Watwat
Watwat
Watwat
- has the greatest number of members and most prosperous among all sects honoring Rizal
3. To love the motherland and to respect and venerate the heroes of the race, especially the martyr of
Bagumbayan, Dr. Jose Rizal, to follow, to spread and support their right teachings
5. To serve the country with one's whole heart towards its order, progress, and peace
The teachings are based on the commands of the Holy Moses, Jesus Christ, and Dr. Jose Rizal culled from
his writings. Christians believe in the Trinity: the power of the Father is given to Moses, the power of the
Son to Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost to Dr. Jose Rizal. Jesus is embodied in Dr. Rizal,
hence, he was once a god and a man. He is not dead. In fact, according to the teachings of the sect, he is
physically and materially present in New Jerusalem which is presently hidden in the site extending from
Mt. Makiling to Mt. Banahaw.
It is unclear as to how the sect has been established especially when Jose Baricanosa once stated that it
was founded in Masbte in 1914 which later transferred to Pulong Ginto or Licherua in 1936. In another
instance, he said that Dr. Rizal is the leader and founder of the organization.
The sect also believed in a mysterious voice whom they claim to be Rizal's since he was the one who
established the organization and it is he who commands each member to do his duty. This holy voice led
to the growth of the organization, calling each memeber who eventually turned out to the lead the sect.
Presently, Baricanosa's estimate shows that there are over 100,000 members found in all parts of the
country.
Baricanosa once quoted, "According to the voice, the house of the Lord which has been constructed on
top of the mountains can be seen on Mt. Makiling before the town of Kalamba: from the said mountain
will spring up the new world and here shall be seen the New Jerusalem... After the Armageddon of the
new world."
The sacraments are similar to the Catholic church but must be taken with utmost caution. Baptism with
water aspersion is for infants only, while adults who are converted are sworn in before God, not
baptized. Confirmation is performed by bishops of the sect. Matrimony is performed according to rites
similar to the Catholic faith. There is no holy communion. Fabregar uses the Catholic missal (Missale
Romanium) when he says mass. However, other priests of the sect use missal in the vernacular dialect of
the region they serve. There is no confession in the sect. Holy orders are administered by Fabregar to
the seminarians.
Locations of the sect based on the participation during the Rizal day Celebration in Calamba on June 19,
1960:
Manila, Caloocan, Quezon City, Lupao, Guimba, Caranglan, Nueva Ecija, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Sta. Rosa
Laguna, Baler, Dipaculao, Aurora, Quezon, San Mateo, Callang, Isabela, Natividad, Asingan, Balungao,
Binalonan, Bautista, Rosales, Claveria, Daet, Camarines Norte and Sur, Albay, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Hierarchy:
The hierarchy of the sect may be divided into two sections; the officers of the organization who look
after the temporal welfare of the sec; and the bishops and priests who look after the spiritual needs of
their flock.
Of the first group, may be mentioned the following who forms the Supreme Council (Lupong
Pamunuan):
Members: Trinidad Banatin, Leandro Diasanta, Fr. Luis Fabrigar, Moises Canta, Herminigildo Ercia
These bishops, Fabregar pointed out, have been named by the Board of sectors of the sect, and are in
charge of the supervision of the thirty two priests of the sect.