~2026-19011: /* Beliefs and rites */

2026-01-01T21:20:04Z

Beliefs and rites

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{{Short description|Christian organization}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox militant organization
| name = Tadtad
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| other_name = Sagrado Corazon Señor (official)
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| foundation = 1972
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| country = [[Philippines]]
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| ideology = [[Anti-communism]] <br>
[[Ethno-nationalism]]
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'''Tadtad''', officially '''Sagrado Corazon Señor''' ('''SCS'''), is a [[Far-right politics|far-right]]<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mydans |first1=Seth |date=1987-04-04 |title=RIGHT-WING VIGILANTES SPREADING IN PHILIPPINES |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/04/world/right-wing-vigilantes-spreading-in-philippines.html |access-date=2023-02-04 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Christianity|Christian]] ethno-nationalist organization in the Philippines which also functioned as a [[paramilitary]] organization. It is often characterized as a [[cult]].<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |title=20 Killed as Filipino Troops Battle Cultists |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-13-mn-3793-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=13 August 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kowalewski |first1=David |title=Cultism, Insurgency, and Vigilantism in the Philippines |journal=Sociological Analysis |date=1991 |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=241–253 |doi=10.2307/3711360 |jstor=3711360 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3711360 |access-date=27 August 2022 |issn=0038-0210|quote=notorious vigilante cult, Tadtad|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="man-who-killed">{{cite news |title=Man who killed wife, kids was Tadtad cultist |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/29029/man-who-killed-wife-kids-was-tadtad-cultist |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=Sunstar |date=2 September 2015 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="uca-1986">{{cite news |title=killing of religious cult members in cebu believed to be npa reprisal |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1986/06/11/killing-of-religious-cult-members-in-cebu-believed-to-be-npa-reprisal&post_id=34126 |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=UCA News |date=10 June 1986 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lauro |first1=Paul |last2=Sararana |first2=Pegeen Maisie |title=One dead, two wounded in armed encounter in Liloan |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/374379/one-dead-two-wounded-in-armed-encounter-in-liloan |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=Cebu Daily News |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=23 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Bato dela Rosa]], who is a current Philippine [[Senate of the Philippines|senator]], was a chief handler of the group during the 80's.<ref>{{Cite web |title=32-year old film on aftermath of Marcos rule headlines Daang Dokyu Film Festival |url=https://philstarlife.com/geeky/174454-32-year-old-film-on-aftermath-of-marcos-rule-headlines-daang-dokyu-film-festival? |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Philstar Life}}</ref>

==History==
Tadtad (officially Sagrado Corazon Señor) was established in 1972 in [[Initao]], [[Misamis Oriental]] by Sagrado Sade Jr.<ref name="freeman1">{{cite news |title="Tadtad" |url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2013/08/04/1050741/tadtad |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=The Freeman |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=4 August 2013}}</ref>

==Beliefs and rites==
An applicant seeking to join Tadtad had to go under an [[initiation rite]] to be able to join the group. Their inner arm had to be struck with a sharp sword at least 12 times. If the individual don't exhibit any visible cut, the applicant is deemed fit to become a member; if the sword made a cut, it is considered as a sign that the applicant has a dark side and therefore unfit to join.<ref name="man-who-killed"/><ref name="freeman1"/>

The group's members hold their founder Sagrado Sade Jr. with high reverence and calls him Papa Sagrado. Members pray to Sade similar in a way [[Catholics]] ask for [[Intercession of saints|intercession of the saints]]. According to the Tadtad, when Sade was baptized as an infant the priest sensed "something holy" about the baby which led him being named "Sagrado" (Sade was supposedly to be named "Ramonito"). Sade grew up to becoming a [[Faith healing|faith healer]] and gained reputation in Mindanao after reportedly curing many before he founded the Tadtad.<ref name="freeman1"/>

Many members are also Catholics themselves and go to mainstream churches and observe the relevant religious holidays despite their affiliation with Tadtad. Tadtad members hold do additional observances which set them apart from mainstream Catholicism. They pray every three hours on their own and on Fridays, they congregate in their chapel to pray together. They consider acts such as smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling as sinful.<ref name="freeman1"/>

The Tadtad are also known for their usage of [[amulet]]s along with their prayer and faith to protect themselves from bodily injury including those caused by bullets.<ref name="freeman1"/>

Adrian Malonzo

==Armed activity==
The Tadtad fought against the [[New People's Army]] (NPA) as well as went after suspected members and sympathizers of the Communist rebel group.<ref name="uca-1986"/><ref name="pro-gov">{{cite web |last1=Carey |first1=Sabine |title=Sagrado Corazon / Tadtad (Philippines) |url=https://militias-guidebook.com/pgag/571/ |website=Pro-Government Militias Guidebook |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> They also fought against [[Moro conflict|Moro rebels]] in the 1970s.<ref name="latimes"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Cult clash leaves 20 dead |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/877111.stm |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=12 August 2000}}</ref>

The [[Philippine Army]] and a splinter group of the Tadtad called the Christian God Spirit had an armed encounter in [[Pangantucan]], [[Bukidnon]] on August 11, 2000. The fighting ensued after soldiers tried to serve a warrant of arrest against their leader Alfredo Opciona for charges of attempted murder. The incident caused the death of sixteen Tadtad members, three members of the army auxiliary group and one civilian.<ref name="latimes"/>

==See also==
*[[Communist rebellion in the Philippines]]
*[[Moro conflict]]
*[[Alamara (militia)|Alamara]]
*[[Agimat]], a Filipino term on amulet
*[[Integrated Civilian Home Defense Forces]]
*[[Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit]]
*[[Alsa Masa]]
*[[Ilaga]]
*[[Rock Christ (paramilitary sect)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Anti-communist organizations in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Catholicism and far-right politics]]
[[Category:Right-wing terrorism]]
[[Category:Christian fascists]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Christian organizations based in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Paramilitary organizations based in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1972]]

Tadtad - Revision history

~2026-19011: /* Beliefs and rites */