Philippine Independent Church
The Philippine Independent Church is an independent Christian denomination, in the form of a nationalist church, in the Philippines. Its schism from the Roman Catholic Church was proclaimed during the American colonial period in 1902, following the end of the Philippine–American War, by members of the Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina due to the pronounced mistreatment towards the Filipinos by Spanish priests, and partly influenced by the unjust executions of José Rizal and Filipino priests and prominent secularization movement figures Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, during earlier Spanish colonial rule wherein Roman Catholicism was the state religion in the country at the time.
The National Cathedral of the Holy Child located along Taft Avenue in Ermita, Manila
Official flag of the IFI
Gregorio Aglipay in his middle age as supreme bishop
President Emilio Aguinaldo and Supreme Bishop Gregorio Aglipay (seated, second and third from left respectively), with some Cabinet officials of the First Philippine Republic, December 1904.
Secularization movement in the Philippines
The secularization movement in the Philippines under Spanish colonial administration from the 18th to late 19th century advocated for greater rights for native Filipino Catholic clergymen. The movement had significant implications to Filipino nationalism and the Philippine Revolution.
The Gomburza were lead figures of the secularization movement in its later years.
Ecclesiastical status of the Archdiocese of Manila, 1818
Gomburza grave in Paco Park.