RUBRIC PARA SA PAGTATAYA

RUBRIC PARA SA PAPEL NA PANANALIKSIK/PROYEKTO PINAL (KASPIL1)

Napakahusay Mahusay Katamtaman Kailanganngib Bagsak

4.0 3.5-3.0 2.5-2.0 ayong 0.0
pagsisikap
1.5-1.0
Nilalaman: Napakahusayna Mahusaynanat Katamtamang Kakauntilaman Hindi natukoy
Mahusaynanatuk natukoy at ukoy at husaynanatuk gangnatukoy at
oy at natalakayangla natalakayangla oy at at natalakayang
natalakayanglaha hatngmgamaha hatngmgamah natalakayangl natalakaynam alinmansamg
tngmgamahahala halagangpunto ahalagangpunt ahatngmgama gamahahalaga amahahalaga
gangpunto at at o at hahalagangpu ngpunto at ngpunto at
mgapangunahing mgapangunahin mgapangunahi nto at mgapangunahi mgapangunah
ideya. gideya. ngideya. mgapangunah ngideya. ingideya.
ingideya.
Nagpamalasngm
Bahagyangnag Hindi
apanuringpag-
Napakahusayan Mahusayangpa Katamtamang pamalasngma nagpamalasn
iisipsapagtalakay
gpagkakapamal gkakapamalas husayangpagk panuringpag- gmapanuring
ngmgamahahala
asngmapanurin ngmapanuring akapamalasng iisipsapagtalak pag-
gangpunto at
gpag- pag- mapanuringp ayngmgapang iisipsapagtala
mgapangunahing
iisipsapagtalaka iisipsapagtalak ag- nunahingpunt kayngmgapan
ideya.
yngmgamahaha ayngmgamaha iisipsapagtala o at gunahingpunt
lagangpunto at halagangpunto kayngmgama mgamahahalg o at
mgapangunahin at hahalagangpu angideya. mgamahahala
gideya. mgapangunahi nto at gangideya.
ngideya. mgapangunah
ingideya.
Organisasyon: Napakalinaw at Malinaw at Bahagyangma Kulangsalinaw Napakalabo
napakaayosang maayosangorg linaw at at at
Malinaw at
organisasyonng anisasyonngm maayosangor ayosangorgani hindiorganisa
maayosangorgan
mgapaksa. gapaksa. ganisasyonng sasyonngmgap doangpagtala
isasyonngmgapa
mgapaksa. aksa. kaysamgapak
ksa.
sa.

1
Estilo at Napakalinawng Malinawangpa Bahagyangma Kulangsalinaw Napakalabong
pamamaraanngp pagkakasulat. gkakasulat. linawangpagk angpagkakasul pagkakasulat.
agsusulat: Sinunodangalint Sinunodangali akasulat. at. Hindiwastoan
untuninnggram ntuntuninnggr Sinunodangali Bahagyangsin ggramatika at
Malinawangpagk
atika (grammar) amatika ntuntuninngg unodangalintu pagbabaybay.
akasulat.
at (grammar) at ramatika ntuninnggram
Wastoanggramat
pagbabaybay. pagbabaybay. (grammar) at atika
ika (grammar).
pagbabaybay. (grammar) at
Wastoangispelin
pagbabaybay.
g/pagbaybay

Citation at Wastoang Wastoang Hindi Hindi Hindi

bibliograpiya: citation.Naisam citation. gaanongwast gaanongwasto wastoang
Wastoang anangmaayosla Naisamanang oang citation. ang citation. citation.
citation. hatngmgasangg maayoslahatng Hindi Hindi Hindi
Naisamanangma uniansabibliogr mgasanggunia gaanongnaisa gaanongnaisa naisananang
ayoslahatngmgas apiya nsabibliograpiy manangmaay manangmaayo maayonsangla
angguniansabibli Sumusunodsaiti a osanglahatng sanglahatngm hatngmgasan
ograpiya. nakdang format Sumusunodsai mgasanggunia gasanggunians gguniansabilib
ng citation at tinakdang nsabibliograpi abibliograpiya. orapiya.
Sumusunodsaitin
bibliograpiya format ng ya. Hindi Hindi Hindi
akdang format ng
citation at gaanongsumu gaanongsumu sumunodsaiti
citation at
bibliograpiya nodsaitinakda nodsaitinakda nakdang
bibliograpiya
ng format ng ng format ng format ng
citation at citation at citation at
bibliograpiya. bibliograpiya. bibliograpiya.

