There is this misconception that most people who admire Rizal are from the elite classes of the Philippines. The thing is, that’s not entirely true - in fact, his most ardent admirers are masses from the rural areas.
Meet the Rizalistas - these are people who practice a form of Folk Catholicism where Jose Rizal is considered the second coming of Christ.
There are also accounts that Jose Rizal is merely a spiritual guide, or that key people of the Philippine Revolution including Rizal himself, were a reincarnation of Virgin Mary itself. The “Jose Rizal is the second coming of Christ” is of course, the widely-accepted narrative.
The largest and oldest Rizalista group, that can be perhaps considered the “official” Rizalista group, is the Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi. It was established on December 25, 1936 by Rev. Fr. Luis Fabrigar and Jose Valincunoza. Rev. Fr. Fabrigar was the first Supreme Bishop while Mr. Valincunoza was its first president.
Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi’s headquartes is in Calamba, Laguna and it has over 100 chapters nationwide. Aspiring priests must study somewhere in Bicol and they are allowed to marry, provided that they have served the church for at least five years.
Like Roman Catholicism, they also use the Bible. However, they also consider Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo (Rizal’s novels) as an alternative to that. The second most important book for them is the Sugong Kayumanggi (The Brown Messenger).
Members of the sect are also known to wear colors of the Philippine flag during worship.
The most important holiday for them is Rizal Day (December 31) where they celebrate the Misa de Tres - an elaborate celebration of flowers, flags and parades. Bonifacio Day, Gomburza Day and other national holidays in the Philippines are also important celebrations to them. Christmas Day for this sect is on October 3rd because they believe that it is the actual day of Christ’s birth.
A lesser known fact is that it is also Rizalistas who act as tour guides and guard the premises of the Rizal Shrine in Dapitan. In fact, a tourist who went to the Rizal Shrine got to interview one of the Rizalistas who served as their tour guide.
Documentaries about the Rizalistas (these are mostly in Filipino):
Mga nanlalabing Rizalista, nanatiling tapat sa kanilang paniniwala
Xiao Time: Diwang katutubo na nanatili sa Kapatirang Rizalista
Isang araw sa mga Rizalista (A day in the life of Rizalistas)
Not a documentary, but here’s a video of Sheikh Najeeb Razul meeting the founding member of the Rizalista Shrine in Dapitan (the video is in Bisaya)
