Christian
THE
R E G I S T
Jubilant Aglipayan faithful install new OM
OM Porlares, new head of IFI,
wants ‘church for all’
“
NEW HEAD OF NATIONALIST CHURCH. The episcopate of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente gathers on June 29, 2023, at the IFI National Cathedral, to join droves of faithful in the installation rites
for Obispo Maximo Joel O. Porlares (holding the staff). Three previous Obispos Maximos join him: OM Rhee M. Timbang, OM Godofredo J. David and OM Ephraim S. Fajutagana (fourth, seventh and
eighth from left, first row).
MANILA—The Most Rev. Joel O. Porlares, the new Obispo Maximo (OM)
of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), rallied the thousands of
faithful who attended his installation rites at the National Cathedral
Together, (NC) on June 29, 2023, to commit to a “church for all.”
by our growing
faith, developing “Together, by our growing faith,
developing resources and organizational
resources and
capabilities, we will witness and make
concrete God’s love in every time and
organizational place,” said Most Rev. Porlares in his first
capabilities, we homily as OM, the IFI’s highest official.
OM Porlares cited the IFI Statement
will witness and
on Church Mission, released in 1976,
saying the church must be “loyal to
make concrete the cause of her founding fathers in
God’s love in promoting the welfare and dignity of the
common man, especially the laborer.”
every time
He was installed as the fourteenth
OM of IFI on the Feast Day of Saint Peter
and place” and Saint Paul.
The IFI was proclaimed by Union
Obrera Democratica, led by labor leader
Isabelo delos Reyes, on Aug. 3, 1902.
The group envisioned a Catholic church
by Filipinos not under the authority
of the Pope in Rome. The first OM is
revolutionary leader, Most. Rev. Gregorio
Aglipay; thus, the moniker, “Aglipayan
Church.”
IFI is made up of some 7 million
adherents. An official tally revealed
that the church had some 51 dioceses,
728 parishes, 169 missions and at least
5,000 outstations; plus, chaplaincies in
prisons and camps, and among overseas
communities.
Progressive, nationalist
The IFI upholds its
heritage today in nationalist
and progressive stances and
involvements. The IFI ordained
its first woman priest in 1997.
Most Rev. Joel O. Porlares, In 2017, IFI bishops released a
fourteenth Obispo Maximo of IFI statement affirming LGBTIQ+ faithful
and seeking support for LGBTIQ+
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE
IGLESIA FILIPINA INDEPENDIENTE
Volume 1 | Number 1 | February - June 2024
E R
Vaughn Alviar
out a six-year term. The OM “is the IFI also holds membership to the
Spiritual Head, Chief Pastor, and the Christian Conference of Asia and the
Chief Executive Officer of the Church,” World Council of Churches. It maintains
according to the IFI’s Constitution and concordat relations with The Episcopal
Canons. Church based in the United States,
OM Porlares was born in Tacloban
City in 1961, and raised in Basey, Samar.
the Old Catholic Church of the Union
of Utrecht, the Church of England, the
rights. In 2019, it consecrated its first
female bishop, Rt. Rev. Emelyn Gasco-
His father was a priest of the IFI in the Church of Sweden and the Anglican
same province. He is married with three Church of Melanesia.
Dacuycuy of the Diocese of Batac. In
sons. OM Porlares added that the
2023, it ordained the country’s first out
and proud transgender deacon, Rev.
He graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in Theology at Saint Andrew’s
church would “continue to strengthen
and persistently seek to expand
Dcn. Wowa Ledama of the Diocese of
