, native_name_lang = fil
, icon = Logo of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church).svg
, icon_width = 80px
, icon_alt = Coat of arms of the Philippine Independent Church
, image = File:6222Barangays of San Felipe, Zambales 07.jpg
, imagewidth = 250px
, caption = The Iglesia Filipina Independiente Cathedral Church of San Roque in
Zambales
Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
, abbreviation = IFI, PIC
, type =
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
(
Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
)
, other_names = Aglipayan Church
, main_classification =
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, orientation =
Independent Catholic
Independent Catholicism is an independent sacramental movement of clergy and laity who self-identify as Catholic (most often as Old Catholic or as Independent Catholic) and form "micro-churches claiming apostolic succession and valid sacrament ...
,
Anglo-Catholic
Anglo-Catholicism comprises beliefs and practices that emphasise the Catholic heritage and identity of the various Anglican churches.
The term was coined in the early 19th century, although movements emphasising the Catholic nature of Anglican ...
,
Nationalist
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: The ...
, scripture =
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
, theology =
Catholic theology
Catholic theology is the understanding of Catholic doctrine or teachings, and results from the studies of theologians. It is based on canonical scripture, and sacred tradition, as interpreted authoritatively by the magisterium of the Catholic ...
,
Independent Catholic doctrine,
Anglican doctrine
Anglican doctrine (also called Episcopal doctrine in some countries) is the body of Christian teachings used to guide the religious and moral practices of Anglicans.
Approach to doctrine
Anglicanism does not possess an agreed-upon confessi ...
, polity =
Episcopal
Episcopal may refer to:
*Of or relating to a bishop, an overseer in the Christian church
*Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese
*Episcopal Church (disambiguation), any church with "Episcopal" in its name
** Episcopal Church (United State ...
, governance =
Synod
A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word ''wikt:synod, synod'' comes from the meaning "assembly" or "meeting" and is analogous with the Latin ...
, leader_title =
Supreme Bishop
, leader_name =
Rhee Timbang
, leader_title1 = Administration
, leader_name1 = IFI Executive Commission
, associations =
National Council of Churches in the Philippines
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP; tl, Sangguniáng Pambansâ ng mga Simbahan sa Pilipinas) is a fellowship of ten Protestant and non Roman Catholic Churches in the Philippines denominations, and ten service-oriented organ ...
Christian Conference of Asia
The Christian Conference of Asia is a regional ecumenical organisation representing 15 National Councils and over 100 denominations (churches) in New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos ...
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide Christian inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. Its full members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, most juri ...
United Society Partners in the Gospel
United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) is a United Kingdom-based charitable organization (registered charity no. 234518).
It was first incorporated under Royal Charter in 1701 as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Part ...
Council of Churches of East Asia
, full_communion =
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian communion after the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Founded in 1867 in London, the communion has more than 85 million members within the Church of England and other ...
,
Episcopal Church in the United States of America
The Episcopal Church, based in the United States with additional dioceses elsewhere, is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is divided into nine provinces. The presiding bishop o ...
,
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...
,
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church ( gd, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Episcopal(ian) Kirk) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion in Scotland.
A continuation of the Church of Scotland as intended by King James VI, and ...
,
Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches
The Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches, most commonly referred to by the short form Union of Utrecht, is a federation of Old Catholic churches, nationally organized from schisms which rejected Roman Catholic doctrines of the First Va ...
,
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden ( sv, Svenska kyrkan) is an Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. A former state church, headquartered in Uppsala, with around 5.6 million members at year end 2021, it is the largest Christian denomination in Sw ...
,
Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP; tl, Simbahang Episkopal sa Pilipinas; Ilocano: ''Simabaan nga Episkopal iti Filipinas'') is a province of the Anglican Communion comprising the country of the Philippines. It was established by the ...
,
Others
Others or The Others may refer to:
Fictional characters
* Others (A Song of Ice and Fire), Others (''A Song of Ice and Fire''), supernatural creatures in the fictional world of George R. R. Martin's fantasy series ''A Song of Ice and Fire''
* Ot ...
, fellowships =
, division_type =
Dioceses
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associat ...
, division =
, founder =
Isabelo de los Reyes, Sr.Gregorio Aglipay
Gregorio Aglipay Cruz y Labayán ( la, Gregorius Aglipay; Filipino: ''Gregorio Labayan Aglipay Cruz''; 5 May 1860 – 1 September 1940) was a former Filipino Catholic priest who became the first head of the ''Iglesia Filipina Independiente'', ...
, founded_date =
, founded_place =
Quiapo,
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
,
Philippine Islands
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, separated_from =
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, separations =
, area =
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
East Asia
East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea and ...
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
Pacific Islands
Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...
, language =
Filipino
Filipino may refer to:
* Something from or related to the Philippines
** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines.
** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
,
Native Philippine regional languages,
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
,
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
,
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
, liturgy = ''The Filipino Ritual'' and ''The Filipino Missal'' by Iglesia Filipina Independiente, 1961
, headquarters =
Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral of the Holy Child#1500
Taft Avenue
Taft Avenue ( fil, Abenida Taft; es, Avenida Taft) is a major road in the south of Metro Manila. It passes through three cities in the metropolis: Manila, Pasay and Parañaque. The road was named after the former Governor-General of the Philippin ...
,
Ermita
Ermita is a district in Manila, Philippines. Located at the central part of the city, the district is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of the city, bearing the seat of city g ...
,
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, members = 756,225
, hospitals =
, nursing_homes =
, aid = IFI – Task Force on Emergency Relief (IFI–TFER)
, ministers =
, missionaries =
, primary_schools =
, secondary_schools =
, tax_status =
, tertiary =
, publications = ''The Christian Register''
, website =
, slogan = la, Pro Deo Et Patria
, footnotes =
The Philippine Independent Church (officially in es, Iglesia Filipina Independiente; tl, Malayang Simbahan ng Pilipinas; la, Libera Ecclesia Philippina; colloquially called the Aglipayan Church, IFI, and PIC) is an independent
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity that comprises all church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadership, theological doctrine, worsh ...
, in the form similar to that of a
national church
A national church is a Christian church associated with a specific ethnic group or nation state. The idea was notably discussed during the 19th century, during the emergence of modern nationalism.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in a draft discussing ...
, in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. Its
schism
A schism ( , , or, less commonly, ) is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, suc ...
from the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
was proclaimed in 1902 by members of the ''
Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina
The ''Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina'' (''UOD'' or ''UODF'', English: Democratic Labor Union of the Philippines) was a trade union center in the Philippines. The organization was the first modern trade union federation in the country; earlier ...
'', due to the mistreatment of the
Filipinos
Filipinos ( tl, Mga Pilipino) are the people who are citizens of or native to the Philippines. The majority of Filipinos today come from various Austronesian ethnolinguistic groups, all typically speaking either Filipino, English and/or othe ...
by
Spanish priests and influenced by the executions of
José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
and
Filipino priests Mariano Gomez Mariano Gomez or Mariano Gómez may refer to:
* Mariano Gomez (priest)
Mariano Gómes de los Ángeles (), often known by his birth name Mariano Gómez de los Ángeles, was a Filipino Catholic priest, who was falsely accused of mutiny by the ...
,
José Burgos
José Apolonio Burgos y García was a Catholic Church in the Philippines, Filipino Catholic Priesthood in the Catholic Church, priest, accused of mutiny by the Spain, Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century. He was t ...
, and
Jacinto Zamora
Jacinto Zamora y del Rosario (14 August 1835 – 17 February 1872) was a Filipino Catholic priest, part of the Gomburza, a trio of priests who were falsely accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th centu ...
, during
Spanish colonial rule.
Prominent Filipino
historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...
Teodoro Agoncillo
Teodoro Andal Agoncillo (November 9, 1912 – January 14, 1985) was a prominent 20th-century Filipino historian. He and his contemporary Renato Constantino were among the first Filipino historians renowned for promoting a distinctly nationalist ...
described the Philippine Independent Church as "the only living and tangible result of the
Philippine Revolution."
Ever since its inception, the IFI/PIC Aglipayanism is widely referred as a
schismatic
Schismatic may refer to:
* Schismatic (religion), a member of a religious schism, or, as an adjective, of or pertaining to a schism
* a term related to the Covenanters, a Scottish Presbyterian movement in the 17th century
* pertaining to the schi ...
, rather than a
heretical movement.
Its central office is located at the
National Cathedral of the Holy Child in
Ermita
Ermita is a district in Manila, Philippines. Located at the central part of the city, the district is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of the city, bearing the seat of city g ...
,
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
. The Philippine Independent Church is the country's first and oldest
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* Chris ...
.
History
Gregorio Aglipay and the Philippine Revolution
![Gregorio Aglipay](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Gregorio_Aglipay.jpg)
Gregorio Aglipay was an activist and
Roman Catholic priest
The priesthood is the office of the ministers of religion, who have been commissioned ("ordained") with the Holy orders of the Catholic Church. Technically, bishops are a priestly order as well; however, in layman's terms ''priest'' refers only ...
from
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte, officially the Province of Ilocos Norte ( ilo, Probinsia ti Ilocos Norte; tl, Lalawigan ng Ilocos Norte), is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City, located in the northwest corner of ...
, who would later be
excommunicated
Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
by then
Archbishop of Manila
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila ( lat, Archidioecesis Manilensis; fil, Arkidiyosesis ng Maynilà; es, Arquidiócesis de Manila) is the archdiocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in Metro Manila, Philippines, encompassing ...
, Bernardino Nozaleda, for "
usurpation
A usurper is an illegitimate or controversial claimant to power, often but not always in a monarchy. In other words, one who takes the power of a country, city, or established region for oneself, without any formal or legal right to claim it as ...
of
ecclesiastical jurisdiction
Ecclesiastical jurisdiction signifies jurisdiction by church leaders over other church leaders and over the laity.
