MODULE 3: LESSON 1

Learning Activity Sheet #1

Lesson/Topic :Remembering Rizal

Learning Target(s) :to evaluate Rizal’s heroism and importance in the context of Rizalista
Groups; discuss the history of selected Rizal groups; and compare and
contrast the different views on Rizal among the Rizalistas.

Reference(s) :Obias, et al. The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Concept/Digest
Rizal was known to be the First National Hero due to his contribution to the uprising of
the Filipinos against the oppressing colonizer that was Spain which resulted to the liberation of
the Filipinos in 1898. He caused a turning point in the history of Philippine revolution. Under
the American colonial regime, the Taft Commission, also known as the Philippine Commission,
Rizal was declared National Hero as he was considered one of the most important Filipino
heroes of the revolution. Since then, every town on December 30 celebrates a national holiday
to commemorate his death and heroism. In some provinces, men-most of whom were
professionals-organized and became members of Caballeros de Rizal, now known as the Knights
of Rizal.
Roman Catholic Church and the prehispanic spiritual culture play a vital role in the
Filipino masses’ organizing of certain groups 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 are now
widely known as RIzalistas. They believe that Rizal was a savior and has a Latin name of Jove
Rex Al, or “God, King of All.” This lesson will discuss the history and teachings of selected
Rizalista groups founded after Rizal’s execution.

Remembering Rizal

B. The Canonization C. Groups E. Suprema de la

A. Rizal as the E. Iglesia Watawat
of Rizal: Tracing the Venarating Jose D. Sambahang Rizal Iglesia de la Ciudad
Tagalog Christ ng Lahi
Roots of Rizalistas Rizal Mistica de Dios, Inc.

A. 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 (IYa, 2012). However, it is not the first time Filipinos are calling a Filipino who is
considered hero a Christs. For example, in 1815-1841 a group organized as Cofradia de San Jo
se considered Apolinario de la Cruz as the “Tagalog Christ.” Another Filipino revolutionary
Felipe Salvador (1870-1912), also known as Apo Ipe, founded the messianic society Santa Iglesia
(Holy Church). He also was called by his followers as “Filipino Christ” and the “King of the
Philippines.”
As early as 1898 and 1899 there was a report in the newspapers the La Independencia
and El Heraldo de la Revolution about Filipinos commemorating Rizal’s death in various towns
in the country. For example, in Batangas, people were said to have assembled and “tearfully
wailing before a portrait of Rizal” (Ileto, 1998) comparing to Christ who went through the same
struggles. In Laguna also, after Rizal’s execution, peasants were also reported to have venerated
him as “the lord of a kind of paradise in the heart of Mount Makiling” (Ileto, 1998). Towards the
end of the nineteenth century similar stories rapidly continued to spread all throughout the
country. Hence, the early decades of 1900s witnessed the organization of many religious groups
honoring Rizal as the “Filipino Jesus Christ” (Ocampo, 2011).
Rizalista groups have risen after Rizal’s death in 1896 and have their individual
teachings, practices, and celebrations. Yet, one common belief among them is the veneration of
Jose Rizal as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
These groups saw the parallelism between the lives of Jesus Christ and Jose Rizal
believing that the two were sent to the world to fulfill a purpose. In the book of Trillana (2006,
p. 39) for example, he puts it this way, “For both Jesus and Rizal, life on earth was a summon
and submission to a call. 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 Rizal.”
In the context of the Rizalistas, reincarnation of Jesus Christ in Rizal means that both
lived a parallel life as the two were Asians, died in young ages by the hand of their enemies,
Jesus as 33 years old and Rizal 35 years old, having extraordinary talents, both believed in the
Golden Rule, cured the sick, were rabid reformers, believing in the universal brotherhood of
men, were closely associated with a small group of followers, and both changed the course of
history (Mercado, 1982, p.38).

B. The Canonization of Rizal: Tracing the Roots of Rizalistas

Rizal was declared a saint on August 3, 1902 by the Philippine Independent Church better known
as La Iglesia Filipina Independente. In this particular year, the PIC’s official organ published the “Acta
Canonization 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). By this proceedings, Bishop Gregorio Aglipay headed the Council of Bishops who met in Manila
on September 24, 1903. They canonized Jose Rizal as well as the three priests following the Roman
Catholic rites.

As the canonization was finished, there were no masses for the dead offered to Rizal and the
three priests. Instead, their birth and death anniversaries would be celebrated in honor of their newly
declared sainthood. Statues of the four were revered at the altars; their names were given at the
baptism; and novenas were composed in honor of Rizal. The PIC’s teachings were inspired by Rizal’s
ideology and writings according to Aglipay and even his cofounder, Isabelo de los Reyes, said that the
canonization was an expression of the “intensely nationalistic phase” of the sect (Foronda, 2001). Today,
such reverence to their statues and pictures can no longer be seen in the altars of PIC. Yet, although
Rizal’s birthday and death anniversary is no longer celebrated, it did not discourage the establishment of
other Rizalista organizations (Obias, et al, 2018).

MODULE 3: LESSON 1

1. What is your idea why the Americans declared Jose Rizal as the First National Hero?
Three sentences should suffice your answer. Rubrics: Content and Organization: 85%;
Grammar composition: 10%; Conciseness: 5%
Americans declared Jose Rizal as the first national Hero because of his peaceful way to
achieve liberty, a different way of fighting. He attacked Spaniards through his writings that he
faced different circumstances. He is the one who waked his fellow Filipinos from slavery and
abuse to fight back against the Spaniards.

2. Do you believe that Rizal is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ? If yes, state your reason. If
no, why? Three sentences should suffice your answer. Rubrics: Content and
Organization: 85%; Grammar composition: 10%; Conciseness: 5%
For me Jose Rizal is not the reincarnation of Jesus, he was just an ordinary man like us
blessed with an intelligent mind and patriotic heart. Yes, they have similarities of Jesus Christ
like risking their own life for their people but, that doesn’t mean that Jose Rizal is the
reincarnation of Jesus. I believe that God just used Rizal as instrument to help our ancestors
achieve liberty.

3. Do you agree with Isabelo de los Reyes as he said that the canonization was an expression of
the “intensely nationalistic phase” of the sect ? Support your answer. Three sentences
should suffice your answer. Rubrics: Content and Organization: 85%; Grammar
composition: 10%; Conciseness: 5%
Yes. The people before wanted that the people of today and the people of future will
remember Jose Rizal, one of the people who contributed to our liberty. Due to their deep
gratitude to him, and as a way of showing their thanks they administer Rizal as saint. All of these
acts are just an expression of showing how Rizal’s patriotic heart saved us.