The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) leadership is calling for a 1-million person rally by today, which happens to be the day when we commemorate the Day when our heroes sacrificed their lives for the Motherland. As what this corner said the very same day this happened, this rally is turning out to be quite political and worse, being capitalized by shady characters, among them, the braggart "Pastor" Boy Saycon.
Saycon is the lackey of Peping Cojuangco, who fell from power, the minute his nephew, Benigno S. Aquino III assumed the presidency. Saycon was himself berated for reportedly spearheading the smuggling of tons of sugar during the early days of the Aquino administration. Both controlled the sports association, a position given to them as a political accommodation. However, during the time of Peping's reign as "sports czar", the financial condition of sports' associations deteriorated due to massive graft and corruption.
Cojuangco and Saycon both claim to exercise influence over certain members of the Philippine military. The fact is, Saycon and another notorious character but less sinister than these two, Norberto Gonzales, are going around camps in previous months purportedly to rouse military men against this administration. It's fine if they are doing it for the right ideological reasons, and I do not fault Norberto for acting like that. The only thing that is despicable to my mind is the involvement of Saycon and Peping Cojuangco who have already tainted their reputations for being less ideological and more of carpetbaggers than anything. Their motivation is obvious---seize political power for themselves. Why? For their group to get juicy contracts from the government.
Saycon used to brag that he spearheaded EDSA dos, the bogus revolt that toppled Estrada. He is a member of the Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA), a group that toppled a legitimate leader and replaced it with Arroyo who reigned for nine tumultuous years. During these years, nothing came about precisely because the Cojuangco-Saycon clique defended this illegitimate administration.
The presence of Saycon at the stage of the INC was something despicable, and gut-wrenching to see. It tainted a very pure peaceful rally. Saycon and another character, Greco, a former criminal turned pastor turn political activist turn Manila councilor, should not have been allowed to speak before the INC crowd. Their presence further increased public doubts as to the real reasons why the INC church leadership called for the rally in the first place. Besides, their Powerpoint speeches were useless and worse, only propaganda.
As I was writing this, at around 8:30 this morning, August 31, the INC church leadership main evangelist, Bienvenido Santiago announced that the INC leadership has just decided to end the peaceful rally. Santiago says the church has already reached an understanding with the government. He gave no details.
This is now the problem--what was the "compromise" or this "win-win solution" that the INC and the government had reached?
If the government backed out and agreed to direct the Justice secretary Leila de Lima to throw out the criminal complaint, then, this is something which is quite problematic because it shows how weak this administration has become. The only solution really is for De Lima to back out of the case and let the courts decide--that is the solution. Is Malacanang ready to announce the resignation of De Lima as some form of a political compromise? This is THE problem---whatever De Lima does right now--resign because she is running for a political post this 2016 or leave the department for personal reasons-- this will surely be interpreted as linked with this issue. In my book, De Lima has been condemned for doing what she thought back then, as the right thing.
Poor De Lima. She was demonized. But, since this, as I said, became an already politicized issue, then, De Lima has nowhere else to go but down South.
Likewise, this "understanding" which Santiago said that justified the pull out of the massive crowds that occupied a part of EDSA for three days--what is the political implications of this insofar as the Liberal Party is concerned?
Again, the problem with this "understanding" is that this will further prolong public discussions about this issue.
It is the right of the public to know what was discussed between the Aquino administration and the INC church leadership for the very simple reason that this government represents the interests of majority of Filipinos and it should be acting for and in the interests of the Filipino masses. Whatever this administration entered into should be announced for obvious reasons--to avoid a misunderstanding that this government gave an arm and a leg just for its political survival.
As I understand, in a "win-win" solution, something has to give. Someone loses some. What was the loss and the gain?
Did the Liberal Party gained from this issue? What was the compromise?
Showing posts with label iglesia ni cristo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iglesia ni cristo. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
INK members troop to EDSA shrine: turning seriously political
Some 500 members of the Iglesia Ni Kristo trooped to the EDSA shrine tonight as part of the continuing protest action of the Church against the so-called "preferential treatment" accorded by the Justice department to a dismissed former Church minister who accused his fellow Church officials of violating the law against illegal detention.
This action was reportedly sanctioned by the INK leadership, who, two days ago, bewailed Justice secretary Leila de Lima's acts, saying that the lady secretary gave preference to the criminal complaint instead of initiating criminal proceedings against perpetrators of the so-called Mamasapano massacre which resulted to the deaths of 44 SAF troopers, of which two were INK members.
The call was of course, rational. In the normal course of business, the usual practice was first in, first out. This is the normal standard operating procedure at the DOJ. The unusual haste is really suspicious to say the least.
EDSA shrine is not just a religious site--but through the years has become a political symbol, often described as this country's site for political intramurals. It was here when several members of the elite in connivance with cause-oriented groups converged and called for the resignation of former president Joseph Estrada. During the Arroyo regime, several attempts were made by anti-Arroyo groups to seize and take control of the shrine as a form of political protests, yet, were effectively repulsed by state authorities.
Edwin Zabala, the INK spokesperson denied that their action was some form of a bullying tactic against De Lima. Zabala says they are just expressing their right to express what they felt with what De Lima or the Aquino administration did to them.
INK members trooped to the DOJ Thursday in a show of protest against the alleged undue haste shown by the DOJ in accepting the illegal detention complaint filed by former INK minister Isaias Samson. Samson filed the complaint against several members of the INK leadership whom he accused of reportedly masterminding the crime of preventing him, his daughter and wife from exercising their rights of free movement.
An illegal detention charge is a non-bailable offense and carries with it a major punishment. If the prosecutor finds prima facie evidence of the crime, he can issue an arrest order immediately. Those accused cannot post bail.
If the Aquino administration mishandles this, the same way it did with the Manila hostage crisis and several other scandals, including Mamasapano, this could turn real ugly and deadly. How do you deal with a potentially explosive one such as this?
If, despite overwhelming evidence of the existence of proof, government backtracks and dismisses the case, the administration opens itself up for more attacks coming from other interest groups.
If it proceeds and encourages the filing of a criminal complaint and the courts issue the arrest warrant, how then, will state authorities implement such an order without the unnecessary loss of life? This case is reminiscent of the way US state troopers treated the Davidian sect in Texas which resulted to a terrible loss of life.
Unlike the Davidian sect, however, the INK is already a monolith of an organisation, which roots are already deeply entrenched in Philippine society and politics. It has withstood the test of time and has even survived several dangerous attempts against it from its traditional enemies.
As always, History has shown that in matters of religion and politics, Filipinos have shown uncanny passion in these two human inventions. When these two things fused together, the mix is as lethal as any other typhoon or natural disaster--it sweeps away thousands and leads to the destruction even of entire civilizations and even of modern societies.
This administration should very well be reminded of the lessons of the spring movement which sparked in the Middle East and of various other politico-religious revolts which sprang in numerous times all throughout the history of this country. In the past, clashes attended these events. I sure hope this do not go the way others did in the past.
This administration should be very careful this time. Proper handling by having the right mental awareness of the complexities of the issue and of a conscious consideration of the potential political implications of handling this issue should be topmost in the minds of this country's political leaders. Just a misstep could lead to an escalation and which could potentially turn into a very serious security matter.
This action was reportedly sanctioned by the INK leadership, who, two days ago, bewailed Justice secretary Leila de Lima's acts, saying that the lady secretary gave preference to the criminal complaint instead of initiating criminal proceedings against perpetrators of the so-called Mamasapano massacre which resulted to the deaths of 44 SAF troopers, of which two were INK members.
The call was of course, rational. In the normal course of business, the usual practice was first in, first out. This is the normal standard operating procedure at the DOJ. The unusual haste is really suspicious to say the least.
EDSA shrine is not just a religious site--but through the years has become a political symbol, often described as this country's site for political intramurals. It was here when several members of the elite in connivance with cause-oriented groups converged and called for the resignation of former president Joseph Estrada. During the Arroyo regime, several attempts were made by anti-Arroyo groups to seize and take control of the shrine as a form of political protests, yet, were effectively repulsed by state authorities.
Edwin Zabala, the INK spokesperson denied that their action was some form of a bullying tactic against De Lima. Zabala says they are just expressing their right to express what they felt with what De Lima or the Aquino administration did to them.
INK members trooped to the DOJ Thursday in a show of protest against the alleged undue haste shown by the DOJ in accepting the illegal detention complaint filed by former INK minister Isaias Samson. Samson filed the complaint against several members of the INK leadership whom he accused of reportedly masterminding the crime of preventing him, his daughter and wife from exercising their rights of free movement.
An illegal detention charge is a non-bailable offense and carries with it a major punishment. If the prosecutor finds prima facie evidence of the crime, he can issue an arrest order immediately. Those accused cannot post bail.