Jurisdiction is a word borrowed from the legal system which has acquired a wide extension in theology, wherein, for example, it is ...
" by joining
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is the youngest president of the Philippines (1899–1901) and is recognized as the first president of the Philippine ...
's
libertarian
Libertarianism (from french: libertaire, "libertarian"; from la, libertas, "freedom") is a political philosophy that upholds liberty as a core value. Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and political freedom, and minimize the state's e ...
movement and suspicion in possibly fomenting schism with the Pope (then
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII ( it, Leone XIII; born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2 March 1810 – 20 July 1903) was the head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 to his death in July 1903. Living until the age of 93, he was the second-old ...
) in 1899.
During the
Philippine Revolution, Aglipay and his former classmate
Isabelo de los Reyes
Isabelo de los Reyes Sr. y Florentino, also known as Don Belong (July 7, 1864 – October 10, 1938), was a prominent Filipino politician, writer, journalist, and labor activist in the 19th and 20th centuries. He was the original founder of the ' ...
(also known as ''Don Belong''), an ''
ilustrado
The Ilustrados (, "erudite", "learned" or "enlightened ones") constituted the Filipino educated class during the Spanish colonial period in the late 19th century. Elsewhere in New Spain (of which the Philippines were part), the term ''gente de r ...
'' author, journalist, and labour activist, who was on
exile
Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...
in Spain at the time, acted to reform the Filipino Catholic
clergy
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
which was then dominated and ruled by
Spanish friars.
Then-
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Emilio Aguinaldo persuaded Aglipay to head the existing church in the Philippines by appointing him military
vicar general
A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ...
in 1898, wishing to overthrow the spiritual power of the Spanish friar-bishops.
Aglipay was also the convener of the Filipino Ecclesiastical Council (
Paniqui
Paniqui, officially the Municipality of Paniqui ( ilo, Ili ti Paniqui; pag, Baley na Paniqui; tgl, Bayan ng Paniqui), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 103,0 ...
Assembly), in response to former
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (, July 23, 1864 – May 13, 1903) was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government, and then as the first ...
's manifesto urging the Filipino clergy to organize a Filipino national church.
Aglipay was a member of the
Malolos Congress
The Malolos Congress (also known as the Revolutionary Congress), formally known as the National Assembly, was the legislative body of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines. Members were chosen in the elections held from June 23 to Septe ...
, the lone member coming from the religious sector, although he also represented his home province, as well.
He was also a guerilla leader during the
Philippine–American War
The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...
, with the rank of lieutenant-general.
Thereafter, Mabini's idea to organize a Filipino national church received the support of Aguinaldo.
Post-excommunication and establishment by de los Reyes
![Aguinaldo ang aglipay](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Aguinaldo_ang_aglipay.jpg)
Following the Philippine–American War, de los Reyes, together with the members of ''
Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina
The ''Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina'' (''UOD'' or ''UODF'', English: Democratic Labor Union of the Philippines) was a trade union center in the Philippines. The organization was the first modern trade union federation in the country; earlier ...
'', founded and publicly proclaimed the birth of the ''Iglesia Filipina Independiente'' (translated to "Philippine Independent Church" in English) on August 3, 1902, at the ''Centro de Bellas Artes'' in
Quiapo, Manila
Quiapo () is a district of the city of Manila, in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Referred to as the "Old Downtown of Manila", Quiapo is home to the Quiapo Church, where the feast of the Black Nazarene is held with millions of p ...
. The church was
incorporated with the then-
Insular Government of the Philippines
The Insular Government of the Philippine IslandsThis form of the name appeared in the titles of U.S. Supreme Court cases, but was otherwise rarely used. See Costas v. Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, 221 U.S. 623, 1911. The Admini ...
as a religious
corporation sole
A corporation sole is a legal entity consisting of a single ("sole") incorporated office, occupied by a single ("sole") natural person. in 1904. The new church rejected the
spiritual authority of the Pope and abolished the
celibacy
Celibacy (from Latin ''caelibatus'') is the state of voluntarily being unmarried, sexually abstinent, or both, usually for religious reasons. It is often in association with the role of a religious official or devotee. In its narrow sense, the ...
requirement for priests, allowing them to marry. At that time, all of its clergy were former Catholic priests, mostly from
Ilocos
Ilocos Region ( ilo, Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; pag, Sagor na Baybay na Luzon/Rehiyon Uno; tl, Rehiyon ng Ilocos) is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, occupying the northwestern section of Luzon and part of ...
, some of whom became the church's first consecrated bishops, as justified in accordance with the church's early Fundamental Epistles.
De los Reyes was the chief initiator of the separation and suggested that Aglipay
[History](_blank)
should be the founding head, or ''Obispo Maximo'' (Supreme Bishop), of the church. De los Reyes' idea to form a new church was conceptualized upon his
repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a thing or a person to its country of origin or citizenship. The term may refer to non-human entities, such as converting a foreign currency into the currency of one's own country, as well as to the pro ...
to the Philippines from Spain in 1901, after his talks with the
Papal Nuncio
An apostolic nuncio ( la, nuntius apostolicus; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international org ...
Giuseppe Francica-Nava de Bontifè
Giuseppe Francica-Nava de Bontifè (23 July 1846—7 December 1928) was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Catania from 1895 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1899.
Biography
Fran ...
in 1899 to request the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
in looking into the conditions of the Philippines had failed. By then, the country had changed from Spanish rule to American, and de los Reyes feared that American clergy will replace the Spanish, instead of Filipinos.
De los Reyes managed to rally enough people from his organization, ''Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina'', the first modern
labor union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...
federation in the country, to create an independent church "''conserving all that is good in the Roman Church and eliminating all the deceptions, which the Romanists had introduced, to corrupt the moral purity and sacredness of the doctrines of Christ''." At the time, he had the necessary logistics needed to form a new church, but one: an equipped and empowered bishop to head it.
At first, the already-excommunicated Aglipay was reluctant, as he was initially against a
schism
A schism ( , , or, less commonly, ) is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, suc ...
and was faithful to the
magisterium
The magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church is the church's authority or office to give authentic interpretation of the Word of God, "whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition." According to the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Chur ...
. He believed that all means of reaching an understanding with Rome should be exhausted first before declaring any schism. However, after his talks with
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
and
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
leaders quickly backfired when both were dismissive and would not allow Filipino priests lead their respective churches, he eventually accepted de los Reyes' offer to establish an independent church on September 6, 1902, and became one of its bishops while also serving as the ''
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
''
supreme bishop, until he was
finally
Finally may refer to:
Albums
* ''Finally'' (Namie Amuro album) (2017)
* ''Finally'' (Blackstreet album) or its title song
* ''Finally'' (Sean Ensign album) or its title song "It's My Life (Finally)"
* ''Finally'' (Layzie Bone & A.K. album) ...
consecrated to the position by his fellow bishops in the newly-formed church on January 18, 1903.
Thus, it became also known as the "''Aglipayan Church''", after its first supreme bishop. De los Reyes himself would later be formally excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1903. On October 1, 1902, Aglipay headed the signatories, approval, and promulgation of the first and short-lived Constitution of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. In late 1902, the church opened the ''Seminario Central de Mabini'' (predecessor of present-day Aglipay Central Theological Seminary), named after
Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (, July 23, 1864 – May 13, 1903) was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government, and then as the first ...
, at Nancamaliran West,
Urdaneta, Pangasinan
Urdaneta, officially the City of Urdaneta ( pag, Siyudad na Urdaneta; ilo, Siyudad ti Urdaneta; fil, Lungsod ng Urdaneta), is a 2nd class component city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...
.
Afterwards, Aglipay immediately demanded both then
Governor-General
Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...
and Catholic Church authorities to turn-over the
church buildings
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* C ...
to him on September 27, 1902, starting with the
Manila Cathedral
The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception ( fil, Basilika Menor at Kalakhang Katedral ng Kalinis-linisang Paglilihi; es, Basílica Menor y Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción), also known as the ...
, but got rejected. A five-year campaign resulted in the acquisition of nearly one-half of Catholic Church properties in the country by Aglipay's followers. However, in 1906, the then-
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court ( fil, Kataas-taasang Hukuman; colloquially referred to as the ''Korte Suprema'' lso used in formal writing is the highest court in the Philippines. The Supreme Court was established by the Second Philippine Commission on Ju ...
ruled that all property that had been occupied by Aglipay's followers had to be returned to the Catholic Church. The
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
upheld the decision in 1909. The Aglipayan Church was then forced to move to makeshift quarters.
Developing early theology
Aglipay, like
Rizal
Rizal, officially the Province of Rizal ( fil, Lalawigan ng Rizal), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Its capital is the city of Antipolo. It is about east of Manila. The p ...
, later became a
Freemason
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
in May 1918. Although not a Mason himself, de los Reyes — who created a distinct doctrine, liturgy, and organization for the Philippine Independent Church — drew some concepts of theology and worship from them, which was then approved formally by Aglipay.
De los Reyes was supported by
Miguel Morayta
Miguel Morayta (15 August 1907 – 19 June 2013) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He directed 74 films between 1944 and 1978. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Morayta was a Spanish artillery officer, who joined the Republi ...
, the Grand Master of the Spanish Orient Lodge of Freemasonry in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
.
[Schumacher, John N., ''Revolutionary Clergy: The Filipino Clergy and the Nationalist Movement, 1850-1903''](_blank)
p. 224, Ateneo de Manila U Press, , The late historian
Fr. John N. Schumacher, S.J., contended that Morayta and other non-Filipino
laymen
In religious organizations, the laity () consists of all members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-ordained members of religious orders, e.g. a nun or a lay brother.