2
 Table of Contents

Page/s

Executive Summary........................................................................................................................4

Rizal as a writer by Venus Aldana................................................................................................5-7

Rizal as a doctor by Darwyn Mendoza.......................................................................................8-11

Rizal in the character of Crisostomo Ibarra by Camille De Asis...............................................12-14

Rizal in the character of Simoun by Jasmine Canlas................................................................15-17

Perspectives of the Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi by Rea Ambion.............................................18-20

Rizal in the eyes of the Sagrada Familia and SFCC by Gabrielle Delos Santos.........................21-23

3
 Executive Summary

The articles in our synthesis paper all discuss about Jose Rizal being a nationalistic

person. The articles were arranged in a way that the readers would first know abouthow Rizal

lived his life. We first tackled his professions so that we could show how Rizal made use of his

knowledge and skills to improve the lives of his fellow countrymen. We chose the topic Rizal as

a doctor because this is one of the examples that prove how Rizal is deeply concerned with the

Filipinos. He did not only cure and operate people with eye problems, but he also studied the

medicinal plants in the Philippines which could be used as an alternative medicine Rizal also

excelled as a writer. He used his gift in writing to express his ideas and opinions regarding

several matters.

The second part of our synthesis paper talks about the two famous novels of Rizal; Noli

Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. In relation to the previous articles, Rizal has written his

novels in order to expose the social cancer in the Philippines. He somehow inspired the Filipinos

to free themselves from the abuses of the Spaniards. This therefore indirectly sparked the start

of the revolution.

The last part of our synthesis paper discusses about how the Filipinos of this generation

view our national hero. This is important so that we could learn about Rizal based on other

peoples perspectives, so that we could assess whether or not Rizal truly was a nationalistic

person.

4
Rizal as a writer

By Venus Aldana

Ever since Jose Rizal was introduced to me in school, teachers would always say those

hackneyed things such as, he is our national hero; but then Jose Rizal is our national hero who

also, specifically, has outstanding and numerous talents. One of those talents that would always

be on top of the list is Rizal being a writer.

Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are two of Rizals works that truly captured the

hearts of the Filipino people which occasionally led into the opening of their eyes and minds to

the real status and events that were currently happening that time during the Spanish era. As a

person and as a writer, of course Rizal did not get to finish these books right away. For Noli Me

Tangere, he started writing it in Madrid which he eventually finished in Berlin. The same thing

happened in his work for El Filibusterismo as he travelled from place to place and got to finish

his literary piece. Rizal, on his own, also experienced problems in the success of the publications

of his works. According to Yoder (2007), it was a really good thing that Maximo Viola and

Valentin Ventura were there to help Rizal for the publication of two of his major works.

Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are just two of the works which reflected how

Rizal showed his care for his Mother Land, brothers and sisters through the tools of a pen and a

paper. Rizal also did poems, essays, and all sorts of literary pieces that would show his

eagerness to bring out the nationalism that he believes each and every Filipino that time

possessed.

Rizal also had works wherein he stood up for the side of the Filipinos during the time

when others were pointing out the flaws of the Filipinos. One of these works is The Indolence

5
of the Filipinos. According to David (2007), this work was an article that was published at La

Solidaridad. In here, he pointed out the fact that yes, its true that Filipinos could be lazy at

times, but he also stated the reasons behind this.

