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.