In both religious and wider secular usage, a layperson ...
pushed Aglipay and de los Reyes towards
schism
A schism ( , , or, less commonly, ) is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, suc ...
with the Catholic Church because of their resentment towards the activities of
Catholic religious order
In the Catholic Church, a religious order is a community of consecrated life with members that profess solemn vows. They are classed as a type of religious institute.
Subcategories of religious orders are:
* canons regular (canons and canone ...
s in the Philippines, rather than simple admiration and encouragement for
Filipino nationalism
Filipino nationalism refers to the establishment and support of a political identity associated with the modern nation-state of the Philippines, leading to a wide-ranging campaign for political, social, and economic freedom in the Philippines. T ...
.
Aglipay later named de los Reyes, being a lay person, as ''Obispo Honorario'' (Honorary Bishop) of the IFI in 1929.
![04917jfCathedral Holy Child Aglipayan Manila Taft Avenue Manilafvf 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/04917jfCathedral_Holy_Child_Aglipayan_Manila_Taft_Avenue_Manilafvf_01.jpg)
The Philippine Independent Church continued to follow Roman Catholic forms of worship.
The church reformed the
Latin Tridentine liturgy and
mass
Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different elementar ...
in its earliest days were then spoken both in
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
and the
vernacular
A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...
. Aglipay and de los Reyes had developed their theology, coming to reject the
divinity
Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.[divine ...](_blank)
of
Jesus
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
and the concept of the
Holy Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...
, officially becoming theologically
Unitarian since 1907.
Aglipay and de los Reyes' unitarian, rationalist, and progressive theological ideas were even evident in the church's "''Catecismo''" (1905), "''Oficio Divino''" (1906), and the
novena
A novena (from Latin: ''novem'', "nine") is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pen ...
, "''Pagsisiyam sa Birhen sa Balintawak''" (1925), as well as its English translation, "''Novenary of the Motherland''" (1926).
Aglipay held the position of Supreme Bishop until his death on September 1, 1940.
De los Reyes, meanwhile, held the position of Honorary Bishop until his death on October 10, 1938. There were claims that he retracted and returned to the Catholic Church two years before his death. However, his son, Isabelo de los Reyes Jr., who later became supreme bishop, vehemently opposed these said claims.
Ecumenism, factionalism, ''Aglipayan'' sects and schism
From its early days, two principal factions coexisted uneasily within the IFI: one Unitarian (led by Aglipay's successor, cleric-turned-politician, and second supreme bishop, Santiago Fonacier, who was faithful to Aglipay and Isabelo Sr.'s theology) and the other Trinitarian (led by Isabelo de los Reyes Jr., who was elected the fourth supreme bishop in 1946).
A schism developed at the tail-end of Fonacier's term, and the Unitarian faction left the church and claimed the right to the name and possession of church properties. Under Isabelo Jr.'s leadership, the church's affiliation with revolutionary movements were severed and abrogated, coupled with his pursuit for
ecumenism
Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...
. On August 4, 1947, the IFI General Assembly, under Isabelo Jr., petitioned the
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops is the third House in a General Synod of some Anglican churches and the second house in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
The Episcopal Church, based in the United States with additional dioceses elsewhere, is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is divided into nine provinces. The presiding bishop o ...
, one of the churches of the
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian communion after the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Founded in 1867 in London, the communion has more than 85 million members within the Church of England and other ...
, to bestow the IFI with
apostolic succession
Apostolic succession is the method whereby the ministry of the Christian Church is held to be derived from the apostles by a continuous succession, which has usually been associated with a claim that the succession is through a series of bish ...
.
On August 5, 1947, the IFI Church adopted a new Declaration of Faith and Articles of Religion that were
Trinitarian
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Fa ...
. The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America then granted the IFI petition during their meeting in November 1947. On April 7, 1948, the IFI had its bishops, namely: de los Reyes Jr., Manuel Aguilar, and Gerardo Bayaca (third supreme bishop), reconsecrated and bestowed upon the apostolic succession by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America led by Bishop
Norman S. Binsted, acting for the
Presiding Bishop, and assisted by fellow Episcopal Church bishops
Robert F. Wilner Robert Franklin Wilner (April 10, 1889 – March 25, 1960) was an Episcopal Suffragan Bishop of the Philippine Islands.
He was born in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania to George Mortimer Wilner and Lillian Isabel Wilner (née Price). He married Alfaretta A ...
and
Harry S. Kennedy
Harry Sherbourne Kennedy (August 21, 1901 – February 14, 1986) was a bishop of Hawaii in the Episcopal Church from 1944 till 1966.
Early life and education
Kennedy was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 21, 1901 and was raised in Rahway, New ...
. Former President Emilio Aguinaldo acted as a sponsor for the three IFI bishops. The Trinitarian IFI then sued the Unitarian faction for sole rights to the name and property of the original IFI.
After prolonged litigation, in 1955, the more dominant Trinitarian faction was finally awarded by the Supreme Court the right to the name and possessions of the original IFI. The IFI then entered into
full communion
Full communion is a communion or relationship of full agreement among different Christian denominations that share certain essential principles of Christian theology. Views vary among denominations on exactly what constitutes full communion, but ...
with the Anglican Communion in 1961 through the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
The Episcopal Church assisted in coming up with the IFI liturgical books with a Filipino
missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the liturgical year. Versions differ across liturgical tradition, period, and purpose, with some missals intended to enable a pries ...
. The missal shows a marked Anglican influence while retaining the form of the Catholic Mass. The church later signed a
concordat
A concordat is a convention between the Holy See and a sovereign state that defines the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state in matters that concern both,René Metz, ''What is Canon Law?'' (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1960 st Ed ...
of full communion with the
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...
in October 1963, the
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church ( gd, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Episcopal(ian) Kirk) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion in Scotland.
A continuation of the Church of Scotland as intended by King James VI, and ...
in December 1963,
and the
Old Catholic
The terms Old Catholic Church, Old Catholics, Old-Catholic churches or Old Catholic movement designate "any of the groups of Western Christians who believe themselves to maintain in complete loyalty the doctrine and traditions of the undivide ...
Union of Utrecht
The Union of Utrecht ( nl, Unie van Utrecht) was a treaty signed on 23 January 1579 in Utrecht, Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under the control of Habsburg Spain.
History
The Union of Utrecht is r ...
in 1965.
Fonacier's group, on the other hand, remained Unitarian, later became known as the "''Independent Church of Filipino Christians''" (ICFC). However, they would soon fragment into other minor groups.
In 1977, the church adopted a new set of Constitution and Canons, as approved by the General Assembly. In 1981, a faction of the church called the "''Iglesia Catolica Filipina Independiente''" or the "Philippine Independent Catholic Church" (ICFI/PICC), led by Macario V. Ga (fifth supreme bishop) and priest Armando L. de la Cruz, who claimed to have maintained the "original Catholic
ethos
Ethos ( or ) is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology; and the balance between caution, and passion. The Greeks also used this word to refer to ...
and doctrine of the original nationalist independent church", was formed. Ga was a known staunch supporter of former president and dictator
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...
, which caused tension to a number of bishops and laity who were critical of Marcos and his
dictatorship
A dictatorship is a form of government which is characterized by a leader, or a group of leaders, which holds governmental powers with few to no limitations on them. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. Politics in a dictatorship are ...
, thus marking the rekindling of the church's
revolutionary nationalist roots. The opposing faction rallied the election of Abdias R. de la Cruz as the new supreme bishop in the 1981 General Assembly. Ga then filed a petition at the
Securities and Exchange Commission
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government, created in the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The primary purpose of the SEC is to enforce the law against market ...
(SEC), in an attempt to nullify the election of de la Cruz. Ga also questioned the authenticity of the approved 1977 Constitution and Canons after a few years from approval. However, even after a motion for reconsideration, both the SEC and the
Court of Appeals
A court of appeals, also called a court of appeal, appellate court, appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In much of t ...
executed the decision in favor of de la Cruz in 1985 and 1987, respectively. Ga's faction subsequently got their name registered separately in the SEC. The IFI later responded by asking the Court to prevent the faction from using the name "Iglesia Catolica Filipina Independiente", a similar name in one of the former's SEC-registered alternative names. The SEC later revoked the certificate of incorporation of the ICFI and ordered to change its name to avoid confusion with the IFI.
The ICFI/PICC appealed and the case reached the Supreme Court. However, because of technicalities, the latter ruled to close and terminate the case. Eventually, to avoid conflict with the IFI, the ICFI/PICC and its chapters registered the name once again in the SEC in 2014, with a slight modification and variation of the name, and ultimately later in 2019, now formally known as the "''International Conference of Philippine Independent Catholic Churches of Jesus Christ''", which is in concordat with the
Anglican Church in North America
The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is a Christian denomination in the Anglican tradition in the United States and Canada. It also includes ten congregations in Mexico, two mission churches in Guatemala, and a missionary diocese in Cuba ...
(ACNA), a non-member province of the Anglican Communion, since 2020.
In the latter half of the 1990s, Ga voluntarily reconciled with the IFI, which led to the signing of a memorandum of agreement. However, Armando de la Cruz, who was already the ICFI/PICC's supreme metropolitan archbishop, was adamant on the reunification. From the ICFI/PICC, another breakaway group was established in 1995 under the name "''Aglipayan Christian Church Inc.''", which is based in
Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dabaw; ), is a first class highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the largest city in the Philippines in terms of lan ...
.
