Knights of Rizal Canada
Vacuum of legitimate leadership causes Scarborough to "affirm" independence and autonomy!
Difficult but a must decision, Chapter Commander says;
landmark decision considered necessary to restore dignity,
trust and true Rizalist character to the organization
| Why the Manifesto? Other questions answered |
| In
order to help the readers understand the meaning, purpose and
implications of the revolutionary paper, the Scarborough Chapter
has listed answers to some of the questions that mayl be asked.
Q. Why was the Manifesto written? Q. What is the purpose of the declaration? Q. What does Scarborough or other chapters that may share their stand, hope to achieve? Q. Why not completely get out of the Order? Q. What if the Supreme Council expels the members of the Chapter? Q. The amendment process is underway, why not wait for it to be finished? Q. Why destroy a good organization? Q. What about chapters in other places who agree with your stand? Will you work with them? Q. How do you plan to restore dignity to the Order? How will you rebuild?
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What was once threatened by the Canada Regional Council became reality for one of its Chapters today. Locally known for its radicalism, the Scarborough Chapter lived up to its reputation and proclaimed in a document entitled "Scarborough Manifesto" a collapse in the leadership infrastructure of the Order of the Knights of Rizal and declared itself independent and autonomous.
Chapter Commander Sir Alexcs Trinidad said that after a two-day meeting by the members, the "difficult but must" decision was arrived at "unanimously without dissent, abstention or objection".
When asked for an explanation as to why, Sir Trinidad said that the immediate cause for his members' bold action was the "objectionable" replacement of the Canada Region's Commander with new appointees by Sir Jose D. Lina Jr. But the real reason is far deeper than that and far more significant, he said.
After a careful study of the events that led to the controversial re-organization, Sir Trinidad said, they determined that "the facts clearly indicate that Sir Lina inspite of the pronouncements made in the Philippines and elsewhere, did not have after all legitimacy of his office, and neither did the two previous and concurrent self-proclaimed Supreme Councils", he added.
Sir Trinidad emphasized that his Chapter has not declared independence per se from the organization in the sense that it has severed ties, rather, each chapter by virtue of the vacuum of leadership outside of the chapter, were "rendered by default" by circumstances that were not of their own making. The paper states that "Until such time as the members elect a truly non-partisan, non-political Board of Directors/Supreme Council and until such time as the members elect their own Regional leaders in a truly democratic process, each chapter will maintain this position".
Sir Manny Bade, an outspoken member of the Chapter observed that the status of not only Scarborough but each and every chapter is like that of "being orphaned". That is the real reason - "somebody has to make a stand for truth, justice and freedom from the political cancer that has befallen our noble brotherhood", the courageous Rizalist concluded.
In order to understand fully the rationale and possible implications of what an observer described as "Sigaw sa Pugad Scarborough" (Cry of Scarborough) - in reference to Andres Bonifacio's KKK - Sir Trinidad asked that the Manifesto be read and scrutinized in its minutest detail before reacting, whether positively or negatively. He welcomes any question not covered by the Question and Answer column posted on this page.
According to Sir Trinidad, he is optimistic that those who will do so may even join hands with Scarborough and adopt the document as an expression of their own position. "For the better of the Order, for the advancement of Rizalism and for the sake of clear and free conscience". He did not elaborate further.