Pagadian.
Theological Seminary in Quezon City in our ecumenical and developmental
1984 and obtained his master’s degree in partnerships outside and inside the
The church has released statements
Divinity from the same institution in 1989. country.”
against anti-poor and anti-democratic
policies. Many of its members have been
He has been taught at Aglipay Central
Theological Seminary in Urdaneta City, ‘Hear, feel the pulse of the flock’
victims of human rights violations (HRVs).
Some, such as former OM Alberto B.
Pangasinan, even serving as its academic IFI’s General Assembly (GA), its
coordinator in 1996-99. highest policymaking body, elected Most
Ramento, were felled in extrajudicial killings
Most Rev. Porlares was ordained Rev. Porlares as the OM when it convened
linked to their advocacies for vulnerable
sectors.
into the priesthood in September 1984.
He served as a priest in the Dioceses of
on May 7-10, 2023, in Las Piñas City. While
IFI is led by bishops, its structures are
To address the vilification of
Greater Manila Area, Western Pangasinan, synodical, meaning the lay – members of
church workers, Most Rev. Porlares has
and Bataan and Bulacan, where he the youth, women and laymen sectors
sought the formation of a quick reaction
eventually became the diocesan bishop. – vote with the ordained. The ordained
task force for HRVs, including death
He was elected General Secretary of IFI include not just the bishops but also
threats and acts of intimidation, legal
in 2017, serving with his predecessor, the priests and deacons.
persecution and terror-tagging, among
Most Rev. Rhee M. Timbang. Among others, the GA also elected
others, directed at faithful involved in
the Church’s General Secretary, General
church ministries.
Vanguard of ecumenism Treasurer and General Auditor: Rt. Rev.
He said that a church for all must
OM Porlares noted that, to further Dindo C. Ranojo, Elena C. Del Mundo and
serve not just IFI members but all other
the mission of the church, IFI will be Adela L. Rebollido, respectively. They will
children of God, especially those “in
“one of the vanguards of the ecumenical also serve for six years.
difficult situations badly needing God’s
movement in the Philippines.” In his homily, the Most Rev.
love.”
Ecumenism is a movement toward Porlares vowed to a people-centered
The church, OM Porlares added,
unity and cooperation among Christian and service-oriented leadership that
must look after the total wellbeing
churches. “will permanently follow the lead and
of the people through upholding
IFI is one of the largest churches in examples” of Jesus who was present
nondiscrimination, nonsectarianism
the membership of the National Council among the people and served the flock
and human rights, among others. He
of Churches in the Philippines. It has toward total development.
asked for more charitable, human rights
concordat relations with the Episcopal He implored other church leaders,
and developmental programs serving
Church in the Philippines, and a covenant some of whom were inducted into
the deprived, underprivileged and
of partnership with the United Church national commissions and councils on the
discriminated sectors, regardless of faith
of Christ in the Philippines. In 2021, the same gathering, to “constantly maintain
and denominational affiliation.
IFI inked a document declaring mutual humility and patience” and “maintain
recognition of baptism with the Roman eagerness to listen more often to hear
Spiritual head, chief pastor, CEO
Catholic Church. and feel the pulse of the flock.”
Most Rev. Porlares will serve
 Christian
THE