The concordat of full communion between the IFI and the
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden ( sv, Svenska kyrkan) is an Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. A former state church, headquartered in Uppsala, with around 5.6 million members at year end 2021, it is the largest Christian denomination in Sw ...
was signed in 1995. On February 17, 1997, the IFI also signed a concordat of full communion with the newly-
autonomous
In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy, from , ''autonomos'', from αὐτο- ''auto-'' "self" and νόμος ''nomos'', "law", hence when combined understood to mean "one who gives oneself one's ow ...
Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP; tl, Simbahang Episkopal sa Pilipinas; Ilocano: ''Simabaan nga Episkopal iti Filipinas'') is a province of the Anglican Communion comprising the country of the Philippines. It was established by the ...
(ECP).
Present day
IFI congregations are also found throughout the
Philippine diaspora in North America, Europe, Middle East, and parts of Asia. According to some sources, the church is the second-largest single Christian denomination in the Philippines, after the Catholic Church (some 80.2% of the population), comprising about 6.7% of the total population of the Philippines. By contrast, the 2010 and 2015
Philippine Census recorded only 916,639 and 756,225 members in the country, respectively, or about 1% of the population.
Winning large numbers of adherents in its early years because of its nationalist roots, Aglipayan numbers gradually dwindled through the years due to factionalism and doctrinal disagreements.
The church does not discourage its members from joining
Freemasonry
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
. Some of the members of the church, like the founders de los Reyes and Aglipay, are political activists, often involved in
progressive groups and advocating nationalism,
anti-imperialism
Anti-imperialism in political science and international relations is a term used in a variety of contexts, usually by nationalist movements who want to secede from a larger polity (usually in the form of an empire, but also in a multi-ethnic so ...
,
democracy
Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose gov ...
, as well as opposing
extrajudicial killings
An extrajudicial killing (also known as extrajudicial execution or extralegal killing) is the deliberate killing of a person without the lawful authority granted by a judicial proceeding. It typically refers to government authorities, whether ...
. They have often been victims of
enforced disappearance
An enforced disappearance (or forced disappearance) is the secret abduction or imprisonment of a person by a state or political organization, or by a third party with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a state or political organiza ...
s and been branded as
leftist
Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...
s by the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
for being aligned with progressive groups, specifically after
Alberto Ramento
Alberto Ramento y Baldovino (August 9, 1936 in Guimba, Nueva Ecija – October 3, 2006 in Tarlac City) was the ninth Supreme Bishop (''Obispo Máximo'') and former Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Bishops of the Philippine Independent ...
, the ninth supreme bishop, was killed in 2006 for being an anti-government critic.
The church then created the "''Ramento Project for Rights Defenders''", the IFI's
human rights
Human rights are Morality, moral principles or Social norm, normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for ce ...
advocacy and service arm, in Ramento's honor. The church has also managed to build schools from kindergarten to college, and cemeteries in some areas of the country managed by its respective dioceses. The church itself claims to be
not an ally with any particular school of political thought or with any political party, asserting that its members are politically free.
Members of the IFI Church refer to themselves as "''Aglipayans''", "''Filipinistas''", and "''Independientes''".
Doctrine and practice
Liturgy
The main Sunday
liturgy
Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...
is the
Eucharist
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...
or the Holy Mass, which is spoken and celebrated in the
vernacular
A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...
. The Eucharistic liturgy of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente resembles that of the
Roman Missal
The Roman Missal ( la, Missale Romanum) is the title of several missals used in the celebration of the Roman Rite. Along with other liturgical books of the Roman Rite, the Roman Missal contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the m ...
, with elements taken from the Anglican
Book of Common Prayer
The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...
, such as the
Collect for Purity The Collect for Purity is the name traditionally given to the collect prayed near the beginning of the Eucharist in most Anglican rites. Its oldest known sources are Continental, where it appears in Latin in the 10th century ''Sacramentarium Fuldens ...
, the positioning of the
Sign of Peace before the
Offertory
The offertory (from Medieval Latin ''offertorium'' and Late Latin ''offerre'') is the part of a Eucharistic service when the bread and wine for use in the service are ceremonially placed on the altar.
A collection of alms (offerings) from the c ...
, the Eucharistic Prayers, and the
Prayer of Humble Access The Prayer of Humble Access is the name traditionally given to a prayer contained in many Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and other Christian eucharistic liturgies. Its origins lie in the healing the centurion's servant as recounted in two of th ...
. The church, most of the time, uses the
Nicene Creed
The original Nicene Creed (; grc-gre, Σύμβολον τῆς Νικαίας; la, Symbolum Nicaenum) was first adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. In 381, it was amended at the First Council of Constantinople. The amended form is a ...
. Orders of service and ceremonies are contained in The Filipino Ritual and The Filipino Missal. Aglipayans adhere in the
Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is the Christian doctrine that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist, not merely symbolically or metaphorically, but in a true, real and substantial way.
There are a number of Christian denomina ...
, and
communion is distributed
under both kinds. However, they are non-committal in belief regarding
transubstantiation
Transubstantiation (Latin: ''transubstantiatio''; Greek: μετουσίωσις ''metousiosis'') is, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, "the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of th ...
. Aglipayans maintain that the belief in the real presence does not imply a claim to know how Christ is present in the Eucharistic species. Moreover, belief in the real presence does not imply belief that the consecrated Eucharistic species cease to be bread and wine. Church members are taught that the Eucharistic species, the
consecrated
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word ''consecration'' literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different grou ...
bread and the wine, do not necessarily change into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ but one still receives the body and blood of Christ by faith, asserting instead that Christ is present in the Eucharist in a "heavenly and spiritual manner".
Being a nationalist church, Aglipayans employ
Filipino national symbols in their liturgical practices, such as the use of national colors and motifs, the singing of the
national anthem
A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and European n ...
, and the displaying of the
national flag
A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but usually can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colours ...
in the sanctuary.
Aglipayans are also adherents to praying the
rosary
The Rosary (; la, , in the sense of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses"), also known as the Dominican Rosary, or simply the Rosary, refers to a set of prayers used primarily in the Catholic Church, and to the physical string of knots or b ...
. They do not practice auricular confession and repudiate the concept of
purgatory
Purgatory (, borrowed into English via Anglo-Norman and Old French) is, according to the belief of some Christian denominations (mostly Catholic), an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification. The process of purgatory ...
. The IFI also has their own
process of exorcism, but is not considered a
sacrament
A sacrament is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite that is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments ...
and has no specific prescribed formula, nor an office of "exorcist". Unlike the Catholic Church, wherein a priest has to undergo specialized training and authority, all ordained IFI priests with "strong spiritual discernment" can perform exorcism, as long as they consulted their respective diocesan bishops, after a careful medical examination to exclude the possibility of mental illness, and should only be done as a
last resort. Although not mandatory, the church also highly encourages its members to practice
tithing
A tithing or tything was a historic English legal, administrative or territorial unit, originally ten hides (and hence, one tenth of a hundred). Tithings later came to be seen as subdivisions of a manor or civil parish. The tithing's leader or s ...
as the minimum standard form of Christian giving.
Priesthood
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente maintains the historic threefold ministry of
bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
s,
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...
s, and
deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...
s. Bishops of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente derive their
apostolic succession
Apostolic succession is the method whereby the ministry of the Christian Church is held to be derived from the apostles by a continuous succession, which has usually been associated with a claim that the succession is through a series of bish ...
from the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, which was first bestowed on April 7, 1948. The church rejects the exclusive right to apostolic succession by the
Petrine Papacy.
Clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy is the requirement in certain religions that some or all members of the clergy be unmarried. Clerical celibacy also requires abstention from deliberately indulging in sexual thoughts and behavior outside of marriage, because the ...
is optional. It
allows its priests to marry, rejecting mandatory clerical celibacy. Priests may also remain unmarried.
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente also allows the
ordination of women
The ordination of women to ministerial or priestly office is an increasingly common practice among some contemporary major religious groups. It remains a controversial issue in certain Christian traditions and most denominations in which "ordina ...
. In February 1997, Rosalina V. Rabaria of the Diocese of Aklan and Capiz became the first woman to be officially ordained priest in the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. On the other hand, in May 2019, Emelyn Dacuycuy of the Diocese of Batac became the first woman to be ordained bishop in the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, further asserting their belief in women's inclusion and breaking the tradition of
patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of dominance and privilege are primarily held by men. It is used, both as a technical anthropological term for families or clans controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males a ...
in the clergy. The church as a whole also refers to itself using female pronouns.
Unlike the Catholic Church and most Anglican churches, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente currently does not have
nun
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...
s or
religious sister
A religious sister (abbreviated ''Sr.'' or Sist.) in the Catholic Church is a woman who has taken public vows in a religious institute dedicated to apostolic works, as distinguished from a nun who lives a cloistered monastic life dedicated to pr ...
s. Some members of the Women of the Philippine Independent Church (WOPIC) wear
veil
A veil is an article of clothing or hanging cloth that is intended to cover some part of the head or face, or an object of some significance. Veiling has a long history in European, Asian, and African societies. The practice has been prominent ...
s and
religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of religious clothing worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognizable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anchoritic life, ...
s, similar to that of the religious sisters, during mass as a "sign of reverence". During
Lenten season, a group of WOPIC members called ''nobisyas'' (translated to
novice
A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. A ''novice'' can also refer to a person (or animal e.g. racehorse) who is entering a profession
A profession is a field of work that has ...
in English) render 40-day church services as their ''pamamanata'' (act of
penance
Penance is any act or a set of actions done out of Repentance (theology), repentance for Christian views on sin, sins committed, as well as an alternate name for the Catholic Church, Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox s ...
) and wear veil as "an honorable way to imitate
Mary, mother of Jesus
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...
