Church History

"The Genesis of St. Mary's Philippine Independent Church (PIC)"

by Leland Francisco

On August 03, 2003, a group of no less than 10 family heads with the Rev. Fr. Rey M. Del Mundo as a lead Pastor, had a brainstorming session. The discussion was focused on nourishing and sustaining their Filipino faith through the word and sacraments in order to be witnesses to God's love in the world. Immediately, a Pastoral Council was organized as an instrument in spearheading, mobilizing and in building faith communities not only for the Filipinos but for other communities as well, and to enhance their participation in the congregation.

The group had come up to formulate a pious organization and to pursue a PIC Mission by organizing a congregation of new men and women educated in and liberated by the teachings of Christ and free from the bondage of regionalism.

The group was initially called St. Mary's Aglipayan Congregation (SAMACA) and extended an open invitation for everyone, especially for Filipinos no matter where among the 7,100 islands he or she may have originated. On August 14, 2005, SAMACA was officially incorporated in the State of California under the Non-Profit Religious Corporation Law. The inaugural mass and the blessing and dedication of the Patron were held on September 23, 2003.

NOTE: On June 13, 2005, by the gracious will of God, The Rt. Rev. Raul C. Tobias blessed the hard work of SAMACA by elevating her status from a pious organization to a regular parish. Since then the congregation has adopted the name St. Mary's Philippine Independent Church (PIC).

The St. Mary's Philippine Independent Church (PIC) operates and is being guided by the following mission, vision and goals:

A. Vision:

St. Mary's Philippine Independent Church envisions herself to be a caring mother who continuously gives birth to new creatures (persons) in Christ out from the womb of the baptismal fountain, who lovingly and caressingly nourishes Christian families at the table of the Eucharist and who is the spring of encouragement, of forgiveness of order, of healing and comfort, of love and concern.

B. Mission:

The PIC is dedicated to proclaiming the good news of salvation in Christ by nurturing and sustaining her members through the Word and Sacraments �that they may become faithful witnesses to, and channels of God's love in the world.

C. Goals:

The PIC is committed to organizing her members through prayers and fellowship, worship and service that is built around the common Filipino devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a loving and caring mother.

With this spiritual redirection, this little PIC seed was nurtured and cultured and underwent the process of growth and development vertically horizontally and most of all inwardly. The members have an opportunity to practice the Christian way of sharing their time, talent, and treasures ("the three T's") through a stewardship concept. More people came and made closer to God through the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Member potentials and spirited gifts were discovered and harnessed for ministry on fellowship, hospitality, evangelism, stewardship, music and ecumenism.

"The Primer on the Immediate
Historical Background of
La Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI)"

by

Bishop Solimon F. Ganno

From the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 up to the Philippine Revolution of 1896, there was only a brief period of time that the Filipino priests of the Roman Catholic Church were given an opportunity to become parish priests. This opportunity was granted by Governor Simon Anda y Salazar (1770-1776) and Archbishop Santa Justa y Rufina (1767-1787).� The offer by
Anda and Santa Justa, however, was short-lived for in September 10, 1861, a Royal Order from Spain was promulgated which took away most of the parishes administered by Filipino priests. Father Pedro Pablo Pelaez, a native of Pagsanjan reacted to this Royal Order by filing a Memorial to Governor Jose Lemcry, protesting against its provisions. He advocated for the repeal of the order since it was unjust and discriminatory to the native clergy. Father Pelaez in his fights for the Filipino clergy's rights established EI Catolico Filipino, the first religious newspaper in the country as a vehicle for his crusade known as the secularization movement, which paved the way for the Philippine Revolution. Father Pelaez died at the Manila Cathedral on June 3, 1863, a victim of a disastrous earthquake. The secularization movement was continued by other Filipino priests; the most prominent was Fr. Jose Burgos, a student of Fr. Pelaez.

On January 20, 1872, in Cavite, a group of Filipino laborers under the leadership of Sgt. La Madrid revolted against the Spanish authorities when they discovered that their wages were lacking and killed the Spanish Commander. This revolt did not last long and also implicated Fathers Jose Burgos, Jacinto Zamora and Mariano Gomez, who later were arrested for the crime of sedition and rebellion. Their punishment was death by strangulation (garotte). The execution of these three priests who were active in the secularization movement changed the course of Philippine history. Professor Fabella of the University of the Philippines wrote:

"The Cavite incident was undoubtedly the spark that stimulated the Filipino people to aspire for freedom and nationhood...Nationhood and independence came about as a direct consequence of the Cavite incident."

From 1872 to 1882, there was "peace secured at the point of the bayonet"- a period of enforced peace. From 1882 to 1896, there emerged voices and movements for reforms. The Propaganda Movements, with La Solidaridad as its principal organ, campaigned for reforms. There was also the nuturing of the idea of separation from Spain. One aim which had far reaching repercussions as far as the Filipino Church is concerned was the expulsion of the friars. As a manifestation of the rising tide of nationalism, it prepared in some ways the minds of many for an inevitable revolution.

