Order of the Knights of Rizal

Letters/Opinions

International Assemby a waste of time!

March 01, 2007 11:41 PM

Firstly let me greet everyone who are genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Order of the Knights of Rizal.

It is very sad that a Knight like Sir Hans Schoof has tendered his resignation and as a long time friend I feel he is making the only stand he can as the ears of Manila are deaf to the requests of Europe. What a loss !!!!!!!!

I attended the International Assembly and Europe was notably ABSENT AND THIS SHOULD SEND A MESSAGE TO KOR SUPREME COUNCIL.

Only representation was from Belgium with Sirs Francois Ooms, Peter Van Bogart, Christian Donners and the ""Commander for Europe""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

The assembly was a waste of time as we learnt absolutely nothing that we did not know already. We listened to the various speakers and the reports. Nothing was gained except that the real backing people in Europe were not thanked for their support to the Commander for Europe since June 2006.

I have various comments to make.

If people do not agree with the Supreme Council then they as paid up members have the right to have a vote of no confidence in the choice of Commander for Europe and to veto him and his suggestions as they seem one sided. A special meeting should be called by the Deputy Commander to put forward this motion and then if the meeting agrees not to follow the Commander then they should vote on this and deliver the results and the decision to HQ. The meeting can call and have an interim Commander appointed so that the Europe Order will remain united but under their own chosen leadership. This is a democratic way without any spiteful or vendettas being waged against anyone and this would show HQ how serious Europe is.

I would point out that I was told that the reason for his selection was it has been a long time since there was a Filipino leader in Europe.

Now to set the main point is that his name was not on my list of nominations and that the Deputy was. I was told that the deputy does not give enough of his time to the Order. I objected strongly and individually to certain members of the council but it fell on deaf ears again.

I would also point out that since I have lived here I have been frozen out of most things to do with the Order. I have had virtually no input anymore to the Order and although when met by anyone they try to put on a How are you face, meaningless!!!!!!!!

I was not even introduced at the Mayor's Welcome and I advised the Administration that my resignetion would be forthcoming. This set a fire under the backsides of members and it shows you the only way to get into their heads is to show them that we are serious how we feel about the Order.

The rules of the new bye-laws have been broken and the people who broke them do not want to acknowledge this.

Now I say to you and to Europe. Take a stand, Do not break your unity but if you are unhappy then select one amongst you to lead for the next 2 year period. Manila will not want to lose the revenue from Europe. They need money.

AS I SAID BEFORE THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR. EUROPE WAS CONSPICUOUS BY ITS ABSENCE.

Thank you for allowing me to write to you and set the records right.

Yours always in Rizal

Sir Barry Bowman KGOR

Former Regional Commander for Europe,

Lifetime Member

Resignation start of more problems?

February 27, 2007 2:05:39 AM EST

It seems that the recent resignation of Sir Hans Schoof KGOR is the start of more problems. In the Eastern Province Community Chapter Saudi Arabia, more resignations will follow. Its not that Knights here are childish in the fact that they just want what they say, but the actions from the IHQ just shows that the Order is in serious trouble.

Sir Bert Layag Jr KGOR has proved to be a what the Brother Knights here expected of a Regional Commander, if he was not he would have been removed from the position by the Knights here and a replacement nominated.

In addition to Sir Bert's problem, we have a senior OKOR MEAR Knight pushing and using his position to open three more Chapters within our chapter here. No system followed, no chain of command followed and above all he's pushing to have expelled Knights put in to Officer positions. WOW are we in trouble here, and from all information received from Manila, they support him. This will add to the mass resignation and death of our Chapter. For the record the Senior Knight doing this is not from our Chapter he lives 400 KM away but sees the need to divide our chapter if not kill it off.

I can smell a mass resignation here in this area if things don't sort themselves out. Knights are serious here and their work and activities had proved this. As Chapter Commander I feel so sad that Manila cant even reply to my letters, I've been Chapter Commander for almost a year and the IHQ still cant update its records, and still recognizes the past command.

