BOCAUE: As many as two million people gathered in the Philippine capital on Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of a powerful homegrown church, showcasing the conservative group’s discipline and influence.

Some of the faithful waited overnight in the pouring Manila rain to attend the centennial celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), in an event designed to show off the religion’s stunning success at home and abroad.

Government officials monitoring the gathering estimated that 1.6 to two million people gathered for the INC centennial, packing out a massive new arena built to mark the occasion and the nearby 20,000-seat Philippine Stadium, as well as huge tents erected on the grounds for the event.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014