REMEMBERING RIZAL

Rizal’s execution on December 30,

1896 became an important turning
point in the history of Philippine
revolution.
His death activated the full-scale
revolution that resulted in the
declaration of Philippine
independence by 1898.
 REMEMBERING RIZAL
Under the American colonial government,
Rizal was considered as one of the most
important Filipino heroes of the revolution
and was even declared as the National
Hero by the Taft Commission, also called
the Philippine Commission of 1901.
A Rizal monument was built in every town
and December 30 was declared as a
national holiday to commemorate his
death and heroism .
 REMEMBERING RIZAL

In some provinces, men – most of

whom were professionals –
organized and became members
of Caballeros de Rizal, now
known as the Knights of Rizal.
 RIZALISTAS
Influenced by both the Roman Catholic
Church 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.
 RIZALISTAS

These organizations believe

that Rizal has a Latin name of
Jove Rex Al, which literally
means “ God, King of All “.
 RIZALISTAS
Millenarian groups – socio-political
movements who generally believe in
the coming of a major social
transformation with the establishment
of the kingdom of God.
Rizalista – a religious movement that
believes in the divinity of Jose Rizal.
 RIZALISTAS
Jove Rex Al – the Latin of Jose Rizal
according to the Rizalistas: Jove means
God; Rex means King; and Al means All (
Thus, God, King of all )
Colorum – a term used to refer to secret
societies that fought against the colonial
government in the Philippines
Canonization – the act of declaring a
dead person as a saint.
RIZAL AS THE TAGALOG “CHRIST”
In the 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.
RIZAL AS THE TAGALOG “CHRIST”
In Batangas, for example, people
were said to have gathered
“tearfully” wailing before a
portrait of Rizal while
remembering how Christ went
through the same struggles.
RIZAL AS THE TAGALOG “CHRIST”
After Rizal’s execution, peasants in
Laguna were also reported to have
regarded him as “ the lord of a kind
of paradise in the heart of Mount
Makiling “.
Similar stories continued to spread
after Rizal’s death towards the end of
the nineteenth century.
RIZAL AS THE TAGALOG “CHRIST”

The early decades of 1900s then

witnessed the founding of
different religious organizations
honoring Rizal as the “ Filipino
Jesus Christ “.
RIZAL AS THE TAGALOG “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.
 OTHER TAGALOG “CHRISTS”
Apolinario de la Cruz ( 1815-1841 ) –
founded the Cofradia de San Jose,
declared as the “Tagalog Christ” by
his followers.
Felipe Salvador ( 1870-1912 ) – known
as Apo Ipe, founded a messianic
society Santa Iglesia, was called by
his followers as “Filipino Christ “.
Etc.
 RIZALISTAS
Each group has its own teachings,
practices, and celebrations, but one
common belief among them is the
veneration of Jose Rizal as the
reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
These groups likened the travails of Jose
Rizal to that of Jesus Christ as narrated in
the Pasyon, an epic poem which became
popular among the Tagalogs during the
Spanish period.
 RIZALISTAS

