Today in Philippine History: Gregorio Aglipay

MAY 5, 1860

Gregorio Aglipay (May 5, 1860 – September 1, 1940) was born in Batac, Ilocos Norte. He was a Catholic priest who became the Military Vicar General of the revolutionaries during the Philippine-American War. He sent letters to the clergy to ask Rome to appoint Filipino priests in all church positions. For his activism, Aglipay was excommunicated by Manila Archbishop Bernardino Norzaleda on May 5, 1899 with the permission of Pope Leo XIII. He became the first bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, a separate church founded by Isabelo delos Reyes in 1902. 

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