ECP Through The Years In Brief

National Board Oath taking. Photo Credit-Ms. Vilma Flauta

Date	Event
1871	The Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) at its General Convention in Baltimore, USA authorized their Board of Missions to organize a Women’s Auxiliary (WA) to assist the Church in her missionary works overseas.
1898	End of the Spanish-American War in the Philippines and the American Occupation Forces Chaplain Charles Pierce conducted the very first Episcopal Service in the Philippines and the English-speaking residents.
1901	The Episcopal Church in the United Stated of America (ECUSA) at its 40th General Convention in San Francisco created the Missionary District of the Philippine Islands and the Rt. Rev. Charles Henry Brent was elected as the first Missionary Bishop to formalize the work in the country.
September 27, 1903	Twenty five (25) American and British women gathers at the home of Mrs. Mary Ferguson at 62 Calle Real, Ermita, Manila to formally organize the women’s work in the islands with Mrs. Ferguson as the first President. The Women’s Auxiliary (WA) of the Missionary District of the Philippine Islands was born!
May 16-19, 1950	The WA under the leadership of Mrs. Alfaretta Wilner was reestablished after the uncertainties of World War II with the very first Annual Convention of the WA. Held at the Church of the Resurrection in Baguio City and involving 25 women-delegates from various registered “branches” in the country- Americans, British, Chinese, and Filipinos from north to south of the country-this first convention marked the shift of leadership from the foreign missionary leaders to the election of a Filipino leader. Mrs. Maria A. Dangwa was the first President of a multi-national WA Board of Officers.
1962	At an ECUSA WA Triennial Convention, the organization’s name “The Women’s Auxiliary to the Philippines Episcopal Church” was changed to “The Episcopal Church Women of the Philippines” or simply The ECW.
1971	Geographical division of the Philippine Episcopal Church into three dioceses: EDSP, EDCP, and EDNP. Likewise, a parallel geographical division took place within the ECW organization: the EDSP-ECW with 6 chapters, the EDCP ECW with 28 chapters, and the EDNP ECW with 30 chapters.
1972	At the annual ECW convention held at Easter School, Baguio City, a National ECW Executive Board was created “to oversee and coordinate over-all programs of the ECW as implemented in the various dioceses” and Mrs. Elizabeth Araneta of EDCP was the first elected National President. The fist Diocesan Presidents were elected: Mrs. Dolores Laconico for EDSP, Mrs. Esther Sagalla for EDCP, and Mrs Andrea Bondad for EDNP.
1986	The diocese of EDNP gave birth to the Diocese of Northern Luzon (EDNL) – hence the EDNL-ECW as well with Mrs. Asuncion Dulawon as the first President.
1989	Worldwide recognition of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines as an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. A division of the growing EDCP gave rise to the Episcopal Diocese of North Central Philippines (EDNCP). The EDNCP-ECW with Mrs. Ursula Daoey as its first President was accepted at the May 1990 ECW Triennial Convention. A nationwide Leadership and Development Program for the ECW was successfully sustained through the ‘80’s and 90’s with the assistance of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines National Development Office under Mr. Danny Ocampo and the Church of Sweden. Leadership skills, livelihood opportunities and strategies, health and gender orientation matters, community cooperatives, and growth in evangelism formed the core of this development program.
1990	The Metro See ECW was established with the women of the St. Andrew’s Seminary and the women of the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. John at the Metro See in Quezon City, Metro Manila. In 1996, however, the Metro See Jurisdiction was dissolved during the ECP Synod.
2002	The Episcopal Diocese of Santiago (EDS) EDW was created with Mrs. Alice Camiwet as its first President.
2003	The ECW celebrated its Centennial year; it was a National ECW activity under the Presidency of Dr. Soledad Cutiyog and with the participation of the various Diocesan ECW and with ECW guests from ECUSA. Highlight of the celebration were the following: 1. A Concelebrated Centennial mass with the ECP Prime Bishop Ignacio Soliba and almost all the ECP Bishops 2. The launching of the Philippines based and autonomous Pasasalamat program (in lieu of the United Thank Offering-UTO-Program) and with the distribution of the Pasasalamat service manual to all in attendance and to all dioceses. 3. The launching of the firs-ever-published ECW in the Philippines history book 4. The planting of a Centennial tree- a Magnolia Tree- at the Cathedral of the Resurrection compound in Baguio City, the site of the ECW Centennial Celebration.
2008	By virtue of a resolution at Synod, the National ECW Representative at every ECP General Synod was finally granted Seat, Voice, and VOTE!
2014	The Episcopal Diocese of Davao (EDD) ECW was organized with Ms. Vilma Nitura as the first President.
2017	This manual is finally written.

As of this date of publication (April 2007), there are 7 Diocesan ECW bodies: EDSP, EDD, EDCP, EDNCP, EDNP, EDNL and EDS. All throughout the country there is an approximate total of 297 ECW chapters.