NATIONALISM

1. Who are the Rizalists?

Answer: Rizalists are the people who believes that Jose P. Rizal is the Tagalog Christ. These
people creates or members of religious organizations with Rizal as their God. Moreover, they
believe that Jose Rizal is the same with Jesus Christs, the son of God, which sent to the Earth to
save the Filipinos, dies and will resurrect to save the mankind.
2. What are the examples of groups that venerate Jose Rizal? Describe each group identity. Its
objectives/aims/goals.
Answer:
 Philippine Interdependent Church (PIC) or La Iglesia Filipina Independiente
The PIC is the first nationalist group that expressed their love for the country and raised
Philippine flags in their altars. They were first to stand Rizal’s statue in their altars and
make Rizal’s teachings as their basis of ideology.
 ADARNISTA the or the IGLESIANG PILIPINA
The ADARNISTA was founded in Bangar La Union by Candida Balantoc. Candida Balantoc
is the founder and known as the “Inang Adarna” of his religious association. The
Adarnista believes that Rizal is the God of Filipinos and they also believe that Rizal was
not executed as has been mentioned by the history. Moreover, they believe that
Bangabon, Nueva Ecija is the new Jerusalem and a cave in Bangabon is the dwelling
place of God. They conduct masses every Wednesday and Sunday. They also conduct
baptism, confirmation, marriage, confession, and special celebrations specially in Rizal’s
birthday and his death anniversary.
 SAMBAHANG RIZAL
The Sambahang Rizal was founded by Basilio Aromin in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija in 1918.
Sambahang Riza believed the Rizal was sent by Bathala to save the Filipino people. For
them, Jose Rizal is also the son of God just like Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the El
Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere serve as their bible where they get all of their
ideologies and teachings from. Their altars have flags and Rizal’s statues and similar to
the Catholic church, they perform masses, baptism, confirmation, marriages, and
ceremonies for the dead. Their lalawigan teacher is called guru who will preach to their
designated places while the founder Aromin is considered as the Pangulu Guru.
Unfortunately, they only have 7,000 followers in total in these days.
 IGLESIA WATAWAT ng LAHI
This religious organization has been founded by the Philippine National Heroes and
Arsenio de Guzman in 1911. Arsenio de Guzman started preaching people about Rizal
being the new Christ and being the messenger of God. Many believed in him and even
thought that Guzman was preaching with the spirit of Rizal inside him. He also
mentioned that the Philippines was selected as the “New Jerusalem”. The story behind
its founding is that a banal na tining or holy voice instructed Alcuran and Benedicto to
go to Lecheria Calamaba to look for Jovito Salgado and they find Salgado as well as met
Parabuac. The four of them listened to the banal na tining which told them to organize
the religious organization following Rizal’s teachings. Iglesia ng Lahi is on the lists of the
 biggest Rizalists group and the same with the other Rizalists groups, they do masses,
confirmations, baptisms and many more.
 SUPREMA de la IGLESIA de la CIUDAD MISTICA DIOS, Inc.
This organization was founded by Bernarda Balitaan in 1952. Ciudad Mistica is the
biggest Rizalists group today which is located in Sta. Lucia in Dolores, Quezon. The
leader of the organization is called SUPREMA which have the tasks in assisting, advising,
counselling, and resolving the conflicts of the members. Just like the other Rizalists
groups, this organization believes that God chosen the Philippines as the “New
Kingdom”. For the Ciudad Mistica, Jesus Christ is not yet done with his works and Dr.
Jose Rizal is continuing it. They believe in the similarity of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples
with Jose Rizal’s twelve lights. They believe that Jose Rizal is the Filipino father and the
Virgin Maria Bernarda is the Filipino mother. They have a lot of similarities with the
Catholic church, like holding masses, having prayers and chants. Lastly, they have special
celebrations for the birth and death of Jose Rizal as well as the death anniversaries of
the twelve lights.
3. Do you agree that Rizal is the Tagalog Christ? why?
ANSWER: I do not agree that Rizal is the Tagalog Christ because I believe that Jesus Christ is the
only son of God, no one else. I appreciate and admire Rizal’s sacrifices for the sovereignty of the
Philippines. I am aware of his sacrifices and good deeds as a national hero. His method is
exemplary and really something to be proud of. However, I believe that these facts are not
enough to justify the title of being the Tagalog Christ. Upon watching documentaries about him,
I believe that Rizal did many mistakes in the past as well. He was imperfect and sinful just like an
ordinary person which makes him more humane and no way near being comparable to Jesus
Christ.