Knights of Rizal

The Knights of Rizal (Spanish: Orden de Caballeros de Rizál; Filipino: Mga Maginoo ni Rizal; sometimes abbreviated as KOR) is an order of chivalry of the Philippines, created to honor and uphold the ideals of Philippine national hero José Rizal. Knighthood confers a personal title (Sir) and its status, as well as any professional affiliation to the Order, is protected by law against impersonation or fraud. The insignia of the Knights of Rizal is ranked seventh in the Order of Wear pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Honors Code of the Philippines, and is often worn by members of the Philippine government and diplomatic corps.
The Order was established in 1911 by Colonel Antonio C. Torres, who later served as the first Filipino chief of police of Manila. 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. 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.
Since its founding, the Order has grown to more than 25,000 members belonging to 131 active chapters in the Philippines and 61 active chapters around the world. Its international headquarters is located on Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila.
The Order of the Knights of Rizal was first organized out of a group of nine men by Manila Police Chief Colonel 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 the 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 Talca, a dramatic guild).
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. Asunción López Bantug, Rizal's sister's granddaughter, recounts how the event took place in her biography of Rizal published in 1982:
Since then, the Order has led commemorations of Rizal's birth anniversary and has played a prominent role during Rizal Day ceremonies commemorating his death anniversary. On the 100th anniversary of the state funeral, the Order joined the President of the Philippines, Sir Benigno Aquino III, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in leading the country through the reenactment of the 1912 funeral march. The knights wore a replica of their 1912 uniform and marched alongside a motorized caisson. Around 7,000 students, soldiers, policemen, government employees, and descendants of Rizal joined the commemoration.
In 1916, Col. Torres formally organized the Order as a private non-stock corporation. 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 the Chairman of the Committee with Sir Carlos Hilado and Sir Pedro Sabido as members.
The bill seeking to give the Order of the Knights of Rizal a legislative charter was docketed as Senate Bill No. 251. Senators Enrique Magalona, Lorenzo Sumulong, Esteban Abada, Emiliano Tria Tirona, Camilo Osías, Geronima Pécson, José Avelino and Ramon Torres sponsored the bill in the Senate while Congressman Manuel Zola of Cebu was the principal sponsor in the House of Representatives. Attached to the bill was an explanatory note that read:
The bill was passed by Congress on May 15, 1951. It was signed into law by President Elpidio Quirino on June 14, 1951 as Republic Act 646. The new law shortened the English name to "Knights of Rizal" while keeping its original form in Spanish as "Orden de Caballeros de Rizál."
As set forth by Philippine Republic Act 646, the general administration and direction of the affairs of the Order is in the hands of a Supreme Council of nine members including the Supreme Commander, Deputy Supreme Commander, Supreme Chancellor, Supreme Pursuivant, Supreme Exchequer, Supreme Archivist, Supreme Auditor, Deputy Supreme Pursuivant and Deputy Supreme Exchequer. The Supreme Council Trustees serve the Supreme Council for two (2) years, with maximum of two (2) re-elections as stated in the Amended By-Laws.
The present Supreme Council of the Order consist of the following knights who were elected on November 26, 2023.
The Knights of Rizal is an active order with many social, cultural, and charitable projects all around the world.
Knights lead or take an active role in official and diplomatic ceremonies commemorating important dates in José Rizal's life and the Philippine Independence Day. In the Philippines, the Order is a staple at most national events held at Luneta with the President of the Philippines in attendance. In various cities overseas, the Order sponsors and marches as honor guards in the Philippine Independence Day Parade and other events in the Filipino community.
The Order also focuses on Filipino youth across the world through programs such as the annual National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute Conference and the annual Search for Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines (JRMSP) held every December in the Philippines.
Globally, chapters sponsor charitable projects for the betterment of their local or international communities year-round. Projects include construction of various schoolhouses for children, support for families in times of disaster, sponsorship and scholarship programs for students, among others.
