Biography of Bro. Erano G. Manalo

Bro. Erano G. Manalo

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Born on January 2, 1925 to Brother Felix Y. Manalo, the messenger of God in these last days, and Sister Honorata de Guzman-Manalo, Bro. Erano G. Manalo was their fifth child and their third son.

Each of Bro. Felix’s children had a special significance to their name. For Bro. Erano, who was born after New Year’s day, his name was a play on words “new era”. His name was a first to its kind and eventually became unique to children who were named after him by parents who are members of the Iglesia nI Cristo, especially if the child was also born on the 2^nd of January. His older siblings were Sister Pilar and Avelina, and Bro. Dominador and Salvador. His youngest sibling is Bro. Bienvenido.

As a young boy, Bro. Erano loved to read with his father, and hence was introduced to the Holy Bible at an early age. This love of reading and of knowledge was something he would carry with him as he grew older. He received elementary education in San Juan, Metro Manila, starting school at six years of age. He also completed high school at the same institution.

Once, Bro. Erano aspired to become a lawyer, and entered a university in Manila to pursue his studies. However, he ultimately sacrificed that dream to join the ministry, and was ordained a minister of the gospel at the age of 22, by Bro. Felix himself, on the 10^th of May, 1947. Bro. Felix Manalo had trained Bro. Erano as a public speaker and debater, once introducing him before a bible exposition saying, “Ang susunod na magsasalita ay mas mahusay pa sa akin (The one who will speak after me is more skilled than I am.)”.

Even after Bro. Felix Manalo passed away, Bro. Erano, his mother and his siblings remained very close. Not only did they dearly love Bro. Erano as family, but furthermore greatly honored calling passed on to him by Bro. Felix. They sought his advice and consulted him for guidance especially in matters concerning the church.

Bro. Erano G. Manalo married Sister Cristina A. Villanueva on the 17^th of January, 1955. They had six children, Bro. Eduardo, Sister Lolita, Erlinda, and Liberty, and Bro. Felix Nathaniel II and Marco Erano. Bro. Erano’s nurturing and loving nature was clearly felt by each member of his family, down to his children-in-law and every single grandchild. He knew each one very well, imparting lessons and values to them both directly and indirectly. Bro. Erano’s surviving family are firmly convinced it is God’s blessing that they were among those able to witness first-hand how guided the Executive Minister was by our Almighty God in his actions and decisions.

Ministry and Legacy

On the 18^th of January, 1953, Bro. Felix Manalo called a meeting of INC District Ministers (Then also called Division Ministers). Bro. Erano then the Church General treasurer, was elected Bro. Felix eventual successor to the office of Executive Minister. He also was appointed District Minister of Manila a few years prior to the passing of Bro. Felix Manalo on the 12^th of April, 1963. After the interment eleven days later, Bro. Erano G. Manalo assumed the duty of Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni cristo.

Throughout the 46 years of Bro. Erano G. Manalo’s leadership, the INC saw the membership continuously grow in number, the proliferation of its houses of worship, and its expansion in six continents of the globe. The Executive Minister built on the own legacy of Bro. Felix by formalizing the education of ministerial students and continuing to refine church procedures as the number of brethren flourished. Under the same divine guidance, he wrote not only lectures and worship services but also books. Among these were the compilation of lessons taught to bible students regarding fundamental beliefs of the church. He also wrote the official ceremony for marriage in the INC, first implemented on the wedding day of his eldest son, Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo. The executive Minister also wrote “And mabuting kawal ni Cristo”, a guide with biblical verses intended for ministers of the Gospel and “Ang Salita ng Diyos: Ang tanging Lunas”, for the edification of church members—these two books were made into audio CD’s with verse reading and original hymns, in 2003. He was the inspirational force behind the Church administration’s projects utilizing technology in reaching out to members and nonmembers alike.

But then on the 31^st of August, 2009, National Heroes Day in the Philippines, Bro. Erano passed away at the age of 84. Despite the grief that we, brethren in the Church of Christ, it is indeed a fitting date to remember, since to all of us, he is more than a hero. Bro. Erano dedicated his long and blessed life to carrying on the divine mission of the messenger of God in these last days, caring for the entire Iglesia ni Cristo in serving our Almighty God.

Pasugo Sep 2009 Issue