The Philippine Independent Church, officially the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in Spanish, is a Christian denomination belonging to the Roman Catholic tradition in the form of a national church. It is better known as the Aglipayan Church after its founder, Gregorio Aglipay.

Rise of Nationalism

At the end of the 19th century, Filipino nationalism emerged, preceding the struggles of other colonized countries in Asia such as British India and French Indochina, and the fight for independence gave way to revolution. Latin American countries at this were also breaking away from Spain. With the execution of prominent Filipino clergy such as Fr. Jose Burgos at the hands of the Spanish authorities, church reforms became a facet of the Philippine independence movement.

Colonial Church

Although many Spanish friars protested abuses by the Spanish government and military they themselves have commited many abuses. Many Filipinos were enraged when Friars blocked the ascent of highly trained Filipino clergy in the Catholic Church hierarchy. Vast lands were claimed as friar estates from landless farmers. There were also sexual abuses. Anak ni Padre Damaso (Child of Father Damaso) has become a cliché or stereotype to refer to an illegitimate child, especially that of a priest. The matyrdom of Fr. Jose Burgos, Fr. Zammora, and Fr. Gomez is said to indirectly have ignited the Philippine revolution and had a profound effect on Dr. Jose Rizal.

Gregorio Aglipay

Gregorio Aglipay was an activist priest from Ilocos Norte that, despite his intercession and defense of the Spanish clergy from revolutionaries, was excommunicated by the Vatican for inciting rebellion within the Filipino clergy. During the brief interlude between independence from the Spanish and the subsequent reoccupation by the Americans, Isabelo de los Reyes and Aglipay reformed the Filipino Catholic clergy into the Philippine Independent Church, officially established in 1902. The new church rejected the spiritual authority of the pope and abolished the celibacy requirement from its clergy, allowing marriage among its priests.

Factionalism and Current state

Winning large numbers of adherents in its early years because of its nationalist roots, Aglipayan numbers decreased due to factionalism and doctrinal disagreements. Some factions formally joined other denominations including the Episcopal Church and the American Unitarians.

Today, the Philippine Independent Church are affiliated with the Old Catholics and the Anglican Communion. Aglipayans number around one to three million, mostly in the Ilocos Region.