If the Aquino administration mishandles this, the same way it did with the Manila hostage crisis and several other scandals, including Mamasapano, this could turn real ugly and deadly. How do you deal with a potentially explosive one such as this?
If, despite overwhelming evidence of the existence of proof, government backtracks and dismisses the case, the administration opens itself up for more attacks coming from other interest groups.
If it proceeds and encourages the filing of a criminal complaint and the courts issue the arrest warrant, how then, will state authorities implement such an order without the unnecessary loss of life? This case is reminiscent of the way US state troopers treated the Davidian sect in Texas which resulted to a terrible loss of life.
Unlike the Davidian sect, however, the INK is already a monolith of an organisation, which roots are already deeply entrenched in Philippine society and politics. It has withstood the test of time and has even survived several dangerous attempts against it from its traditional enemies.
As always, History has shown that in matters of religion and politics, Filipinos have shown uncanny passion in these two human inventions. When these two things fused together, the mix is as lethal as any other typhoon or natural disaster--it sweeps away thousands and leads to the destruction even of entire civilizations and even of modern societies.
This administration should very well be reminded of the lessons of the spring movement which sparked in the Middle East and of various other politico-religious revolts which sprang in numerous times all throughout the history of this country. In the past, clashes attended these events. I sure hope this do not go the way others did in the past.
This administration should be very careful this time. Proper handling by having the right mental awareness of the complexities of the issue and of a conscious consideration of the potential political implications of handling this issue should be topmost in the minds of this country's political leaders. Just a misstep could lead to an escalation and which could potentially turn into a very serious security matter.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
INC vs. Pnoy text spreading like wildfire
A text purportedly sent from the highest echelons of the Iglesia Ni Cristo is spreading like wildfire among the brethren. The text, which I was also given, states this:
I revealed this text shortly after verifying from several co-INC members that this text is a BOGUS TEXT. If this happens to be a true order, I would not, under pain of death, share this with you, my readers.
According to my sources, there is no such text authorized or allowed by the INC leadership. This text spread like wildfire when the INC held its medical and dental mission last Monday.
Besides the text actually tells of a previous disagreement between the INC and the Pnoy Aquino administration a few months back.
Based on several accounts, the story goes that several imported construction materials were stopped at the Bureau of Customs. These construction materials are to be used for the big arena being constructed by the INC in Bulacan. One of the scrupulous Customs men wanted to get a quick buck out of it. All of the papers of the INC were legal. These were stopped by certain Customs men, not knowing that these construction materials were imported by the INC.
Again, this is according to some sources, President Aquino sent his trusted secretary, Secretary Butch Abad to INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo. There are conflicting reports as to this "visit". Some said that Manalo did not receive Abad. Others say, the two met and had an understanding.
This is just one of the issues which reportedly marred the relationship of the INC with that of the palace.
Another one concerning the collection of taxes.
As a religious organisation, the INC is exempt from paying taxes. However, under the law, its ministers are subject to taxation through income tax. Again, according to sources, Henares' men have been harassing some INC ministers, and trying to include property taxes which, to my legal mind, is part of church property, hence, are exempt from tax. Henares' men, however, think otherwise.
There is another "malicious" news which came out that says that Henares is asking the church leadership to pay taxes for the land which the arena now stands. I don't know if this is true, but the BIR is reportedly asking the INC to pay for the property taxes, along with the donation's tax, something which are, again, exempt from taxes. And even if these are not exempt, I doubt if the INC will not pay these obligations, being good Christians.
There is a doctrine in the bible which says that good and true Christians ought to follow the laws of the government. INC members are always encouraged to follow the law and recognize authority. Those who frown upon authority or do not recognize this, are warned and eventually expelled afterwards.
It's very obvious that some group or somebody is trying to fan the flames so to speak, between the INC and the Aquino administration. Who is or who are these groups?
" Ipinakita at ipa2kita ang pagkakaisa ng mga kapatid. Nahaharap sa matinding paguusig ng pamahalaan ang IGLESIA sapagkat ang ating presidente na walang utang na loob kung hindi dahil sa atin wala siya sa pwesto nya. Ipinahold ang mga materyales para sa dome na ginagawa sa Bulacan. saan daw tayo kumukuha ng budget para sa pagpapatayo ng malaking dome?
Pass to all inc."
I revealed this text shortly after verifying from several co-INC members that this text is a BOGUS TEXT. If this happens to be a true order, I would not, under pain of death, share this with you, my readers.
According to my sources, there is no such text authorized or allowed by the INC leadership. This text spread like wildfire when the INC held its medical and dental mission last Monday.
Besides the text actually tells of a previous disagreement between the INC and the Pnoy Aquino administration a few months back.
Based on several accounts, the story goes that several imported construction materials were stopped at the Bureau of Customs. These construction materials are to be used for the big arena being constructed by the INC in Bulacan. One of the scrupulous Customs men wanted to get a quick buck out of it. All of the papers of the INC were legal. These were stopped by certain Customs men, not knowing that these construction materials were imported by the INC.
Again, this is according to some sources, President Aquino sent his trusted secretary, Secretary Butch Abad to INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo. There are conflicting reports as to this "visit". Some said that Manalo did not receive Abad. Others say, the two met and had an understanding.
This is just one of the issues which reportedly marred the relationship of the INC with that of the palace.
Another one concerning the collection of taxes.
As a religious organisation, the INC is exempt from paying taxes. However, under the law, its ministers are subject to taxation through income tax. Again, according to sources, Henares' men have been harassing some INC ministers, and trying to include property taxes which, to my legal mind, is part of church property, hence, are exempt from tax. Henares' men, however, think otherwise.
There is another "malicious" news which came out that says that Henares is asking the church leadership to pay taxes for the land which the arena now stands. I don't know if this is true, but the BIR is reportedly asking the INC to pay for the property taxes, along with the donation's tax, something which are, again, exempt from taxes. And even if these are not exempt, I doubt if the INC will not pay these obligations, being good Christians.
There is a doctrine in the bible which says that good and true Christians ought to follow the laws of the government. INC members are always encouraged to follow the law and recognize authority. Those who frown upon authority or do not recognize this, are warned and eventually expelled afterwards.
It's very obvious that some group or somebody is trying to fan the flames so to speak, between the INC and the Aquino administration. Who is or who are these groups?
The Cassandra under Pnoy's reign
I just cannot help comparing Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago with that of Cassandra, the fatal character who opposed the entry of the Greek Horse that led to the fall of Troy.
IN spite of the repeated announcements by the Iglesia Ni Cristo leaders that their medical and dental missions were of no political relevance and consequence, Miriam still held the belief that it has political undertones.
What with placing a million people to surround Malacanan? What with schools within the vicinity be ordered to accommodate close to 2 million people (Manila police estimated it to have reached 6 million)? What with every single corner and streets entering Malacanan was filled to the brim with believers of the Iglesia?
Political undertones? There is nothing political in giving free dental and medical services to those in need. These things only turn political when politicians do this. ,
What is there to fear with more than six million people marching and "storming" Malacanan? I likened it to a giant composed of people who set his bow and pointed it against the hapless Pnoy.
News are circulating of a text which came from the INC leadership lambasting Pnoy and calling for a people's revolt.
IN spite of the repeated announcements by the Iglesia Ni Cristo leaders that their medical and dental missions were of no political relevance and consequence, Miriam still held the belief that it has political undertones.
What with placing a million people to surround Malacanan? What with schools within the vicinity be ordered to accommodate close to 2 million people (Manila police estimated it to have reached 6 million)? What with every single corner and streets entering Malacanan was filled to the brim with believers of the Iglesia?
Political undertones? There is nothing political in giving free dental and medical services to those in need. These things only turn political when politicians do this. ,
What is there to fear with more than six million people marching and "storming" Malacanan? I likened it to a giant composed of people who set his bow and pointed it against the hapless Pnoy.
News are circulating of a text which came from the INC leadership lambasting Pnoy and calling for a people's revolt.
Monday, February 27, 2012
INC rally is SPIRITUAL, not POLITICAL
The Iglesia Ni Cristo evangelical mission tomorrow is a sure-fire headline hugger and for the wrong reasons--some people try to lace it with political poison. If you only know where, really, this religious group began, this event tomorrow will not be misinterpreted as political.
The INC believes in the second coming of Christ. Based on the bible, this will only occur if the Gospel of Christ is spread around the world. It is the duty therefore, of those who believe, to spread this message of salvation.
With all the corruption happening in the world, many found it fitting to remind our political leaders to tread the right path.
What God is telling us right now is that, no human governance model is fit for man. Every single interpretation of democracy is bound to fail and is a misinterpretation.
