Anglican Communion News Service

The Episcopal Diocese of Santiago (EDS) recently elected the Rev. Alexander A. Wandag, Sr. during the diocese's primary convention. Fr. Wandag will serve as the first diocesan bishop of the ECP's newest constituent diocese. Considered to be the quickest and most orderly episcopate election in ECP history, the actual voting ended on the first balloting, lasting less than 25 minutes.

Voting took place on the second day of the special convention, held on November 7-10, 2000 at the Banaue Resort Hotel, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. As noted by several observers, the whole election process (from the nominations to the subsequent campaign and voting) was not significantly tainted by the usual 'politicking' that characterizes local elections in the Philippines - secular or otherwise. Credit for this goes to Bishop Edward Malecdan, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Diocese from which the EDS was carved out, who shepherded the process. The Nominations Committee, the Election Committee, the voters, the candidates and their supporters also share the credit for this.

Needing a simple majority in both houses (clergy and lay delegates, voting separately as a group) to win, Fr. Wandag garnered 14 out of 23 votes from the former and 36 out of 62 from the latter. He bested the Rev. Alfonso Camiwet. Before the vote, Fr. Alex and Fr. Pons manifested that the outcome of the election will not in any way disrupt their teamwork and their relationship as upcoming leaders of the new diocese. They have been known to work harmoniously with each other as pastors and priest-managers while serving in the Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP), the parent diocese in which they were canonically resident before EDS was born.

The new episcopal jurisdiction under the Church Province of the ECP was initially named EDNEL (Episcopal Diocese of North Eastern Luzon). In early 1999, the EDNP's Diocesan Convention passed a resolution proposing the division of the diocese. In consonance with the processes prescribed by the ECP Constitution and Canons, the ECP's highest decision-making body - the Regular Synod - subsequently approved the formation of the new diocese, including its territorial coverage. The Diocesan Center, with the Diocesan Office building still under construction, is located in the barrio of Divisoria, Santiago City, Isabela Province.

Fr. Alex expects to be consecrated Bishop of the Episcopal Church and officially installed as Diocesan Bishop of EDS in mid-April 2001 at the earliest. By that time the consent of the majority of the Standing Committees of the constituent Dioceses as well as the consent of the majority of Bishops having jurisdiction in the Church Province of the ECP will have been obtained or given, God willing.

The updated biographical sketch of Fr. Alex, a young Igorot priest and an iMaducayan named 'Tikor' in his native tongue (after one his ancestors), includes the following:

• Born: 24 April '55 @ Saliok, Natonin, Mountain Province
• Married: 3 May '81 to Grace Maslang Ayeona, a nurse by profession
• Parents: James Ayochok Wandag [R.I.P] and Adelina Arsay
• Children: James, Ferrari, Alex Jr., Franc Harris, Maria Adelina
• Grandchildren: two boys
• Siblings: Fr. Alex is the 5th of 8
• Education: Associate in Arts 76, Trinity College of Quezon City, Bachelor of Theology '80, St. Andrew's Theological Seminary, Masters in Divinity '90, SATS
• Ordained: Deacon, 02 May 83; Priest, 09 Apr 84
• Served: Assistant, St. Alfred's Mission, Besao, Mt. Province 80-81; Assistant, St. Thomas Parish, Tabuk, Kalinga 81-82; Assistant to the Rector, St. Mary the Virgin Parish, Sagada, Mt. Province 82-83; Chaplain, St. Mary's School and St. Theodore's Hospital, Sagada, 83-84; Rector, SMV Parish, 84-97; Manager, St. Joseph's Inn, Sagada; Vicar, St.James Aided Parish, Dinapigue, Isabela Province 97-2000.