Another work that Rizal made was Sa Aking Mga Kabata which, according again to

Yoder (2007), was written when Rizal was just eight years old. In here, Rizal showed his strong

sense of nationalism even at just a very young age.

Even at his last hours, Rizal still used his writing skills as an instrument to express his

thoughts, feelings and last words for his Mother Land. This work was the Mi Ultimo Adios

which, according to Craig (1927), Rizal kept in a commonly known lamp and a food warmer at

the same time. Rizal gave this to Trining, one of his sisters, and said that there was something

inside. The poem was basically about his last farewell to the country which he loved and fought

for very much.

Rizals works are not just products of his leisure time or his passion for writing. Rizals

works served as an eye opener to all the Filipino. But then again, Rizal made his works with the

sense of conviction, creativity, and nationalism.

For me, in order to truly capture the essence of Rizals works, and also in order to fulfil

his agenda and objectives in writing these, readers must read between the lines and must really

dissect it chapter per chapter, character per character. This is because Rizal did this great thing

in which he kept behind the lines the current situations of the Philippines that time.

In my opinion, schools these days should not only focus on his two major novels but

should also let the students tackle Rizals other works because these works have the same

importance as Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. In addition, I also think that Rizals literary

6
works were not just meant and were not just representation of the Philippines situation during

the Spanish era. His works can also be applicable in our present times since we can see a

parallelism of the happenings during his time and ours.

References:

Derbyshire, C. (ND). A Translation of Mi Ultimo Adios. Retrieved on August 27, 2012

from http://joserizal.info/Writings/Poetry/poetry.lwp.htm#Mi Ultimo Adios

Rizal, J. (ND). Sa Aking Mga Kabata. Retrieved on August 27, 2012 from

http://joserizal.info/Writings/Poetry/poetry.lwp.htm#Sa AkingMgaKabata

Derbyshire, C. (ND). The Indolence of the Filipinos: English Translation. Retrieved on

August 27, 2012 from http://joserizal.info/Writings/Other/indolence.htm

David, R. (2007). Philippine Daily Inquirer: Rizals Indolence of the Filipinos. Retrieved on

August 27, 2012 from http://laonlaan.blogspot.com/2011/03/rizals-indolence-of-

filipinos.html

Craig, A. (1927). Rizal's Life and Minor Writings. Manila: Philippine Education Co., Inc.,

Yoder, R. (2007). The Social Cancer. Retrieved on August 27, 2012 from

http://joserizal.info/Writings/Noli/English/socialcancer.htm

7
Rizal as a doctor

By Darwyn Mendoza

Ever since I was in kindergarten, Id been hearing about Rizal already. Books told us that

he is the national hero of the Philippines. When I first heard his name and saw his picture I

describe him as only an ordinary man like fellow Filipinos. In my thoughts being a hero is

becoming brave, being patriotic, and being a good influence to others. Several years later, in

my elementary years my teachers taught me that Jose Rizal is our national hero. Jose Rizal

became the national hero because he was very responsible for our freedom, for bringing our

consciousness into action and taking us back to reality that the Philippines is our country and

writing novels, essays, etc. for a peaceful revolution. With just a pen and a bunch of papers it

created a revolution against the Spaniards. He preferred doing the revolution in a peaceful way

rather than a bloody one. As I was in high school, I recognized why Rizal wrote his novels, to

fight against the Spaniards. He used characters in his novels as representations of the Filipinos

during that time.

Rizal was encouraged to study ophthalmology by his mother's failing eyesight and his

aim to help her, so he decided to study medicine specializing in ophthalmology at the University

of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, but unfortunately did not complete the

program because of the much discrimination made by the Spanish friars against the Filipino

students. In the late 1800s, ophthalmology was already a specialty to many people, but there were

really no adaptable residency programs. Most graduate training was achieved in specialist under the

coaching of well-known professors. Rizal first studied the eye under the famous French

ophthalmologist, Louis de Wecker (1832-1906). Although he had no academic position, de Wecker was

