a patch of tobacco land on which
young Gregorio worked. Together with his father, he was led to prison
at the age of sixteen for not having planted the obligatory minimum
of 4,000 plants (_vide_ p. 294). On his release he left field-work
and went to Manila, where he took his first lessons at the house
of a Philippine lawyer, Julian Carpio. Two years afterwards, whilst
working in a menial capacity, he attended the school of San Juan de
Letran. Through a poor relation he was recommended to the notice of
the Dominican friars, under whose patronage he entered Saint Thomas's
University, where he graduated in philosophy and arts. Then he returned
to his province, entered the seminary, and became a sub-deacon of the
diocese of Nueva Segovia. In 1889 he was ordained a priest in Manila,
Canon Sanchez Luna being his sponsor, and he said his first mass in the
church of Santa Cruz. Although the friars had frequently admonished
him for his liberal tendencies, he was appointed coadjutor curate
of several provincial parishes, and was acting in that capacity at
Victoria (Tarlac) when the rebellion of 1896 broke out. About that
time he received a warning from a native priest in another parish
that the Spaniards would certainly arrest him on suspicion of being
in sympathy with the rebels. In fear of his life he escaped to Manila,
where he found a staunch friend in Canon Sanchez Luna, who allowed him
to stay at his house on the pretext of illness. Canon Luna, who was a
Spaniard, obtained from Gov.-General Blanco papers in favour of Aglipay
to ensure his safety back to Victoria. Aglipay then left the capital,
making use of the safe-conduct pass to go straight to the rebel camp,
where, with the title of chaplain to General Tinio's forces, he was
present at several engagements and enjoyed the friendship of General
Emilio Aguinaldo. The Malolos Government appointed him Vicar-General,
and after the War of Independence broke out he assumed command of
a large body of insurgents in the mountain region of his native
province. In 1899 he proclaimed himself chief of the Philippine
Independent Church, whereupon the Archbishop publicly excommunicated
him. Later on he voluntarily presented himself to the military
authorities, and obtained pardon under the amnesty proclamation.

Dr. Mariano Sevilla and several other most enlightened Philippine
priests were in friendly relation with Aglipay for some time, but
eventually various circumstances contributed