A Tribute To Bishop Fortich at Diocese of Bacolod, Philippines, Bacolod City, Philippines 6100 PH - Fortich's Hospital Bills

Fund-raising on to pay Fortich’s hospital bills By Avelyn Z. Agudon THE Catholic Church appealed to concerned Negrosanons to contribute for the unpaid hospital bills of Bishop Emeritus Antonio Y. Fortich which amounts to P1.3 million. Msgr. Victorino Rivas, vicar general of the Diocese of Bacolod, said Jose Concepcion Jr., national chairman of the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Election (Namfrel), is already campaigning not only for the hospital bills but also for the Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich Peace Foundation (BAYFPF) and Priest Care Foundation (PCF). Rivas said Fortich’s prolonged hospitalization before he passed away last July 2 at the Riverside Medical Center amounted to P1.3 million. He added the priests all over the province contributed P1,000 each to pay the burial expenses including the casket amounting to P200,000. Rivas also said concerned individuals donated more than P500,000 for the BAYFPF, an institution which sends scholars of poor families to schools, and the PCF, which provides medical assistance to priests, which were founded in 1990. Despite the limited funds, the foundations maintained its mission-vision through the help of the University of St. La Salle and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos. The universities provide free tuition to scholars of poor families while the foundation provides the students’ uniforms and pays their miscellaneous fees. Fortich wanted the scholars to serve the community after they finish school and wanted to provide medical assistance to retired priests. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Priest Care Foundation BY CARLA GOMEZ Jose Concepcion Jr., chairman of the National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections, is calling on all those who fought bravely for clean and honest elections to light a candle for Bishop Emeritus Antonio Y. Fortich and to ask for his intercession for the challenges of next year's crucial polls. "We dedicate ourselves on this mission in tribute to Bishop Fortich who endured burning in order to give light to others. We light a candle to remember him, and vow to keep it strongly burning, never giving in to the darkness," Concepcion said in a statement sent to the Diocese of Bacolod yesterday. NAMFREL is requesting all concerned Filipinos to generously contribute to the Priest Care Foundation through NAMFREL to help defray the expenses of Fortich's prolonged hospitalization before his passing, and to help support retired priests, Concepcion said. Fortich was confined at the Riverside Medical Center for more than two months and died on Wednesday from multiple organ failure. NAMFREL mourns the death of Fortich who was one of the pioneers and stalwarts of the organization, Concepcion said. Fortich helped organize NAMFREL in 1983 and served as its national co-chairman until his retirement from the Diocese of Bacolod in 1989. In retirement, Concepcion said Fortich "remained an active supporter of NAMFREL and our advocacy for clean, honest and peaceful elections." The bishop also was a foremost advocate of peace, envisioning the concept of peace zones, he added. In 2000, Concepcion and Fortich received on behalf of the organization the EDSA People Power Freedom Award conferred by the EDSA People Power Commission to NAMFREL for "unflinching dedication to the holding of free, fair and honest elections and for being a model of civic action and bravery." In 2001 NAMFREL received the Chino Roces Freedom Award for its "sustained initiative taken in behalf of the nation's citizens to guard the sanctity of the democratic vote." NAMFREL also achieved worldwide recognition when it was nominated for the Nobel Peace Price in 1986, and for his work in the peace process during the Aquino administration the Bishop again was honored with another nomination in 1989, Concepcion pointed out. "We renew our commitment as the citizen's arm of the Commission on Elections to help the COMELEC succeed in the electoral automation. That would be the best gif the COMELEC can give the country and the memory of Bishop Fortich," Concepcion said. "The bishop maintained many causes and above all, as bishop, he was an ideal shepherd to his flock, particularly the poor and oppressed. He was a recognized leader and servant among bishops in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and the Bishops-Businessmen's Conference for Human Development," the NAMFREL statement said.*CPG ****************** Fortich's causes getting donations BY CARLA GOMEZ Donations yesterday continued to pour in for the Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich Peace Foundation and the Priests' Care Foundation at the wake for the prelate at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City. The donations ranged from very small amounts from the poor to large amounts from the wealthy who want to keep the mission of Fortich going even in death, those manning the secretariat said. Fortich, 89, passed away Wednesday from multiple organ failure after a lingering illness. Among the visitors who came to the wake were Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes on Thursday and Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan yesterday. Pagdanganan said he greatly admired Fortich's cause for the poor. Fortich exuded sincerity, he did not just say things about helping others, he did them all throughout his life, Pagdanganan said. Fortich is a great inspiration for people like me who would like to be able to do something for people also, Pagdanganan said. Businessman Eduardo Cojuangco, who was in Bacolod yesterday, also said Fortich "is a great loss to all the Negrenses. He was the champion of the masses, not only to the Church but to Negrenses whom he served so long and so well." Laywer Jose Ma. Kilayko said Fortich was a kind man, he never heard him speak a bad word against others even when he was being attacked. Msgr. Victorino Rivas, Vicar General of the Diocese of Bacolod, said the peace foundation was created by Fortich in 1990 to provide scholarships for poor but deserving students. Fortich wanted to empower the young so they could go back to their communities and help promote social justice, Rivas said. The foundation was also organized to hold seminars and lectures on peace. The objective of the foundation is to continue Fortich's advocacy for peace and the promotion of human rights, Rivas said. The Priests' Care Foundation, on the other hand, was created to help retired and sick priests, Rivas added. Fortich only last year donated P50,000 out of the sale of his own small family property in Dumaguete City to the Priests' Care Foundation. The rest of the money from the property sale, Fortich left for the care of his ailing sister, Caridad, 88, Rivas said. Fortich loved his fellow priests well that is why he wanted to help set up this foundation, Rivas added. As of yesterday afternoon the donations being given in lieu of flowers had reached P183,000, Ann Ledesma of the secretariat, said. The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on Thursday passed a resolution expressing the deepest bereavement of the SP on the demise of Fortich and placing at half-mast the Philippine flag at the Bacolod City Hall. Fortich has touched the lives of the Citizens of Bacolod City in his long years in the ministry, and it is only fitting that he be honored, the SP said. Flowers at the wake came from, among others, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Senators Sergio Osmeña, Franklin Drilon and Manuel Villar, Cabinet Secretaries Reyes, Mar Roxas - Trade, Joey Lina - Local Governments, and former defense secretary Renato de Villa.*CPG

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