I hope the IHQ can wake up soon before its too late.

NOM!

Sir Zane M. Thirlwall KCR

Chapter Commander

Eastern Province Community Chapter Saudi Arabia

A Lady for Rizal Speaks:

"Evil continually ruins.."

February 28, 2007 10:12:13 AM

When I read the letter of Sir Hans Schoof, it gave me chills because of a great degree of admiration for the man. As the saying goes, "For evil to prosper, is when good men fail to do nothing" - he is in the Philippines and he saw, he experienced, he felt all the bad things in our OKR first hand -- yes FIRST HAND.....

All the good men in our OKR are buried in the ruins with our great hero JOSE RIZAL, it doesn't make sense anymore, as Davide, our Supreme Commander, even with his good heart and intentions, is overruled by a certain few, whose goals and intentions are only for their own glorification and power. It is indeed very sad, and this disease of self glorification and power is very contagious as it reached Canada, Europe, Middle East etc. as the root of this evil has placed his branches all over the globe that continually ruins the Organization. Don't you gentlemen see the evil in these SCENARIOS?

Yes as a Lady of Rizal, I am only a Lady, and should not interfere in the OKR business, but I worked hard for 12 years serving the Order through my husband and it seems all the good work that we have started here in Toronto are wasted, yes it seems only, but good deeds remain in the hearts of the people, so as good citizen of my hero and as a good Filipina, I will continue to promote Rizalism , not in the name of OKR but in the name of RIZAL. Let us move forward, save our energies towards Rizalism, like the Niagara Project, but let us postpone any activities that will further enhance the EGO's of these chosen few who are running and ruling the Order. Initiations will further add feathers to their caps, nevertheless, this is only a personal opinion from myself alone, it doesn't reflect Sir Fran's opinion.

Hope everyone of you will be open minded to receive what I said and will continue to remain as my friend. A compassionate and a thankful heart will always be blessed by the Lord, so let us continue to thank HIM for giving us our hero JOSE RIZAL and for the work that we have started in his name.

NON OMNIS MORIAR,

Lady Baby Pulumbarit

Canadian Ladies Auxiliary for Rizal (CLARIZ)

Sheer Stupidity

By Sir Freddie P. Base

Deputy Commander, Order of the Knights of Rizal

Central Region Chapter

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

February 27, 2007 2:05:39 AM EST

Rizalism: Key to Global Peace, Solidarity and Prosperity, the theme in this year's General Assembly of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (Republic Act 464) according to "Mr Zed" junzerrudo@hotmail.com 'is indeed most appropriate considering what has gone [wrong] lately with our organization [the Middle East and Africa Region] '. What an appropriate remark from a worthy brother knight! But why did this kind of remark? Where is Rizalism in the Middle East and Africa Region today?

For the un-initiated, the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Middle East and Africa Region has its first Regional Commander in the person of Sir Dr. Lito Astillero, KGOR. He is subsequently succeeded by Sir Alberto Layag, KGOR elected by his peers to serve a full one-year term in 2005 when the Order in Manila was imbued with political dis-unity among several groups interested to hold on to power. After the re-organization of the Order in Manila, Sir Alberto Layag, KGOR has been re-appointed as the Regional Commander for the next two years (2006 and 2007) by Sir Hilario Davide, Jr., KGCR, Supreme Commander.

The first of his 2-year term being the Regional Commander, Sir Alberto Layag, KGOR or simply Sir Bert to his peers in the Order, has his hands full governing his regional command with three (3) active chapters namely: the Order in Bahrain Chapter, headed by Sir Alex Ginete, KCR; the Eastern Province Chapter (EPC) headed by Sir Zane Thirlwall, KCR and the Central Region Chapter (CRC) headed by Sir Mar Vera Cruz, KCR. The Order in the Western Region Chapter which has yet to re-organize its officers and members are deemed inactive in 2006.