Rizalista’s believe that Rizal ,

just like Jesus Christ, would
eventually return to life and will
save mankind.
 RIZALISTAS
People saw the parallel between the
two lives being sent into the world to
fulfill a purpose.
For both Jose Rizal and Jesus Christ,
life on earth was a summon and
submission to a call.( Trillana, 2006 )
 RIZALISTAS
From the beginning, both knew or
had intimations of a mission they
had to fulfill, the redemption of
mankind from sin in the case of
Jesus, and the redemption of his
people from oppression in the
case of Jose Rizal ( Trillana, 2006 ).
 RIZALISTAS
Reincarnation in the context of
the Rizalistas means that both
Rizal and Jesus led parallel lives.
Both were Asians, had a brilliant
minds and extraordinary talents.
 RIZALISTAS
Both believed in the Golden rule, cured
the sick, were rabid reformers, believed in
the universal brotherhood of men, were
closely associated with a small group of
followers.
Both died young ( Christ at 33 and Rizal at
35 ) at the hands of their enemies. Their
lives changed the course of history (
Mercado, 1982 )
 CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
The earliest record of Rizal being declared
as a saint is that of his canonization
initiated by the Philippine Independent
Church ( PIC ) 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.
CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
As a nationalist religious organization,
PIC churches displayed Philippine
flags in its altars as an expression of
their love and recognition of heroes
who fought for our independence (
Palafox, 2012 ).
CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
In 1903, the PIC’s official organ
published the “ Acta de
Canonizacion de los Grandes
Martires de la Patria Dr. Rizal y PP.
Burgos, Gomez y Zamora “ (
Proceedings of the Canonization of
the Great Martyrs of the Country Dr.
Rizal and Fathers Burgos, Gomez and
Zamora ).
 CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
According to the proceedings, the
Council of Bishops headed by
Gregorio Aglipay met in Manila on
September 24, 1903.
On this day, Jose Rizal and the three
priests were canonized following the
Roman Catholic rites.
CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
After Rizal’s canonization, Aglipay
ordered that no masses for the dead
shall be offered to Rizal and the three
priests.
Their birth and death anniversaries will
instead be celebrated in honor of
their newly declared sainthood.
 CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
Their statues were revered at the altars; their
names were given at baptism; and , in the
case of Rizal, novenas were composed in his
honor.
Aglipay also mentioned that the PIC’s
teachings were inspired by Rizal’s ideology
and writings.
One of PIC’s founders, Isabelo de los Reyes,
said that Rizal’s canonization was an
expression of the “ intensely nationalistic
phase “ of the sect ( Foronda, 2001 ).
CANONIZATION OF RIZAL
Today, Rizal’s pictures or statues can
no longer be seen in the altars of PIC.
His birthday and death anniversary
are no longer celebrated.
However, it did not deter the
establishment of other Rizalista
organizations.
GROUPS VENERATING JOSE RIZAL
ADARNISTA or the IGLESIANG PILIPINA –
founded by Candida Balantac in 1901.
She started preaching in Bangat, La Union
winning the hearts of her followers from La
Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Nueva
Ecija.
She is believed to be an Engkantada (
enchanted one ) with a rainbow being
formed around her while she preached.
 GROUPS VENERATING JOSE RIZAL
ADARNISTA BELIEVE IN THE FOLLOWING:
1. Rizal is a god of the Filipino people
2. Rizal is a true God and a true man
3. Rizal was not executed as has been
mentioned by historians
4. Man is endowed with a soul; as such, man
is capable of good deeds
 GROUPS VENERATING JOSE RIZAL
ADARNISTA BELIEVE IN THE FOLLOWING:
5. Heaven and hell exists but are, nevertheless,
“within us”
6. The abode of the members of the sect in
Bongabon, Nueva Ecija is the New Jerusalem or
Paradise
7. The caves in Bongabon are the dwelling place
of Jehovah or God
8. There are four persons in God: the Father, Son,
Holy Ghost, and the Mother
 GROUPS VENERATING JOSE RIZAL
Like the catholic church , the Adarnista also
conducts sacraments such as baptism,
confirmation, marriage, confession, and the rites
of the dead.
Masses are held also just like the Catholic
Church.
Their chapels has the images of Sacred heart of
Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of
Perpetual help, and in the Center is that of Rizal
alongside those of Luna,Burgos, Del Pilar,
Bonifacio, etc.
They have around 10,000 followers
GROUPS VENERATING JOSE RIZAL
SAMBAHANG RIZAL – LITERALLY THE “
Rizal Church “, it was founded by the
late Basillio Arumin, lawyer in
Cayupao, Nueva Ecija, in 1918
the aim was to honor Rizal who was
sent by Bathala to redeem the Filipino
race
GROUPS VENERATING JOSE RIZAL
IGLESIA WATAWAT NG LAHI
Established by Arsenio de Guzman in
1911
Teachings: to love God above all
things, to love one fellowman as one
loves himself, to love the motherland
and venerate the heroes of the race
especially Rizal, etc.
GROUPS VENERATING JOSE RIZAL

SUPREMA DE LA IGLESIA DE LA CIUDAD

MISTICA DE DIOS, INC.
ESTABLISHED IN 1952 BY MARIA BERNARDA
BALITAAN , THE SUPREMA
TODAY’S BIGGEST RIZALISTA GROUP WITH
AROUND 100,000 MEMBERS
 SYNCRETISM
The amalgamation or attempted
amalgamation of different religions ,
cultures or schools of thought
Syncretism is also evident among the
Rizalista groups as the Nationalist
visions are included in their beliefs
and texts