Catholic missionary, former Notre Dame University prexy dies in Davao road mishap

COTABATO CITY – A Catholic missionary, who had served the war-torn province of Sulu and once served as Oblates of Mary Immaculate provincial superior, died in a vehicular accident in Matanao, Davao del Sur on Friday.

P02 Arturo Papas, traffic investigator of the Matanao police, told the Inquirer by phone that Fr. Jose Ante died at a medical clinic in Barangay Sinawingan – where the priest was rushed after the Isuzu Crosswind he was driving slammed onto a meat van.

Papas said based on investigation, Ante was heading for Davao when the front tire of his vehicle burst around 9:30 a.m.

The priest was then negotiating a downward curve in Kilometer 70.

“After the explosion, his vehicle swerved from left and to right then slammed an incoming meat van,” Papas said.

He said policemen manning the detachment in Sinawingan rushed the priest to the Sinawingan Medical Clinic, about 200 meters away. The attending physician had declared him dead upon arrival, the traffic officer said.

Ante was born on July 13, 1936. He finished his Philosophy at the San Jose Seminary and proceeded to Rome to obtain his License in Sacred Theology. He was ordained priest in 1964. He was Dean of Notre Dame of Jolo College in 1964. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Santo Tomas in 1969.

In 1976, he became the first Filipino OMI Provincial, serving until 1981. In 1982, he became the third President of Notre Dame University here. He also was President of the Notre Dame Educational Association from 1982 to 1988.

His other assignments included being President of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, Board Member of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, and Board Member of the Fund for Assistance to Private Schools. He was formerly parish priest at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo and the Social Action Director of the Vicariate of Jolo.

Prior to his death, he was archives in-charge at the OMI Provincial House here. CDG