8
an abounding author and an aggressive teacher. He established ophthalmoscopy into France and

advanced ocular surgery. He modified cataract and strabismus surgery, devised a new method of

enucleation, encouraged sclerotomy for the treatment of glaucoma, and was the first to use the word

filtration. The de Wecker iris scissors are still in use. Rizal served as assistant at de Wecker's clinic from

November 1885 to February 1886. Rizal was highly aroused by de Wecker's surgical skills and felt his

surgical training was improving well. Living in Paris was too costly, however, forcing him to look

elsewhere for additional training. As he analyzed in the following part of the same letter, he decided to

continue his studies of the eye in Germany, where the cost of living was more acceptable. He was with

courage by the task of learning another new language. In February 1886, Rizal moved to Heidelberg in

Germany. There, he met at university students in a public house and learned from good professors in

ophthalmology. He was administered to the Augenklinik (Eye Clinic) of Otto Becker. Becker (1828-1890)

was professor of ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg from 1868 to 1890 and helped make

university one of the best in Germany. There, he wrote a text on the analysis of the normal and

diseased lens and collected more than 1800 pathologic specimens. Rizal spent the next 6 months

working as a helper to Becker. When he went back in Paris on 1887 to de Wecker's clinic, Rizal took the

time to travel through Europe to learn from and visit to some inspiring ophthalmologists and scientists.

Among the ophthalmologists he visited, apparently the most well-recognized today is Ernst Fuchs,

whom he conspired and worked with for a short time in Vienna. In Berlin, Rizal met Rudolph Virchow,

"The Father of Pathology," who invited him to become a member of the Berlin Anthropological Society.

Virchow, a famous European scientist, would offer Rizal an honor, which was a tribute to the appeal of

his personality and intelligence, as thus far in his career he had made no convincing benefaction to

science. Rizal practiced ophthalmology, mainly in Calamba (August 1887-February 1888), Hong

Kong (November 1891-June 1892), and while in exile in the town of Dapitan (July 1892- July

1896). His functional accomplishments brought him acclamation, and patients often travelled

9
from far places just to seek his help. In Calamba in 1887, Rizal treated his mothers failing

eyesight. He may have operated his mother there, being engaged in an iridectomy as a

preliminary to cataract extraction. In Hong Kong in 1892, he successfully removed the cataract

from his mother's left eye. Several months later, he broadcasted her glasses with instructions

to cover the right lens until he could operate on that eye. Two years later, at Dapitan, he

catheterized the right cataract. He was disappointed by her medical check-up course, however,

as she counteracted his instructions and took off the bandages too soon. After that happened,

he learned a lesson on the difficulty of taking care of family members. Experiences like this one

may have brought about the basis for the concurrent approval that surgeons should not operate on

their immediate family. However, that Rizal really only had 2 patients: his mother and his country. His

devotion to both was certainly conspicuous. (Ravin, 2001).

Ever since he was a child, Rizal used his profession not only in treating the eyes of

the people, but treating their eyes to the reality of the Spanish colonial era, that we were being

oppressed and abused. In his teenage years, he strived hard in his high school and when he

was in college to reach his dreams and goals with the help of his brother, Paciano. In my own

opinion, Rizal used his smartness and his profession to help the Filipinos who are in need and

who are being mocked by the Spaniards. I believe that God had used him to make a huge

difference in the history of the Philippines by his works, and his life, our country was known for

its patriotism from other countries. God had a plan for him and also for the Philippines.

10
References:

(NA). (ND). How did Dr. Jose Rizal become a hero? What did he do? Retrieved on August

24, 2012, from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=

20080401064340AARjwW7%3E

Ravin, T. (2001). Jose Rizal: Philippine National Hero and Ophthalmologist.

