Order of the Knights of Rizal
(Chartered Under Republic Act No. 646)

a civic, patriotic, cultural, non-sectarian, non-partisan, non-racial
and non-profit organization

Las Vegas, Nevada USA Chapter
 "NON OMNIS MORIAR"
  (not everything in me will die)
The Order of The Knights of Rizal
Las Vegas Chapter
Las Vegas, Nevada
About The Order


HISTORY


The history of the Order of the Knights of Rizal started in the Philippines on December 30, 1911 when Military Colonel Antonio C. Torres organized 9-group of men from different walks of life for the purpose of commemorating the martyrdom of the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Thereafter, year after year, the same group would gather to commemorate the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal.

To provide a continuing entity and encourage others to join on November 16, 1916, a private non-stock corporation was organized by Antonio C. Torres, Juan Flameño, Martin P. de Veyra, Jose A. del Barrio and Jose S. Galvez, the founders of the organization.

Colonel Antonio C. Torres, then the Chief of Police of Manila, was the first Supreme Commander. The following have since then been Supreme Commanders of the Order: Martin P. de Veyra, Manuel Lim, Juan F. Nakpil, Herminio Velarde, Teodoro Evangelista, Hernenegildo B. Reyes, Santiago F. de la Cruz, Jesus E. Perpiñan, Vitaliano Bernardino, Jose Ma. Paredes Claudio Teehankee, Jose S. Laurel III and the incumbent, Justo P. Torres, Jr, and legion of most respectable men and figures in the Philippine society and history..

In 1951 the Supreme Council of the Order created a Committee on Legislation for the purpose of studying the feasibility of filing a bill in the Congress of the Philippines to be enacted into law to enable the Order to secure a legislative charter. Justice Roman Ozaeta was then Chairman of the Committee.

The bill seeking to give the Order of the Knights of Rizal a legislative charter was docketed as Senate Bill No. 251, with then Senators Enrique Magalona, Lorenzo Sumulong, Esteban Abada, Emiliano Tria Tirona, Camilo Osias, Geronima Pecson, Jose Avelino and Ramon Torres as sponsors. In the Lower House, Congressman Manuel Zosa of Cebu was the principal sponsor of the measure. The explanatory note of the Bill read as follows:

“The purpose of the attached bill is to accord to the civic and patriotic organization known as “Orden’ de Caballeros de Rizal” (Order of the Knights of Rizal) the same kind of official recognition and encouragement as that accorded to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines by Commonwealth Act No. 111, by granting to it a legislative Charter and investing with the necessary powers to enable it more fully and more effectively to accomplish the laudable purposes for which it was organized.”

The Bill constitute an official recognition of the inestimable value to the nation and the world of Rizal's teachings and the wisdom necessity of inculcating in the minds and hearts of people so they may follow and practice them.

The Order of the Knights of Rizal was signed into law by the President of the Philippines on June 14, 1951, becoming Republic Act 646. Since then, its number grew upheld by the memberships of respectable leaders in the government and in the business field.

Knights of Rizal Charters have been installed abroad and memberships from major cities in USA, Canada, Europe have been embraced by foreign citizens, spearheaded by memberships of high ranking diplomatic figures, influential businessmen and civilians abroad.Today, there
are approximately 19,000 members worldwide.


                                                                                   
                                                                                          Dr. Jose P. Rizal

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
THE PURPOSE OR OBJECTIVES OF THE KNIGHTS OF RIZAL ARE AS FOLLOWS:

General

  • To study the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal;
  • To inculcate and propagate them in and among all classes of the Filipino people, and by words and deeds to exhort our citizen, to emulate and practice the example and teachings of our national hero.
  • To promote among the associated knights the spirit of patriotism and Rizalian chivalry;
  • To develop a perfect union among the Filipinos in rever-ing the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal; and
  • To organize and hold programs commemorative of Rizal’s and martyrdom.

Specific

  • To study to spread the ideals, teachings and exemplary life of Dr. Rizal especially to the youth of the land;
  • To organize chapters in all provinces and to undertake such programs of activities which will promote individual commitment to the ideals of Rizal and encourage personal involvement in the contemporary problems of the nation;
  • To train and develop the Filipino youth in character building citizenship training, democratic leadership, enlightened nationalism and dedicated service to country and people.

CODE OF ETHICS

A Rizalian

  • Loves his country and people;
  • Promotes international understanding among peoples and nations;
  • Venerates the memory of the nation’s heroes by making their ideals his own;
  • Values honor as he values his life;
  • Strives to do justice to all his fellow men;
  • Finds meaning and purpose in life;
  • Upholds freedom at all costs;
  • Maintains a tolerant & understanding attitude towards his fellow men;
  • Believes in the value of education essential to the formation of the character of men;
  • Promotes social justice and general welfare;
  • Is industrious, self-reliant, persevering and conscious of the plight of the less fortunate

RIZALIAN OATH

I do solemnly promise upon my word of honor that:
  • I shall seriously study the teachings of Rizal, and endeavor to put them into practice alwaysd keeping in mind the Order's motto "NON OMNIS MORIAR" (not everything in me will die!);
  • I shall work for a perfect union among the members of my community;
  • I shall do no wrong and shall protect and defend my fellowmen against all violence and injustice;
  • I shall endeavor, as far as possible, to extend assistance to my brother Knights, and fellowmen to enhance their programs, and promote their welfare, and;
  • I shall uphold and obey strictly the by-laws of the Order and its rules and regulations.

