Felix Manalo
Categories: 1886 births | 1963 deaths | New religious movements | Filipino religious figures
Felix Ysagun Manalo (born Felix Manalo Ysagun May 10, 1886 - April 12, 1963) was the first Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo, and registered it with the Philippine Government on July 27, 1914. He is also the father of Erano Manalo, the current Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo.
Due to the fact that there were no precursors to the registered church, non-INC sources describe him as the Church's founder and refer to him as such. The Iglesia ni Cristo maintains that Felix Y. Manalo is not its founder, and it believes 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
Felix Ysagun was born in the Philippines to Mariano Ysagun and Bonifacia Manalo, but later had his last name changed to Manalo after his mother's death, in reverence for his mother, historians claim, and also to fortify his ministry, the name Manalo meaning 'victory' in Tagalog. Others claim the change was an attempt to leave obscurity, Manalo being a more prominent name than Ysagun.
Manalo was deeply religious as a child and joined many religious organizations as a young adult, leaving each after finding teachings which he felt contradicted those in the Bible. He was baptized a Roman Catholic, but at a young age went through a succession of faiths. He joined the local spiritist cult, and was an atheist at one point, but later joined the Methodist Episcopalian Church after witnessing a debate. He attended their seminary and became a pastor. He later joined the Christian and Missionary Alliance, attracted to the way their converts were baptized, which was by immersion.
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. He then left the Adventist church after a disagreement regarding scripture.
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.
Manalo propagated his message within his local area, growing the Iglesia ni Cristo and converting members of other religions. As Church 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.
Manalo was married to Tomasa Sereneo, with whom he had a child who died in infancy. Tomasa herself was afflicted with tuberculosis and died as well. 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.
References
- '25 Years in the West, God's Message (Manila: 1993)
- 'A Brief Profile of the Church', God's Message (Manila: April 2003)
- Crisostomo, Isabelo T. 'Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia ni Cristo', Pasugo (Manila: May-June 1986)
- 'Iglesia ni Cristo 91st Foundation Day' Manila Bulletin (July 27 2005)
- Elesterio, Fernando. Iglesia ni Cristo: It's Christology and Ecclesiology
- Mangahas, Malou 'Iglesia ni Cristo: Church at the Crossroads', Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (Manila: April 29, 2002)no:Felix Manalo
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