A Requiem Mass was held on October 10, 2024 (so-called Double Ten) at the Maria Clara Church in Sta. Cruz, Manila, to remember and honor the two distinguished leaders of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, the Delos Reyes father-son-tandem: Isabelo delos Reyes, Sr. (“Don Belong”) and Isabelo delos Reyes, Jr. (“Beluco”). The Rt. Rev. Vicente Salvador (“Buddy”) Ballesteros, DGMA bishop, led the concelebrated Mass; with the following at the altar: The Rev. Erahvilla Maga-Cabillas; and the newly-ordained priests, namely, the Rev. Frs. Jayson Joshua delos Reyes and Daniel Joseph Nillo. The DGMA clergy and the staff of the IFI Central Office were also present on this solemn occasion.
Don Belong passed away on October 10,1931; while his son, Beluco, succumbed to death while officiating in a wedding Mass on October 10, 1971. The remains of both father and son are buried in this portal, the so-called Maria Clara Church, an IFI heritage church and National Shrine as declared by the National Historical Commission.
The Rev. Fr. Jayson delos Reyes, a 5th generation Delos Reyes and a grandson of Bishop Gregorio delos Reyes (former diocesan overseer), who is a grandson of Don Belong, delivered the homily. An honor graduate of St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary and recently ordained to priesthood, he paid tribute to his two religious relatives for their legacy of patriotism, human rights, and ecumenism. He exhorted their spiritual and inspirational roles in leading the IFI to its present grandeur. Underscoring the lesson of forgiveness and love, derived from the lesson in the Gospel of Luke (7:37 ff), he stated, “If you love more, you forgive more; if you love less, you forgive less.”
Rev. Fr. Jayson emphasized the contribution of the “father-son tandem”, i.e., love of God and country. “They served not for themselves but for God and country; a love transcending time and passed on to the present generation – to us!”
The Rota of Ministers included the following: Lector – Rev. Fr. Severino Ismael II; 1st Reading – Rev. Sherryl Ann Bianson-Javier; 2nd Reading – Msgr. Emmanuel Ballesteros; Gradual Reading – Father Severino.
At the end of the Holy Mass, Bishop Buddy gave a brief message on the significance of this occasion giving tribute to the spirituality of the father-son tandem, “May we always remember, may we never forget.” He also pointed out that this portal contained the remains of both Don Belong and Beluco, as well as that of Jose Palma’s, writer of the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem (Julian Felipe as the musical composer). He recalled that the Maria Clara Church was the seat of power and authority of the Church, being the place where OM Beluco preferred to hold office despite the already established National Cathedral on Taft Ave, Ermita, Manila.
The former diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Gregorio delos Reyes, shared a few words about his family and extended his thanks for the annual celebration of this significant date.
To end this festivity, the attendees were treated to a packed lunch courtesy of DGMA.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
Isabelo delos Reyes, Sr., or Don Belong, was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur in 1864. A brilliant student, he graduated from Letran College and the University of Santo Tomas. He was a businessman, nationalist, journalist and propagandist, who owned and operated the first truly Filipino newspaper, “El Ilocano”. The power of his pen and his nationalist advocacy resulted in his imprisonment in Montjuich Castle in Barcelona during the Spanish regime. Likewise in the Philippines, his political activism landed him in and out of prison several times.
As a labor and human rights advocate, he organized the Union Obrera Democratica (a.k.a. U.O.D.), a conglomeration of labor and craft unions in the Philippines. It was through U.O.D. that the laborers fought for their labor and economic rights through the grassroots movements within the country. Gradually, they also orderly and slowly mobilized the sites of their community meetings into parishes and missions for the nationalist Church (IFI).
As a senator in the first Philippine Legislature under colonial rule, he fought for labor reforms and advocated for the granting of Philippine independence. A prolific writer, he also found time to translate the Bible (New Testament) into Ilocano, the first vernacular translation in the Philippines.
The founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), he led in the labor rally at the Centro de Bellas Artes on August 3, 1902, and proclaimed the establishment of a true nationalist Church independent from Spain and the Vatican (Rome). Inviting Father Gregorio Aglipay (then a Roman Catholic priest) to be its first Obispo Maximo (Supreme Bishop), together they instituted reforms within this nationalist Church, including clergy and liturgical reforms, and laity participation in governance, among others.
Isabelo delos Reyes, Jr., or Beluco, was the 3rd Obispo Maximo of the IFI and a close associate of Bishop Gregorio Aglipay. Rising from the clergy ranks, his wisdom guided the Church during one of its tumultuous periods when the issues of Catholicity doctrines and the Apostolic Succession caused varying levels of loyalty among the faithful within and outright criticisms from outside the Church. Upon his initiative, the gift of Apostolic Succession was bestowed on the three IFI bishops by the Protestant Episcopal Church (PECUSA) in 1947.
He earned the title of “Father of Philippine Ecumenism” due to his ecumenical endeavors that put the IFI on center stage, firstly, as being one of the founders of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and being elected as its first Chairman. Secondly, the IFI through his initiatives concluded the “Concordat” relationships with the Anglican Communion Churches and Old Catholic Churches of Europe. Also, the IFI’s membership in the World Council of Churches was attributed to him.
Obispo Maximo Beluco was instrumental in the pursuit of the first-ever Concordat of Full Communion between the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the PECUSA (now known as The Episcopal Church). Through this collaboration, the Joint Advisory Council was established, with members from both Churches, that initiated joint programs for the mutual enhanced relationships through special projects benefitting both Churches.
Through his initiatives, the IFI carved its niche in the local and international ecumenical circles, thus being recognized as the first Church in Asia and the Pacific to receive the title of “First Ecumenical Church” and OM Beluco as the “Father of Philippine Ecumenism.” For his indefatigable leadership efforts in overcoming the challenges and sustaining the survival of this beleaguered Church and his noteworthy contributions to the ecumenical world, he aptly earned the prestigious, “Canterbury Cross,” first-ever awarded to an Asian by the Anglican Canterbury Church during his time (1968).
TO DON BELONG AND OM BELUCO – GRATEFUL APPRECIATION FROM THE IFI! WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THE LORD!
Contributed by:
The Rev. Vicky Esguerra
