Mindanao State University

College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Marawi City 9700, Philippines

HISTORY DEPARTMENT

GEC 109- LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL

MODULE 4: REMEMBERING RIZAL

Learning Outcomes

1. Trace the origins of the Rizalistas as a millenarian movement and its relevance to nationalism

2. Redefine the Rizalistas as part of the holistic religious consciousness of the Filipinos

3. Explain the influenced of the Rizalistas in defining Jose Rizal as a national hero

CONTENT

Millenarian

Strictly speaking, millenarian is a religious movement that expect salvation to come very soon in this world. The word comes

from the Christian belief, taken from the book of Revelation that speaks of a coming millennium or golden age of a thousand years.
In the last century with the emphasis in considered to be Christian countries millenarian movement became a popular uproar as

individuals emerged and believed to be celestial beings tried to make their paradise on earth. Philippine millenarian movements’

tendencies developed during the Spanish Regime when the natives are desperate to find hope in the cycle of racial discrimination

and other perennial problems. It is also influenced by three distinct religious traditions in the Philippines that can explain Filipino

religious psychology, such as Roman Catholicism, American Protestantism and Filipino Anitism. The mentioned religious

traditions had their distinct marks in Philippine history most especially with Anitism which is define as the converges of beliefs and

practices related to “anito”, “nono” or the spirit of the dead parents/ ancestors which is the core of Filipino religious culture then

Catholicism whose long influence in the country paved the way of the creation of what is referred to as Folk Christianity. It refers

to a religious organization that is local in origin and maintaining itself as an indigenous unit. These conform the formation of a

religious psyche that is indigenous to the Filipinos.

Origin of Rizalistas

The Rizalistas believe in Jove Rex Al, the Latin translation of the name Jose Rizal means the “God King of All” which was

a title given originally to Jesus Christ. Thus Jose Rizal was given the title as the Kristong Tagalog (Tagalog Christ), Kristong

Kayumanggi (Brown Christ), and Kristong Oryental (Christ in the Orient) by this group of people who claimed he was the new

messiah. Yet they are also given another name, the Rizal cults. However, Dr. Floro Quiboyen argued that the Rizalista groups
 are not cults if the word cult is merely defined as great devotion to a person or idea, object, movement or work. Accordingly,

it is a syncretism of three Filipino traditions— Indigenous, Catholic and Nationalistic.

Rizal’s Life Parallelism to Jesus Christ

✓
Both were born in an empire, were born of despised race and were put to death by friars.

✓
Rizal's travels abroad separation from loved ones and family like Jesus Christ separation from his family as well when he started

to preach; Rizal did not die at Luneta Spaniards shoot a look-alike Rizal is having tea in another part of town Spaniards bury a

banana trunk somehow alike in the resurrection of Christ after his death.

✓
Both were Asians, advocated the equality of all human beings, were born in a small country under a foreign rule, performed

miracles, and healed people.

These are some of the groups/movements in the Philippines were forged to venerate the sacrifices of Dr. Jose Rizal:

1. Knights of Rizal – an organization consisting of different professionals that considered Rizal to be the greatest Filipino hero.

2. Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church) – Religious sect founded in 1902 as a result of the schism from the
Catholic Church. It canonized Rizal as one of their saints.
3. Sambahang Rizal – Founded by Atty. Basilio Aromin in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija in 1918.This religious sect believed that Rizal
was sent by Bathala to redeem his race and people and acted like Christ in sacrificing his life to save the Filipinos.

4. Bathalismo (Inang Mahiwaga) – Founded by Venancio P. Wagan. This ect believed that the last days of the Tagalog
civilization commenced right after the Spanish Colonialism in the Philippines.

5. Adarnista / Iglesiang Pilipina - Founded by Candida Balantac in Bangar, La Union in 1901. This sect believed that Rizal is a
god of the Filipino people and Rizal was not really executed as popularly claimed by historians.

6. Iglesia Sagrada Filipina – Founded by Purificacion and Severo Aviela in 1926 in Candelaria, Quezon. This sect believed that
Rizal was a second Christ and Mt. Banahaw is the new Jerusalem.

7. Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi – Organized by Jose B. Baricanosa in 1914 in Masbate. Baricanosa argued that the “mysterious
voice” of Rizal commanding his fellowmen was the primary force that established the sect.

8. Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association (PBMA)- Founded by Ruben Ecleo Sr on 1965 and concentrated today in the
Province of Dinagat Islands.

9. Kingdom of God- Founded by Felimon Reambonanza on 1982, today they are situated closely in Rizal’s property in Dapitan.

10. Iglesias a Dios Espiritu Santo- Founded on 1953 by Felix Melgar, their first church and founder’s home is found in Ozamis
City but the headquarter of the group is now in Valencia City.
Rizalistas as a Nationalist
The Rizalistas see their devotion to Rizal as one of the manifestations of love for their country. Most Rizalistas honor Rizal not

just as their messiah but someone who showed the highest nationalistic sentiments to Philippines. For them, Rizal gave up his life to

give Philippines the salvation from the oppressors and living the ideals of Rizal is the perfect way to revere him. Also his novels Noli

Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are believed to have reflected the teachings of Jose Rizal.

Guide Questions

1. What is a Rizalista? Is it a cult or a product of Filipino religious consciousness?

2. Why Jose Rizal was chosen as the messiah after his death?

3. How these groups continued to exist in the present?

References:

Foronda, Marcelino. Cults Honoring Rizal. Historical Bulletin 50th Anniversary Issues. Manila: National Historical Institute,
Manila, pp 46-79.

Abecia, Zizzle Dawn M. “Rizalistas in Mindanao: A Comparative Study (1957-2017)”. Master’s Thesis, Mindanao State
University, 2018.