Despite becoming viral on social media, good looking priest shuns spotlight

A picture of Fr. Ferdinand Santos as shared by Fr. Ranhilio Aquino on Facebook.

MANILA, Philippines — Fr. Ferdinand Santos, the Roman Catholic priest who went viral on social media for his good looks, said that he will not be tempted to be in the spotlight amid the public’s overwhelming affirmation.

“I will forever say NO to celebrity, even if it CAN BE USED for good. IT IS NOT WHAT THE LORD WANTS,” Santos said in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening.

“And so the whole of Philippine society can rage and bang on my door and try to coax me in every way to come out and focus the attention on me and put ME in the limelight and my answer will still be NO,” he added.

Santos, currently staying in Cubao, Quezon City, returned home to the Philippines to serve those vulnerable, “to live in a very poor parish and to be poor.”

However, he gained popularity when San Beda Law Dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino posted on Facebook his awe of a young priest from St. John Vianney Seminary in Florida.

Netizens were quick to share the post and show enthusiasm for Santos’ looks.

“You see with all this happening, it is tempting to say it could be used for the good. Yes that is true. It could be used to influence others. That is true as well,” Santos lamented, sharing that he raised P125,000 on Wednesday for the depressed parishes in Cubao and needy individuals.

Wondering and in sorrow, he asked the Lord to let him go back to the United States to live a quiet life.

But, Santos recognized that this opportunity was what the Lord wanted. He acknowledged that the publicity paved the way to feed the hungry.

“I WILL NOT BE TEMPTED to becoming a celebrity and confusing what HE wants — which I now know — with what would be beneficial to ME (even if accidentally). Accidental celebrity is still celebrity,” he stressed.

Citing the bible, Santos responded to the situation: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.”

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JPV