ILIGAN CITY - Bishop Elenito Galido of the Diocese of Iligan City has died.
Galido, who was hospitalized following a trip to the United States, died at 10:11 p.m. of December 5 at a hospital in Iligan City.
Galido was head of the delegation of the city’s singing priests who performed in a series of concerts in America to raise funds for their special projects.
Iligan City Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, a priest-on-leave, said Galido was diagnosed with fatty liver 5 years ago and was on medication for liver cirrhosis.
Vera Cruz described Galido as a very good man with a very good relationship with the people especially the elderly.
Aside from being an advocate of organic farming, Vera Cruz said Galido was also an environmentalist.
In late 1980s, he started his own reforestation project in Mt. Capistrano, Managok, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Galido was born in Managok, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on April 18, 1954.
He was ordained to the priesthood on April 25, 1979. He first served under the Diocese of Malaybalay. He was appointed as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Iligan on March 25, 2006 and consecrated on September 8, 2006.
Galido was the Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Culture (ECC) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.
Galido's remains was brought to St. Michael's Cathedral for the wake.
Galido will be buried before the start of the Simbang Gabi on December 16, according to Vera Cruz.
"Most probably, sa Dec. 14 or 15 siya ilubong," he added.
As tradition of the Catholic Church, a bishop will be buried in the cathedral where he had been serving.
Vera Cruz said if he will to suggest, the center aisle of the side of the altar could be a good place for Galido to be buried.
Many have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late bishop.
"You've let us felt what it is to be accepted, to be loved, to be cared, and to be a child, a member of the family of a loving and merciful God. We will always remember you with gratitude, deep respect and love," a post in the Facebook page of Diocese of Iligan said.