Rizal

2
On Rizal
and Religion
Written By John Rhofil Icaranom
to the article is quite simple: “Dahil Siya ang
Pambansang Bayani “
To mock someone elses religion is a very dangerous
thing. Last January this year, the world
is set a buzz when French Satirical Weekly
News Magazine Charlie Hebdo
was attacked by two gunmen.
12 people were killed, 8 journalist,
2 police officers, a caretaker
and a visitor. The two
gunmen killed five of France’s
top cartoonists, saying that
they wanted to avenge the
prophet Muhhamad for Charlie
Hebdo’s satire of him.
According to an article published
in the newspaper Philippine
Star, barangay Ronggot in Calamba Laguna
is dubbed as the Rizalista Village. Barangay
Ronggot is a bit out of the way according to
the article. From Calamba proper, you have to
take a bangka to get to the barangay, or the
alternative is to walk about three or four kilometers
on an unfinished, unpaved road. The
barangay does not have a hospital or a public
market, and the residents of the village have
to go all the way to Calamba proper for the
consumer items that they need.
The reason for worshipping Rizal according
When I found out that there is a group
of people who worships Rizal as their
second Christ, my initial reaction was
to laugh. Really? What a really absurd
practice I say. However, I’ve manage to
urge the practice because of what I
remember about the recent world events
that transpired because of a lack of
respect for other peoples beliefs.
According to the article, the place has a shrine
for Rizal with pictures and statues of the national
hero, with the Ten Commandments believed
to be penned by Rizal himself was said
to be built. It is also said that the worshippers
contend that Rizal’s spirit goes into chosen
mediums so that he can continue teaching
those who follow his ways. The medium nowadays
is an old lady named Manang Gloria.
There were others before her, but the story is
the same for all of them. Rizal’s spirit supposedly
possesses them during
the time of worship, and
through the medium, teaches
his followers the lessons
of living life the correct and
righteous way. They say it is
Rizal talking when the medium
takes on the voice of a man.
In a country that’s a haven of
a lot of myths and folklores,
it might not be really hard for
those people to believe and
do such practice. We have our own different
beliefs, and I believe we don’t have to have
the same religion beliefs to be able to genuinely
care about each other, to do good to
one another, besides all religion have a universality
when it comes to their golden rules,
“Hurt not others in ways that you yourself
would find hurtful.” In the end it all comes
down to you and your doings, if we’ve become
good christians, muslims, rizalists or
whatsoever, it’s all up to us. So yes, do good
my friend. Do what you want as long as no
one is hurting, it’s a free country anyways.
Facts
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