God is the single most effective ruler of mankind, no doubt about it, but do we acknowledge it? No. We live in the fleshy world, a world of desires, of ill-conceived pleasures, that caresses the emotions, and leaves it numb to the true pleasures of the Spirit.
May of us are concerned with the Now, and not after we spend time here, on this earth. We are greatly concerned about how to get the next meal, and not how to take care of ourselves so that we will be able to enjoy the true pleasures that awaits us in the City of God.
For those who are disgusted about this existence. For those who want to leave this ill-fated world, there is still hope that, in the next life, we will be able to enjoy eternal, heavenly existence by acknowledging the role of God in our lives.
The world sees this evangelical mission differently and they are not to be blamed. These people lack the knowledge of Wisdom. Wisdom is what separates the believer from the unbeliever. Those who really know the Message of Salvation would agree with me that it is time for those who believe to spread the seeds that Christ implanted in their hearts.
Like INC members, every single believer of Christ is duty-bound to propagate the Message of Salvation so that those who hear, will listen intently and those who see, will open their eyes to the Truth.
Time is running out for sinners. And the only way possible for humankind to survive the impending catastrophe that is bound to happen is when they accept the secret of salvation--that is turn their human, fleshy selves into Beings of Light, or to make pure what has been created as impure.
The INC believes in the second coming of Christ. Based on the bible, this will only occur if the Gospel of Christ is spread around the world. It is the duty therefore, of those who believe, to spread this message of salvation.
With all the corruption happening in the world, many found it fitting to remind our political leaders to tread the right path.
What God is telling us right now is that, no human governance model is fit for man. Every single interpretation of democracy is bound to fail and is a misinterpretation.
God is the single most effective ruler of mankind, no doubt about it, but do we acknowledge it? No. We live in the fleshy world, a world of desires, of ill-conceived pleasures, that caresses the emotions, and leaves it numb to the true pleasures of the Spirit.
May of us are concerned with the Now, and not after we spend time here, on this earth. We are greatly concerned about how to get the next meal, and not how to take care of ourselves so that we will be able to enjoy the true pleasures that awaits us in the City of God.
For those who are disgusted about this existence. For those who want to leave this ill-fated world, there is still hope that, in the next life, we will be able to enjoy eternal, heavenly existence by acknowledging the role of God in our lives.
The world sees this evangelical mission differently and they are not to be blamed. These people lack the knowledge of Wisdom. Wisdom is what separates the believer from the unbeliever. Those who really know the Message of Salvation would agree with me that it is time for those who believe to spread the seeds that Christ implanted in their hearts.
Like INC members, every single believer of Christ is duty-bound to propagate the Message of Salvation so that those who hear, will listen intently and those who see, will open their eyes to the Truth.
Time is running out for sinners. And the only way possible for humankind to survive the impending catastrophe that is bound to happen is when they accept the secret of salvation--that is turn their human, fleshy selves into Beings of Light, or to make pure what has been created as impure.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Iglesia Ni Kristo Mass Evangelization come February 28
There is nothing to worry about, says President Benigno S. Aquino III on the purported mass gathering of Iglesia Ni Cristo believers come February 28. February 28 is scheduled to be a mass evangelization activity by the biggest and most influential religious group in Philippine society. More than 3 million INC members are expected to grace this event.
Truly now, the desire of the INC leadership to propagate the teachings of Jesus Christ ranks far higher than any political goal. The INC believes that we are living in the last days--a period of tribulation and hope. Tribulation because true believers of Christ will experience persecution because of their faith; and hope, because Christ reigns supreme and promised to save the elect from more harm.
The activity is being laced with poison because of politics. Many believe that the relationship between the INC and the Aquino administration has been severed due to several instances, one of which is the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. Corona is not a member of the INC. However, his defense counsel, former Justice Serapin "Ka Apin" Cuevas is.
So what if Cuevas is a member of the church? It does not necessary mean that the entire Church will side with whoever Cuevas decides to accept as a client? Only the Church leadership determines who to support politically based on collective will. According to the church teachings, the paramount will expressed in the community comes from God. The Body of Christ speaks louder than anything.
The reason why several suspicions are being thrown at the INC is the fact that, in every successful political activity that led to a succession, the INC body was there.
When news about the INC severing its ties with the Marcoses and sided with the opposition, it was the tipping point of the entire struggle.
When Erap was "ousted", there were news that the INC leadership asked its members to go to EDSA.
When the Mayo Uno proletarian revolt broke out, there were news that the INC asked some of its members to go to EDSA shrine and support the pro-Erap mass action.
Now, this.
As an observer, I do not believe that the INC leadership will risk further tension with the Aquino administration. I believe that evangelization is more important than politics. The INC was established to correct the monumental wrongs in religion, and it is the wrong religion that it is now fighting against, not wrongful policies.
Fact is, the Messenger of God, Ka Felix Manalo once asked his fellow believers to shun politics and armed themselves with the armor of God, meaning the words of the Living Father because salvation is more important than living in the flesh.
Those who are outside the Church must refrain from lacing the pure intention of the church of spreading the Word of God with politics.
The INC is not a political group. The INC is a religion. The INC concerns itself with salvation and with providing the true path towards the City of God to those who want to be saved.
As what Jesus said when he was still alive, " Let things of Caesar, be of Caesar's and Let things of God, be of God's."
Truly now, the desire of the INC leadership to propagate the teachings of Jesus Christ ranks far higher than any political goal. The INC believes that we are living in the last days--a period of tribulation and hope. Tribulation because true believers of Christ will experience persecution because of their faith; and hope, because Christ reigns supreme and promised to save the elect from more harm.
The activity is being laced with poison because of politics. Many believe that the relationship between the INC and the Aquino administration has been severed due to several instances, one of which is the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. Corona is not a member of the INC. However, his defense counsel, former Justice Serapin "Ka Apin" Cuevas is.
So what if Cuevas is a member of the church? It does not necessary mean that the entire Church will side with whoever Cuevas decides to accept as a client? Only the Church leadership determines who to support politically based on collective will. According to the church teachings, the paramount will expressed in the community comes from God. The Body of Christ speaks louder than anything.
The reason why several suspicions are being thrown at the INC is the fact that, in every successful political activity that led to a succession, the INC body was there.
When news about the INC severing its ties with the Marcoses and sided with the opposition, it was the tipping point of the entire struggle.
When Erap was "ousted", there were news that the INC leadership asked its members to go to EDSA.
When the Mayo Uno proletarian revolt broke out, there were news that the INC asked some of its members to go to EDSA shrine and support the pro-Erap mass action.
Now, this.
As an observer, I do not believe that the INC leadership will risk further tension with the Aquino administration. I believe that evangelization is more important than politics. The INC was established to correct the monumental wrongs in religion, and it is the wrong religion that it is now fighting against, not wrongful policies.
Fact is, the Messenger of God, Ka Felix Manalo once asked his fellow believers to shun politics and armed themselves with the armor of God, meaning the words of the Living Father because salvation is more important than living in the flesh.
Those who are outside the Church must refrain from lacing the pure intention of the church of spreading the Word of God with politics.
The INC is not a political group. The INC is a religion. The INC concerns itself with salvation and with providing the true path towards the City of God to those who want to be saved.
As what Jesus said when he was still alive, " Let things of Caesar, be of Caesar's and Let things of God, be of God's."
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Palace ties with Iglesia Ni Kristo strained?
Malacanang has just denied what was spreading about in buzz circles for a week now. Buzz says that President Aquino sent his most trusted man, Budget secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad to see Ka Eduardo Manalo, the Spiritual Executive Minister of the 8-million strong religious organisation. Manalo, it was told, politely told Abad that he does not want to see Noynoy's emissary. After that humiliation, Noynoy reportedly ordered BIR chief Henares to investigate alleged "tax liabilities" of the INC as well as put under investigation, officials and members of the largest Philippine-based religious group.
There are several things wrong in this tale. First, how can the BIR investigate the Iglesia Ni Kristo about "tax liabilities" when it does not pay tax to government. It is said in the Constitution that religious groups are exempted from payment of taxes. Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution reads:
Notice that what is exempted from payment of taxes are real property taxes owned by the religious institution, not the institution itself. Hence, members of the church are still asked to pay their income taxes to the government.
Rentals accrued for example by the religious institution and deemed part of their "profit", is also submit to taxes.
I don't believe however, that this humongous religious group has tax liabilities. The INC is a billion dollar religious organisation. Besides, its members are law-abiding citizens of this country. There is no way that its members or the church leadership would actually encourage the non-payment of government obligations.
Now, on the news that INC officials are now under surveillance, let me say, for the record, that this "practice" has been part of politics since time immemorial. This is not as "shocking" as what others believe or what others intend to establish.
