Toribio Sabandija Quimada

Toribio Sabandija Quimada (April 27, 1917- May 23, 1988) was a Filipino religious leader and the founder of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines.

Biography Quimada was born in Cebu, At the time, the Catholic Church discouraged individual study of the Bible. In 1935, in response to the Great Depression, the family moved from Cebu to Nataban, San Carlos. Quimada and his family decided to convert to Protestantism in 1943.

Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines Quimada founded the Universalist Church of the Philippines (UCP) in 1954, in response to his expulsion from Iglesia Universal. The new church was joined by "several hundred members" of the nine congregations he had formerly served. The following year, he established contact with Carlton Fisher, an American Universalist, who helped Quimada with resources. On April 25, 1955, the UUCP was officially recognized by the Philippine government.

The Universalist Church of America sent Quimada aid to fund his education. He attended Calatrava Public High School for two years, and then entered Foundation University in Dumaguete after graduating.

The UCP's congregants were largely rural farmers, and as such the UCP worked for the interests of peasants and advocated for land reform, often contrary to the interests of government officials.

Death On May 23, 1988, Quimada was shot and killed in his home. Two other UUCP members attended in Quimada's stead. His daughter, Rebecca Quimada-Sienes, took over leadership of the UUCP.