Senate resolution honors Bro. Eraño Manalo

September 7, 2009 declared a non-working holiday by the palace

Filipinos are mournning yet again another great leader be it a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo or part of the Roman Catholic majority. Last Aug. 31, 2009, it was announced over DZBB and Net 25, by INC spokesperson Bienvenido Santiago that Bro. Erdy Manalo has passed away due to cardiopulmonary arrest:

“We regret to announce to the whole Church and to the whole nation that the Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo, our brother Eraño G. Manalo, has been laid to rest by God. He passed away at his home at 3:53 yesterday afternoon, August 31, 2009 at the age of 84.”

The INC has yet to announce his  successor, but it is believed that his son Eduardo V. Manalo might take over.

His remains will be buried on September 7, 2009 (Monday) at 12:00 noon GMT +8. Incidentally, said date was also declared as a non-working holiday by the palace and all flags will be at half-mast.

* Eraño de Guzman Manalo (January 2, 1925 – August 31, 2009),  or “Ka Erdy”, was the Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo from 1963 until 2009. He was the fifth child of Felix Y. Manalo and Honorata de Guzman.

Ka Erdy left law school to become a minister of the INC and took over when his father, Felix Manalo, died in 1963. He previously held office as the General Treasurer of the church, and as a District Minister of Manila.

On January 17, 1955, Eraño Manalo wed Cristina Villanueva and bore six children (Eduardo, Felix Nathaniel, Marco, Lolita, Erlinda and Liberty). In 1953, Ka Erdy was elected successor to his father as Executive Minister. As of 2005^[update] his son Eduardo is INC’s Deputy Executive Minister.

*Condolences to Ka Erdy’s family as well as to the Iglesia Ni Cristo community.