Every single religious leader or group in this country has been surveilled already by political groups. This is for the purposes of elections.
WHAT I'M CERTAIN IS--There is really a strain in the relationship of the Church with that of the Aquino administration for reasons other than this Corona impeachment trial. I am definitely sure that the Church leadership would actually risk its good relationship with the administration before just because of Corona. Corona is a non-factor.
Now, what are these issues about---I'll tell you some other time.
There are several things wrong in this tale. First, how can the BIR investigate the Iglesia Ni Kristo about "tax liabilities" when it does not pay tax to government. It is said in the Constitution that religious groups are exempted from payment of taxes. Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution reads:
Section 28. (1) The rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable. The Congress shall evolve a progressive system of taxation.
(2) The Congress may, by law, authorize the President to fix within specified limits, and subject to such limitations and restrictions as it may impose, tariff rates, import and export quotas, tonnage and wharfage dues, and other duties or imposts within the framework of the national development program of the Government.
(3) Charitable institutions, churches and parsonages or convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, non- profit cemeteries, and all lands, buildings, and improvements, actually, directly, and exclusively used for religious, charitable, or educational purposes shall be exempt from taxation.
(4) No law granting any tax exemption shall be passed without the concurrence of a majority of all the Members of the Congress.
Notice that what is exempted from payment of taxes are real property taxes owned by the religious institution, not the institution itself. Hence, members of the church are still asked to pay their income taxes to the government.
Rentals accrued for example by the religious institution and deemed part of their "profit", is also submit to taxes.
I don't believe however, that this humongous religious group has tax liabilities. The INC is a billion dollar religious organisation. Besides, its members are law-abiding citizens of this country. There is no way that its members or the church leadership would actually encourage the non-payment of government obligations.
Now, on the news that INC officials are now under surveillance, let me say, for the record, that this "practice" has been part of politics since time immemorial. This is not as "shocking" as what others believe or what others intend to establish.
Every single religious leader or group in this country has been surveilled already by political groups. This is for the purposes of elections.
WHAT I'M CERTAIN IS--There is really a strain in the relationship of the Church with that of the Aquino administration for reasons other than this Corona impeachment trial. I am definitely sure that the Church leadership would actually risk its good relationship with the administration before just because of Corona. Corona is a non-factor.
Now, what are these issues about---I'll tell you some other time.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
INC pressured by Malacanang on Impeachment Trial
Is Malacanang so desperate that it asked one of its most trusted generals to pressure the Iglesia Ni Cristo to ask former Justice Serafin Cuevas to drop the Chief Justice as his client in the impeachment case?
A Manila Times report today says that Presidential adviser on Political affairs Ronald Llamas reportedly met with one of the church spiritual leaders, named Erano Codera and ask him to mediate between him (Llamas) and Cuevas on the issue of Cuevas' role as defense lead in the impeachment trial.
The 83 year old former Justice refused Codera's request.
This report validated an earlier report by Christian Esguerra of the Philippine Daily Inquirer where Cuevas himself admitted receiving some form of pressure from the palace in relation to the impeachment trial.
In Cuevas' revelation, the former justice said that a former student of his at the University of the Philippines in Diliman approached him. The former student asked Cuevas to inhibit himself from the trial. Cuevas refused.
Sources told me that this incident was the second such attempt by Malacanang, the first with Llamas. Llamas was reportedly sent by the palace in an official capacity to convince the Iglesia Ni Cristo leadership to drop their support behind Corona. When Llamas himself failed, another Palace insider asked his classmate, a former student of Cuevas, to intervene.
Sources told this writer that Llamas would possibly be "sacrificed" after his failed "mission". The "sacrifice" is to be done to salvage the grievous injury in the relationship between the INC and the Aquino administration.
The INC supported Aquino during the 2010 elections. Mar Roxas is said to have asked his classmate, a son of former INC head Erano Manalo, to lend its support behind the presidency.
After the elections, several INC members were made officials in the Aquino administration, including Torres as head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), DENR secretary Ramon Paje and several others. Magtanggol Gatdula, an Arroyo appointee, was allowed to continue his stint as NBI director.
Gatdula has recently been accused of the crime of kidnapping by the Department of Justice. Gatdula has since protested his being "fired" by Malacanang. A team of legal eagles from New Era School of Law have lent their legal expertise to Gatdula.
Sources told this writer that Gatdula has absolutely nothing to do with the kidnapping case. Since his days as a distinguished cop, Gatdula's name has not been involved in any criminal or syndicated activity.
Sources also told me that Malacanang intends to cut short Paje's stint as DENR secretary, and same goes to Torres, who, again according to sources, will be asked to leave the LTO. Her replacement is being readied by the palace.
A Manila Times report today says that Presidential adviser on Political affairs Ronald Llamas reportedly met with one of the church spiritual leaders, named Erano Codera and ask him to mediate between him (Llamas) and Cuevas on the issue of Cuevas' role as defense lead in the impeachment trial.
The 83 year old former Justice refused Codera's request.
This report validated an earlier report by Christian Esguerra of the Philippine Daily Inquirer where Cuevas himself admitted receiving some form of pressure from the palace in relation to the impeachment trial.
In Cuevas' revelation, the former justice said that a former student of his at the University of the Philippines in Diliman approached him. The former student asked Cuevas to inhibit himself from the trial. Cuevas refused.
Sources told me that this incident was the second such attempt by Malacanang, the first with Llamas. Llamas was reportedly sent by the palace in an official capacity to convince the Iglesia Ni Cristo leadership to drop their support behind Corona. When Llamas himself failed, another Palace insider asked his classmate, a former student of Cuevas, to intervene.
Sources told this writer that Llamas would possibly be "sacrificed" after his failed "mission". The "sacrifice" is to be done to salvage the grievous injury in the relationship between the INC and the Aquino administration.
The INC supported Aquino during the 2010 elections. Mar Roxas is said to have asked his classmate, a son of former INC head Erano Manalo, to lend its support behind the presidency.
After the elections, several INC members were made officials in the Aquino administration, including Torres as head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), DENR secretary Ramon Paje and several others. Magtanggol Gatdula, an Arroyo appointee, was allowed to continue his stint as NBI director.
Gatdula has recently been accused of the crime of kidnapping by the Department of Justice. Gatdula has since protested his being "fired" by Malacanang. A team of legal eagles from New Era School of Law have lent their legal expertise to Gatdula.
Sources told this writer that Gatdula has absolutely nothing to do with the kidnapping case. Since his days as a distinguished cop, Gatdula's name has not been involved in any criminal or syndicated activity.
Sources also told me that Malacanang intends to cut short Paje's stint as DENR secretary, and same goes to Torres, who, again according to sources, will be asked to leave the LTO. Her replacement is being readied by the palace.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
The Holy Messenger of God in the Philippines
he Birth of Filipino Religious Revolts: The Advent of God’s Holy Messenger in the
Philippines, an excerpt from my book, ” Bagong Istorya: Great Stories of the Filipino People”
Philippines, an excerpt from my book, ” Bagong Istorya: Great Stories of the Filipino People”
In 1886, a Holy Voice emanating from Mount Banahaw roused Agripino Loctoc from his sleep.A mystic from the town of Taal in Batangas, Loctoc was hiding in the mountains after the Spaniards accused him of rebellion. Loctoc choose to live a sedentary life away from the towns after the Holy Voices started calling him.
Loctoc was not a revolutionary, nor did he ever thought of becoming one. Back then, being a revolutionario meant certain death at the hands of the Guardia Civil.
Yet, Loctoc was so high with religious spirit that he decided to go to the mountains instead of incurring the ire of the Spanish authorities, who killed a man who,like Lontoc, prophesized the coming salvation of the Filipino People, twenty four years ago. The birth of the man who would prophesize the coming salvation of the Filipino People began with a very loud explosion.
The Explosion and the Birth of the Voice
It was one of the coldest weathers in Philippine history. Three months ago, on the tenth of April, 1815, a huge earthquake rocked the Philippines. A huge volcano, Mount Tambora in Indonesia has just erupted. The eruption was the biggest in human history and it happened a thousand kilometers away from the Philippines.
Mount Tambora, a volcano 13,000 feet tall, has been reduced by 4,000 feet and spewed 93 cubic miles of ash into the atmosphere. The dust cloud enveloped the stratosphere and caused cold temperatures around the world.
The eruption disrupted climates around the world. In New England, early snow was reported in early June. Cold waves, frost and drought hit Eastern Canada. Sub-zero temperatures killed crops and at least one foot of snow fell in Quebec City.
Low temperatures and prolonged rain damaged crops in Britain, while it was the third coldest summer to hit France, Switzerland and Germany.
