Ocular Inspection at Watawat ng Lahi, Calamba City, Laguna

* a view of Lecheria Hill from Lecheria Barangay Hall

The activity related to the Rizal@150 Celebrations in which I can participate is the Rizal Conference to be held in Calamba City, Laguna on July 9. This is my first time to be involved in a history-related activity aside from writing history article snippets. Entitled “Muling Pagsilang: Pagdakila, Pag-unawa at Pagsasabuhay kay Rizal sa Buhay Pamayanan,” the whole-day activity is the last leg of the three-day conference on Rizal (which will start in UST then in Ateneo). The last part of the conference will be in the form of a field trip and this is where we are involved.

The itinerary for the tour includes Watawat ng Lahi and the Rizal Shrine. The visit to the Watawat ng Lahi was particularly memorable as it was my first time to go there. I have always been planning to climb the Lecheria Hill where Watawat ng Lahi is found but I never had the occasion to do it.

* the main building of Watawat ng Lahi

* a big statue of Rizal standing above a globe;
notice the skull at Rizal’s feet

* the ‘altar’ or stage inside the group’s main building

* the booklet given to us entitled “Mga Kaisipan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal”
compiled by Allan A. Ong

The place is called Lecheria because it is the place where milk was gathered from cows during the Spanish times. The area of Lecheria is still relatively plain and the view from the top of Lecheria Hill must have been beautiful, seeing the multitude of cows spread across the wide plains. Watawat ng Lahi, on the other hand, traces its roots from the presence of what they call “Banal na Tinig” (or Divine Voices). The man who accommodated us Mr. Renato “Ka Rene” Gallardo was the one in charge of their main building and the one who told us of the group’s origins. The 'main' man of the group, almost equivalent to David of the Bible, was a man called Gadioso Parabuac [I am not so sure about the spelling] who established the group on December 20, 1936. The group used to have their own activities and rituals. After several years, priests from the Roman Catholic religion were able to join the group. From there some, if not all, of the Catholic’s rites and rituals were embraced and assimilated into the group.

* the building of Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi

* a statue of Rizal on the grounds of Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi

* a grotto-type structure on the grounds of Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi

* view of the footpath as we descend Lecheria Hill

* portion of the cemetery near Lecheria Hill

Ka Rene mentioned that there came a time when their members numbered around 20,000. But differences were bound to split the group into two: 1) the first one who were essentially traditionalists, believing Jose Rizal is not a god but merely their leader and 2) those led by the priests, who later embraced the belief that Jose Rizal was actually a god. The split gave birth to Samahan ng Watawat ng Lahi and Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi Lipi ni Rizal. But what I found surprising is that these two groups have their headquarters on Lecheria Hill too!

Today, Ka Rene said, they no longer accept new members because the “Banal na Tinig” has forbidden recruitments. But that statement was quite puzzling as it would only mean that they are to be extinct in the near future.

A single visit to the place is not enough to know the group. However, Ka Rene provided us with copies of booklets where we can read more about their group. Cult, organization, religion? Whatever they are, the existence of such group only shows the extent of Jose Rizal’s influence to the minds of the Filipinos. I wonder what Rizal would say if he sees that he is being venerated in this manner.


[How to go to Watawat ng Lahi, Calamba City, Laguna: From Manila, you can board a bus bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Such buses are found near the Gil Puyat LRT Station and at EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City. Then drop off at Halang, Calamba City. This place is actually an intersection. If you face Mount Maquiling, you have to go to the left side of the main highway. Jeepneys bound for Calamba Bayan are passing through this street and you can hail them. Ask them to drop you off at the entrance up to Watawat ng Lahi. Or to be safe you can just ask the driver to drop you off at Lecheria Barangay Hall. The people there are accommodating and you can ask them for the directions to Watawat ng Lahi. By the way, Watawat ng Lahi is visible from the Barangay Hall.]