Suprema de la Iglesia del Ciudad Mistica de Dios, Inc.

The evening procession in and around the compound of Suprema de la Iglesia del Ciudad Mistica de Dios.

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This is the end of this series about Mount Banahaw and the Rizalista Groups.

A word of warning.
All my pictures about « Suprema de la Iglesia del Ciudad Mistica de Dios » are copyrighted. All rights reserved. I generally agree that my pictures appear in other publications (blogs, websites, newspapers and magazines) but in this case I can’t allow anybody to use them, for whatever reason.

Suprema Isabel Suarez, the actual leader, asked me to utilize my pictures only for my own personal use, as they felt that they have been abused by photojournalists in the past. I also understood that they don’t want me to monetize on the pictures that I have taken.

The people of “Suprema de la Iglesia del Ciudad Mistica de Dios” are hospitable as they took care of me (providing shelter and sharing their meals with me) and I was treated like a guest of honor. During my visit I had a long conversation with Suprema Isabel Suarez. She was very friendly and took the time to answer all my questions. I was free to roam around their compound while at the same time witnessing all their religious rituals but I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside their churches.

My perception is that they are genuinely good and religious people. Their beliefs might sound odd to most of us but this is not a reason to ridicule neither their beliefs nor their religious rituals. Religion and faith are very personal and we should not criticize an individual’s beliefs which we may not even understand. Hopefully my pictures will contribute to a better understanding of the Rizalista groups in Mount Banahaw.

Comments

[Account Deleted]

i am a member of this religion and im so proud to the religion i belong.:)

[rita : )]

i don't know why. but these pics reminds me of Ingmar Bergman movies. it looks eerie yet fascinating! don't get me wrong, i love Ingmar Bergman movies.

[JD Cruz]

The photos and text combined became a very commendable post. Great job, Sidney!

[Lawrence]

Sidney,

Can i just say what a wonderful job you have done on attempting to catch banahaw life at its purest and most sincere, without all the judgments and the prejudice the rizalistas themselves are wary of.

I've visited a rizalista colony once before, 5 years ago i think, and it was on an island i believe. The people there were pious as were they genuine. Their beliefs and their aspirations, albeit different from your average filipino, ring with indubitable familiarity and affinity. Because perhaps in essence, the spirit identifies with such powerful narratives of beginning and ends, of power and beauty, of divine unquestioning and human fallability.

I left that island then not knowing what a valuable experience it had been then, as it now became my personal point of reference when viewing different cultures through the cultures' own eyes.

Your picture sets have indeed reminded me that despite the daily struggle of the filipino to survive, that despite the sort of everyday news of poverty and misery we hear and see so much of on our streets, pockets of simple filipino splendour exist...of faith and wonder, of a fearless surrender to the colours of filipino life and culture.

This sort of photography/sensitive "travelouguing" should be commended and imitated. congratulations.

Perhaps we could talk more about this experience you've had in the near future.

Hope to see more from you soon.

[Shoshana]

My father became Rizalista a few years ago. you can just imagine the uproar when every body else is Sabadista.

[SD]

Very educational series, as always. Thanks for taking the time to shoot and post all this.

The second shot from the top stands out. I like the colors, but the sense of motion you've captured really sets it off.

[Otto K.]

Wonderful set of the procession.

[dodong flores]

Interesting set of photos to conclude for this series. This post is really amazing...

[Toe]

Thanks for this series Sidney! I've learned a lot. Although I've heard of the Rizalistas before, before you posted these, I never actually thought that they existed. So this is very eye-opening for me. No, of course we shouldn't judge them and should respect them... we are all different.

[lagal[og]]

it's a very good series. and while i don't share their beliefs, i walk away enlightened.

in any case, i hope other people will follow your disclaimer.

[Rach (Heart of Rachel)]

Thank you for this interesting series. Each one has the freedom to choose his or her own faith and I respect that.

[Cartoon Blogger]

Oh Religion.

[Chris Vallancourt]

Great series, and certainly a very interesting religious tradition.

[don]

I like all the information in addition to the fine photography. Excellent work again.

[chris chisu]

Beautiful documentary.

[rhodora]

Very informative, very excellent coverage.

But of course, we should respect any religion, no matter how strange they appear to us, as long as the practices are not contrary to natural and human laws.

[bw]

Very interesting photos and journalistic endeavor on a topic that many people including myself have been desiring to know about :)

[Gérard]

La religion, toujours la religion, très pratiquants dans ce pays !

[pieterbie]

A very interesting series, Sidney. Don't worry, I would never abuse the copyright of a photographer.

[haggis basher]

Looks like you posted a weeks worth of images at one go. This has been a great series Sidney, very interesting.

[Oswegan]

Interesting images, they have a cult like feeling to them.