For the years 2005 and 2006, we have seen the growth of the OKOR Middle East and Africa Region when it held the 3^rd and 4^th MEAR Skills and Talent Competition -among Filipino International Schools in the Middle East - in Bahrain under the able leadership of Sir Bert. Having invited the cream of the crop of the Filipino International Schools in the middle east to compete in categories like Young Jose Rizal, Young Maria Clara, On-the-Spot Painting and Battle of the Brain Contests, the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Middle East and Africa Region Council considers this competition as its grand finale among the many activities organized by its different chapters in the middle east. Within these prestige activities, Sir Bert Layag has been in the forefront directing every chapter and every member of the Order in particular. No stone is left un-turned , Sir Bert Layag will utilize his family members if and when needed.

But like the mother Order in Manila, the Middle East and Africa Region Council is not bereft of social and political immaturity by individuals imbued with self-interest. Madly wanting to get titles of the Knights of the Grand Officer of Rizal (KGOR), these individuals who call themselves emulative of the doctrines and teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal will move mountains to be recognized as such no matter what happens to the Order, sowing dis-unity amongst brethren and making personal issues as agenda instead. Witnesses to these chicaneries were no other than Sirs Joey Lina-Supreme Commander 2005 and Jesus David-Supreme Commander 2004, who both came to Al Khobar on the invitation of Sir Bert.

When order was restored, Sir Bert stands tall among the brethren of the Order, getting the nod of both past Supreme Commanders Lina and David affirming their full support to the command responsibility inherent to the title of the Regional Commander. Thus, the visits by Sirs Lina and David proved to be the turning point of solidarity and unity among the knights of the Middle East and Africa Regions. Thus, Sir Bert re-appointment by Supreme Commander Hilario Davide for the years 2006 and 2007 has been considered by many as befitting the past achievements of Sir Bert Layag.

Now from the europhoria of the success of the 4^th Middle East and Africa Schools Skills and Talent Competition and after a full year having served the Order comes the sad news: Sir Bert Layag's appointment as the Regional Commander has been ordered revoked by the Supreme Commander on the ground of non-confirmation of the appointment by Sir Bert himself. Granting the reason to be true, a simple reminder would not have redounded to immediate revocation. A flimsy reason indeed as claimed by knights in the Eastern Province.

Without rational explanation, knights in the Eastern Province are provoked and politicized and the ill-feeling may spread to the Central Region and Bahrain chapters. It is not unusual to conclude that the decision is considered by many as ill-advised, void of wisdom and the motive is of sheer stupidity. The revocation order has something to do with personal ambition within the middle-east area; a complete turn around of support in the midst of prosperity.

Which brings us to think of similarities about the Order in Europe and Canada but this is another story. FB

An Appeal for Sobriety

February 27, 2007 10:57:05 PM EST

To my brothers and sisters in OKR,

In the light of recent developments in our Order concerning resignations past , present and to come, let us pause and reflect on the rootcause of all these upheavals - appointments by the supreme council of non-elected officers for various regions. Who are more qualified to choose the officers of the region other than the elected officers and active members of the chapters ? The name of officers for the regions duly elected by the regions themselves shall be sent to the supreme council for approval and confirmation only.

A simple solution. However, it is easier said than done. There are lots of barriers for accomplishing this, the ego, the id, the unl (utang na loob) and the Filipino malaise. Inspite of all these impediments , my hope is that the OKR will keep trying to right itself up.

My sentiments go with KGOR Hans Schoof for his frustrations with the present unpleasant situation. Herr Hans Schoof, please consider your resignation to be not irrevocable . Rejoin us later. You've made your point. Those who are considering to resign, please don't. The officers of the supreme council are not the Order itself. The ideals and aspirations of Rizal as an internationalist are still alive. Please remember, once a Rizalist , always a Rizalist.

Sir Ven del Pilar Faundo, KCR
Lifetime member no. 350