Rizal’s Retraction and Execution

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, events, documents, and issues related to Jose Rizal’s execution and the controversy surrounding his alleged retraction.

Jose Rizal

Filipino patriot, physician, and writer executed on 30 December 1896 for rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy.

Fort Santiago

Spanish garrison in Intramuros where Jose Rizal was imprisoned from 3 November to 29 December 1896.

Bagumbayan (Luneta)

Field outside Intramuros, now Rizal Park, where Rizal was executed at 7:03 a.m. on 30 December 1896.

Noli Me Tangere (1887)

Rizal’s first novel exposing abuses of Spanish friars; cited as evidence of sedition at his trial.

El Filibusterismo (1891)

Rizal’s second novel portraying a darker, revolutionary outlook against colonial rule.

La Solidaridad

Propaganda-movement newspaper (1889-1895) in which Rizal published reformist essays.

La Liga Filipina

Reformist civic organization founded by Rizal in 1892; Spanish authorities used its creation to prove conspiracy.

Mi Último Adiós

Rizal’s final poem of 14 stanzas, hidden in an alcohol stove and discovered after his death.

Retraction Document

Controversial statement dated 29 December 1896 in which Rizal purportedly renounced Masonry and anti-Catholic views.

Masonry (Freemasonry)

Fraternal organization condemned by the Spanish Church; Rizal was a member and allegedly abjured it in his retraction.

Fr. Vicente Balaguer, S.J.

Jesuit priest who claimed to have drafted and witnessed Rizal’s retraction and marriage to Josephine Bracken.

Fr. Federico Faura, S.J.

Jesuit who foretold Rizal would “lose his head” for his writings; visited him at 9 a.m. on 29 December 1896.

Cuerpo de Vigilancia

Spanish colonial intelligence corps formed in 1895; its agent recorded Rizal’s supposed signing of the retraction.

Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M.

Vincentian priest who announced discovery of an “original” retraction copy in 1935.

Fr. Pío Pi, S.J.

Jesuit superior who instructed priests to persuade Rizal to retract his anti-Catholic ideas.

Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda

Manila prelate who directed Jesuits to provide Rizal with spiritual care and seek his recantation.

30 December 1896

Date of Rizal’s execution and alleged marriage, confession, mass attendance, and last letters.

Capt. Rafael Dominguez

Judge-advocate who read Rizal’s death sentence at 6:00 a.m. on 29 December 1896.

Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade

Rizal’s Spanish defense counsel who accompanied him during final hours and death march.

Josephine Bracken

Irish-born companion of Rizal; reputedly married him on the morning of his execution.

Sacred Heart Statuette

Small wooden carving Rizal made at Ateneo; requested from Fr. Viza shortly before death.

Paco Cemetery

Hidden burial site where Rizal’s body was interred secretly and located by sister Narcisa.

Rizal National Monument

Memorial inaugurated on 30 December 1913 at Luneta Park, housing remains transferred from Paco.

Reasons for Retraction

Scholars list three—salvation (sincere), forced (to marry or protect family), or forged (falsified document).

Balaguer Testimony

Single eyewitness claim about the drafting and signing of Rizal’s retraction, often questioned for bias.

Federico Moreno Report

Cuerpo de Vigilancia account (published 2016) noting Rizal’s confession, mass attendance, and presumed retraction.

Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity

Catholic prayers Rizal reportedly read after signing the retraction letter.

Intramuros

Walled city of Manila; starting point of Rizal’s death march via Postigo Gate to Bagumbayan.

Postigo Gate

Southern gate of Intramuros through which Rizal exited en route to execution.

Bonifacio Drive (Malecon)

Bayside road along which Rizal’s procession passed on 30 December 1896.

Fr. Estanislao March, S.J.

Jesuit confessor who visited Rizal several times during his last 24 hours.

Fr. José Vilaclara, S.J.

Jesuit who accompanied Rizal in the death march and ministered to him in prison.

Retraction Controversy

Ongoing debate over the authenticity, motives, and multiple versions of Rizal’s recantation statement.

La Voz Española

Manila newspaper that published a Spanish-language text of the retraction on 30 December 1896.

La Juventud (Barcelona)

Magazine that printed Fr. Balaguer’s “exact” copy of the retraction on 14 February 1897.

Roman Roque

Typesetter alleged to have forged Rizal’s signature on a retraction copy, according to later stories.

Lazaro Segovia

Spanish officer sometimes named as mastermind behind an alleged forgery of Rizal’s retraction.

“Consummatum est!”

Latin for “It is finished”; words shouted by Rizal seconds before the firing squad’s volley.

“Fuego!”

Spanish command meaning “Fire!” given by the captain to the firing squad at 7:03 a.m.

Katipunan

Secret revolutionary society whose uprising in 1896 was linked by Spanish authorities to Rizal’s writings.