The life of Rizal was not always grand and perfect as to what the books often tell us. Ironically, Rizal’s greatness is secluded
by the many controversies surrounding his life. In the film, Bayaning third world, Rizal’s gray areas are discussed in detail four of which will be discussed in this paper.
Retraction letter First of this gray areas is the issue of whether Rizal retracted or not. It was told that Fr. Balaguer, a Spanish priest, released the relic which he claimed was written by Rizal. The retraction letter contains Rizal’s apologies and his withdrawal of the morbid ideas about the church and of the government of Spain in the Philippines which he has written in his novels. Questions about its authenticity started to spread and some critics say that basing it on the strokes of the letters and how it was constructed, it was believed that it really was made by Rizal. Although they said that the only controversy here is the
signature which they thought to be faked.Basing it on the evidences provided, I guess that it can be really true that Rizal did retract. But I believe that he didn’t put his signature in it because of his cleverness. Rizal is a genius, we all know that, and I believe that he only played even with the priest. He wanted to marry Josephine Bracken that is why he made the paper, although he might have thought that it may be disadvantageous to him if he will already sign the letter without the priest fulfilling his request for marriage. I also quote from what Rizal have said, that even if he put his signature, in the letter, nobody will recognize it to be true because people will just think that it is an attack made by the friars against Rizal. And that is where Rizal brilliantly displays his mastery. The retraction letter is used by Rizal as a license of marriage. He might have thought that nothing will be lost because even if he wrote the letter, the written words will not be able to overshadow what he really felt inside. Rizal, in the movie said; “kaya bang daigin ng sulat na iyan ang tunay na nilalaman ng puso’t isip ko?” That is why I believe that Rizal really retracted but his renunciation in his letter will never defeat the true love in him for his country.