Gaspar Ignacio de Guevara

Gaspar Ignacio de Guevara was a Filipino Catholic priest from Samar who was appointed as the curate of Juan Nepomuceno Church in Biliran in 1765. He was known for breaking away from the institutional Roman Catholic church and leading the Biliran religious revolt from 1765 until his death in 1774.

Early life Ignacio was born in Paranas, Samar. His surname, Ignacio, may have been given by the Jesuits as a tribute to their founder, Ignatius of Loyola. It is likely that the Jesuits recommended him for priesthood studies in Cebu. Ignacio was appointed as the curate of Juan Nepomuceno Church in Biliran in 1765. He also restored the pre-colonial belief on women babaylans as religious and prayer leaders.

Legacy

Ignacio's legacy allowed women to take on a dominant role as worship leaders in novena prayers for the dead and related religious rituals. His experiment in communal religion also inspired the messianic movement called dios-dios, which challenged the Spanish and American colonial rules. Believed to be built under the initiative of Ignacio, the watchtower was used to watch Biliran's coast for Moro raiders. It was built in 1765 and destroyed by fire in 1774.