5. Don PACIANO RIZAL, brother of Dr. Jose Rizal, and Dona TEODORA ALONSO Y QUINTOS, mother of our National Hero. We avow that we cannot present any direct proof in favour of Rizal’s conversation and retraction from Don Paciano Rizal and Dona Teodora Alonso. But there is a valuable indirect proof. The editorial House MAUCCI (Barcelona) ---published three editions of Rizal’s NOLI ME TANGERE, all of them with a brief biographical account, in the three editions, it is said:

Mark well: it is not said: Rizal was accompanied. “But” was assisted. “The phrase o be assisted by some priest applied to a man given the spiritual ministrations proper to such cases. Hence, the lines quoted above convey the idea that Rizal accepted the priestly service rendered to him in his last hour. They imply his conversation to the Catholic errors, if not in writing, at least in his heart:

And this idea is confirmed in the paragraph quoted, by the words the married. ” As these words could mean only a conical marriage, the biographical account included in the Noli Me Tangere published by the Editorial MAUCCI of Barcelona, takes for granted Rizal’s conversion, ad mentions his marriage in the Catholic Church. And now, let us read the following letter published at the end of the second edition of the book where that biographical accounts is written.

FILIPINO COMMITTEE Hongkong, May 2, 1903 Sr. Maucci My Dear Sir: I have the satisfaction, in the name of my respectable mother and my own name, to congratulate your Editorial House for the beautiful and complete edition, of my late brother Jose novel Noli Me Tangere which it has published. Wherefore, we as the only owners of all the works of my brother, grant you the authorization, It is to be understood to your House alone is granted the right to publish the NOLI ME TANGERE and EL FILIBUSTERISMO, its follow-up; and all editions not carrying our authorization can be prosecuted. With this occasion I have the pleasure to assure you of my science respect and good will, and I remain. Yours truly PACIANO RIZAL

6. A SISTER OF DR. JOSE RIZAL We do not know exactly who she was. Most probably, we think, she was the one who accompanied Josephine Bracken to the Chapel cell at midnight of December the twenty-ninth, or in the morning of December the thirtieth; i. e NARCISA, according to Captain Rafal Dominguez y Garcia, Judge Advocate in Rizal’s trial: LUCIA, according to the Rizalist and historian Austin craig; or JOSEFA, according to Dr. Rafael Palma. Whoever accompanied Josephine to Fort Santiago, certainly could have learned of her brother’s conversation and retraction, either from Father Luis Viza y Marti. S. J at the midnight of from Father Vicente Balaguer Llacer’ S. j in the morning before Rizal’s execution

And, as matter of fact, according to Don Felix Murugarren, the Manila correspondent of the Madrid paper, El Siglo Fuluro, it was a sister of Dr. Jose Rizal who gave him the news about the conversion and retraction of the glorious convict. It was his same news he sent by cable to Madrid that was published in El Siglo Furturo soon after Rizal’s execution.

7. Mrs. Jose Rizal, nee, JOSEPHINE BRACKEN TAUFER Father g Spada, a member of the Milan Foreign Mission Society, and Vicar General of Hongkong, attented the widow of Dr. Rizal. Josephine Bracken in her last illness in St. Francis Hospital since she had come to live as the Italian Convert in Hongkong Shortly after Rizal’s death. Father Spada ministered the last Sacraments to Josephine, who died very peacefully. The Very Reverend Father gave her body a first class burial in the Hongkong Catholic cemetery.

But what is most pertinent to our case is the statement made in the form of an AFFIDAVIT by Father Spada, what he had learned from the unfortunate Josephine concerning the conversation of Dr. Rizal. We here include a facsimile of Father Spada’s affidavit bearing his signature and those of two witnesses from an untouched photograph made by Father Eugene Giesel. S. J. The first statement refers to a fact often repeated “by Mrs. Jose Rizal viz: DR. RIZAL CERTAINLY DIED A CATHOLIC.

