Hagonoeño Bishop died at age 92; buried at San Pablo Diocese

KAKATHA News Events 2012

Dated: November 26, 2012

SAN PABLO CITY - Last November 20, 2012, Hagonoy's last living bishop as of this era has been received by the Father in heaven. The Most Rev. Pedro Natividad Bantigue, D.D., Bishop of Emeritus of the Diocese of San Pablo and President Emeritus of the Kapatiran ng Kapariang Taga-Hagonoy, Inc. (KAKATHA) died at the age of 93, making him then the oldest bishop in the country. 

     He was a great helper of the people and of his brother priests through his efforts to guide them. As a priest, he became pastor of three parishes, the third being the famous Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. He private secretary of three Archbishops of Manila, the third being His Eminence Rufino J. Cardinal Santos, D.D., the prelate who ordained him bishop. As Auxiliary Bishop of Manila he was the pride of the town of Hagonoy and became an efficient administrator for the Archdiocese. Due to his expertise in Canon Law, he became a Filipino delegate together with the Most. Rev. Manuel P. del Rosario, D.D., first bishop of Malolos to the Second Vatican Council (1962 - 1965) which dealt on the reforms for the Church in the Modern World. Later in 1967, he was appointed as the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna. 

    As first bishop of San Pablo, he established institutions and invited congregations to flourish in the Diocese. He was able to nourish the clergy by building a seminary that has a theologate. He was bishop of San Pablo for 28 years, retiring in 1995. Even after retirement, he is still an active member of the clergy and stayed with the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus in their convent at San Antonio in San Pablo city. Last November he was sent to the hospital due to sickness brought by old age. He died on November 20, according to San Pablo Diocese Vicar General Msgr. Melchor Barcenas said, "His Excellency surrendered himself totally to God after suffering from obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, pneumonia, acute renal failure on top of chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetic nephropathy."

    During his wake, Rev. Msgr. Sabino Azurin Vengco, Jr. (San Jose) represented the priests of Hagonoy who had a mass in remembrance of him at the Resurrection Chapel at the San Pablo Cathedral compound. On November 26, his funeral, bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful came together to remember this man who was considered a good shepherd to his flock. He shall be remembered as a father to many Catholics, a pride of the faithful of Hagonoy, Bulacan. Bishop Bantigue was buried in the cathedral crypt of San Pablo in respect of his being bishop of the said diocese. KAKATHA News Admin

Links:

1.   Diocese of San Pablo (Click this link)

2.  Catholic Hagonoeño: Looking into the Catholic Heritage of Hagonoy, Bulacan,   

     Philippines

     a.  Life and Priestly Ministry (Click this link)

     b.  Interview (Click this link)

     c.  Portfolio - Wake (Click this link)