IGLESIA
WATAWAT NG
LAHI
• The Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi is the
considered as the original Rizalist group. The
sect was established on December 25, 1936.
Rev. Fr. Luis Fabrigar and Jose Valincunoza
was the sect's first Supreme Bishop and
president respectively. According to another
source the sect was founded byArsenio de
Guzman but followers of another early
leader, Gaudioso Parabuac contested that
claim.
• The sect's headquarters is located in
Calamba, Laguna and has established 100
chapters throughout the Philippines. In the
1980s, the number of Rizalista converts was
about 100,000 the highest amount in sect's
history.
Beliefs and
practices
• The Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi requires
aspiring priest to study in an institution
somewhere in Bicol. Their priests are also
allowed to marry after they have served the
church for at least five years. Sect officials
are not paid and are supported by donations
by the sect's financially able members.
• Alongside the Bible, they also have the
Sugong Kayumanggi (lit. The Brown
Messenger), the second most important
book for the sect. Rizal's two novels, Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo is considered
by some as the sect's counterpart of the
Bible of the Catholics by some eleders.
• They also have only three commandments
as opposed to the ten by the Catholic
Church. The Rizalistas are taught to love
God, people and society. Recently love for
the environment were added to their
teachings.
• The birth and death anniversary of Rizal are
considered one of the most important
holiday for the sect. During these days the
sect celebrates Misa de Tres an elaborate
celebration of flowers, flags and parades.
•
Gomburza Day, Bonifacio Day and other
national holidays are also important holidays
for the sect. The sect also celebrates
Christmas every October 3, the date they
consider as the true birthday of Jesus Christ.
• During many
religious
celebrations, sect
members often
wear clothing with
the colors of the
Philippine flag.
• The Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi
believes that Rizal is the
incarnation of Holy Spirit. They
believed that Rizal was never truly
killed during his execution in
Bagumbayan. The point out that
when Rizal's body was about to be
exhumed in Paco Park, Rizal was
nowhere to be found and that a
tree trunk and a pair of shoes was
found at the site. They believed
that Rizal is still living in Mount
Makiling.
• The sects has its version on the account of
Jose Rizal's life. Jose Rizal as a baby was
found by Francisco Mercado and Teodora
Alonzo, who were recorded by documented
historical accounts as his biological parents.
The couple wanted to baptize Rizal as Jove
Rex Al, but the name was turned down due
to it being close to Christ's name by the
officiating Catholic priest. The baby was then
baptized as Jose Rizal. The first preachers of
the sect were referred to as the Banal na
Tinig (lit. Holy Sound). They are believed to
be able to communicate with Rizal, who lived
in Makiling.
• One of the symbols of the Iglesia ng
Watawat ng Lahi, clearly influenced by
Masonry is the triangle with the " eye of God
" and three stars on it .
ORDER OF THE
KNIGHTS OF
RIZAL
• The history of the Order of the Knights of
Rizal go back to December 30, 1911
when Colonel Antonio C. Torres organized
a 9 group of men from different walks of
life for the purpose of commemorating in
a fitting manner the execution and
martyrdom of our foremost national hero,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Thereafter, year after
year, the same group would gather to
celebrate the birth and commemorate the
death of Dr. Jose Rizal. During Rizal Day
celebrations, this group would be seen
conspicuously on horseback reminiscent
of the knights of old known for their
chivalry and exemplary life.
• To provide a continuing entity
and to encourage others to join
tem, these admirers of Dr. Rizal
on November 16, 1916,
organized a private non-stock
corporation and named it the
“Orden de Caballeros de Rizal.”
The incorporators of the
corporation were: Antonio C.
Torres, Juan Flameño, Martin P.
de Veyra, Jose A. del Barrio and
Jose S. Galvez.
• Colonel Antonio C. Torres, who before
the last war was Chief of Police of
Manila, was the first Supreme
Commander. The following have since
then been Supreme Commanders of
the Order: Martin P. de Veyra, Manuel
Lim, Juan F. Nakpil, Herminio Velarde,
Teodoro Evangelista, Hernenegildo B.
Reyes, Santiago F. de la Cruz, Jesus E.
Perpiñan, Vitaliano Bernardino, Jose
Ma. Paredes Claudio Teehankee, Jose
S. Laurel III and the incumbent, Justo
P. Torres, Jr.
• In 1951 the Supreme e Council of
the Order created a Committee
on Legislation for the purpose of
studying the feasibility of filing a
bill in the Congress of the
Philippines to be enacted into
law to enable the Order to secure
a legislative charter. Justice
Roman Ozaeta was the Chairman
of the Committee with Sirs
Carlos Hilado and Pedro Sabido
as members.
• The bill seeking to give the
Order of the Knights of Rizal a
legislative charter was
docketed as Senate Bill No.
251, with then Senators
Enrique Magalona, Lorenzo
Sumulong, Esteban Abada,
Emiliano Tria Tirona, Camilo
Osias, Geronima Pecson, Jose
Avelino and Ramon Torres as
sponsors.
• “The purpose of the attached bill is to
accord to’ the civic and patriotic
organization known as “Orden’ de
Caballeros de Rizal” (Order of the
Knights of Rizal) the same kind of
official recognition and encouragement as that accorded to the Boy
Scouts of the Philippines by
Commonwealth Act No. 111, by granting to it a legislative Charier and
investing ‘it with the necessary powers
to enable it more fully and more
effectively to accomplish the laudable
purposes for which it was organized.”
• ” This Bill if enacted into law will also serve as a
historical monument to Rizal; it will constitute an
official recognition by the Republic of the
Philippines of the inestimable value to the nation
of his teachings and examples and of the wisdom
and necessity of inculcating them in the minds
and -hearts of our people so they may strive to
follow and practice them. The authors and
proponents of this Bill believe that if the purposes
thereof are faithfully and effectively carried out,
social discipline, civic virtues, and love of justice
will be fostered, promoted, ‘and enhanced in this
country, and that the Knights of Rizal as chartered
entity is the most convenient instrumentality by
which these desirable ends can be attained’. Let
Rizal’s life and martyrdom influence and guide the
destiny of the nation. Let this and future
generations live the Rizal Way. ”