ILOILO CITY—Retired Jaro archbishop Angel Lagdameo, whom many considered a “people’s bishop,” passed away on Friday morning at a hospital in this city due to an undisclosed illness. He was 81.
“Let us include him in our prayers and masses. Requiescas in Pace, Archbishop Emeritus Angel Lagdameo,” the Jaro Archdiocese’s Commission on Social Communication posted on its Facebook page.
Aside from serving Jaro, Lagdameo also served as president of the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from December 2005 to December 2009.Members of the clergy and lay people offered prayers for Lagdameo and posted their condolences on social media.
Outspoken
A native of Lucban town in Quezon province, Lagdameo was ordained priest on Dec. 19, 1964. He served as auxiliary bishop of Cebu in June 1980 before his designation as coadjutor bishop of Dumaguete in January 1986 and as bishop of the diocese in May 1989, according to the CBCP News.
He was named archbishop of Jaro on March 11, 2000 until he retired in 2018.The Archdiocese of Jaro, which covers the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras with around three million Catholics, is among the biggest dioceses in the country.
As archbishop of Jaro and CBCP president, the soft-spoken but outspoken prelate openly stood against corruption, the pork barrel and human rights violations, and was a firm advocate of the environment.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Panay extended its condolences to Lagdameo’s family, friends and fellow priests.In a statement, it gave “the highest salute” for Lagdameo for “uniting and being with the people” and “inspiring many to demand justice, uphold human rights and for calling for peace.”
Icon of ecumenism
Fr. Marco Sulayao, chair of the Promotion of Church People’s Response in Panay and Guimaras, also offered prayers for Lagdameo.
“He will be missed because we were together and were very supportive in advocacies for the people,” Sulayo said.
“We have seen that his heart was truly for the people, especially the marginalized,’’ he added.
Sulayao said Lagdameo “fulfilled God’s mission not only in the pulpit and within the four walls of the church.”
Sulayao, who belongs to the Philippine Independent Church, said Lagdameo was also “an icon of ecumenism.”