REMEMBERING

RIZAL
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

▪ Evaluate Rizal’s heroism and importance in the

context of Rizalista groups.
▪ Discuss the history of selected Rizalista groups.
▪ Compare and contrast the different views on
Rizal among the Rizalistas.
REMEMBERING RIZAL
• Rizal’s execution on December 30, 1896 became
an important turning point in the history of the
Philippine Revolution. His death activated the full-
scale revolution that resulted in the declaration
of Philippine Independence in 1898. Under the
American colonial government, Rizal was
considered as one of the most important Filipino
heroes of the revolution and was declared as a
National Hero by the Taft Commission of 1901.
• A Rizal monument was built in every town and
December 30 was declared a national holiday to
commemorate his death and heroism. In some
provinces, men – most of whom were
professionals – organized and became members
of Caballeros de Rizal, now known as the Knights
of Rizal.
• Influenced by both the Roman Catholic and the
Pre-Hispanic spiritual culture, some Filipino
masses likewise founded organizations that
recognize Rizal not just as an important hero but
also as their savior from all the social ills that
plague the country. These groups, which can be
linked to the long history of millenarian
movements in the country, are widely known as
Rizalistas.
KEYWORDS
• Millenarian - groups-socio-political movement
who generally believe in the coming of a major
social transformation with the establishment of
the Kingdom of God.
• Rizalista - religious movement that believes in the
divinity of Jose Rizal.
• Canonizations - the act of declaring a dead
person as a saint.
KEYWORDS

• Jove Rex Al - the Latin name of Jose Rizal

according to Rizalistas; Jove means God; Rex
means King; and Al means All (thus, God, King of
all).
• Colorum - term used to refer to secret societies
that fought against the colonial government in
the Philippines.
RIZAL AS THE TAGALOG CHRIST
▪ In late 1898 and early 1899 revolutionary
newspapers “La Independencia” and “El Heraldo
de la Revolucion” reported about Filipinos
commemorating Rizal’s death in various towns in
the country.
▪ Batangas: tearfully wailing before a portrait of
Rizal
▪ Laguna: the lord of a kind of paradise in the heart
of Mount Makiling”
▪ The early 1900 then witnessed the founding of
different religious organizations honoring Rizal
“Filipino Jesus Christ”
▪ In 1907, Spanish writer and philosopher Miguel
de Unamuno gave Rizal the title “Tagalog
Christ,” as religious organizations venerating
him had been formed in different parts of the
Philippines (Iya,2012).
APOLINARIO DE LA CRUZ 1815-1841

• Founded the religious

confraternity
“Cofradia de San
Jose” and was also
considered as the
“Tagalog Christ” by
his followers.
FELIPE SALVADOR 1870-1912

• Felipe Salvador - also known

as Apo Ipe or Ápûng Ipê
Salvador, a Filipino
revolutionary who founded
themessianis society Santa
Iglesia (Holy Church), and
was called by his followers as
the “Filipino Christ” and the
“King of the Philippines.”
• Teachings and traditions of political movements
that were organized to fight the Spanish and
American colonial powers were rooted in
religious beliefs and practices. Those socio-
religious movements known as the millenarian
groups which aim to transform society are often
symbolized or represented by a hero or prophet.
• As Rizalistas have risen in some parts of the
country after his death in 1896, each group has its
own teachings, practices and celebrations, but one
common belief among them is the veneration of
Jose Rizal as a reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
• The Rizalistas believe that Rizal, just like Jesus
Christ, would eventually return to life and will
save mankind.
 THE CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
TRACING THE ROOTS OF RIZALLISTAS

The earliest record about Rizal being declared as a

saint is that of his canonization initiated by the
Philippine Independent Church or La Iglesia Filipina
Independiente .Founded on Aug 3,1902, the PIC
became a major religious sect with a number of
followers supporting its anti-friar and anti- imperialist
campaigns.As a nationalist religious institution, PIC
churches displayed Philippine flag in its altars as an
expression of their love of country and recognition of
heroes who fought for our independence.
THE CANONIZATION OF RIZAL:
TRACING THE ROOTS OF RIZALLISTAS

• The earliest record about Rizal being declared as

a saint is that of his canonization initiated by the
Philippine Independent Church or La Iglesia
Filipina Independiente. Founded on August 3,1902,
the PIC became a major religious sect with a
number of followers supporting its anti-friar and
anti-imperialist campaigns.
• As a nationalist religious institution, PIC churches
displayed Philippine flag in its altars as an expression
of their love of country and recognition of heroes
who fought for our independence.
• In 1903 PIC official organ published the “Acta de
Canonization de los Grandes Martires de la Patria Dr.
Rizal y PP. According to proceedings, the Council of
Bishops headed by Gregorio Aglipay met in Manila
Sept. 24,1903.
ISABELO DE LOS REYES 1864-1938

