CHAPTER 3 mission they had to fulfill, the redemption of

mankind from sin the case of Jesus and the

Remembering Rizal redemption of his people from oppression in
the case of Rizal.”
Rizal as Tagalog Christ
Reincarnation in the context of Rizalistas means
1898-1899
that both José Rizal and Jesus Christ led parallel
 La Independencia & Heraldo de la
lives.
Revolution- Revolutionary newspaper
 Rizal and Jesus were both Asians, had
that reported about Filipinos
brilliant minds and extraordinary
commemorating Rizal’s death.
talents.
Batangas - “Tearfully wailing before a portrait of  Rizal and Jesus believed in the Golden
Rizal” Rule.
 Rizal and Jesus cured the sick
Laguna -”The Lord of a kind of paradise in the  Rizal and Jesus were rabid reformers,
heart of Mount Makiling” believed in the universal brotherhood
of men, were closely associated small
1900 group of followers.
 Different religious organizations  Both died young (Rizal at 35 and Jesus
honoring Jose Rizal as the “Filipino
at 33) at the hands of their enemies.
Jesus Christ”.

1907, Miguel de Unamuno The Canonization of Rizal: Tracing the Roots of

 José Rizal as the “Tagalog Christ” Rizalistas

In history, they were considered as the Tagalog Canonization

Christ by their followers:  To declare a deceased person a saint.
 Apolinario de la Cruz (1815-1841) Rizalistas
- Confradia de San Jose  Any of numerous ethnic religious
 Felipe Salvador (1870-1912) groups in the Philippines that believe in
- Santa Iglesia or Holy Church the divinity of José Rizal.
- King of the Philippines  Group of people who worship José
Rizal, the national hero of the
The aim of the millenarian groups; Philippines, as a divine being and deity.
 To transform the society are often
symbolized or represented by a hero or Philippine Independent Church (PIC) La Iglesia
prophet Filipina Independiente (August 3,1902)
 Became a major religious sect with a
Rizalista number of followers supporting its anti-
 Risen after José Rizal’s death in 1896 friar and anti-imperialist campaigns.
 A religious movement that believes in
the divinity of José Rizal 1903
 José Rizal as the reincarnation of Jesus  Official organ of the PIC
Christ - Proceedings of the
Canonization of the great
As Trillana (2006) puts it, martyrs of the country Dr. José
“For both Jesus and Rizal, life on earth was a Rizal, and Fathers Burgos,
summon and submission to a call. From the Gomez and Zamora.
beginning, both knew or had intimations of a
  Gregorio Aglipay  There are four persons in God: God, the
- Head of Council of Bishops; was Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, and the
met on Manila on September Mother (Virgin Mary).
24, 1903
Simbahang Rizal
September 24, 1903
 Jose Rizal, and the Three Priests were Rizal Church
canonized ff the Roman Catholic Rites.  Conducts sacraments, baptism,
confirmation, marriage, and ceremonies
After Jose Rizal’s Canonization for the dead.
 Aglipay ordered no masses for the  The assigned preachers are called
dead, but instead their birth and death “Lalawigan guru”.
anniversaries will be celebrated  Was founded by Basilio Aromin in late
(Beatification) 1918.
PIC’s Teaching Basilio Aromin
 Was inspired by Jose Rizal’s Ideology  A lawyer in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija
and Writings.  Held the title of Pangulu guru the (Chief
1950, Paulina Carolina Malay’s Observations Preacher)
 Many towns of Leyte: Dulag, Barauen  Believes that Rizal was sent by Bathala
and Limon have Religious sect called Bathala - term used by early Filipino to
Banal which venerate Jose Rizal as a refer to “God” or “Creator”To
God  Honor Rizal as a savior of the mankind
 Pantay-pantay in Legaspi City –  ”Son of Bathala” the same way as “Son
Rizalinos of God”
 Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
These observations are the proof that
Rizalistas continue to flourish after the PICs Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi
canonization of Rizal.
 Also called the Samahan ng Watawat ng
Groups Venerating Jose Rizal Lahi (Association of the Banner of the
Race), was said to be established by the
Adarnista or the Iglesiang Pilipina Philippine heroes and Arsenio de
Guzman in 1911.
Adarnista believes that:  The word samahan was changed by
 Rizal is a God of the Filipino people. Iglesia because to avoid suspicion from
 Rizal is a true God and a true man. the Japanese soldiers during World War
 Rizal was not executed as has been II, making it Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi.
mentioned by historians.  In the same year, de Guzman started to
 Man is endowed with a soul; as such, preach the Filipinos that Rizal was
man is capable of good deeds. “Christ” and “Messenger of God” and
 Heaven and hell exist but are, claimed that God chose Philippines to
nevertheless, “within us”.  replace Israel as his “New Kingdom”
 The abode of the members of the sect  Some Filipinos say that it was the spirit
in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija is the New Rizal that was telling de Guzman to live
Jerusalem or Paradise.  in accordance to Christ’s and Rizal’s
 The caves in Bongabon are the dwelling teaching
place of Jehovah or God.
  According to stories, sometime in 1936, death and if he was holy in life, man will
there was 4 men (Mateo Alurcan, rise again and his soul will proceed to
Alfredo Benedicto, Jovito Salgado, and the New Jerusalem. If he did not fulfill
Gaudiosio Parabuac) who listened to the commandments of God, the soul is
banal na tinig (holy voice) and told not to be punished in hell but will be
them that it was Rizal who was guiding made to work in a place opposite the
them and instructed them to organized New Jerusalem.
a movement called Samahan ng 8. There is a particular judgment and the
Watawat ng Lahi last judgment.

