On the 120th year of the Philippine Baptists
The first Baptist missionary to arrive in the Philippines was a young Ilonggo. On May 3, 1900, the 30-year-old Braulio Manikan, after several years in Barcelona, Spain, returned to spread his faith in Western Visayas – then in the midst of the Philippine-American War. Manikan carried the first Hiligaynon translation of the Gospel of Mark. He also brought Bible tracts, the translated Gospels and several Epistles ready for printing. With him was Swedish Eric Lund. (Laubach, The People of the Philippines, 1925)
A former Jesuit seminarian, Manikan went to Spain to study engineering. There, he became a Baptist. Later on, he shared how when he was 12 years old studying to be a priest, he read a smuggled Spanish Bible. It was given covertly to him by their former house helper who became a seafarer. The greatest book ever printed; the seaman told the young Manikan who was warned to hide it from the authorities. Reading it changed his life forever, Manikan said. (Lerrigo, God’s Dynamite, 1925)
Back in Panay almost 20 years after he secretly read the Bible, Manikan talked of it wherever he could. As Manikan was known in the area, spoke the language and respected by the locals as the “Padre Protestante,” the Baptists would spread quickly in Jaro, the whole Ilonggo region and nearby islands.
Foreign observers reported that the Baptists grew fast. They recorded a petition showing thousands of farmers and workers seeking to be Baptists. They also noted early on 2,000 to 3,000 joining – including former “pulahan” members. (Brown, New Era in the Philippines, 1903)
As many from Panay traded in the Jaro market, Manikan welcomed them in his house to stay a few days. He advised and helped them if he could. Gathered in groups, the visitors talked, sang, and prayed. Manikan preached into the late night. The Baptists slept on the floors. Many of them returned to their towns carrying the translated Gospels and starting small Bible gatherings. (Laubach, The People of the Philippines, 1925)
The Baptists established and dedicated in September 1900 the first Baptist Church in the Philippines, the “Jaro Evangelical Church.” Manikan preached – usually twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. Filled with hundreds of believers, many waited outside to listen. (Baptist Missionary Magazine, 1902)
The early Philippine Baptists translated the other Bible books and hymns into Hiligaynon. (Briggs, The Progressing Philippines, 1913) Seeking others who are capable, they convinced a war prisoner, Filipino Army Captain Fernando Salas, to help translate portions of the Bible in his prison cell. (Dean, Cross of Christ in Bolo Land, 1902)
As the Baptists grew, their ministry became more difficult. Manikan got dangerously sick with dengue in Capiz. Various groups threatened the Baptist leaders and ordered their assassination. Manikan was unharmed but his Bible co-translator, the aged schoolmaster, Mr. Mata was hacked to death by four men. (Laubach, Seven Thousand Emeralds, 1929)
Like their ancient lineage, the Filipino Baptists suffered. Visiting missionaries reported that many Baptist members were being named insurgents and then imprisoned or killed. Baptist farmers and workers were removed from the plantations where they served, kicked from their homes and threatened. (Brown,
New Era in the Philippines, 1903) They fled to the mountains, moved to other towns or created their own villages – including the Protestant Barrio of Calvario and one in Pototan, Iloilo. (Lerrigo, God’s Dynamite, 1925)
Amidst their quiet suffering, they collectively devoted themselves into helping others – even those who wronged them. During the early 1900s, they trained and meekly served the country as faithful workers, farmers, soldiers, teachers, doctors and other professionals. Then on, they built towns, dormitories, businesses, schools, universities and hospitals that served not only the people of Western Visayas but the whole country until today – 120 years after.
And the Philippine trail started with a forbidden Bible, smuggled by a nameless seaman into the hands of a 12-year-old Manikan more than a hundred years ago.