How come a people that produced one of the greatest men in the world could be, and are still, led by crooks, scoundrels and nincompoops? -- Bobby Reyes

Bobby Reyes, being a journalist, is used to deal with words. And, indeed, he knows how to choose the right ones to the right persons in the right moments. Acting so, he helps a lot to regain honour for the Philippine civil society, especially in the view of a non-Filipino.

Looking back to the 17 months when I was a Knight of Rizal, I feel ashamed about that fact. Since I see Mr. Reyes’ vision, since I sense his attitude towards the self-styled order that continues misusing Rizal's name to justify plagiarism, racism, a remarkable lack of professionalism – he convinced me that simply laughing about these parodies of knighthood is the best thing to do with them.

Yes, indeed foreign friends of the Philippines are asking the same question: "How come a people that produced Jose Rizal, one of the greatest men in the world, could be, and are still, led by crooks, scoundrels and nincompoops – for majority of the time since July 4, 1946?" How come that fools and academic illiterates dressed up in costumes are allowed to dominate in a once-useful organization and to stain the reputation of Philippine civil society? You must be aware that this view does influence the vision on the efforts of the “International Society of Rizal’s Advocates (ISRA)” to revitalize the country. Maybe the OFWs must be those making a new nation since the old seems to be spoiled by the influence of 'rotten eggs'. And because the majority is silent and indifferent; their policy is focused on getting food on the table, day in, day out. But Mr. Reyes and his ISRA movement cannot present themselves as the other, the good Philippines with innocent hands. They shall be accepted and honored to represent Philippine culture only if they also take responsibility for the wrongdoings and guilt of their fellow countrymen doing to the said culture where all of you come from and which you want to renew with the Rizalian spirit.

Editor’s Note: To read what the ISRA is all about, please go to Launching a Rizal Advocacy (ISRA) Today

 In this way, the Rizal reformers shall regain the moral credit that has been gambled away long since before they resigned from the ranks of the so-called Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKR), an organization that fits no international (standard) at all because of its purely and one-sided parochial-based view and habits. As I know Reyes and Company resigned from the said order, I feel proud to have resigned (also). I shall never join (the OKR) again. Maybe many Filipino Knights will not rejoin it either. Because from the current point of view that would mean to fall well below mediocrity – something I never want to experience.

Again, to all Rizalists I say: Jose Rizal is honoured by many Europeans as an author, as a scientist, inventor and physician. A polyglot and revolutionary thinker in his time and country. He was regular member of scientific societies. (How many so-called "Knights of Rizal" could fulfill such criteria?) Dr. Rizal truly followed international standards in terms of scientific working, moral and intellectual honesty. His human qualifications have been praised by his contemporary friends already. There is no need to repeat them here and today. But I say to all: Following the very same standards Rizal himself mastered so well is the condition to be a Rizalist. They did not change since his death. They do not make you a Rizalist but they enable you to become it. Without service there are no merits.

Editor’s Note: Several former European members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal have accused some members of the Order’s Supreme Council leaders of plagiarism. More details on this accusation in follow-up articles.   Mr. Reyes, being an author yourself, you are closer to me even though we have not meet personally. So, you know what plagiarism means and how it should be punished. As author you are in succession of Rizal and in all that special responsibility combined with authorship: defending the freedom of speech, thoughts and intellectual property all over the world. Those who might believe they can oppress these powers will be overpowered by them. 

Editor’s Note: Please read also The Parable that Is the Philippines (ISRA Series, Part 2)

Epilogue: Mr. Eberle replied to a posting by a Mr. Bowman.

 QUOTE. It has been stated with deeper insight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and I may quote this philosophical author: "Language is the source of all misunderstanding." And it is, indeed, a very special misunderstanding caused by the use of language of the IHQ in Manila or the way language is honoured by this Supreme Council that pretended to present itself as the heir of one of the greatest authors in Philippine history and in the world literature of the 19th century. How come that apart from racism even in its most sophisticated form plagiarism, the morally worst an author can do or what can be done to an author, how come that plagiarism beside other evil sisters is tolerated, honoured and trivialized?