The whole of Europe was, at that time, already suffering from food shortages caused by war. Many rivers flooded due to higher than normal rainfall. More than 200,000 people died in Eastern and Southern Europe due to hunger and typhus epidemic. Some countries reported seeing ash mixed with snow. [i]
China suffered from extreme famine caused by damaged rice crops. A cholera epidemic hit India. Unusually large monsoon rains battered the rest of Asia.
The eruption of Mount Tambora actually happened just a year shortly after the biggest explosion of Mount Mayon in the Bicol region.
It was early morning of February 1, 1814 when Mount Mayon exploded. The eruption was preceded by a series of strong seismic shocks, followed by a thick column of stones, sand and ash shot high into the air. A fiery stream of lava quickly flowed down the side of Mayon, while the sky suddenly turned dark due to thick black smoke and ash which enveloped the skies.
Huge hot boulders then shot up in the air and began falling down houses and people. Houses built on wood and nipa suddenly exploded when hit by these fire bombs. People tried to escape from the falling hot rocks and steaming lava by taking refuge inside the church of Cagsawa. They were completely roasted and killed when the huge lava stream and accompanying ash surrounded and covered the church. More than 200 people died.
The eruption took six hours. After the dust has settled, 1,200 people lay dead.
The strong eruption created huge aftershocks and were felt even as far as the town of Tayabas and Lukban in the province of Quezon.
Back then, Pablo dela Cruz had just married Juana Andres. They are one of the most religious folks in Barrio Pandak in Tayabas. At that time, religious friars administer Tayabas, which was then a Franciscan-dominated territory.
Tayabas was a picturesque town situated on the slopes of an extinct volcano, Banajao. In 1571, Captain Juan de Salcedo, upon orders of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, took possession of the town and established Spanish sovereignty. Two Franciscan friars namely Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Diego de Oropesa accompanied Salcedo and established a Franciscan community in the already occupied and bustling town.
Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, natives of Tayabas lived in scattered villages. These Tayabenses had their own system of government, strict code of ethics, communal type of economy, and a very indigenous form of religion. Just like any rural village in the Philippines, social order in Tayabas effected by the barangay was headed by a chief or a council of elders. Retribution was facilitated as one of a set of norms recognized as law by every one. Turnohan or the “bayanihan” was practiced. Communal landholdings were prevalent and was the system of ownership. Peasants helped one another in planting and harvesting crops.
Residents of Tayabas had a very strong sense of nationalism. They were independent when the foreigners came. There were pieces of evidence that they practiced their ancient religion even during the Spanish times.
The Hike Towards Mount Banahaw
Pule was born Apolinario dela Cruz in the sleepy barrio of Pandac in Lukban, a town in the province of Tayabas. His parents, Pablo dela Cruz and Juana Andres belonged to wealthy families in Lucban. They were very religious and belonged to several confradias themselves.
At the age of fifteen years old, Apolinario decided to enter the priestly life. He went to the curate of Lucban to offer himself to be a priest. Instead of accepting him, the Franciscans denied his application. Back then, the Catholic Church has a strict policy against Indios who want to become priests.
Instead of being disillusioned, Apolinario decided to come to Manila and work as a donado at the San Juan de Dios hospital. There, he joined the Confradia de San Juan de Dios, a brotherhood of religious Indios, who, like Apolinario, wanted to become priests.
Those who knew him said that Pule showed extreme faith in the Catholic religion. He was a silent worker of the Faith. When he speaks though, Pule was different. He was a spirited orator, someone who commands authority. He was such an excellent speaker that he earned the respect and admiration of his peers.
Such was his religiosity that, at the age of nineteen years old, he decided to go back and form his own confradia in his town of Lucban. With nineteen of his fellow Indio religious lay preachers, Pule founded the Hermandad de la Archi-Confradia del Glorioso Senor San Jose y de la Virgen del Rosario (Brotherhood of the Great Sodality of the Glorious Lord Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary) or Confradia de San Jose for short, a religious brotherhood devoted to the worship of Saint Joseph and his wife, the virgin Mother Mary.
Pule was the spiritual founder of the Confradia de San Jose, an organization of religious devotees of Saint Joseph. The Confradia, like other religious associations, started as a harmless aggrupation of religious devotees. When its membership ballooned to thousands, the once harmless Confradia became a security nightmare.
Pule’s religious brotherhood centered on its devotion to piety and charity, a characteristic common to all religious brotherhoods at that time. What struck the Confradia as different from the others was its religious ritual of celebrating mass at the nineteenth day of every month.
The Confradia quickly gained thousands of adherents and by the 1840’s, became a direct threat to the authority of the Church, most especially, the power of the local curate, Manuel Sancho. Between 1839 and 1840, more than a thousand religious Filipinos from Tayabas, Laguna and Lucban joined the Confradia.
Sometime in 1840, at the house of Francisco delos Santos, one of his believers, Pule announced his real intention of legalizing the brotherhood. By this time, the Confradia has extended its wings, from Tayabas to Batangas, Laguna and Tondo. After a year, there were more than 600 members in Lukban alone, more than 240 in Tayabas, 120 in Pagbilao, 20 in Tiaong, more than 40 in Lipa and San Pablo towns in Batangas and 130 in Majayjay.
Members were also found in Nagcarlan, Liliw and Magdalena in Laguna. By Hermano Pule’s estimate himself, Confradia reached more than 5,000 members by 1841.
Its fast growth did not escape the attention of the authorities who quickly assumed that Pule was organizing a revolutionary movement. In October 1840, the curate of Lucban ordered a crackdown against Pule and the Confradia for heresy.
Wanting to avoid a direct clash with the Spanish authorities, Pule asked several Confradia members to intervene. Pule wrote a letter to the Bishop of the Province of Nueva Caceres, asking that the confradia be considered a legal religious brotherhood. His request was politely turned down. He wrote another letter, this time, addressed to the Audiencia Real in Manila. Prominent members of Manila’s alta sociedad tried to mediate but Fray Sancho was never to be denied. Sensing that he would lose face, Sancho opposed the application. The friar was able to convince the religious authorities of the supposed sacrilegious rites being practiced by the Confradia. This led to a massive hunt for Confradia members.
Pule, along with several thousands of devout Filipinos, went up Mount Banahaw. Pule went to the slopes of Mount Cristobal to escape the wrath of Spanish religious authorities.
There in a small place called Aritao, Hermano Pule and the Confradia established their
religious community. The Confradia declared their independence from the Spanish civil and religious authority. For a year, the Confradia lived in relative peace, with the Hermano as their “king” and the community, a “kingdom of the Tagalogs”.
religious community. The Confradia declared their independence from the Spanish civil and religious authority. For a year, the Confradia lived in relative peace, with the Hermano as their “king” and the community, a “kingdom of the Tagalogs”.
Convinced that the Confradia had committed rebellion and fearful that the organization would eventually reach other towns, Spanish Governor General Ora-a ordered an attack against the Confradia. The witch hunt which the Spanish civil authorities launched forced the Confradia to defend themselves. [ii]
Pule led his Confradias against the swarming Spanish army. With the help of Negrito natives
living in the mountains, the Confradia forced the Spaniards back and even killed the alcalde mayor Ortega. Superior firepower and the treachery of several Indios led to the defeat of the Confradias. After a month of relentless fighting, the Spanish forces were able to forcibly enter the Aritao encampment and on November 4, 1841, arrested Pule, his wife and supporters.
living in the mountains, the Confradia forced the Spaniards back and even killed the alcalde mayor Ortega. Superior firepower and the treachery of several Indios led to the defeat of the Confradias. After a month of relentless fighting, the Spanish forces were able to forcibly enter the Aritao encampment and on November 4, 1841, arrested Pule, his wife and supporters.
There in a road leading to Tayabas town, the Spaniards beheaded Hermano Pule and his wife.
His severed head was stuck in a pole and shown to everyone, a brutal reminder of Spanish power and authority.
His severed head was stuck in a pole and shown to everyone, a brutal reminder of Spanish power and authority.
This travesty of religious justice did not escape men such as Lontoc. It was evident that Indios like him cannot be declared “saints” due to the color of their skins. Back then, it was heresy and a form of rebellion if someone declares a belief contrary to the Catholic faith.
What rebellion when he was just shouting God’s words at the top of his voice? Those voices started on April 25, which fell on the Easter or to some Tagalogs, the feast of the resurrection (Muling Pagkabuhay). The Holy Voices did not cease.
They were telling Lontoc about the coming of a child prophesized to propagate the Message of God everywhere.
It was May 10, which fell on a Monday, and a full week after the Easter celebration that it was clear to Lontoc what God was telling him about. Lontoc tried to leave the mountain several times. And every time he tried so, he goes blind.
