The Philippine Independent Church, officially the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in Spanish, is a Christian denomination of the Catholic tradition in the form of a national church. It is better known as the Aglipayan Church after its founder, Gregorio Aglipay. Since 1965 it has been part of the Old Catholic Union of Utrecht Association of Churches. Today the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayan Church is the second largest christian denomination in the Philippines with approximately 6 million members which is scattered all over the Philippines and large congregations as well in the United States and parts of Asia. The biggest bulk og the Aglipayans comes from the northern part of the island of Luzon especially in the Ilocandia region, where its first Supreme Bishop comes from. Now the church is divided into 10 dioceses which includes the Diocese of United States and Canada. But due to lack of priest to serve its chuch , there is a big shortage of priest to serve the parishes across the country. A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ. ... The term national church is usually a reference to a church organization in Christianity that claims pastoral jurisdiction over a nation. ... Gregorio Labayan Aglipay was born on May 8, 1860 in Batac, Ilocos Norte, an orphan who grew up in the tobacco fields in the last volatile decades of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The Old Catholic Church is not so much a religious denomination, as a community, part of whose member churches split from the Roman Catholic church in 1870. ... The Union of Utrecht consists of the Dutch Church of Utrecht, the Old Catholic Church in Germany, the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland, and similar movements in Austria, the Czech Republic, and elsewhere, organized into the Utrecht Union. ...

The current Obispo Maximo now is the Most Rev. Godofredo J. David, which has its central office in the capital of the country in Manila ( National Cathedral of the Holy Child in Taft Ave, Manila). The line of sucession goes back from the first Obispo Maximo Aglipay and which is followed by 10 others sucessors.

The Philippine Independent Church now is the most tangible product of the 1898 Revolution against Spain which is still in existence today.^{[citation needed]}

Rise of nationalism

At the end of the 19th century, Filipino nationalism emerged, preceding the struggles of other colonized countries in Asia such as British India and French Indochina, and the fight for independence gave way to revolution. Latin American countries at this time were also breaking away from Spain. With the execution of prominent ethnic Filipino clergy such as Fr. José Burgos at the hands of the Spanish royal authorities, church reforms became a facet of the Philippine independence movement. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix Nationalism is an ideology [1] that holds that a nation is the fundamental unit for human social life, and takes precedence over any other social and political principles. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... French Indochina was a federation of protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... José Apolonio Burgos was a Spanish-Filipino priest, part of the Gomburza trio who were falsely accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century. ...

Colonial church

Although many Spanish friars protested abuses by the Spanish government and military, they themselves committed many abuses. Many Filipinos were enraged when Spanish friars blocked the ascent of highly trained Filipino clergy in the Catholic Church hierarchy. Vast lands were claimed as friars' estates from landless farmers. There were also widely known cases of sexual abuse of women by priests. Anak ni Padre Dámaso (Child of Father Dámaso) has become a cliché or stereotype to refer to an illegitimate child, especially that of a priest. The death of Fr. José Burgos, Fr. Zamora, and Fr. Gomez is said to have indirectly ignited the Philippine revolution and had a profound effect on Dr. José Rizal. A friar is a member of a religious mendicant order of men. ... Father Dámaso or Padre Dámaso is one of the notorious characters in the novel Noli Me Tangere. ... José Apolonio Burgos was a Spanish-Filipino priest, part of the Gomburza trio who were falsely accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century. ... José Protacio Mercado Rizal y Realonda José Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino polymath and nationalist who was the most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during Spanish colonial era and its eventual independence from the Spanish Empire. ...

Gregorio Aglipay

Main article: Gregorio Aglipay

Gregorio Aglipay was an activist Roman Catholic priest from Ilocos Norte who, despite his intercession and defense of some of the Spanish Roman Catholic clergy from liberal-nationalist Filipino revolutionaries, was excommunicated by the Vatican for inciting rebellion within the Filipino clergy. During the brief interlude between independence from the Spanish and the subsequent reoccupation by the Americans, Isabelo de los Reyes and Aglipay reformed the Filipino Catholic clergy into the Philippine Independent Church, officially established in 1902. The new church absolutely rejected the spiritual authority of the Pope (then Pope Leo XIII) and abolished the celibacy requirement from its clergy, allowing marriage among its priests, who were all apostate Roman Catholic priests. Later on, the new independent Church reformed the traditional Roman Catholic Latin Tridentine liturgy drastically after the model of the Anglican vernacular reform. The Eucharist has been said in Spanish (sometimes: Portuguese) for already more than one hundred years in the IFI. Gregorio Labayan Aglipay was born on May 8, 1860 in Batac, Ilocos Norte, an orphan who grew up in the tobacco fields in the last volatile decades of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. ... Isabelo de los Reyes (July 7, 1864-October 10, 1938) was a prominent Filipino politician and labor activist in the 19th and 20th century. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The current Pope is Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger), who was elected at the age of 78 on 19 April 2005. ... Pope Leo XIII, born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci (March 2, 1810 – July 20, 1903), was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, having succeeded Pope Pius IX (1846–78) on February 20, 1878 and reigning until his death in 1903. ... Celibacy refers either to being unmarried or to sexual abstinence. ... A Tridentine Mass being celebrated in Bohermeen, Ireland in the 1950s. ... 1979 ECUSABCP The Book of Common Prayer[1] is foundational prayer book of the Church of England and also the name for similar books used in other churches in the Anglican Communion. ...

