CHAPTER 2

REMEMBERING RIZAL
Rizal’s execution on December 30, 1896  The early decades of 1900s witnessed
became an important turning point in the history the founding of different religious
of Philippine revolution. His death activated the organizations honoring Rizal as the
full-scale revolution that resulted in the “Filipino Jesus Christ” (Ocampo, 2011).
declaration of Philippine independence by 1898.  1907 – Miguel de Unamuno (Spanish
Under the American colonial government, Rizal writer and philosopher) gave Rizal the
was considered as one of the most important title “Tagalog Christ” as religious
Filipino heroes of the revolution and was even organizations venerating him had been
declared as the National Hero by the Taft formed in different parts of the
Commission, also called the Philippine Philippines (Iya, 2012).
Commission of 1901. A Rizal monument was
built in every town and December 30 was Other Filipinos known as Tagalog Christ
declared as a national holiday to commemorate
 Apolinario de la Cruz (1815-1841) who
his death and heroism. In some provinces, men
founded the religious confraternity
– most of whom were professionals – organized
Cofradia de San Jose was also
and became members of Caballeros de Rizal,
considered as the “Tagalog Christ” by
now known as the Knights of Rizal.
his followers.
Influence by both the Roman Catholic  Felipe Salvador (1870-1912), also
Church and the prehispanic spiritual culture, known as Apo Ipe, who founded the
some Filipino masses likewise founded messianic society Santa Iglesia (Holy
organizations that recognize Rizal not just as an Church) was called by his followers as
important hero but also as their savior from all the “Filipino Christ” and the “King of the
the social ills that plague the country. These Philippines.”
groups, which can be linked to the long history
These groups venerated Jose Rizal as the
of millenarian movements in the country, are
reincarnation of Jesus Christ. They linked the
widely known as the Rizalistas. These
travails of Jose Rizal to that of Jesus Christ as
organizations believe that Rizal has a Latin
narrated in the Pasyon during the Spanish
name Jove Rex Al, which literally means “God,
period (Ileto, 1998). Rizalistas believed that
King of All.” This chapter will discuss the history
Rizal, just like Jesus Christ, would eventually
and teachings of selected Rizalista groups
return to life and will save mankind.
founded after Rizal’s execution.
Parallel lives of Jesus and Rizal (Mercado,
Rizal as the Tagalog Christ
1982, p. 38)
In late 1898 and early 1899,
 Asian
revolutionary newspapers La Independencia and
 Brilliant minds and extraordinary talents
El Heraldo de la Revolucion reported about
 Believed in the Golden Rule
Filipinos commemorating Rizal’s death in
 Cured the sick
various towns in the country.
 Rabid reformers
 Batangas – people were said to have  Believed in the universal brotherhood of
gathered “tearfully wailing before a men
portrait of Rizal” (Ileto, 1998) while  Closely associated with a small group of
remembering how Christ went through followers
the same struggles.  Both died at a young age (Christ at 33
 Laguna – peasants regarded him as and Rizal at 35) at the hands of their
“the lord of a kind of paradise in the enemies
heart of Mount Makiling” (Ileto, 1998).  Their lives changed the course of history
 CHAPTER 2
REMEMBERING RIZAL
The Canonization of Rizal: Tracing the Roots of nunnery for its priestesses. The girls,
Rizalistas forbidden to marry during certain period,
are sent to Rizal’s hometown, Calamba
 The earliest record about Rizal being for “training.” When they go back to
declared as a saint is that of his Tarlac, they perform masses, baptize
canonization initiated by the Philippine and do other religious rites.
Independent Church (PIC) or La Iglesia
Filipina Independiente. Groups Venerating Jose Rizal
 As a nationalist religious institution, PIC
churches displayed Philippine flags in its  Adarnista or the Iglesiang Pilipina
altars as an expression of their love of  In 1901, Candida Balantac of Ilocos
country and recognition of heroes who Norte, started preaching in Bangar, La
fought for our independence (Palafox, Union.
2012)  Balantac is the founder of Adarnista or
 In 1903, the PIC’s official organ the Iglesiang Pilipina, won the hearts of
published the “Acta de Canonizacion de her followers from La Union,
los Grandes Martires de la Patria Dr. Pangasinan, and Tarlac. She
Rizal y PP. Burgos, Gomez y Zamora” established the organization in
(Proceedings of the Canonization of the Bongabon, Nueva Ecija where she
Great Martyrs of the Country Dr. Rizal resided until the 1960s (Ocampo, 2011).
and Fathers Burgos, Gomez and  Her followers believe that she was an
Zamora). engkantada (enchanted one) and
 On September 24, 1903, Jose Rizal and claimed that a rainbow is formed (like
the three priests were canonized that of Ibong Adarna) around her while
following the Roman Catholic rites. she preached, giving her the title “Inang
 In the 1950s, Paulina Carolina Malay Adarna” and the organization’s name,
wrote her observations of Rizal being Adarnista. Others call her Maestra
revered as a saint (Foronda, 2001, p. (teacher) and Espiritu Santo (Holy
47): Spirit).
 Many towns of Leyte, among them  Sambahang Rizal
Dulag, Barauen, and Limon, have  Literally the “Rizal Church,” was
religious sects called Banal which founded by the late Basilio Aromin, a
venerate Rizal as god. lawyer in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, in 1918.
 Legaspi City, too has a strange society
 He claims that Sambahang Rizal was
called Pantay-pantay whose members
established to honor Rizal who was sent
are called Rizalinos. The members walk
by Bathala to redeem the Filipino race.
barefoot in possession to Rizal’s
Like Jesus Christ who offered His life to
monument and hold a queer sort of a
save mankind (Foronda, 2001).
mass. Usually, this procession is done
 They believe that Rizal is the “Son of
on Rizal Day (December 30) or on June
Bathala” in the same way that Jesus is
19, the natal day of the hero.
the “Son of God.”
 “Colorum” sects also venerate Rizal as
a god. A “colorum” sect in Tayabas,  Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
Quezon has built a chapel for him at the serve as their bible that shows the
foot of Bundok San Cristobal, better doctrines and teachings of Rizal.
known as Mt. Banahaw.  Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi
 Rizalina in Barrio Caluluan,  Samahan ng Watawat ng Lahi
Concepcion, Tarlac has even a sort of (Association of the Banner of the Race)
 CHAPTER 2
REMEMBERING RIZAL
is said to have been established by the
Philippine national heroes and Arsenio
de Guzman in 1911.
 de Guzman preached that Rizal was
the “Christ” and the “Messenger of
God.”
 He claimed that God has chosen the
Philippines to replace Israel as his “New
Kingdom.”
 Some believe that it was the spirit of
Rizal which was working with de
Guzman telling people to live in
accordance with Christ’s and Rizal’s
teachings (Iya, 2012)  Suprema de la
Iglesia de la Ciudad Mistica de Dios,
Inc.
 Registered as an organization in 1952
and founded by Maria Bernarda Balitaan
(MBB) in the Tagalog region who was
said to have started her spiritual
missions in the early 1920s.
 Ciudad Mistica is the biggest Rizalista
group located at the foot of Mt.
Banahaw in Brgy. Sta. Lucia in Dolores,
Quezon with approximately 5,000
members in Sta. Lucia alone. All over
Luzon, it has about 100,000 members.
 The group has always been led by a
woman.
 They believe that as a result of
endless conflicts among countries in
West Asia, God decided to transfer his
“Kingdom” to the Philippines.