." The IFI used to have nuns when the
Episcopal Sisters of St. Anne in Mindanao and the Episcopal Sisters of Mary the Virgin in Luzon accepted IFI women to their
religious congregation
A religious congregation is a type of religious institute in the Catholic Church. They are legally distinguished from religious orders – the other major type of religious institute – in that members take simple vows, whereas members of religio ...
s for sisterhood training in the 1960s. The IFI sisters later established their own Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus in the 1970s, having their base at the Episcopalian St. Andrew's Theological Seminary, and unlike its priests, the IFI nuns adhere to the vow of
chastity
Chastity, also known as purity, is a virtue related to temperance. Someone who is ''chaste'' refrains either from sexual activity considered immoral or any sexual activity, according to their state of life. In some contexts, for example when mak ...
. However, due to insufficient institutional patronage, the congregation eventually disbanded, with some of them joining back the Episcopalian sisters in Luzon.
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente also has
lay ministers in every diocese.
Saints
Just like the Catholic Church, IFI members are
Marian devotees and
devotees
Devotion or Devotions may refer to:
Religion
* Faith, confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept
* Anglican devotions, private prayers and practices used by Anglican Christians
* Buddhist devotion, commitment to religious observance
* Cat ...
of
saints
In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual res ...
, however, several saints
canonized
Canonization is the declaration of a deceased person as an officially recognized saint, specifically, the official act of a Christianity, Christian communion declaring a person worthy of Cult (religious practice), public veneration and enterin ...
by Rome after the 1902 schism are not recognized by the IFI Church and its members. Popes (or Bishops of Rome)
universally canonized as saints before the 1902 schism are also acknowledged by the IFI Church. While
veneration
Veneration ( la, veneratio; el, τιμάω ), or veneration of saints, is the act of honoring a saint, a person who has been identified as having a high degree of sanctity or holiness. Angels are shown similar veneration in many religions. Etymo ...
of saints is formally practiced,
deification
Apotheosis (, ), also called divinization or deification (), is the glorification of a subject to divine levels and, commonly, the treatment of a human being, any other living thing, or an abstract idea in the likeness of a deity. The term has ...
of saints on the other hand is condemned by the Church as
blasphemy
Blasphemy is a speech crime and religious crime usually defined as an utterance that shows contempt, disrespects or insults a deity, an object considered sacred or something considered inviolable. Some religions regard blasphemy as a religiou ...
.
In the liturgical calendar of the IFI, the monday after
All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the church, whether they are know ...
is designated as "Commemoration Day for the Martyrs and Confessors of the IFI".
During the early days of the schism particularly in 1903, the church, led by Aglipay together with a number of bishops, canonized
José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
and the
Gomburza
Gomburza, alternatively stylized as GOMBURZA or GomBurZa, refers to three Filipino Catholic priests, Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, who were executed by garrote on February 17, 1872, in Bagumbayan, Philippines by Spanish ...
priests. However, the church has since revoked their sainthood in the 1950s and already ceased to recognize them as saints up to this day, although they still recognize them as national heroes and early IFI martyrs.
Contraception
Aglipayan bishops joined public demonstrations in support of the ''
Reproductive Health Bill
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, also known as the Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, and officially designated as Republic Act No. 10354, is a Philippine law that provided universal access to methods on contracept ...
'', a legislation advocating for contraception and sex education to reduce the rate of abortion and control rapid population growth that the Catholic Church and several other Christian denominations objected to on moral grounds.
Stance on abortion
Although supportive of the ''Reproductive Health Bill'', the Iglesia Filipina Independiente strongly opposes non-medically necessary induced
abortion
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
.
LGBTQ rights
![Members of the Aglipayan Church during the 2017 Pride March in Marikina City](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Members_of_the_Aglipayan_Church_during_the_2017_Pride_March_in_Marikina_City.jpg)
In 2017, the church's position on the
LGBTQ+
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is ...
community changed to an extent wherein the church leadership acknowledged, apologized, and released a statement in which it states, among other things, that the IFI has, for many times, "shown indifference, and have made the LGBTQ+ people feel less human, discriminated against, and stigmatized." The statement – dubbed "''Our Common Humanity, Our Shared Dignity''" – stresses the church's position that it "must openly embrace God's people of all sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions (SSOGIE)." Moreover, although the church is still opposed to the
holy matrimony of
same-sex couples
A same-sex relationship is a Romance (love), romantic or Human sexuality, sexual relationship between people of the same sex. ''Same-sex marriage'' refers to the institutionalized recognition of such relationships in the form of a marriage; civil ...
, the statement stresses that the IFI is "offering their Church as a community where LGBTIQ+ people can freely and responsibly express themselves, pronouncing God's all-inclusive love."
This apology statement's groundwork first came up in 2014, when a gay man articulated during the church plenary his query about the church's plans for sexual minorities. This led to discussions among the newly-elected set of national youth officers, led by an openly gay president and a lesbian executive vice-president, which would later be succeeded by another openly gay president. The church's position on LGBTQ+ persons was approved by the Supreme Council of Bishops and officially adopted by the entire church in February 2017.
The church has since accepts openly LGBTQ+ people as part of their congregation and ministry.
Views on divorce
Church officials expressed openness to the passage of the ''
Divorce Bill'' in the Philippines. However, they clarified that it should not be misconstrued as a disregard to the "sanctity of marriage", but as a matter of practicality. They further stated that while they believe that couples are duty-bound to keep their marriage vows,
divorce
Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the ...
may be used as a
last resort, when psychological and incompatibility problems make it difficult for both partners to live together.
According to the officials, the IFI's stance on the controversial subject stems from its teachings that emphasize the "people's rights for freedom, dignity, and integrity, which also means encouraging the society to be responsive to the realities of time and to recognize that there have been unions that were wrong". They further clarified that the church will still "guide" couples on not resorting to divorce, if possible.
Response on red-tagging
Several church officials are advocates against the culture of
impunity
Impunity is avoidance of punishment, loss, or other negative consequences for an action. In the international law of human rights, impunity is failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a d ...
and as a result, a number of advocates have been recipients of
malicious and unproven accusations by government personnel tagging them as alleged enablers and sympathizers of
insurgents
An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority waged by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare from primarily rural base areas. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric nature: small irreg ...
and
terrorists
Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...
("red-tagging"). The church has since released a statement strongly condemning such allegations.
Organization
![OM Rhee Timbang 2019](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/OM_Rhee_Timbang_2019.jpg)
The church is led by the
Supreme Bishop, similar to a
presiding bishop in other denominations. The 13th and current Supreme Bishop is
Rhee Timbang, who was elected on May 9, 2017.
The church has three predominant clergy and
laity
In religious organizations, the laity () consists of all members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-ordained members of religious orders, e.g. a nun or a lay brother.
In both religious and wider secular usage, a layperson ...
councils: the Supreme Council of Bishops (SCB), the Council of Priests (COP), and the National Lay Council (NCL).
There are six sectoral organizations of the laity (lay organizations) in the church: the Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (YIFI), the Women of the Philippine Independent Church (WOPIC), the Laymen of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (LIFI), the National Priests Organization (NPO), the Clergy Spouses Organization (CSO), and the nonsanctioned Clergy Children Organization (CCO).
Notable churches
![PhilippineIndependentChurchjf0264 04](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/PhilippineIndependentChurchjf0264_04.JPG)
The structure of the church buildings, as well as the outstation chapels, of the Philippine Independent Church do not differ significantly from Catholic church buildings in the Philippines.
Cathedral of the Holy Child (National Cathedral)
![04917jfCathedral Holy Child Aglipayan Manila Taft Avenue Manilafvf 07](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/04917jfCathedral_Holy_Child_Aglipayan_Manila_Taft_Avenue_Manilafvf_07.jpg)
Located along
Taft Avenue
Taft Avenue ( fil, Abenida Taft; es, Avenida Taft) is a major road in the south of Metro Manila. It passes through three cities in the metropolis: Manila, Pasay and Parañaque. The road was named after the former Governor-General of the Philippin ...
, the Cathedral of the Holy Child in
Ermita
Ermita is a district in Manila, Philippines. Located at the central part of the city, the district is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of the city, bearing the seat of city g ...
, Manila, is the National Cathedral of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the seat of the supreme bishop. Designed by architect
Carlos Arguelles
Carlos D. Arguelles (September 15, 1917 – August 19, 2008) was a Filipino architect who was known for being a leading proponent of the International Style of architecture in the Philippines in the 1960s. He was an Eagle Scout and a Distinguishe ...
, construction of the church began in 1964 and was inaugurated on May 8, 1969, to commemorate the 109th birth anniversary of its first supreme bishop, Gregorio Aglipay.
The church is made largely of bare concrete and wood and has been noted for having a suspended block with sloping trapezoidal walls and textured with horizontal grooves all throughout, suspended with a triangular block.
María Clara Parish Church
Named after the
main heroine in Rizal's ''
Noli Me Tángere'', the María Clara Parish Church in
Santa Cruz, Manila, was originally built as a wooden structure in 1923 before it was expanded and rebuilt as a concrete structure in the 1950s. When the original national cathedral of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in
Tondo was destroyed during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the María Clara Parish Church became the temporary office of the supreme bishop before relocating in 1969 to the present-day Cathedral of the Holy Child. The original statue of the Virgin of Balintawak is housed in the Maria Clara Parish Church. The church is under the Diocese of Greater Manila Area but the property is owned by the de los Reyes family. The current resident bishop of the church is retired bishop Gregorio de los Reyes, son of Isabelo Jr. and grandson of Isabelo Sr.
