This chapter was juicy! We were truly guided by Michael Gonzalez’ words and 8 years of thesis research investigating the said debatable, 2 existing and paradoxical stories of the legendary Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal is formally known as a native reformist, physician, author of books-- a “renaissance man”, that was falsely implicated in an anti-colonial revolutionary plot and executed by the colonial Spanish authorities on December 30, 1896. Gonzalez’ work included understanding the national “official”, sometimes imaginary Jose Rizal; versus the perhaps “unofficial”/folklore (said to be told my peasants, laborers, and middle class Filipinos) version of Jose Rizal, deemed by the “Rizalistas”.

Rizalistas, a conglomeration of various groups (or sects) scattered all over the Philippines that see Rizal and the events surrounding his life as distinctly spiritual, sacred, and personal. Among some of these associations are the Sagrada Familiar, Watawat ng Lahi, Tres Persona Solo Dios, and the Kataastaasang Kapatiran Ng Litaw Na Katalinuhan. These groups have inconspicuous small churches and sanctuaries that dot the rural landscape along the Laguna and Quezon (Aurora) Provinces.



In addition, this chapter was rife with information on the transformation of the Philippine national anthem with colonization within the Philippines, which we discuss briefly. Another potential theory to consider through Gonzalez' writing, was the idea to consider if Jose Rizal was actually the pre-colonial Philippines interpretation of Jesus!?! Gonzalez felt like this concept along with his other works, lit a way for our Filipina/o/x cultural memory to keep unfolding, waiting to be retrieved and revealed for more research, theories, and perhaps action, to come.

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1. Grounding Prayer & @ 2min, 36sec

2. "90 second DECOLONIZING" Heart Check-in @ 4min, 51sec

3. Chapter Overview @ 13min, 56sec

4. Vocabulary Words 17min, 19sec

5. Quotes @ 26min, 51sec

6. Closing Prayer @ 46min, 14sec