Aglipay, Gregorio

Aglipay, Gregorio (grāgō`rēō äglēpī`), 1860–1940, Philippine clergyman. A priest who joined the revolutionary forces of Emilio Aguinaldo, he was excommunicated (1902). He took his followers from the Roman Catholic Church to found the Philippine Independent Church. Bishop Aglipay attracted many followers, said to number more than 1 million. His church, which retained many of the forms of the Roman Catholic Church, discarded confession and celibacy for the priesthood. Later it established friendly relations with the Unitarians. After Aglipay's death dissension shook the organization. In 1961, however, full communion was established between the Philippine Independent Church and the American Episcopal Church. Aglipay was defeated by Manuel Quezon in the presidential election of 1935.