Seminaries
![7300Nancamaliran West, Urdaneta, Pangasinan 04](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/7300Nancamaliran_West%2C_Urdaneta%2C_Pangasinan_04.jpg)
The Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS) in
Urdaneta City
Urdaneta, officially the City of Urdaneta ( pag, Siyudad na Urdaneta; ilo, Siyudad ti Urdaneta; fil, Lungsod ng Urdaneta), is a 2nd class component city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...
,
Pangasinan
Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan ( pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Pangasinan, ; ilo, Probinsia ti Pangasinan; tl, Lalawigan ng Pangasinan), is a coastal province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. Its capit ...
is the regional seminary of the church serving the North-Central and South-Central
Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
Dioceses. ACTS offers Bachelor of Theology and Divinity programs for members who aspire to enter the ordained ministry. These are four-year study programs with curriculum focusing on biblical, theological, historical, and pastoral studies, with reference to parish management and development, and cultural and social context.
The St. Paul's Theological Seminary (SPTS) in
Jordan, Guimaras
Jordan (), officially the Municipality of Jordan ( hil, Banwa sang Jordan; tl, Bayan ng Jordan), is a 3rd class municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, province of Guimaras, Philippines. According to ...
is the regional seminary of the Church serving the
Visayas
The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao ...
and
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
Dioceses.
The St. Andrew's Theological Seminary (SATS) in
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
is run by the
Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP; tl, Simbahang Episkopal sa Pilipinas; Ilocano: ''Simabaan nga Episkopal iti Filipinas'') is a province of the Anglican Communion comprising the country of the Philippines. It was established by the ...
, serving both its church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
The St. John the Divine School of Theology is planned to be established in Mindanao.
Relationship with other Christian denominations
Churches in communion
The church enjoys
full
Full may refer to:
* People with the surname Full, including:
** Mr. Full (given name unknown), acting Governor of German Cameroon, 1913 to 1914
* A property in the mathematical field of topology; see Full set
* A property of functors in the mathe ...
communion with the
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian communion after the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Founded in 1867 in London, the communion has more than 85 million members within the Church of England and other ...
and the
Episcopal Church in the United States
The Episcopal Church, based in the United States with additional dioceses elsewhere, is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is divided into nine provinces. The presiding bishop of ...
since September 22, 1961.
Other churches the IFI is in full communion with include: the
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...
, the
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church ( gd, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Episcopal(ian) Kirk) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion in Scotland.
A continuation of the Church of Scotland as intended by King James VI, and ...
, the
Union of Utrecht
The Union of Utrecht ( nl, Unie van Utrecht) was a treaty signed on 23 January 1579 in Utrecht, Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under the control of Habsburg Spain.
History
The Union of Utrecht is r ...
, the
Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP; tl, Simbahang Episkopal sa Pilipinas; Ilocano: ''Simabaan nga Episkopal iti Filipinas'') is a province of the Anglican Communion comprising the country of the Philippines. It was established by the ...
, the
Church in the Province of the West Indies
The Church in the Province of the West Indies is one of 40 member provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church comprises eight dioceses spread out over much of the West Indies area. The present position of Archbishop and Primate of th ...
, the
Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Church of the Province of Central Africa is part of the Anglican Communion, and includes 15 dioceses in Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Central Africa. Albert Chama is the current archbish ...
, the
Church of the Province of West Africa
The Church of the Province of West Africa is a province of the Anglican Communion, covering 17 dioceses in eight countries of West Africa, specifically in Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Ghana is ...
, the
Anglican Church of Kenya
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) is a province of the Anglican Communion, and it is composed by 41 dioceses. The current Primate and Archbishop of Kenya is Jackson Ole Sapit. The Anglican Church of Kenya claims 5 million total members. Accordin ...
, the
Anglican Church of Tanzania
The Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT) is a province of the Anglican Communion based in Dodoma. It consists of 28 dioceses (27 on the Tanzanian mainland, and 1 on Zanzibar) headed by their respective bishops. It seceded from the Province of East A ...
, the
Church of North India
The Church of North India (CNI) is the dominant united Protestant church in northern India. It was established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together the Protestant churches working in northern India. It is a province of the worldwide Anglica ...
, the
Church of South India
The Church of South India (CSI) is a united Protestant Church in India. It is the result of union of a number of mainline Protestant denominations in South India after independence.
The Church of South India is the successor of a number of Pr ...
, the
Church of Pakistan
The Church of Pakistan is a united Protestant Church in Pakistan, which is part of the Anglican Communion and a member of the World Communion of Reformed ChurchesDatabase (9 February 2006)"Sialkot Diocese of the Church of Pakistan" Reformed Onl ...
, the
Church of the Province of Myanmar
The Church of the Province of Myanmar in Asia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. The province comprises the entire country of Myanmar. The current archbishop of Myanmar and bishop of Yangon is Stephen Than Myint Oo.
Official name
The ...
, the
Church of Ceylon
The Church of Ceylon ( si, ලංකා සභාව) is the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka. It is an extra-provincial jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who serves as its Metropolitan. It was established in 1845 with the appointment ...
(''extra-provincial''), the ''
Nippon Sei Ko Kai
The ''Nippon Sei Ko Kai'' ( ja, 日本聖公会, translit=Nippon Seikōkai, lit=Japanese Holy Catholic Church), abbreviated as NSKK, sometimes referred to in English as the Anglican Episcopal Church in Japan, is the national Christian church repr ...
'', the
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the second ...
, the
Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Church
The Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Church ( pt, Igreja Lusitana Católica Apostólica Evangélica) in Portugal is a member church of the Anglican Communion.
Membership
The church has around 5,000 members.
Structure
As an Episcopal den ...
(''extra-provincial''), the
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC or ACoC) is the Ecclesiastical province#Anglican Communion, province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French-language name is ''l'Église anglicane du Canada''. In 2017, the Anglican Church co ...
, the
Church of Uganda
The Church of Uganda is a member province of the Anglican Communion. Currently there are 37 dioceses which make up the Church of Uganda, each headed by a bishop.
Each diocese is divided into archdeaconries, each headed by a senior priest known a ...
, the
Anglican Church of Rwanda
The Anglican Church of Rwanda (French: ''Église anglicane du Rwanda'') is a province of the Anglican Communion, covering 11 dioceses in Rwanda. The primate of the province is Laurent Mbanda, consecrated on 10 June 2018.
Official names
The Provinc ...
, the
Anglican Church of Burundi
The Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi (French: Province de l'Église anglicane du Burundi) is a province of the Anglican Communion, located in East Africa between Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, and the Congo. The Archbishop and Primate of Buru ...
, the
Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church
, native_name_lang =
, image = File:Sello-iere comunion784x1181.jpg
, imagewidth = 150px
, alt =
, caption = Seal of Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church
, abbreviation = SREC
, ty ...
(''extra-provincial''), the
Anglican Church of Southern Africa
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa, known until 2006 as the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, is the province (Anglican), province of the Anglican Communion in the southern part of Africa. The church has twenty-five dioceses, of whi ...
, the
Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia ( mi, Te Hāhi Mihinare ki Aotearoa ki Niu Tīreni, ki Ngā Moutere o te Moana Nui a Kiwa; formerly the Church of the Province of New Zealand) is a province of the Anglican Communion serv ...
, the
Old Catholic Church of Austria
The Old Catholic Church of Austria (german: Altkatholische Kirche Österreichs) is the Austrian member church of the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches.
In 1997, the church began ordaining women. In 2007, the church elected as its hea ...
, the
Old Catholic Church of the Czech Republic
The Old Catholic Church of the Czech Republic consists of the Czech parishes in full communion with the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches. The church is also a member of the National Ecumenical Council, the World Council of Churches and ...
, the
Old Catholic Church of Germany, the
Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands
The Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands ( nl, Oud-Katholieke Kerk van Nederland), sometimes known as the Dutch Roman Catholic Church of the Old Episcopal Order, the Church of Utrecht (Ultrajectine Church), or Jansenist Church of Holland, is an ...
, the
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is an Old Catholic denomination in Switzerland. This denomination is part of the Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic).
Recent developments
In 1871 the Zürich Catholic community planned to build a chu ...
, the
Polish National Catholic Church of America
The Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) is an independent Old Catholic church based in the United States and founded by Polish-Americans.
The PNCC is not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church.http://www.saplv.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/ ...
, the
Old Catholic Church of Croatia
The Old Catholic Church of Croatia or Croatian Old Catholic Church (Croatian language, Croatian: ''Hrvatska starokatolička crkva'') consists of the Croatian parishes in full communion with the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches, Union o ...
, the
Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil
The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil ( pt, Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil – IEAB) is the 19th province of the Anglican Communion, covering the country of Brazil. It is composed of nine dioceses and one missionary district, each hea ...
, and the
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden ( sv, Svenska kyrkan) is an Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. A former state church, headquartered in Uppsala, with around 5.6 million members at year end 2021, it is the largest Christian denomination in Sw ...
.
Relations with the Catholic Church
On August 3, 2021, during the IFI's 119th Proclamation Anniversary and as part of celebrating
500 years of Christianity in the Philippines
The 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines (500 YOC) is a quincentennial observed in the Philippines. It commemorates the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines in 1521 when the Magellan expedition made a stopover in the islands.
...
, Catholic Church leaders signed two documents with the IFI "for more
ecumenical
Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...
cooperation amidst
diversity
Diversity, diversify, or diverse may refer to:
Business
*Diversity (business), the inclusion of people of different identities (ethnicity, gender, age) in the workforce
*Diversity marketing, marketing communication targeting diverse customers
* ...
." Although the IFI still remains to be independent from the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
, in the first joint statement, both IFI and Catholic Church leaders "ask and pray for mutual forgiveness for any injuries inflicted in the past" and "strive for the healing and purification of memories among its members". In addition, the first statement also notes that the IFI, as well, "strives to reach out for healing and reconciliation with other separated Churches founded in the Aglipayan tradition".
