Gregorio Labayan Aglipay (May 5, 1860 – September 1, 1940) was the first Filipino Supreme Bishop

Obispo Maximo

The Obíspo Máximo is the leader or primate of the Iglésia Filipína Independiénte , known informally as Aglipayans. The Supreme Bishop is selected by the General Assembly of the Church and he heads the Executive Commission, assisted by bishops...

 of the Philippine Independent Church

Philippine Independent Church

The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, (officially the or the IFI, also known as the Philippine Independent Catholic Church or in Ilocano: Siwawayawaya nga Simbaan ti Filipinas (in in Kinaray-a/Hiligaynon: Simbahan Hilway nga...

.
Born in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Aglipay was an orphan who grew up in the tobacco fields in the last volatile decades of the Spanish

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 occupation of the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

. He bore deep grievances against the colonial government, stemming from abuses within the agricultural system and the radical ecclesiastical reforms he championed.

Arrested at fourteen for not meeting his tobacco quota, he later moved to Manila

Manila

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...

 to study law under the private tutelage of Julian Carpio.