INC leader to be laid to rest Monday
JOHANNA CAMILLE L. SISANTE, GMANews.TV
09/04/2009 | 07:44 PM
Executive Minister Eraño "Ka Erdy" Manalo, the Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) supreme leader who passed away last Monday, will be laid to rest on Sept. 7.
Manalo will interred at the Tabernacle near the church group's Central Temple along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
In a statement, INC spokesperson Bienvenido Santiago said Manalo will be laid to rest at the Tabernacle while awaiting the construction of a mausoleum where his remains will eventually be transferred.
"The said mausoleum will be built near the monument of the late (INC founder) Brother Felix Manalo, also within the grounds of the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Complex, " read the statement.
Malacañang said flags in government offices or institutions will be flown at half-mast on that day to show respect for the spiritual leader, who passed away on August 31 at the age of 84. Manalo died of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Manalo passed away at 3:53 p.m. Monday at his home due to cardiopulmonary arrest.
He took over the administration of the church after the death of his father, Bro. Felix Manalo, in 1963.
Congress adjourned session earlier than usual on Tuesday night in deference to Manalo's death. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives also approved resolutions extolling the religious leader.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo paid her last respects to Manalo Wednesday night .
Ka Erdy, as the INC leader is fondly called by his flock, was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo's fifth child.
According to Wikipedia, Ka Erdy was ordained minister at the age of 22, during which he held various positions in the church including being the general treasurer of the INC and circulation manager of the Pasugo magazine (now known as God's Message). During this time, he wrote a 64-page booklet entitled Christ-God: Investigated-False.
He married Cristina Villanueva with whom he has six children: Eduardo, Felix Nathaniel, Marco, Lolita, Erlinda and Liberty. In 1953, ten years before his father's death, he was elected successor to his father as executive minister.
The INC has yet to announce his successor.
In his 43 years as leader of the INC, Ka Erdy was instrumental in the propagation and expansion of the church whose membership has been estimated at eight million members all over the Philippine archipelago, and has churches in over 60 countries.
The INC, described by some as a highly secretive organization, is known for voting as a bloc during Philippine elections, thus attracting politicians to seek its endorsement.
The INC's influence on state affairs can be traced back to its founding in 1914, when Manuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth president and a Mason, cultivated a relationship with the then-obscure church as a foil to the Roman Catholic church. Its sway reached a new peak during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, who rarely failed to attend important INC events, including "Ka Erdy" Manalo's birthday.
It is widely known that the INC's power lies in the tagubilin emanating from Manalo and other church leaders, orders that cannot be disputed by members and can be used to command voting blocs around the country.
While Manalo often used his power to support certain candidates in the past - aside from Marcos and Estrada, he also backed Eduardo Cojuangco in 1992 - he famously wielded his clout during the EDSA Tres demonstrations that reached the gates of Malacañang, arguably still the most serious threat the Arroyo administration has faced. Three out of four of the demonstrators were reportedly INC members.
But President Arroyo eventually won Manalo to her side. When she ran in 2004, the Iglesia ni Cristo threw its support behind her. Pollster Mahar Mangahas told GMANews.TV that he estimates that the INC actually can command only about 75 percent of its members to vote for a particular candidate. But in a closely fought contest, that could mean the decisive margin of victory. - GMANews.TV
Manalo will interred at the Tabernacle near the church group's Central Temple along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
In a statement, INC spokesperson Bienvenido Santiago said Manalo will be laid to rest at the Tabernacle while awaiting the construction of a mausoleum where his remains will eventually be transferred.
"The said mausoleum will be built near the monument of the late (INC founder) Brother Felix Manalo, also within the grounds of the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Complex, " read the statement.
Malacañang said flags in government offices or institutions will be flown at half-mast on that day to show respect for the spiritual leader, who passed away on August 31 at the age of 84. Manalo died of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Manalo passed away at 3:53 p.m. Monday at his home due to cardiopulmonary arrest.
He took over the administration of the church after the death of his father, Bro. Felix Manalo, in 1963.
Congress adjourned session earlier than usual on Tuesday night in deference to Manalo's death. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives also approved resolutions extolling the religious leader.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo paid her last respects to Manalo Wednesday night .
Ka Erdy, as the INC leader is fondly called by his flock, was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo's fifth child.
According to Wikipedia, Ka Erdy was ordained minister at the age of 22, during which he held various positions in the church including being the general treasurer of the INC and circulation manager of the Pasugo magazine (now known as God's Message). During this time, he wrote a 64-page booklet entitled Christ-God: Investigated-False.
He married Cristina Villanueva with whom he has six children: Eduardo, Felix Nathaniel, Marco, Lolita, Erlinda and Liberty. In 1953, ten years before his father's death, he was elected successor to his father as executive minister.
The INC has yet to announce his successor.
In his 43 years as leader of the INC, Ka Erdy was instrumental in the propagation and expansion of the church whose membership has been estimated at eight million members all over the Philippine archipelago, and has churches in over 60 countries.
The INC, described by some as a highly secretive organization, is known for voting as a bloc during Philippine elections, thus attracting politicians to seek its endorsement.
The INC's influence on state affairs can be traced back to its founding in 1914, when Manuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth president and a Mason, cultivated a relationship with the then-obscure church as a foil to the Roman Catholic church. Its sway reached a new peak during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, who rarely failed to attend important INC events, including "Ka Erdy" Manalo's birthday.
It is widely known that the INC's power lies in the tagubilin emanating from Manalo and other church leaders, orders that cannot be disputed by members and can be used to command voting blocs around the country.
While Manalo often used his power to support certain candidates in the past - aside from Marcos and Estrada, he also backed Eduardo Cojuangco in 1992 - he famously wielded his clout during the EDSA Tres demonstrations that reached the gates of Malacañang, arguably still the most serious threat the Arroyo administration has faced. Three out of four of the demonstrators were reportedly INC members.
But President Arroyo eventually won Manalo to her side. When she ran in 2004, the Iglesia ni Cristo threw its support behind her. Pollster Mahar Mangahas told GMANews.TV that he estimates that the INC actually can command only about 75 percent of its members to vote for a particular candidate. But in a closely fought contest, that could mean the decisive margin of victory. - GMANews.TV
