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Thursday, July 17, 2003
Holy See, Arroyo cite Fortich’ heart for poor
By Avelyn Z. Agudon and Roberto L. Bacasong
BISHOP Emeritus Antonio Y. Fortich, dubbed the bishop of the poor, a man of peace, and a man of God received praises as he was laid to rest Tuesday at the San Sebastian Cathedral.
At least 20,000 mourners paid their last respects to Fortich after a concelebrated mass that started at 9 a.m., following a funeral march around the Bacolod Public Plaza.
Among those present during the mass was President Arroyo, who gave her tribute to Fortich after the post-communion prayer.
Fortich’ sister, Caridad, 84, failed to attend the funeral because she is is ill.
Only the prelate’s great grandchildren and cousins from Dumaguete City attended the funeral.
The remains of Fortich, 89, was buried at 1:15 p.m., as the choir sang their own version of “Hindi Kita Malilimutan.”
The late bishop should have turned 90 on Aug. 11.
In his homily to the 16 bishops, more than 200 priests and the faithful, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said Fortich brought the Church from its floating pedestal down to the heart of the struggling masses.
“Many can speak eloquently about social issues but few and rare are those who are willing to be convicted by them,” said Lagdameo.
Lagdameo said Fortich’ life is a testimony “that when people were displaced he even travelled to reach them to bring hope, when there was inequality he brokered dialogue between the landowners and sacadas; where there was poverty he helped set up programs for the poor; where there was violence he assisted in setting up peace zones; and where there was muting and suppression of rights he became the voice of the oppressed.”
On the other hand, Arroyo, who arrived a few minutes late and delivered her message in the local dialect, encouraged all the mourners to follow Fortich’ footsteps, specifically in pursuing genuine peace.
“Atun man tinguhaon ang pagkabuhi suno sa iya nga gin bilin nga halin sa ginharian sang Dios (Let us try to live by what he has left us which is from the Lord’s Kingdom),” Arroyo said.
The President, who left right after the funeral mass, also cited Fortich’ effort to establish a zone of peace in Cantumanyog, Candoni.
Fr. Walter Erbi, who read the message of Secretary of State to the Vatican Angelo Sodano, said Pope John Paul II was saddened to learn of Fortich’ death because of the latter’s zealous episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Bacolod and his lively concern for the dignity and rights of the poor.
“His Holiness joins you and all present in commending his soul to the merciful love of Christ. To all who mourn the late Bishop in the hope of the Resurrection, the Holy Father cordially imparts His Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and strength in the Lord,” Sodano said.
Erbi also read the Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Franco’s message to the late prelate.
Bacolod Bishop Antonio Navarra, on the other hand, said Fortich is a prophet in his own way that God designed him to be and taught the faithful on how to interpret the signs of the times and to act accordingly.
He also believes that Fortich was able to make decisions which elicited adverse reactions, such that he was rejected, hated and maligned, but nevertheless, he was just ready and willing to suffer the consequences because he was also “a man of prayer.”
But not all who attended Tuesday’s funeral mass were able to do so as some leaders of militant groups were restricted by the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
Guillermo Baretta of Bayan-Negros said that they did not have any plan of staging any protest rally against Arroyo.
He criticized Arroyo for “using her presence yesterday (Tuesday) as a political mileage” for the forthcoming 2004 presidential elections.
Among the leaders of militant groups who were also banned from attending the ceremonies were Richard Saroza of NFSW, and Ma. Rina Amacio of Gabriela-Negros.
Other militant groups who wanted to join in the funeral and were barred from doing so were from the towns of Murcia and Hinigaran and the cities of Silay, Kabankalan, and Victorias.
(July 16, 2003 issue)
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