Felix Manalo

Felix Manalo

Infobox ReligiousBio
background = #FFA500
name = Felix Ysagun Manalo


Felix Y. Manalo on the cover of Pasugo
religion = Iglesia ni Cristo
alias =
location = Central, Quezon City, Philippines
Title = "Sugo" (Messenger)
Period = 1913-1963
Predecessor =
Successor = Erano Manalo
ordination =
post =
previous_post =
present_post =
date of birth = birth date|1886|5|10
place of birth = Taguig, Philippines
date of death = death year and age|1963|1886
place of death = Quezon City, Philippines

Félix Ysagun Manalo (born Félix Manalo Ysagun May 10, 1886 - April 12, 1963) was the first Executive Minister of the religious organization Iglesia ni Cristo, and incorporated it with the Philippine Government on July 27, 1914. He is also the father of Eraño G. Manalo, the current Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Due to the fact that there were no precursors to the registered church, external sources and critics of the Iglesia ni Cristo refer to him as the founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo and describe him as such. [http://www.mb.com.ph/OPED2005072740323.html 'Iglesia ni Cristo 91st Foundation Day' "Manila Bulletin" (July 27 2005)] ]

The official doctrines of the church do not state that Felix Y. Manalo is its founder, and professes that he is the last messenger of God, sent to reestablish the first church founded by Jesus, which the INC claims to have fallen into apostasy following the death of the Apostles.

Biography

Félix Ysagun was born on May 10, 1886 in Calzada, a sitio in the barrio of Tipas, Taguig, Rizal province, Philippines to Mariano Ysagun and Bonifacia Manalo. His birth brought joy to his parents and was given the name Felix(Lat. happy) and was baptized at a nearby Catholic Chapel.God's Message Magazine July - September 1994 issue; cited by [http://www.letusreason.org/Iglesia2.htm Let Us Reason's FYM Bio] .] Being poor, his father worked as a farm worker and fisherman while his mother was a homemaker. Being devout Catholics, Felix was indoctrinated in Catholic teachings. His teacher was a certain Macario Ocampo who taught the young Manalo not only reading, writing and arithmetic but more so Catholic doctrines, prayers and practices. This made Manalo a religious follower of the faith. Felix and his younger sister Praxedes lost their father at the time of the Philippine Revolution and their mother remarried to a widower, Clemente Monzo. When Felix was 12, he went to Manila and learned photography from a cousin, Serapio Ysagun, and was employed as an apprentice at a studio owned by his uncle Manuel Manalo. Palafox, Quennie Ann J., "First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ)" "National Historical Institute"] . He later had his last name changed to Manalo after his mother's death, in reverence for his mother. Others claim the change was an attempt to leave obscurity, Manalo being a more prominent name than Ysagun (the "Y" is prounounced as an "ee"). Elesterio, Fernando. "Iglesia ni Cristo: It's Christology and Ecclesiology"]

The Turning Point

A turning point in his life happened in 1900 when he found a bible in the parish house of his uncle, a catholic priest named Mariano Borja. His faith in the Catholic church began to waver after he started reading the bible. He started to have doubts about its doctrines and practices.

Manalo joined and left many religious organizations as a young adult.'25 Years in the West, "God's Message" (Manila: 1993)]

The emancipation of the Philippines from colonialism, and the proclamation of a republic saw the rise of nationalism in the Philippines. A government sponsored church, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente(Philippine Independent Church) headed by Bishop Gregorio Aglipay arose. The popular and nationalistic church failed to interest the young Manalo because the doctrines were not different from the Roman Catholic Church. He drifted from one religion to another, including the Colorum and the Iglesia Metodista Episcopal after witnessing a debate. He became a pastor of this church in Manila. [http://www.iglesianicristo.us/fymbio.html Crisostomo, Isabelo T. 'Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo', "Pasugo" (Manila: May-June 1986)] ]

Not long after, he joined another religion, the Presbyterian Church, and then the Christian and Missionary Alliance, attracted to the way their converts were baptized, which was by immersion. [http://www.iglesianicristo.us/fymbio.html Crisostomo, Isabelo T. 'Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo', "Pasugo" (Manila: May-June 1986)] ] . Convinced of its doctrines, he rose to become an evangelist. He married his first wife, Teresa Sereneo of Paco, Manila and they had a child, Gerardo, who died in infancy. His ministry led him into a debate with L.V. Finster of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was defeated, and convinced into joining the Adventists. At 25 years of age he became an evangelist of the Adventist church.