The aims of the Organization are as follows Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi

(Foronda, 2011):  One of the biggest Rizalista group
 100,000 members in different country
1.To love God above all things.
2.To love one's’ fellow man as one loves In 1978, divided into Three Factors:
himself. 1. Watawat ng Lahi (Samahan ng Watawat
3.To love the motherland and to respect and ng Lahi Presiding Elders)
venerate the heroes of the race especially the 2. Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi, Inc.
martyr of Bagumbayan, Dr. Jose Rizal, to follow, 3. Iglesia ng Lipi ni Gat Dr. Jose P. Rizal,
to spread, and to support their right teachings Inc.
and to serve the country with one’s whole heart
towards its order, progress and peace. Suprema de la Iglesia
de la Ciudad Mistica de Dios, Inc.
Foronda (2011) also enumerated the beliefs of (Supreme Church of the Mystical City of God)
the sect gathered from his interviews in 1960-
1961: Officially Registered Organization in 1952
 First founded by Maria Bernarda
1. The teachings of the sect are based on Balitaan (MBB)
the commands of the Holy Moses, Our  Spiritual missions (1920’s)
Lord Jesus Christ, and the teachings of  Ciudad Mistica (Biggest Rizalista group)
Dr. Jose Rizal culled from his writings.  Mt. Banahaw, Brgy. Sta. Lucia (Dolores
2. Christians believe in the Trinity. Quezon)
3. Jesus Christ is embodied in Dr. Jose In Sta Lucia- Approximately 5,000
Rizal and hence, Dr. Rizal is at once a members
god and a man.  100,000 members in Luzon
4. Rizal is not dead;
5. It is the voice of Rizal which commands Ciudad Mistica
the officials and the members what to  Always Led by a Woman
do; this voice is heard in the weekly Suprema –Leader
meetings.  Members believes that God transfer His
6. If World War III breaks out, numberless “Kingdom” to the Philippines.
peoples will be killed by atomic  God
weapons. But after the war, Dr. Jose
Rizal will make an appearance to the The Virgin Maria Bernarda, a Filipino mother
new world, and he will lead the army of Dr. Jose Rizal, a Filipino father
God. Once in a mystery , they came together
7. Man has a soul, but a soul that is And so, emerged this country, the Philippines.”
different from the soul of Dr. Jose Rizal,
for Rizal is God. Three days after his