The second joint statement, on the other hand, is an expression of mutual recognition by both churches, emphasizing the "mutual recognition of
baptism
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
s" between the IFI and the Catholic Church. The
Trinitarian baptismal formula of the IFI has already been recognized by the Catholic Church in its list of validly administered baptisms by other Christian churches.
For years, IFI officials had been seeking the recognition of their baptismal rites by the Catholic Church in order to ease inter-denominational marriages, notably the blessing of
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
during
his state visit to the Philippines in 2015, so that Aglipayans will not be obliged anymore to be baptized as Catholics before they could marry Catholics.
Notable members
Supreme bishops
*
Gregorio Aglipay
Gregorio Aglipay Cruz y Labayán ( la, Gregorius Aglipay; Filipino: ''Gregorio Labayan Aglipay Cruz''; 5 May 1860 – 1 September 1940) was a former Filipino Catholic priest who became the first head of the ''Iglesia Filipina Independiente'', ...
– first supreme bishop of the church and
vicar-general
A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ...
of the
Revolutionary Government. The only cleric-delegate present during the creation of the
Malolos Constitution
The Political Constitution of 1899 ( es, Constitución Política de 1899), informally known as the Malolos Constitution, was the constitution of the First Philippine Republic. It was written by Felipe Calderón y Roca and Felipe Buencamino as ...
.
*
Ephraim Fajutagana
Ephraim Fajutagana y Servañez is a former Obispo Máximo or Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church (''Iglesia Filipina Independiente'' or IFI). He is the 12th Obispo Máximo, the highest post of the Church, that goes back from i ...
– twelfth supreme bishop of the IFI from 2011 to 2017.
*
Alberto Ramento
Alberto Ramento y Baldovino (August 9, 1936 in Guimba, Nueva Ecija – October 3, 2006 in Tarlac City) was the ninth Supreme Bishop (''Obispo Máximo'') and former Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Bishops of the Philippine Independent ...
– ninth supreme Bishop of the IFI; assassinated in 2006 for being a government critic and an active campaigner against
human rights violations in the Philippines
Human rights in the Philippines are protected by the Constitution of the Philippines, to make sure that persons in the Philippines are able to live peacefully and with dignity, safe from the abuse of any individuals or institutions, including the ...
.
*
Rhee Timbang – thirteenth and current supreme bishop of the IFI since 2017.
Church officials
* Don
Isabelo de los Reyes, Sr. – also known as ''Don Belong''; a prominent Filipino politician, writer, and labour activist in the 19th and 20th centuries. He proclaimed the establishment of the IFI. He is often called the "''Father of Filipino Socialism''" for his writings and activism with labour unions, most notably the ''
Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina
The ''Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina'' (''UOD'' or ''UODF'', English: Democratic Labor Union of the Philippines) was a trade union center in the Philippines. The organization was the first modern trade union federation in the country; earlier ...
''. He was also the first to
translate
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English language draws a terminological distinction (which does not exist in every language) between ''transl ...
the Bible in
Ilocano. He became an Honorary Bishop in 1929, while his son, Isabelo Jr., would later become supreme bishop in 1946.
*
Gardeopatra Quijano
Gardeopatra Gador Quijano (April 27, 1918 – May 3, 2003) was a Filipino Visayan dentist, teacher, writer, and fiction author known for her novel, ''Lourdes'', which is regarded as the first feminist novel written in the Cebuano language. She i ...
– dentist, educator, and feminist writer. National President of the Women of the Philippine Independent Church (WOPIC) (1975–1977). Daughter of IFI Bishop Juan P. Quijano.
Politicians
*
Crispin Beltran
Crispin Beltran, also known as Ka Bel (January 7, 1933 – May 20, 2008), was a Filipino labor leader. A staunch critic of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, his imprisonment in 2006 and 2007 on disputed charges of rebellion and sedition drew inte ...
– legislator and labour leader, also known as the "Grand Old Man of Philippine Labour". A member of the
13th Congress of the Philippines
The 13th Congress of the Philippines (Filipino: ''Ikalabintatlong Kongreso ng Pilipinas''), composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 26, 2004, until June 8, 2007, during the fourth, fifth, and sixth years of ...
as party-list representative and former chair of ''
Kilusang Mayo Uno
Kilusang Mayo Uno, or May First Labor Movement (KMU) is an independent labor center in the Philippines promoting militant unionism. It follows in the fighting tradition of the country's first trade union, the Lithographers' and Printers' Union ...
'' (KMU), he was a major figure in contemporary Filipino history.
*
Nicolas Buendia
Nicolas Buidon Buendia (born Nicolás Buendía y Buidon; March 12, 1879 – September 14, 1958) was a Filipino politician who served as Senator of the Philippines from 1941 to 1946, and from 1935 to 1941 as assemblyman of the first district of B ...
– assemblyman of
Bulacan
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Metr ...
from 1935 to 1941 and
senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
from 1941 to 1946. One of the first and pioneering members of the IFI during its inception.
*
Rhodora Cadiao
Rhodora Javier Cadiao is a Filipina politician. She was born to Josue Lacson Cadiao, a former Governor of Antique, and Lolita Solis Javier, a former Vice Governor. Her maternal grandmother Esperanza Solis-Javier (former mayor of Culasi, Antique, ...
– incumbent provincial
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
of
Antique
An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...
(since 2015).
*
Bayani Fernando
Bayani Flores Fernando (born July 25, 1946) is a Filipino politician, businessman and professional mechanical engineer who served as the representative for Marikina's 1st congressional district from 2016 to 2022.
Prior to his election to cong ...
– former
representative
Representative may refer to:
Politics
*Representative democracy, type of democracy in which elected officials represent a group of people
*House of Representatives, legislative body in various countries or sub-national entities
*Legislator, someon ...
, former mayor of
Marikina
Marikina (), officially the City of Marikina ( fil, Lungsod ng Marikina), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 456,159 people.
It is loca ...
, and former chairman of the
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA; fil, Pangasiwaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang Maynila) is a government agency of the Philippines responsible for constituting the regional government of Metro Manila, comprising the capital ...
.
*
Mariano Marcos
Mariano Marcos y Rubio (; April 21, 1897 – March 8, 1945) was a lawyer, educator, and politician from Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. A Congressman from 1925 to 1931, he is best known for being the father of Ferdinand Marcos, who was Preside ...
– lawyer, Japanese collaborator, and politician from
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte, officially the Province of Ilocos Norte ( ilo, Probinsia ti Ilocos Norte; tl, Lalawigan ng Ilocos Norte), is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City, located in the northwest corner of ...
. A Congressman from 1925 to 1931. He is best known for being the father of former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
*
Salvacion Z. Perez
Salvacion Ang Zaldivar-Perez, popularly known as "Inday Sally" Perez, was the Governor of the Philippine province of Antique province, Antique from 2001 to 2010.
Sally Perez was born to Calixto Zaldivar, Calixto O. Zaldivar (1904-1979), former Su ...
– former Governor of Antique from 2001 to 2010; daughter of former Associate Justice Calixto Zaldivar.
*
Gedeon G. Quijano – former
Governor of Misamis Occidental
The governor of Misamis Occidental ( fil, Punong Panlalawigan ng Misamis Occidental), is the chief executive of the provincial government of Misamis Occidental.
Provincial Governors (1987-2025)
References
{{Provincial governors in the Philip ...
. The longest-serving governor in the history of the province. Son of IFI Bishop Juan P. Quijano.
*
Calixto Zaldivar
Calixto Oriola Zaldivar (September 13, 1904 – October 13, 1979) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who was a Supreme Court Justice from 1964 to 1974 best known in Philippine history for being one of only four dissenting voices against the cons ...
– former representative of the
Lone District of Antique (1934–1935), former provincial Governor of Antique (1951–1955), and former
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
An associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States is any member of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the chief justice of the United States. The number of associate justices is eight, as set by the Judiciary Act of ...
(1964–1974). Also a former president of the National Lay Organization of the IFI.
Bureaucrats
*
Felipe Buencamino, Sr. – laywer; co-writer of the Malolos Constitution and
Secretary of Foreign Relations of the
First Philippine Republic
The Philippine Republic ( es, República Filipina), now officially known as the First Philippine Republic, also referred to by historians as the Malolos Republic, was established in Malolos, Bulacan during the Philippine Revolution against ...
. One of the first and pioneering members of the IFI during its inception.
*
Alexander Gesmundo
Alexander Gahon Gesmundo (born November 6, 1956) is serving as the chief justice of the Philippines since April 5, 2021. He replaced Diosdado Peralta, who retired early on March 27, 2021. He previously served as an associate justice of the Supre ...
–
jurist
A jurist is a person with expert knowledge of law; someone who analyses and comments on law. This person is usually a specialist legal scholar, mostly (but not always) with a formal qualification in law and often a legal practitioner. In the Uni ...
; 27th and incumbent
Chief Justice of the Philippines
The chief justice of the Philippines ( fil, Punong Mahistrado ng Pilipinas) presides over the Supreme Court of the Philippines and is the highest judicial officer of the government of the Philippines.
As of April 5, 2021, the position is curr ...
since 2021.
*
Cesar Virata
Cesar Enrique Aguinaldo Virata (born 12 December 1930) is a Filipino former statesman and businessman who was the fourth Prime Minister of the Philippines from 1981 to 1986. He is currently the corporate vice chairman of the Rizal Commercial B ...
– fourth
Prime Minister of the Philippines
The prime minister of the Philippines was the official designation of the head of the government (whereas the president of the Philippines was the head of state) of the Philippines from 1978 until the People Power Revolution in 1986. During m ...
