Rizal's Execution and Legacy

• Rizal's execution on December 30, 1896, was a turning point in the Philippine Revolution.
• His death started the full-scale revolution, resulting in the declaration of Philippine Independence in 1898.
• Rizal became a Filipino hero and was declared the National Hero by the Taft Commission.
• The Knights of Rizal and religious groups were organized to venerate Rizal, some considering him as Christ.

Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate Rizal's heroism in the context of Rizalista groups
• Compare and contrast views on Rizal among the Rizalistas

Key Terms

• Millenarian Group: Socio-political movements that believe in a major social transformation and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
• Rizalista: A religious movement that believes in the divinity of Jose Rizal.
• Jove Rex Al: Latin term for Jose Rizal (Jove=God, Rex=King, Al=All), means God, King of All.
• Colorum: 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

• Reports in the late 1898 and early 1899 in revolutionary newspapers La Independencia and El Heraldo de la Revolucion mentioned Filipinos commemorating Rizal's death.
• In Laguna, some regarded Rizal as “the Lord of a Kind of Paradise in the heart of Mount Makiling."
• In the early 1900s, religious organizations were founded to honor Rizal as the "Filipinos Jesus Christ".
• In Batangas, people gathered, “tearfully wailing before a portrait of Rizal,” remembering Christ's struggles.
• Miguel de Unamuno, a Spanish writer, called Rizal "Tagalog Christ" in 1907.
• Before this religious groups had been venerating Rizal in different parts of the Philippines

Figures Associated to Rizal

• Apolinario dela Cruz (1815-1841) founded the Confradia de San Jose, also known as the "Tagalog Christ."
• Felipe Salvador (1870-1912), known as "Apo Ipe," founded the messianic society Santa Iglesia (Holy Church) and was called the “Filipino Christ and the "King of the Philippines" by his followers.

Millenarian Groups

• Religious movements that aim to transform society are often symbolized or represented by a hero or prophet.

Rizalista Groups

• Emerged after Rizal's death in 1896.
• Each group has its own teachings, practices, and celebrations.
• The groups likened Rizal's travails to Jesus Christ as narrated in the Pasyon, an epic poem popular among Tagalogs.

Rizal and Jesus Christ

• Both Rizal and Jesus shared similarities with each other.
• Both had a mission to fulfill: Jesus for redemption from sin, Rizal for redemption from oppression.
• Both Asians, had brilliant minds and extraordinary talents.
• Believed in the Golden Rule.
• Cured sick.
• Were rabid reformers.
• Believed in the universal brotherhood of men.
• Died young (Christ at 33, Rizal at 35) at the hands of enemies.

The Canonization of Rizal

• Philippine Independent Church (La Iglesia Filipina Independiente) initiated Rizal's canonization.
• Founded on August 3, 1902, it advocated for an anti-friar and anti-imperialist campaign.
• PIC churches displayed Philippine flags as an expression of love of country and recognition of heroes.
• In 1903, the PIC published the "Acta de Canonizacion de los Grandes Martirez de la Patria Dr. Rizal y PP Burgoz, Gomez y Zamora”.
• Gregorio Aglipay, Head of the Council of Bishop in Manila, canonized Rizal and the three priests on September 24, 1903.
• Aglipay ordered that birth and death anniversaries would be celebrated instead of masses for the dead.
• Statues were revered, names given at baptism, and novenas composed.
• Aglipay said the PIC's teachings were inspired by Rizal's ideology and writings.
• Isabelo delos Reyes, one of the PIC's founders, said Rizal's canonization was an expression of the “intensely nationalistic phase" of the sect.

Observations of Rizal Being Revered as a Saint

• Paulina Carolina Malay wrote about these observations in the 1950’s.
• Religious sects in Leyte towns like Dulag, Barauen, and Limon, called Banal, venerated Rizal as a god.
• They had chapels to pray before Rizal's picture or statue.
• In Legazpi City, a society called Pantay-pantay (members called Rizalinos) periodically walked barefoot in a procession to Rizal’s monument and held a queer sort of mass.
• Some "COLORUM" sects also venerated Rizal as a god with a chapel at the foot of Bundok San Cristobal (Mt. Banahaw) in Tayabas, Quezon.
• The sect of Rizalina in Barrio Calaluan, Concepcion Tarlac, had a nunnery for priestesses who were sent to Rizal's hometown, Calamba, for "training" and performed masses, baptisms, and other religious rites upon their return.
• These observations show the flourishing of Rizalistas even after the PIC’s canonization.
• Tracing the origins and establishment of different Rizalista groups can help appreciate the followers' view of Rizal's role in shaping socio-religious beliefs.