Pampanga’s oldest priest dies; 101

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Pampanga’s oldest Catholic priest died a week after his 101st birthday. Msgr. Odon Tongio Santos died on Friday in a private hospital here, according to his friend, retired pilot Benhur Gomez.

Santos’ life in the priesthood spanned 73 years. Santos once commented he would give up celibacy “only if there is a woman more beautiful than Mother Mary.”

He gave P3 million from rent from his six houses to the Archdiocese of San Fernando and kept only P1 million for his sustenance.

On his 100th birthday, he told the Inquirer: “If I have a next life, I would like to be absolutely a priest again. There were temptations but God helped me through it.” —Tonette Orejas