Felix Manalo or Felix Ysagun?

Detractors of the INC, in their OPINION, says that Bro. Felix changed his surname intently from Ysagun to Manalo for his church. And many issues under this had been created.

But the question is,
IS THIS TRUE?


Lets start!

Firstly, we are not in denial that Bro. Felix's true surname is Ysagun and not Manalo, because the Father of Bro. Felix is Mariano Ysagun and his mother is Bonifacia Manalo, so it should be Felix M. Ysagun.

But what happened?

"(It was sometime after his mother’s death that he decided on his mother’s name over his father’s name. He grieved over the death of his mother for whom he had a great affection. Thus for sentimental reasons and for expressing his reverence, he adopted her name, Manalo.)"
source: wikipedia


"His great reverence for his mother made him drop his family name “Ysagun” for “Manalo” after her death and burial. "
source: National Historical Commission of the Philippines

It is when his mother died then he changed his surname from Ysagun to Manalo.


Recalling the events...

"In 1896, the year that the Philippine Revolution against Spain broke out, Mariano Ysagun died, leaving the 10 year old Felix and his younger sister, Praxedes Orphaned." (source: student631.tripod.com)

Bro. Felix is just 10 years old then when his father died, meaning to say, the alleged sulking of him to his father or that his father is bad or he is just a disrespectful son and so on were not TRUE.

"His family was poor that his father struggled to provide the needs of his family , took two jobs as a farm worker and fisherman while his mother nursed their children." (source: National Historical Commission of the Philippines)

About three years later, in 1899, his mother married again, this time to a widower, Clemente Mozo. She bore him five children but only two survived: Fausta and Baldomero. Mozo himself died two months before Baldomeros birth. His death forced the twice-widowed Aling Pacia to find work in a small sawali (woven bamboo strips) factory. (source: student631.tripod.com)

They are indeed poor, meaning to say, when his father died, it is his mother who took the responsibility of his father for them to live. She was remarried but his second husband died two months before their 2nd child was born. Meaning, her mother then is responsible to feed 2 (Felix and younger sister) plus, 2 (Fausta and Baldomero) plus, herself equals 5. Therefore, his mother made big efforts for them to live.

Another,

"Next, he joined the Iglesia Metodista Episcopal, and soon became a pastor in Manila. With his quick mind and profound passion to learn, he became an asset to the Methodists. Later, while engaged In missionary work, he learned that his mother was dying and raced home to Tipas to be by her side. He rejected the last sacrament for her. When she died, the parish priest denied her burial in the Tipas Catholic cemetery, and had to be buried in the Aglipayan cemetery.

Not long afterwards, he adopted his mothers surname, Manalo, as an expression, according to his sister Fausta, of affection and great reverence for his mother." (source: student631.tripod.com)

Bro. Felix was 18 years old+ when his mother died, as what stated:

"In 1904 after witnessing a debate between a Roman catholic priest and a Protestant minister on the use of images, he joined the Methodist Episcopalian Church, attended their Seminary and became a pastor. Iglesia puts it this way "He found that the arguments of the Protestant minister' seemed nearer to the biblical truth, than the pointless rambling of the priest. (GOD'S MESSAGE 1 July - September 1994)

Manalo's studies were interrupted by the death of his mother,..."(source: letusreason.org)

As what her mother experienced on doing efforts for them to live, and a situation where her mother was denied in her burial in a Catholic Cemetery, do you think this is not enough for Bro. Felix feel so sad with the dying of his mother? And for his decision to change his surname on honoring his mother as to her great sacrifices?


FACT: Bro. Felix was not a fortune teller, or that he predicted that he will be God's messenger (or he will establish his own church as what others alleged), that he needed to change his full name so that his name "Felix Manalo" would mean "Happy Victor"! and it is everyone's freedom if he/she will change his name, nickname, surname, middle name and so on as long it is legal!