By Rado Gatchalian, KOR

“Non Omnis Moriar.

Not Everything in Me will Die.
Hindi ang Lahat sa Akin ay Papanaw.”
Why are You Joining the
Order of the Knights of Rizal?
By Rado Gatchalian, KOR
Eastern Australia Area Deputy Commander, OKOR ANZO Region
Archivist, KOR - Northern Sydney Chapter
(Disclaimer: This is a personal sentiment and opinion of the writer, and it doesn’t necessarily
mean the same stand of the Order or his own Chapter/Region)
* First published in “Rizaliana Corner: A Rizalist Reflection,” a Facebook page, 30 April 2023.

This is a brotherly reminder to

everyone. Cognizant of the fact
that everyone has a unique
journey, I am still respectful that
my personal purpose of joining is
different from yours.

However, in general terms, these

are my highest expectations of
why you are joining.

1. You really want to join,

genuinely. You join out of your
will and NOT BECAUSE OF PEER
PRESSURE. You know your
intention and purpose. If you
have a clean intention, you will
have a clean direction in your
Rizalian journey. A Knight is
expected to be a man of honesty
and integrity. I know we are not
perfect — but as a minimum
requirement you are joining
because you want to help and
support WHOLEHEARTEDLY our brothers, our community, our fellow human beings. You are
joining NOT BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSONAL AGENDA of fame and personal glory and merit.

2. You are a true follower of Rizal, from the start and even before you join the Order. You
have read the life and works of Rizal. You are joining this Order - and after your name will be
the name of Rizal. You will be called “Sir.” Take this with highest respect and honor — and
more importantly with duty. For me, being a Knight is sacred. Becoming one is not a simple
joke. Becoming one is a prestige, but more so, a duty.
3. You love our Motherland, the Philippines. This is the core of becoming one. For non-
Filipinos: this is fine, for as long as you have innate desire to learn about the Philippines, our
culture and history. But generally, for Filipinos who are Knights yet have no genuine love for
our country, then, this Order is not for you.

4. You have an innate passion for culture, history, and literature. As Knights, you shall have a
passion for LEARNING. You will read, read a lot. Read the life and works of Rizal. Read history.
Knowledge is power, and this is our best weapon as a Knight.

5. You want to make a difference in the world, in humanity. In your own capacity, big or small,
you want to contribute to the positive change of our society. It doesn’t have to be big. Start
with your family and circles of friends. Be a model. Behave like a gentleman, then, you
become a great ambassador of the Order.

6. You want to improve yourself. This Order will be a great opportunity for self-development
and improvement of your public speaking and leadership skills. When you become a Knight,
you become a better person. When you have become a better man because you learn from
the Order, then, the Order has achieved its main purpose of existence.

7. You join because you can give something to the Order. It’s not just because the Order “gives
you something,” it’s more so because “You have something to give to the Order.” You can
give your talents, skills, support, and time. Know who you are, and you will know what you
can give. And you can only give what you have.

8. You are joining a BROTHERHOOD. You are joining because you want to become part of this
illustrious brotherhood that cherishes respect and support for one another. You are joining
because you are ready “to love and respect” your fellow Knights. We are united not just in
our titles, but more so, because “we love one another and stand as one Brothers, through
the inspiration of our Great Brother, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.”

REFLECTION:
How about you? Why are you joining the Order of the Knights of Rizal? What can you give
and offer to this organisation? What are your expectations in joining this Order?
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Date: ______________________________________
 WHO IS RADO GATCHALIAN?
Before moving to Australia, Rado Gatchalian,
on his early 20’s, was a college instructor,
guidance counsellor, and head of the
Community Outreach Centre of two
universities in the Philippines in his
Pangasinan province, namely, University of
Luzon and Urdaneta City University. He
taught Philosophy, Psychology, Humanities,
and other Social Science subjects, including
The Life and Works of Rizal. A licensed
Philippine Professional Secondary School
teacher major in Values Education. During
his college days, he was a working student, a
student leader (President of Liberal Arts
Students Council), and a campus journalist.
A graduate of Bachelor of Arts major in
Philosophy and Psychology at University of
Luzon, Dagupan City, Philippines.

Currently, he works at Aristocrat

Technologies Australia in its Finance/Payroll
Department. But here in Australia, Rado
Gatchalian is known for his extra-curricular
community works as a community leader and volunteer, radio host, columnist, poet, and blogger. As such, he
was the Past Vice-President External of the Philippine Community Council of New South Wales in 2019, currently
the President of One Pangasinan Association of Australia and VP External of Tagalog Association of Australia,
radio co-host and resident-poet of Radio Tagumpay, contributor of Radio Rizal, columnist at the Philippine
Community Herald Newspaper, and contributor at The Philippine Times (Melbourne) and Bayanihan News. He
has published articles, including his essays on Rizal, at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a leading newspaper in the
Philippines. As a blogger, he has interviewed the late F Sionil Jose, National Artist for Literature, Pilita Corrales,
Asia’s Queen of Songs, and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, formerly the Speaker of the Upper and Lower Houses.

He is a Dale Carnegie Sydney graduate of Effective Communication and has a Post-Graduate Certificate in
Professional Development at Charles Sturt University, Australia.

A passionate Rizalist which includes his numerous writings, poetry, and global social media projects on Rizal, and
two Facebook pages centred on Rizal namely “Tula’t Panulat Para Kay Rizal” and “Rizaliana Corner: A Rizalist
Reflection.”

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney and Sentro Rizal Sydney describe Rado as a scholar of Rizal. He was
dubbed as a “modern commentator” by the international author Philip Bowring in his book, “The Making of
Modern Philippines,” published in 2022. In Sydney, Rado is well known for his advocacy to embrace and use our
Filipino language, through his poetry, and to continue to love our Motherland, the Philippines. To pursue this,
he has a dedicated Facebook group/page known as “The FILOsopher.” In July 2022, he was invited by the
University of Sydney through its Sydney Southeast Asia Centre as one of the panel speakers via webinar on
Philippine Presidential Election 2022.

Sir Rado Gatchalian, KOR, is the incumbent Deputy Area Commander of Eastern Australia – KOR ANZO Region
and the Archivist of KOR Northern Sydney Chapter. In December 2022, he has dedicated to KOR ANZO Region a
PDF copy of his Rizal book “And When My Grave is Wholly Unremembered…” – A Collection of Speeches, Essays,
and Poems. On 30th December 2022, in commemoration of Rizal’s death anniversary, he gave the Rizaliana both
in Campbelltown and Rooty Hill, and his articles/essays were read as Rizaliana both at Ibero Plaza (near Central
train station) and Ashfield. Some of his works can be found in YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook where students
used and recited his poems on Rizal.