Think about it
Rizal and his new Knights
By Jun Velasco
WE observe by government edict Rizal Day today. Has it occurred to you how the idea men, the organizers of this movement started the entire thing, this nationwide, nay, worldwide movement that exalts the Filipino’s capacity for greatness? Let’s thank Dr. Jose Rizal. He has shown what’s best in the Filipino.
No Filipino hero has gained such world fame, such tremendous popularity – or notoriety, in case you belong to the few antis — as the well loved martyr we remember and honor today. December 30, l896 was his day of execution in the hands of his Spanish captors at the Luneta or Bagumbayan or more fittingly, Rizal Park.
It is well now 111 years since then. As if to reinforce its grip on the Filipino psyche, a group of modern day patriots with unfailing love and fealty for the hero formed in l909 the Order of the Knights of Rizal to make this moment one of soulful reflection so that we can recapture the impact and meaning of that martyrdom. Credit then Manila Chief of Police, Colonel Antonio C. Torres who sired the group that began an annual rite to meet at dawn, sometimes on horseback ” like the knights of old known for their chivalry and exemplary life.”
That non-stock corporation was named “Orden de Caballeros de Rizal” with Torres as its first supreme commander. The order later got its legislative charter through Congress in l951 to encourage everyone to venerate the national hero in light of the inestimable value to the nation of his teachings and example.
Among its goals, as stated in the bill, were “the attainment of social discipline, civic virtues, love of justice.” The bill, sponsored in Congress by Cebu Rep. Manuel Zosa and in the Senate by Senators Enrique Magalona, Lorenzo Sumulong, Esteban Abada, Emiliano Tria Tirona, Camilo Osias, Geronimo Pecson, Joise Avelino and Ramon Torres, was signed into law by President Elpidio Quirino on June 14, l951. It has since been called R.A. 646.
No government leader of note has not been a member of the organization starting with Presidents Manuel Quezon, Emilio Aguinaldo, Jose P Laurel, Carlos Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, Fidel V Ramos and Joseph Estrada; Chief Justices Roberto Concepcion, Claudio Teehankee, JBL Reyes, Senators Lorenzo Tanada, Claro M Recto, Jose W Diokno, Benigno Aquino Jr., Blas Ople, Speaker Jose d e Venecia, Carlos P. Romulo, Jaime Cardinal Sin, Narciso Ramos, Emilio Yap, Conrado Benitez, Jose Yulo, Conrado Estrella, and many others.
What bugs the Knights of Rizal movement is its growing size and worldwide magnitude, having metamorphosed into an international organization with enthusiastic members in the United States, Canada, Japan, the whole of Europe which was the national hero’s “second country” which housed him while fiercely struggling to liberate the islands thru his writings; Japan, Malaysia, China, and others. The organization has to wrestle with the known problems of enlarging organizations. It has to adapt to new challenges.
Based on the reports of Supreme Council officials who attended the recent international assemblies in Europe and the United States, we have strong reasons to hope and jubilate because our knights out there want to bare more their patriotic souls in deference to the memory of the person we honor today.
These are auspicious times that should prod ardent followers of the hero to proverbially come forward and be counted in reliving his life, thoughts and crusade for a free, united and enlightened Philippines.
Wherever you are and in whatever clime, reflect on his martyrdom to rekindle the fire in our bosoms in our struggle to be free from the darkness that still holds sway over our lives due to our own undoing.
Rizal’s knights should take the lead. (from the columnist’s article in the Bagumbayan)
(Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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