189. KNIGHTS OF RIZAL

 

h10.190.

KNIGHTS OF RIZAL

Troy Alexander G. Miano, LPT,DPA,CESE

27 July 2024

For so long a time, I wanted to join the homegrown Knights of Rizal (KR). I got acquainted with some of the Knights when I, together with my wife Jasmin, participated in the centennial anniversary of the transfer of the bones of Jose P. Rizal (JPR) on December 30, 2012 at Binondo, Manila. As we walked together with the symbolic cortege, members of the KR escorted the procession up to the Rizal Monument in Luneta. They were in full regalia.

During my school-age years, my parents would regularly bring me to Rizal Park, Fort Santiago in Intramuros and the Rizal Ancestral House in Calamba (now a city), Laguna giving me my ABCs on the life, works and legacy of JPR. I also learned that JPR was an alumnus of two of my former schools; at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST). JPR studied at the Ateneo de Municipal (now ADMU) from 1872-1877 and was in UST from 1877-1881 while I was at the ADMU from 1980-1988 and at UST from 1992-1996.

In 1994, I trekked Mt. Banahaw in Dolores, Quezon during the Holy Week and got acquainted with a group labeled as Rizalistas and meddled with them as I reached the areas known as Suplina, Kristalino and Durungawan. In 1996, I visited again the home of the Rizalistas during the time when I was the national youth coordinator of the Earthsavers Movement that sent me to deliver a lecture on "spiritual aspect of earthsaving" in mystical Mt. Banahaw in Dolores, Quezon. There are many Rizalista organizations in the locality but the group that accommodated us are the "Samahan ng Tatlong Persona Solo Dios." They have a prayer space wherein the photos of our national heroes are prominently displayed and revered. Religious symbols and amulets are also widely used in the community.

Since 1996, I have released dozens of historical articles through books and pamplets and three of which focused on JPR. The pamplets are: "Lansangang Rizal ng Maynila" (2008), "Mga L.G.U. ni Rizal" (2010), and "Baryang Rizal" (2012).

In 2013, I started teaching Rizal Course as mandated by Republic Act No. 1425 or Rizal Law at the University of La Salette in Santiago City and Isabela State University - Cauayan Campus in Cauayan City, Isabela. I revolutionized the style of teaching the life and works of JPR by not focusing on the traditional memorization but analyzing on the era of Rizal and the reasons for his works and actions and the use of pictorial history.

With all these influences of Rizal in my life made me inquire a number of times in Facebook and in the net on how to be a member of the Knights of Rizal. And at long last, a son of a kababayan who resides in Santiago City came to know my intentions and informed me that he informed the Isabela Chapter. Sir Peter D. Noble assisted me and the rest is history.

I have three reasons why I yearned to join the Knights of Rizal. (1) Rizal was a well-rounded human making me idolize him and joining a group that will spread his legacy would gratify me more personally. (2) Joining the KR would make me promote especially to the young generation that studying the life of Rizal is still relevant in modern times. (3) I find it very unique that a socio-civic organization like the KR was created by an act of Congress of the Philippines and I want to be a part of it.

Searching the net revealed that the Knights of Rizal is an Order of Chivalry from the Philippines, created to honor and uphold the ideals of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The civic organization of the "Order of the Knights of Rizal" was established by Colonel Antonio C. Torres (1885-1951), who later served as the first Filipino chief of police of Manila.

On December 30, 1911, Torres gathered nine men to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the execution and martyrdom of JPR. Exactly a year later, a state funeral was held to transfer Rizal's remains from his family's house in Binondo, Manila for a wake in the Ayuntamiento and finally a burial in Luneta where the Order of the Knights of Rizal acted as the honor guards. Since then, the order has led commemorations of Rizal's birth anniversaries and plays a prominent role during Rizal Day ceremonies commemorating his death anniversary. This commemoration continued annually until November 16, 1916, when Torres organized a private non-stock corporation christened “Orden de Caballeros de Rizal’, Spanish for "Order of the Knights of Rizal". Torres' fellow co-founders were Juan Flameño, Martin P. de Veyra, Jose A. del Barrio and Jose S. Calvez.

In 1951, the order pushed for filing a bill in the Philippine Congress to grant the Order of the Knights of Rizal a legislative charter. Senators Enrique Magalona, Lorenzo Sumulong, Esteban Abada, Emiliano Tria Tirona, Camilo Osías, Geronima Pécson, José Avelino and Ramon Torres sponsored the bill in the Senate while Congressman Manuel Zola of Cebu was the principal sponsor in the House of Representatives. The bill was signed into law by Philippine President Elpidio Quirino on June 14, 1951, as Republic Act 646. It is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, civic, patriotic, and cultural organization.

RA 646 Section 2 provides: The purposes of this corporation shall be to study the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal, to inculcate and propagate them in and among all classes of the Filipino people, and by words and deeds to exhort our citizenry to emulate and practice the examples and teachings of our national hero; to promote among the associated knights the spirit of patriotism and Rizalian chivalry; to develop a perfect union among the Filipinos in revering the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal; and to organize and hold programs commemorative of Rizal's nativity and martyrdom.

Before Executive Order No. 236 was issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on September 19, 2003, it is one order of knighthood in the Philippines officially recognized and endorsed by an official act of the national government, and its awards and titles are recognized by the Honors Code of the Philippines as official awards of the Republic. The Order is often worn by members of the Philippine government and diplomatic corps. The insignia of the Order of the Knights of Rizal is ranked seventh in the Order of Wear pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Honors Code of the Philippines. However; Section 11 of EO 236 discontinued the conferment of a number of civilian awards which includes: Rizal Collegiate Palms and Rizal Pro Patria Award.

Since its founding, the Order has grown to more than 25,000 members belonging to 131 active chapters in the Philippines and 61 active chapters around the world. Its international headquarters is located on Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila.

In 1992, a historical marker was installed by the National Historical Institute at the head office which reads: ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF RIZAL. ITINATAG NG GRUPONG NASA PAMUMUNO NI KORONEL ANTONIO C. TORRES, 1909, PARA GUNITAIN ANG PAGKAKABARIL AT KABAYANIHAN NI DR. JOSE RIZAL. BINIGYAN NG CORPORATE STATUS AT PINANGALANANG ORDEN DE CABALLEROS DE RIZAL O ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF RIZAL, NOBYEMBRE 16, 1916. PINAGKALOOBAN DIN NG LEGISLATIVE CHARTER NANG PAGTIBAYIN NG PANGULONG ELPIDIO QUIRINO ANG BATAS REPUBLIKA BLG. 646, HUNYO 14, 1951. NANGUNA PARA MAPAGTIBAY ANG PROKLAMASYON PAMPANGULUHAN BLG. 54, DISYEMBRE 19, 1986, NA NAGTATALAGA SA DISYEMBRE 23 HANGGANG 30 NANG BAWAT TAON BILANG LINGGO NI RIZAL.

Now a First Degree member of the Knights of Rizal, I am devoting a segment of my busy schedule in making sure that I will continue to promote the life and works of our national hero and advocate to rally the present and next generation to appreciate and practice the legacies of the great Malayan - Dr. Jose P. Rizal.