UNIDA, A TRULY FILIPINO PROTESTANT CHURCH

This is our account of the History of Unida Church based on old manuscripts. The sermon introduces the history.



Researched & Written by Rev. Gamaliel B. Filio
(This account is based on the history of Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo as written in 1932 in the original manuscripts that are now so brittle one has to be careful handling them lest they crumble. Some facts are a revelation to me and I know it will be to you. The first part is the result of research by the author but the second part is a translation to English of the 1932 A.D. original. God bless)

The IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO or UNIDA CHURCH was born on January 3, 1932 but the seeds that gave birth to it were sown at the turn of the century. It was preceded by the birth pangs of an independent Filipino Nation and emboldened by the coming to the Philippines of Protestantism and consequently the right to read and own a BIBLE.
Protestantism entered when, after 350 years of “abuse, oppression, cruelty, and injustice”1 by Spanish Friars and of prohibition on owning and reading the Bible under pain of death or imprisonment, Spain ceded the Philippine Islands to the United States for twenty million dollars. As the bell of freedom rung throughout the islands. Protestant missionaries came in with lots of Bibles that people can own and read. The HOLY BIBLE was opened to the Filipino people and it was a time of joy and peace, and progress. *
It was a breath of fresh air long awaited by the Filipinos. The Americans guaranteed religious freedom and the liberty to worship God without literally paying for it through the nose. “The peace-speaking guns of Admiral Dewey have opened the gates which henceforth make accessible not less than 8,000,000 of people who have for three hundred years been fettered.”2 Thus declared the statement of the Presbyterian General Assembly, in session at Winona Lake, Indiana, in 1898.
The United States established a Civil Government in the Philippines and “The Presbyterian Board felt that political and military relations into which the United states had been so strangely forced with reference to the Philippine Islands……involved certain moral and religious responsibilities…..and that Christian people of America should immediately consider the duty of entering the door which God in His providence was thus opening.”3
For this purpose they decided to transfer Rev. James B. Rodgers, who was stationed in Brazil, to the Philippines. Rev. and Mrs. James B. Rodgers arrived on April 21, 1899. And thus began the spread of Protestant Presbyterianism through him. *
There were five Protestant denominations in 1903 funded by their American Mission Boards. And through them, many congregations and churches were established.
But the spirit of nationalism was awakened in the heart and soul of the Filipinos not only in their political life but more so in their worship of the one true God. Their eyes were opened that Salvation is not by good works and graven idols but by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Indigenous Protestant Churches sprouted right and left, independently of each of other. They built chapels (kapilya) on their own and they existed without financial help from the Americans.
In his book “An Observer in the Philippines ” subtitled “Life in Our New Possessions”, published in 1903 by the American Tract Society, REV. JOHN BANCROFT DEVINS, D.D., Editor of “The New York Observer” wrote in page 265, “It is the belief of many that the Philippine Protestants will soon have not only self-supporting, but also self-propagating churches, and that men in training now will be willing to give a part or all of their time to the work of the ministry, depending upon their converts for support and the erection of churches.”
And ultimately, the belief mentioned above winnowed only two groups that pursued to be self-supporting and indigenous. One of them is a church composed of six groups that bonded into One, IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO.
“In addition to three Manila congregations, there were three in Cavite Province, three in Laguna, and one in Pasig, in the province of Rizal. Regular services are also held in six other places and occasional ones in a number of other towns. There are six chapels constructed by the people, in addition to the large native church opened in Manila.”5
Those three churches in Cavite begun by Rev. Rodgers, specifically Bacoor, joined Iglesia Evangelica delos Cristianos Filipinos which together with Iglesia Trinitaria, Iglesia Reformada, and three smallers groups formed IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO. Rev. Devins narrated a visit with Rev. Rodgers in 1903 to Cavite Viejo and Bacoor in his book pages 282-287. And the old history of Bacoor Unida Church confirms this.
The years that followed saw a people, awakened by nationalism, seeking to be an Independent Nation. Consequently, Filipino Protestant Churches sought to be independent and self-supporting, giving birth to a number of indigenous churches whose converts support the pastors and erect their own churches. It was hard going for them as their pastors were given no compensation and instead gave to the church.
In 1930 a group of them came together at the instance of Don Toribio Teodoro, owner of a shoe factory named “Ang Tibay”, who is a Lay Leader of Iglesia Evangelica de los Cristianos Filipinos and known as “King of Slippers and Shoes”. This meeting was held on November 10, 1930 at 2200 Rizal Avenue, Manila and those who attended were Atty. Prudencio Remigio and the General Superintendents Pastor Gil Domingo of Iglesia Trinitaria, Pastor Moises Buzon of Iglesia Metodista Reformada, and Ob. Victoriano Mariano. After a repast prepared by Mrs. Maria de Jesus Teodoro, they secluded themselves in a room and each one prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide the proposed unification of their three churches.
After their prayers they discussed the proposal and each one consented with the proviso that they will consult their churches about the unification. The consensus in the three churches was for the unification of their indigenous churches.