02 R E G I S T E R
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE IGLESIA FILIPINA INDEPENDIENTE
Volume 1 | Number 1 | February - June 2024

‘Justice! Justice! Justice!’

17 years after brutal slay,
OM Ramento’s legacy endures Zysa Mei Elloran

Some participants of the liturgical forum on Oct. 9, 2023, to commemorate the martyrdom of former Obispo Maximo Alberto B. Ramento call on the government to stop the attacks on churches that practice prophetic witness – institutions that
honor the legacy of the slain bishop.

Faithful of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI)

Bishop Rex Reyes Jr. admires OM Ramento in
his biblico-theological reflection.
The altar features not only OM Ramento but
also other martyrs of IFI, all of whom were
felled under a culture of impunity that has
spanned generations and administrations.
and friends from the ecumenical community
galvanized at the IFI Conference Center on Oct.
9, 2023, to commemorate the 17th anniversary of
the martyrdom of the nationalist church’s ninth
Obispo Maximo (OM), Alberto B. Ramento.
The event, featuring a solemn liturgical service and a
reflective forum, paid tribute to OM Ramento’s commitment to
justice and advocacy for the marginalized in Philippine society.
“Bishop Ramento fully grasped the connection between the
struggle of [IFI] and the ongoing challenges faced by the Filipino
people,” shared Bishop Rex Reyes Jr., a distinguished member
of the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF), in a biblico-theological
reflection during the gathering.
Bishop Reyes hails from the Episcopal Church in the
Philippines and was formerly a General Secretary of the National
Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
Popularly dubbed “Bishop of the Poor, Peasants and
Workers,” OM Ramento exhibited an unwavering dedication to
justice and peace, workers’ rights and farmers’ concerns. His
passion earned him widespread recognition and, in his tragic death,
left an indelible mark not only in religious circles but in broader
movements for change.
The liturgical celebration commenced with a symbolic act
performed by Teatro Aglipayano (TA), where young thespians
lit a candle on an altar as they performed a poignant play. Their
powerful presentation underscored an ongoing call for justice.
Years have “passed since you tasted enmity; you only hoped
for the liberty of the farmers’ land,” resonated the impassioned
chant from TA. “Justice! Justice! Justice!”
OM Ramento courageously criticized the Arroyo
administration for its failure to address human rights violations,
leading to the killing of activists, social justice workers and
other critics of the government. He fervently advocated for an
independent investigation into extrajudicial killings.
After his tenure as OM from 1993 to 1999, he decided to become
bishop of the Diocese of Tarlac, his seat at the San Sebastian church in
Tarlac City. From there, he continued his advocacy for peace talks and
genuine agrarian reform; and helped provide services and facilities to
the struggling workers of Hacienda Luisita.
In the early hours of Oct. 3, 2006, OM Ramento met a
tragic end, stabbed to death in the church in what is widely
acknowledged as a politically-motivated assassination. His final
words to his family, “I know they are going to kill me next. But never
will I abandon my duty to God and my ministry to the people,”
reflected the gravity of his commitment.
OM Ramento had received several death threats before the
incident.
Most Rev. Joel Porlares, in a heartfelt tribute, highlighted the
legacy OM Ramento. He urged all ordained individuals in the IFI to
continue serving, building upon the efforts of the martyr, and passing
on the legacy to those devoted to the service of God and country.
“In his six years of ministry as [OM], he proved that what he
has done deserves to continue in the present,” emphasized OM
Porlares.
Meanwhile, Bishop Reyes lauded OM Ramento as an
ecumenical figure with a focus on the prophetic task of the Church,
evident in his leadership roles at EBF and NCCP.
The commemoration served as a poignant reminder of OM In file photo, OM Ramento speaks during
Ramento’s impact beyond the IFI community, he said. a human rights orientation in 1988 before
ecumenical workers. (Photo courtesy of NCCP)

‘Tahanan sa Kamaynilaan’
welcomes 3 young priests
as overseers Justice Mae Catacutan

The National Cathedral (NC) of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente welcomed in a solemn Eucharistic
celebration on Sept. 3, 2023, three young priests as overseers of the so-called “center of the life, work and
witness” of the nationalist church.

Most Rev. Joel O. Porlares, the Obispo Maximo (OM),
presided over the commissioning of Rev. Niño Franco
Mamorbor (35), Rev. Jewel Tumaliuan (34) and Rev. Amelito
Bag-o (34) to their clerical offices.
“The appointment of young clergy,” OM Porlares said in
an interview with The Christian Register, “hopes to inject vitality
and fresh perspective into the ministiry of the NC, bringing forth
enthusiasm, innovation and an understanding of the present
and emerging contexts of ministry.”
He added: “Being able to connect with younger
generations, they can enhance inclusivity, and their energy and
flexibility make them well-equipped for demanding challenges
like congregation organizing and mission planting.”
Hailing from the Diocese of Cavite, Rev. Mamorbor was
inducted as the Dean; while Rev. Tumaliuan and Rev. Bag-o,
representing the Dioceses of Northern Isabela and Bohol,
respectively, were appointed as Canons.
Addressing the newly installed clergy, Most Rev. Porlares
remarked, “You are to carry out your ministry, individually and
as a community of clergy, in communion with your Obispo
Maximo, for the spiritual edification and pastoral oversight of
your [siblings] in the family of the Church.”
OM Porlares emphasized the trio’s shared responsibilities
in the pastoral and spiritual life of the NC congregation.
The NC Council and its various regional formations and
lay organizations joined the momentous occasion, extending
their congratulations to the three young reverend ministers and
expressing their wholehearted support.
Joining the community during the service were IFI
members from the priests’ home regions and from nearby
dioceses.
The NC holds spiritual significance as the seat of the
OM, symbolizing his role as the chief shepherd and spiritual
leader of IFI. Dovetailed with his “church for all” agenda, NC
now carries the slogan, “tahanan sa Kamaynilaan” (home in the
The dean and canons of the IFI National Cathedral, all in their mid-30s, promise “enthusiasm,
Philippine capital).
innovation and an understanding of the present and emerging contexts of ministry,” OM Joel O.
The installation ceremony marked an important chapter in Porlares highlighted. In photo, taken after their installation rites, they pose with General Secretary
the ongoing spiritual journey of the NC, signifying a new era of Bishop Dindo Ranojo, OM Porlares and Bishop Ronelio Fabriquier of the Diocese of Romblon
leadership with deep commitment to the congregation’s well- and Mindoros.
being, OM Porlares said.