(1981–1986) under the Interim Batasang Pambansa and the Regular Batasang Pambansa. One of the Philippines' business leaders and leading technocrats, he served as
Finance Minister
A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation.
A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...
from 1970 during the
Marcos dictatorship
At 7:17 pm on September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced on television that he had placed the entirety of the Philippines under martial law. This marked the beginning of a 14-year period of one-man rule that would effectively last ...
to becoming Prime Minister in 1981. He concurrently was Finance Minister throughout the '80s. He is the grandnephew of the first Philippine President, Emilio Aguinaldo.
Artisans
*
José Garvida Flores – patriot, prolific Ilokano writer and playwright from
Bangui, Ilocos Norte
Bangui, officially the Municipality of Bangui ( ilo, Ili ti Bangui; fil, Bayan ng Bangui), is a 4th class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 censu ...
. Composed "''Filipinas Nadayag a Filipinas''", which is sung during services of the IFI.
*
Pascual H. Poblete
Pascual H. Poblete (Filipino: ''Pascual Poblete Hicaro''; May 17, 1857—February 5, 1921) was a Filipino writer, journalist, and linguist, remarkably noted as the first translator of Dr. José Rizal's novel '' Noli Me Tangere'' into the Taga ...
– writer and linguist, remarkably noted as the first translator of
José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
's novel ''
Noli Me Tangere'' into the
Tagalog language
Tagalog (, ; ; '' Baybayin'': ) is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by the ethnic Tagalog people, who make up a quarter of the population of the Philippines, and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, ...
. A prominent member of ''Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina'' and one of the first and pioneering members of the IFI during its inception.
*
Vicente Sotto
Vicente Yap Sotto (born Vicente Sotto y Yap; April 18, 1877 – May 28, 1950) was a Filipino playwright, journalist, and politician who served as a Senator from 1946 to 1950. He also served in the House of Representatives from 1922 to 1925, rep ...
– dramatist, writer, journalist, foremost anti-
friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders founded in the twelfth or thirteenth century; the term distinguishes the mendicants' itinerant apostolic character, exercised broadly under the jurisdiction of a superior general, from the ol ...
, the fiery Publisher–Editor of "''Ang Suga''" and "''El Pueblo''", and the prominent founder of the Filipino Church in
Cebu
Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 ...
; grandfather of actor/politician
Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and actor-comedian
Vic Sotto
Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto (; born April 28, 1954), professionally known as Vic Sotto, is a Filipino actor, singer and comedian known far and wide for his various television and film projects on the major Philippine television networks GMA ...
.
*
Aurelio Tolentino
Aurelio Tolentino y Valenzuela (October 15, 1869 – July 5, 1915) was a Filipino playwright, poet, journalist, and revolutionary. His works at the turn of the 20th century depicted his desire to see Philippine independence from its colonizers. He ...
– prominent
Pampango writer, dramatist, and one of the early and founding members of the
Katipunan
The Katipunan, officially known as the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK; en, Supreme and Honorable Association of the Children of the Nation ...
. The foremost advocate of the establishment of the Filipino Church in Pampanga.
Military and revolutionary figures
*
Edgar Aglipay – retired police officer with the rank of general;
Chief
Chief may refer to:
Title or rank
Military and law enforcement
* Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force
* Chief of police, the head of a police department
* Chief of the boa ...
of the
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police ( fil, Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas, acronymed as PNP) is the armed national police force in the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Current ...
from 2004 to 2005 and Chief Deputy Director-General of the
National Capital Region Police Office
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is a division of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that has jurisdiction over Metro Manila, also known as the National Capital Region. It is headquartered in Camp Bagong Diwa.
History As PC ...
from 1998 to 2000 and 2001 to 2002; descendant of Gregorio Aglipay.
*
Baldomero Aguinaldo
Baldomero Aguinaldo y Baloy (February 27, 1869 – February 4, 1915) was a leader of the Philippine Revolution. He was the first cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, as well as the grandfather of Cesar Virata, a f ...
– a
revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective, to refer to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.
...
general and prominent member of the Katipunan; leader of Katipunan's
Magdalo faction; elected President of the ''Comite de Caballeros'' (Gentlemen's Committee) of the IFI in
Kawit, Cavite
Kawit, officially the Municipality of Kawit ( tgl, Bayan ng Kawit), is a first-class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 107,535. It is one of the notable places that had ...
; had initially organized a local lay organization within the IFI in Kawit in 1904 which later became the splinter group ''Iglesia de la Libertad''; cousin of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and grandfather of Cesar Virata.
*
Mariano Álvarez
Mariano M. Álvarez ( : March 15, 1818 – August 25, 1924) was a Filipino revolutionary and statesman.
Pre-war life
Álvarez was born in Noveleta, Cavite. He received formal schooling at the San José College in Manila, and obtained a teach ...
– a revolutionary general and prominent member of the Katipunan from
Noveleta, Cavite
Noveleta, officially the Municipality of Noveleta ( tgl, Bayan ng Noveleta), formerly known as Tierra Alta during the Spanish colonial era, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has ...
; leader of Katipunan's
Magdiwang faction.
*
Pascual Álvarez
Pascual Álvarez y de Jésus (1861–1923) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and member of the Magdiwang revolutionary organization. He was a nephew of Mariano Álvarez.
Born to Sebastian Álvarez and Juana de Jésus, Á ...
– a revolutionary general and inaugural
Director of the Interior of the
Tejeros Revolutionary Government; nephew of Mariano.
*
Santiago Álvarez – a revolutionary general and the chief commander of
the revolutionary forces at Dalahican; nicknamed ''Kidlat ng Apoy'' ("Lightning of Fire") and the "Hero of the Battle of Dalahican"; son of Mariano.
*
Melchora Aquino
Melchora Aquino de Ramos (January 6, 1812 – February 19, 1919) was a Filipino revolutionary. She became known as "Tandang Sora" because of her age during the Philippine Revolution.
She was known as the "Grand Woman of the Revolution" and ...
– a revolutionary who became known as ''Tandang Sora'' ("Old Sora") because of her age (84) when the 1896
Philippine Revolution broke out. She gained the titles "Grand Woman of the Revolution" and "Mother of
Balintawak" for her contributions to the independence movement. She was among the Church's most prominent and devoted followers in
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan ( fil, Lungsod ng Caloocan; ), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most ...
.
*
Ladislao Diwa
Ladislao Diwa y Nocon (June 27, 1863 − March 12, 1930) was a Filipino patriot who was among the founders of the Katipunan that initiated the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896.
Early years
He was born in San Roque, Cavite to Mariano ...
– one of the co-founders and high-ranking officials of the Katipunan from
Cavite City
Cavite City, officially the City of Cavite ( fil, Lungsod ng Kabite, Spanish and cbk, Ciudad de Cavite), is a 4th class component city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 100,674 people.
The city was the c ...
; later became a revolutionary when he joined the revolutionary troops in Cavite during the Philippine Revolution.
*
Leandro Fullon – a revolutionary general who fought during both the Philippine Revolution and the
Philippine–American War
The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...
. Appointed as commanding general of all Filipino forces in the
Visayas
The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao ...
and became the
liberator of
Antique
An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...
province. Later established and became the first Filipino governor of the Revolutionary Provincial Government of Antique.
*
Mariano Noriel
Mariano Noriel (c. 1864 - January 27, 1915) was a Filipino general who fought during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. He was member of the War Council that handled the case of Andres Bonifacio in 1897. He led Filipino ...
– a revolutionary general who fought during both the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. He led Filipino advance troops before the American army landed in
Intramuros
Intramuros (Latin for "inside the walls") is the historic walled area within the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is administered by the Intramuros Administration with the help of the city government of Manila.
Present-day I ...
in 1898. He was the first president of the laymen organization of the IFI in
Bacoor, Cavite
Bacoor (), officially the City of Bacoor ( fil, Lungsod ng Bacoor), is a 1st class component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 664,625 people, making it the 15th most populous city ...
.
Former members
*
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is the youngest president of the Philippines (1899–1901) and is recognized as the first president of the Philippine ...
– first
President of the Philippines
The president of the Philippines ( fil, Pangulo ng Pilipinas, sometimes referred to as ''Presidente ng Pilipinas'') is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of t ...
. With his influence, together with other Caviteño revolutionary generals and officers, the IFI gained a stronghold in
Cavite
Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite ( tl, Lalawigan ng Kabite; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Located on the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest ...
. His cousin, Baldomero, was the president of ''Comité de Caballeros'' (Gentlemen's Committee) of the IFI in Kawit; while his youngest sister Felicidad, his wife
Hilaria del Rosario, and his mother Trinidad Famy were officers of the ''Comisión de Damas'' (Women's Commission) of the church. Subsequently reverted to Roman Catholicism in later life.
*
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...
– former president and dictator of the Philippines (1965–1986); son of Mariano. Raised Aglipayan, but subsequently changed religion to marry
Imelda Romualdez of
Leyte
Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census.
Since the accessibility of land has be ...
.
See also
*
Christianity in the Philippines
The Philippines is ranked as the 5th largest Christian-majority country on Earth , with about 93% of the population being adherents. , it was the third largest Catholic country in the world and was one of two predominantly Catholic nations in ...
*
Protestantism in the Philippines
Protestant denominations arrived in the Philippines in 1898, after the United States took control of the Philippines from Spain, first with United States Army chaplains and then within months civilian missionaries.
Protestants makes up nearly ...
Notes
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Philippine Independent Church
Independent Catholic denominations
1902 establishments in the Philippines
Christian denominations in Asia
Christian denominations founded in the Philippines
Christian organizations established in 1902
Christian denominations established in the 20th century
Christian denominations in the Philippines
Schisms from the Catholic Church