LESSON 12: ORGANIZATIONS

KIDLAT CLUB

Kidlat Club was purely a social society of a temporary nature. It was founded by Rizal
simply to bring together the young Filipinos in the French capital so that they could
enjoy their sojourn in the city during the duration of the Universal Exposition. On March
19, 1889, the same day when he arrived in Paris from London, he organized his
compatriots into this society in which among the members were Baldomero Roxas,
Antonio and Juan Luna. He also told Blumentritt in a letter the reason behind the name
of the first organization he founded. It was because kidlat means lightning in English
which for same reasons, the club will only last during the exposition. They have thought
and formed it in one hour and it will also disappear that quick just like the lightning.

LOS INDIOS BRAVOS

In Paris, Rizal and his friends were amazed by the Buffalo Bull show featuring American
Indians, inspiring them to become Indios Bravos (Brave Indians) and replace the Kidlat
Club. They pledged to excel in intellectual and physical prowess to win the admiration of
foreigners, particularly Spaniards. Rizal taught them judo, an Asian art of self-defense,
which he learned in Japan. Another society founded by Rizal during the Universal
Exposition of 1889 was the mysterious Sociedad R.D.L.M. Society. It was patterned
after Freemasonry and had various degrees of membership. Rizal's secret society
aimed to propagate useful knowledge in the Philippines and redeem the Malay race.
Inspired by a book by Multatuli, Rizal's colonization project in Borneo aimed to provide
Filipinos with freedom of action to attain the aims of the R.D.L.M., or Redemption of the
Malay Race. Rizal wrote to Blumentritt from Hong Kong in 1892, revealing his intention
to be a leader of freedom in Borneo and other lands. The contract for his Bornean
colonization included provisions for the right of colonists to buy lands, free use of
seashores, and a long-term lease for 999 years, aiming to form a nation and consolidate
its status. Rizal's 1890 publication of Morga's Sucesos, an annotated edition, was
praised by Professor Blumentritt for his historical scholarship. However, he also
criticized Rizal for his criticism of the Church and his unfair attacks on the friars. Despite
these criticisms, Rizal's work remains a splendid piece of historiography, as it accurately
recounted the Philippines' history and demonstrated the civilization of the Filipinos
before Spain's arrival. The annotated edition was published in Paris, but there is
evidence that it was actually published in 1889. Rizal's correspondence with Blumentritt
and Mariano Ponce also supports this claim. The publication date is disputed, but
Rizal's work remains a significant contribution to Philippine history.

ASOSACION LA SOLIDARIDAD

It is an organization of students and professionals which aims to use their voice to

express themselves. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, was one of the
prominent contributors to the newspaper. He used La Solidaridad as a means to
express his ideas on the need for reforms in the Philippines and to advocate for the
rights and welfare of the Filipino people. La Solidaridad was a Filipino periodical that
was published in the 1880s during the period of Spanish colonization in the Philippines.
It was one of the main platforms for promoting Filipino nationalism and the struggle for
independence. The publication was founded by Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano
López Jaena, two prominent leaders of the Filipino reformist movement known as the
Propaganda Movement. La Solidaridad was published in Spanish and its main objective
was to disseminate the ideas and demands of educated and progressive Filipinos.
Through its articles, essays, and editorials, La Solidaridad addressed issues such as
equal rights, social justice, education, freedom of expression, and Filipino political
participation. It also criticized the oppression and exploitation of the Filipinos by the
Spanish, as well as the corruption and abuses of the colonial government. La
Solidaridad played a significant role in raising awareness and mobilizing Filipinos in
their struggle for independence. Its writings influenced the formation of Filipino national
identity and the awakening of nationalism among intellectuals and the educated middle
class. Although La Solidaridad ceased publication in 1895, its legacy endured and
contributed to the subsequent Filipino revolutionary movement that ultimately led to the
country's independence in 1898. The publication is still recognized as an important
platform for expressing the aspirations and demands of Filipinos during the period of
Spanish colonization.

LA LIGA FILIPINA

The La Liga Filipina was a political organization founded by Filipino national hero, Dr.
Jose Rizal, in 1892 during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. Its main goal
was to unite the Filipino people and promote reforms in the country. The organization
aimed to address various issues such as the lack of representation for Filipinos in the
Spanish government, the abuses of the Spanish friars, and the need for educational and
economic reforms. However, the La Liga Filipina was short-lived as it was dissolved just
a few months after its establishment. This was due to the arrest and exile of Rizal by the
Spanish authorities, who viewed the organization as a threat to their colonial rule.
Despite its brief existence, the La Liga Filipina played a significant role in awakening the
Filipino national consciousness and laying the foundation for the Philippine Revolution
against Spanish rule.

