Bishop Moises F. Buzon Memorial Church

In 1904 a group formed Ang Kapisanang Katotohanan The Society of Truth. Moises Buzon was a member. They wanted faster evangelism. They felt the American support was lacking. Members gave one peso monthly to fund missionaries. They sent Valeriano Villanueva to Bulacan and Nicolas Fajardo to San Miguel Bulacan. The society urged members to leave the Tondo church. This caused trouble. Nicolas Zamora a respected Methodist preacher was transferred to bring peace. He was the first Protestant minister in the Philippines. His father Paulino was also a preacher. His granduncle was Father Jacinto Zamora one of the Gomburza priests. Zamora fought in the revolution. He secretly read the Bible. He became a preacher interpreting for Arthur Prautch. Bishop James Thoburn ordained him deacon. He preached to 12000 people. He was ordained elder. He was loyal to Methodism. In Tondo church membership grew from 500 to 700 under him. The Society was reactivated in 1908. Zamora aligned with them. They wanted autonomy for the Philippine Church. On February 20 1909 Zamora met with Buzon and others. They decided to form a new church. The name would be Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas. On February 28 1909 Zamora declared the new church. Around 1500 members left the Methodist Church. The Bishop Moises F Buzon Memorial Church is a testament to this history. It honors Buzon’s role in the creation of the Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippines. It stands as a symbol of Filipino faith and the struggle for religious independence. The church’s existence is a powerful reminder of a pivotal moment in Philippine religious history a moment of both division and unity. This humble building on Moriones Street in Tondo continues to serve as a place of worship and a living memorial. It keeps alive the legacy of Moises Buzon and the fight for autonomy. The Bishop Moises F Buzon Memorial Church is more than just a place of worship. It’s a living monument. It stands as a reminder of a struggle for independence. A testament to faith and perseverance.