黑料社

(Note: This report was first published on Dec 30, 2021. We are reposting it in observance of Rizal Day 2022)

MANILA, Philippines鈥擴ntil the end, Jose Rizal was firm. He refused to give up his conviction even if it meant his death.

The execution of Rizal in 1896 lit the revolution against Spain which had governed the Philippines for 333 years. For Filipinos devoted to Rizal, his death was not only the dawn of a revolution.

His sacrifice was 鈥渄ivine.鈥�

This year, the 125th since his execution in the then Bagumbayan (now Luneta), Rizalistas or those who had turned their belief in Rizal to a religion marked his death as a liberation for Filipinos from centuries of abuses by Spaniard conquerors.

READ: Dapitanons remember Rizal on his 125th death anniversary

鈥淗is death was the salvation of Filipinos from years of the Spanish government鈥檚 ill-treatment,鈥� said Msgr. Eusebio Bolante, of the Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi (IWL).

鈥淲e are grateful for this day because every December 30, we remember his greatness,鈥� he said.

IWL is one of over 200 Rizalista groups in the Philippines, many of them based in Rizal鈥檚 birthplace, Calamba City in Laguna province. In the book 鈥淜ristong Pilipino: Pananampalataya kay Jose Rizal,鈥� Nilo Ocampo talked about more than 21 Rizalista groups:

• Adarnista/Iglesiang Pilipina
• Sambahang Rizal
• Colorum sa Surigao
• Iglesia Sagrada Filipina
• Bathalismo
• Amang Kaamaamahan at Inang Kainainahan
• Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi
• Lipang Malaya
• Apo Panyang ng Arayat
• Infinito Solo Dios
• Iglesia de la Ciudad Mistica de Dios
• Spiritual Filipino Catholic Church
• La Iglesia Catolica Filipina
• Jesus Nazareno Jove Rex Al
• Kapatirang San Francisco de Asis
• Katipunan Karunungan Kataastaasan
• Tres Persona Solo Dios
• Kapatirang ang Litaw na Katalinuhan
• Sagrada Familia
• Katipunang Gat Rizal
• Banal na Iglesia ng Bathalang Buhay

Bolante explained that IWL, which was established in 1936, views Rizal as the 鈥淚katlong Persona ng Diyos,鈥� saying that he was the one Jesus Christ referred to in the Gospel when he said: 鈥淭he comforter who came down to continue what Jesus Christ has started.鈥�

Bolante told 黑料社 that it was Rizal who freed Filipinos from abuses by Spain during the colonial period 1565 to 1898.

Rizal was executed on Dec. 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan after he was accused of fomenting rebellion against the Spanish government in the Philippines. Prior to his death, Rizal wrote extensively about rights and freedom, especially of Filipinos.

READ:

His two best known writings were the novels Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo.

Encyclopedia Britannica said there are at least 300,000 Rizalistas in the Philippines.

Christ-like

Last June, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) outlined Ocampo鈥檚 book and said Rizal鈥檚 life was filled with 鈥渞elations鈥� with Jesus Christ鈥檚 life, explaining that these were wielded by Rizalistas as the premise of faith:

• Rizal wrote El Ni帽o Jesus, a writing dignifying the birth of Jesus Christ.
• While Rizal was in Fort Santiago, he constantly read the Bible and the Imitacion del Cristo. He likewise drew an image of Jesus Christ praying at the garden. He wrote: 鈥淭his is only the first station.鈥�
• While walking toward Bagumbayan to his execution, Rizal was heard saying 鈥渧amos camino del calvario (we鈥檙e now headed to calvary).鈥�
• Before he was killed, Rizal was heard saying 鈥淐onsummatum est (It is finished).鈥�

Like the Pieta, an image of the dead Rizal held by 鈥淚nang Bayan鈥� was likewise seen in Larena, Siquijor. Ocampo said this was possibly because Rizal sacrificed his life to save the Philippines while Jesus Christ gave his life to save the world.

鈥楽ocial movement鈥�

As Rizalistas are always seen in white clothes inside prayer rooms filled with Rizal鈥檚 images, they were often branded as cults, but Prospero Covar said in his dissertations that they鈥檙e not. 鈥淭he Rizalista is a social movement,鈥� he said.

The NHCP said Covar defined social movement as 鈥渁 conscious organized attempt by a group of people to create a new order of life.鈥� He said the Rizalistas, specifically the IWL, have three principles: love of God, love of others and love of nation.

For Bolante, these teachings should be lived today because 鈥渋t鈥檚 the key to free imprisoned minds and the way to a place where we can no longer be imprisoned.鈥�

Covar said these principles are present in the IWL鈥檚 sayings: Maka-Diyos, maka-tao, and maka-bayan. This means the Rizalistas, specifically the IWL, wants its believers to live religious, societal and nationalist lives.

RELATED STORY: VP Robredo on Rizal Day: Be united, always hold on to hope

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