Archives of Ophthalmology. Vol. 119, number 2. Retrieved on August 24, 2012

from http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=265463

11
Rizal in the character of Crisostomo Ibarra

By Camille De Asis

According to Jose Rizal (1887), Noli me Tangere signify do not touch me. The book

contains things of which no one among ourselves has spoken up to the present; they are so

delicate that they cannot be touched by anybody I have endeavoured to answer the calumnies

which for centuries had been heaped on us and our country: I have described the social

condition, the life, our beliefs, our hopes, our grievances, our griefs... The facts I narrate are all

true and they actually happened: I can prove them.

According to (Zaide, 2003), the paragraph mentioned above came from Jose Rizal when

he described the first novel that he has made. He was 26 years old at the year when he finished

writing the novel which makes him aware of the happenings in the Philippines. He mentioned

that the events found in Noli Me Tangere are all mirrors of the reality in colonial Philippines. He

was inspired to write a novel like this on the Philippines by his reading of Uncle Toms Cabin by

Harriet Beecher Stowe. He dedicated his first novel to his country and his target audience were

the Spaniards. His main goal in writing the novel is to expose human sufferings done by the

colonizers. Also, he wanted to suggest possible solutions that would help the Indios elevate

their condition.

Rizal showed his sense of nationalism when he made Crisostomo Ibarra his lead

character in Noli Me Tangere. Based on the story, Ibarra came home to the Philippines after 7

years of study in Europe. This already tells us a message from Rizal- that we should enrich

ourselves with knowledge. We should get the best education that we can get, but must not

12
forget to offer this knowledge to our motherland. One must improve himself in order to

improve his country as well. We must make an effort to better ourselves for the benefit of our

country.In addition, Ibarra also planned to build a schoolhouse at his own expense. This sends

us the message that education is really necessary in improving a country. Anyone, especially

someone who is capable of helping, must aid in making education accessible to everyone.

Rizal also mentioned many incidents that prove how cruel the Friars were. An example

would be the incident when Ibarra went to San Diego to visit his fathers grave. At the

cemetery, he was shocked to know from the grave-digger that the corpse of Ibarras father,

Don Rafael, was removed by order of the parish priest. Worse, the parish priest ordered the

grave-digger to bury the body in the Chinese cemetery. Rizal made known to his readers the

abuses and the harsh treatment by the friars. The reason behind this is not to put a bad image

on the Spanish priests, but instead to awaken the minds of the Indios so that they would learn

to fight against their oppressors. He wanted his fellow countrymen to stop following the

commands of the Spaniards and to start taking the steps toward freedom.

We can see from the character of Ibarra that he plays the role of a good Filipino. He

made ways to improve the Philippines because of his love for it. Rizal made this possible in

order for the Indios to imitate Ibarra and to develop their sense of nationalism too.

Apparently, there exists a person who believes that Rizal was not so much of a

nationalistic person. He is Renato Constantino. He said that, His hero, Ibarra, was a Spanish

mestizo. This therefore implies that Rizal was not a nationalistic person because his lead

character in the novel was not a pure Filipino. This can be caused by the fact that he was an

13
ilustrado and that he was not one among the masses (Constatino, 1970). This may be true, but

the totality of what Ibarras character has done in the novel shows that he is indeed a

nationalistic person. His desire to free the Indios from the harsh treatment done by the

Spaniards supports this.

Both the characters in Noli Me Tangere and the novel itself prove that Jose Rizal is a

person with a strong sense of nationalism because he and his works were able to contribute to

the national consciousness of the Filipinos. Rizal was able to express his desire for political

independence through his writings.

Our thirst for change must not be satisfied only by small improvements and slow

developments. Just like Jose Rizal, we too should be agents of social change. We need not to

make a novel just to express our feelings or promote nationalism among Filipinos. What we can

do is to promote nationalism in a way that will be appreciated by the society. We must adapt to

the society so that our actions could be felt by many. One example is to create a social website

wherein everyone could freely express his idea or opinion about the Philippines. Dying for your

country does not automatically make a person nationalistic. His efforts to start a change in

bringing out the sense of nationalism in everyone could serve as a better criterion.

