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Editorial
(Updated
March 8, 2007)
The
die is cast!
Or
is it? After a few years of continued internal
upheaval in a premier Rizalist organization, it
may be that the Order of the Knights of Rizal
(founded 1911) may have finally succumbed to
what may yet prove to be fatal self-inflicted
injuries. The impact may have started the
creation of a new and necessary mould.
The
sudden resignation from the Order by highly
respected and proven true Rizalist Sir Hans G.
Schoof originally of Germany and now a resident
of the Philippines (lifetime member for more than
20 years and former Deputy Supreme Commander)
last February 18, 2007 - on the eve of
the 16th International Assembly - marks the
culmination of months of sustained frustration
among the membership about unresolved cases of
serious allegations against high officials in
various overseas regions as well as lack of
direction on the part of the Manila-based
leadership with regards to those issues. Sir
Schoof explained in his resignation letter that "recent
developments within the organization and certain
aspects of the Order no longer exemplify Dr.
Jose Rizal's vision of universal brotherhood and
selflessness".
Indeed
the developments are more than sufficient to
make one wonder whether it is worth the while to
remain associated with an organization that
manifests the complete opposite of the
principles it is supposed to uphold and promote.
First, in the early 2000s the general membership
witnessed helplessly the brutal conflict between
"factions" that led to the wrong
decision to recognize two Supreme Councils. Just
when in history and where in the world has there
been allowed officially two existing Board of
Directors of a Public Corporation to serve
simultaneously? The wisdom of the people in
Manila - i.e., the Council of Elders - boggles
the mind. And these are lawyers? As Lou Dobbs of
CNN would describe it, it is truly
"remarkable".
Second,
the decision by the same body to solve the
impasse in 2005 by declaring "peace and
unity" through the "election" of
a "unified" Supreme Council/Board of
Directors exclusive to only the members of the
warring factions in a bogus General Assembly
(convention) did not only twist further what
hint of wisdom there was left, it held democracy
hostage to the caprice of just a few. Amazing.
Simply amazing.
Third,
the deception in the process of amending the
By-Laws (also in 2005) by ramming the
made-in-Manila only statutory document through
the throats of hapless members who were
completely ignored for their input despite the
public announcements to the contrary by the
leaders in the Philippines, only confirmed the
insensitivity and arrogance of our beloved
brothers there who talked pontifically about the
ideals of Rizal during public celebrations. It
shamelessly demonstrated the height of
hypocrisy!
Fourth,
the disrespectful, unceremonious and unethical
ouster of certain Regional Commanders in 2005
resulted only in the further alienation of the
already disenfranchised members and in causing
fragmentation in different overseas regions. In
essence our illustrious brothers/leaders in the
Philippines effectively exported their brand of
corrupt management to the once innocent overseas
chapters. Trouble unavoidably trickled down. Put
in another way, they polluted the international
waters of the brotherhood.
Fifth,
the hope for positive and progressive changes
heralded by the coming of the Davide Council in
2006 all but dissipated in the face of even more
controversies that loomed at almost the same
time in at least three regions - Canada, Europe
and the Middle East and Africa. Numerous
allegations of serious anomalies, irregularities
and abuses in blatant violation of the By-Laws
by a number of officers in the former two
regions are simply too much to bear. Last but
not least, the unexplained revocation of
appointment of the latter region's Commander
would represent the "icing on the
cake". It was to Sir Schoof we believe, the
Damocles sword - or the needle that broke the
camel's back.
Sir
Davide is now gone to a different pasture, the
United Nations. While he may remain as the
leader of the OKR until his term expires in
2008, it is now only in a figurative sense. Real
power is, has always been, in the hands of Sir
Quiambao with Deputy Supreme Commander Esguerra
who is supposed to take over in the absence of
Sir Davide, in subservience. If anyone is to
believe the analysis by some members as to who
should be held primarily responsible for what
Sir Schoof calls "developments" he
would see all roads lead to that office. Sir
Quiambao is not a member of the Supreme Council
but of the Council of Elders which has no
executive powers. That is why we suspect he
wanted to be appointed in his special position
as "International Coordinator" in
order to legitimize what he has been doing
illegitimately since two years ago - i.e.,
meddling in, nay, actually running, the affairs
of the now seemingly doomed organization!
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Sir
Hans Schoof, KGOR