Factionalism and current state

Winning large numbers of adherents in its early years because of its nationalist roots, Aglipayan numbers decreased due to factionalism and doctrinal disagreements. Some factions, tending towards more radical cryptoprotestant reforms, formally joined other denominations including the Episcopal Church and the American Unitarians. The Episcopal Church may refer to several members of the Anglican Communion, including: Episcopal Church in the United States of America Scottish Episcopal Church Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East Episcopal Church of Cuba idk of the Sudan Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church ... Historic Unitarianism believed in the oneness of God as opposed to traditional Christian belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). ...

Today, the Philippine Independent Church are affiliated with the Old Catholics and the Anglican Communion. Aglipayans number around one to three million, mostly in the Ilocos Region. They make about 7 % of the total population of the Philippines, while 83 % of the population is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. The Old Catholic Church is not so much a religious denomination, as a community, part of whose member churches split from the Roman Catholic church in 1870. ... The Anglican Communion uses the compass rose as its symbol, signifying its worldwide reach and decentralized nature. ... The Ilocos Region of the Philippines, designated as Region I is located in the northwestern part of Luzon. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see Terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus, with its traditions first established by the Twelve Apostles and maintained through...

Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church), an independent church, has Concordat relationships with the Anglican provinces and the Old Catholic Church. Its members are currently spread throughout the Philippines, the United States and Canada. The spiritual head is called Obispo Maximo (Supreme Bishop). His Eminence Godofredo J. David, is the incumbent and the 11th Obispo Maximo. A concordat is an agreement between the pope and a government or sovereign on religious matters. ...

List of Obispo Maximos from 1902 to 2006

1. Gregorio L. Aglipay- First Obispo MAximo from 1902-1940
2. Santiago Fonacier- from 1940-1946
3. Gerardo Bayaca- 1946
4. Isabelo delos Reyes Jr.- from 1946-1971
5. Macario V. Ga- from 1971-1981
6. Abdia dela Cruz- from 1981-1987
7. Soliman Ganno- from 1987-1989
8. Tito Pasco- from 1989-1993
9. Alberto Ramento- from 1993-1999
10. Tomas A. Millamena- from 1999-2005
11. Godofredo J. David- from 2005-present

List of dioceses

• Laoag-under Obispo Maximo
• Batac-The Right Rev. Rosario S. Acoba
• LUISA-under Obispo Maximo
• Nueva Vizcaya & Quirino-under Obispo Maximo
• Santiago City-under Obispo Maximo
• Tuguegarao-The Right Rev. Ernesto M. Tamayo
• Zambales- The Right Rev. Generoso A. Rosales
• Dagupan-The Right Rev. Hermogenes M. Ranche
• Eastern Pangasinan-The Right Rev. Warlito P. Baldomero
• Tarlac-under Obispo Maximo
• Nueva Ecija-The Right Rev. Ernesto F. Tadly
• Bataan and Bulacan-The Right Rev. Raymundo L. Rivera
• Cavite-under Obispo Maximo
• Greater Manila-The Right Rev. Gregorio de los Reyes
• Rizal and Pampanga-Under Obispo Maximo
• Laguna- The Most Rev. Tomas A. Millamena
• Romblon and Mindoro-The Right Rev. Ronelio V. Fabriquer
• MAQUEBACA-under Obispo Maximo
• Masbate-under Obispo Maximo
• Cebu and Bohol- The Right Rev. Felomino N. Ang
• Negros Oriental & Siquijor-The Right Rev. David M. Ga
• BILLESA-The Right Rev. Vic A. Esclamado
• Negros Occidental-Under Obispo Maximo
• Aklan and Capiz-The Most Rev. Abdias R. dela Cruz
• Antique-The Right Rev. Leon T. Estrella
• Palawan-under Obispo Maximo
• Iloilo-The Right Rev. Gaspar D. Bañes
• Guimaras-The Right Rev. Tito Vilches
• Western Mindanao-The Right Rev. Pablito M. Jarantilla
• MOBUCA-The Right Rev. Felixberto L. Calang
• AGUSURI-The Right Rev. Denny D. Dapitan
• Surigao-The Right Rev. Rhee M. Timbang
• Southern Mindanao-The Right Rev. Delfin Callao
• United States and Canada-The Right Rev. Raul C. Tobias