Maybe because the so-called Knights of Rizal are more engaged in holding commemorations, all kind of social events or promoting beauty contests? Maybe there is simply no interest and no academic and professional knowledge of what the above-mentioned issues mean? Not also from a legal point of view. This has implications with staining Philippine national honour more than foreign nations could do it. At the same time it marks the surrender of Philippine civil society. This was achieved alone by fellow countrymen of "the First Filipino," the "Pride of the Malayan Race". I really do not expect any answer.  

For many years the "Order of the Knights of Rizal" has moved away from Rizal, the reason of its foundation. Due to its failure which is shining in all colours of human vanity and human stupidity, it has now lost all rights to represent Rizalism in all its meanings. Dr. Rizal – if still alive -- would shiver with the thought about what kinds of heirs are citing him as their authority.      
  
My gorge is rising. That is why I allow repeating myself. The same what I told to Bobby Reyes, whose attitude towards the things we are talking about I appreciate. He was a former member of the OKOR. He was a college student in the fields Rizal himself entered generations before.

"Looking back to the 17 months when I was a Knight of Rizal I feel ashamed about that fact. Since I see his RP vision, since I sense his attitude towards the self-styled order that continues misusing Rizal's name to justify plagiarism, racism, a remarkable lack of professionalism – he convinced me that simply laughing about these parodies of knighthood is the best thing to do with them. Yes, indeed foreign friends of the Philippines are asking: "How come a people that produced one of the greatest men in the world could be, and are still, led by crooks, scoundrels and nincompoops -- for majority of the time since July 4, 1946?" How come that fools and academic illiterates dressed up in costumes are allowed to dominate in a once-useful organization and to stain the reputation of Philippine civil society.

And I told Mr. Reyes: You must be aware that this view does influence the view on your organization's efforts to revitalize Rizal's country.

The Order of the Knights of Rizal is an organization that fits no international standard at all because of its purely and one-sided Filipino-based and biased view and habits.

Maybe the OFWs must be those making a new nation since the old seems to be spoiled by the influence of 'rotten eggs'. And because the majority is silent and indifferent; their policy is focused on getting food on the table, day in, day out. But you and your movement cannot present yourselves as the other, the good Philippines with innocent hands. You shall be accepted and honored to represent the Philippine culture only if you also take responsibility for the wrongdoings and the blame your fellow countrymen did to the said way of life where all of you come from and which you want to renew with the spirit from Rizal's moral fiber. In this way, you shall regain the moral credit that has been gambled away long since before you resigned from the ranks of the so-called Order of the Knights of Rizal, an organization that fits no international at all because of its purely one-sided Filipino-based view and habits. As I know you resigned from said order I feel proud to have resigned. I shall never join (it) again. Maybe you either. Because from the current point of view that would mean to force oneself well below mediocrity – something I never want to experience again.

Again and again, I say to all Rizalists: Jose Rizal is honoured as an author, as a scientist, inventor and physician. A polyglot and revolutionary thinker in his time and country. He was a regular member of scientific societies (How many so-called "Knights of Rizal" could fulfill such criteria?). Rizal truly followed international standards in terms of scientific working, moral and intellectual honesty. His human qualifications have been praised by his lifetime friends already. No need to repeat them here and today. But I say to you: following the very same standards Rizal himself mastered so well is the condition to be a Rizalist. They did not change since his death. They do not make you a Rizalist, but they enable you to become it. Without service, there are no merits.      

Let me repeat what I told Mr. Reyes, who is an author himself: “So, you know what plagiarism means and how it should be punished. As author you are in succession of Rizal and in all that special responsibility combined with authorship: defending the freedom of speech, thoughts and intellectual property all over the world. Those who might believe they can oppress these powers will be overpowered by them." 

My dear Mr. Bowman, I do not end my long reply without assuring you that I do not doubt on your Rizalian motivations and ideals at all. Because I am convinced: It is more Rizalian to free yourself from the forms of losing the very substance they should serve (and not vice versa!). That is why I am on this side of ongoing debates and discussions of what Rizalism practically means. At this very moment I am a voice of 350-million Europeans living in an ancient cultural area – an area that was Rizal's intellectual home at least. This Europe belongs to the chapters in Rizal's life and work. The Knights of Rizal can never "command" Europe or any of their chapters therein to belong to any part (chapter) of Europe, as long they act according to their vanity. I hope, even if we are of different opinion, this does divide us as men.  UNQUOTE. # # #