His first wife died and on May 10, 1913 he remarried to Honorata de Guzman. At this point, he began to doubt the doctrines of the "Sabadistas"(Seventh Day Adventist Church). He finally left the church in 1913 after a disagreement regarding scripture. Disenchanted with the religions he had joined, he began associating with atheist and agnostics. Their intentional misquoting of scriptures pushed his away.

piritual Journey

One day in November, 1913 he gathered the religious literatures he had accumulated and stacked them, along with notebooks and pencils, and the bible on a table in a small, dimly lit room at his friend Eusebio Sunga's house in Pasay. Instructing everyone not to disturb him he went into the room and started his personal search for the true religion. Unmindful of time, food and the world outside, he went into seclusion for three days and night of intensive study and reflection. He came out of the room certain that God had commissioned him for a mission to preached the true religion.

After he finished reading the Bible in-depth (for what sources say was three days with neither food nor rest from sunrise to sundown only), he proclaimed God gave him a mission to preach the gospel and reestablish the first church founded by Jesus (Lamsa version of the New Testament). He believed that his long quest for the true religion had ended. He was convinced he now knows which is the true church, and that he will preach it to all. This church was the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Early years

In July, 1914, Felix Manalo and his Wife Honorata left Pasay and crossed the Pasig River by boat to Punta , Santa Ana where friends willingly extended their help. He and his wife stayed at the workers quarters of a construction firm, Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company(AG&P) and with his friends consent organized his first religious meeting with only a few people listening. The listeners were impressed by his knowledge of the bible, preaching a message which seems to have solid biblical foundation, resulted in the eventual baptism of a handful of members. This would become the first "lokal"(local congregation) of the Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines.

In 1919, five years after he registered the Iglesia ni Cristo, Manalo went to the U.S to study with Protestants.

Manalo propagated his message within his local area, growing the Iglesia ni Cristo and converting members of other religions. As membership increased, he delegated others to spread the teachings of the INC and it eventually spread throughout the Philippines and to other countries.

It has been reported that the INC's considerable political clout began under Felix Manalo's leadership, when Manuel Quezon, the former president of the Philippines, referred to him as "bishop" and sought support from the church. [http://www.pcij.org/stories/2002/inc.html Mangahas, Malou 'Iglesia ni Cristo: Church at the Crossroads', Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism" (Manila: April 29, 2002)] ]

Manalo was married to Tomasa Sereneo, with whom he had a child who died in infancy. Tomasa herself was afflicted with tuberculosis and who later died. He later married Honorata de Guzman, a fellow former Adventist. Their fifth child, Eraño G. Manalo, is now the present Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo, while his grandson Eduardo is deputy Executive Minister. Felix Manalo was afflicted with an intestinal disease and died on April 12, 1963.

Felix has a daughter, Pilar who wrote the hymns sung in the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Death

Felix Manalo felt his health declining rapidly. He had stomach ulcers which brought him constant pain that even medication did not help. On April 12, 1963 at 2:35 in the morning, Felix Manalo passed away at the age of 77. He passed on the leadership of the church to his son, Erano Manalo who was elected unanimously by the council of elders.

National Historical Landmark

On July 27, 2007, coinciding with the 93rd Anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo, the National Historical Institute(NHI) of the Philippines unveiled a marker on the birth place of Felix Manalo, declaring the site as a National Historical Landmark. The marker is located at Barangay Calzada, Tipas, Taguig City, Metro Manila where the ancestral home of Manalo once stood. The marker sits on a 744 square meter plaza. In his dedication speech, Ludovico Badoy, NHI executive director said "Brother Felix Manalo's significant contribution to Philippine Society is worth recognizing and emulating.". He further said "...the church he preached have changed the lives and faith of many Filipinos. He deserves the pride and recognition of the people of Taguig.". The responsibility, maintenance and operation of the landmark was turned over to the INC.Cantor, Marlex C "FYM Birth Site Inaugurated as National Historical Landmark" Pasugo God's Message (August 2007, pg 12)]

References


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