GIANT LEAP FOR KNIGHTS AND LADIES FOR RIZAL

Thank you for asking. Yes, this has been looked into and let me assure you it is not a problem at all.

First of all we are not resigning from the KOR. If anyone does that is his personal prerogative. But for all intents and purposes we continue to pay our dues and thus remain as members of the KOR.

Secondly, IFKOR is not like RSO, La Solidaridad or ISRA. Those are "breakaway" organizations. IFKOR is not! Rather, it is a federation of existing members of Knights of Rizal, a suggested new arrangement of association among Knights if you will. The hope is that someday soon everybody will come together under this concept of a corporate body. A kind of the future face of KOR. Except that that future is here now.

I must admit that it is quite unorthodox. The process that is. What one normally only dreams of - something like "imagine the KOR transforming into an international federation of Knights of Rizal from different countries" - is already unfolding right before his very eyes! The other unorthodox element is the fact that the change is not instigated through traditional means. In other words, the idea did not come from and hence not administered by the traditonal ruling structure that is based in Manila. It originates from members abroad to be eventually transplanted to Manila. From the bottom up instead of from the top down so to speak.

And by the way, one of the rationale for federating is basically the matter of jurisdiction. The charter (RA646) of the KOR is applicable and enforceable only within the shores of the Republic of the Philippines. Canada is a separate and sovereign country that is governed by its own laws. For so long Manila has been ruling the KOR World as if it were an imperial power with colonies in various countries. Within the regions in the Philippines yes, for that was the extent of the membership envisioned by the founders and succeeding leadership. But the world has changed. Filipinos are everywhere. Non-Filipinos too have become members of the organization, people of different color, culture and socio-political orientation. So if the leaders in Manila were realistic and wise enough earlier on they would have gradually taken steps to adapt to the changing circumstances and keep it relevant and effective. Sad thing is, they refuse even to recognize it is now the 21st Century! So, the inevitability of complex and unending unsolveable problems from within and without and the resulting paralysis of the leadeship. So, the inevitability of RSO, La Solidaridad and ISRA. But thank goodness for IFKOR. It will preserve the KOR from further fragmentation and solidify what remains and take it through the next millenium!

Regards.

In Rizal,

Sir Jun