As Knights of Rizal, members of the Order are charged with the relentless pursuit and defense of the values held dear by the Philippine hero Dr. Jose Rizal: civil rights, nonviolence, internationalism, education, and service to community and country.
Members of the Order are specifically called to
We are a humble Order who values service over luxury and, as such, our Chapters around the world operate in whatever room is available for their use. Some conduct Order business in basements while some find themselves in richly appointed meeting spaces. Wherever they may be, the Knights of Rizal dedicate themselves to honoring the legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal in their words and deeds, and that is all we strive for.
Would you like to join our ranks? Petition for membership here.
Members of the Order are specifically called to
- study the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal;
- inculcate and propagate them in and among all classes of Filipino people;
- exhort our citizenry by words and deeds, to emulate and practice the examples and teachings of our national hero;
- promote among all Knights the spirit of patriotism and Rizalian chivalry;
- develop a perfect union among the Filipinos in revering the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal;
- organize and hold programs commemorating Rizal’s birth and martyrdom; and
- share these ideals with peoples of all cultures, wherever possible.
We are a humble Order who values service over luxury and, as such, our Chapters around the world operate in whatever room is available for their use. Some conduct Order business in basements while some find themselves in richly appointed meeting spaces. Wherever they may be, the Knights of Rizal dedicate themselves to honoring the legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal in their words and deeds, and that is all we strive for.
Would you like to join our ranks? Petition for membership here.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Dr. Jose Rizal
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José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal was a prolific writer and key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement, which advocated for political reforms for the Philippines under Spanish rule. His words inspired key figures of the Philippine Revolution, who viewed him as the heart and soul of the rebellion. Though he never condoned an armed uprising and preferred more peaceful reforms through the Spanish legislature (e.g. Filipino representation in Spanish government, tax reform), he ultimately agreed to the revolution's goal of independence from Spain. His execution by Spanish authorities rallied the Philippine rebels and ignited a full-blown revolt against Spanish rule.
On June 12, 1898, a year and a half after Rizal's death, the Philippines declared independence, flying its own flag and playing its national anthem for the first time. During his life, he wrote two novels Noli Me Tángere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891), which together are taken as a national epic, in addition to numerous poems and essays. |
Nine Gentlemen Assembled
The Order of the Knights of Rizal was first organized out of a group of nine gentlemen led by Manila Police Chief Colonel Sir Antonio C. Torres on Rizal Day, December 30, 1911, to commemorate the martyrdom of José Rizal against the Spanish Empire. This group of founding members included Sir Martin P. de Veyra (a pensionado who graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked for the Philippine Assembly), Sir Jose A. del Barrio (a Bureau of Internal Revenue employee), and Sir Jose S. Galvez (a lawyer, stage actor, and the President of the dramatic guild Talca).
A year later, on December 30, 1912, 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. The Knights of Rizal kept vigil during the wake and acted as honor guards during the subsequent burial as thousands lined the streets and the Freemasons of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines marched in step.
In 1916, Col. Torres formally registered the Order as a private non-stock corporation. This is why in some documents, 1916 is listed as our founding date even when we began activities as early as 1911.
A year later, on December 30, 1912, 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. The Knights of Rizal kept vigil during the wake and acted as honor guards during the subsequent burial as thousands lined the streets and the Freemasons of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines marched in step.
In 1916, Col. Torres formally registered the Order as a private non-stock corporation. This is why in some documents, 1916 is listed as our founding date even when we began activities as early as 1911.
December 30, 1912. The Rizal catafalque is flanked by the Knights of Rizal in full uniform as the Freemasons, dressed in white, marched along.
Chartered by Law
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The Order was granted a legislative charter by President Elpidio Quirino as a non-sectarian, non-partisan, civic, patriotic, and cultural organization under Republic Act 646 on June 14, 1951. The new law shortened the official English name to "Knights of Rizal," as it is used widely today, while keeping its original form in Spanish as "Orden de Caballeros de Rizál." Knighthood became protected by statute and falsely claiming membership in the Order is punishable by law.
Although not a state order, it is the 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's insignia is often worn by members of the Philippine government and diplomatic corps. The insignia is ranked seventh in the Order of Wear pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Honors Code of the Philippines. Since its founding, the Order has grown to more than 25,000 members belonging to over 130 active chapters in the Philippines and 61 active chapters around the world. Its international headquarters is located on Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila. |
Historical marker placed by the National Historical Insititute at the headquarters of the Order in Manila
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A photograph from the collection of Sir Eulogio Balan Rodriguez, the renowned former Director of the National Library. His writing on the back states: “Taken at 7:03. Luneta. 30 Dec 1947 – Caballeros de Rizal – with the President of the Philippines & Mrs Roxas”