Reference:

Zaide, G. (2003). Rizal Life, Works and Writings. Philippines: National Book Store.

(Constantino, R.) (ND). Veneration without understanding. Retrieved on September 2,

2012, from http://joserizal.info/Reflections/Veneration/veneration_text.htm

14
Rizal in the character of Simoun

By Jasmine Canlas

El Filibusterismo, also known by its English title The Reign of Greed, is a novel written by

Rizal which is a sequel to his first book Noli Me Tangere. Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo as a wake-

up call to the Filipinos who were mistreated by the Spaniards. He used the image of a filibuster

or a rebel to reveal the moral cancer of Spanish officials, also to serve as a signal or reminder to

the Filipinos that it is time to fight for the freedom that we all want (Derbyshire, 1912). He used

Simoun as a character in the novel who would give Filipinos a sense of nationalism. Simouns

character was described as a Filipino who wanted change for his country through a revolution.

Rizal used different issues to symbolize the problems that the Filipinos were experiencing under

the power of the Spaniards. El Filibusterismo pointed out some problems of the Filipinos which

can be related to some of Rizals essays, like The Indolence of the Filipinos. Filipinos knew

that they were being mistreated but they did not have the courage and initiative to fight for

their rights. They were used to the go with the flow attitude so they remained under the

control of the Spaniards. This was the problem that Rizal wanted Simoun wanted the Filipinos

to change.

El Filibusterismo for me is a very interesting novel because it was written for a purpose.

Rizal focused on Simoun and his goal to restore freedom to the country. I learned from his

character that if we, the Filipinos, wanted independence for our country; we should unite and

work for it. It would not be handed to us by the Spaniards and nothing will happen if we do not

start a change. I can relate Simouns character in the novel to some Filipinos in present time. In

15
present time, poverty is evident around the country and most of Philippines population is

below the poverty line. This proves that our country is not in a good state. Some of the reasons

why most of the children are not able to study and receive proper education is because of

poverty. Parents accept the fact that their children wont be able to study because their money

is not even enough for their food. This is the same problem faced by Filipinos in El

Filibusterismo. In the novel, Filipinos lack the initiative to fight for their rights so they continue

to be abused and mistreated. Today, people lack the initiative to work for a better living

because they are satisfied with what they have.

Not all Filipinos lack initiative. One person I can compare and relateto Simoun is Efren

Penaflorida, who was awarded CNN hero in 2009. Like Simoun, Efren wanted change for his

country. Although Simoun wanted change through a revolution, Efren wanted a peaceful and

very productive change. He helped children who cannot study through his project, kariton

klasrum which is a pushcart learning system adopted by DepEd as K4 meaning Kariton,

klasrum, klinik, kantin. His goal in doing this project is to give education to street children for

them to have a better future. He used his own money to fund this project and he didnt think of

himself but he worked for the sake of the children. Through this selfless act, he was able to

change the lives of the children. (Pimentel, 2009)

I admire Efren Penaflorida for what he did for the country. Despite the fact that he is not

that rich, he still used his own money to help others whom he has never even met. I would also

want to be like him by helping the less fortunate and sharing what I have to them. He serves as

an inspiration to many children and people around the country. We dont need to form a

16
revolution or build a moving school to make a change for the country. Even in the simplest

ways, we can also be like Efren Penaflorida and Simoun who made a change for the country if

we have in our hearts the will and power. If we all aim and unite for change, nothing is

impossible and we can rise from where we are today. We can start change from ourselves and

eventually to others through simple acts of helping and being an inspiration to many.

Reference:

Derbyshire, C (1912). The Reign of Greed. Retrieved on August 29, 2012 from

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10676/10676-h/10676-h.htm

Pimentel, J. (2009). Efren Peaflorida is CNN 2009 Hero of The Year. Retrieved on

August 29, 2012 from http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline-usa/15-dateline-

usa/3672-efren-penaflorida-is-cnn-2009-hero-of-the-year.html

17
Point of View of the Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi

By Rea Ambion

When I was in elementary, my teacher taught me that Jose Rizal is our national hero.

