Horseback-riding Early Filipino Pastor
Felipe Marquez was one of the first Filipino pastors to be ordained. When Nicholas Zamora became the first ordained elder, Felipe Marquez was ordained deacon.
Marquez started his work in Manila and moved to Gerona, Tarlac, as a traveling evangelist on horseback. Later in 1903, he was transferred to Dagupan, but served in in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, for one year, and then returned to the Northern District where he had twenty preaching places in Bautista, Alcala, Villasis, Rosales, Balungao, Umingan, San Quintin, Tayug, and San Nicolas. Marquez traveled on horseback, as did John Wesley, to cover his large circuit. He also managed to write articles and notices for the Philippine Christian Advocate, edited the Tagalog Mabuting Balita, and co-edited the Ilocano Naimbag a Damag until 1920.
While Marquez was busy with mission work, his wife, known as “Nanay Pastora,” was giving her time to junior league and Sunday school work among the youth and serving as spiritual adviser to them.
Taken from Methodism in the Philippines: A Century of Faith and Vision, ed. by Bishop Jose Gamboa, Jr., Gamaliel T. de Armas, Jr., Roela Victoria Rivera, and Sharon Paz C. Hechanova. (Manila: Philippines Central Conference of The United Methodist Church, 2003).