The Holy Messenger
A few kilometers away from Banahaw, in a sleepy town at the western shores of Laguna de Bay, the Holy Voices pointed, was where a child of God would be born. There, in a town bordering the tributary river of the Pasig River, in a barrio called Calzada, a child would be born, he who will propagate the true message of God.
Taguig lies at the center of two large bodies of water: Manila bay and Laguna de Bay. The population was estimated to be more than a thousand souls. Residents live off through fishing while women were known as cotton weavers and sawali makers. Several of the residents were also farmers.
Before the Spaniards came, the place was under the Kingdom of Tundun. During the early years of Spanish rule, a local chieftain by the name of Don Juan Basi launched a year-long rebellion. The revolt failed and Basi was exiled for two years.
After that, it took centuries before the townsfolk of Taguig rose to rebellion once again.
By this time though, Taguig was just a remote town which borders Muntinlupa, at the edge of
the Pasig River. Taguig became a sanctuary of prosecuted Confradia members. They secretly integrated into the mainstream and lived as farmers or fishermen.
the Pasig River. Taguig became a sanctuary of prosecuted Confradia members. They secretly integrated into the mainstream and lived as farmers or fishermen.
Taguig was part of an encomienda under the political subdivision named Province of Tondo.
Franciscans ruled the area like religious kings. Friars were recognized as both political and religious leaders. They dominated the farming and fishing community.
Franciscans ruled the area like religious kings. Friars were recognized as both political and religious leaders. They dominated the farming and fishing community.
Mariano Ysagun was one of the first residents of sitio Calzada. A man of no means, Mariano was a farm hand who supplemented the family income through subsistence farming. He was just a simple man who married a beautiful lass by the name of Bonifacia Manalo.
Neighbours of the Ysaguns described the family as poor , honorable and devout Catholics. On July 27, 1886, a son was born to the Ysaguns. Felix was named after a saint in the liturgical calendar. He was the first child of the Ysaguns. It was said that his birth brought tremendous joy to his parents that they named him Felix which means “happy.”
Several thousand miles away, another theologian who would preach the same message as
Felix, was also born. Karl Barth, a Swiss theologian, was born the same day as Felix’s.
Felix, was also born. Karl Barth, a Swiss theologian, was born the same day as Felix’s.
Barth, like Felix, was a poor lad. Born in Basel Switzerland, Barth started as a reformed pastor. He later became a teacher of theology. In one of his best writings, Barth argued that God who is revealed in the cross of Jesus challenges and overthrows any attempt to ally God with human cultures, achievements or possessions. This piece titled The Epistle to the Romans, was considered to be the most important theological treatise since Friedrich Schleiermacher’s On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers.
Barth was the one who developed a theoretical model called dialectical theology which found complete expression in his 13-volume work entitled the Church Dogmatics. The work, considered one of the most important theological work of the century, addresses four major doctrines: Revelation, God, creation and atonement or reconciliation.
The Life of the Messenger in Taguig
Life was hard in Taguig when Felix was born. 1886 was a time of extreme flux, both in the social and political life of the Filipinos. At that time, there was an active resistance movement. A doctor from Laguna has just finished his opus and has just published his first work, Noli Me Tangere. While several other learned men from the Mestizo and professional classes began asking for political reforms.
The Roman Catholic faith was still the most dominant religion during those times. Everyone subscribes to its teachings. Those who cannot, either moved out of the cities to become animists, while others migrated to the South, where Islam was the ruling religious ideology.
One of the reasons why people converted to the Roman Catholic faith was survival.
Non-Catholics were forbidden to trade with the indigenous population. Sangleys, for example, were required to convert into Catholicism before they were allowed entry into the mostly Catholic towns and cities.
Tradition back then required every first born to be dedicated to the faith. Felix wasbaptized in the Catholic faith. The first years of Felix were spent in their humble shack at Taguig. At the ripe age of six years old, Felix was entrusted to a certain Macario Ocampo. Maestrong Cario maintains a caton, a school for children. It was Ocampo who taught Felix the basics of rithmetic, as well as Catholic teachings.
The Revolution of 1886
There were scant information as to what caused the death of Felix’ father. The year was a glorious time, when Filipinos unified to fight a common foreign enemy.
After the death of his father, Felix’s mother married a widower, Clemente Monzo. Two years later, Felix asked permission from his mother to go to Manila to study photography. His mother agreed. Felix left his younger sister Praxedes and went with his cousin, Modesto. They went to the house of his cousin, Serapio Ysagun and was employed as an apprentice at a studio owned by his uncle, Manuel Manalo.[iii]
After his mother died, Felix changed his surname to that of his mother. [iv] several reasons were given as to the change in surname. There was, however, one simple explanation. Felix wanted to honor his mother.
There, in that small house, Felix learned the basics of photography. He also learned goldsmithing, barbering and hat making. While working there, he and his cousin lived at the parish house in Sampaloc Manila, where his uncle Fr. Mariano Borja ministered.
The First Calling
In 1900, a major event happened which would change the life of Felix. He found a bible in the parish and read it. It was said that Felix was so surprised since those which the Catholic priests teach were different from the exact passages in the bible.[v]
From that time on, Felix asked his uncle so many questions about the Catholic faith, and most if not all of the answers were unsatisfactory for Felix.
That began Felix spiritual journey. He was just fourteen years old. [vi]
The Entry of Protestanism
In 1901, Emilio Aguinaldo was arrested by the Americans in Palanan, Isabela. That started the slow normalization of the socio-economic situation, with many of the Ilustrados, particularly, the landed gentry, associating themselves with the new colonial powers.
There were still groups who oppose the collaboration of the elites with that of the Americans.
On February 6, 1898, Filipino forces including Taguig revolutionaries demolished an American position in the hills of Taguig, in that portion between Pateros and Fort Bonifacio. After a few days, the Katipuneros were defeated by the more superior firepower of the Americans. Taguig finally fell to the contingent of the First Washington Volunteer Infantry led by Colonel Wholly. On August 14, 1898, the United States armed forces occupied most of the islands of the archipelago. A military government under General Wesley Meritt was established.
Like the Spaniards that came before them, the Americans brought not just war, but religion. Protestant missionaries came from the mainland to preach a different form of Christianity.
The rise of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente headed by Isabelo delos Reyes and Bishop Gregorio Aglipay did nothing to quench the thirst of the young Felix for more spiritual enlightenment. For him, the Aglipayan church was just as wrong as the Roman Catholic faith.
It was at this time that Felix drifted from one religion to another. He set shop at Paranaque, selling hats. It was there, at a town plaza where he witnessed a debate between a Methodist minister and a Parish priest. Felix found the arguments of the Protestant minister seemed nearer to the biblical truth than the pointless rambling of the priest.[vii]
He then joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, attended their seminary and became a pastor of this church in Manila.[viii]
Felix preached as a Methodista for two years. He was still studying and honing his skills as a pastor when he learned of his mother’s death. He stopped for a while, and when he went back to Manila, he began studying at the Presbyterian Bible school. In 1907, he joined the Presbyterian Church wherein he became a pastor after attending the Union Theological Seminary.
In 1908, he joined the Disciples of Christ and served as an evangelist for a year before leaving, having been accused of domestic violence.[ix]
There, he stumbled upon a Christian Mission Group or popularly known as Church of Christ. He changed school after that, and spent four years as a theology student at the Manila College of the Bible. From this group, Felix learned the importance of immersion in baptism and accepted the idea of restoring the New Testament church. He soon became a local evangelist in a religious group called the “Society for the Propagation of the Gospel” [x]
He soon became one of the church spirited preachers and even married one of its members, a beautiful lass name Teresa Sereneo of Paco Manila. Sereneo bore Felix a child whom they named Gerardo, but the child died in infancy.
He went on and found the Disciples of Christ Christian church and devoted his time learning their teachings. However, in 1911, Felix attended a 7th day Adventist meeting. He was to debate against L.V. Finster, a minister of the church.
Felix was just 25 years old when he debated against the Adventist stance that Christians are still under the law. He lost that debate and admitted publicly that Finster was right. Later, Felix left the church and converted to Seventh Day Adventist.
However, when he was attending church rites, Felix still found their teachings as contrary to established biblical principles. What Felix found contemptible was the Adventist practice of observing the Sabbath during Saturdays.
Felix was assigned as a preacher of the Seventh Day Adventist in Bulacan. There, he met Honorata de Guzman, a deaconess of the church.
When his wife died due to tuberculosis, Felix entertained the idea of establishing his own church. Shortly after the burial of his first wife, Felix reportedly eloped with Honorata de Gusman, a devout member of the Adventists in Santa Cruz, Manila. There were insinuations that Felix was meted a disciplinary action for his elopement and hints of moral indiscretion spread. Felix was a minister while Honorata was then a deaconess.