• A prominent Filipino politician,

writer and labor activist in the
19th and 20th centuries. He was
the original founder of the Iglesia
Filipina Independiente, an
independent Philippine national
church. He is now known as the
"Father of Philippine Folklore,"
the "Father of the Philippine
Labor Movement", and the
"Father of Filipino Socialism".
GREGORIO AGLIPAY 1860-1940

• He was a priest and

fervent Filipino patriot,
one of the leaders of the
revolution, who at the
same time led a schism
from the Roman Catholic
Church, and co-founded
the Philippine
Independent Church.
PAULINA CAROLINA MALAY
OBSERVATIONS
• Banal is a religious sect in Dulag, Barauen and Limon,
Leyte
• Pantay-pantay - a strange society called Rizalinos, walk
barefoot in a procession to Rizal’s monument and hold
a queer sort of a mass.
• A “colorum” sect in Tayabas, Quezon has built a chapel
for him at the foot of Bundok San Cristobal, better
known as Mt. Banahaw.
• A sect called Rizalina in Barrio Caluluan, Concepcion,
Tarlac even has a sort of nunnery for its priestesses.
GROUPS VENERATING
JOSE RIZAL
ADARNISTA OR THE IGLESIANG
PILIPINA SAMBAHANG RIZAL

• Founded by Candida Balantac of Ilocos Norte

whose followers believe that she was an
“engkantada” and claimed that a rainbow is
formed while she preached, giving her the title
“Inang Adarna,” and the organization’s name,
Adarnista.
SUPREMA DE LA IGLESIA DE LA
CIUDAD MISTICA DE DIOS INC.

• Founded by Maria Bernarda Balitaan, started the

spiritual missions in the early 1920s. For them,
Jesus Christ’s work is still unfinished and it will be
continued by Dr. Jose Rizal and the ”12 lights” of
the Philippines composed of 19th century
Philippine heroes. Today, this organization is the
biggest Rizalista group and is located at the foot
of Mt. Banahaw, Sta. Lucia, Dolores, Quezon.
IGLESIA WATAWAT NG LAHI

• Said to have been established by Philippine

national heroes and Arsenio de Guzman in 1911.
It was in this year that de Guzman started to
preach to the Filipino people that Rizal was the
“Christ,” and the “Messenger of God,” claiming
that God has chosen the Philippines to replace
Israel as his “New Kingdom.”
FREEMASONRY IN THE
PHILIPPINES

• A group of young Filipino students studying in

Spain who helped spread the movement rapidly in
Philippine circles: Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano
Lopez Jaena, Jose Alejandrino, Ariston Bautista,
Julio Llorente, Galicano Apacible, Antonio Luna,
and his brother Juan Luna, and Jose Rizal. Some
of these joined Solidaridad Lodge 53 in Barcelona,
Spain, and others joined Revolucion Lodge.
• Upon their return to the colony, many formed
lodges. On January 6, 1891, Nilad Lodge was
formed in Manila. Soon others followed
throughout the archipelago, even as far as
Zamboanga. In1893 these different lodges were
organized under the Grand Regional Council led
by Ambrocio Flores.
• Such was the influence of Freemasonry in the
public that even the organization Katipunan
adapted masonic secret ritual and codes.
AMBROCIO FLORES

The Filipinos
reorganized under
Grand Master
Ambrosio Flores
to establish the
Filipino Grand
Orient in 1899.
THE MASONIC LIFE OF JOSE RIZAL
• According to Filipino historian
Reynold Fajardo, in his book
“Dimasalang: The Masonic Life of
Dr. Jose Rizal,” Rizal was not only a
mason, he was the only one among
the leaders of the revolutionary
movement during the Spanish era
who “deserved to be called an
international Mason since he was a
member of various Masonic lodges
in Spain, Germany, France and
possibly, England.”
KNIGHTS OF RIZAL

• The Order of the

Knights of Rizal is the
sole order of
knighthood in the
Philippines. The Order
is created to honor and
uphold the ideals of
Philippine national hero
Jose Rizal.
• The insignia of the
Order is ranked
seventh in the Order
of Wear pursuant to
the Implementing
Rules and Regulations
of the Honor Code
of the Philippines.
HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS OF
RIZAL

• The Order was established in 1911 by Colonel

Antonio C. Torres, who later served as the first
Filipino Chief of Police of Manila.
• The Order was granted a legislative charter by
President Elpidio Quirino as a non-sectarian,
non-partisan, non-racial, civic, patriotic, and
cultural organization under Republic Act 646 on
June 14, 1951.