By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag City—Ilocanos paid their last respect to a former archbishop in the city after the remains of the late Archbishop Edmundo Abaya was brought to the St. William’s Cathedral on September 24, 26, 2018.
Archbishop Abaya, who was the first Filipino Bishop appointed by the late Pope John Paul II, died at the age of 89 on September 20, 2018 at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.
Archbishop Abaya was ordained as a priest in 1953. He became the third bishop of the Diocese of Laoag in 1978, where he served for two decades.
He was later elevated as Archbishop of Nueva Segovia in 1999, becoming the first Ilocos Sur native to at the post.
Archbishop Abaya also served as chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Commission on Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs from 1988 to 1989 and a member of the CBCP Permanent Council from 1990 to 1991.
Archbishop Abaya served the pastoral community for 65 years and retired in 2005.
On March this year, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here declared Archbishop Abaya as an adopted son of Laoag.
Then Laoag councilor, now vice mayor, Atty. Franklin Dante Respicio said Archbishop Abaya served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Laoag for more than 20 years and guided the church to become closer to the people.
The archbishop adopted program, projects and activities that alleviated the difficulties of the marginalized sectors of society and promoted the protection and respect for human rights.
Atty. Respicio identified the San Lorenzo Ruiz Medical and Dental Charity as one of Archbishop Abaya’s foremost projects which caters to the medical and dental needs of indigents that manifests his Episcopal motto of “Cor Ardens Caritate” (Heart aflame for charity).
The Ilocos Times learned that the archbishop’s remains came from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur and retuned to Vigan City also in Ilocos Sur, after his last sojourn to this city.
Archbishop Abaya was born in Candon, Ilocos Sur on January 19, 1929.