However, historical records show that Felix was then a widower when he married Honorata.
Felix married Honorata on his twenty sixth birthday. Later, he, together with his wife, left the church due to theological differences. [xi] Felix with his new wife, went back to his hat shop in Paranaque.
Felix married Honorata on his twenty sixth birthday. Later, he, together with his wife, left the church due to theological differences. [xi] Felix with his new wife, went back to his hat shop in Paranaque.
At the age of 26 years old, Felix joined the Colorums, a religious cult that believed that the end of the world was at hand. He became an acolyte of Florencia Entrencherado who several years later, would declare an apostasy when he declared himself emperor of the Philippines. Entrencherado would later be arrested by the American authorities.
Felix then transferred house and built a barbershop at Pasay. There, several of his former Adventist colleagues tried to persuade him to return to the church fold. He resisted.
Three days and three nights of reflection
Felix was on the verge of losing his faith with any religion. He thought of drifting into atheism, but found himself doubting the very argument against God. Deep inside of him was a yearning to discover who God really is. Felix does not believe the atheists, that there is no God. There is a God, says Felix, but who is He?
Sometime in November 1913, Felix gathered all the religious literatures he had accumulated over the years, and stacked them. He also prepared a notebook and some pencils.
With his trusty bible in his hand, Felix asked his friend Eusebio Sunga, for him to use a small dimly lighted room inside Sunga’s house in Pasay. He asked his friends not to disturb him.
For three days and three nights, Felix re-read the bible. He studied all the religious literature, compared their teachings with those written in the bible. He did not eat. He neither touch any food nor water. [xii]
After three days, Felix went out of the room. There, infront of his friends, he proclaimed the good news. Felix announced that he is ready to proclaim the Good Mission which the Lord God gave him, the mission to re-establish the original church founded by Jesus Christ. His long quest for the true religion has ended. Felix was convinced that based on his studies, he finally found the true religion that God preached to the ancients. He told his friends that the true religion of God is the Iglesia ni Kristo.[xiii]
Eight months later, Felix, together with other believers in Tondo, finally established the Church of Christ.
The establishment of the Iglesia ni Kristo
On July 27, 1914, Austrian ambassador to Britain Count Mensdorff handed a letter to Sir Edward Grey, then, the British Foreign Minister. As expected, the letter was in response to an earlier one sent to Austria’s rival country, Serbia, expressing dismay over Serbia’s refusal to stand down and cease offensive actions against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
Austria has decided to take extreme action against Serbia. That letter was an ultimatum for Serbia and since Britain was a very important power player in European politics back then, Austria wanted them to convey their displeasure against Serbia.Britain gave Serbia the letter, and wanted to mediate between the two countries. Serbia, however, refused.
While the Serbs and the Austrians prepare for war, another kind of war was raging in an archipelago, a few hundred thousand kilometers away from the European continent. On that very same day, fourteen Filipinos were baptized under Christ’s name in the Pasig River.
A few days before July 27, a young preacher decided that it was time for him to preach the true message of God. Felix could not sleep. He’s bothered by the things he discovered eight months ago when he went inside the room of his friend and studied the bible. Someone, or some voice has convinced him that the time was at hand. He, the anointed Messenger of the True God, must establish the church.
With nothing in his pocket and only the bible with him, 27-year old Felix Y. Manalo convinced his young wife to pack their things and head off to Punta, a small barangay in Santa Ana Manila.
Honorata, the young wife, remembered that her husband deliberately told her not to bring any money, even a centavo, because he wanted God to perform a miracle in their life. They left their house in Pasay.
When they reached the old Franciscan church of Santa Ana, they have to cross the Pasig river to reach Punta, which is on the other side. A boatman ferried them across. When they reached the terminal, the young preacher promised to pay the two centavo fare later.
The couple went to the Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company where their friends, Apolinario Ramos and his wife, Engracia stayed. Ramos worked as an employee in the construction firm and the company provided them with a small room inside the AG&P compound. When they met, the young preacher sent someone to pay for the boat fare.
That night, Felix started to preach before a small throng of people who gathered in the house of his friends.As Felix continued to hold nightly bible meetings, more and more people began to flock in his friend’s house. Word had spread how this young man, all of 27 years of age, could preach about God’s message with so much passion, conviction and authority.
No one was like him. The young preacher always spice his preachings with quotes directly lifted from the Bible. He was preaching about the Oneness of God and the promise of salvation thru God’s true church, the Iglesia ni Kristo. Before he started these nightly bible studies, Felix was quite known already as a very eloquent preacher of God’s message. Everyone calls him as “Ka Vernakulo” because he was the only one who always refer to the bible to answer questions about Christ and the real message of God.
After a few days of teaching the bible before his enthused audience, some of them decided to give their lives to the faith. They decided to accept the True Message of God through baptism.
On July 27, a portion of the Pasig river fronting a construction firm was closed off for that occasion. A makeshift enclosure composed only of some bamboo poles and a white cloth was constructed. Inside what they called the baptistery stood a young preacher.The young preacher called the believers by name, one by one. Before him in that bright morning, in waist deep waters, the preacher urged each of them to raise their hands, state their allegiance to God, Christ and the Bible and reaffirm their loyalty to their new faith. He then immersed them one by one in the clear river water, “ in the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Those first believers became the nucleus of what is now popularly known as the Iglesia Ni Kristo, the first Filipino religious organization with a global presence.
Felix propagated his message not just to the workers in Santa Ana but expanded his influence even in the poor communities of Tondo in Manila. There, he preached with a different spirit, convincing Filipinos of the strength of his biblical teachings. The second congregation of church members was thereafter, established.
When the congregation in Punta grew and became strong, Felix decided that it was time for him to preach the INC doctrine to his hometown in Tipas, Taguig. After the building of their church which was then made of bamboo, [xiv]Felix then entrusted the congregation to Federico Inocencio, one of the converts and Atanacio Morte, the head deacon. Felix then left the congregation with his wife, Honorata and their young daughter, Pilar.
Felix was not as welcome in his own hometown than what he experienced at Santa Ana. Several of those who know him, derided him for his teachings. Yet, because of his strong faith and he being a very good orator, Felix was able to convince his detractors, namely Justino Cassanova, a pastor of the Christian Missionary Alliance and Norbeto Asuncion to convert to the Iglesia. These two later became ministers of the church.
Five years later, Felix went to the United States to study theology. He enrolled at the Pacific School of Religion. While he was away, the church enjoyed tremendous growth. Felix appointed several converts to propagate the faith in several towns in Manila. The church expanded and reached a membership of close to 3,000. However, a schism aroused after one of the pioneer ministers Teogilo Ora, questioned the authority of Felix Manalo. This affected the recruitment of new members and led to a dissolution of several congregations. In Bulacan, the INC membership went down from 80 to a mere 15 members.
When Felix went back, he saw a religious organization in disarray, brought by the actions of Ora. It seemed that Ora’s actions was more personal than theological. In May 1922, Ora, together with Januario Ponce and Basilio Santiago, formally broke away from the Iglesia ni Kristo. After several months, Ora and the rest of the former Iglesia members established the Iglesia ng Diyos kay Kristo Hesus or Church of God in Christ Jesus.
This new group tried but failed to recruit the original members of the INC. The arrival of Felix Manalo stopped the recruitment efforts of the rival faction. Manalo prophesized that Ora’s group would eventually dissolve and it nearly did.
That same year of 1922, Nicolas Perez, a former INC, became one of Ora’s preachers in Maragondon, Cavite. After being a minister for six years, Perez maneuvered and wrestled the church leadership from Ora. However,Perez won the power struggle. Several of those who resisted Perez’ leadership left the group and founded their own sect. Ponciano Bungay established the Iglesia ni Cristo sa Ibabaw ng Bato in 1932, while Basilio Santiago built the Church of God in Christ Jesus in 1949 while Salvador Payawal began his as Kabanal-banalang Iglesia ng Diyos or the Most Holy Church of God. A year later,Ora was able to re-establish her leadership. Perez and another believer, Avelino Santiago left Ora and established the group Iglesia ng Diyos Kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Sungay ng Katotohanan.
While other INC believers built their own groups and sects,the original Iglesia Ni Kristo grew in popularity and numbers. In 1939, the first Pasugo, the church official mouthpiece, was published. The Pasugo became one of the tools used by the church in spreading the good news of salvation.
God’s Holy messenger felt his health declining rapidly. At the age of 76, Manalo continued preaching before his fellow believers. Despite having stomach ulcers which brought him constant pain, Manalo prioritized his ministerial work than his health.
