Felix Manalo Reaction Paper

Husin, Yaiza S.
J.D-1
Philosophy of Law
Reflection Paper: Felix Manalo Movie
During the Spanish Colonial Period, Christianity was introduced to Filipinos. By

accepting Roman Catholic as their faith, Filipinos worshiped Jesus Christ. The Catholic
Church was deeply involved in the association of bringing the Good News of Jesus into
every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine
power of the Gospel itself. At its essence are the proclamation of salvation in Jesus
Christ and the response of a person in faith, which are both works of the Spirit of God.
As a believer of Islamic Faith, we were taught to respect everyone’s human dignity

regardless of his or her faith. It made me realized that there is nothing wrong to learn
about other religion. I decided to watch the movie entitled “Felix Manalo” not just for the
sake of complying the requirements, but as well as to sincerely understand the Christian
Religion. The movie “Felix Manalo” depicts the Christian Doctrine and how was the
journey of Felix Manalo, the founder of the Church of Christ or better known as “Iglesia
ni Cristo”, one of the Christian Religion that I often heard.
Felix Manalo was born into a family who was a Roman Catholic devotee. He was
born during the Spanish Colonial Period wherein majority of the Filipinos were devoted
to Roman Catholic. Their beliefs, customs, and traditions were influenced by the
“Christian Doctrine”. There was no separation between the Church and State. They
were inseparable. Before the American Colonial Period, people strongly uphold the
teaching of Roman Catholic. But, the “Katipuneros “were against the Spaniards
preaching Catholicism since the friars were perceived to be cruel towards Filipinos, as
what Felix Manalo also believed upon reaching his teenager years. Those who were
against the Catholic Church were considered as heretic. Those heretics suffered from
inescapable torture and execution. They were deprived of their rights to defend
themselves, and it is a violation of one’s constitutional rights or even human rights.
Those heretics would not have been heretic if not because of the cruelty of the
Spaniards!
Felix Manalo’s immersing into different religions was indeed controversial. He was
deeply immersed with reading and understanding the Holy Bible. Even at a very young
age, he often asked questions to his uncle ,who was a priest , in regards to the
teachings of Bible. As he was growing, his desire to deeply understand the teachings of
Holy Bible became stronger. He was very keen and firm that he will not stay in a religion
that have practices which is contradicting or not included in the context and teachings
Holy Bible.
Upon studying the Holy Bible, he learned that worshiping saints were against the
teaching of Bible which led him to abandon the Catholic Faith and embrace
“Methodism”, which was introduced by the Americans during the American Colonial
Period. His family was against with his decision to renounce his belief in the Catholic
Church and embracing new faith, but it did not stop him from doing so. Even before the
death of his beloved mother, he even refused to his uncle to perform the last sacrament,
a Catholic Last Rites given to a dying person believing that dying person sins can be
absolved through this rite. Failure to perform this rite led to not having a burial in the
Catholic Cemetery. Because of that, his family even despised him.
Continuing to focus on the teachings of Bible, he learned that Jesus Christ was a
“son of God”, not the God himself. Believing that “Disciples of Christ” was close to the
teachings of the Bible, he accepted it as his new faith.
Indulged in further study of the Holy Bible, he learned that baptism should be
done my immersion, a ceremony in which individuals briefly go under water to
symbolically and publicly demonstrate “dying to an old life” and “beginning a new life” in
Jesus Christ. With that, he embraced the faith of Seventh Day Adventist. He even
became a preacher, spreading the teachings of Seventh Day Adventist for a couple of
years. Eventually, he noticed a red flag in one of the teachings of Seventh Day
Adventist. He discovered that avoiding secular work on a Sabath Day was not stated in
the Holy Bible and therefore, not in accordance with the teachings of Holy Bible. He
then decided to stop preaching the teachings of Seventh Day Adventist.
Upon further searching for the religion that brings closeness to the words of God, he
decided to spread what he have discovered to those people who were blindly following
an astray path and enlightened them that there’s no another religion that strictly upholds
the teachings of Holy Bible other than the Church of Christ, better known as “Iglesia ni
Cristo”. Impossible it may seem; he was able to convince some of his former co-
worshippers in his previous religions to accept the teachings of the Church of Christ. He
faced a lot of adversities in establishing his new faith.
As he continued establishing the teachings of Church of Christ, he was even labeled
as “nag Iiglesia-iglesia lamang” by his former co-pastors since “Iglesia ni Cristo” was not
duly registered under the Government. In order to protect the Church of Christ and the
followers, he realized that preaching without having the authority from the Government
will put them at par of discrimination. He seek a legal assistance from a Filipino Lawyer
and complied the needed requirements needed for the registration of “Iglesia ni Cristo”.
Finally, he was able to bring home the bacon. His hard work paid off! This is an
implication that the Government must not prohibit one from their establishing religion
and must not be endorsing any religion as it will inflict favoring one religion from other. ,
The faith of the followers of Iglesia ni Cristo was once more tested during the
Japanese Colonial Period. Worship gatherings were prohibited. Felix Manalo and his
co-pastors still held worship gatherings. I can clearly recall that scenario when Felix
Manalo still pursued preaching even the Japanese Military intruded their gathering. I
was so amazed in his resiliency even his life was at stake. He was indeed a brave soul!
But that was not the case in other worship gathering led by his co-pastors.
Unfortunately, some followers and pastors were killed. This is violating ones natural
rights, the freedom to practice ones religion. State must not interfere with church in
establishing their activities. The cruelty of Japanese towards Filipinos led to the
revolution against the Japanese Government. With the aid of the American, Filipinos
were finally free from the ruthlessness and viciousness of the Japanese.
This movie strongly emphasized that the Government has no right to prohibit the
establishment and practice of ones religion. The State shall not influence individual
religion and practices. In addition to that, I have this realization after watching the “Felix
Manalo” movie that it is somehow related to the pursuit of legal studies. In order to
further understand the context of law, we must grasp the meaning behind the context.
Like what Felix Manalo did, he immersed himself from different religions in order to find
his true religion. As a future advocate of justice, I must be actively engaged with the
study of law for me to be able to help those marginalized and underrepresented. With
determination, hard-work, resiliency, and God’s guidance, someday I will be able to
bring home the bacon just like Felix Manalo.

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Husin, Yaiza S.

Reflection Paper: Felix Manalo Movie

During the Spanish Colonial Period, Christianity was introduced to Filipinos. By

As a believer of Islamic Faith, we were taught to respect everyone’s human dignity

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