National Cathedral and specially assigned clergy under OM The Most Rev. Godofredo J. David

Ecumenical Relations

Autonomous Catholic Churches worldwide (Old Catholic Churches United in the Union of Utrecht):

Sept 22, 1965 Old Catholic Church of Austria

Sept 22, 1965 Old Catholic Church of Croatia

Sept 22, 1965 Old Catholic Church of the Czech Republic

Sept 22, 1965 Old Catholic Church of Germany

Sept 22, 1965 Old Catholic Church of Holland

Sept 22, 1965 Old Catholic Church of Poland

Sept 22, 1965 Polish National Catholic Church of America

Sept 22, 1965 Old Catholic Church of Switzerland

Anglican Provinces worldwide:

Sept 22, 1961 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (PECUSA)

Sept 1, 1962 Church of the Province of West Indies

Nov 12, 1962 Church of the Province of Central Africa

1962 Church of the Province of West Africa

Nov 2, 1962 Church of the Province of East Africa

Jan 18, 1963 Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (today Church of North India)

Mar 15, 1963 Nippon Sei Ko Kai

May 3, 1963 Church of Ireland

Oct 9, 1963 Lusitanian Church

Oct 16, 1963 Church of England

Dec 5, 1963 Episcopal Church in Scotland

1963 Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

1963 Anglican Church of Australia

1963 Church of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi

1963 Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church

Feb 17, 1964 Church of the Province of South Africa

Apr 29, 1964 Church of the Province of New Zealand

Apr 29, 1964 Church of Melanesia (COM)

1965 Episcopal Church of Brazil

Feb 17, 1997 Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP)

IFI, by virtue of its concordat relations with the Anglican Churches, is given the privilege to send delegates to the Council of Churches of East Asia (CCEA) as organized by the Anglican Provinces in East Asia in 1962. Since 1964, the IFI Bishops have also been regular members of the international Anglican gathering, the Lambeth Conference.

Other Concordat Churches worldwide:

Nov 12, 1995 Church of Sweden

External links

• Iglesia Filipina Independiente Website

v • d • e Churches in the Anglican Communion

Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia · Australia · Bangladesh · Brazil · Burundi · Canada · Central Africa · Central America · Congo · England · Hong Kong · India, North · India, South · Indian Ocean · Ireland · Japan · Jerusalem and the Middle East · Kenya · Korea · Melanesia · Mexico · Myanmar · Nigeria · Pakistan · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Rwanda · Scotland · South East Asia · Southern Africa · Southern Cone · Sudan · Tanzania · Uganda · USA · Wales · West Africa · West Indies  — extra-provincial churches The Anglican Communion uses the compass rose as its symbol, signifying its worldwide reach and decentralized nature. ... Photograph by Keith Edkins File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is a church of the Anglican Communion serving New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... The Church of North India has united various denominations and missions and orders in India. ... The Church of South India is an autonomous Protestant church of South India. ... Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. ... Founded in 1889 there are at present over 100 parish and mission churches with roughly 50,000 members in the Anglican Church of Korea. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... The Church of the Province of South East Asia was formed in 1996 and consists of the dioceses of Kuching, Sabah, Singapore and West Malaysia. ... The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (formerly the Church of the Province of Southern Africa) is the Anglican province in the southern part of Africa, including dioceses in Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Saint Helena, South Africa and Swaziland. ... The Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de las Americas (Spanish for: Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of the Americas) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion that covers the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. ... Flag of the Church in Wales The Church in Wales (Welsh: Yr Eglwys Yng Nghymru) is a member Church of the Anglican Communion, consisting of six dioceses in Wales. ... The Church of the Province of West Africa is a province of the Anglican Communion, covering a number of sees in West Africa. ... The extra-provincial Anglican churches are a group of small, semi-independent church entities within the Anglican Communion. ... Churches in full communion: Mar Thoma Syrian Church · Old Catholic Church · Philippine Independent Church The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, commonly referred to as the Mar Thoma Church is a Reformed offshoot of the pre-16th century undivided Syrian Orthodox Church, and got its current identity in 1889, even though it was born much earlier. ... The Old Catholic Church is a community of Christian churches. ...