On the morning of April 12, 1963, Manalo’s health deteriorated. Calling on his son, Erano and his wife and children, Felix instructed them God’s ways for the last time. He asked his son Erano to continue his apostolic work and bring the Church to the glory of Christ. [xv]At exactly 2:35 in the morning, the dutiful servant of Christ gave up the ghost.
Millions of Filipinos cried after learning of his death. At his funeral, attended by all sectors of Philippine society, thousands wept with grief and anguish. More than two million Filipinos took part in a 5 kilometer long funeral procession.[xvi] It took two hours before the hearse carrying the remains of God’s messenger reached his final resting place.
Felix started his apostolic work with just a handful of listeners in a small room at a worker’s living quarters at a construction company. Many years later, Felix left a well-established church with more than10 million members both here and abroad.
Felix mastery of the local tongue, his indepth knowledge of the bible and his organizational skills propelled the Iglesia towards global recognition.
[xvii]
[xvii]
Several years after his death, the Philippine government recognized Felix Manalo as one of the country’s most illustrious sons. On July 27, 2007, the National Historical Institute unveiled a marker on the birth place of the INC founder, the very spot where he was born at Barangay Calzada, Tipas, Taguig City. [xviii] That same year, President Arroyo declared July 27 of every year, as the “Iglesia ni Cristo day” purposedly to enable millions of INC members in the Philippines and in 75 countries around the world to observe the occasion with fitting solemnity. [xix]
[i] http://www.suite101.com/content/the-year-without-a-summer-1816-a54675#ixzz10anLC6Vx
[iii] Quennie
Ann J., “First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of
Christ)” “National Historical Institute
Ann J., “First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of
Christ)” “National Historical Institute
[v] http://www.nhi.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=158&Itemid=1
[viii]
http://www.iglesianicristo.us/fymbio.html Crisostomo, Isabelo T. ‘Felix Y.
Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo’, “Pasugo” (Manila: May-June 1986)
http://www.iglesianicristo.us/fymbio.html Crisostomo, Isabelo T. ‘Felix Y.
Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo’, “Pasugo” (Manila: May-June 1986)
[x] http://www.iglesianicristo.us/fymbio.html
Crisostomo, Isabelo T. ‘Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo’,
“Pasugo” (Manila: May-June 1986
Crisostomo, Isabelo T. ‘Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo’,
“Pasugo” (Manila: May-June 1986
[xi] GOD’S MESSAGE July – September 1994
[xiii]
Villanueva, Robert C. The Untold Story of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Philippine
Panorama, 1992). Also, ’25 Years in the West, God’s Message (Manila: 1993),
Palafox, Quennie Ann J. ‘First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo
(Church of Christ)’ “National Historical Institute” and Crisostomo,
Isabelo T. ‘Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo’, Pasugo (May-June 1986).
Villanueva, Robert C. The Untold Story of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Philippine
Panorama, 1992). Also, ’25 Years in the West, God’s Message (Manila: 1993),
Palafox, Quennie Ann J. ‘First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo
(Church of Christ)’ “National Historical Institute” and Crisostomo,
Isabelo T. ‘Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo’, Pasugo (May-June 1986).
[xiv] A.
Rodell, Paul (2002). Culture and customs of the Philippines. Westport,
Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 39–41. ISBN 0-313-30415-7.
Rodell, Paul (2002). Culture and customs of the Philippines. Westport,
Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 39–41. ISBN 0-313-30415-7.
[xv] Palafox,
Quennie Ann J. “First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church
of Christ)”. National Historical Institute. Retrieved 2008-12-07
Quennie Ann J. “First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church
of Christ)”. National Historical Institute. Retrieved 2008-12-07
[xvi] Harper,
Ann C (2001). “The Iglesia ni Cristo and Evangelical Christianity”
(PDF). Journal of Asian Mission 3 (1): 101–119.
Ann C (2001). “The Iglesia ni Cristo and Evangelical Christianity”
(PDF). Journal of Asian Mission 3 (1): 101–119.
[xvii]
Sanders, Albert J. (1969). “An Appraisal of the Iglesia ni Cristo”.
In Gerald H. Anderson. Studies in Philippine church history. Ithaca, NY:
Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801404851.
Sanders, Albert J. (1969). “An Appraisal of the Iglesia ni Cristo”.
In Gerald H. Anderson. Studies in Philippine church history. Ithaca, NY:
Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801404851.
[xviii]
Cantor, Marlex C. (August 2007). “FYM Birth Site Inaugurated as National
Historical Landmark”. Pasugo – God’s Message (Philippines: Iglesia ni
Cristo): 12.
Cantor, Marlex C. (August 2007). “FYM Birth Site Inaugurated as National
Historical Landmark”. Pasugo – God’s Message (Philippines: Iglesia ni
Cristo): 12.
[xix] Suarez,
E.T. (July 27, 2008). “Officials celebrate with Iglesia ni Cristo on its
94th anniversary”. The Manila Bulletin Online (The Manila Bulletin).
Retrieved 2008-11-10.
E.T. (July 27, 2008). “Officials celebrate with Iglesia ni Cristo on its
94th anniversary”. The Manila Bulletin Online (The Manila Bulletin).
Retrieved 2008-11-10.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
True score behind alleged INC intervention at Merci Impeachment at the House
Cynthia Jumilla of TV Patrol reported the presence of several INC officials during the "haggling phase" at Congress. Reportedly, several INC top honchos went to the room of a pro-Merci Congressman and tried to dissuade several Congressmen from voting against Merceditas Gutierrez.
The report was negative for several INC officials. NPR learned that this was not an official decision coming from the head of the Church, who happens to be abroad when these news of several INC officials trying to lobby for Gutierrez.
According to a source, these officials acted on their own. This was never allowed by the INC.
The source also said that there is no truth to reports that INC supports Noynoy Aquino. Fact is, majority of the INC still supports former president Joseph Estrada.
" There is nothing to sever since there was no relationship between Mr. Aquino and the INC in the first place." says the highly credible source.
An investigation is now, underway. At least seven INC officials reportedly tried to lobby for Merceditas Gutierrez.
Despite these, the House pursued the motion to carry the articles of impeachment to the Senate. The Senate will start the impeachment process in May.
The report was negative for several INC officials. NPR learned that this was not an official decision coming from the head of the Church, who happens to be abroad when these news of several INC officials trying to lobby for Gutierrez.
According to a source, these officials acted on their own. This was never allowed by the INC.
The source also said that there is no truth to reports that INC supports Noynoy Aquino. Fact is, majority of the INC still supports former president Joseph Estrada.
" There is nothing to sever since there was no relationship between Mr. Aquino and the INC in the first place." says the highly credible source.
An investigation is now, underway. At least seven INC officials reportedly tried to lobby for Merceditas Gutierrez.
Despite these, the House pursued the motion to carry the articles of impeachment to the Senate. The Senate will start the impeachment process in May.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
INC support for Aquino cut early
Reports say high officials of the Iglesia Ni Cristo reportedly lobbied for the non-impeachment of Merceditas Gutierrez. INC officials were reportedly seen inside a room of a legislator supporting the retention of Gutierrez as Ombudsman.
Is this true? If it was, what prompted these officials for severing their ties with the Aquino administration and going against Aquino?
Sources say some INC officials have notice a spike in the incidence of graft and corruption in the Aquino administration.
Many pro-Binay and close Aquino associates have lobbied and some, are still jockeying for posts in the government, affecting many members of the INC.
These jockeying of posts are not consistent with government rules. Fact is, many were ousted from their posts by people who claimed to have the "blessing of people in Malacanang".
Complaints have reached the INC leadership. The leadership communicated it with Malacanang. Malacanang reportedly gave no credence to reports of irregularities committed by Aquino's men.
Now, the "honeymoon" period is over. INC is now a critique of the Aquino administration? Are relations between Aquino and the INC now as cold as dry ice? Your guess is as good as mine.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo believed in the words of Aquino---that he will cleanse government of irregularities. Now, the INC knows better.
Is this true? If it was, what prompted these officials for severing their ties with the Aquino administration and going against Aquino?
Sources say some INC officials have notice a spike in the incidence of graft and corruption in the Aquino administration.
Many pro-Binay and close Aquino associates have lobbied and some, are still jockeying for posts in the government, affecting many members of the INC.
These jockeying of posts are not consistent with government rules. Fact is, many were ousted from their posts by people who claimed to have the "blessing of people in Malacanang".
Complaints have reached the INC leadership. The leadership communicated it with Malacanang. Malacanang reportedly gave no credence to reports of irregularities committed by Aquino's men.
Now, the "honeymoon" period is over. INC is now a critique of the Aquino administration? Are relations between Aquino and the INC now as cold as dry ice? Your guess is as good as mine.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo believed in the words of Aquino---that he will cleanse government of irregularities. Now, the INC knows better.
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