REPUBLIC ACT NO. 646 - AN ACT TO CONVERT THE "ORDEN DE
CABALLEROS DE RIZAL" INTO A PUBLIC CORPORATION TO BE KNOWN IN ENGLISH AS
"KNIGHTS OF RIZAL" AND IN SPANISH AS "ORDEN DE CABALLEROS DE RIZAL",
AND TO DEFINE ITS PURPOSES AND POWERS
WHEREAS, a civic organization known
as "Orden de Caballeros de Rizal" (Knights of Rizal) was incorporated
under the Corporation Law of the Philippines in the year 1916 by patriotic
citizens for the following purposes:
"(a) To develop the most perfect union among the Filipinos in
revering the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal;
"(b) To promote among the associated knights the spirit of
patriotism and Rizalian chivalry;
"(c) To study and spread the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal and keep
ever alive his consecrated memory and to make effective his exemplary and
exalted principles; and
"(d) To organize the annual festivities in honor of Dr. Rizal."
WHEREAS, there is greater need than
ever for the Filipino people to propagate and to practice the teachings of
Rizal;
WHEREAS, the Knights of Rizal, if
officially recognized and vested with appropriate powers, would be a convenient
instrumentality by the which the teachings of our national hero may be
propagated among our people to the end that they emulate and follow his examples;
and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to grant
legislative Charter to the said Knights of Rizal in order to accord official
recognition to it and to enlarge its powers so that it may more fully and more
effectively accomplish the laudable purposes for which it was organized: Now,
therefore
Section 1. The present civic organization known as "Orden de
Caballeros de Rizal" is hereby converted into a body corporate and politic
with powers hereinafter specified, under the name and style KNIGHTS OF RIZAL
and in Spanish as "Orden de Caballeros de Rizal" (hereinafter called
the corporation). The principal office of the corporation shall be in the City
of Manila, Philippines.
Section 2. The purposes of this corporation shall be to study the
teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal, to inculcate and propagate them in and among all
classes of the Filipino people, and by words and deeds to exhort our citizenry
to emulate and practice the examples and teachings of our national hero; to
promote among the associated knights the spirit of patriotism and Rizalian
chivalry; to develop a perfect union among the Filipinos in revering the memory
of Dr. Jose Rizal; and to organize and hold programs commemorative of Rizal's
nativity and martyrdom.
Section 3. The said corporation shall have perpetual succession, with
power to sue and be sued, to hold such real and personal property as shall be
necessary for corporate purposes; to solicit and receive public contributions;
to receive real and personal property by gift, devise, or bequest; to adopt a
seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have offices and conduct its
business and affairs in the City of Manila and elsewhere; to make and adopt
by-laws, rules, and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the
Philippines, and generally to do all such acts and things (including the
establishment of regulations for the election of associates and successors) as
may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act and to promote
the purposes of said corporation. The existing By-Laws for the "Orden de
Caballeros de Rizal" insofar as they are not inconsistent with this Act
shall remain in force as the By-Laws of the corporation until repealed or
amended.
Section 4. All persons of legal age and of good moral character and
reputation, who are in sympathy with the purposes of the corporation, are
eligible for active membership, upon unanimous approval of the Supreme Council
in banc of a written application thereof duly endorsed by at least two active
members of the corporation.
Section 5. The general administration and direction of the affairs of the
corporation shall be in the hands of a Supreme Council (Board of Directors) of
nine members, which is hereby vested with full powers and authority to act and
perform all such functions as the corporation itself may do and perform.
Section 6. A group of five or more persons of legal age residing in any
locality outside of Manila and who are of good moral character and reputation,
may associate themselves and from a chapter of the corporation upon approval of
a written petition to the Supreme Council. It shall be the duty of each chapter
to promote and carry out the purposes of the corporation in the locality where
the chapter is organized.
Section 7. Any donation or contribution which from time to time may be
made to the corporation by the Government or any of its subdivisions, branches,
offices, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by any other person or entity,
shall be expended by the Supreme Council solely to promote the purposes for
which the corporation is organized.
Section 8. From and after the passage of this Act, it shall be unlawful
for any person to falsely and fraudulently call himself as, or represent
himself to be, a member of, or an agent for, the Knights of Rizal; and any
person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall be punished by
imprisonment of not to exceed six months or a fine not exceeding five hundred pesos,
or both, in the discretion of the court.
Section 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 14, 1951