FELIX Y. MANALO: WHY HE CHANGED HIS NAME

Brother Felix Y. Manalo was born Felix Manalo Ysagun. his father was Mariano Ysagun and his mother was Bonifacia Manalo. Itwas in 1905 when Brother Felix changed his name to Felix Y. Manalo after the death of his mother.

The Changed of Name was Made in 1905

According to Kavanagh, a Catholic priest, the people of Tipas insist that the changed was made when he started his preaching of the Iglesia ni Cristo (in 1914). However, records shows that it was in 1905 when he started to used the name Felix Y. Manalo. After the death of his mother, he stayed for a while in Tipas to be with his brother (Baldomero) and sisters (Praxedes and Fausta). When he went back to Manila he enrolled at Ellinwood Bible Seminary with the name "Felix Y. Manalo." In 1909, when he entered the Christian Mission (Disciples of Christ), he was known as "Felix Y. Manalo."  in a newspaper of the said society published in 1909, it metioned the name "Felix Y. Manalo." When he married Tomasa Sereneo, his wife's name was changed to Tomasa Manalo. In 1911, when the first congregation of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the Philippines was established, the list of its members included Felix Y. Manalo and Tomasa S. Manalo.

Since 1905, Brother Felix went back to Tipas only in 1914. Thus, it was only then that the people in Tipas learned that Felix was now using his mother's surname.

The Reasons Why He Cahnged His Name to "Felix Y. Manalo"

The PASUGO tells us that Brother Felix changed his name to "Felix Y. Manalo" because of his great love and affection for his mother. That he grieved his mother's death so much he decided to used his mother's surname. However, there was another reason why he changed his durname - he and his siblings wanted to have only one surname. Yes! It was not only Brother Felix Y. Manalo that changed his surname, but also his brother and sisters. The four siblings have different surnames -  Felix and Praxedes were using "Ysagun" and Baldomero and Fausta were using "Mozo." The father of Felix and Praxedes was Mariano Ysagun, while the father of Baldomero and Fausta was Clemente Mozo. Their mother married twice. So, it is unlikely that Felix and Praxdedes use "Mozo" becuase they are not "Mozos," and it is unlikely that Baldomero and Fausta use "Ysagun" because they are not "Ysaguns." Thus, "Manalo" is the most logical and practical because they are all "Manalos." Brother Felix's siblings indeed used the surname "Manalo." Their records and families attested to this.

His name is "Felix Y. Manalo" and not "Felix M. Ysagun"

Not because he was born "Felix Manalo Ysagun," he must be called "Felix Ysagun" and not "Felix Manalo." If so, the Philippine national hero must also be called "Jose Alonzo Mercado" and not "Jose Protacio Rizal" because he was born "Jose Alonzo Mercado." If "Jose P. Rizal" is the legal name of our national hero, even though he was born "Jose Alonzo Mercado," thus, "Felix Manalo" must also be accepted as the legal name of brother Felix even though he was born "Felix Ysagun."

If they insist that "Brother Felix must be called "Felix Ysagun" and not "Felix Manalo" because his father was "Mariano Ysagun," they must also insist that the Philippine national hero must be called "Jose Mercado" and not "Jose Rizal" because his father was Francisco Mercado.

Changing your name is not wrong and it is not going against your parents. Take note that the mother of the Philippine national hero was "Teodora Realonda Alonzo," and his father was "Francisco Protacio Mercado," while his name is "Jose Protacio Rizal."

Changing name is not against the Bible: Apostle Paul was first called "Saul"; Abraham was first called "Abram"; and Israel was first called "Jacob."