Various fundraisers, balls, and galas are held throughout the year by chapters across the world to raise money in support of the Order’s mission and to exhibit Filipino culture and cuisine. These events usually feature Rigodon de Honor dancing, Filipiniana fashion shows, and music by Filipino artists.
The Knights of Rizal, in keeping with Rizal's advocacy of wellness, has joined hands with the Children's First 1000 Days Coalition (CFDC), an alliance of various government, private, and non-government sectors of Filipino society in its fight against malnutrition during the first 1000 days of a child's life through various health programs, policy reforms, and advocacy efforts.
The Order respects all races, faiths, and social status, and does not take into account one’s nationality or citizenship. Membership does not only convey privilege but requires continuous participation in the work of the Order.
Membership is by invitation only with the endorsement of two active knights and the approval of the Supreme Council. Postulants may be approached by knights of the Order directly or they may petition for membership. A postulant must be a man of legal age who is of impeccable character and has a demonstrated commitment to the values epitomized by Rizal. Postulants who are successfully admitted into the Order may enjoy all the privileges of knights of the Order whether or not they are citizens of the Philippines. All knighthoods are substantive and never simply honorary as they are not only a recognition of past service and charitable deeds but also an expectation of future active work and growth within the Order.
All postulants are privately investigated before any formal proceedings take place. Upon successful vetting, the local chapter files a formal recommendation to the appropriate prefectural tribunal for approval, after which the recommendation goes before the eyes of the Supreme Council acting as Lower Prefectural Tribunal, who votes on conferring knighthood. This also applies to rank promotions until the third degree rank and awards up to the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
The honor of knighthood and all subsequent promotions and awards are conferred by the local chapter through a diploma signed by the Supreme Commander and Supreme Pursuivant under the authority of the Supreme Council vested in it by Republic Act 646. The postulant is knighted or promoted in a solemn ceremony steeped in tradition that is presided usually by the Supreme Commander or members of the Supreme Council present. In their absence, the Supreme Commander gives authority the Regional or Area Commander in performing such ceremonies.
It is tradition that all new rank insignia or decoration presented to the knight being dubbed, promoted or awarded are done with a loved one or a sponsoring senior knight taking an active part in affixing the new rank or decoration onto the knight’s uniform for the first time, similar to a military pinning ceremony.
As the only state-recognized order of chivalry in the Philippines, the honor of membership is held in high regard. It is a crime for any person to misrepresent themselves to be a knight or agent of the Order and anyone found guilty of doing so may be fined or imprisoned for up to six months, or both.
Knights have the right to wear the insignia and vestments of the Order at all appropriate occasions in accordance to the Order's Amended By-Laws and to the Order of Wear of the Philippines. The Order's ranks and insignia are formally recognized by Executive Order No. 236, more commonly known as the Honors Code of the Philippines, making the Order seventh in precedence.
Knights of all degrees, and their wives, are entitled to specific titles that apply to both spoken and written forms of address.
Knights of the Order prefix Sir before their names and may use the appropriate post-nominal letters of their rank after their names.
For example, a Juan de la Cruz of the rank Knight Grand Cross may be styled as Sir Juan de la Cruz, KGCR. The dignity of knighthood is only held for life and cannot be inherited nor passed down.
A wife of a knight prefixes Lady to her first name regardless of whether she uses her own surname or her husband's surname. For example, a Christine Reyes, wife of Sir Juan de la Cruz, may be styled as:
Note that this differs from Western convention, specifically that of the British system used in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms (e.g. Order of the British Empire) where wives of knights prefix Lady to their surname instead and only if they use their husband's surname.
All of the Order's medals and awards are considered awards given by the Republic of the Philippines.
There are five degrees of knighthood, each with their own post-nominals and insignia.
These commendations may be awarded to any knight or person on the merit of their achievements for the Order or the Philippines.
In addition to the above, these awards are specifically reserved for women who have distinguished themselves within or outside the Order.
Most Philippine presidents since the country first declared independence from colonial powers in 1898 have received the honor of knighthood or an award from the Order by virtue of their office and/or services they have given to the Filipino people.