Archbishop Charles John Brown, D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, presided over a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Dumaguete Cathedral on Dec.11, during which he conferred Papal awards to nine individuals in recognition of their contributions to the Church and the broader community.
In his address, the Papal Nuncio conveyed the heartfelt congratulations of Pope Francis to the Dumaguete awardees, commending their “unwavering commitment” to the Roman Catholic Church, particularly through their professional endeavors and apostolic work.
Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete also expressed deep gratitude for the Papal Nuncio’s presence, emphasizing that the conferral of these honors represents “a profound blessing for our Diocese.”
The following individuals were honored with Papal awards:
Dames of the Order of Pope St. Sylvester: Atty. Florence Tangente, and Mary Magdalene Villegas;
knights of the Order of Pope St. Sylvester: Engr. Wilfredo Magallano, and myself;
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice: Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Gomez, Sr. Gloria Ibalio, Dr. Victoria Dinopol, Saturnina Malayo, and Dr. Profetiza Sun-Lim.
Life and ministry
Atty. Florence Tangente is a key figure in supporting several Diocesan offices, including the Administrative Board, Finance Board, Fr. Jacques de Boccard Foundation, and Seminary Burse. Her legal and financial expertise has been instrumental in the Diocese’s operations. She serves as a trusted consultant to the Bishop on the temporal affairs of the Diocese. As executive director of the Commission on Women and the Kahupayan Center, she has worked tirelessly to aid vulnerable women and girls. She is also an active member of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen & Professionals- Dumaguete North Chapter, and the Handmaids of the Lord of Couples for Christ.
Mary Magdalene Villegas is a highly respected certified public accountant, working as municipal accountant of the municipality of Sibulan. She has consistently demonstrated generosity and dedication in providing her expertise to design and implement effective accounting systems for numerous Diocesan offices and parishes. Her contributions extend to the Finance Board, Diocesan schools, St. Joseph Seminary College, Our Mother of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Parish, St. Augustine of Hippo Parish, Sto. Rosario Parish in Cebu, Fr. Jacques de Boccard Foundation, Seminary Burse, and the Commission on Health. Despite her demanding schedule, she remains committed to serving the Lord as lector at the Carmelite Monastery, and actively supports the external affairs of the nuns there.
Excerpts from my bionote for my Papal Award reads thus: William E. Ablong has demonstrated unwavering dedication and service to the Diocese of Dumaguete, working closely with Bishop Julito Cortes, as well as the late Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, and Archbishop John Du. A steadfast defender of the Church’s teachings on faith, morals, and life issues, Ablong has led campaigns against the Reproductive Health, Divorce, and Death Penalty Bills, and presented petitions to both the House of Representatives and the Senate. His advocacy extends to environmental protection, particularly opposing harmful reclamation projects and destructive mining practices.
He served as the first provincial area director of Couples for Christ–Negros Oriental for 10 years until 2003, and continues to serve in its Mission Support Ministry to this day. During his leadership, CFC undertook massive and rapid evangelization efforts, expanding its presence to nearly every barangay in the Diocese’s municipalities and cities. He has long been the president of the Diocesan Council of the Laity, and a a member of the Circle of Discernment. He also served as president of the Diocesan Organization of Renewal Movements & Communities for 12 years, and as a member of the Diocesan Electoral Board during the 2010, 2013, and 2016 elections. For 15 years now, he serves as president of the Parish Pastoral Council at St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral Parish. He established the Dumaguete Cathedral Parish Pre-Cana Team, and with his wife Yolly, they served as resource speakers for 14 years until 2022. He also developed and implemented Pre-Cana modules now used by other parishes. He was chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Dumaguete Cathedral Credit Cooperative, a multi-awarded cooperative in the country, for 10 years until 2020. He continues to serve as Board member and chairperson of the Village and Human Resource Committees.A regular columnist for the Dumaguete MetroPost and Bohol Times, he advocates for the interests of the Catholic Church. His passion for social media evangelization is evident in his daily gospel reflections and posts.
As former Dumaguete vice mayor, City administrator, and City agriculturist, he worked for a Christ-centered politics.He initiated daily morning prayers and First Friday masses at City Hall. He also created a Committee on Family Life, and passed several pro-poor and pro-environment City ordinances.
Engr. Wilfredo Magallano is engaged in various apostolates within the Diocese. He serves as executive director of the Diocesan Electoral Board. He is also a longstanding member of the Diocesan Finance Board, contributing to the development of the Diocesan Centralized Finance System, and the Standardized Living Allowance for the clergy. He serves on the Circle of Discernment, providing the Bishop with expert advice on various matters. He previously served as regional head of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen & Professionals. He was assistant superintendent of the Diocesan Schools.
Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Gomez has dedicated his life in the service of Catholic education and ecclesial ministry. He was formator at St. Joseph Minor Seminary, and later as rector of St. Joseph Seminary College. His assignments include St. James the Greater Parish in Tanjay, St. Nicholas de Tolentino Parish in Bais City, and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Sibulan. In school administration, he serves as president of Colegio de Sta. Catalina de Alejandria for the past 10 years since 2014. He was also president of Dumaguete Cathedral for 11 years. He is actively involved in the Worldwide Marriage Encounter as Ecclesial Team priest.
Sr. Gloria Ibalio has devoted much of her life to charitable work, particularly supporting impoverished parishes and Catholic schools in the Diocese. She served as the longtime administrator of Holy Child Hospital. She was National Responsible for the Sisters of Mt. Carmel. She continues to generously share her expertise, offering valuable assistance to the Diocesan Commission on Health, the Rev. Fr. Jacques de Boccard Foundation, and the St. Joseph Seminary Burse.
Dr. Victoria Dinopol has generously shared her expertise and skills in service to various ministries within the Diocese. She actively leads over a thousand members of the Mother Butler Guild, guiding them in their formation activities. As a member of the Commission on Bible Apostolate, she plays a key role in the biblical formation of the faithful. She also supports the clergy through her regular and insightful exegesis of the Sunday readings. She teaches at the St. Joseph Seminary College.
Saturnina Malayo’s commitment to the work of evangelization is evident in her lifelong and consistent involvement in the formation of Basic Ecclesial Communities and their leaders. She has played an active role in assisting the Vicar General with the Diocesan Pastoral Planning, and continues to collaborate closely with him in the implementation of these plans. She is a pioneering member of the St. Maria Goretti Foundation Inc., dedicated to providing essential services to the poor, including scholarship programs for deserving students.
Dr. Profetiza Sun-Lim is committed to the Catholic formation of young people, serving as principal of Holy Cross High School, a Catholic institution dedicated to Filipino-Chinese students in Dumaguete. She was Department of Education City Schools Division superintendent for both Dumaguete City and Tanjay City Divisions. In addition to her educational leadership, she offers her expertise as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Diocesan Schools. She is also a valued member of the Board of Directors for Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative Inc. She actively nourishes her faith through consistent participation in the spiritual and pastoral activities of the BCBP Dumaguete South Chapter.
Call to inspire
We pray that these Papal awardees continue to inspire others with their selfless service and steadfast faith, encouraging all to follow the path of love, dedication, and genuine Christian service.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
