That church in the market
By Rex Catubig
I ALWAYS threw it a glance but never really acknowledged its presence so that it might as well be non-existent. It has always stood there–silent and steadfast amid the cacophony and chaos of the marketplace. Its facade looks perpetually unfinished, painted in “carboro” white that makes it resemble a mausoleum. But it is a living temple of the Dagupenos faith and patriotism.
Actually, it is the repository of a heroic group’s vision of a nationalist church. Its historical pedigree is tied to the nationalistic upheaval of the time. Its schism from the Roman Catholic Church was born of a people’s exasperation with the rampant abuses of the Spanish clergy.
This is the Philippine Independent Church, also known as Aglipayan Church in honor of its first Supreme Bishop, former Catholic priest Gregorio Aglipay. While it hues closely to the Roman Catholic liturgy, it reworked its liturgical framework to address prevailing concerns at the time. Thus, “the new church rejected the spiritual authority of the Pope”.
One deleted liturgical feature which is redolent with harrowing memory and the root of the schism, is the Confession. The Confession became a tool to bait the unwitting wives of Katipuneros into squealing about their husbands’ affinity to the rebel movement. Convinced that their husbands were committing sin, the wives prevailed on them to go to confession which sounded the death kneel for them, as this resulted in their arrest and torture.
But above and beyond its political agenda, the Iglesia Independiente was way ahead of its time and showed an astute understanding and empathy for its congregation.
To its credit, way before the Vatican II Council, it “reformed the prevailing Latin Tridentine Liturgy, and adopted the vernacular in worship” which is now widely practiced in the Catholic church throughout the world. Moreover, “it abolished the celibacy requirement for priests, allowing them to marry. At that time, all of its clergy were former Catholic priests”.
All this blatant sacrilege was the linchpin that triggered the excommunication of the Filipino nationalists and spiritual rebels.
But the nationalistic spirit prevailed over what was deemed an oppressive church. Faith imbued with a strong nationalistic spirit thrived amid persecution.
The strong presence of the Iglesia Independiente in Dagupan is a testimonial to the fact that the place was a stronghold of “rebolusyonario’s” and the church was their last stand.
Romualdo Palaroan remembers vividly his conversations with his Laki Don Ignacio Espejo, a migrant from Vigan along with the Alcayaga-Azurin clans, who fought alongside Gen Gregorio del Pilar. He was a staunch Aglipayan.
Alexis Beltran’s grandfather was a Katipunero and his wife, Alexis’ grandmother nursed the wounded rebels. They were proud Aglipayans.
Others identified strongly with the church’s cause. Trude Wrs belonged to the Espino-Reyes clans who trace their lineage down to the Spanish era. They are dyed-in-the-wool Aglipayans. The prominent Laurel family’s grandparents were devoted Aglipayans and claimed to have donated the church bell.
The longevity of the church could be attributed to the leadership of Fr. Eligio Morante who tended to the Aglipayan flock and ministered it through the changing times.
These and many more after them are the bedrock of this historic church which is the bastion of spiritual strength as well as patriotic integrity.
The Independent Church of Dagupan is a heritage waiting to be rediscovered.
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