COMMENTS

Every member of the Order must be familiar with the objectives of the Knights of Rizal. Knowing the objectives of the Order provides a sense of direction for every member. Ad mission to the Order is not merely a ceremonial rite. It implies duties and responsibilities.

Every member has a mission to fulfill - “to study the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal, and to inculcate and propagate them among all classes of the Filipino people” and others who would want to follow his teachings and examples. Rizal himself said -”God has not made anything useless in this world, as all beings fulfill or fill a role in this sublime drama of creation, I cannot exempt-myself from this duty, and however small, 1, too, have a mission to fulfill -as, for example, alleviating the sufferings of my people.

THE KNIGHTS OF RIZAL: AN ORGANIZATION

The Order of the Knights of Rizal is a civic and patriotic organization recognized by law as an instrumentality by which the teachings of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal ‘may be propagated among the Filipino people, and others who may believe in his teachings to the end that they may emulate and follow his examples.

Aside from its being a civic and patriotic organization it is also cultural, non-sectarian, non-partisan and- non-racial.

Republic Act No. 646

Charter of the Knights of Rizal
SECOND CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
S. No. 251 Second Session
Republic Act No. 646

AN ACT TO CONVERT THE ORDEN DE CABALLEROS DE RIZAL INTO A PUBLIC CORPORATIONTO BE KNOWN IN ENGLISH AS KNIGHTS OF RIZAL AND; IN SPANISH AS ORDEN DE CABALLEROS DE RIZAL AND TO DEFINE ITS PURPOSES AND POWERS.

WHEREAS,a civic organization known as orden de caballeros de rizal (Knights o Rizal) was incorporated under the corporation Law of the Philippines in the year 1916 by patriotic citizens for the following purposes.

(a) To develope the most perfect union among the filipinos in revering the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal;

(b) To promote among the associated knights the spirit of patriotism and Rizalian chivalry

(c) To study and spread the teaching of Dr. Jose Rizal and keep ever alive his consecrated memory and to make effective his exemplary and exalted principles;and

(d) To organize the annual festivities in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal.
WHEREAS, the Knights of Rizal, if officially recognize and vested with appropiate powers, would be a convenient instrumentality by which the techings of our national hero may be propagated among our people to the end that they emulate and follow his examples; and

WHEREAS, its is necessary to grant legislative charter to the said Knights of Rizal in order to accord official recognation to it and to enlarge its powers so that it may more fully and more effectively accomplish the laudable purposes for which it was organized:Now, therefore.

be enactedby the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The present civic organization known as Orden de Caballeros de Rizal is hereby converted into a body corporate and politic with powers hereinafter specified under the name and style of KNIGHTS OF RIZAL and in Spanish as Orden de Caballeros de Rizal (hereinafter called the corporation). The principal office of the corporation shall be in the city of Manila, Philippines.

SECTION 2. The purposes of this corporationshall be to study the teaching of Dr. Jose Rizal, to inculcate and propagate them in and among all classes of filipino people, and by words and deed to exhort our citizenry to emulate and practice the examples and teachings of our national hero; to promote among the associated knights the spirit of patriotism and Rizalian chivalry; to develope a perfect union among the filipinos in revering the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal; and to organize and hold programs commemorative of Rizals nativity and martydom.

SECTION 3. The said corporation shall have perpetual succesion, with power to sue and to be sued, to hold such a real and personal property as shall be necessary for corporate purposes; to solicit and receive public contributions; to receive real and persnal property by gift,device, or bequest; to adopt a seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have offices and conduct is business and affairs in the city of Manila and elsewhere;to make and adopt By-Laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the philippines, and generally to do all such acts and things including the establishment of regulations for the election of asssociate and successors as may be necessary to carry into effect the previsions of this Act and to promote the porposes of the said corporation. The existing By-Laws of the orden de caballleros de Rizal insofar as they are not inconsistent with this Act shall remain in force as the By-Laws of the corporation until repealed or amended.

SECTION 4. All persons of legal age and of good moral character and reputation, who are in sympathy with the porposes of the corporation, are eligible for active membership, upon unanimous approval of the Supreme Council en banc of the written application therefore a duty endorsed by at least two active memebers of the corporation.

SECTION 5. The general administration and direction of the affairs of the corporation shall be in the hands of a Supreme Council (Board of Directors) of nine members, which is hereby vested with full powers and authority to act and perform all such functions as the corporation itself may do and perform.

SECTION 6. A group of five or more persons, of legal age residing in any locally outside Manila and who are of good moral character an reputation, may associate themselves and form a chapter of the coporation upon approval of a written petition to the Supreme Council. It shall be the duty of each chapter to promote and carry out the porposes of the corporation in the locality where the chapter is organized.

SECTION 7. Any donation or contribution which from time to time may be made to the corporation by the govertment or any of its subdvisions, branches, offices, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by ay other person or entity shall be expended by the Supreme Council solely to promote the porposes for which the corporation is organized.

SECTION 8. From and after the passage of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to falsely and fraudulently call himself as, or represent himself to be, a member of, an agent for, the Knights of Rizal; and any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall be punished by inprisonment  of not to exceed six months or a fine not exceeding five hundreds pesos, or both, in the discretion of the court.

SECTION 9. These Acts shall take effect upon its approval.

Approve June 14, 1951 
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