Bracken and the Shameful Critics

The search for truth requires facts that are absolute by nature. It is a schema that does not end by
means of answering a problem but an unending process of providing answer/s to simultaneous inquiries
and questions. A shed of light itself, truth is necessary to fully understand things that are part of we are.
The movie, Bayaning Third World, has tackled various historical issues revolving around Jose
Rizal’s life including his last love interest Josephine Bracken. Josephine Bracken has been a center of
debate for historians particularly her participation in the years prior to Rizal’s execution. From how the
movie portrayed Josephine Bracken, she was a naïve woman who wanted to marry Rizal before his
execution because if not granted, she would end up as a woman of shame and disgrace. Bracken was also
rumored as a prostitute in Hong Kong before she and Rizal met while the latter was in exile. Some records
have also speculated that Bracken is a spy sent by the friars to manipulate Rizal back in Dapitan.
However, these claims remained as speculation not proven by any solid evidence.
Looking at it, it was a shame how Bracken was manifested in the movie. How Bracken helped
Rizal in his everyday endeavors while in exile was not given enough importance but instead it used the
conservative values and pointed out Josephine’s flaws for being a live-in partner of Rizal. The mere truth
that she was there when Rizal’s family wasn’t beside him was made obnoxious because they weren’t still
married but managed to live in same house together. This led me to think that Josephine is also a victim of
inappropriate judgement. He was like a wife to Rizal and obviously more than an ignorant house maid like
how the movie simply put it. Washing dishes and clothes, preparing meals, managing the house--it was
way more than that. Josephine Bracken acted and live as a wife and stayed with Rizal until his last breath.
It is justifiable for Bracken to demand for marriage because the society dictates it and she believes that
Rizal loves her dearly. Without the marriage, society will treat her differently like how Rizal’s family did.
Accepting the fact that Rizal will be dead, and she’ll be left with nothing only the dignity and respect of
people-- her only resort is the marriage. Her role in Rizal’s life was underestimated; worse is it was
questioned by standards imposed to us by colonialist.
After her supposed to be husband was executed, she was literally left with nothing. A lady living
in massive poverty and was accused as a spy by her lover’s family. And if she was indeed a spy, why
would she suffer that hard after an accomplished mission? Was it supposed to be the other way around?
Josephine having the things she wanted after working with the friars but no; the lady didn’t end up that
way. Bracken served in Cavite particularly in nursing wounded Katipuneros days after Rizal was executed.
She gave importance to the things her past lover fought for and despite being born on a different land she
understood the independence Filipinos were aiming for. Very far from how the movie conceptualized her
as a selfish, credit taker woman that mostly critics told so. Also, if Bracken was a prostitute does that mean
that she doesn’t deserve the love from Rizal? The baseless accusations didn’t stop them from being in love
and continued their peaceful life in Dapitan not until the revolution came.
Whether Bracken and Rizal was married or not before Rizal’s execution in Bagumbayan it must
be realized that Bracken’s role in Rizal’s life serves significance relative to Rizal’s accomplishment not
only in Dapitan but also in fostering nationalism among Filipinos. Nevertheless, she was the last woman
Rizal spent her last days with thus he loves Bracken even after death took them apart.

"Josephine, Who to these shores came, Searching for a home a nest, Like the wandering swallows, If your
fate guides you to Shanghai, China, or Japan, Forget not that on these shores a heart beats for you."