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With the encouragement of that Unitarian, he founded a new Independent Catholic Church of the Philippines,* became its "Obispo Maximo" (Archbishop). Today, aged 75, in his black robe, his magenta sash, his huge gold crucifix, he rules a congregation of 3,000,000 souls, 400 churches, 2,000 chapels—a non-Roman church that, for all its catholicity, regards itself as first cousin to the Unitarians. Last week before Politician Quezon could reach home and before Patriot Aguinaldo could get his campaign under way, the "Obispo Maximo" stepped out to announce: "Aglipay-for-President."
Vice President John Nance Garner, Secretary of War Dern, Speaker of the House Byrns and other U. S. dignitaries are expected to witness the inauguration of the Philippine Commonwealth next Nov. 15. In a three-cornered contest between a politician, a patriot and a priest, the odds, in the Philippines as elsewhere, favor the politician. Nevertheless, official visitors to Manila next autumn cannot yet be sure what the occupation of the man they will greet as "Mr. President" will be.
*Known today as the Independent Phillippine Church.