8. His Excellency MANUEL LUENGO, CIVIL GOVERNOR OF Manila at the time of Rizal’s death. According to the notes taken in the prison cell of Rizal on December 29, 1896 by Captain Rafael Dominguez y Garcia, Judge Advocate of Rizal’s trial, one of the illustrations persons who visited Rizal that day was the Civil Governor, who at that time was His Excellency Manuel Luengo. In a letter written by this gentleman to Don Gonzalo M. Pinanay de Areue, a resident of Madrid. Villalar Street 3, (the author of the book so often quoted here: Murio el Dr. Rizal Christianamante? He asserts the fact that he saw Rizal in chapel. He manifest his conviction that Rizal died as a true Christian, although he does not give the details of his visit to

9. Very Reverend Joaquin Vilallonga. S. J A professor of the Ateneo de Manila at the time of Rizal’s death. Father Vilallonga, Former Rector of the Ateneo de Manila and afterwards superior of Jesuit mission in India, who turned to the Philippine’s on June 14, 1949, to spend the rest of his life in the heroic task of ministering to the patients of our Leper Colony in Culion. On his arrival in Manila, the eighty-one-year old Jesuit found the old topic of Rizal’s conversion heatedly discussed again on the occasion of the publication of Palma’s book. Ftaher Vilallonga who “saw Dr. Jose Rizal crossing the Malecon Drive (now Bonifacio Drive) towards Bagumbayan when he was to be executed, ” wondered that “there could still be some persons doubting the conbversion of Dr. Jose Rizal. ”

In an interview released to the press on the occasion of the eighty-eight anniversary of Rizal’s birthday, June 19, 1949, the venerable priest said: “Jose Rizal retracted his affiliation with Masonry and returned to embraced Catholicism a little before his execution in the old Luneta on December 30, 1986. In confirmation of this statement in he cited three Jesuits who, according to him, were eyewitness of the retraction: Father Luiz Viza, Fther Vicente Balaguer, and Father of Jose Vilaclara, who are now dead: (Cf. our Appendix 3)

“When I was scholastic of twenty-four-years of age, I learned from the professors of Dr. Jose Rizal that he was considered as a model among his classmates in ld. Ateneo Municipal de Manila. ” Father Vilallonga recalled Dr. Rizal’s work Junto al Pasig, which by that time received public acknowledgement and applause. “Rizal, ” he said “played an important role in the dramatization of the scene, based on his poem. ” He affirmed that Dr. Rizal was a model of sodalist of the CONGREGACION MARIANA. He recalled many details of Rizal’s life, especially the great esteem that Father Francisco Sanchez Viallonga himself, had for his “dear Pepito Rizal. ” Whom Father Sanchezs glad to meet again in Dapitan.

After Jesuit friends, among them Father Luis Viza, visited Rizal before his death. “I remember when Father Viza went to see me personally asking for a medal of Our Lady with a ribbon that also the lists were won’t to use. ” Fathe Vilallonga continues: “still more, Father Viza brought with him that medal in one of his visits to Rizal, as well as a little statue of the Sacred Heart, ” the obne carved by Rizal himself in his college days. “When Father Viza returned, he told me that at the sight of the image of the Sacred Heart, Rizal could hardly stop his tears, and felt deeply moved, ” affirmed Father Vilallonga. But the person who played on the top most important roles in the drama of Rizal’s lasts hours was Father Vicente Balaguer, S. J. , as well as Father Jose Vilaclara, S. J. Both remained with the convict the whole night until the lasts minutes before Rizal went out of Fort Santiago. Father Balaguer suggested a formula for the retraction, supplied and approved by the Archbishop of Manila, Most Rev. Bernardino Nozaleda, O. P. Rizal found some points in the formula he could not once agree with. Father Balaguer proposed then to make some corrections. A final and amended formula was prepared by Rizal in his own handwriting.

After Rizal had signed the formula of his retraction, Father Balaguer returned to the Ateneo and we were all informed of the events. We were consoled and went to the chapel and give thanks to God for the great mercy He had shown towards one of our dear alumni. And Father Vilallonga concludes saying: Finally, I want to make a formal and solemn and declaration that whatever I said about Doctor Rizal is the truth. 1932 Date: December 30, Shortly after the arrival of Mrs. Jose Rizal (the former Miss Josefina Bracken), in Hongkong I was in a position to know and to speak with her, especially during the time she lived with the Italian Sisters.