Well first, a hero symbolizes bravery and goodness. Jose Rizal became the national hero

because he stood up for his countrys freedom against the colonizers. He used his pen and

wrote novels, essays and articles to speak instead of forming a revolution. He prefers obtaining

freedom in a peaceful way rather than through aggression. These just show how much he loves

our country.

Only few of the Filipinos know the whole history or biography of Jose Rizals life. This is

because majority of us have been only taught of the hagiographic side of him. Some historians

probably viewed Rizal-veneration as a sign of a colonial mentality on the part of the masses,

particularly when it came to light that Rizal's stature as the preeminent national hero had been

partly the result of official promotion during the American period. Because of his title as

national hero most Filipinos think that hes perfect thats why he became a hero. But there

are really a lot of reasons why he became a hero and his being imperfect was not included.

I never thought of Rizal as a part of the Holy Trinity or God before. Maybe because since

I was a child I already believed that Jesus Christ is our God. For me, he is our national hero. To

some Filipinos, however, he is more than that. According to the documentary (Case Unclosed:

KristongKayumangg) that weve watched on class, they consider Rizal to be the

"KristongKayumanggi" or the "Brown Christ". They are called as Rizalistas. Most of its members

are also from Laguna. The reason why they are called Rizalistas is because they have this belief

18
that Rizal is a supernatural being. But there is this one group of Rizalistas who say that they

dont treat Rizal as God but as a normal human. Dr. Luis Parabuac, current leader of the group,

said: Hes a human that had many accomplishments not only for his own benefits but for the

benefits of his countrymen. According to the Rizalistas, they believe God as the cause of

everything. Meaning, they believe that there is only one Superior who made everything in this

world. Unlike for the Catholics, they also dont believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. For

they have this perception that all of us are considered as sons and daughters of God. They call

themselves as the Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi.

According to Allan A. Ongs studies, Iglesiang Watawat ng Lahi was founded by Gaudioso

Parabuac in Burol ng Lecheria, Calamba, Laguna on Disyembre 25, 1936. Watawat ng Lahi is

the term given to Dr. Jose Rizal as he is the main representative of the brown race. Gaudioso

decided to establish this because he thinks that Rizals teachings could solve the suffering of the

Filipinos especially the youth. They are studying all the works Rizal and impose it into their lives.

They have this belief that applying Rizals teaching to their lives will make them happy,

productive and healthy mentally, spiritually and physically. According to them, Rizals existence

has a purpose. This is to bring out the nationalism and greatness of the people. They are the

ones who are continuing what Rizal had started. One more thing, they are opposing to those

groups that treat Rizal as God. They think that this is against his teachings and should not be

called as Rizalistas. The Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi is really different from the Catholics. They

dont have priests in their own churches. They have a designated person whos in charge of the

marriage ceremonies for free. They dont believe in baptism, confirmation, mass, procession

and even praying because according to Rizal it will only make your soul evil.

19
 In summary, this group of Rizalistas has a goal that they want to reach on the near

future. Their goal is to apply all the teachings of Rizal in their lives and be an example to other

Filipinos. In this way, Filipinos would be encouraged to imitate them and also live Rizals

teachings. As Catholic people, we dont have the right to question their beliefs. In fact, they still

respect our Christian beliefs even though its against theirs. In exchange, we should also do the

same. We just have to accept that people have different opinions and perspectives in life.

References:

Ruelo Lozendo (Director). (2009, May 27). GMA News: Case Unclosed. Rizal:

Kristong Kayumanggi. Podcast retrieved on August 27, 2012 from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2WqoI15Hfk

Ong, A. (ND). Rizalistas: Watawat ng Lahi. Retrieved on August 27, 2012 from

http://rizalistas.webs.com/angsamahan.htm

Smita, L. (ND). Writer, Hero, Myth, and Spirit: The Changing Image of Jos Rizal.