The first Meetings
In the meetings of each of the three churches they decided to bond their three churches together as one. However, Brother Toribio Teodoro received the urging from God to invite all the other Evangelical or Christian Churches being run by Filipinos. He did not waste any moment but immediately called on all Evangelical Churches that he knows to a special meeting that will be held at the factory of “ANG TIBAY” at 714 Ilaya Street, Tondo, Manila.
He also invited to witness and verify the beautiful plan to unify the Evangelical Churches some Gentlemen Brethren whose names are prominent and known in the entire country for their efforts to spread the Gospel and everything that will redound to the benefit of the country. They never wavered in helping to the best of their ability and they are Teodoro Yangco of Iglesia Evangelica Presbiteriana, Dean Jorge Bocobo of Iglesia Metodista Episcopal, and Atty. Prudencio A. Remigio of Iglesia Evangelica de los Cristianos Filipinos.
Ultimately, thirteen Churches were invited and came to the second meeting held at “ANG TIBAY”. At the start, almost all of the present representatives of Churches happily agreed to bond together all the evangelical churches in order to eradicate disunity and in order to be a unified force that can bring down the forces of evil and sin, fanaticism and all the bad vices that are prevalent in the islands.
But the 13 was trimmed down to 6 and this six examined the Constitution presented by Victoriano Mariano. After discussion, debate, careful examination, consecutive meetings, prayers and scrutiny of the verses needed the Constitution was approved.

The Meeting to Choose the Name
Choosing the name of the six churches that bonded into one happened after worship service on October 4, 1931 A.D. at the temple of Iglesia Evangelica of Atlag, Malolos. They held the meeting of the representatives and supporters of the six churches after lunch at the house of Pastor Quintin D. Santiago. Six names were submitted to be the name of the church unified by God. When the temporary chairman, Toribio Teodoro, asked the body how they will choose the name, Victoriano Mariano
suggested they should do it by PELOTILYA and it was approved without debate by the whole assembly. So they prepared six small papers on each of which they wrote the six different names suggested and they also prepared one on which is written “it is not here.” They rolled the seven papers and put it inside a hat (sombrero). They prepared another set of six papers on each of which they wrote “that is not the one” and also another one on which they wrote “That is the name God chooses to be the name of the unified church”. They rolled the seven papers and put it in another hat (sombrero).
The two hats were placed each on opposite ends of the table in front of the Chairman. At the suggestion of Victoriano Mariano, two five or six-year old children were made to stand at opposite ends of table where the hats were placed. Then they all knelt down to pray for God to point to the one he chooses so that all will agree. Victoriano Mariano, Atanacio Pineda, and Pedro Castro led the whole congregation in prayer. After the prayers, the whole congregation stood up from their knees and the first child was asked to draw a paper from the first hat and so also with the second child. They both raised up their hands to be seen by all. The first paper was opened and it read: “Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Filipinas”. The second paper was opened and it read: “That is the name God chooses to be the name of the unified church”. There was joy and rejoicing and acceptance of the will of God and they all stood up and as one they sang GLORIA PATRI.

Meeting to elect the Permanent Officers of the Church
The temporary chairman called a meeting on October 21, 1931 A.D. at “ANG TIBAY”. The representatives of the six churches that bonded into one decided to hold the elections of the permanent officers who will lead the new church. They agreed to separate or elect first (in the way the first disciples separated Joseph and Matthias Acts 1:23) three official candidates for the position of Superintindente Heneral by means of secret ballot. And the names elected were Moises Buzon, Juan S. Pring and Victoriano Mariano. And the three were submitted to God in Pelotilya, the same way that it was done in choosing the name of the church. The knelt down and prayed. (Acts 1:24) God chose Victoriano Mariano to be the Superintindente Heneral and then in the same way were chosen Moises Buzon as Secretario Heneral, Quintin D. Santiago as Tesorero Heneral, and Atanacio Pineda as
Ebanghelista Heneral. (Acts 1:26) The length of their term as decided also by Pelotilya is three years.

The Way of Electing
In order to prevent the entry into the hearts and mind of anyone, the destructive lust for power or position that is responsible for disunity of brethren and the outrageous habit of destroying the reputation of others and of lifting up of one’s self and inveigling others to make himself popular so that he will be elected the way it happens in the politics of the country, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY AGREED IN A MEETING WITHOUT DEBATE that from NOW and up to the FUTURE, the election of the officers of the church will be as it is done now by means of prayer and pelotilya or drawing of lots as it is taught in the BIBLE as written in Proverbs 18:18; 16:33 and Acts 1:23-26.

Announcing the Founding of “Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Filipinas”
In the last meeting of the representatives of churches they set the day January 3, 1932 A.D. to announce the founding of the church at the Manila Grand Opera House. They also decided to invite all the Evangelical Churches whether they are run by foreigners or not.

This is the history of the birth of Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Filipinas, and we respectfully and graciously greet all the Evangelical and Christian Churches of the Philippine Islands that is unified in glorifying Christ as Lord and Saviour by spreading the gospel to the world and to bring salvation and truth to all.

A Slight Change in the Name
However, when they went to Register the name, they were informed by the government agency that there is already one with the same name although in English namely United Evangelical Church of the Philippines. To avoid confusion they went back to God and by Pelotilya God chose the name ‘IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO.”
The name registered according to Act Number 1459 at the Department of Commerce and Industry was IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO number 5477 February 6, 1932.