During those years, we often spoke of her husband especially the position of honor and respect in which he was held by his fellow countrymen. On many occasions, too, we discussed the last hours of Dr. Rizal. It was during those conversations that I learned from the wife of the deceased the following: 1. Dr. Rizal certainly died a Catholic, a fact often repeated. 2. Before Rizal was lead to face the firing squad, he married Josefina according to the rites of the Catholic Church. 3. Dr. Rizal told his wife that he had confessed and that he had Holy Communion. These three declarations I personally heard from the lips of Mrs. Rizal.

10. MR. MARIANO DE YCAZA, a student of the ateneo de Manila at the time of Rizal's death. His reminiscence of his life as a young student at that time of Rizal's conversion are blurred with accuracies in names and other details, which, however, can be easily explained as natural sleeps of the memory after a lapse of more than half of a century. In a certain way, his inaccuracies prove that his testimony has not been borrowed from any written account of those events, hence, is entirely independent of the attestations we have been quoting until now. Neverthless, his narrations, substantially agree with what has been testified by the other eye witnesses. Hence, Mr. M. De Ycaza's testimony has at least the value of a confirmation of the substance of the accounts rendered with other naturally more reliable witnesses. Mr. Ycaza wrote a letter to the Editor of the Sentinel, which was

Editor THE SENTINEL 920 Lepanto Manila, Philippines Islands Dear Sir: I hold for diplomas form the Ateneo, the Jesuii College in Manila, and was a student there. When Dr. Rizal was put to death on December 30, 1896.

The day Rizal was shot. I was going to the infirmary of the Ateneo to take some medicine, and from the window which faced the Malecon, I saw Dr. Rizal being taken from Fort Santiago through the Malecon to be made a martir. The next day or so. I remember that my teacher, Father Francisco Sanchez, who had been the favorite teacher of Dr. Rizal a few years before in the same college, told us that Rizal had been a freemason and that he had re-entered the Catholic faith be

Father Francisco told us that it happened as follows: Jose Rizal while a student at the Ateneo de Manila, was very handy at carving with his pen-knife and before he graduated he carved from a piece of wood a little statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and gave it to his favorite teacher, Father Sanchez, for a souvenir, which Father Sanchez kept with great joy. Father Sanchez, upon hearing that Dr. Rizal was prisoner at Fort Santiago and knowing that Rizal was a freemason, went to call on him and took a little statue of the Blesses Virgin Mary which Rizal had carved out of wood and had given to Father Sanchez a few years before.

They conversed together, and Father Sanchez asked Rizal if he wanted to reenter if he wanted to reenter the Catholic faith and showed him the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and asked him if he remembered it. Upon seeing this statue which he had carved, Rizal broke down and decided to give up Masonry and reentered the Catholic faith. Afterwards, Father Sanchez heard his confession and gave him Holy Communion before he was taken to be made a martyr. This the truth and you can published it if you think it will do any good, as I think hope it will. Sincerely Yours, MARIANO DE YCAZA 229 South Geneva St.

Evidently, the name of Father Sanchez is here at times mistakenly placed for that Father Viza or Father Vilaclara. And the statue alluded to was not of the Blessed Virgin but of the Sacred Heari o Jesus, although it may be through that there was in the prison-chapel an image of the Blessed mother, which was taken there from the College of the Jesuits, and to which Rizal was very devoted in his boyhood. It is sure that an image of the Blessed Virgin was placed in the altar of the prison chapel that day.

11. Don ISABELO DE LOS REYES, Political prisoner in Manila at the time of Rizal's execution; at that time hearty anti-friar, and afterwards co-founder of Aglipayanism. In the booklet entitled: La Sensacional Memoria Isabelo de los Reyes sobre La Revolucion Filipina de 1896 -97. ( With a prologue by the president of the ASSOCIATION HISPANOFILIPINA, Don Miguel Morayta, Grand-Master of Spanish Freemansonry), published in Madrid, (1899), on page 124, the author Don Isabelo de los Reyes, tries to show that his alleged retraction made in the prison cell of Montjuich Castle (1897) had no value at all. He says:

If it were true (that I made a retraction), I would have no difficulty in saying it, citing the examples of RIZAL the Luna brothers, almost all those shot and imprison; in order to prove that there are fatal moments in which an immense misfortunate prevails overall the fortitude of the most courageous man. . .