Retrieved on August 27, 2012 from http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/

Modules/Modules/PhilippineReligions/article_rizal.htm

20
Rizal in the eyes of the Sagrada Familia and SFCC

By Gabrielle Delos Santos

During my high school years, I didnt really take Filipino classes seriously until my senior

year; since I was graduating and all. I have heard of the term Rizalistas before. I thought they

were only people who were for Rizal being our national hero against Andres Bonifacios

followers. It is up until college that I learned of these groups of Rizalistas. I have never ever

thought Rizal could have been idolized like God!

The town of Calamba, in the province of Laguna--by virtue of having been the birthplace

of Dr. Jose Rizal--has become a pilgrimage site, not only for those wanting to pay homage to the

Philippine National Hero, but more importantly for the Rizalistas who worship Rizal as God.

Calamba is said to be the new "promised land" where God Rizal shall establish His kingdom

after the old world has been destroyed in the apocalypse. At the very center of this kingdom

will be the barrio of Rongot, presently Calamba's poorest community, but which will eventually

be the New Jerusalem. This is the belief of the religious sect called IglesiaSagradaFamilia, a

small but intensely dedicated group of Rizalists found in SitioRongot, Calamba, Laguna. Led by a

vibrant old lady named Gloria Bibat, 84, the IglesiaSagradaFamilia worships Dr. Jose Rizal as

God. They call Rizal not as Dr. Rizal but as Amang Rizal (Father Rizal) or simply Amang Doctor

(Father Doctor). (Villegas, 2011)

Fortunately, I have come to find Dennis Villegas blog in the internet; he is a reporter

who interacted with Gloria Bibat, the head of the Sagrada Familia.

21
 I realize that this is the reason they call themselves the Iglesia Sagrada Familia or The

Church of the Holy Family, because in their belief, God consists of a family: God the Father, God

the Mother and God the Son, The Most Holy Trinity, according to Dennis Villegas.

... I ask Nanay Gloria the question that really brought me to Rongot: Why do you

worship Amang Rizal?

Because He is God, she replies. "Amang Rizal is the Savior of the Filipino people. He saved us

from the Spanish oppressors.

"So where is Amang Rizal now? I ask.

Hes living somewhere in the forests and caves of Mount Makiling . But he will come back soon.

He will make this placeSitio Rongot-- the center of his kingdom!

In a Rizalista documentary (Case Unclosed with Arnold Clavio) shown during class, the

Rizalista group of the SFCC was introduced to us. The head of this church is Romulo Demejes.

He claims that Si Rizal ay Kristong kayumanggi. Dr. Jose Rizal showed himself to Romulo

Demejes at his time of need; so he started the Spiritual Filipino Catholic Church which praises

Rizal as Christ, it is somehow similar to the Sagrada Familia. Romulo Demejes started the SFCC

in Dolores Quezon. According to the documentary, the number of followers for SFCC is around

100 people only.

These religions seem questionable on how did the Sagrada Familia and SFCC come to

view Dr. Jose Rizal as Jesus Christ or God. Arent they very different? Isnt Dr. Jose Rizal a

22
normal human being? Didnt he make mistakes as well? These are just a few questions that can

be raised when the term Rizalistas come into mind.

But, do we really know Rizal? Isnt he just like us? Even his relatives today said he

gambled and partied during his time. Are teachers efficiently teaching the students today about

Jose Rizals life? His works are being used today for the betterment of several countries yet we

somehow cant develop our own country. Is this because of ignorance? Most probably, we only

treat the teachings in school as a requirement; not a way of life. We are like a sponge. We

absorb lessons at a given time frame, and then we release what we learned after the tests. I

really think we should reflect on Rizals messages. We should always apply the lessons he has

taught us through his writings in real life.

Reference:

Villegas, D. (2011). The Rizalistas of Rongot. Retrieved on August 20, 2012 from

http://dennisvillegas.blogspot.com/2011/05/rizalistas-of-rongot.html

23