Santiago Fonacier Becomes Obispo Maximo II

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

October 14, 1940

On October 14, 1940, Santiago Fonacier was proclaimed as Obispo Maximo II (Second Supreme Bishop) of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan Church) after the death of Gregorio Aglipay. 

Santiago Antonio Fonacier y Suguitan (May 21, 1885 – December 8, 1977) was born in Laoag, Ilocos Norte on May 21, 1885 to Dionisio Antonino Fonacier y Romero and Feliciana Suguitan y Manuel. He studied bachelor of arts at the Escuela Docente de Laoag which was accredited by the University of Santo Tomas and the Liceo de Manila. 

He was one of the pioneers in the first and early seminaries of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in Ilocos Norte. Fonacier finished his theological training in another IFI seminary in Manila and was ordained priest the following year. 

He taught at the Instituto Docente (former Escuela Docente de Laoag) for two years but left to focus on journalism. He edited and translated Spanish periodicals and Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo into Ilocano, and was a reporter for the newspapers La Democracia and El Grito del Pueblo. 

Fonacier was elected to the first Philippine Assembly as representative of the first district of Ilocos Norte. He became senator representing Abra, Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Isabela. 

He was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, the Philippine Independence missions to the United States, and a member of the Institute of National Textbook Board. 

In 1902, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) was founded by Isabelo de los Reyes and Gregorio Aglipay, and Fonacier was among the early followers. 

Aglipay made him his personal secretary and he soon became a military chaplain and was assigned as a priest at the first national cathedral of the IFI, the "Tondo Cathedral" in Tondo, Manila. 

He was consecrated as bishop in January 1933. Fonacier got elected in accordance with the constitution of the church when he became the church's second Obispo Maximo (Supreme Bishop) from 1940 until 1946. 

Bishop Santiago Fonacier died at the age of 92 on December 8, 1977. He was married to Carmen Jamias Fonacier and had eight children.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org