In this words, Don Isabelo de los Reyes takes for granted, without any trace of doubt, that RIZAL the Luna brothers, and almost all those prisoners that were imprison with him, at the time when Rizal was also executed, DID MAKE THEIR RETRACTION. And Don Isabelo was Rizal's friend in his enthusiastic admirer, a rabid anti-friar then. And afterwards, the most outstanding pillar of Aglipayanism. And in the same booklet, full of bitterness against "friarism" in the Philippines, Don Isabelo de los Reyes affirms that Rizal made his retraction.

12. Very Reverend Father SERAPIO TAMAYO, O. P, a contemporary of Rizal and, of late, Rector the University of Santo Tomas. Father Pio, p, S. J. , published many years ago a pamphlet explaining in detail all concerned the conversion of Rizal and the abjuration of his errors against the Catholic Church. The Jesuit Father took a very active part in that affair in where the confidants of the former student iof the Ateneo. Father Faura and Rosuell visited frequently in the prison chapel and two Jesuits accompanied him to the field of the old Luneta and assisted him in his last moments. All this was public and generally talked of in Manila. We know a detail which perhaps has been already published. The Archbishop most Reverend Bernardino Nozaleda composed a formula of abjuration and retraction which the Jesuit Father brought to be signed by Dr. Rizal who was already in the prison chapel, since he had shown to his confessor that desire of making the retraction.

So, So much that to deny the authenticity of Rizal’s abjuration of Masonry and of his errors against the church , even if the autograph had not been found, would be tantamount to undermine the foundation of the most authentic historical event. While Dr. Rizal was in the prison chapel, two Dominician fathers went to visit, one of them Father Arias, who knew him while he was a student in the University of Santo Tomas. In the archives of the diocese, Father Gracia found in the same bundled of lose papers tied together, entitled MASONRY, the abjuration of many prominent Filipinos, who were distinguish in the revolution against Spain.

13. Don FELIPE G. CALDERON, the great Filipino patriot, contemporary of Rizal. The author of Vida y Escretos del Doctor Rizal, Don Wenseslao Ratana, in the article “La Conversion de Rizal” published in the El Renasemiento especial edition of Tuesday, December 29, 1908. Although Retana seems not to share in Calderon’s beliefs, it is beyond doubt that the great patriot Felipe G. Calderon, a prisoner himself like Rizal during the days of the revolution, believe that Dr. Jose Rizal was sincerely converted to the Catholic faith and hence, retracted his religious errors.

14. WITNESS FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE In Manila at the time of Rizal Execution. On May 19, 1950, the author of this book had the opportunity to interview a venerable a seventy-eightyear old widow, who had been married in Intramuros in 1899, and who was living in Manila when Rizal was executed. Confidentially she told me that, in her Christian home, prayers were offered up for Rizal’s Conversion while he was in prison, in that on the day of Rizal execution they learned the news of his conversion and retraction she even remembered that Rizal did not accept a formula proposed to him, but preferred to draw one of his own. In July 27, 1952, in upon Rizal province I met a good old man (born in 1859) studied in the Ateneo de Manila and was acquainted there with “Pepe” Rizal, and later became closely related with Rizal family. He assured me that on those fateful days when Rizal’s death took place he heard in many person of Manila that Rizal had been converted, in from none he heard any remark of doubts against this fact.

Out of this modesty, this two Filipino witnesses from among the people prefer to keep their names out of print, nor does it seem necessary to published them. Their testimony y is a mere instance taken at random, out of many others, to show that was the common voice and the public opinion in those days.

THANK YOU! Reporters: Jennifer O. Anoche Thaliah Aira Biona Melca Alejandro Mary Jane Bulaclac BSED-English 1 A