The revolution, indeed, came and it was under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio who organized the Katipunan to revolt against Spain. It was a national movement to free themselves from Spanish and friar domination.

While Bonifacio started the Revolution, Emilio Aguinaldo, the acknowledged leader of the Katipuneros of Cavite, took over later. He was inaugurated as president on March 23, 1897, in Tanza, Cavite. 0n June 12, 1898, he proclaimed independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite and on September 13, 1898, the Malolos congress was inaugurated and approved a constitution. This constitution was promulgated on January 21, 1899.

As President of the Republic, Aguinaldo appointed a Filipino priest, Father Gregorio Aglipay to be the Vicario General Castrence on a recommendation by Apolinario Mabini on October 20, 1898. This appointment gave recognition to the leadership of Father Aglipay. Acting immediately, Aglipay issued a manifesto to all the Filipino clergy calling for a reorganization of the Church in the Philippines on October 21, 1898. Two days later on October 23, 1989, he convoked an assembly of priests in Paniqui, Tarlac. Twenty-seven Filipino secular priests attended and a provisional constitution of the Church in the Philippines was approved. Canon VI declared that "the Council will not recognize any foreign bishop or pastor without the approval of the Filipino priests." The significance of this constitution for the Filipino clergy, which was enacted during this historical meeting, had a far-reaching and profound importance as pointed out by Bishop Bart O. Espartero.¹

"This meeting must go down in the history of this country as a landmark in the rise of the Filipino clergy for self-assertion ...To all intents and purposes; a national Filipino Church was established at the Paniqui Convention. Independence from the control of the Spanish prelates was definitely established and organized."

Aside from Aglipay's appointment by the government, Bishop Hevia Campomanes appointed him as Ecclesiastica1 Governor of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia. On December 1, 1898, he circularized the clergy informing them his appointment by Campomanes. He advised them to be united against the friars and on January I, 1899, he asked his co-priests to show their patriotism by providing funds to the revolutionary government.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the Church were getting alarmed of Aglipayan's activities and on April 29, 1899, Archbishop of Manila, Bernardino Nozaleda, ex-communicated him for the following reasons: grave usurpation of ecclesiastical jurisdiction like employing the title Vicario General Castrence, claiming powers to confer with the Filipino clergy, appointing priests to certain positions and circularizing the clergy not to recognize the Spanish prelates. Apolinario Mabini made the reply for Aglipay and Rivera makes the following observation:

"Father Aglipay in turn excommunicated the Archshop...With the passing of the Spanish power; he argued that the Spanish prelates have no jurisdiction over the Philippines... as an independent nation has the right to have its ecclesiastical chief."

Meanwhile, the Filipino clergy continued discussions and in January 1900 in Laoag, Illocos Norte, Aglipay met with the clergy at the residence of Father Jose Evangelista to discuss the problems confronting the church. On May 8, 1902 at Kullabeng, Badoc, Ilocos Norte, Aglipay's birthday, the clergy with some prominent laymen met and resolved to establish a Filipino Church that was independent from Rome.

While Aglipay was busy with the Filipino clergy in the North, a prominent labor leader, Don Isabelo de los Reyes, came into the scene. He organized the Union Obrera Democratica, the first labor union of the Philippines in February 1902. On August 3, 1902, a meeting was held at the Centro de Bellas Artes in which the organizer, Don Pascual Poblete, editor of El Grito del Pueblo, advocated for the expulsion of the old (friar-based) religious order. One of the speakers invited was Don Isabelo de los Reyes, and he said, in part at that meeting:

"Consulting the General Council of the Democratic Labor Union, I am authorized to give our humble cooperation to Mr. Poblete upon whose initiative this demonstration against the friars is held, and at the same time, to declare without vacillation that from now on, we definitely separate ourselves from the Vactican, in forming a Filipino Independent Church."
Aglipay was proposed by los Reyes as the Obispo Maximo of the new Church. On October 1, 1902, the Iglesia Filipino Independiente, which was originally conceived in Paniqui, Tarlac in 1898 and proclaimed in August 3, 1902, came to life formally when the Constitution was signed by the ten Filipino secular priests at the house of Dona Liza Vda De Ocampo at 54 Espeleta St., Sta.Cruz, Manila where Aglipay was residing. The ten signatories, all Filipino priests, should be remembered by every true and Patriotic Filipino: Gregorio Aglipay, Fortunato Clemeoa, Candido Gironella, Evaristo Clemente, Gregorio Dizon, Vicente Ramirez, Cipriano Valenzuela, Ramon Rarolan, Lorenzo Paloma, and Isidro Perez.

The Church which formally came to life in 1902 under the leadership of Apo Gregorio Aglipay has existed for over the past one hundred years and she continues to be one of the largest Churches in the country.

May God continue to guide, bless and uphold this Filipino Church!

(Note: Slightly revised by Bishop Bart Osorio Espartero¹, Dean of the National Cathedral, March 2004)

¹The Rt. Rev. Bart O. Espartero who just finished his Doctorate in Ministry at CDSP in Berkley has been a visiting priest at St. Mary's Philippine Independent Church.

Important Links