KATIPUNAN

The Katipunan was a revolutionary society founded by Filipino nationalists in Manila in

1892. It aimed to gain independence from Spanish colonial rule through armed struggle.
Rizal’s Influence in the Katipunan (KKK) Jose Rizal, despite not being a direct member
of the Katipunan (KKK), had a significant influence on the revolutionary organization
and its members. Rizal’s works, particularly his novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El
Filibusterismo,” served as sources of inspiration for many Filipino nationalists, including
members of the Katipunan. His writings not only depicted the injustices and abuses
under Spanish colonial rule but also advocated for reforms and enlightened Filipinos
about their rights and identity. Andres Bonifacio and Rizal’s Influence Andres Bonifacio,
one of the founders of the Katipunan, was greatly influenced by Jose Rizal. Through
reading Rizal’s works, Bonifacio’s nationalistic sentiments were further ignited, leading
him to embrace revolutionary ideas and concepts. Rizal’s novels provided Bonifacio
with insights into the struggles of the Filipino people under Spanish oppression and
inspired him to take action against colonial rule. While Rizal was a prominent figure in
the Philippine nationalist movement and had a significant influence on many
revolutionaries, including Andres Bonifacio, he was not directly involved in the
leadership or operations of the Katipunan. The Katipunan was founded by Bonifacio and
other Filipino nationalists with the primary goal of achieving independence from Spanish
colonial rule through armed revolution. Rizal’s role was more focused on advocating for
reforms through his writings and peaceful means rather than leading a revolutionary
organization like the Katipunan. The full name of the organization was Kataas-taasan
Kagalang-galang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Supreme and Venerable Society
of the Children of the Nation). History of the Katipunan: The Katipunan was established
by a group of Filipino patriots led by Andres Bonifacio, Ladislao Diwa, Teodoro Plata,
and others. It was formed as a secret society with its main goal being the independence
of the Philippines from Spanish rule. The organization grew rapidly in membership and
influence, especially among the lower classes who were discontent with Spanish
oppression. Structure and Activities: The Katipunan had a hierarchical structure with
different degrees of membership. It had its own initiation rites, secret codes, and
symbols. Members were organized into chapters called “Balangay,” which were further
divided into smaller units called “Katipuneros.” The organization conducted clandestine
activities such as recruitment, military training, and planning for uprisings against the
Spanish authorities. Outbreak of the Philippine Revolution: The discovery of the
Katipunan by Spanish authorities in August 1896 led to the outbreak of the Philippine
Revolution. The revolution began with the Cry of Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896,
where Bonifacio tore up his cedula (residence certificate) as a symbol of defiance
against Spanish rule. This event marked the start of armed resistance against colonial
rule. Legacy of the Katipunan: The Katipunan played a crucial role in igniting the flames
of nationalism and resistance against Spanish colonialism in the Philippines. Its
members, known as Katipuneros, fought bravely during the Philippine Revolution
against Spain. Although the revolution was not immediately successful in achieving
independence, it paved the way for future uprisings and ultimately contributed to the
country’s eventual liberation from colonial rule.

CONTEMPORARY

There are variety of types of organizations in the world especially in the Philippines
today. There legal and not legal types.
Legal types include corporations, governments, non-governmental organizations,
political and international organizations, armed forces, charities, not-for-profit
organizations, partnerships, cooperatives, educational institutions and many more.

Meanwhile, illegal organizations include syndicates, terrorist groups and any

organization that is against the law of the Philippines.

Examples for non-governmental organizations in the Philippines are Philippine Red

Cross that provide six major services which are blood, disaster management, safety,
community health and nursing, social and volunteer services; and Haribon Foundation
that is committed to nature conservation through community empowerment and
scientific excellence to protect the nature and life.

There are also different community organizations that makes our society today:

 churches
 unions
 schools
 health care agencies
 social-service groups
 fraternities
 clubs

Organizations aren’t just built to beautify the society or to collect fees, it is made and
properly organized through an objective that members need to focus with. As to how
Rizal made and projected his organizations, it was to bring forth the identity of Filipinos
as one and be able to represent the country. It will never be an easy journey and
somehow a challenge to every member to settle differences from one another for the
agenda they are representing. For students like us, school is an organization that
without teachers and students, it wouldn’t exist in any way. School will only be a
concrete infrastructure that wouldn’t be a part of our society without education. Hence,
students, teachers, and the administration are the members of the school that makes
education possible and raise awareness towards its importance to the youth. It plays a
major role in our community that molds the future of every student that dreams to
achieve more in this generation. Thus, the importance of understanding the concept of
organization could help the youth understand why Rizal quoted that the youth is the
hope of our country. Organizations are made to address and adhere possibilities and
cope with the difficulties each one of us is facing.